The Trophybearer TURNING OUR BACK ON GOD

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Rosalind May
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OUR BACK ON GOD There is a story about an old farmer whose mule fell into a well. After many unsuccessful attempts to haul the mule out of the well, the farmer decided it was hopeless.

1 C H U R C H S T A F F The Trophybearer Parish Priest/Editor: Fr. Christodoulos Margellos Parish Council President: Mary Rankin Office Secretary: Candice Kalman Philoptochos President: Susan Matos Sunday School Director: Dn Paul Speed O C T O B E R TURNING OUR BACK ON GOD There is a story about an old farmer whose mule fell into a well. After many unsuccessful attempts to haul the mule out of the well, the farmer decided it was hopeless. So with a great deal of sadness he instructed his boys to fill up several truckloads of dirt and just bury the old mule there in the well. Well, the boys backed up the truck filled with dirt, shoveled in the dirt, and began to fill the well to bury the mule. The mule didn t appreciate it, though. The first shovel of dirt hit him squarely on the head, got in his eyes and mouth, and made him sneeze. Every shovelful after that hit him somewhere, causing the old mule to stomp around in the bottom of the well. Several truckloads of dirt later the mule was still stomping and packing the dirt firmly under his feet. Little by little that mule was lifting himself out of that well. Sure enough, about mid-afternoon, that mule simply stepped out of the well and snorted at the whole business. Have you ever noticed that this is the way some people deal with their problems? Some complain; some do not handle setbacks well; some are defeated with the slightest difficulty. There are others who, like the mule when problems hit them squarely on the head, stomp around enough until finally they use the problem to rise above it. Saint Paul tells the Romans (8:28): We know that in everything God works for the good with those who love him. I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Metropolitan 2 Name Day Now we all need to ask ourselves are we like the mule, or like the farmer? Are we going to try for a little bit and then just give up, or are we going keep trying until we work through our problems? Through out are lives we are going to be confronted with many obstacles thrown at us by the devil, it is these obstacles that will strengthen our faith. We must not turn our back to God, but rather stay vigilant in our faith. October Calendar Stewardship Update October Service Schedule List of 2014 Stewardship Call for General Assembly Community News We have so many examples of this in our Churches history, looking at this month what better example is there then the life of Saint Demetrios. He lived his faith, even though it would mean not only the end of his extremely promising military career, but would ultimately result in Death. Saint Demetrios was just like the mule, and in the end resulted in with him becoming a great saint and maryter of the church. Finally, Saint Paul tells the Philippians (4:11-13): Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. During this wonderful month of October, let us strive to acquire this virtue of problem solving. To use our gifts and talents to overcome the roadblocks and difficulties that life casts in our path. Let us become like the mule and rise above those attitudes, mindsets, persons or circumstances that seek to engulf us. 1

3 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 2 nd Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 12 Sunday of the 7 th Ecumenical Council Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 19 3 rd Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 26 6th Sunday of Luke Saint Demetrios Orthros: 8:30 a.m. General Assembly Philoptochos Meeting Library at 10:00 a.m. Parish Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Green Room 1 Holy Protection Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Religious Education 10:30 a.m. & 6:30 a.m. Religious Education 9:30 a.m. Parish Youth Night 6:00-8:00 p.m Saint Nestor of Thessaloniki Orthros: 8:00 a.m. 28 Oxi Day/Holy Protection Orthros: 8:00 a.m. October 2014 Religious Education 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 a.m. Religious Education 9:30 a.m. 29 Religious Education 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. 2 Martyrs Cyprian & Justina Orthros: 8:00 a.m Metropolitans Name Day Dinner: 7:00 p.m. Chicago Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Luke the Evangelist Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers: 6:00 p.m. Saints Cosmas & Damianos Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m.

4 The Council Connection Dear Parishioners, The council would like to express its gratitude to the festival committee and hardworking parishioners who made the Tenth Annual festival a memorable and successful event! At the upcoming General Assembly on October 26, Festival chair Gus Pappas and Operations Chair Brad Crosson will give special recognition to individual chairs and others as well as details of the festival finances. As mentioned above, the Fall General Assembly will be held on Sunday, October 26, following Divine Liturgy. Please make plans to attend! In order to vote, please review your third quarter stewardship/giving statements being sent out next week to verify that you are current on your 2014 pledge. Only those parishioners in good standing may vote at assemblies. There are still vacancies for coffee hour hosts and hostesses for the remainder of this year and for (Men you are welcome to sign up, too!) Please consult the calendar in the hallway and add your name! In last month s column, I mentioned that this newsletter would contain a report to parishioners on the parish s finances and a look at the St. George Foundation Fund. That report will be postponed a month due to the recent festival activities. A meeting is being held on October 5 to draft the report, which will be available at the assembly and then appear in next month s newsletter. Sunday school is in session for the year. Parents, as a Sunday school teacher, I love to see your kids in class regularly! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help ensure their attendance each week. Yours in Christ, Mary Rankin Parish Council President 4

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6 ALTAR BOY SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER 2014 On Sunday, October 5 th, 2014: Team 1 Gabriel Florence, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Charlie Cudworth, Andrew Leon, George Elias, Zach Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias. On Sunday, October 12 th, 2014: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter Matos, Ian Matos. On Sunday, October 19 th, 2014: Team 1 Gabriel Florence, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Charlie Cudworth, Andrew Leon, George Elias, Zach Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias. On Sunday, October 26 th, 2014: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter Matos, Ian Matos. On Sunday, November 2 nd, 2014: Team 1 Gabriel Florence, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Charlie Cudworth, Andrew Leon, George Elias, Zach Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias. October 2014 Parish Council Sunday Duty List On Sunday, October 5 th, 2014 members on duty: (Mary Rankin, Mary Kay Eckert), Harry S. Coin, Steve Eckert. On Sunday, October 12 th, 2014 members on duty: (Joe Burmeister, Gus Pappas), Angela Spurgetis. On Sunday, October 19 th, 2014 members on duty: (Tom Bakeris, Mike Patramanis), Harry G. Coin, Brad Crosson. On Sunday, October 26 th, 2014 members on duty: (Harry S. Coin, Steve Eckert), Mary Rankin, Mary Kay Eckert. On Sunday, November 2 nd, 2014 members on duty: (Angela Spurgetis), Gus Pappas, Joe Burmeister. Coffee Hour Hosts for October 2014 On Sunday, October 5 th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Jovanka & Svetlana Rostovic. On Sunday, October 12 th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Parish Council On Sunday, October 19 th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Volunteers Needed On Sunday, October 26 th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Marcia Allen & Rachael Dooley. On Sunday, November 2 nd, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Volunteers Needed READERS FOR OCTOBER 2014 On Sunday, October 5 th, 2014: Mary Rankin On Sunday, October 12 th, 2014: Angela Spurgetis. On Sunday, October 19 th, 2014: Kay Coin. On Sunday, October 26 th, 2014: Alexa Florence. On Sunday, November 2 nd, 2014: Bill Johnson. On Sunday, November 9 th, 2014: Mary Rankin. 6

7 OCTOBER 2014 SERVICE SCHEDULE Wednesday, October 1 st Apostle Ananias Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Thursday, October 2 nd Priest Martyr Cyprian & Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Justina the Virgin Martyr Saturday, October 4 th Great Vespers Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 5 th 2 nd Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Saturday. October 11 th Great Vespers Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 12 th Sunday of the 7 th Ecumenical Council Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, October 18 th Saint Luke the Evangelist Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 18 th Great Vespers Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 19 th 3 rd Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, October 25 th Great Vespers Vespers: 6:00 p.m. Sunday, October 26 th 6 th Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Great Martyr Demetrios Monday, October 27 th Saint Nestor Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 28 th Holy Protection/Oxi Day Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Saturday, November 1 st Saints Cosmas & Damianos Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. Sunday, November 2 nd 5 th Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:30 a.m. YOUTH NEWS NEW YOUTH NIGHT: Beginning this month. We will be holding Youth nights here at Saint George. These will be held on the Second Wednesday of the month. This month our meeting will be for our youth on Wednesday, October 15 th from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. This will be for youth of all ages. We will be splitting the groups into those under 12 and those over 12. We will begin with a small service in the church. Then break into our groups. Wednesday s are a night where most activities are suspended to allow churches to hold youth groups. Please take advantage and bring your kids to this and let us start a new tradition of youth ministry at Saint George. God bless! 7

8 2014 STEWARDSHIP LIST Father Christodoulos Margellos Nick Grevas Nick Pappas Deacon and Deaconess Paul Speed Ted and Pat Grevas Tim Pappas Father and Presvetera Chris Matos Pete and Arlene Gust George and Alexia Patramanis Jorg and Basema Alias Gus and Irene Harb Mike and Vickie Patramanis Anne Allen J.P. and Andrea Jacobs Angela Perantinos Ray and Connie Allen Nick and Claudette Jannes Marina Pikis Dale and JoElaine Allison Tim and Kathy Joannides Demetrios Pliakos Jeff and Elaine Amidon Scot and Adrienne Johnson Vanessa Porter John and Pat Andrews Candice Kalman Mike and Vickie Pyevich Mike and Nancy Avgenackis Georgia Kalomas Mary Rankin Paul and Christine Bagatelas Louis and Amanda Kantzavelos Jovanka Rastovic Polly Bagatelas George and Diane Karoules Ratko and Svetlana Rastovic Ted and Karen Bagatelas Katherine Karoules Dennis and Marina Reese Tom and Jenny Bakeris Chris and Lennice Kavallieros Frank J. and Mary Jane Skafidas Georgena Barnes Quinn and Anne Kirkpatrick George and Effie Skafidas Pascal Booras Deborah Kutsunis Gordon and Helen Smith Frances Bourboulas George and Linda Kutsunis Randy and Chris Smith Spiro Bruskas George (Joe) and Margaret Kutsunis Angela Spurgetis Elaine Burmeister Ted and Debra Kutsunis Colette Spurgetis Joe Burmeister Adam Lahman Dennis and Nancy Spurgetis John and Darcy Callas Chris and Nikki Lebessis Diana Spurgetis Emily Caras Jason Leon Helen Spurgetis Peter and Becky Caras Von Lillios Lucille Spurgetis Carol Chickris Darlene Lingris Mary Spurgetis George and Nancy Coin Tassos Liras Nick and Fran Spurgetis Harry G. and Susan Coin Dena Manta Steve Spurgetis Harry S. and Paula Coin Emmanuel and Tracy Mathews Ken and Helen Stiegel Nick and Nancy Coin Nancy Mathews John and Martha Stratton Stan and Kay Coin Peter and Susan Matos Marge Stratton Helen Corelis John and Linnea Mekus Marlowe Suess John and Shan Corelis Michael Montgomery James and Elizabeth Teros Brad and Mariellen Crosson Denise Moorhead Matt and Stacie Thompson Cleo Dalamaggas Helen Moorhead Veronica Tolescu Angeline Douglas Steve Morgan Gus and Virginia Tripilas Joan Doxas Ken and Pam Mott Ellen Tsagaris Steve and Mary Kay Eckert John Natsis James Tsagaris Daniel and Mari Elias Marguerite Nelson Ted Vlahos Maurice and Sue Elias Anthony and Marianne Nichols Frank Vretis Tony and Candace Elias Pauline Nichols Bill and Diane Whitehead Paul and Cathy Farrell Demetrios and Kathy Papageorgiou Kim and Mary Winters Scott and Alexa Florence Maria Papageorgiou Kulla Wiss Elaine Froumis Chris Pappas John and Joanna Zaimes Lisa Gartelos Gus and Kerri Pappas Connie Zeroth George Gnatovich Judy Pappas Steven Goodell Matt and Lori Pappas 8

9 Notification of the Fall General Assembly on Sunday, October 26 th, 2014 Dear St. George Stewards, On Sunday, October 26 th, 2014, following the fellowship and coffee hour, we will be convening our Fall General Assembly in the Gold Room. Please make every effort to attend. As a reminder, the General Assembly is a meeting of all members in good-standing. A member in good-standing is defined by the Uniform Parish Regulations of the Archdiocese as any person eighteen years of age or older who was baptized according to the rites of the Orthodox Church, or was received into the Orthodox Church by Chrismation, who lives according to the faith and canons of the Orthodox Church, who has met his or her stewardship obligation for 2014 and abides by the Uniform Parish Regulations of the Archdiocese and the by-laws of the Parish. Members in good-standing, in attendance, constitute a quorum of the General Assembly. A new member may vote in the General Assembly provided that they have been in goodstanding at least three (3) months prior to the date of the General Assembly. If you would like to vote on any of the motions made during the General Assembly, you must be present. Absentee ballots will not be counted FALL GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA Sunday, October 26 th, CALL TO ORDER 2. OPENING PRAYER 3. STEWARDSHIP REPORT 4. PHILOPTOCHOS REPORT 5. FESTIVAL REPORT BUDGET 7. NOMINATING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT 8. AUDIT COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS 9. SET DATE FOR BOARD ELECTIONS 10. OLD BUSINESS 11. NEW BUSINESS 12. CLOSING PRAYER 13. ADJOURNMENT Mary Rankin Parish Council President Fr. Christodoulos Margellos Parish Priest 9

10 Community News GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Will be held on Sunday, October 26 th following Divine Liturgy. Please come join us for this important meeting. METROPOLITAN NAME DAY DINNER: The Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Sydesmos is hosing a name day dinner for His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos on Thursday, October 23 rd. If anyone would be interested in attending please see Fr. Christodoulos. PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Will be on Tuesday, October 14 th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Green room. PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: Will be held on Tuesday, October 14th at 10:00 a.m. in the Library. We hope to see everyone there. SENIOR CITIZEN GROUP: The Ocotber outing for our Saint George Senior Citizens Group will be on Thursday, October 23rd, We will meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. and drive to the Quad Cities Botanical Center. There we will receive a power point presentation and guided tour on the subject Plants of the Bible. We can also walk through the new Childrens Garden which just began this past May. Cost for admission and programfor seniors is $5.00. Following out tour we will go to the Q.C. Coffee & Pancake House for a dutch treat lunch across from Circa 21. Please R.S.V.P. to Father Christodoulos, Kay Coin or Nancy Avgenackis if you can join us. NEW COFFEE HOUR SIGN UP: To make it easier for everyone. Coffee hour hosting will now be available for signing up. A Calendar will be in the office following Liturgy every week to allow everyone a chance to sign up. Be sure to sign up early so each family gets the date they want. This also affords some families who have not had an opportunity to be involved in the past to grab a date. Please take the time to sign up and continue our great fellowship following Liturgy every Sunday. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Will be on Wednesday, October 1 st, 8 th, 15 th, 22 nd & 29 th Anyone who would like to attend please join us. It gives us a chance to continue growing in our faith. YOUTH NIGHT: Will be held on Wednesday, October 15 th from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. KOLYVA FOR MEMORIALS: As many of us know in order to have a memorial in the Orthodox Church we need to have Kolyva. Because of this we have started offering to make Kolyva for anyone who needs to have one and either does not have time or does not know how to make them. We will charge $ for a tray and it will be ready for Sundays. Families are welcome to help with the making of the Kolyva as well. For more information on ordering Kolyva contact the church office. HOSPITAL VISITS: If you or a family member are in the hospital, please call the office. Ever since the change in the privacy laws, hospitals are reluctant to call churches. Please call us so that we can avoid missing our parishioners in their time of need. EVENING MEAL: The October Evening meal will be hosted by Susan Matos, Roula Matos & Eleni Matos Wednesday, October 22 nd. 10

THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR DEMETRIOS THE MYRRH-STREAMING: Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ.

But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there.

11 THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR DEMETRIOS THE MYRRH-STREAMING: Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, aquaintance of Demetrius', came to the Saint in the bathhouse and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrius, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword. SAINT IAKOVOS, BROTHER OF OUR LORD: According to some, this Saint was a son of Joseph the Betrothed, born of the wife that the latter had before he was betrothed to the Evervirgin. Hence he was the brother of the Lord, Who was also thought to be the son of Joseph (Matt. 13: 55). But some say that he was a nephew of Joseph, and the son of his brother Cleopas, who was also called Alphaeus and Mary his wife, who was the first cousin of the Theotokos. But even according to this genealogy, he was still called, according to the idiom of the Scriptures, the Lord's brother because of their kinship. This Iakovos is called the Less (Mark 15:4) by the Evangelists to distinguish him from Iakovos, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. He became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, elevated to this episcopal rank by the Apostles, according to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist., Book II: 23), and was called Obliah, that is, the Just, because of his great holiness and righteousness. Having ascended the crest of the Temple on the day of the Passover at the prompting of all, he bore testimony from there concerning his belief in Jesus, and he proclaimed with a great voice that Jesus sits at the right hand of the great power of God and shall come again upon the clouds of heaven. On hearing this testimony, many of those present cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David." But the Scribes and Pharisees cried, "So, even the just one hath been led astray," and at the command of Ananias the high priest, the Apostle was cast down headlong from thence, then was stoned, and while he prayed for his slayers, his head was crushed by the wooden club wielded by a certain scribe. The first of the Catholic (General) Epistles written to the Jews in the Diaspora who believed in Christ was written by this Iakovos. 11

St. George Greek Orthodox Church 2930 31st Ave Rock Island, IL 61201 Phone: 309-786-8163 Fax: 309-786-8188 Priest Email: frchristos@gmail.com Office Email: stgeorgeoffice@aol.com www.stgeorgeri.il.goarch.

12 St. George Greek Orthodox Church st Ave Rock Island, IL Phone: Fax: Priest Office The Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina: Saint Justina who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justina's beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had wed every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded about the year

The Trophybearer Parish Priest:

S A I N T G E O R G E G R E E K O R T H O D O X C H U R C H C H U R C H S T A F F The Trophybearer Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Constantinides Parish Council President: Mary Rankin Philoptochos President: