Attract, Serve, Illuminate March 2018 Orthodox isn t a name you call yourself; Orthodox is a life you live. Lent 2018

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1 ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY Attract, Serve, Illuminate THE BEACON March 2018 Orthodox isn t a name you call yourself; Orthodox is a life you live. Lent 2018

2 Assumption Calendar of Events Sunday Monday Tuesday Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas Orthros 8:45am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour 12 Noon Orthodoxy 101 5:00pm Youth Greek Dance (Lyndon Baptist) Sunday of the Holy Cross Orthros 8:45am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour Philoptochos Meeting 5:00pm Youth Greek Dance (Lyndon Baptist) 7:00pm Taize Service at St. Margaret Mary (LEF) Sunday of St. John Climacus Orthros 8:45am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour 5:00pm Youth Greek Dance (Lyndon Baptist) Great Feast of the Annunciation Orthros 8:45am Divine Liturgy 10:00am SJC Parish Oratorical Festival Sunday School Coffee Hour Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free Great Compline 6:00pm Great Compline 6:00pm Great Compline 6:00pm AHEPA Meeting 6:30pm Holy Confession is done by appointment and may be scheduled by calling Fr. Jon at the Church Office: (502) GreekFest Meeting 6:00pm Submissions Deadline for The Beacon Greek Dance at the International Fair 5:15pm March 2018 Wednesday Thursday Friday 7 Fr. Jon at Lenten Presentation at Annunciation (Memphis) No Bible Study 14 Presanctified Liturgy 6:00pm Bible Study 7:00pm-8:00pm Bible Study 6:00pm-7:30pm Bible Study 6:00pm-7:30pm Parish Council Meeting 6:30pm nd Salutations to the Theotokos 6:00pm 3 rd Salutations to the Theotokos 6:00pm 4 th Salutations to the Theotokos 6:00pm Akathist Hymn 6:00pm Saturday Daughters of Penelope Meeting 10:30am Water with Blessings Presentation 11:00am Philoptochos Pastry Packaging 10:00am Saturday of Lazarus Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Youth Confessions, Palm Folding, Church Clean-up & Decorating

3 Happenings

4 Pastoral Message Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption, Greetings in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The period of the Great and Holy Lent is now upon us, and soon we will pass from the time of preparation and penitence into a time of joy and feasting (but we ll leave our feasting until April). Holy Lent brings us many beautiful liturgical services filled with some of the most beautiful and moving hymns and prayers. During March, 3 such services will be celebrated: the Great Compline on Mondays, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays, and the Salutations to the Theotokos on Fridays. Each of these services is so unique and differs so greatly from the normal Sunday Divine Liturgy, that they present us with opportunities to experience our faith in ways that may stimulate spiritual growth. If we feel stalled or that our faith has fallen into a routine, come and participate in the beauty of the Lenten cycle (by the way, routine can be good or bad - brushing your teeth properly is a good routine, not brushing bad). During this time, many of our faithful will increase their fasting and praying in their own homes, but it is also important that we come to the Lord s House and pray together as a community. Great Lent is filled with opportunity for spiritual growth. It takes all the necessary elements and blends them into the perfect combination to allow for a complete transformation of the soul in a short 48 day period. Begin with fasting and prayer, add the liturgy of the Church and finish with Holy Confession and the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord - this is the map for spiritual health. Follow it year after year to eternity. In His Service, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos Attract, Serve, Illuminate

5 Philoptochos Philoptochos News!!! Have you joined Philoptochos yet? Who? All members of the parish who are 18 years and older. Please pay $35 dues to Lori Balakos, treasurer. Become an associate member. Associate members are spouses of members. Show your support and become an associate member! Place food in container in the back of the church! March Birthdays & Namedays BIRTHDAYS 2 nd Melina Digenis-Taylor 7 th Noah Fadel 8 th Aidan Jones 10 th Carly Thomas 12 th Doris Abdallah 12 th Matthew Panaretos 12 th Chris Stavens 14 th Phillip Digenis-Lentsch 18 th Philip Georgious 18 th Cosmin Schenk 18 th Pam Theoharatos 21 st Faith Kappas 22 nd Jeff Sexton 23 rd Elias Kikareas 24 th Serban Smadici 25 th Alice Collis 25 th Ronald B. Fadel 27 th Penny VonAllmen 28 th Chuck Shuff 29 th Rick Buono Just a few Saints (Namedays) commemorated in March th Alexios, Alexia 25 th Evangelos, Evangelia

6 Kolyva Bible Study Kolyva for Memorials How can you get some? When you schedule a memorial service with Father Jon, let him know that you would like Philoptochos to make Kolyva. He can accept your $75 donation and will contact a member. Come and See!!! (Gospel According to St. John) Wednesday Evenings (See Calendar for times.) Bible Study is not just for adults. Families can and should come together to learn about the Faith!!! Project Mexico

7 From our Community... Vasilia Boukis & Anastasia Panaretos On February 24 th, Lia and Anastasia performed in the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Southern District Honors Choir at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Over 1000 students auditioned for this prestigious choir from 11 States! Congratulations on this great honor!!! Just keep singing! 2018 Greek Fest Greek Fest is right around the corner (June 1-2) and the parish needs you!!! It s not too early to volunteer! Please contact Mike Agamemnonos at Figaro@twc.com to be among the first to claim a spot in your favorite tent!!! Daughters of Penelope The Daughters of Penelope will be hosting a guest speaker from "Water With Blessings" in the Church Hall on Saturday, March 17th, at 11:00 a.m. Anyone interested in learning more about how we can help provide communities around the world with safe drinking water, is invited to attend. The Daughters, AHEPA, and Assumption Philoptochos have made donations to this very worthy cause. Refreshments will be provided.

8 2018 Pledge Cards Received Bill & Doris Abdallah Athanasios Agamemnonos Jason & Elyse Allemang Larry & Nancy Anas Chris & Connie Anggelis Michael & Lori Balakos Areti & Jack Masero-Baldwin Scott Benson Natalia Bilchuk Charles & Patricia Blackford Fr. Jon & Presbytera Doreece Boukis Tom & Joanna Caneris Joanne Caridis Engolfia Georgia Christoff Susan Christoff & Louie Falconburg Gus & Alice Collis Stephanie Cox & John Hile Dan & Sarah Cupkovic Alexander Digenis John Dobson Ron & Melanie Fadel Michael and Lauren Flaherty Peter & Angelica Fotos Milton & Kelly Galanos Marcus & Nancy Geromes Thomas Gianacakes Dimitrios & Margie Gregoriades Anthony & Jennifer Griffin John & Julie Harris Helen Hellen Richard & Adrienne Higgins Elizabeth Johnson John Johnson 65 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23 John & Jean Kallis Peter Kambelos Steve & Carol Kapsalis Alexis Karageorge & Rick Buono Chris & Anita Kounnas Nick Kounnas Angeliki Kourelis Stephanos & Kristen Kyriacou Chad & Rose Leathers Phillip & Cheryl Leathers Ryan & Laura Leathers Lisa and Joseph Major Mary Makris Mark & Pamela Mann Penelope Masterson Ramsey & Souha Nassar Georgia Panaretos Andreas & Jennifer Papapavlou Jennifer Paulk Emily Digenis & Hunter Sattich Mary Sharish Chuck Shuff Jim & Christine Simatacolos Serban Smadici Evanthia Speliotis & Peter Vedder Robert Taylor & Linda Shapiro Melina Digenis & Steve Taylor Dan & Connie Thomas Penny VonAllmen Fr. Gregory C. Wingenbach Madelon Zady Nikolaos & Aliki Zagorianos

9 Holy Friday Luminaries HOLY FRIDAY LUMINARY BAGS You may order luminaries in honor of your departed loved ones for the Epitaphios Service by returning the form below to the parish office by Palm Sunday, April 1 st. The deadline is Palm Sunday, April 1 st. Candlelit bags honoring our deceased loved ones will signify their presence as we process with the Body of Christ. On each bag will be listed the name(s) of your loved ones who have fallen asleep and from whom the luminary is offered. The names that are offered will be commemorated silently before the Epitaphion during the Friday evening service. The cost is $5 per name (thus $10 for a couple). I would like to donate the following luminary bags: Total number of names at $5 each = $ Donated by:

10 Pascha Donations Needed Icon Wreaths ($50 each) Saturday of Lazarus Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Bridegroom Holy Monday Bridegroom Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Holy Wednesday Last Supper Wreath for Holy Cross Holy Friday Apocathelosis Holy Friday Crucifixion Holy Saturday Resurrection Daffodils (Holy Cross Sunday) ($75) Palms for Palm Crosses ($50) Robellini Palms (for Icons)($100) Holy Unction Supplies ($25) 12 Gospel and Cross Candles ($25) Epitaphion Flowers (Donated) Gardenias for Epitaphion ($50) Bay Leaves ($100) Easter Lilies/Azaleas (20 x $20) Resurrection Priest Candle ($75) Rose Petals for Flower Girls ($50) More may be listed as we further determine what else may be needed for the proper expression of worship in our beloved parish. Please call Fr. Jon and make an offering today! Donations will be offered in the following 3 formats: For the health of In Honor of In Memory of Saturday of Lazarus Preparations for Great and Holy Week March 31, 2018 Schedule 9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy 11:30am Breakfast/Palm Cross Folding 12:20pm Confessions (continuous through grounds clean-up) 12:30pm Cleaning Church Grounds and Church Decoration All members and friends of the parish are invited!!!

11 Palm Sunday Don t miss the Palm Sunday Luncheon following the Divine Liturgy on April 1 st Adults are $10 Children under 12 are $5 (Children under 6 years of age are free) Sponsored by the Philoptochos Pascha Celebration AGAPE AHEPA EASTER SUNDAY MEAL APRIL 8TH / 2 P.M. IN THE CHURCH HALL The AHEPA Dilboy/Maniatis Chapter and Daughters of Penelope Chapter Are Inviting All Parishioners to This Meal. IT WILL INCLUDE A LAMB DINNER, DRINKS AND DESSERT There will be no charge for this meal. Donations will be accepted. Please respond by March 24th with your yes to Larry Anas ( ) or James Serdenis ( ) This is so we can plan to feed all who participate.

12 Philoptochos Pastry Sale

13 Great and Holy Lent The Liturgical services of the Church are filled with beautiful hymns whose imagery can truly move you. This is especially true during the services of Great and Holy Lent! Don t let another year pass by without experiencing the Great Compline on the Mondays of Lent; the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on the Wednesdays of Lent and the Salutations to the Theotokos on the Fridays of Great Lent. Make this the year that you attend all the services as you fast and pray in preparation for the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord!!! Fasting without Prayer is like driving a car without gasoline Fasting allows each of us to create within us a controlled need for the Lord...it is preparing the ground for planting. We must sow into our fasting the seeds of prayer. During Great Lent, pray the Prayer of St. Ephrem...then reflect on its meaning. Allow this powerful prayer of the Lenten Season to reside in your heart, which fasting has softened! Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

14 Friends of the Metropolis To Donate - Go To: Reading Online Click Here Contact Information Priest s priest@assumption.ky.goarch.org Parish Council President s president@assumption.ky.goarch.org Office Administrator's office@assumption.ky.goarch.org Church Website: Church Phone: (502) Administrator s Office Hours: 9:00am-1:00pm Monday 2018 Parish Council Ramsey Nassar, President Charles Blackford, Vice President Ryan Leathers, Secretary Athanasi Agamemnonos, Treasurer Dean Dimitropoulos, Asst. Treasurer Lori Balakos Daniel Cupkovic Cosmin Schenk Steven Taylor