the word Years ago there was a beautiful children s song called, The More We Get Together. Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

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1 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17 the word Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church Andover, MA February 2018 Message from Fr. Christopher Years ago there was a beautiful children s song called, The More We Get Together. The lyrics of the song are repeated over and over saying, The more we get together, the happier we ll be because your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends. The more we get together the happier we ll be. I believe the simple message of the song applies to our life in the Church. And this is what God intended when He established the Church..for us to be together. BIBLE STUDIES THIS MONTH Pursuing our spiritual life Morning Meditations February 14: 10 a.m. It s a beautiful thing to be together praying, singing, and worshipping in the Liturgy. It s a beautiful thing for our children to be together in Sunday School, and the youth ministries of our parish. It s a beautiful thing to gather during the Family Hour and enjoy fellowship with one another. It s a beautiful thing to be together at the festival and dances and events of our parish. You see, because the more we get together, the happier we ll be. We need each other. We need community, our family, our Church and not simply for a sort of superficial happiness, but for true joy and purpose and Godly happiness. And when we re together we can love each other, we can forgive each other, we can lift up and comfort each other. Beloved, God does not want us to be isolated. He created us to be together. Yet we live in a society that increasingly cultivates individualism and isolationism. Technology gadgets and social media have contributed in some measure to this. We may be communicating and interacting with many people at once on social media yet we re still alone. IMPORTANT DATES February 10 - First Saturday of Souls February 17 - Second Saturday of Souls February 24 - Third Saturday of Souls Yet, even God is not isolated. He exists not alone as a monad, but in community as Trinity..Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And He exists in us, and with us, and all around us! This month of February offers us wonderful opportunities to be together as a parish family more often. First we have our beautiful pre-lenten Family Glendi on February 10, and then Great Lent begins on February 19, which provides more Lenten services to worship and be together. During this Lenten season, let us remember: the more we get together, the happier we will be. Get news of additional events and announcements via . Go to the church website and sign up to be on our LISTSERV. 1

2 Parish Council Notes Fr. Christopher Makiej, Parish Priest Dn. Sal Fazio Dn. Gary Kent Parish Deacons Buzz Stapczynski, President John Terzakis, Vice President Jim Panagas, Secretary Carol DiPietro, Treasurer Dylan Archambault Voula Danas Sam Diamantis Bess Gorman Dorothy Harzikonstantis John Karafilidis Nicholas Miminos David Murphy Peter Souhleris Anthony Warren George Xifaras Church Office Karen Davies Office Assistants Dorothy Mastromonaco & Ann Paris Philoptochos Olga Pithis, President Chanter Telly Papanikolaou Choir Pres. Katerina Makiej, Director Organist David Harvey Altar Boy Co-Captains Stelios Koutsogianopoulos, & Michael Makiej Sunday School Patty Trant, Director Greek School Voula Nikitas Christian Lending Library Patti George, Director GOYA Advisor Connie Vergados GOYA President Samuel Xifaras JOY Advisor Patty Trant YouthChoir/Women sfellowship Pres. Katerina Makiej Book Store Manager Elaine Demetroulakos Internet Ministry George Xifaras AHEPA Steven Pithis Daughters of Penelope Nancy Pantazopoulos College Fellowship Telly Papanikolaou Young Professionals Ministry Nicholas Miminos Facilities George Perakis Archons Arthur C. Anton James Lolos Telly Papanikolaou The Word Elizabeth Xaros Bigelow, Editor Dear Parishioner, On January 14, our Parish Council took the annual oath of office, administered by Father Chris. Following Liturgy that Sunday, he took the opportunity to thank the members for being a blue collar council, meaning that we all have parish ministries that we lead or actively participate in. As Father explained, we don t just meet monthly and fade away the rest of the month. Our aspiration is to be true servant-leaders of our wonderful parish. In this spirit, if anyone has concerns or suggestions about our parish, we are eager to listen and see what we can do to address them. As we prepare for Great Lent, first we are looking forward to our Annual Family Glendi on the evening of Saturday, February 10 in our Family Life Center. This is a fun time of fellowship, food, and dancing. Great Lent begins on Monday, February 19. The First Sunday of Lent is the Sunday of Orthodoxy, where we celebrate and venerate our icons. One of my favorite prayers of the entire Liturgical year is recited that Sunday, and it ends with these meaningful words: This is the Faith of the Apostles. This is the Faith of the Fathers. This is the Faith of the Orthodox. This is the Faith which has established the Universe. Have a holy and spiritual Great Lent, Buzz Stapczynski Parish Council President 2018 Parish Council From Left to right: Voula Danas, Bess Gorman, John Karafilidis, George Xifaras, Nick Miminos, (Dn. Sal), Jim Panagas, (Fr. Chris), Anthony Warren, John Terzakis, Dylan Archambault, Peter Souhleris, Carol DiPietro, Dorothy Hatzikonstantis, Buzz Stapczynski Not pictured: Sam Diamantis, David Murphy 2

