Pg. 7 Sr. Kefi News Pg. 8 Vacation Church School Pg. 9 Dates Pg.10 AGAPE, AHEPA, DOP Pg.11 Monthly Calendar

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ISSUE 5 MAY 2018 Pg. 2 Some thoughts from Dcn John Pg. 3 Graduation Pg. 4 GOYA News Pg. 5 Philoptochos Post Pg. 6 Choir Notes Pg. 7 Sr. Kefi News Pg. 8 Vacation Church Pg. 9 Dates Pg.

11 Monthly Calendar Looking into May May 6th - Sunday of the Samaritan Woman May 13th - Sunday of the Blind Man Mother s Day May 17th - Ascension of our Lord May 20th - Sunday of the Holy Fathers

1 ISSUE 5 MAY 2018 Pg. 2 Some thoughts from Dcn John Pg. 3 Graduation Pg. 4 GOYA News Pg. 5 Philoptochos Post Pg. 6 Choir Notes Pg. 7 Sr. Kefi News Pg. 8 Vacation Church Pg. 9 Dates Pg.10 AGAPE, AHEPA, DOP Pg.11 Monthly Calendar Looking into May May 6th - Sunday of the Samaritan Woman May 13th - Sunday of the Blind Man Mother s Day May 17th - Ascension of our Lord May 20th - Sunday of the Holy Fathers Thank you luncheon for Fr. Dean, Sunday /Greek Graduation May 27th - Pentecost Please note there will be no time change this summer. All Sunday services will keep the same hours, 8:45am Orthros and 10:00am Divine Liturgy May Usher Duty Sunday, May 6th - Team 5 G e o r g e A n t o n a k l a s, R i t a H u r s t, Dominique Hurst, Evangelia Antonaklas Sunday, May 13th - Team 6 Orson Gregory, Jim Ververis, Sandra Carnevale, Orpheas Gregory, Pheevos Gregory Sunday, May 20th - Team 7 Jim Kalyvas, Tania Kalyvas, Anastasia Gregory, Maria Olavarria, Ron Gregory Sunday, May 27th - Team 8 Nicky Stamoulis, Vivian Mendonides, George Klimis, Bill Christopher, Christopher Klimis Please be on time for your Sunday duty. If you are not able to be here, please find someone to replace you! Rev. Fr. Dean Mendrinos, Interim Proistamenos Rev. Deacon John Pantelis th Street North St. Petersburg, FL fax: office@ststefanos.org

2 SOME THOUGHTS FROM DEACON JOHN Welcome to May. A wonderful Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha are in the books as is our Spring General Assembly where the necessary business of the parish was successfully conducted. In May we look ahead to Sunday and Greek graduations and the beginning of the vacation seasons for many. With this in mind I would like to discuss our parish s Mission Statement. Yup, we have one and you can find it in our Sunday Bulletin every week. I have included it below for quick reference: Saint Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church is dedicated to the continuation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ s ministry of salvation through the proclamation and teaching of the Gospel; through the Grace of God; faith; Baptism and through loving service to God and to mankind. I don t know when this was written or by whom but that s a mouthful, but what does it mean to us on a day to day basis I wonder? What did our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ say about this in His Great Commission? Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) The focus then, to me anyway, is on the last 8 words of the Mission Statement through loving service to God and to mankind Of course making disciples can happen only with the power of God, but we have to be the instruments of His power. He will use us as He wishes to make disciples. Let s start this right here at our church home. St Stefanos Church is located just a few miles from some of the nicest beaches and resorts in the country. Vacation season is upon us. We can look forward to many visitors on Sundays starting this month through August, some Greek Orthodox and some who are just curious, who look for the nearest Greek Orthodox (or Orthodox, or Christian) church to attend while they are on vacation or visiting the area. When they enter the church, let s welcome them. When they go to coffee hour, let s speak with them. When they depart, let s invite them back. If they are not Greek Orthodox they might be impressed and want to learn more. If they start to attend regularly when in the area, we might have succeeded in making disciples. If they are Greek Orthodox they might be looking for a retirement area church. Either way we want them to feel like their presence is welcome and appreciated. It all starts with each of us and our contribution to fulfilling our mission statement, or at least a small part of it. Welcome a newcomer this summer and let God work through you to make disciples. In Christ, Deacon John

