Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Transcription

1 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 12 December 2018 Dearest Spiritual Ohana, I wish all of you a Most Blessed Nativity Season! I would like to share with you a portion of a beautiful article I found on the true purpose of the Orthodox Church Fasting and the Breaking of the It during the Nativity Period. Enjoy! To read the article in full, g o t o t h e f o l l o w i n g l i n k : orthochristian.com/43144.html T H E O R T H O D O X N A T I V I T Y F A S T C A N H E L P P R E V E N T P O S T - H O L I D A Y B L U E S B Y L I S D E L U C A Much of the post-holiday blues that occur in the United States may have something to do with the way Americans celebrate Christmas. The Orthodox Nativity fast may be the remedy many people need. When people are suffering in their lives with things like divorce or other losses financial stress aging or illness; the sudden onset of pre-christmas cheeriness may leave them feeling even more isolated and deprived because the rest of world is portrayed as happy and fulfilled in stark contrast to how they feel. Others who do embrace pre-holiday celebrations often feel let down and weighed down by food and debt shortly after Christmas day. The novelty of the new material things wears off quickly friends and family go home and people may be left feeling blue. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! 1 This is the feeling known as post-christmas letdown. The Orthodox way of celebrating Christmas can yield completely different results. The Nativity Fast Addresses Pain as Well as Pleasure The birth of Christ brought joy and hope to those who had been in darkness and the way the Orthodox celebrate Christmas is designed to let people feel that hope again states Father Jonathan Ivanoff an Orthodox Christian Priest and Pastor of St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church in Shirley New York. The Orthodox Church teaches that Advent represents the time before Christ when God s people were lost and disconnected from God. Experiencing this loss and disconnection in some way is seen as a necessary pre-requisite to embracing the joy of Christ s birth in its fullness. To achieve this instead of precelebrating the Christmas holiday during Advent Orthodox Christians participate in a solemn six-week fast during this time. What is the Nativity Fast? Those who are fasting eat less and avoid all meat cheese eggs fish and wine on most days. They keep a primarily vegetarian diet. The faithful do not get caught up in the letter of the law and do not freak (Continued on page 2)

2 expected to increase during the Nativity fast. According to Fr. Ivanoff this means specifically giving money to relieve poverty and material need. Doing this offers a counterbalance to people s urges to overspend on material goods during Christmas. It brings people in contact with others who are far worse off financially quelling feelings of wanting more than they already have. Feeding the Soul These acts of almsgiving can restore feelings of connection with fellow human beings and even with our greater purpose. It reminds people that life means more than the consumption of material goods. It helps people out of the rut of day-to-day life. If people stick to the fast they will find themselves feeling more somber. A certain mental clarity can dawn. They may have even shed excess pounds. They can feel much more in control of themselves and their appetites and therefore more hopeful. They may feel closer to God and have more love and compassion towards others. (Go to link on page 1 for the remainder of the article) (Continued from page 1) out if they have to have a piece of meat. The spirit of the practice is more important than what is eaten. There is no threat of eternal damnation. In place of food drink and partying during Advent the Orthodox are asked to nourish their souls with increased prayer communion with their fellow parishioners and drawing closer to God. For those who are struggling with personal problems this period can give them a spiritual boost. Their brothers and sisters are experiencing the somber reality of the human condition with them through the fast. They are not alone. According to Fr. Ivanoff Christmas parties are put off until Christmas day when the fast is finally broken. The famine ends and the celebration begins. In fact the Orthodox continue to celebrate for 10 days after Christmas. The Spirit of the Fast Participating in the fast helps people tame their worldly appetites. It is an exercise in transcending the body and not being ruled by impulses. People who are fasting begin to feel that regardless of their worldly limitations or deprivations they have a connection to God that sustains them through the fast and always. In addition to increased prayer almsgiving is Shorelines is published Monthly by: Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Pacific 930 Lunalilo Street Honolulu, Hawaii Phone : (808) Fax : (808) office@greekorthodoxhawaii.org Parish Web Site: Regular Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday thru Friday Rev. Father Alexander M. Leong fralexanderleong@yahoo.com Christ is born! Glorify Him! With Love in Christ, +Fr. Alexander Church Staff Debby McGraw - Office Coordinator office@greekorthodoxhawaii.org Erica Jansen - Bookkeeper 2018 Parish Council pc@greekorthodoxhawaii.org Trish Kiladis, President Scott Pasieta, Vice President Roni Katsikas, Treasurer Tyrone-Stavros Emery, Secretary John Kiladis, Cleopatra Kritikos, Susan Shaindlin, Dimitri Nicholas, and Andrew Tujios. Sunday School Director Presbytera Nicole Leong Sunday School Teachers Shawn Chu, Jesse Horiuchi, Peter 2 Katsikas, Lexi Leventis, Maria Naval, Dimitri Nicholas, & Katherine Pasieta Philoptochos Board Anita Akel, President; Anita Higashi, 1st Vice President; Eres Eddy, 2nd Vice President; Alexandra Boval,Treasurer; Alice Malick, Recording Secretary; Valentina Varovaya, Corr. Secretary; Alma Chu, Advisor Choir-Chanters Orest Saikevych, Music Director Gregory Malick, Protopsaltis Parish Ministries Stelio Scordilis, Aloha Youth Choir; T.B.A., Bookstore; Dianna Graves, Greek Dance Groups; Stelio Scordilis, Greek School; Julie Ličina Web Master; Anita Higashi, Facebook

3 SATURDAY GREAT VESPERS Sat. 12/1,8, 29 Vespers 5:30 pm ST. BARBARA THE MARTYR Tue. 12/4 Orthros/Liturgy 8:30/9:30 am ST. NICHOLAS OF MYRA Thu. 12/6 Orthros/Liturgy 8:30/9:30 am ST. SPYRIDON OF TRYMITHOUS Wed. 12/12 Orthros/Liturgy 8:30/9:30 am ST, ELEFTHERIOS THE PRIEST MARTYR Sat. 12/15 Orthros/Liturgy 8:30/9:30 am MAUI SERVICES Sat. 12/22 Orthros/Liturgy 9:30/10:30 am EVE OF THE NATIVITY Mon. 12/24 Vesper-Liturgy 9 am NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Tue. 12/25 Orthros/Liturgy 8:30/9:30 am ST. STEPHEN THE 1ST MARTYR Thu. 12/27 Orthros/Liturgy 8:30/9:30 am December Parish Council Teams 12/2 Trish 12/9 Andy 12/16 Dimi 12/23 Roni 12/30 John WEEKDAY SERVICES IN DECEMBER Announcements Please remember in your prayers Judy Economou Dina Giannakopoulos Paul Kelley Julie Licina Alice Marie Malick The Melzack Family George Missias John Mitsis Christina Yepez and all those needing our prayers. Adult Religious Education Bible Study on the Gospel According to St. Mark Tuesdays 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Social Hall To join in Conference Call, weekly, please call (720) and enter PIN# Sunday Adult Religious Education Practicing our Orthodox Christian Faith Daily Study/Fellowship/Sharing Sundays 1:10 to 1:50 p.m. See Weekly Bulletin for upcoming sessions Learn Greek! Beginners Sunday 1:00 2:00 PM Thursday 5:30 6:30 PM Intermediate Sunday 12:00 1:00 PM Advanced Tuesday 6:00 8:00 PM 3

4 Our Vision To be a beacon of Orthodoxy in the Pacific and proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all people in accordance with the Orthodox Faith Our Mission To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all people in accordance with the Orthodox Faith. To sanctify and minister to the spiritual growth and needs of the faithful through liturgical worship and spiritual programs. To safeguard and keep the traditions, values, and faith of the Orthodox Church pure and undefiled. Share your news! Announcements that you would like to see in the January issue of Shorelines should be submitted to the church office by December 15th. Weekly Bulletin announcements should be submitted by noon on Thursday for the upcoming Sunday. office@greekorthodoxhawaii.org Call: Or drop by with a copy of your announcement. An Invitation to Read the Psalter in Community this Nativity Season The Prayer Ministry is sponsoring a reading through the Psalms in unity this Nativity Season (Nov 15 thru Dec 24). Every two days, twelve people read the entire Book of Psalms virtually as a devotion to God. You do not need to be in Hawaii during this period. Please consider joining us by contacting the church s office administrator (office@greekorthodoxhawaii.org or ). Maui Orthodox Christian Mission reminds those who attend services on Maui to visit or call to verify services. or look for other activities that may be posted. 4

