THE ORTHODOX POST. The Orthodox Post. Pastor s Message by Fr.Nikodhim. President s Message by Jim Liolin. A Special Time

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1 Page 1 THE ORTHODOX POST October Volume XIV, Issue 9 St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Midland Parkway, Jamaica Estates, New York, NY Web site: fr.niko@stnicholasalbanian.org Tel: (718) Pastor s Message by Fr.Nikodhim Sometimes people come to me wondering what to make of themselves, wondering what is left to them as they carry around the great weight of their pasts. We all have such things behind us that we wish we did not; we all have choices made and words that have at times escaped our mouths that cannot be returned there. Much though we might like to and some do try we find that our histories are not editable. We may and do share just some parts of ourselves with others, leaving out and selectively representing who we are as we convey who we have been, but the self still finds each of us more knowledgeable than we might like and often unable to forget the wrongs of the past: what we ve done and to whom. One of the common errors people make in their estimation of this Christian faith is that the past doesn t matter, that forgiveness blots out everything. And having enunciated this view, they are troubled at what they perceive as their lack of faith when past hurts creep up as fact, when they don t find that forgetfulness they long for and think that their belief is just insufficient or flawed. So they believe that their forgiveness of others is inadequate when they taste past hurts done to them and believe that their faith is inadequate when guilt rises in the recollection of past hurts done by them. Yet underlying these two experiences is a shared misunderstanding, a magical thinking almost that hopes to fix things with thoughts of conviction rather than struggles of work. Taking account of history does, yes, require forgiveness: much for us to exercise, much for us to ask of others. But forgiveness is not a status; it is not something achieved or a plateau where we ll get to walk on flat and confident. Forgiveness is nothing other than love and its particular application, and love is a struggle. It is a struggle for us to maintain more than mood or disposition. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pastor and President s Messages 1 Anniversary Banquet Flyer 2 Banquet Reservation Form 3 Children s School Schedule & Coffee List 4 Saint and Name Days 5 Merchant Ads 6-7 Major Events & Ushers Sunday Schedule 8 It is a struggle for us to think best of and do right by both others and ourselves. But love means this laying aside of what is easy or comfortable and doing right again and again, and it means attempting to make right what we have not done so well. It is the placement of priority upon justice rather than just our yearning for stability or self-assurance or the convincement that we are alright. It is the changing and molding of the self to something better and the discomforts that must accompany this. When we consider our pasts and, in particular, those parts that trouble us in memory, we must ask whether we have really attempted to make right what was or is not. And if we have not then we must, and if we have yet the stings remain, then the struggle for us is to love ourselves, to recall ourselves as imperfect and flawed and own these cracked and sutured pasts without shame and without the guilt which is so often our inclination. The past won t disappear behind us, but we can claim the present moment as different people and do the work to be so. Forgiveness doesn t blot out all of our befores, but it makes us be more than just these. In baptism, we claim each person as a new creation and a creature of God helping to mend the broken world aright, and in confession we renew these same vows and claims and obligations. So often the hauntings that echo around us are our own. We remember and think bad, thinking that God sees us the same shamed way and thinking that this beholdenness is somehow repentance. But it is not. He looks down in love and asks us but receive and grow and give the same away. President s Message by Jim Liolin A Special Time This October is a very exciting for us as the Church prepares for two major events, the 75th Anniversary and the 21st Annual Golf Outing. We need your support so please read the s and flyers on the events and participate in these special activities. The Albanian Archdiocese Assembly was held in July in St. Louis Missouri, in conjunction with the OCA All American Council. Both meetings focused on the spiritual and business matters of our Archdiocese and the National Church. There was special Archdiocese Council on Sept 27th to review outstanding issues not covered at the July assembly. Pledge time is upon us! In November you will receive the famous Yellow Card for the 2019 Pledge contribution. Please be as generous as you have in the past. Your support has always been needed and appreciated. Remember Church School has started.so bring your children and let them participate in this important educational activity. See you in Church

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3 Page 3 St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church Diamond Celebration Banquet Saturday, October 20, :00 p.m. till 12:00 a.m. Dinner & Dancing Music by Frederik Ndoci & His Band Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows Park, Queens Admission: $150 adults $75 children 12 & under FOR TICKETS or INFORMATION CALL AGATHIA LUKA ( ), LINDA FOUNDOS ( ) MARK PAPALEXIS ( ) & ZHANI JOANIDHI ( ) RESERVATION FORM 75 th Anniversary Banquet (cut Form on line above & return with check) RESERVE TABLE NOW!!! TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR!!! Make check payable to: St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church Mail to: Midland Parkway, Jamaica Estates, New York Name Address City, State, Zip Telephone Number I Would Like to Sit With: Number of $150 each = $ Number 12 & $75 each = $ TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $

4 Page 4 CHILDREN SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE Dear Ladies, Below is the schedule for coffee for the next 2 months. If your name is listed, please be sure to put it on your calendar. If you need to change the date, please advise Christina Liolin or Adriana Topore. It is very important to remember that on the day you are scheduled for coffee, please arrive at church by 10 a.m. so that preparations can be made. What to bring: Cake for people Cookies for the children 1 gallon of milk October 7 Oneda Sera / Liri Panajoti 14 Christina Liolin /Alexandra Liolin 21 75th Anniversary Celebration 28 Open November 4 Kozeta Pano / Oli Rehova 11 Nina Panariti / Klodi Bode 18 Donika Papando / Ornela Joanidhi 25 Open October th Classes 10:30 Nursery Class (2-4 year olds) 10: year old class 11:15 (after communion) 7-10 year olds 28 th Classes 10:30 Nursery Class (2-4 year olds) 10: year old class 11:15 (after communion) 7-10 year olds November th Children s Sermon 11 th Classes 10:30 Nursery Class (2-4 year olds) 10: year old class 11:15 (after communion) 7-10 year olds 25 th Classes 10:30 Nursery Class (2-4 year olds) 10: year old class 11:15 (after communion) 7-10 year olds BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO SUNDAY SCHOOL For the school year, Sunday School classes will be held on the 2 nd and 4 th Sundays of each month. There will also be a children s sermon on the 1 st Sunday of each month. This year we are proud to have 3 classes: Nursery Class (Age 2-4 Parents accompany children) During Liturgy Class 1 (Ages 5-6) - During Liturgy Class 2 (Ages 7-10) Held after Communion

5 Page 5 OCTOBER SAINT AND NAME DAYS 99 Martyred Fathers of Crete Commemorated on October 7 These 99 martyrs were from Crete. The most prominent among them was called John, and he was known as a wonderworker. He knelt so much in prayer that he was not able to walk, and had to move about on his knees. One day a woodsman saw him going about in this way. Thinking that it was some wild animal, he shot the saint with an arrow. It is said that the other ninety-eight Fathers also died on that same day. It is not known when these holy ascetics lived. October Name Days 16 - St. Longin (Logan) 18 - St. Luke Luke Brehl 19 - St. Laura of Spain Lori Dilo, Laura DiTullio, Lauren Foundos 20 - St. Diana Diana Kerim, Diana Beno 23 - St. James Jamie Beno, Jim Liolin, Jim Oswald 26 - St. Demetrios Dhimiter Beno, Dhimiter Guma, Dhimitraq Papando, Dhimiter Pecani, Dhimitrulla Prifti - St. Alfred Alfred Fundo 30 - St. Zenobia Jen Brehl

6 Page 6 Ads from Merchants Who Support the Church Please look at the Ads and support these Merchants by buying goods and services from them, whenever possible. Tell the Merchant that you are from St, Nicholas Church and saw their Ad in the Church s Monthly Newsletter!!! For New Ads Please Contact - Tomi Beno at (917) SABITA J. BALL00, EA Income Tax Services Jamaica Avenue Tel: Richmond Hill, NY Fax: sabitaballoo@aol.com

7 Page 7 Regency Hotel - Korca Tel: /8/9 hregencyko@hotmail.com Litras Funeral Home Bernard F. Dowd and Tracy B. Dowd Parsons Boulevard Jamaica, New York

8 Page 8 Major Church Activities and Event For the month of October 2018 Sat. 6 - Orthodox Education Day, no vespers Sun. 7 - Liturgy, 10am Sat Vespers is cancelled. Sun Liturgy, 10am Sat Vespers, 5pm Sun Liturgy, 10am Fri Prayers, 7pm: St. Demetrius Sat Vespers, 5pm Sun Liturgy, 10am Ushers Schedule for Sunday Services Lista e sherbimit te dielave ne kishe OCT 07 Roland LLUPA / Edi SERA OCT 14 Ilia LUKA / Bill PETERS OCT 21 Stefan BALTADORI / Izzy TSAMBLAKOS OCT 28 Nasi PAVLLO / Ardian MILE NOV 04 Jim OSWALD / Tomi BENO We re on the Web! Visit us at: St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church Midland Parkway Jamaica Estates, New York Customer Name Street Address City, State Zip Code