3 Philoptochos The Word - February 2018 Sunday School Dear Church Family, The ladies of Philoptochos have had a fun and fruitful time since our last meeting. We enjoyed decorating Christmas cookies under the guidance of Renee Terry of Sweet Cheeks pastry shop. We also provided sweet bread at Christmastime and a special Vasilopita coin and recipe gift package just before New Year s Day. Many parishioners purchased these items to enjoy or give as gifts to others. Philoptochos donated all profits from the sale of these items to charities. We would like to thank everyone for your generous donations which enabled us to purchase the poinsettias that decorated our church at Christmastime. They were lovely. We would also like to thank our Philoptochos volunteers who took the time to decorate the church and water the flowers weekly. Our first meeting of the new year will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2018 in our church conference room. We will plan events for this year and consider how we can help those in need with donations or with our time. All ladies of our church are invited to the meeting on January 25. It is a wonderful chance to see old and new friends and learn more about Philopotochos. With sisterly love, Georgiana (Gina) LaFortune Corresponding Secretary Greek School Vasilopita December and January were busy months for our Sunday School. The Christmas pageant was a huge success, and all the children did an amazing job. Many special thanks to Sefany Stellakis, our pageant director, and all the teachers, parents, and students who helped make this a huge success! In December and January the children mainly focused on the birth of Christ and the baptism of Christ (Epiphany). In February, the children will be discussing the Presentation of the Lord into the temple (celebrated on February 2) and will start preparing for Lent (which begins on Monday, February 19). During the Sunday of Orthodoxy on Sunday, February 25, the Sunday School will participate in the Icon Procession. All students in grades prekindergarten to the 12th grade will be in the procession. Please send your child to Sunday School with their favorite icon to carry in the procession. Please remember to put your last name on the back of your icons to ensure you get them back. Many special thanks to the families that made donations to the Hats and Mittens Drive, the Lazarus House Christmas Food Drive, the Anton Cleaners Coat Drive (we collected 39 coats!), and the Christmas Giving Tree. These drives were a huge success and your contributions were greatly appreciated! Thank you for helping so many people in need this holiday season. The February service project is to make Valentine's Day cards for our parish shut-ins and the elderly living in assisted living facilities. Sunday School Calendar: February 10-1st Saturday of Souls February 11 - Meat Fare - Judgement Sunday February 17-2nd Saturday of Souls February 18 - Cheese Fare - Forgiveness Sunday. There is no Sunday School (school winter break). February 19 - Clean Monday, Lent begins February 24-3rd Saturday of Souls February 25 - Sunday of Orthodoxy and Sunday School resumes We wish everyone a very holy and blessed Lenten Period. Kali Sarakosti! Patty Trant The Word Volume 20, Issue 1 Published monthly except August and January by Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 71 Chandler Road Andover, MA Phone v Fax to Jeannette Alexandrou, who received the coin at our Vasilopeta celebration this year. May she receive God s blessings this year and always. Periodicals postage paid at Andover, MA. Permit No POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sts. Constantine & Helen Church. Elizabeth Xaros Bigelow, Editor. exbigelow@aol.com 3

4 GOYA GOYA s annual Yankee swap was a blast this season, and we are looking forward to more winter events like a ski trip. This year, GOYA is sponsoring our parish s annual Family Glendi, on Saturday, February 10. (Tickets are on sale at Sunday coffee hours.) If you want to stay notified about the happenings of GOYA, feel free to notify me, Sam Xifaris, at sxifaris@verizon.net, or reach out to our advisors, Eleni Xifaris and Voula Danas. Metropolis of Boston GOYA 2018 Winter Camp February This 3-day retreat is hosted at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center for all GOYAns! Bookstore Dear Church Family, The winter weather and its ramifications are really testing our resolve as New Englanders! Even though it has been a challenge, it also affords us the opportunity to complain about the weather with our neighbors and even strangers, bringing communities closer with the common goal of making it through until Spring. The Lenten season which begins this month also presents the opportunity to prepare ourselves as Orthodox Christians for the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is the time for prayer and repentance and for connecting once again to the message that our Lord has taught and lives each Easter for the redemption of mankind. As you take your Lenten journey, remember that the Bookstore has many prayer aids and bibles for all ages for contemplation and assistance in guiding us to a spiritual understanding of our Lord s journey. On a practical note, there are recipe books available with suggestions for meal preparation for your family during the Lenten period of fasting. Everyone be careful out there, and may we all have a safe and meaningful Lent in preparation for a wonderful Easter. The Bookstore Elaine Demetroulakos Dotty Vlamis Please use the memo line to indicate where to direct your donation: Stewardship 2017,Stewardship 2018, Mortgage Elimination, Sunday School, etc.. The weekend includes an off-site ski trip to Pat's Peak Mountain for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and lodge fun with friends. For more info, go to 49rs Enjoy Another Christmas Lunch In mid-december, a group of church parishioners (the 49ers), along with some friends and family members, met at Salvatore s Restaurant in Andover. Approximately a dozen people were able to attend the lively lunch on a snowy Saturday afternoon. We met for some very good food and some excellent fellowship. While the falling snow was an inconvenience, it added to the feeling of comradery and Christmas spirit. Companionship and true holiday joy was the prevailing atmosphere for the afternoon. We are hoping that more will be able to join us next year. If you would like to join the 49ers, please contact Dorothy Mastromonaco at dorothy861@comcast.net. SACRAMENTS Baptisms: Aria O Leary Jan. 20 Chrismations: Concetta Archambault Dec. 3 June Stevens Jan. 7 Funerals: + Katherine Coulouras Jan. 8 +Madeline Anton Jan. 9 4

5 Greetings from the 100th Anniversary Committee! The Anniversary Year ended with a very touching memorial service in December. It was a special time to remember, honor, and pray for all parishioners who passed onto eternal rest over the last 100 years. The Fellowship Hour following the Liturgy was also dedicated to these parishioners, and the buffet table was filled with delicious treats. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the table. It was a lovely tribute to all who had once been a part of Saints Constantine & Helen. The Anniversary Year has come to a close, and we will be marking it in a very fun and unique way with a time capsule. A number of keepsakes from the year s events will be chosen including photos, programs, and other items that made the year so memorable. The time capsule will be placed in a location within the church building and sealed away until a future milestone date. More information will be shared as details are confirmed, so keep an eye out for a bit more anniversary fun! Happy Anniversary! Nancy Patsios GOYA BASKETBALL 5

6 An Interview with Buzz Stapczynski 12th in a Series of 100 th Anniversary Parishioner Interviews conducted by Bessie Liponis BL: As the Parish Council president of our church for the past three years and Parish Council member for fifteen years before that, you have witnessed many changes in our church life. In your view, what has been the most significant change in our particular community as it may relate to our spiritual health? BS: First of all, thank you for conducting all the interviews this past year. Lots of fun reading them and learning about some of our parishioners. The biggest change my family and I have witnessed in our parish has been the incredible growth in our membership and in the number of children in Sunday School and Greek School. Our parish has grown to be a very active spiritual community, and we have been blessed to have many ministries to support our youth, families, and seniors. BL: You are an avid runner. Your commitment to this sport is known far and wide from running the Feaster Five on Thanksgiving in Andover and even the Tewksbury four-miler for police departments in the area. (You once came in third, by the way!) Would you tell us how you got your start in running and if you see any parallel to your church work? BS: I started running in high school in the mid 1960 s and basically haven t stopped. I guess I found a recreational sport I could do for life. I ran competitively in high school and college and that experience has guided my life. Stay active! The parallel of running and church is that in running I m with my own thoughts being active while at church I m with my own thoughts being quiet. I feel there is spiritual quality to both being in church and running. BL: You have had an illustrious career as Andover s town manager twenty five years in this seat of government. A rare occurrence for any individual! Something tells me you may not have done this alone, and that your faith in Jesus may have played a big part in your success. Am I right? BS: Are you right? Absolutely! I couldn t have worked as town manager without a strong belief in both prayer and Jesus. I was in many stressful situations where all I could do is say or think, Jesus help me. Now of course I know that as the Jesus prayer, but in those stressful situations I just prayed for help because I knew I couldn t get through it alone. And you know what? My prayers were answered! BL: Hand in hand with this observation comes the additional realization that your wife Sandy and sons Stephen and Niko and your extended family were co-conspirators in nurturing your strong faith. Here s your chance to publicly tell us of your strong bonds and love of your family and how it all came together. BS: I was indeed fortunate to meet Sandy and then to marry into her wonderful Greek Orthodox family. I had knowledge of Orthodoxy because one of my favorite uncles grew up Russian Orthodox. I welcomed being married in an Orthodox Church. Fr. George Karahalios welcomed us with open arms. He and my father-in-law, Kosta Duci, were personal friends from Holy Cross Seminary. Fr. George was a seminarian, and my father-in-law was the cook there. The first Sunday we attended Divine Liturgy at Saints Constantine and Helen Church he saw us in the pews and told a very touching story about the white scarf my father-in-law gave him for their first Christmas at the seminary. BL: Finally, do you have a church bucket list? Can you share with us some of the items on this list? BS: These past three years we have engaged in a pledge program to eliminate our $1.1M mortgage as a goal for 2017, our 100 th Anniversary Year. We are at the end of this three-year project, and we have cut the mortgage in half! Now I would like to see the dollar savings from the reduced monthly mortgage be reallocated to increased ministries for our youth and senior programs. I would like to see a youth minister brought on board to develop and conduct programs for our JOY and GOYA children. In addition, our facility is getting to the point where regular maintenance and repairs are needed. We need an organized maintenance and improvement plan to address some of our building needs and to prevent problems from developing in the future. BL: Buzz, as town manager, one might say that you were part of the public trust just like a natural resource. Additionally, you were in the unusual position of doing good publicly on a daily basis. I, for one, admire and respect you for that daily commitment for twenty five years. You have done and continue to do God s work in much the same way for our glorious Saints Constantine and Helen Church. Thanks, Buzz! You re the BEST! 6

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9 February 2018 SAINTS CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Liturgy 10: First Saturday of Souls Liturgy 9: Meatfare Sunday Liturgy 10: Greek School 4:30 Greek School 4:30 14 Morning Meditations Bible Study 10:00 Baptism (Asikis) 11:00 Family Glendi 6: Second Saturday of Souls Liturgy 9:30 18 Cheesefare Sunday Liturgy 10:00 Baptism (Lovett) 1:00 GOYA 6:00 25 Sunday of Orthodoxy Liturgy 10:00 JOY Meeting 12:15 19 Great Lent Begins 20 Massachusetts School Vacation Week NO GREEK SCHOOL Parish Council Meeting 7: Greek School 4:30 21 Presanctified Liturgy 6:00 28 Pre-sanctified Liturgy 6:00 Men s Dinner 7: First Salutations to the Theotokos 7:00 24 Third Saturday of Souls Liturgy 9:30 9

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