5 Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Aloha SS Constantine & Helen Ohana, Our beloved Greek Dance Kumu, Dianna, wants to share her message below with you. Sunday School Library by Dianna Graves I taught Sunday School here at SS Constantine & Helen for 16 years when my two children were little. Preschool through high school and some grades twice. All those years we never had a Sunday School Library till Presbytera Nicole came here. You, parents with children, should "check it out" as you "check out" your public or school library. Your children s Religious Education is just as important as their School Education. My grand children and I take out books and I have learned with them. It is a Wonderful Library. I am writing this article because I do not see many parents or children taking out books. I beg you parents and children, Take a Look! Take a Book! The Process is simple to ensure we get books back, just like the Public/School libraries have rules. There are 2 Sign Out Books A-Z (Sign out Book instructions on these 2 Books) Find your Book Title Page in the correct Sign Out Book 2 book limit per child for 2 weeks Sign your name/phone number/date you are taking the books on Book Title Page Return books in 2 weeks, FIND correct Book Title Page and put date you returned books Thank you, Dianna, for the message above. We also appreciate PC and all the church stewards who allow us to purchase some new books every year. There are many beautiful Orthodox Christian children s books these days. We are so fortunate to have those resources. Please mark your calendar for the following dates: A Christmas Alphabet Poem will be presented on Sunday, December 16 following the Divine Liturgy. SS Winter Break Sunday, December 23 through Sunday, January 6. Have A Blessed, Joyful Nativity Season and A Happy New Year! 5

6 6

7 7

8 DANCE GROUP NEWS Dance Group News MAHALO TO PARISHONERS WHO SUPPORTED OUR DANCE GROUP COFFEE HOUR AND THOSE WHO DONATED TO OUR RECYCLE CAMPAIGN. Mahalo! Dianna Graves Dance Ministry Director C O F F E E H O U R Each individual/ family is requested to sponsor a coffee hour one Sunday per year. Sign up on the calendar posted outside the Social Hall or contact Frances R. Instructions/tips for sponsoring a coffee hour are available in a 3-ring binder in a cupboard in the hall. The Ladies of Philoptochos appreciate any donations of coffee supplies, including paper supplies to help defray some of the coffee hour expenses. If you are hesitant to prepare and serve a coffee hour yourself, consider making a monetary donation. Please do not bring non- Lenten food including cake & ice cream during fasting periods. Thank you to our November Sponsors! Sunday Coffee Hour sponsors! 11/4 Parish Council 11/11 Festival Thank You 11/18 Dance Group 11/25 Greg & Alice Malick 8

9 LEARN BYZANTINE CHANT EVERY FRIDAY AT 1:30PM (WITH OCCASIONAL EXCEPTIONS SEE WEEKLY BULLETIN) SS CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF THE PACIFIC Every Friday, 10:30 am to Noon, unless otherwise noted. 930 LUNALILO ST. HONOLULU, HI All are welcomed to join the group. No vocal experience required. This is a laity group under the direction of Rev. Fr. Alexander Leong. Time commitment: 1.5hr. practice sessions on Fridays FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ALICE MARIE MALICK (ALICEMARIEMALICK@HAWAII.RR.COM) Epiphany Celebrations at Ala Moana Park: Sunday, January 6, :20 a.m. to 12 p.m. Church Services: Orthros, Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Waters in the Church 12 to 12:45 p.m. Lite Brunch in the Chirgotis Social Hall 1 p.m. Depart via own transportation to Magic Island Beachside #30 (new location). Maps will be available. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Procession and Cross Throwing 3 p.m. Event Ends 9