Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Fr. Nikolas Karloutsos Fr. Peter Karloutsos

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1 Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Fr. Nikolas Karloutsos Fr. Peter Karloutsos 30 Clapboard Ridge Road ~ Danbury, CT phone: fax: Website: frnikolas@agoc.us frpeter@agoc.us CALENDAR OF SERVICES GREAT LENT 2017 Thurs., Feb. 2 Sun., Feb. 5 Mon., Feb. 6 Sun., Feb. 12 Sat., Feb. 18 Sat., Feb. 18 Sun., Feb. 19 Sat., Feb. 25 Sun., Feb. 26 Mon., Feb. 27 Wed., Mar. 1 Fri., Mar. 3 Sat., Mar. 4 Sun., Mar. 5 Mon., Mar. 6 THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INTO THE TEMPLE Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee Philoptochos Meeting Sunday of The Prodigal Son 1 st Saturday of Souls Memorial Service Traditionally, boiled wheat is brought to the Church symbolizing the Resurrection of the dead in Jesus Christ and the names of loved ones are given to the priest so prayers may be offered to our Lord for their everlasting rest and peace. Apokreatiko Glendi/Mardi Gras Dance Keep date on your calendar. Join the Assumption Church Family for a night of dinner and dancing. Look for details. Judgement Sunday 2 nd Saturday of Souls Psychosabato and Memorial Service. Please bring Kolyva. Sunday of Forgiveness-Cheese Fare Great Lent Begins (Pure Monday - Kathara Deftera) Compline and Service of Forgiveness Begin the Great Lent in the spirit of our Lord. Attend this beautiful and soul-searching service. 6:00 pm This special Liturgy is celebrated only during Lent. Come prepared to receive Holy Communion. Do not eat or drink anything after lunch. Try to follow the Fast as best as you can. 1 st Heretismi Salutations to the Theotokos 3 rd Saturday of Souls and Memorial Service Please bring Kolyva Sunday of Orthodoxy It is traditional to bring an Icon from home to be blessed during this service which remembers the 7 th Ecumenical Council which allowed the use of Icons as an aid to worship. Children with Icons will join in the procession around the Church. Philoptochos Meeting

2 Wed., Mar. 8 Fri., Mar. 10 Sat., Mar. 11 Sun., Mar. 12 Wed., Mar. 15 Fri., Mar. 17 Sun., Mar. 19 Wed., Mar. 22 6:00 pm This special Liturgy is celebrated only during Lent. Come prepared to receive Holy Communion. Do not eat or drink anything after lunch. Try to follow the Fast as best as you can. 2 nd Heretismi Salutations to the Theotokos Assumption Lenten Pot-Luck Dinner Night Please mark your calendars. 6:00 pm - We encourage all our members to join us for a Lenten meal and a night for spiritual reflection and learning. Also, we especially hope that if you are new to our Parish or have never come to our Lenten gathering, you make an extra effort to join us. Take this opportunity to get to know one another and meet new friends and parishioners. Look for details. St. Gregory of Palamas 6:00 pm This special Liturgy is celebrated only during Lent. Come prepared to receive Holy Communion. Do not eat or drink anything after lunch. Try to follow the Fast as best as you can. 3 rd Heretismi Salutations to the Theotokos Veneration of Holy Cross Greek School March 25 th Program This day, we remember our Holy Cross Seminary. If you would like to make a donation towards the purchase of the Daffodils used in today's service, please see Fr. Peter. 6:00 pm Fri., Mar. 24 Great Vespers at Annunciation Church in Stamford, CT (203) ) No Heretismi/Salutations Service Sat., Mar. 25 Sun., Mar. 26 Wed., Mar. 29 Fri., Mar. 31 Sun., April 2 Wed., April 5 Sat., April 8 Annunciation of the Theotokos Evangelismos Kali Parea/VIP Luncheon by our Ladies Philoptochos St. John Climakos Greek Parade New York City Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts 6:00 pm Akathist Hymn St. Mary of Egypt Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts 6:00 pm Saturday of Lazarus Following Divine Liturgy, the Children of our Sunday School will make the Crosses out of Palms for Palm Sunday Services. A light snack will be served after Liturgy. Parents, bring your children and teach them about the traditions of our Church! 2

3 Sun., Apr. 9 Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Coffee Fellowship ---- Join the Assumption Family for a Special Coffee Fellowship prepared by our Ladies Philoptochos. Purchase your Easter Bread and Candles after Church. Please Father Peter at frpeter@agoc.us or Father Nikolas at frnikolas@agoc.us to give him your address to put you on our list. Many times, we notices about services, upcoming events, the Sunday Bulletin and articles of interest. Also, in the future, we may send the Fanari Newsletter by . Right now, you can view the Newsletter and/or download it from our web-site at Visit our web-site which has links to Orthodox information and education. Thank you. STEWARDSHIP 2017 How old should a person be in order to be a STEWARD of the Church? What is the amount a STEWARD offers to God, His Church and Mission? Do you want to make sure your Church has enough resources to do the best work that is possible? Do you want your Church to meet its financial obligations? The answer is in your heart. If you are a teenager who works part-time, you can make an offering to your Church. If you are a college student, you can make an offering to your Church. If you are a working young adult and live in your parent s home, you definitely should make an offering to your Church. If you are a young adult living on your own, you can make an offering to your Church. Married or single, you can make an offering to your Church. Parents, you must teach your children; young teenagers, young adults, married or single to support their Church. We must teach each other the importance of GOOD STEWARDSHIP. It is not just giving money; it is coming to worship services to pray and worship our good and loving God. It is offering ourselves totally to His Son, Jesus Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit in our Lives. It is being a STEWARD - giving our TIME - TALENTS - and TREASURE. ASSUMPTION BENEVOLENT FUND Our Assumption Church is blessed with many generous, compassionate and faithful parishioners. The Assumption Church is known for its philanthropy and support for many charities, social agencies (Department of Children & Families, DCF), and families and individuals in need. The Ladies Philoptochos works diligently to provide comfort, aid and support to many charities Archdiocesan, national and international, local and within our Parish. Many faithful have also given to the Assumption Benevolent Fund that Fr Peter uses in times of emergency and whenever called upon to help those in need. The ABF (Assumption Benevolent Fund) supports the Covenant to Care program that works with the social workers from DCF. We have helped youth with many needs, such as books, clothing, furniture, camp programs and much more. We have helped parents trying to provide a home, heat and food for their families. Local charities as well as outreach and Mission programs which help the poor are supported by the ABF. Where there is a need and the Church is able to help, with your generous support, we can offer financial support and aid. This fund keeps confidentiality for individuals and families it helps. If you would like to support the Assumption Building Fund, please see Fr Peter or Fr. Nikolas If you know that a need exists within our Parish Family, please let Fr. Peter or Fr. Nikolas know. A sincere thank you to all our Parishioners who support the Ladies Philoptochos, the ABF, the Missions and the many Ministries of our Church. God Bless you!!!!!! AGAPE COFFEE FELLOWSHIP Our Ladies Philoptochos Society has graciously taken the responsibility to coordinate the Agape Fellowship Hour after Divine Liturgy for more than thirty years!! Our Philoptochos is pleased and proud to continue offering this Ministry to our Parishioners, but we are in need of more volunteers to prepare and set up for Coffee Hour. First, you need not be a member of Philoptochos and gentlemen are welcome, also. We encourage entire families to work together to host a Coffee Fellowship; two families (parents and children), working together to host at least one Coffee Fellowship a year. Choose a person or family to share the duties with or we can match you with a co-host. Hosting the Coffee Fellowship will teach our children to offer service to the Church. Also, this is a way for more families to get involved and get to know each other. The more volunteers we have, the fewer times per year each person is called on to prepare the Coffee Fellowship. A new system for doing Coffee Fellowship has simplified the duties and responsibilities. Please consider adding your name to the list to prepare coffee once or twice a year. We now have coordinators who will help and teach new volunteers what to do. One coordinator will be available each Sunday to help guide you as you learn. With 300 families in our community, it would be very nice to see more people participating. If you enjoy the Coffee Hour and would like to help out, please call Toula Koutmos ). Thank you. 3

4 COFFEE SPONSORSHIP If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Fellowship; for recognizing a name day, memorial, special event or any reason, please contact Toula Koutmos ). The Ladies Philoptochos will guide you with the various choices that exist and cost factors, if you wish the Coffee Hosts to purchase, set up, serve and clean. Toula will explain what the process is and which dates are available. We welcome all of our parishioners to become Hosts as well (see above). * CHURCH LIFE SARANTISMOS/ NEWBORN BLESSING December 11 Teresa Olana, daughter of Alexandra and David Carroll of Hopewell Jct, NY. December 18 Raymond John, son of Angela and Daniel Galleano of Newtown, CT. HOLY BAPTISM December 3 Andrew Mark, son of Marina Davitiani and Marcel Cuecu of Danbury, CT. Godparents are Christinel and Roxana Sacarin. December 23 Nikita, son of Galina and Vitaly Serdakov of Moscow, Russia. Godparents are Stavros and Svetlana Mastrogiannis. January 8 Ioannis, son of Angela and Christopher Rountos of Redding, CT. Godparents are Steven and Shannon Rountos. HOLY MATRIMONY November 12 Linda Hwang of Briarwood, NY and Gary Lampoutis of College Point, NY. Koumbaroi are Panagis and Christina Alexatos. November 12 Elisha Ann Kaufman and Robin Thomas Spector of New Milford, CT. Koumbaroi are Chris Pappas and John Andrews. FUNERAL SERVICE November 11 Christo Neckles January 14 Inge Kouloganes MEMORIAL SERVICE November 13 Eftihios Marnelakis 40 day December 11 Christo Neckles 40 day December 11 Maria Manolakes 1 year NA MAS ZISOUN LONG LIFE AND HEALTH EONIA I MNIMI - ETERNAL THEIR MEMORY ARTOKLASIA-BLESSING OF FIVE LOAVES November 27 In honor of the feast day of Saint Andrew and for the nameday of Andreas by his mother Olga Lintzeris and family. November 27 For the Feast of Saint Andrew and for health and well being by Maria and Spiros Rountos and family. December 4 In honor of the Feast of Saint Andrew and for health and well-being by Maria and John Tsikalakis and family. December 11 In honor of the Feast of Saint Nikolas and Niko s nameday by Nikos and Fevri Gkanatsios. AGAPE COFFEE FELLOWSHIP November 13 In loving memory of Eftihios Marnelakis by his wife Christina and family. November 27 In loving memory of Kostas and Antigone Theodorides by their son Spyros and Nancy Theodorides and family. December 4 In loving memory of his wife, Aggeliki, by Gus Psaras. December 11 In loving memory of Maria Manolakes by her children, grandchildren and family. December 11 In loving memory of Christo Neckles by his wife Helen and family. December 18 Ladies Philoptochos in honor of Christmas Program. January 8 In honor of the birthday and nameday of Christo Roumeliotis by his grandparents and parents; Tsikalakis and Roumeliotis families. Januart 15 Ladies Philoptochos January 22 Ladies Philoptochos EFHARISTO - THANK YOU IN RECOGNITION: Congratulations to our Choir Director, Anne Ktorides. During the Archdiocesan Choir Federation Conference in Southampton, NY, Anne received the Patriarch Athenagoras Medal (the highest honor given by our Archdiocese for faithful service to the Church). Archbishop Demetrios presented the honor to Anne and the Choir Federation presented a 25 year pin and certificate recognizing 25 years of service as our Choir Director and also recognizing 11 years of service as Psalti/Chanter of our Church. We are truly blessed and thankful for Anne s leadership, service and dedication to our Church. AXIOS, AXIOS, AXIOS. She is truly worthy. 4

5 We Praise, Bless and Thank You 2017 CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT FORM In gratitude for God s blessings, I/we wish to contribute for Christ s work at Assumption Church for 2017: $500 $1,000 $2,000 $4,000 More/Other $ Please print name Spouse Address City State Zip Telephone For any questions concerning your Stewardship Commitment for 2016 or for a current date statement of your Stewardship Donation, please contact the treasurer, Allison Arvanitis, by allisona@agoc.us or call the Church office Please check here if you would like a box of envelopes STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL You are the Voice of Christ in a Changing World As the Father has sent me, so I send you. John 20:21 Are you a good and faithful servant? As Orthodox Christians, we have been given a sacred trust. We have received the treasure of the Gospel the Good News of Jesus Christ. With this sacred trust comes the great responsibility to share it. If we compare ourselves to the stewards in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), do we multiply the treasure for which we are responsible and for which we will be held accountable when the master