ARK - ΚΙΒΩΤΟΣ Μ ΗΝΙ ΑΙΟ ΔΕΛ ΤΙΟ ΤΗ Σ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΟΡ ΘΟΔΟ ΞΗ Σ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙ ΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕ ΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟ ΚΟ Υ

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1 FEBRUARY / ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2015 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 the H ARK - ΚΙΒΩΤΟΣ M ONTHL Y BULLE TIN OF THE ASS UM PTION OF OUR MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS GREEK ORTHODOX CH U RCH Μ ΗΝΙ ΑΙΟ ΔΕΛ ΤΙΟ ΤΗ Σ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΟΡ ΘΟΔΟ ΞΗ Σ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙ ΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕ ΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟ ΚΟ Υ Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 111 Island Pond Road Manchester NH Phone: (603) Fax: (603) info@assumptionnh.org Join us on Facebook INSIDE THIS ISSUE Monthly Calendar (Greek)... 2 Ministries List... 3 Parish News... 4 Philoptochos News... 5 Youth News... 6 Stewardship... 9 Monthly Calendar (English)

2 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2015 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ ΤΡΙΤΗ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ ΠΕΜΠΤΗ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 1 16 η Κυριακή του Λουκά Ορθρος:9:00 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:45µµ η Κυριακή του Λουκά Ορθρος: 9:00πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ Πρωινό Αγ. Βαλεντίνου της Φιλοπτώχου Συνάντηση Συμβουλίου Φιλοπτώχου 7:00μμ 12 Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:45µµ A Ψυχοσάββατο Ορθρος: 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:15πμ 15 Κυριακή της Απόκρεως Ορθρος: 9:00πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ 16 Συνάντηση Διοικητικού Συµβουλίου 7:00µµ Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:45µµ Β Ψυχοσάββατο Ορθρος: 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:15πμ Συνάντηση GOYA Πρόβα Χορωδίας 6 30 μμ 22 Κυριακή της Τυρινής Ορθρος:9:00πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ Κυριακή της Οικογένειας Συσσιτιο Απόρων (New Horizons) 3:45-6:30μμ 23 Καθαρά Δευτέρα Γ Ψυχοσάββατο Ορθ: 8:30πµ Θ. Λειτ: 9:15πµ 2

3 Parish Council 2015 President... James Folopoulos Vice President... Nick Karagianis Secretary... Mike Rokas Treasurer... Ted Rokas Peter Lazos Charles Mardanes Vasilios Palaskas Penny Papastathis Louie Pliakos Philoptochos Board 2015 President Esther Kereakoglow 1 st Vice President Lucy Skouteris Recording Secretary..Andrea Moutsioulis Corresponding Secretary.Iris Belinsky Treasurer...Georgia Gancarz Advisor..Nancy Mardanes Martha Galanis Maria Chronas Georgia Palaskas Evangelia Gregorious Artemis Lazos YOUTH MINISTRIES Coordinator....Stephanie Piet GOYA Advisor....Carol Georgopoulos President...Elias Papakostas Vice President..Despina Yogas Secretary....Abigail Piet Secretary....Zoe Stamoulis Treasurer....Efthemi Stamoulis JOY Advisors....Julie Karagianis Patty Tingos Soula Dunn Alexandra Demos Mommy & Me....Ranya Karatzoulidis PARISH SCHOOLS Sunday School Director... Stacy Kalampalikis Greek School Director... George Kitsis Teacher... Connie Stamoulis Staff Secretary....Janet Malin Custodian....Dan Bureau Chanter....Vasilios Rokas Choir Director.Joan Virga Newsletter Editors Sophia Annas Nancy Mardanes James Folopoulos Stephanie Piet Ellen Healy Janet Malin ADDRESS CHANGES Please notify the Church office if you are moving so that we may update our database. Thank you. Ark published monthly by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester NH

4 Parish News On January 11 th we honored and recognized Father Athanasios Nenes for his many years of dedicated service to our beautiful parish. The Assumption Family would like to wish Father Athanasios Nenes the best of luck in his new appointment at the Taxiarchae Parish of Watertown, Massachusetts. We are working together with the Metropolis of Boston to find our parish a full time priest. In the meantime, please join us every Sunday for church services to welcome the priests that are visiting and to show our strength, fellowship and commitment to our Parish. Parish Council On January 11 th the new Parish Council was sworn in and elections for officers were held. The 2015 Parish Council officers are as follows: President: James Folopoulos Vice President: Nicholas Karagianis Secretary: Mike Rokas Treasurer: Teddy Rokas The monthly Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 16 th at 7:00pm. New Year's Eve Celebration On Wednesday December 31 st, 2014 we held our 4 th New Year's Eve Celebration at our church hall. The celebration was an extreme success we were entertained by the live Greek Band Ta Dilina. The dance floor was full from the first song to the last; the kefi was flowing. This event would not have been a success without the support of all who attended; we thank you very much for supporting us and bringing in the New Year together as one family. We would also like to thank all of our volunteers who gave of their time and talents to make this event a night to remember. Thank you!! 4

5 Philoptochos News 2015 Membership Dues For Philoptochos members and prospective new members to our organization, dues for 2015 remain at $25.00 per member. You may see any Board member of Philoptochos to pay your dues if you wish to remain a member in good standing with our Ladies Philoptochos Society Soteria, or if you would like to join us in completing our mission for A letter will follow to all current members within the next two weeks. Valentine's Day Brunch On February 8 th following Divine Liturgy, all parishioners are welcome to join us in our church hall for a special brunch to celebrate St. Valentine's Day. We are planning a festive event with good food prepared by the Ladies. Wear your Valentine's Day attire and be our guests! Choir Calling all Parishioners! We are looking for volunteers to join our talented choir. All ages are welcomed; all that is required is your passion and love for our church. Please contact our Choir Director, Joan Virga at or the church office. The next Choir rehearsal will be held on Thursday, February 19 th at 6:30pm in our church. Coffee Hours The Parish Council will be sponsoring the Coffee Hour on the first Sunday of every month. Please contact the church office if you would like to participate by making one of your famous Greek dishes (pitas, pastries) or what your heart desires. Thank you! Please contact a Philoptochos Board member or the church office if you would like to sponsor a coffee hour. If you have a special date in mind, please reserve it early. 5

6 New Horizons Soup Kitchen New Horizon's Soup Kitchen is Sunday, February 22nd, 4-6PM. We are looking for new volunteers to join our group. This is such a rewarding experience; please join us for less than two hours of fellowship with the group from the Assumption Church. They love our group and it would be a shame to have to forfeit our spot due to lack of participation. If you have any questions, please give me a call at or speak with me after church on Sundays. Thanks so much!! Stephanie Various Scholarships There are various scholarships available for graduates or college students. Please contact the church office at (603) to obtain a copy of the applications. Youth Ministry News Sunday School Family Sunday is on February 22 nd, which is also Forgiveness Sunday. We hope to see all our children and their parents, as we ask for forgiveness from each other and we perform the rite of forgiveness and reconciliation. On this day, there will be no Sunday School. Greek School There will be no Greek School on Thursday, February 26th due to February School Vacation. GOYA On Sunday, February 15 th GOYA will be meeting immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Church Hall. 6

7 Forgiveness Sunday Fr. Alexander Schmemann In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lent is called Forgiveness Sunday. On the morning of that Sunday, at the Divine Liturgy, we hear the words of Christ: "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses..." (Mark 6:14-15) Then at the Vespers after hearing the announcement of Lent: "Turn not away Your face from Your child for I am afflicted! Hear me speedily! Draw near unto my soul and deliver it!", and making our entrance into Lenten worship, with its special memories and the beautiful prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian: O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant. Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Your are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. We ask forgiveness from each other, we perform the rite of forgiveness and reconciliation. And as we approach each other with words of reconciliation, the cantor intones the Paschal hymns, filling the church with the anticipation of Paschal joy. What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us to begin Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These questions are in order because for too many people Lent means primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand fasting as an end in itself, as a "good deed" required by God and carrying in itself its merit and its reward. But, the Church spares no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one among many, towards a higher goal: the spiritual renewal of man, his return to God, true repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external obligations. As a Lenten hymn says: In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul! For you abstain from food, But from passions you are not purified. If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast. 7

8 Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God. Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten season. One may ask, however: Why should I perform this rite when I have no "enemies"? Why should I ask forgiveness from people who have done nothing to me, and whom I hardly know? To ask these questions, is to misunderstand the Orthodox teaching concerning forgiveness. It is true, that open enmity, personal hatred, real animosity may be absent from our life, though if we experience them, it may be easier for us to repent, for these feelings openly contradict Divine commandments. But, the Church reveals to us that there are much subtler ways of offending Divine Love. These are indifference, selfishness, lack of interest in other people, of any real concern for them -- in short, that wall which we usually erect around ourselves, thinking that by being "polite" and "friendly" we fulfill God s commandments. The rite of forgiveness is so important precisely because it makes us realize be it only for one minute that our entire relationship to other men is wrong, makes us experience that encounter of one child of God with another, of one person created by God with another, makes us feel that mutual "recognition" which is so terribly lacking in our cold and dehumanized world. On that unique evening, listening to the joyful Paschal hymns we are called to make a spiritual discovery: to taste of another mode of life and relationship with people, of life whose essence is love. We can discover that always and everywhere Christ, the Divine Love Himself, stands in the midst of us, transforming our mutual alienation into brotherhood. As l advance towards the other, as the other comes to me we begin to realize that it is Christ Who brings us together by His love for both of us. And because we make this discovery and because this discovery is that of the Kingdom of God itself: the Kingdom of Peace and Love, of reconciliation with God and, in Him, with all that exists we hear the hymns of that Feast, which once a year, "opens to us the doors of Paradise." We know why we shall fast and pray, what we shall seek during the long Lenten pilgrimage. Forgiveness Sunday: the day on which we acquire the power to make our fasting true fasting; our effort true effort; our reconciliation with God true reconciliation. We are striving to become true expressions of God s love to all as St. Paul has asked us to be in his letter to the Colossians (3:12-15): Therefore, as God s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 8

