ARK - ΚΙΒΩΤΟΣ Μ Η Ν Ι ΑΙ Ο ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ Τ Η Σ Κ ΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ

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1 JANUARY / ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2018 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1 The H ARK - ΚΙΒΩΤΟΣ M ONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE AS S U M P T I ON OF OUR MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Μ Η Ν Ι ΑΙ Ο ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ Τ Η Σ Κ ΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 111 Island Pond Road Manchester NH Phone: (603) Fax: (603) info@assumptionnh.org Facebook: ASSUMPTIONgocNH Links and Resources Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Boston Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople January 6 th, Holy Epiphany 1

2 Reverend Father Gregory Trakas Office Hours Tuesday & Thursday 1-4 PM & by appointment Parish Council 2017 President... James Folopoulos Vice President... Nick Karagianis Treasurer... Peter Xintaras Secretary... Arthur Bakolas Costa Georgopoulos Harold Guidicelli Stathis Kapellakis Kathy Papakostas Penny Papastathis Kerrie Poplin Helen Rainey Anthony Tsekrekas Philoptochos Board 2017 President...Lucie Skouteris Vice President...Maria Chronas Treasurer.. Helen Rainey Recording Secretary..Michelle Kapos Corresponding Secretary..Andrea Moutsioulis Natl. & Local Boards Liaison...Mariana Gasis Advisor... Nancy Mardanes Martha Galanis Evangelia Gregorious Staff Artemis Lazos Secretary...Janet Malin Chanter.Vasilios Rokas Choir Director.To Be Hired YOUTH MINISTRIES Directors GOYA... Stavroula Bakolas Jr. GOYA...Stavroula Bakolas JOY... Julie Karagianis Mommy & Me Ranya Karatzoulidis PARISH SCHOOLS Sunday School Co- Directors...Theohare Kapellakis Ranya Karatzoulidis Greek School Director George Kitsis Teacher.Alexandra Bruttaniti Advisor.Connie Stamoulis Dance Instructor Angela Bourassa Fr. Gregory Trakas Sophia Annas James Folopoulos Ellen Healy Nick Karagianis Newsletter Editors Janet Malin Nancy Mardanes Kathy Papakostas Helen Rainey Address Changes Please notify the Church office if you are moving so that we may update our database. Thank you! Pastoral Home Visitation If a loved one is in the hospital, a nursing home, or house-bound for any reason, please contact Fr. Gregory Trakas at the Church office to arrange a visit. The Ark is published monthly by the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH

3 Parish Priest Happy and Blessed New Year to all! Thank you for your love in the House of our Lord and His Holy Mother, our Panagia! The month of January is full of feasts! The first day of the year is dedicated to the Circumcision of our Lord and the feast of St. Basil the Great. Then follows Holy Epiphany on January 6 th, and the feast of St. John the Baptist the next day. We will celebrate the feasts of Saints Anthony and Athanasios in a joint Vesperal (evening) Divine Liturgy on January 17 th. Then, St. Gregory the Theologian on the 25 th & the Three Hierarchs on the 30 th. In our Orthodox Christian faith every day of the year is a feast. We have not reduced our faith to a Sunday-only gathering. The joy of being Christian fills all the days of our lives. However, our busy lifestyles and the many distractions around us push us to attend church as little and as quickly as possible. Some do not even attend at all! This is because we have permitted to our secular life to overtake our religious and spiritual life. We give importance and often worship things of this world and we put aside and often neglect things of the world to come. My fellow Christians, it is up to all of us to resist the pressure of the times. Celebrating feasts in church is pleasing to our Heavenly Father, to our Lord Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit, to our Panagia and all the saints who we occasionally honor. We should consider it a blessing to be in church two and three times per week, and this month is giving us this opportunity. To make it even easier, January 17th we will try an early evening service, which is shorter and it can accommodate working people and school children. Please follow our monthly schedule and join us in worship. Praying at home is by itself pleasing God. However, partaking in the communal thanksgiving of our Church, the Holy Eucharist, is one of the principal ways we show our love and gratitude to God. Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) is the Sacrament of Sacraments, the ultimate opportunity to unite with our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ during our earthly lives. He asked us to do this in memory of Him (Luke 22:19), to do so in a group (Matt 18:20) and as often as possible (Rom 12:12) not only once a week, and definitely not only 2-3 times per year! Happy Name Day to all named after the many saints celebrated this month! Parish News A big thank you goes to all those who ran for Parish Council positions and served in our Election Committee. The names and positions of the 2018 Parish Council will be announced next month after the ratification of results. The new board members will be sworn this month. The next parish council meeting will be on Monday, January 15 th at 7:00 PM. Philoptochos News Happy New Year! Our thanks to all who donated money for the poinsettias and wreaths and helped decorate the church and the hall for the Christmas season. Our church looked beautiful and the hall was quite festive, thanks to the efforts of so many. The Philoptochos will host the cutting of the Vasilopeta on Sunday, January 7, following the Divine Liturgy. Please remember to pay your dues, which are $ We will be collecting dues at our holiday party, which will be held later in January. We are always looking for new members to join Philoptochos. The next Philoptochos Board meeting will be held Wednesday, January 3, at 6:30 PM Lucie Skouteris, President 3

