Pg. 7 Monthly Calendar Pg. 8 Fall Festival

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1 ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2017 Pg. 2 Very Important Pg. 3 Youth News Pg. 4 Paraklesis Form Pg. 5 Philoptochos and Youth Pg. 6 Advertisement Pg. 7 Monthly Calendar Pg. 8 Fall Festival Looking into August Wednesday, August 2nd 10:00am Paraklesis Friday, August 4th Saturday, August 5th 6:00pm Great Vespers Sunday, August 6th - Transfiguration 8:45am Orthros Monday, August 7th Wednesday, August 9th 10:00am Paraklesis Friday, August 11th August 13th - 10th Sunday of Matthew 8:45am Orthros Monday, August 14th 6:00pm Great Vespers Tuesday, August 15th - Dormition of Theotokos 9:00am Orthros August 20th - 11th Sunday of Matthew 8:45am Orthros Sunday School Begins August 27th - 12th Sunday of Matthew 8:45am Orthros Tuesday, August 29th - Beheading of St. John 9:00am Divine Liturgy August Usher Duty Sunday, August 6th - Team 3 Peter Konstantakos, Nikitas Dritsas, Kali Weaver, Michael and Peter Badea Sunday, August 13th - Team 4 Dora Komninos, Alexis Gonas, Vicky Vantsouris, Rena Gonas and George Vantsouris Sunday, August 20th - Team 5 Alexander Janas, Pat Janas, Stephanie Kanellopoulos, Sophia and Joanna Samuel Sunday, August 27th - Team 6 Bill Christopher, Jim Ververis, Sandra Carnevale, Gregory and Manny Spantidakis Please be on time for your duty and if you can t be here, please find someone to fill in for you. Thank you! Reverend Father Soterios Rousakis, Protopresbyter Reverend Deacon John Pantelis th Street North St. Petersburg, FL fax: office@ststefanos.org

2 VERY IMPORTANT Beloved Fellow Parishioners, We are approaching the end of summer and getting back to business as usual, which is great because as I type this, St. Stefanos paid Stewardship amount for the year is $89, That is $15, down from last year at this same time. I am not sure what has caused the drop, but it is something that we should all be aware of. We have 173 families that are beloved Stewards of St. Stefanos of whom have paid some or all of their Stewardship Donation Pledge for Thank and God Bless you all who have donated your Treasure to the church. Stewardship is about Time, Talent and Treasure, and all 3 of these aspects are equally as important as the other. As I did earlier this month, I am issuing a challenge to any and all families that can raise their donation level so that we can finish this year strong. This Parish is the responsibility of ALL OF US, not just the Clergy, the PC and the Ministry Leaders. As Orthodox Christians, we have an obligation to take care of the church as the church takes care of us. If you are able to raise your Stewardship Pledge, or offer your Time or Talent, then I am urging you to show action and help this community. So that you have a clear picture of what I am asking, here is a breakdown of how our Stewards donate their Treasure to St. Stefanos. When you look at the table below please remember that it costs St. Stefanos $1000/day to operate annually: $5-$500 PLEDGED 125 FAMILIES $501-$1K PLEDGED 22 FAMILIES $1K-$2K PLEDGED 16 FAMILIES $2K-$4K PLEDGED 5 FAMILIES $4K-$10K PLEDGED - 4 FAMILIES $10K+ PLEDGED - 1 FAMILY Supporting and growing this church is about making sure that our children and grandchildren have a place that loves them and nurtures their Orthodox Faith. This is about making sure that our beloved elders, who have given so much, have a place to be cared for and continue their spiritual growth, while passing along their love and knowledge to the community. It s about making sure that a church, the only church that some of you have ever known, not only remains open, but grows its roots deeper and stronger. A dollar doesn t go as far as it once did. Keeping a church open is costly, but not nearly as high as the cost of ever closing a community so many call home. We have the numbers to grow and strengthen this parish so that we can eventually thrive, and not just make it. It starts with us, the parishioners. I hope that while you all enjoy the rest of summer you think and pray about what I have stated above. We thank you and humbly ask for your continued love and support. May God bless you always. In Christ, Alexander Janas Stewardship Chairman Parish Council Secretary

3 YOUTH NEWS August 2017 GOYA Newsletter Wow, it s already August and almost back to school and Sunday School time. This summer went by so fast. We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and has many pictures and vacation adventures to share with us. We had 5 GOYAns and one counselor who went to St. Stephens s Summer Camp week 2 and Anastasia Gregory (not pictured) week 3. They had an amazing time, as usual. If your GOYAn has not had the opportunity to go, it s definitely something they may want to try next summer. We will have a GOYA KICK OFF MEET- ING& LUNCH on AUGUST 13th after Divine Liturgy in the Educational building. Please bring your ideas for the upcoming calendar year. We want to hear from our GOYANs. Grateful, Kathy and Christine ALTAR BOY WORKSHOP Theme: LET US BE ATTENTIVE... SAINT STEFANOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, :30AM UNTIL NOON Applications to be considered may be found in the Narthex.

4 PARAKLESIS FORM The Dormition of the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos Paraklesis August 1 August 15 Please print clearly the baptismal names of the Living whom you wish commemorated. Σάς παρακαλούμε να συμπληρώσετε το κάτωθι φόρμ με τα ονόματα (μόνο το βαπτιστικό πρώτο όνομα) και να το στείλετε στο Πατέρα Ρουσάκη. ΝΑ ΓΡΑΨΕΤΕ ΜΕ ΚΑΘΑΡΑ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ!

5 PHILOPTOCHOS and YOUTH MINISTRY Please join the Ladies' Philoptochos in celebrating the Feast of the Virgin Mary! Lunch will be served in the church hall following service on Tuesday, August 15th. We will be having a lamb shank lunch with dessert and drinks. $10 donation suggested. Please see any Philoptochos board member for more details. Youth Ministry Registration Sunday, August 13th We will have tables set up in the hall. We ask that you register your children for all the Youth Programs they plan to participate in: Sunday School Greek School Acolytes GOYA HOPE/JOY Kefi Dancers MAKE NOTE - FIRST DAYS of SCHOOL CLASSES: Sunday School - Sunday, August 20th (Blessing of the Water) Greek School - To Be Announced For more information, please contact Sandra Johnson

6 ADVERTISEMENT

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 Transfiguration 8:45am Orthros Feastday Luncheon 13 8:45am Orthros All Youth Ministry Registration 20 8:45am Orthros Sunday School Begins Welcome Back BBQ 27 8:45am Orthros Sunday School :00pm Great Vespers :00am Paraklesis :00am Paraklesis 15 Panagias 9:00am Orthros Luncheon 6:30pm Parish Council Beheading St. John 9:00am Divine Liturgy August :00am Prayer Group :00am Prayer Group 6pm Ministry Meeting 18 10:00am Prayer Group :00am Prayer Group :00pm Great Vespers :30am Acolyte Workshop 26

8 ST. STEFANOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH th Street North St. Petersburg, Florida NON - PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #6203 ST. PETERSBURG, FL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED