Let us Rejoice at Christmas Rev. Andrew Demotses

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1 Let us Rejoice at Christmas Rev. Andrew Demotses December 2017 It is very difficult for us, if not impossible, to have a relationship that is intimate and binding with an idea or a concept no matter how noble it might be. God understood these when He revealed Himself to us as a person, and allowed us to see Him in the person of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. By sending Him to earth in the form of mankind, our heavenly Father fully revealed Himself to us. Jesus is, as St. Paul wrote, God in human form. (I Tim. 3:16). Jesus Christ made this point clear when He said to Philip, He who has seen Me has seen the Father. (Jn. 14:9). This is exactly what the good news of Christmas is that God has shown us what He is like in the person of His Son, and has invited us to establish a personal relationship with Him. The tiny infant that Mary cradled in a Bethlehem manger was the visible likeness of our invisible God. (Col. 1:15). As the day of Christmas approaches, let us be mindful of the words of the angel who told the shepherds, This very day in David s town your Savior was born Christ the Lord! (Luke 2:11). As we prepared to celebrate this holy day, we must not forget who Christ is. Looking into the face of our Savior we can see and meet the holiness, the grace and the love of our eternal and heavenly Father. But if this is to happen, we must abandon, if even for a short time, the mindless and consuming pursuit of our worldy goals and follow the example of the shepherds who hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. (Lk. 2:16) And having come and met the child, they realized that they were gazing at God who came to this earth for our sake. That is why the shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen. (Luke 2:20). Let us, therefore, resolve to make this Christmas the day in which we come to meet God in the person of Jesus Christ, and prove to ourselves that Jesus Christ is Immaneul, which means God is with us. (Matt. 1:23). When the shepherds came, they discovered that It had been just as the angels had told them. (Lk. 2:20). We owe it to ourselves to do no less. St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church 4 Appleton Street Arlington, MA stathanasiusgoc@gmail.com

2 SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Metropolis of Boston 4 Appleton Street, Arlington, MA ASKISIS OFFICIAL Publication of St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church Arlington, MA SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Winter: Orthros 8:45 am Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am Summer: Orthros 8:00 am Divine Liturgy: 9:15 am Acting Proistamenos: Rev. Fr. Andrew Demotses Assistant Priest: Fr. Aaron C. Walker St. Athanasius the Great is a parish under the spiritual and ecclesial oversight of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of the Metropolis of Boston, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the jurisdiction of The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington, Massachusetts strives to be the living witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our mission as a parish is to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13), as St. Paul so exhorts. Thus it is our rich blessing to strive and bring the Light of Christ to all of God s people, through Orthodox Christian tradition, education and philanthropy. We seek to serve the spiritual needs of our faithful parishioners through the sacramental life of the Church. By means of outreach and faith in God, we continue our growth as a living Church by inviting others into the Orthodox faith through Baptism and/or Chrismation, and educating them through the establishment of our Christian ministries, programs, schools and philanthropic activities. CHURCH DIRECTORY Parish Administrative Assistants Stella Kazantzas & Kathy VanKuilenburg Parish Office Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am 7:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am 2:00 pm Main Office: (781) FAX: (781) stathanasiusgoc@gmail.com Website: Fr. Aaron fraaronwalker@gmail.com Fr. Aaron Cell: (617) PARISH COUNCIL Constandinos Ioakimidis... President A. Paul Tsitsopoulos... 1 st Vice President Mark Ypsilantis... 2 nd Vice President S. Nicholas Kriketos... Secretary Ted Speros... Associate Secretary Stefanos Bouboulis... Treasurer Nikitas Splagounias... Associate Treasurer #1 Peter Stanitsas... Associate Treasurer #2 Parish Council Members:... Athanasios Arvanitis, Christina Chalapatas, Antonios Dakopoulos, Vassilios Karras, Vicki Konstandakis, Alexandros Kyrou Charlie Pappas, Eleanor Profis, and Michael Terzakis PARISH MINISTRIES & ORGANIZATIONS Altar Boys (Acolytes)... Fr. Andrew Demotses Cantors/Psaltes.Dimitrios Manolakis and Spyros Prois Choir Director... Stella Pathiakis Greek School Principal... Eleni Giannaki Greek School PTO.OPEN Little Halos Interim Director....Argyro Nikoletos Fellowship Hour Ministry... Vicki Konstandakis Gardening Ministry... S. Nicholas Kriketos GOYA President... Thanos Arvanitis HOPE & Joy.... Eleni Pesiridis & Eleni Splagounias P.E.A.C.E. Ministry... Althea Ioakimidis Philoptochos President... Crystal Iakovou Pine Street Inn Ministry... Randy Fassas Stewardship...Michael Terzakis Sunday School Interim Coordinator..George Makredes Young at Heart Seniors..Joint Effort Metropolis of Boston website... Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website

3 Community Update Rev. Andrew Demotses We are pleased to be able to share with all of the good news that we have been able to enjoy a series of very successful fall community-wide events. 1. We begin by expressing our deepest gratitude to the parishioners of St. Athanasius who responded with an extraordinary spirit of generosity to our Annual Turkey Drive. As a result, we are able to deliver over 300 turkeys to The Home for Little Wanderers for distribution to families in need. Thank you. 2. On Saturday, November 18, we all experienced a joyous occasion of fellowship at the Beer and Wine Tasting event sponsored by our St. Barbara s Philoptochos Society. The Bouboulis Auditorium was awash in the glow of elegant flowers and candlelight, professional sommeliers offered samples of fine wines and notable craft beers, and we were all treated to a magnificent buffet table of hors d oeuvres and a dessert and coffee station worthy of a Parisian pastry shop. More than 125 people were present to enjoy the festive evening. 3. On Sunday, November 19, we held our second Family Worship Sunday, followed by a complimentary family dinner made possible by generous parish benefactors who donated the entire cost of the meal. At that same dinner, our parish GOYA held its annual pre- Thanksgiving Pie Sale, which, once again, was a complete sell-out and provided our young people with a welcome sense of support and encouragement. Future events are being planned, and as they are announced, we welcome all the members of the St. Athanasius family to participate, and assure each of you a warm and heart-felt welcome. Donor Honor Roll... Continued We are pleased to add the names of the following parishioners to the list of donors whose great generosity of spirit allowed us to complete the restoration of all the liturgical object in the altar of St. Athanasius Parish. Candelabra Paula Kostopoulos Fico and Family In Memory of Helen Kostopoulos Altar Future Projects David and Mary-Anne Schubert To all those families and individuals who offered to make donations but were unable to do so because all items had been sponsored, we assure them of our gratitude and of the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ equally honors their gracious intentions. 3

4 SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Metropolis of Boston 4 Appleton Street, Arlington, MA November 17, 2017 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am writing to update you on information regarding the change of ministerial leadership at St. Athanasius Church. The Metropolis is committed to the dissemination of the truth in this matter, while respecting the ongoing legal process. To assure that every one of us has an opportunity to understand the facts, the Metropolis has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and a Timeline of Events ( relating to the removal of Fr. Kastanas from his pastoral duties here at St. Athanasius. The Metropolis will update this FAQ and the Timeline as necessary to assure as complete a set of facts and circumstances as is possible, and appropriate in the context of the ongoing legal proceedings of the lawsuit that Fr. Kastanas filed against the Metropolis. It is the Metropolis hope that the availability of accurate information will help to dispel the misinformation that has created so much confusion and anguish in our parish. We trust these efforts will promote the process of healing and reconciliation at our parish for which we all pray. We all remain united in the humble work of ensuring that the St. Athanasius Parish stands as an inspiration for all who seek God s bounty and blessings. With every wish for your continued good health and with love in Christ Jesus, I remain. Rev. Fr. Andrew Demotses 4 Parish Office- Telephone: Fax: stathanasiusgoc@gmail.com web:

5 A Message from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston Concerning St. Athanasius the Great of Arlington, MA Recent events at St. Athanasius Church in Arlington relating to the removal of Fr. Nicholas Kastanas continue to concern many of the faithful in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. Regrettably, rather than thoughtful discussion of the relevant facts and circumstances, there has been disseminated, through a variety of sources, a series of misguided and untruthful information that has been negative and hurtful to this community. discussed below. In a spirit of complete candor, and with required sensitivity to the current pending Court proceedings, the Metropolis has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and a Timeline document to help the community better understand the facts and circumstances that led to the change of pastoral leadership at St. Athanasius. The answers to the questions that follow include the Metropolis opinions and beliefs based on the underlying facts, also View the FAQ» View the Timeline» When reading this FAQ and this Timeline, we ask that you keep in mind the importance of ecclesiastical and institutional considerations that lie at the heart of the Metropolis daily activities. A guiding principle must always be to assure the continued vitality of the Church. Together, we are sixty-two parishes serving thousands of Greek Orthodox faithful in New England. Our role is to strengthen and preserve the Church as a continual source of salvation for current and succeeding generations. It is the Metropolis sincere hope that the information provided to you by this FAQ and Timeline now, and in the future, will help answer questions about the Metropolis decision to remove Fr. Kastanas from his pastoral responsibilities and recent happenings. As always, we pray for the guidance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we reflect upon the life and unity of our community. 5

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19 Philoptochos Mission Statement: To promote charitable, benevolent and philanthropic outreach, to preserve the sanctity of life and family, and to perpetuate and promote our Orthodox faith and traditions." November Philanthropic Efforts ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE - Feast Day of Saints Cosmas and Damianos Benefits the philanthropic programs and charities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The philanthropies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, such as Balukli Hospital and nursing home, schools, shrines and parishes, are supported through this ministry. National Sisterhood of Presvyteres APC-NSP Benevolent Fund Provides short-term support for clergy and their families in a time of crisis. The National Sisterhood of Presvyteres was established in 1982 and is comprised of all Presvyteres of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Philoptochos funds provide short-term support for clergy and/or their families in times of crisis. From January 1, 2016 to October 31, 2016, the Benevolent Fund made 68 disbursements in the amount of $45, We responded to critical needs such as medical, rent, utility, and insurance payments. Veteran s Day Celebration Koliva and a memorial service was held in memory of our deceased Veterans and Coffee Hour was sponsored in gratitude for the service of our Veterans. COMING UP: Sunday, December 3, 2017, the Philoptochos will celebrate Vespers for our Patron Saint of Saint Barbara at 6:00 p.m. Coffee and refreshments will be offered immediately after vesper service. Donations of desserts are always welcomed 19

20 DECEMBER 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Strict Fast Wine/Oil Allowed Fast Free Fish Allowed 1 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Basketball at Ottoson, 5pm HOPE JOY, 6-8 pm Cocoa & Cookies 2 Altar Servers Meeting, 5:30 pm 3 Sunday Orthros 8:45am; Divine Liturgy 10-11:30am Catechetical Sunday Church School 10am GOYA Meeting 12:15pm BBall at HCHC 4pm ST. BARBARA S VESPERS 6:30 p.m. Followed by Reception Hosted by St. Barbara s Philoptochos 4 St. Barbara s Feast Day Orthros 8am; Div. Lit. 9-10:30am Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Adult Grk Dancing 7-9 pm 5 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Little Halos Raffle Drawing Greek Schl gr 1 & 2, 4-6:30pm Vespers in Lexington 6 pm 6 St. Nicholas Feast Day Orthros 8 am Div. Liturgy 9-10:30am LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE YOUNG AT HEART In Bouboulis Auditorium following liturgy Little Halos 8:30am 3pm 7 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Greek Schl gr 3 & 6, 4-6:30pm Advent Bible Study 6:30 8:30PM 8 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Basketball at Ottoson, 5pm P.E.A.C.E Meeting in Weston, St. Demetrios Church, 6:30pm. GOYA decorating wreaths 7pm 9 Parish Visit to Hellenic Nursing Home in Canton, 9am Liturgy 10 Orthros 8:45am; Divine Liturgy 10-11:30am Catechetical Sunday Church School 10am Memorial: +Theano Rodriguez GOYA Wreath Sale BBall at HCHC 3pm 11 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Adult Grk Dancing 7-9 pm 12 St. Spyridon Feast Day Orthros 8am; Div. Lit. 9-10:30am Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Greek Schl gr 1 & 2, 4-6:30pm 13 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm 14 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Greek Schl gr 3 & 6, 4-6:30pm Advent Bible Study 6:30 8:30PM 15 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Basketball at Ottoson, 5pm Orthros 8:45am; Divine Liturgy 10-11:30am Catechetical Sunday Church School 10am GOYA Meeting 12:15pm BBall at HCHC 5pm Pine Street Inn 5pm 18 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Adult Grk Dancing 7 9 pm 19 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Greek Schl gr 1 & 2, 4-6:30pm 20 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm 21 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Greek Schl gr 3 & 6, 4-6:30pm Advent Bible Study 6:30 8:30PM 22 Little Halos 8:30am 3pm Little Halos Christmas Program 10am FAMILY SUNDAY Orthros 8:45am; Divine Liturgy 10-11:30am FAMILY COMMUNION BREAKFAST Christmas Eve Vespers The Great Service Of the Nativity 6:30pm 25 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CHRISTMAS DAY Orthros 8am Divine Liturgy 9-10:30am NO SCHOOL OFFICE CLOSED 26 CHRISTMAS VACATION NO SCHOOL 27 St. Stephen-The First Martyr Day Orthros 8am Div. Lit. 9-10am CHRISTMAS VACATION NO SCHOOL 28 CHRISTMAS VACATION NO SCHOOL 29 CHRISTMAS VACATION NO SCHOOL Sunday After Christmas Orthros 8:45am; Divine Liturgy 10-11:30am JANUARY 1 NEW YEAR S DAY ST. BASIL S DAY Orthros 8 AM Divine Liturgy 9-10:30 AM SCHOOL & OFFICE CLOSED 20

21 Strict Fast Wine/Oil Allowed Fast Free Fish Allowed Κυριακή Δευτέρα Τρίτη Τετάρτη Πέμπτη Παρασκευή Σάββατο P.E.A.C.E. δ ι α κ ο σ μ ε ί Η λ ι κ ι ω μ έ ν ω ν 21

22 GOYA News We have had a very eventful October and November! We ended our October with a Halloween party. Thank you to the Dakopoulos family for hosting, it was a fun time and everyone had a blast! In the beginning of November, we hosted our Family Glendi. We had a wonderful time dancing and eating! Thank you to all the families who attended and donated to make this event possible! We then participated in baking pies for our Thanksgiving Pie Sale. We would like to thank all the parents and GOYAns for coming and helping to bake 30 pies! We sold them all and our bake sale was a successful turnout. Everyone was amazed to see how beautiful the pies looked and tasted! Thanksgiving is a special time for giving back and that is what St. Athanasius does every year. We are proud to have donated 10 turkeys to the Home for Little Wanderers. It is always a blessing knowing others will have a turkey to eat on the day of giving thanks! We also helped load the turkeys from our parish donations for delivery. In the upcoming month we will be hosting our annual Christmas party and decorating wreaths along with the Christmas tree in the church hall. As always, we will also be decorating cookies for Rosie s Place and making cards for the senior citizens at the Hellenic Nursing Home. We look forward to all these events happening in the future! Sincerely, Joanna Kandaras 22

23 St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church ANNUAL TURKEY DRIVE 300 turkeys were delivered to 300 families supported by The Home for Little Wanderers! Thank you for your generosity, support, and making a difference! 23

24 Grade 10 Sunday Religious Ed Class Notes Justinian s Christmas Gift It was during Christmas, on December 26 th 537, when Emperor Justinian dedicated the glorious and unparalleled Agia Sophia Church in Constantinople. The Divine Liturgy would reverberate within this world s largest cathedral, for more than 900 years! Agia Sophia means Holy Wisdom, and it was dedicated to God. So, contrary to some erroneous references, this cathedral was not named after a Saint, but rather God s Holy Wisdom. Also, the word cathedral comes from the Greek word καθεδρα (cathedra) meaning seat, as in the bishop s throne. Accordingly, a cathedral is, by definition the central church for a bishop, metropolitan, archbishop or patriarch. When Agia Sophia was constructed, there were only hand tools, ropes and pulleys available. No power tools or cranes existed. Similar projects of that era required up to 30 years to complete. Yet, Agia Sophia was ready after 5 years, 10 months and 4 days! Its height is equal to a 15-story building, higher than the Statue of Liberty! The interior once included a 49 foot long icon screen, and a bishop s throne, both of which were adorned in silver, bejeweled icons and gold mosaics. The naos or nave of Agia Sophia was chronicled by Russian envoys who visited the church in 987, in search of a religion for their nation: We knew not whether we were in heaven or earth... We only know that God dwells there among men, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations." Even to this day, when walking into Agia Sophia, one is struck by a solemn, awe-inspiring feeling; and humbled by the church s vast unobstructed openness and priceless iconography. As those holy icon images return your gaze, it brings attention to the fact; you have entered into a most holy and historic Christian edifice: Agia Sophia: The Cathedral dedicated to God s Holy Wisdom! 24

25 Grade 10 Sunday Religious Ed Class Notes A Christmas Quiz True or False: Christ s date of birth was December 25th Answer: No one knows exactly, however the earliest mention of December 25 th was by Bishop Theophilus of Antioch ( ). True or False: Jesus surname is Christ Answer: False. Jesus is The Christ, meaning, the Savior or Messiah. Last names were uncommon in those times. True or False: The very first Gift of Christmas was frankincense. Answer: No. It was the Christ child,... to all mankind from God! True or False: The three Wise Men, or Magi, were magicians or sorcerers. Answer: False. They were likely Zoroastrian priests or astrologers True or False: Christ s Nativity took place in a manger, which was in a cave. Answer: True! Not in a stable or barn as is commonly depicted. True or False: The 3 Wise Mens names do not appear in the bible. Answer: True. However in the year 500, Byzantine Emperor Justinian had a cathedral built in Ravenna, Italy, with a large mosaic fresco depicting the 3 Magi. There they were identified as being, Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar. True or False: The Theotokos was approximately 22 years old at Jesus birth. Answer: False. The Theotokos was closer to age 15 or 16. True or False: Joseph was an elderly man and served as Mary s caretaker. Answer: True. He was a widower and a man of respect in Judea. True or False: St. Nick and the filling of stockings are actually related Answer: Possibly. St. Nicholas, orphaned by wealthy parents, benefited the needy through his largesse. In one instance, he is said to have secretly tossed pieces of gold through a needy family s window, some of which landed in stockings hung to dry. True or False: The term, Happy Holidays is a secular greeting. Answer: Depends. Holiday is a compound word derived from the term Holy Day And thus, a wish to you and yours for a most Joyous and Spiritual Christmas Holy Day! 25

26 Young At Heart - Senior Fellowship Christmas Season Fellowship Sponsored by our Young at Heart Ministry ~ All Are Welcome! Wednesday, December 6, :00-10:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy for St. Nicholas Lenten Lunch and Fellowship immediately following Liturgy Bible Study with Fr. Aaron Continues Location: Sacristy next to the Altar Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dates: 12/7, 12/14, and 12/21 During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Fr. Aaron will lead a Bible study focusing on Old Testament stories that help us to understand the background of the Christmas Story. The Old Testament tells how God prepared the world for Christ. From his creation of Adam and Eve, through His choosing of Abraham and Abraham s descendants, the Hebrew nation, to his anointing of King David, and through His relationship with many other people, God was setting up the appropriate circumstances for a holy young woman, in the fullness of time, to become His Mother, and give birth to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Join this Bible Study if you would like to: Appreciate more fully the true meaning of Christmas Become more familiar with the Old Testament Learn to read the Bible as bread for life, receiving spiritual nourishment from the Word of God Apply the Bible to your everyday life Have fellowship with others who are seeking to deepen their roots in God The Church gives us a 40-day period of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. This Bible study is intended to help us to engage more fully in our preparation for Christmas through study and conversation with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 26

27 Greetings from the PEACE Ministry! In November, we celebrated with our amazing children and hosted a successful fun filled event. We had many children attend our shortened adaptive liturgy where they received both Holy Communion and Holy Unction. After the service, the children enjoyed a musical experience hosted by a certified music therapist where they were able to play with a number of various instruments and sing along to familiar songs. Our next event is coming up! We are excited to announce that our next PEACE Ministry event will be taking place at Saint Demetrios in Weston on December 8 ṭh This will offer a Christmas theme and will prove to be enjoyable for the entire family! It will include a Tree Lighting and Gingerbread Man decorating event, with a dedicated room for our special needs guests and families. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, :30 PM SAINT DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 57 BROWN STREET, WESTON, MA :30 PM: Christmas Tree Lighting in front of the church with a prayer and caroling 6:45 PM: Gingerbread Man decorating event in a quieter, sensory-friendly classroom Gingerbread men will be provided to those who RSVP. We ask that families bring extra candy and decorating pieces as well as canned goods to benefit a local food pantry. For more information, contact Althea Ioakimidis at althea_ioakimidis@yahoo.com or Peter Panagopoulos at ptp212@yahoo.com. 27

28 Hellenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Parish-wide Invitation Saturday, December 9, :00 a.m. for Divine Liturgy Fellowship and Resident Visit immediately following Liturgy 601 Sherman Street Canton, MA Car Pool from St. Athanasius parking lot or you may travel on your own Please Consider Bringing Resident s Wish List: Body Lotion, Shampoo/Conditioner, Liquid Soap (hand and body), Cologne, Pads of Paper and Pens, Toothpaste and Tooth Brush, Deodorant, Socks for Men and Women Powders and bar soaps are not allowed 28

29 On November 8, our school celebrated the Synaxis of the Archangels, the patrons of Little Halos and students attended the Divine Liturgy. In preparation of the celebration, Mrs. Katina Ioakimidis (Chryssa s grandmother) helped the children to make prosforo (holy bread) that we gave to Father Aaron to bless. Furthermore, Father Aaron came to the classroom and talked to us about the feast of the Archangels. Little Halos Holiday Raffle fundraiser event is now in progress. Please support our school by buying our raffle tickets at just $5.00 each with prizes: 4 VIP tickets to the Elf show at the Shubert Theater and one hour private golf lesson at the Winchester Country club. Our drawing will take place on December 5 th. Tickets will also be sold after liturgy on Sunday, December 3 rd. Our lessons also included the study of the olive tree, Thanksgiving and Harvest. Little Halos is Now Enrolling for the school year For more information please contact the director Argyro Nikoletos at (781) , or littlehalospreschool@gmail.com 29

30 Craft Beer and Wine Tasting Social This was a collaboration between the Parish Council and the Philoptochos to give thanks to our Loving Stewards for their continued loyal support. What a great evening and great fun transforming the James Bouboulis Auditorium into a warm and loving room filled with laughter and joy. Thank you to the team that put this event together. 30

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32 PROJECT MEXICO HOME BUILDING MISSION JULY 6-12, Space is limited. Reserve your Spot! Sign Up Deadline January 31 Saint Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church 4 Appleton Street Arlington, MA * Orthodox Christian service project in which we get to build a home for a family in need * Participate in the joyful Orthodox community and worship life at St. Innocent Orphanage * Work together as a family in Christ s name, with Orthodox Christians from all over the USA and beyond * Be transformed in heart and soul * Open to all ages!!! Questions? Contact Fr. Aaron Walker 1(617) fraaronwalker@gmail.com APPLICATION DUE JANUARY 31 Earlier applicants receive priority Essay 1 paragraph Youth Applicants Only Please share what your hopes are for your Project Mexico experience Reference Youth Applicants Only Please provide the name and contact information of an adult mentor other than your parents that will be a reference for your ability to benefit from and contribute to this project. This could be a coach, teach, or priest, besides Fr. Aaron Application Fee $100 made payable to St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church, memo line: Project Mexico Interview Youth and Adult Applicants Meet with Fr. Aaron to discuss the trip 32

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34 What is Christian Stewardship? Christian Stewardship is learning how to be a responsible and concerned caretaker of Christ s Church; it is learning how to enjoy Church life and be happy in Church work, for in Her dwells the fullness of the Spirit of God. our active commitment to use all our time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of humankind in grateful acknowledgment of Christ s redeeming love. caring for the needs of others. offering one s self to God as He offered Himself to us. what a person does after saying I believe as proof of that belief. devotion and service to God and His Church as persons, as families, as diocese/metropolis, as national Church and as Church universal. Williams & McKibben in Oriented Leadership 2018 Stewardship Campaign 34

35 SAINT ATHANASIUS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CONFIDENTIAL FAMILY INFORMATION FORM Please complete and return this form to the Church Office 4 Appleton Street, Arlington, MA Name: Home Telephone: Address: City: State: Zip: I am a new steward: My previous parish was? I would like to receive my monthly bulletin via U.S. mail: or via Member Spouse Children /Age Name: / Mobile Tel: / E mail: / Occupation: / Work Tel: / Family Name 2017 STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE / DONATION I understand it takes approximately $1,000 per active Stewardship family to operate and support the ministries and facility of the St. Athanasius Parish in We would like to pledge $ We would like to pledge $ We would like to pledge $ Weekly (approx. $20/week) Monthly (approximately $85/month) Yearly You can also pledge at Please check those items in which you or a member of your family has some expertise or interest. Place name or initials of the specific family member after each item checked. Bible Study Youth Ministry Office Work Teaching Sunday School Medical/Nurse Greek School/Little Halos Church Choir Art/Design Services Visitation of Elderly/Infirm Reader (in liturgy) Legal Philoptochos Ushering / Welcome Finance Festival Evangelism Architecture Outreach to Community New parents Real Estate Management Soup Kitchen Scouting Electrical Computer Hardware/Systems Computer software Web Design Youth Work Gardening PR / Marketing Construction Mechanical / Plumbing Other Ver

36 Why Did God Become Man? by Fr. Anthony Coniaris Why did God choose to come to us in person? What were the reasons that compelled Him to visit us? They must have been awfully important reasons to make God empty Himself and take the form of a servant. Couldn t He have sent someone else? Couldn t He have ordered an angel or an archangel to come? Why did the Lord of the Universe Himself have to come? God came because He cared. He came in order to deliver us from the slavery of sin and death. He came because He loved us! We can summarize this best by quoting the Evangelist John For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. We do not believe in an absent God, an invisible, intangible, eternally elusive God. We believe in a God who, when humanity fell into the ocean of sin and was drowning, did not just stay in heaven and shout directions on lifesaving, but who jumped into the ocean to save us. We believe in a God who intervenes in our lives. We believe in a God who came to seek and save the lost; who came not to be served but to serve; who came to give us the abundant life; who came as light that whoever believes in Him may not remain in darkness, who came not to judge the world but to save it! Jesus Christ came at Christmas. He comes again this Christmas. He comes each day, waiting to enter into our lives! Volume Twenty-Nine, Number Four, December 2017