PRESENTATION OF CHRIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

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1 PRESENTATION OF CHRIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CURRENT JANUARY 2019

2 Dear Presentation of Christ Family, Lord Jesus, establish your ministry on this block, so the people can be cared for. A woman in the Hill District said this prayer each day as she drove past her disenfranchised neighbors. Months later, this same woman walked into the newly opened FOCUS Mission Center and greeted Father Paul Abernathy, the Executive Director. With tears in her eyes, she thanked him. To her, a caring Orthodox Christian presence was an answer to this daily prayer. Father Paul related this story to us at our 2 nd Annual Christmas Parish Family Retreat. FOCUS continues to serve the needy of the area, first making sure their most basic needs are met without condition, then offering them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To love our neighbor in such a way is a beautiful thing, but it also fulfills two straightforward commandments from our Lord: Jesus told us to love one another, and to do unto the least of our neighbors as we would do unto Him. Everywhere we go during the holiday season red kettles with ringing bells remind us of this commandment. And so, we give our spare change to those who are without. But the Lord calls us to give of our first fruits, and to help those in need year-round regardless of the season. In the new calendar year there will be many opportunities to become even more involved with our blossoming Outreach Ministry. Join us and bring a friend, so that the Lord s ministry, which was established on this block over 100 years ago, may be strengthened and expanded here and throughout East Pittsburgh. See you at Church, Fr. Dean Kokanos

3 A Note from President and Stewardship Chairman Steve Markantone We would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and blessed new year. It is hard to believe that 2018 has passed. We realize how hectic the end of the year can be for all of us with the holidays and our year-end commitments. Yet this is a great time to reflect on the positive changes our church has had, not only in our community at the Presentation of Christ, but also in the East Pittsburgh community. Stop and think about all of the lives we have touched this year giving hope and demonstrating love to our fellow citizens. It is more than just helping the sufferers of the landslide, although that should make every one of us proud. You can learn a lot through adversity. Our parish rose to the occasion and demonstrated the love and faith that we are taught every Sunday morning. Father Dean has demonstrated great leadership through his vigorous love and devotion of everyone in this community, thanks. The church continues to move in a positive direction due to your generosity and hard work. The parishioners of Ypapanti once again demonstrated that LOVE, FAITH, and FAMILY can and will overcome almost anything with God s help. Once again we would like to thank you for the dedication you have provided in the past, present, and future. You are and always will be a beloved member of the Ypapanti family. Steve Markantone Parish Council President

4 Parishioner Spotlight: Christina Batis 2019 marks the year I will turn 28. I will be 28 years old and have no hesitation whatsoever, like many other Greek kids, to call their parents at the blink of an eye. Check engine lights, how to wash my whites to get them really white, and help with my taxes are common things that light up Gloria and Tasso Batis s cell phone. My dad actually turned an extra bedroom in my house I bought into a walk in closet. And trust me, I probably myself have enough shoes for an entire orphanage... Jokes aside, they, like the typical Greek family, gave me the foundation to grow into my own success. To think that 400,000 American foster kids don t have that support and are on truly on their own at 18 without a family is quite disheartening. When I first started at BNY Mellon 4 years I felt compelled to take advantage of their commitment to each employee to match $10,000 per year if they so choose to engage in community partnership efforts. The true statistics and stories of foster kids captivated my heart beyond any other cause, due to my own blessings. I ll never forget the first year I collected donations, a woman representative told me she was so grateful for the larger shoes as the older children are often forgotten about and get made fun of in school for their worn down footwear. Together, we helped hundreds of local foster kids walk in confidence into The HR department at BNY Mellon and our church s combined effort raised 143 pairs of shoes and almost $3,000 in funds to go to the area of greatest need through the Ticket to Dream Foundation. I even got the shipment off in time for the kids to have the shoes for Christmas morning! Now each child has a small piece of Ypapanti s love with them every day as they take strides to find their forever home. I, as well as the kids, thank you for your compassionate donations.

5 HOUSE AND BUSINESS BLESSINGS 2019 Every year, on the Feast of Theophany, Orthodox Christians around the world have a blessing of the waters to celebrate the Baptism of Christ and the revealing of the Holy Trinity to mankind. We then receive the blessing of this Holy Water to renew ourselves in Christ and to remind ourselves that through Christ all things are again made clean. We also extend this blessing to our homes and businesses to wipe away temptations and attacks that might lead us away from Christ. If you wish to have Fr. Dean bless your home and/or business, please complete the form below and return it to the Church. Name: Phone: Street Address: City, State, Zip: Please Suggest three (3) dates that might work for a house blessing. 1.) 2.) 3.) Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. You may place it in the Sunday collection basket, mail it to the Church, or it to Fr. Dean at FatherDeanKokanos@gmail.com 1672 Electric Avenue PO BOX J East Pittsburgh, PA 15112

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8 Thank you to our Philoptochos for hosting a successful Parish Christmas Party! Thank you to our Church School teachers for a successful Christmas Pageant! We give thanks to God for our faithful stewards who donated nearly 100 pairs of shoes and over $500 in donations for the Ticket to Dream Foundation. Special thanks to Christina Batis for her work on this.