returns? Or do we bury our treasure in the ground, offering back only that which was given to us? Jesus said As the Father has sent me, so I send you (John 20:21). At the end of our life, will He say to us, Well done good and faithful servant? The base from which we serve as the Voice of Christ in a Changing World is the parish. A strong parish provides opportunities for sharing the Good News of Christ, for welcoming those that are searching for a spiritual home, and a base from which we are sent out into the world. The parish also provides a place for worship, community and education in the faith. To be stewards of the Gospel, we need to be stewards of our parish. This requires the vision and inspiration to see the parish, not as it is, but as it could be. We are called to offer ourselves and our treasure to make our local church all that it can be. 5

6 Saturday of the Souls February 18, 25, March 4 Prior to Great Lent, the Church offers special Divine Liturgy to pray for the souls of its departed servants. The practice of praying for those who have taken their repose in the Lord is an ancient one. Christianity has always believed that those who have fallen asleep are not dead but still alive in Christ Jesus! Therefore, in its very essence, prayer for the dead is a proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ and the gift of His Kingdom. It is, therefore, imperative for us the living to remember our loved ones who have passed on and to pray that the Lord accept them into His Heavenly Kingdom. The death of a loved one brings separation that is sorrowful and tragic. Unfortunately, this is a reality of the fallen world in which we live and no one can escape this reality. When death occurs, the bereaved focus their energy and thoughts on the deceased in order to maintain some type of connection. For weeks, months and even years, the bereaved will think of and remember their beloved, as they should. The Church understands that there exists a need for us to have a continued connection with a departed loved one. Hence, we remember them in various facets of our life, including prayer. Our prayers for the dead do not merely maintain a link for us but are also a means of intercession. While the prayers of the church help to comfort us in our moment of loss and frailty, they also become a powerful tool of intercession for the departed. Simply stated, the prayers heard during the Saturday of the Souls are both beneficial for us the living and at the same time of great benefit to our departed. Please plan to attend the liturgies and give the names of your departed loved ones to Father Peter so that he may commemorate them during the Memorial Service. When these days appear, we know that we are approaching the Great Lent in preparation for Easter. The prayers for the dead benefit those who pray for the departed. They remind us that now is the time for moral development and improvement for faith, repentance, and love. On the commemoration slip below, write the first name (Christian name) of your deceased loved ones so that they may be remembered at the special Memorial Saturdays. It is a tradition for the faithful to bring kolyva (boiled wheat) on these Saturdays for the Memorials. The kolyva is prepared and offered as a symbol of the Resurrection of the dead, recalling the words of our Lord: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears fruit. (John 12:24). If you plan to prepare a small dish of kolyva for the Memorial Services, please bring the kolyva to church early the day of the Liturgy. Please bring your slip with the names to church before the Liturgy. ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΑ Η Ορθόδοξος Εκκλησία µας, µας διδάσκει ότι υπάρχει στενός δεσµός µεταξύ των ζώντων και των κεκοιµηµένων η τεθνεώτων. Ο δεσµός αυτός είναι ο δεσµός της προσευχής, και η Εκκλησία µας παροτρύνει να προσευχώµεθα τακτικά δια τας ψυχάς των κεκοιµηµένων συγγενών και φύλων. Ως εκ τούτου, η Αγία µας Ορθόδοξος Εκκλησία έχει ορίσει ορισµένα Σάββατα του έτους ως Σάββατα των Ψύχων η ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΑ! Ενθυµηθείτε τους προσφιλείς κεκοιµηµένους της οικογενείας σας κατά τα ερχόµενα Ψυχοσάββατa. Saturday of the Souls ΣΑΒΒΑΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΨΥΧΩΝ AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS GRANT REST OUR LORD TO THE SOULS OF THY SERVANTS. ΜΕΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΑΝΑΠΑΥΣΟΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΕ: ΤΑΣ ΨΥΧΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΔΟΥΛΩΝ ΣΟΥ 6