4 New Horizons Soup Kitchen The New Horizons Soup Kitchen visit this month is on Sunday, January 28 th, from 4 6 pm. We are always looking for 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. If you have any suggestions or questions, please call the church office. Thank you! Choir We are looking for an organist and choir director. If anyone is interested in learning the organ, we will pay for their lessons. Please contact the church office. We are looking for volunteers to join our talented choir. All ages are welcome! Don t be shy if you don t have experience. All that is required is your passion and love for our church! During the summer the choir is not singing or practicing. Youth Ministry News IMPORTANT UPCOMING YOUTH MINISTRY DATES & EVENTS TO REMEMBER January 4 th - Greek School classes resume regular schedule January 7 th, at 10:15 AM - Sunday School lessons resume. Also, following the Divine Liturgy: - Vasilopeta Celebration - GOYA MEETING (all aged are welcome) January 14 th, at 12:30 PM - GOYA and family members will depart from church hall to visit Philoxenia House in Boston and deliver the items donated by our parishioners. The group will then attend a Metropolis of Boston Basketball Tournament game at Holy Cross Gymnasium in Brookline, MA. January 18 th - Greek Dancing Lessons resume January 21 st - Youth Ministry Coffee Hour Sunday. You can assist with set-up, clean-up and/or by offering a baked good or bought snack to share. We will be in the church kitchen/hall from 9:30 receive items. Please contact Mrs. Stavroula or Mrs. Connie to arrange. Our Youth Ministry will also sponsor a "Goodies Sale" during the coffee hour. Families are welcomed to bring in a favorite "goodie" to be sold. Proceeds will benefit our youth ministries. Thank you! 4

5 Sacraments & Services When planning a baptism or wedding, please check church availability BEFORE booking your reception hall. Thank you! Memorial January 14 th - Phyllis Brown Planning Memorials When planning for a memorial, please contact the church office at There is a particular altar wine and incense we use. Please call for details! PLANNED GIVING is a gesture that comes from the heart! Leave a legacy! As you plan your financial future, please remember your Parish. There are several types of planned donations to consider. Here are a few of them to consider. In all cases, please consult your financial advisor for more information. Charitable Bequests: Once you secure the well-being of your family, you may choose to include in your will a significant donation to your church. Gifts of Life Insurance: Using a life insurance policy makes it possible to make a major gift while protecting the inheritance of one s heir(s). Gifts of Listed Securities: The gift of publicly listed securities, bonds, mutual fund units or other similar securities is one of the most fiscally advantageous ways to make a substantial donation to a charitable organization because the donor will avoid paying tax on capital gains. The gift of shares or other securities will give rise to a tax credit. It is more advantageous to transfer the securities directly rather than to donate the proceeds collected from selling the securities. This type of donation is advisable to those who wish to make a substantial donation without encroaching on their liquid assets, or to those who own shares or other securities which have significantly increased in value since their acquisition. Charitable Annuities: A charitable gift annuity consists of a donation of money or other assets to a charitable organization in exchange for guaranteed earnings for life or for a determined period of time. RECOGNITION It is with much love and appreciation we have received four considerable bequests made to our parish which we feel should be recognized. The benefactors are Doris Springer (Alex Demos sister), Phyllis Brown, Anastasia Galanis and Kelly Locke. Their thoughtfulness is a tribute to their caring and desire for our parish to prosper and grow for generations to come. May their memories be eternal. 5

6 December 2017 Stewardship Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Bakolas Raymond Buckley Mr. & Mrs. John Costes Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dryer Daphne Emanuel Mr. & Mrs. George Gasis Mr. & Mrs. Costsa Georgopoulos Tena Giavroutas Demetrios Kamberis Mr. & Mrs. Stathis Kapellakis Mr. & Mrs. Pierre LaBrie Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Poplin Helen Rainey Arthur Stroumbos Mrs. Thomas Tsecaris Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Tsekrekas Jean Vlangas Mr.& Mrs. Peter Xintaras Mr.& Mrs. Thomas Xintaras Fr. Gregory Trakas Donations in Memory of James Franggos Kaliope Kamberis Stephanie Papajohn Julia Pournaras John Xintaras, Jr. Please submit your 2018 Stewardship Stewardship is our God-given OBLIGATION and the PRIMARY source of income for our church! Seek first God s Kingdom and His Righteousness and all other things shall be added to you. (Matt 6:33) And some seeds fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. (Luke 8:8) Give to Cesar what is Cesar s and to God what is God s. (Mark 12:17) Reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful giver. (St. Paul 2 nd Corinthians 9:6-8) Rich is not the one who has much, but the one who gives much. For what one gives away, he keeps for all eternity. (St. John Chrysostom) Fuel Fund Martha Galanis Georgia Gancarz Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Kamberis Mr. & Mrs. John Stergiou Betty Xintaras Fundraisers Ad Book $ Greek School Books $ Pita Fest $1, Christmas Card Fundraiser $ George Tzimopoulos Raffle $1, Thank you for your love to the House of the Lord and Panagia 6

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8 ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 111 Island Pond Road Manchester, NH NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO Christmas Pageant 2017