9 Christmas Parish Family Retreat

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11 PANEGYRI Sunday, January 27, 2019 Immediately Following Divine Liturgy at Ypapanti s Olympia Hall Community Center Special Performance by: The Grecian Odyssey Dancers MUSIC. FUN. PRIZES Including: Sports Memorabilia and Other Items Fun Activities for Children Bring your family and friends and enjoy the afternoon party! PRICE: Adults: $20; Teens &Students $10; Children 12 & under: $5 For Reservations, please call Mary Doreza at

12 Our outreach ministry s next offering is Mental Health First Aid Certification Please Fr. Dean at FatherDeanKokanos@gmail.com to register by Monday, February 11. Details below.

13 Presentation of Christ Feast Day Services Great Vespers on Feb. 1 at 7PM and Feast Day Feb. 2, 8:15 AM Matins, 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy. Lunch to follow.

14 Please remember to bring creamer and juice. Thank you.

15 Calendar for January 2019 Subject to Updates Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday December 30 8:30 AM Matins 31 5:00PM January :30 Matins 9:30 AM Divine Matins & HAPPY 6:00PMCollege 9:30 10:30 9:30 Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy NEW Student Get AM Royal Liturgy- Trisagion- Feast of St. YEAR Together Hall 7:00 PM Hours of Blessing of Karystinos/ Basil NO Paraklesis Odyssey Theophany the Waters Prestogeorge or Adult Educ Practice Vasilopita 5:00 PM Cutting Great Vespers 6 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Waters 13 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy Trisagion- Koutsavlis 12:00 PM Philoptochos 7 Synaxis of St John the Baptist 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy :00 AM YASOU 7:00 PM Parish Council 7:00 PM Choir Practice 9 Cooking for the Homeless 2PM 6:30 PM Paraklesis 7:30 PM Adult Education 16 6:30 PM Paraklesis 7:15 PM Odyssey Pract 7:30 PM Adult Education 10 7:00 PM Odyssey Practice Feast of Sts. Athanasios & Cyril 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy 19 10:00 AM Priests, Treasures and Presidents Meeting All Saints Canonsburg 20 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy 2:00 PM Odyssey Practice :30 PM Paraklesis 7:30 PM Adult Education 24 7:00 PM Odyssey Practice 25 St. Gregory the Theologian 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy :30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy Feast Day Celebration :00 PM Sandwiches for the homeless 30 6:30 No Paraklesis 7:00 PM Orthodox Movie Night 31 7:00 PM Odyssey Practice FEB 1 7:00 PM Great Vespers Presentation of the Lord in the temple FEB 2 Presentation of our Lord in the Temple 8:15 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy

16 Presentation of Christ Ypapanti Greek Orthodox Church 1672 Electric Avenue, PO Box J, East Pittsburgh, PA Website: Follow us on Instagram and Under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, His Eminence Demetrios Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and His Eminence Metropolitan Savas The mission of Ypapanti is to proclaim with joy the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian Faith and to be a community devoted to and energized by the love of God and our neighbor. Rev. Fr. Constantine Kokanos Sunday Services Cell Phone: Matins 8:30 AM FatherDeanKokanos@gmail.com Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM Lucy Koutsavlis, Admin Assistant Paraklesis Service Wednesday at 6:30 PM lkoutsavlis@ypapanti.net Orthodox Adult Education - Office Phone: Wednesday at 7:30 PM Office FAX: Stefanos Giannikas, Chanter Tara Reis, Events Coordinator Filia Arvanitis, Asst Chanter Thomas Rosvanis, Asst Chanter Wilford Clark, Custodian 2018 Parish Council Members (2019 Members Sworn In After Publication) Steve Markantone, Pres Anthony Peter J Stan Prestogeorge, VP Koutsavlis, Samantha Tom Rosvanis, VP Koutsavlis, Sophie Paula Borsch, Treasurer Lazaridis, Kiki Anastasia Andrews, Treas Mantzouridis, Petros Sam Koutsavlis, Secretary Pranis, Tootie Organizations & Committees Sunday School Director -Paula Borsch Philoptochos President Sylvia Graziano Choir Director-Tom Rosvanis Choir President Toni Morgan Organists- Marguerite Ellis & Roula Kyros YAL-Nick Stupakis & Dean Leventopoulos GOYA/Youth Advisor-Roula Kyros St. Kyriaki Book Store Deborah Gryziak YASOU Co-Presidents-Tootie Pranis Mike Orson Grecian Odyssey Dancers Director Mary Doreza President Elias Bardis Junior Olympian Dancers Directors Michelle Kotsagrelos Jamie Orfanopoulos Asst Directors Elias Bardis Maria Bardis GAPA President Elias Bardis