MESSENGER THE. Newsletter of All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church. The Mission of All Holy Spirit

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1 THE MESSENGER Newsletter of All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church The Mission of All Holy Spirit September 2015 When Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, his future became difficult to imagine. Joseph endured great trials, and he survived by his faith in God. Little did he know, at the time, that God was planning a mission for him that would require great faith, but would also be very rewarding; so it is also for you, the people of All Holy Spirit. God has great plans for you, so follow Joseph s example and exercise great faith in God. He is sending you to do something very important. He is sending you to new places and strange peoples, to gather them into the House of God. He has work for you, a MISSION! There are many people today who are hungry and thirsty for the bread of life. Some have been in churches that have lost the Gospel, changing it to fit the world. These Christian people feel abandoned and have nowhere to go, and they are beautiful Christians. Some have many questions, and they cannot find the answers in denominational-christianity, because it is only the true apostolic deposit of faith that is the heart of your Church that can satisfy them. Others, non-churched, are trying hard to find the meaning of life and divine rules to live by, and would soak up the wisdom of virtue and the spiritual experiences of your Church. Your job is to catch them, refresh their souls, and connect them to the Holy Body of Christ. Joseph suffered a lot for Christ, but in the end, God made him a Prince in Egypt, one of the greatest on the earth. We will learn that the Gospel requires us to endure great trials for the accomplishing of God s Plan in our time and place, but we will be eternally blessed. Everything you do for the Elect has cosmic consequences. Each of you will be blessed for every sacrifice you do in saving souls and building up the House of God. Loving your neighbor is helping them connect to God. All Holy Spirit can be a Mission parish and take up this kind of work. -Fr. Alexander Lukashonok

2 PROSPHORA It s a great honor to offer the bread that will become the body and blood of Christ during Divine Liturgy. We still have a few openings. A Prosphora chart is posted in the fellowship hall. If you would like to offer Prosphora please sign on the Sundays you prefer. Thank you to Aphrodite Petrihos, Joanne Sgourakis, Hellen Elfering, Debbie Birge, Darcy Jackson, and Gust Rakes for providing Prosphora in August. Memorial A 40 day memorial was offered on August 9 for Theodore Asikin (16years) & Maria Asikin (10years), father and mother of Angie Brown, Pat Galas, and John Asikin. MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL SOCIAL HOUR We still have many openings for social hour. A chart is posted in the fellowship hall if you would like to donate treats for a special Sunday. Let the office know if you are going to bring your own treats. If not, donuts will be picked up and the cost is $30. Please Make checks out to All Holy Spirit. Thank you to Sam Tsichlis, Nick & Aphrodite Petrihos, Despina Foster, and Jeff Johannesmeyer for sponsoring coffee hour in August. Thank you to Chris & Nadine Saklar for picking up donuts, making coffee, setting up and cleaning for the Sunday Morning Social Hour. ALTAR FLOWERS Would you like to beautify the Altar for a special occasion? We still have openings on the chart. Please sign up in the fellowship hall on the Sunday you would like and contact Nikki Moravec at for more information. Thank you to Angie Brown, Helen Petrow, Despina Foster, and Andy & Sandy Karavas for providing flowers for the Altar in August. Thank you to Karen Chader for providing flowers for the Holy Transfiguration Icon and Despina Foster for the Dormition of the Theotokos Icon. Thank you to Sheila Zachariae for providing Artoklasia for Holy Transfiguration. Office Hours: Monday Friday: 10am 5pm Phone: PARISH INFOMATION Address: 9012 Q Street, Omaha, NE Website: Church: AHSoffice@allholyspirit.com Fr. Alexander Lukashonok: FrAlexander@allholyspirit.com Services: Each Sunday Morning Prayers 8:30 am Divine Liturgy 9:30 am 2 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

3 PHILOPTOCHOS Philoptochos will be having it's first meeting of the new church year on Tuesday evening, September 8th at 7:00pm in the church hall. Please make every effort to attend as we will be discussing making pastries for the pastry table for the October Greek Dinner church fundraiser. CONGRATULATIONS to the newly elected Philoptochos officers! They are: President - Deb McDonnell Vice President - Karen Chader Recording Secretary - Lisa Rakes Corresponding Secretary - Voula Kotrotsios Treasurer - Shelly Petrow I would like to thank the outgoing officers who have done such a GREAT job over the last four years! Nikki Diamantis, Maria Laws, Deb McDonnell and Joan Rakes. Your hard work and dedication was very much appreciated. September 2015 AHEPA RALSTON CHAPTER 534 Our AHEPA Chapter has been on a Summer break and we will start back up with our Monthly Meetings in September. During the summer, our Committee Chairs met on a September

4 Join the Sheltering Tree family as we celebrate our first year of living in supportive, independent community at Bellevue and raise money for our next site! Fundraising Dinner & Silent Auction When: Thursday September 17, :30 pm social hour cash bar and silent auction 6:30 pm dinner with silent auction drawing to follow Where: St, Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church Community Center 5050 Harrison Street, Omaha, NE Cost $60 per person for Dinner Questions? Contact Jenn Vinton Mark your calendars! SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th > Beginning of the new church year > Liturgy on the land (180th & Harney) >Beginning of Sunday School > Family Picnic Check your weekly bulletin for more details! Town Hall Meeting SUNDAY SEPTEMBER, 20th We will be discussing the upcoming year and church ministries and committees. Your attendance is necessary in order to strengthen and grow our Church! WE NEED YOUR HELP! There will be a picnic Following Liturgy on Land SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th! Lunch will be provided! PLEASE CONTACT TAMMY GILL ( ) IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP SET UP OR CLEAN UP! 4 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

5 The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross is celebrated each year on September 14. The Feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. In the twentieth year of his reign (326), the Emperor Constantine sent his mother Saint Helen to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places and to find the site of the Holy Sepulchre and of the Cross. Relying upon the oral tradition of the faithful, Saint Helen found the precious Cross together with the crosses of the two thieves crucified with our Lord. However, Helen had no way of determining which was the Cross of Christ. With the healing of a dying woman who touched one of the crosses, Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem identified the True Cross of Christ. Saint Helen and her court venerated the Precious and Life-Giving Cross along with many others who came to see this great instrument of Redemption. The Patriarch mounted the ambo (pulpit) and lifted the Cross with both hands so that all of the people gathered could see it. The crowd responded with "Lord have mercy". This became the occasion of the institution in all of the Churches of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross, not only in memory of the event of the finding of the Cross, but also to celebrate how an instrument of shame was used to overcome death and bring salvation and eternal life. The Feast is an opportunity outside of the observances of Holy Week to celebrate the full significance of the victory of the Cross over the powers of the world, and the triumph of the wisdom of God through the Cross over the wisdom of this world. This Feast also gives the Church an opportunity to relish the full glory of the Cross as a source of light, hope and victory for Christ's people. It is also a time to celebrate the universality of the work of redemption accomplished through the Cross: the entire universe is seen through the light of the Cross, the new Tree of Life which provides nourishment for those who have been redeemed in Christ. September

6 In addition to the celebration of the Annunciation, there are three major feasts in the Church honoring Mary, the Theotokos. The first of these is the feast of her nativity which is kept on the eighth of September. The record of the birth of Mary is not found in the Bible. The traditional account of the event is taken from the apocryphal writings which are not part of the New Testament scriptures. The traditional teaching which is celebrated in the hymns and verses of the festal liturgy is that Joachim and Anna were a pious Jewish couple who were among the small and faithful remnant- the poor and the needy - who were awaiting the promised messiah. The couple was old and childless. They prayed earnestly to the Lord for a child, since among the Jews barrenness was a sign of God s disfavor. In answer to their prayers, and as the reward of their unwavering fidelity to God, the elderly couple was blessed with the child who was destined, because of her own personal goodness and holiness, to become the Mother of the Messiah-Christ. Thus, on the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, as on all liturgical celebrations of Christ s Mother, we proclaim and celebrate that through God s graciousness to mankind every Christian receives what the Theotokos receives, the great mercy which is given to human persons because of Christ s birth from the Virgin. The fact that there is no Biblical verification of the facts of Mary s birth is incidental to the meaning of the feast. Even if the actual background of the event as celebrated in the Church is questionable from an historical point of view, the divine meaning of it for us men and for our salvation is obvious. There had to be one born of human flesh and blood who would be spiritually capable of being the Mother of Christ, and she herself had to be born into the world of persons who were spiritually capable of being her parents. The fact that there is no Biblical verification of the facts of Mary s birth is incidental to the meaning of the feast. Even if the actual background of the event as celebrated in the Church is questionable from an historical point of view, the divine meaning of it for us men and for our salvation is obvious. There had to be one born of human flesh and blood who would be spiritually capable of being the Mother of Christ, and she herself had to be born into the world of persons who were spiritually capable of being her parents. The feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, therefore, is a glorification of Mary s birth, of Mary herself and of her righteous parents. It is a celebration as well of the very first preparation of the salvation of the world. For the Vessel of Light, the Book of the Word of Life, the Door to the Orient, the Throne of Wisdom is being prepared on earth by God himself in the birth of the holy girl-child Mary. Hymns of the Feast Apolytikion (Fourth Tone) Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life. Kontakion (Fourth Tone) In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life." 6 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

7 Fr. Sophrony writes: I have before me a remarkable document, a letter from a former rabbi. Why did I, a former rabbi, become a Christian? he writes. The question sounds strange in my ears. Did I, of myself, become a Christian, following a plan, a purpose, after due consideration? No, the grace of God made me Christian. My conversion is a mystery to me before which I bow my head in awe. It was the Holy Spirit, He alone transfigured me. When I accepted Christ the laws of Deuteronomy ceased to be a means of drawing near to God I feel myself all the time filled through and through with Divine love. Of a sudden, unexpectedly, independently of any effort of mine, light shone upon me the light that in the old days when I was a devout Jew was only a far-off glimmer. All at once I beheld in myself the Holy One, the Mystery of Mysteries and yet the clearest of all that is clear As for religious ethics, they are much the same in Judaism as in Christianity: the commandments concerning morals are often expressed in identical terms. In practice, however, they differ vitally. The Christian ethic is given from on High, by the Holy Spirit, Who came to us only after Christ s resurrection. It is the same Spirit that pious Jews dream of to this day: they feel Him, see Him, but only from afar. But the true Christian lives in the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit captivates even our body with the sweetest love, liberating it from thraldom to the passions until the body itself longs to dissolve in the Spirit. And so it was not I of myself who became Christian it was God Who sent down the grace of the Holy Spirit and made me so The Spirit reposes within the true Christian and encircles him round about. And all this happens through faith in Christ. This is the process: faith attracts the Holy Spirit, while the Holy Spirit strengthens faith, cares for you, sustains you, encourages your ardent desire for the Kingdom of God To those who have not yet savoured true grace, my words will be unintelligible. The process of true conversion cannot be described or explained: it is something that the eye cannot see, that the ear cannot hear. Filled with Christian sentiments, I heard my soul speaking within me, telling me of my new birth in Christ; but she spoke in the language of silence which I cannot find words for. I do know, though, that my soul sang a new song, a sweet song of love which lifted the power of the past from me. And this song transfigured me and gave birth in me to a new will, to new yearnings. Now I am as it were in love with Christ, and, you know, a man in love with Christ has no desire to philosophise. He only wants one thingto love for all eternity. Do you want to understand? Would you like to experience the grace of Christ? Then seek this grace from Him Who can bestow it. If it seems that it is not for you, since you cannot believe, my advice is to set your heart on believing and you will be able to believe. Through faith you arrive at faith. Persist in wishing for faith and it will be granted to you. When I was a Jew I, too, had God and knew it. But it was a God Whose attitude changed according to man s conduct. But through Christ, through the Holy Messiah and Son of God, I was led into the sphere of unconditional, steadfast Divine love. This can only be understood if you already live in grace. Christianity is the richest of treasures equal to satisfying each and every soul. In Christ is Truth, to which the Holy Spirit bears witness. And all who believe heed His testimony. I have quoted this triumphant cry of a soul who found the Christ-God because, though many have had a similar experience, few find words to express the well-nigh inexpressible. Letter published in Archimandrite Sophrony, His Life is Mine, pp September

8 MISSION: The Parish of All Holy Spirit, under the administration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, is a member of the Orthodox Christian Communion of Churches. It is a local manifestation, among 5 Sister Parishes, of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Mystery described by St. Paul as the Body of Christ. The Faithful members of this local Church have accepted the sacred responsibility of the Holy Gospel to build up and grow the human being according to the Commandments of God, as revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ, with the power of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Faithful have also accepted the call of the Great Commission to build a Community where are neighbors are invited to share in the Orthodox Christian Way of Life as set forth in the Holy Tradition of the Apostles and believers of the subsequent centuries of Christian Witness. The spiritual life of the Gospel is realized through the implementation of 1.) Liturgia (Worship), 2.) Koinonia (Fellowship), 3.) Diakonia (Service) and 4.) Martyria (Witness). Liturg-ia (Worship) Regular Participation in the Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the Sunday or Daily Eucharist, unless you eat My Body and Drink My blood, there is no life in you. and in the entire Prayer Life of the Church offered in the Ancient Tradition of the Daily, Weekly, and Yearly Cycles. Koinon-ia (Fellowship) Encouraged Faith-based Friendships among our parishioners on both Personal and Communal levels; they held all things in Common. Diakon-ia (Service) Reaching out in love to serve others in imitation of Christ who said, The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and He who is greatest among you shall be your servant Martyr-ia (Witness) Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all by denying ourselves and picking up our crosses and following Jesus Christ; and seeking the salvation of all people without exception. VALUES: We value life and creation as Gifts of God, given to us out of love, in order to love God and neighbor and, be loved by God and neighbor: Communion. We value and love the Messiah and the Holy Spirit as our means to God (salvation), presented to us in the Mysteries (LA Sacrament) of the Church. This is the Way to a natural, healthy, and purpose filled life, filled with the Holy Spirit and His gifts of joy, peace, and vibrancy. We value the baptismal promise of picking up our crosses and denying ourselves, in order to live for God and our neighbor. We also value the vocation of Stewardship as our life-work, offering to God and His Glory our self, our families, careers, culture, community, and our world (ecology). We value the authority of Christ, in Divine Revelation and Writings (the Bible, and other writings of the Church) handed down to us in Holy Tradition, and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, through the Apostolic Priestly Ministry and the life and worship of the Church for our own spiritual growth and development. STRATEGY/ACTION: To build a Church Temple, to be an architectural witness to the Orthodox Christian Faith, for the use of the Body of Christ and to the Glory of God; to experience the Divine Love of the Holy Trinity, living according to the Gospel Commandments, to attain the fullness of perfect humanity in imitation of our Lord and Savior, learning about a holy and healthy life-style, and to witness the spiritual life of enlightenment, growth, healing and sanctification, which takes place when the human heart is opened through the efforts of faith, in the Mysteries of the Holy Church. 8 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

9 The St. Romanos Choir is a small group of dedicated musicians who are singing a cappella and learning Byzantine Chant. They sing for most vespers, Akathist, and services during the week. They will also begin singing for divine liturgy once a month. IN-REACH COMMITTEE The purpose of the IN-REACH committee is to be of assistance to those parishioners at All Holy Spirit who may, for whatever reason, be in need of some help. This committee can help with rides to church, doctors appointments or other necessities you may have on a long term or short term bases. You may be fighting an illness, recovering from surgery, have a death in the family or just had a baby and temporarily need help with meals. What ever your situation is, don't be afraid to ask for help! If you find yourself in a difficult situation, please contact Father Alexander or Maria Knowles and we can make arrangements to help you. We can't help if we don't know :) We had a sign up for this committee last fall and members include: Litsa Carter, John Pavalis, Helen Lazanas, Cindy Miller, Despina Foster, Effie Bitsos, Teddy Petrow, Alyssa Wilger, Angie Brown, Tammy Honke, Linda Olson, Deb McDonnell, Maria Laws Lisa Rakes, Asia Rakes and Tammy Gill. ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OCF is back in full swing! College students will begin regular weekly meetings on UNO and Creighton campuses Thursday, September 10th. OCF will be hosting a regional retreat in September, and plans to participate in the Day of Light and attend College Conference. OCF is looking forward to another great year full of fellowship, service, prayer, and growth in the Orthodox Faith! September

10 IS IT ALWAYS A GAME OF NUMBERS? by Father Jason Dickey A healthy Church will always possessed particular characteristics. In the Acts of the Apostles, prayer, worship, and fellowship was a part of their daily lives. The members of the Church also took great care of those in need both materially and spiritually. As a result, not only were 3,000 souls converted to Christ in a single day, but as the result of their devotion to the Great Commission, great numbers of people continued to devote their lives to Jesus Christ. The Acts of the Apostles is a wonderful example of how the Church will grow. This I believe is important when we think about missions and evangelism - particularly when too often we think of missions as something confined the concept of "mission" to things like foreign missions, projects that we are too often disconnected from, and getting our "numbers up." What about the conversion of our own hearts? Isn't our task to love one another as Christ has loved us so that the world will know that we are His disciples (John 15:12)? Doesn't God give us two loves - one for God, and one for our neighbor. And if we don't foster these loves within our heart, won't we not be saved (St. Kosmas)? When we think about parish growth and what it means to succeed as "missionaries", and "evangelists" I wonder how many of us would prefer not to compare ourselves to the early Church, and the struggles of the saints. Why do I say this? Great numbers of people flocked to the Church. But, for example if you read beyond the early chapters of the Book of Acts, you ll see that great numbers of people also suffered and died on behalf of the Good News of Salvation. The early Church was eager to devote themselves to prayer and the apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). However, they were also willing to suffer great losses in order to grow in faith and love in Jesus Christ. How does this compare to our desire to see an increase of numbers in our own pews, and in our Church budget without discerning our true need for spiritual health? If you want numbers, watch a sporting event! But, if you want to share the message of the Gospel, we must do so by working out our salvation. This is how God provides for those who seek the truth! Just remember, not a single person who has done so without struggling or suffering in the meantime! The spreading of the gospel goes hand and hand with good old fashioned struggle. Thanks be to God that what we do pays off!!! Why else would we do it? Why else would tell the the Apostles that they would become martys in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, unless they weren't given power from on high to do so? As we assess our goals individually or as a parish, let us ask ourselves: Do we possess the resolve, sacrifice, and willingness to pick up our cross and follow our Lord so that we can be formed into the people that He wants us to become? The only true standard and measure is how Christ is growing in us. In the spirit of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, we will only see thousands be saved when we ourselves attain inner peace! 10 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

11 ~ September 2015 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00 OCF Creighton involvement fair 4 5 5:00pm Vespers 6 9:00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy 7 Labor Day 8 9:30 Divine Liturgy Nativity of the Theotokos :30 OCF meeting 11 Patriot Day 12 5:00 pm Vespers 13 Liturgy on the Land 9:00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy Family Picnic 20 9:00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy Town Hall Meeting 14 9:30 Divine Liturgy 6:00 Parish Council 7:00 Ministry Leadership Committee Meeting :00 Bible Class Gospel of Luke Fall begins :30 Sheltering Tree 7:30 OCF meeting 7:30am Matins 7:30pm OCF meeting :00pm Vespers :00pm Vespers Family Night 27 9:00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy :00 Bible Class USHER SCHEDULE If you are unable to usher on your assigned Sunday please find a replacement within your group. September 9/6 John & Elaine Berger, John Birge, & Matt Boulos October 10/4 Bill & Cindy Lambert, Nick Petrow, Zach Hennings 9/13 Brian & Sheila Zachariae, Dora Bitsos, & Joe Carter 9/20 Mike Bouzis & Jim McDonnell Chris Hoegemeyer, & Nikki Diamantis 9/27 George Poullos, Paul Bitsos, Andy Karavas, & Jason Gill 10/11 Mike & Sandi Kriha, John Sgourakis, Jeff Johannesmeyer 10/18 Mike & Nikki Moravec, John & Kathy Treantos 10/25 Brian & Shelia Zachariae, John Birge, Bob Knowles September

12 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church 9012 Q Street Omaha, NE (402) office PRESORT STANDARD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No Omaha, NE Liturgy on the Land Sunday, September 13th (See page 4 for more details) The Mission of AHS..1 Community Activity..2&3 Upcoming Events.4 Exaltation of the Holy Cross...5 Missions & Evangelism...6 Rabbi Became a Christian...7 AHS Goals & Mission....8 Around AHS Nativity of the Theotokos September Calendar and Schedule...11