3 Χριστος Ανεστη! Christ is Risen! PRESIDENT S REPORT A lot happened in the past four months. In February we had our festival, a very successful one, thank you Spiro for your tireless efforts and all our stewards and volunteers who before, during and after, stepped up and helped. We also had Hope and Joy Chili Cook-off and Godparents breakfast hosted by our choir. After the festival we had a break in one of the sheds. They took a leaf blower, weed eater, and a gallon of oil. After pricing all items our cost was $3,324 which includes warranties. Orson secured the new equipment, by bolting them to the floor. John Tischner, notified the Parish Council that he will no longer manage the kitchen. Some of the guys who worked with John have taken over for now and I want to thank them. Also, a huge thank you to John for all the years he managed the kitchen with much love and efficiency. We had the annual visit from the Canterbury school. Over thirty students and their teachers visit our church each year and Mr. Balasis gives them a tour with a lot of information about our faith. Mathew notified me about the visit and I joined the group. Thank you Mathew! This brings us to March, when we received a call followed by a letter from his Eminence Metropolitan Alexios informing us that Fr. Soteri will no longer service our community. We were also told that we were responsible for Fr. Soteri s salary and benefits for the months of March and April. Charles Stamoulis with Orson s help painted the vestibule. With prayers and a lot of faith we continued with the Pre Sanctified Liturgies, dinners and presentations. Big thank you to all who hosted the dinners: Parish Council, Philoptochos, Sr. KEFI, Daughters of Penelope, Youth and Choir. We welcomed Fr. Dean to our Parish. We hosted the Lenten retreat, the Oratorical Festival, Acolyte workshop, represented St. Stefanos at the March 25th parade in Tarpon Springs, Greek school had the Greek Independence Day program and luncheon, and finished the month on Saturday of Lazarus, with pancake breakfast after the liturgy and palm cross making and cleaning preparing for Holy Week. April has been extremely busy. After Palm Sunday liturgy the Philoptochos hosted their annual fish dinner. We had good church attendance throughout the week, and everyone was happy to participate in the liturgy. Members of the choir sang the hymn of Kasiani. Daughters of Penelope hosted coffee on Holy Tuesday. Holy Friday, Sunday school had an all-day retreat. AHEPA hosted breakfast and lunch. Charles Stamoulis and Orson prepared the food. Big thank you to all who served during Holy Week in the Alter, chanting, the Epitafio, the red egg preparation, and all who covered the pagari. April 14th, we had a presentation from Mr. Bill Mariannes IGNITE THE FLAME. It was about strategic planning, looking at where we are, where we want to be and how we are going to get there. I would like to thank Dn. John for helping out with church related needs and Kali for her help when our bookkeeper was on vacation. She is also doing the Sunday bulletin and the LIGHT with some help from Dn. John and me. Thank you, Peter Konstantakos for continuing to manage and update our website. The Parish Council (thank you for the many meeting hours) is doing its part to reorganize and rebuilt, but we need you, our St. Stefanos family. If we are to grow and thrive as a church community we need you, each and every one of you! Remember when we are faced with a challenge, we can either wilt, or rise to the occasion as we do at St. Stefanos! With Love in Christ, Nicky

PHILOPTOCHOS Philoptochos News: Many thanks to all of our Philoptochos ladies who helped so much during Holy Week, with Palm Sunday luncheon and bake sale, collecting the money for the flowers,

4 PHILOPTOCHOS Philoptochos News: Many thanks to all of our Philoptochos ladies who helped so much during Holy Week, with Palm Sunday luncheon and bake sale, collecting the money for the flowers, buying the flowers, and decorating the Kavouklion, and dyeing the eggs. Philoptochos also provided Easter baskets filled with personal supplies to 20 female veterans who live at the Bay Pines Veterans Administration. Philoptochos cooked for Ronald McDonald House West on Sunday, April 15, and will be feeding Pinellas Hope again on May 3, making the bags on May 2. Philoptochos will be providing one St Stefanos graduating senior with a scholarship. This will be given at the Sunday graduation May 20. Our next meeting will be held on SATURDAY, May 26 after service (about 10:30) in the Educational building. We hope you can join us. Don't forget our end of the year luncheon at Isla del Sol on Sunday, June 3 after church. Tickets will be available from Betty Morgan. We encourage all of our church members to join with us in order to fulfill the mission of the Philoptochos-- to help the poor, promote the charitable purposes of the Church, preserve the Orthodox faith, and promote participation in the activities of the St. Stefanos community. All are welcome. We would love to have you join us! Please complete and cut out the form below. Send it with your $35.00 check (2018 dues) payable to the St. Stefanos Philoptochos Society. St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church Ladies Philoptochos Membership Form Please print your information below: Name: Address: City: zip code Tel: Please mail above form and check to the church - Attn: Philoptochos

5 CHOIR NOTES Choir notes: The choir enjoyed singing for Holy Week, and hope you did as well! We are now planning to learn a bilingual liturgy written by Takey Zes in preparation for Choir Conference where Dr. Zes will be conducting the South Eastern Federation choir in Mobile, Alabama, on July Several of our choir members are planning to make the trip. Anyone who enjoys praising God in song is welcome to join us. s are in the choir loft on Thursdays at 7pm and Sundays in the hall at 9:30 before service. It is an excellent way to give of your "talent" to the church. You do not have to speak or read Greek to sing with us. Books N Gift Shop The Search is Over Harriet Crozier and Joanna Petsalis have proudly stepped up to the plate to take over the Book Store. They plan to make changes over the summer but need your help with suggestions for the BOOKS N GIFT SHOP. Please fill out the form below with suggestions of what you would like to see in our new Shop. Please turn form into the Office or Book Store. Print Name: Phone optional: IDEAS:

SATURDAY OF SOULS ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ May 26th, 2018 On the first two Saturdays prior to the Great Lent and the first Saturday of the Great Lent, the Church commemorates the departed on the SATURDAY OF

6 SATURDAY OF SOULS ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ May 26th, 2018 On the first two Saturdays prior to the Great Lent and the first Saturday of the Great Lent, the Church commemorates the departed on the SATURDAY OF SOULS. Please complete the form below with the BAPTISMAL FIRST NAMES ONLY of those to be commemorated at the Saturday of Souls memorial services. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Σάς παρακαλούμε να συμπληρώσετε το κάτωθι φόρμ με τα ονόματα τεθνεώτον (μόνο το βαπτιστικό πρώτο όνομα) και να το στείλετε.. ΝΑ ΓΡΑΨΕΤΕ ΜΕ ΚΑΘΑΡΑ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ! Sunday and Greek Graduation following Divine Liturgy on May 20th

7 21 Sts Constantine & 5 St. Irene 26 Saturday of Souls Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 8:45am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy 13 Mothers Day 8:45am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy 20 8:45am Orthros 10:00am Div. Liturgy Sunday/Greek Graduation & Thank You Fr. Dean Luncheon 27 Pentecost 8:45am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy followed by Kneeling Service 7 14 Helen 28 Memorial Day Office Closed 1 6:30pm Greek 8 6:30pm Parish Council 6:30pm Greek 15 6:30pm Greek 2 May Isaiah the Prophet 10:00am UAW 16 6:30pm AHEPA/DOP 3 7:00pm Sr Kefi 10 7:0opm Sr Kefi 17 Ascension 9am Orthros/Liturgy 7:0opm Sr Kefi :00pm Sr Kefi :0opm Sr Kefi 4 10:00am Prayer Group 6pm AHEPA Scholarship Banquet 11 10:00am Prayer Group 18 10:00am Prayer Group 25 10:00am Prayer Group 12 11am HOPE/JOY End of Year Party 19 9:00am Div Liturgy 10:30am Philoptochos Meeting

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Pg. 7 Monthly Calendar Pg. 8 Fall Festival

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,