9 Sacrament Stewardship Baptism February 15 Leander Theodore Day Son of Michael & Tiffany Day Reminder Please do not forget to submit your 2015 Stewardship Pledge Stewardships are the greatest source of income for our church. December Pledges Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Apostol Constantia Athanasiou Theodore Farmakis Mr. & Mrs. James Folopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Gekas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Goudouros Evangelia Gregorious Efthemia Hunt Mr. & Mrs. Anastasios Karatzoulidis Theodore Kitsis Mr. & Mrs. Davis Labore Mr. & Mrs. Pierre LaBrie Pauline Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Stamoulis Georgia Tzimopoulos Mary Tzimopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Xintaras Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Yogas 9

10 Memorial Donations In memory of Chryssoula Rizos - $20.00 In memory of Effie Gregorious - $25.00 In memory of Despina & Apostolos Manolakis $ In memory of Stella Gines - $ DECEMBER DONATIONS Fuel Fundraiser Mr.& Mrs. Vasilios Rokas - $20.00 Georgia Gancarz - $25.00 Other Fuel fundraiser - $25.00 Christmas Offerings Bessie Manelas - $5.00 Mrs. James Hatzibiros - $10.00 Mr.& Mrs. Milton Kalampalikis -$10.00 Eugenia Lefebvre - $10.00 Mr. & Mrs. Costa Liolios - $10.00 Evangeline Wilder - $10.00 Betty Xintaras - $10.00 Barbara Garos Brown - $20.00 Tina Giavroutas - $20.00 Mr. & Mrs. Aristidis Kalampalikis - $20.00 Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lazos -$20.00 Thomas Lekkas - $20.00 Mr. & Mrs. Chris Spirou - $20.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Stergioulis - $20.00 Artemis Tingas - $20.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Xintaras - $20.00 Christmas Offerings (cont.) Sophia Annas - $25.00 Amerisa Baryiames - $25.00 Evangeline Fusscas - $25.00 Polixeni Georgopoulos - $25.00 Ellen Healy - $25.00 Esther Kereakoglow - $25.00 Mr. & Mrs. Charles Mardanes - $25.00 Mr. & Mrs. Ilias Kalampalikis $40.00 Voula Annas - $50.00 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hasevlat - $50.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Karagianis - $50.00 Mr.& Mrs. Evangelos Pervanas -$50.00 Lucie Skouteris - $50.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Stergiou - $50.00 Mr. & Mrs. Nick Hart - $ Helen Rainey - $ James Camberis - $ Mr. & Mrs. Peter Camberis - $ Other Christmas Offerings - $ Donation Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Palaskas $40.00 Other Donations - $50.00 Christmas Cards $1, Thank you to everyone who donated to the 2014 Christmas Card. 10

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13 BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISING Anyone with a business that would like to advertise in our monthly bulletin, please contact the Church office. A business card format, about 2 ½ x 1 ½ will run for a period of 12 months for one set fee of $ a year. This will help to defray the ever-increasing costs of printing and mailing these bulletins to our homes as well as advertising your business to our parishioners and through word of mouth, to their friends. This is a great opportunity for all! 13

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15 FEBRUARY 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 16 th Sunday of Luke Publican & Pharisee Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:45 PM th Sunday of Luke (Prodigal) Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM Philoptochos Valentine s Day Brunch Philoptochos Meeting 7:00 PM in church hall 12 Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:45 PM st Saturday of Souls Orthros: 8:30 AM Div. Lit: 9:15 AM 15 Judgement Sunday (Meatfare) Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM GOYA Meeting Immediately following Div. Lit. in church hall 16 Parish Council Meeting 7:00 PM Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:45 PM Choir Rehearsal 6:30 PM nd Saturday of Souls Orthros: 8:30 AM Div. Lit: 9:15 AM 22 Forgiveness Sunday Cheesefare Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM Family Sunday New Horizons Soup Kitchen 3:45 PM 6:30 PM 23 Lent begins rd Saturday of Souls Orthros: 8:30 AM Div. Lit: 9:15 AM 15

16 ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 111 Island Pond Road Manchester, NH NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO