The Trophybearer PASTORAL MESSAGE

Transcription

1 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 Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Constantinides Chanter: Deacon Paul Speed Caretaker: Jason Leon The Trophybearer V O L U M E 8 I S S U E 1 J A N U A R Y PASTORAL MESSAGE GOYA Advisors: Dr. Vickie Pyevich/Anne Kirpatrick HOPE/JOY Advisors: Pres. Maria Constantinides/Candace Elias After Church Club: Loukia Constantinides Outreach and Evangelism Chair: Angela Spurgetis Parish Council President: Mary Rankin Philoptochos President: Susan Coin Prayer Ministry: Gus Pappas Sunday School Director: Deacon Paul Speed Senior Ministry: Kay Coin I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : January 2 Calendar Community 3 News Lives of the 5-6 Saints Test your 8 Faith Happy New Year! We are all filled with excited expectations for the coming year. It is a time of new beginnings, yet it is also a time of reflection. As we reflect on the happenings of last year, we are thankful for so many blessings that have been bestowed upon each of us. The words thank you describe our gratitude for the many occasions that we have helped or were helped by others. Let us take a moment to discuss what one should be thankful for; why we were blessed with such good fortune; and how we should respond to those that have helped us. We should be thankful for the forgiveness of our sins. As Orthodox Christians, sin is considered a disease, not a breaking of a law. For this reason, we must receive healing of our sins through Confession and Communion. By partaking in Holy Confession and Holy Communion, we strengthen our relationship with God and our fellow man. These sacraments allow us to restore and keep the image and likeness of God along with becoming more God-like. We are called to become gods by grace. The only difference between God and man is that man Needs God! Each of us should also be thankful for our assistance on our journey to being God-like. Those people who guide us along our way include our spiritual ancestors, bishops, priests, deacons and lay people. These role models will help us, our children and grandchildren both spiritually and physically to become better Christians. Why are people blessed with guidance from others? The answer is love. The topic of love is expressed in the Eleventh Orthros Gospel, when Christ says to Peter, Do you love me? What is love? Love, agape, means etymologically selfless love, maternal love, unconditional love. Love is the key to God, because God is love. Our world was created in love. Adam fell because he had no love, or rather the wrong kind of love. The new Adam did what God wanted because he had the right kind of love. Forgiveness is the ultimate example of love. We should respond to acts of kindness by following God s example of forgiveness. The Lord s Prayer tells us that before God forgives our trespasses, we must forgive those who trespass against us. We must listen and honor those who lead their flocks. Our leaders are chosen by God and should be honored by all. In fact, we should follow those leaders in: Fasting which allows us to have a proper attitude towards our faith; Prayer which allows us to communicate with God; Confession which removes the spirit of rejecting God s grace from us and Holy Communion which puts God within us. We indeed have much to be thankful for this year. We should be thankful for God s forgiveness of our sins and restoration of His image and likeness within us. We should be thankful to our leaders, who model for us how to become closer to God and our faith. We should be thankful for the unconditional love that God gives us everyday by calling us his children. Let us live as though we are forgiven, by forgiving others. In this way we may, as St. Paul tells us, Be all things to all people that in all ways we may save a few.

2 January 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 The Circumcision of Our Lord Saint Basil the Great 8:30 a.m. Orthros 2 3 6:00 p.m. Orthodox Pot-Luck Christmas Party 4 5 Eve of Theophany Strict 6:00 p.m. Vesperal Blessing of the waters 6 The Theophany of Our Lord 8:30 a.m. Orthros Divine Liturgy *Please Note: the Great Blessing of the Waters will occur following Orthros as is the ancient Tradition of the Church* 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers at the Church of Saint John in Cedar Rapids, IA 7 The Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist Parish Vasilopita 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Class resume following Holy Communion :00 a.m. Orthodox 6:00 p.m. Orthodox Sunday after Theophany 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Class following Holy Communion :00 p.m. Parish Council Meeting 17 Feast Day of Saint Anthony the Great 8:30 a.m. Orthros at Saint George No Morning Orthodox 18 Feast Day of Saints Athanasios and Cyril Patriarchs of Alexandria 9:00 a.m. Orthros at Assumption Church 6:00 p.m. Orthodox th Sunday of Luke 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Class following Holy Communion :00 a.m. Orthodox 26 Feast Day of Saint Gregory the Theologian 9:00 a.m. Orthros at Assumption Church 6:00 p.m. Orthodox Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (Triodion Begins) 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 am. Sunday School Class following Holy Communion The Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs 8:30 a.m. Orthros Divine Liturgy at Saint George 31 10:00 a.m. Orthodox

3 V O L U M E 8 I S S U E 1 THEOPHANY CELEBRATION SCHEDULE On Friday, January 5, the Eve of Theophany, beginning at 6:00 p.m. we will have the Vesperal followed by the Great Blessing of the Waters The Great Blessing of the Waters on the Feast Day of Theophany, Saturday, January 6, will take place following the 8:30 a.m. Orthros, as is the ancient Tradition of the Church (not following the ). HOUSE BLESSINGS Call Father Michael if you wish to have your house blessed. Father Michael will be blessing homes from Saturday January 6 through the beginning of Great Lent. All appointments are on a first 2018 Parish Council Congratulations to the 2018 newly elected Parish Council: Joe Burmeister Nick Coin Bradley J Crosson Mariellen Crosson Mary Kay Eckert John Mekus Gus Pappas Community News Election News call first served basis, so telephone today SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS Classes resume on Sunday January 7, 2018 VASILOPITA CELEBRATION Our Parish Family will be celebrating our Annual Vasilopita Celebration on January 7, PROSPHORON AND COFFEE HOUR SIGN UP SHEETS Any one wishing to sign up for either coffee hour or to make Prosphora, please use the list by the office. Remember God honors the giving! Ted Pitsoulakis Mary Rankin Dennis Spurgetis Dianna Spurgetis Parish Registry Chrismation The Servant of God, Calvin Schneider, was Confirmed into the Orthodox Church on December 25, The Sponsor is Patty Kenyon. Funerals The servant of God, Mike Patramanis, fell asleep in the Lord and was buried on December 1, 2017 The servant of God, Ken Stiegel, fell asleep in the Lord and was buried on December 12, 2017 P A G E 3 Our Saint George Parish Community PRAYERS FOR OUR SHUT-INS Have we taken for granted our health? Some of our members who are no longer able to come to church would always appreciate a phone call just to say hello. Emily Caras Helen Corelis Stella Cudworth Elaine Froumis Pat Grevas Judy Pappas Jim Patton Xenia Patton Effie Skafidas Gordon Smith Helen Smith

4 P A G E 4 T H E T R O P H Y B E A R E R Epistle Readers Prosphora Baking Schedule January 7, 2018 The Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist Alexa Florence January 21, th Sunday of Luke Isabella Elias O Lord, open my lips and January 7, 2018: John Stratton January 14, 2018 Sunday after Theophany Loukia Constantinides January 28, th Sunday of Luke Angela Spurgetis my mouth shall show forth your praise! Anyone interested in being an epistle reader should contact the church office! January 14, 2018: Lina Assaf Parish Council Sunday Duty January 7, 2018 Joe Burmeister, Mary Kay Eckert Gus Pappas Mary Rankin January 14, 2018 Brad Crosson, Mariellen Crosson Ted Pitsoulakis January 7, 2018 hosted by: January 14, 2018 hosted by: January 21, 2018 Nick Coin John Mekus, Dennis Spurgetis, Diane Spurgetis January 28, 2018 Joe Burmeister, Mary Kay Eckert Gus Pappas Mary Rankin Coffee Hour Hosts for January 2017 January 21, 2018 hosted by: January 28, 2018 hosted by: January 21, 2018: Angela Spurgetis January 28, 2018: EVENING MEAL VOLUNTEERS January 24, 2018 Georgjean Pitsoulakis; Erica and Grant Venema February 28, 2018 Susan Coin and Kathy Farrell March 28, 2018 Patti Kenyon and family and Dena Manta Anyone interested in participating in this worthwhile ministry should contact Dena Manta at

5 V O L U M E 8 I S S U E 1 Circumcision of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (January 1) P A G E 5 Since the Mosaic Law commands that if a woman give birth to a male child, he should be circumcised in the foreskin of his flesh on the eighth day (Lev. 12:2-3), on this, the eighth day from His Nativity, our Saviour accepted the circumcision commanded by the Law. According to the command of the Angel, He received the Name which is above every name: JESUS, which means "Saviour" (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31 and 2:21). The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas (January 5) When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and un- godliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive. Saint Gregory of Nyssa (January 10) Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honour of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God. Gregory became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After the death of Valens in 378, Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him 'Father of Fathers."

6 P A G E 6 T H E T R O P H Y B E A R E R Mark, Bishop of Ephesus (January 19) The great teacher and invincible defender of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, Saint Mark, was the offspring and scion of the imperial city, Constantinople. Reared by most pious parents, and instructed in secular and spiritual wisdom, he became preeminent in both. Saint Mark lived as an ascetic on the Prince's Islands and later in the monastery of Saint George Magana in Constantinople. He passed through all the degrees of the priesthood, and was finally advanced to the dignity of Archbishop and the lofty throne of the Metropolis of Ephesus. At the insistence of Emperor John Paleologos, the Saint was sent to the council of the Latins in Florence, to unite the churches that had been divided for so many years. He astounded the papal teachers with the divine wisdom of his words, and was the only one who did not sign the blasphemous decree of that false council. Because of this, the Holy Church of Christ has ever honoured this great man as a benefactor, teacher, sole defender, and invincible champion of the Apostolic Confession. He reposed in Timothy the Apostle of the 70 (January 22) The Apostle Timothy, who was from Lystra of Lycaonia, was born of a Greek (that is, pagan) father and a Jewish mother. His mother's name was Eunice, and his grandmother's name was Lois (II Tim. 1:5). He became the disciple of the Apostle Paul when the latter first preached there, and he followed St. Paul during the whole period of the Apostle's preaching. Afterwards, Timothy was consecrated by him as first Bishop of the church in Ephesus. Under the supervision of John the Evangelist, who governed all the churches in Asia, he completed his life as a martyr in the year 97. He was stoned to death by the heathens, because, as some surmise, he opposed the festival held in honour of Artemis (Diana). The Apostle Paul's First and Second Epistles to Timothy were written to him. Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom (January 30) This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarrelling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus ( ).

7 V O L U M E 8 I S S U E 1 P A G E 7 Answers to Last Month s Test Your Faith God sent the archangel Gabriel to visit a young woman named Mary in the city of Nazareth. Use the chart to decode the message =A 9=N 2=C 10=O 3=D 11=P 4=E 12=R 5=G 13=S 6=H 14=T 7=J 15=W 8=M 16=Y Answer: Mary was engaged to marry a carpenter named Joseph. For the next forty days after His rise from death, Jesus talked with. Answer these clues correctly and place the numbered letters in the spaces below to discover the missing words. He betrayed Jesus. J U D A S 4 6 You wear it on you head. H A T 1 A clock goes - tock. T I C K 5 7 First,, third. S E C O N D 3 10 The 4 th month of the year. A P R I L H I S D I S C i P L E s 9 10 Vasilopita The community observance of the Vasilopita is most impressive. The priest begins the spiritual portion of the observance with a series of supplications for the health and peace of the world. Pieces are cut for Christ and His Holy Church, the Patriarch, Archbishop, Clergy and Laity, etc. (This tradition is taken from the ancient Christian observance of evening meals within the community.) Many pieces of bread are then distributed to the faithful, and all monies received from this event are sent to the Children's Home of St. Basil's Academy in Garrison, New York. All of the proceeds from the entire observance are sent for the needs of the Children's Home, like the one originally founded by St. Basil over 1500 years ago. Our Vasilopita celebration is on January 7, 2018

8 Test Your Faith... As Jesus trial proceeded, Judas became troubled. He was sorry for what he had done and was hoping Jesus would free Himself by some miracle. Use this chart to decode the following sentence: A=9 K=6 U=1 B=26 L=10 V=22 C=23 M=17 W=7 D=21 N=14 X=8 E=24 O=11 Y=5 F=18 P=19 Z=8 G=15 Q=4 H=16 R=20 I=12 S=3 J=2 T= When Jesus was finished speaking, He was lifted up into heaven. The disciples watched until Jesus disappeared. They knew that Jesus was really the Christ, the Savior, the Cross out all the letters that appear 4 times only. List the remaining letters in the spaces below to complete the sentence. E S I L O L P A N P O R T P W I E F A I T G L P T A R E O W W L T P W I D E R A!