Opportunities for the Week

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1 St. John Greek Orthodox Church Sterling Heights, Michigan Phone: /Emergency Web site: Parish Priest: Father Nicholas Kyritses September 10, 2017 ~ Sunday Before Holy Cross Love and remember your church in your will! Epistle Reading Galatians 6:11-18 page 147 Gospel Reading John 3:13-17 page Day Blessing Joyce Patouhas- Aho and son Michael Louca 40 Day Memorial George Kotsis TODAY We welcome back our Choir Sunday School Agiasmos/ Blessing of the Backpacks/ Registration/ First Day in Classroom/ Picnic GOYA Car Wash after Sunday School Opportunities for the Week Monday, September 11 7:30pm Philoptochos Meeting Tuesday, September 12 7:00pm Council Meeting Wednesday, September 13 7:00pm Vesper Service at Holy Cross / Farmg.Hills Thursday, September 14 9:30am Divine Liturgy- Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2 September 14th - Feast Day of the Elevation of the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ (630 A.D.) This Feast Day is one of the most important celebrations of the Orthodox Church. It is on this day we pay special tribute to the Precious Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first emperor of the Roman Empire to become a Christian was Constantine the Great. Before the final battle, which brought him victory over his enemies and absolute rule of the entire Roman Empire, he saw a beautiful vision in the sky above the battlefield. It was a vision of the Christian Cross. Below the Cross were the words En Touto Nika which means, "in this sign conquer." Constantine was encouraged by this sign and ordered his soldiers to prepare crosses on their armor before going into battle. Constantine's victory was complete and decisive. Constantine was intrigued by the vision and asked his saintly mother, Helen who was a Christian, to journey to the Holy Land and search for the true Cross of Jesus Christ. Although 325 years had passed since the crucifixion of Christ, Helen did not lose hope of finding His Cross. She searched diligently with her little band of soldiers for many months; finally, one bright morning on September 14th in the year 325, the Cross was found. It was buried deep in the earth where Golgotha once was located. A strange but fragrant flower was growing at the spot where they found the Cross. This flower is now called Vasiliko (Basil), which means the flower of royalty. This flower since that memorable day over 1600 years ago has been the official flower of the Orthodox Christian Church. All clergymen use the basil flower when blessing homes or during Church services whenever the blessing of the waters takes place. The Persians captured the city of Jerusalem in the year 614 A.D. and they made off with the precious Cross of Christ. The Byzantine Christian Emperor Heraclitus led an army of faithful Christian soldiers from Constantinople to recapture the holy city and retrieve the Holy Cross of Christ. The war raged for over 15 years and victory was finally achieved. The Cross was once again returned to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The great event was joined with the Feast Day of the "Finding of the Cross" by St. Helen; and together on September 14th, we celebrate the "Elevation of the Holy Cross." We also celebrate the Veneration of the Precious and Life-giving Cross on the Third Sunday of Lent. The Holy Fathers of the Church, realizing the many dangers of invading Arabs in the Holy Land, decided to cut and distribute the Cross of Christ to the many great spiritual centers of Christendom. Many sections were taken to Constantinople, Mt. Athos, Alexandria, Rome and Antioch. The Cross of Jesus Christ is the symbol of Faith in the Resurrected Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer.

3 Calendar for September Every Sunday 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Sunday, September 17 Procession of the Holy Cross (bring Vasiliko) Greek School Registration Tuesday, September 19 4:30pm Greek School Agiasmos/Orientation Saturday, September 23 1:00 pm Hope and Joy Hayride 7:00pm Great Vespers Panagia Myrtidiotissa Sunday, September 24 Youth Sunday Mark Your Calendar October 14 Goya Dodge Ball November 10, 11, 12 Holiday Hoops Tournament November 19 Philoptochos Feather Party January 20, 2018 Annual Dinner Dance February 11, 2018 Macaronatha Sunday School Staff Directors: Tara Kosmides, Sofia Papastamatis, Maria Aretakis Pre School 3: Irene Kourtesis, Dimetra Mansoor Pre School 4: Tara Kosmides, Angela Kotsonis Kindergarten: Mary Souris, Lia Christopoulos 1 st Grade: Theodora Kalfa-Bremer, Christina Loukopoulos 2 nd Grade: Donna Kostoulakis, Anna Glavas 3 rd Grade: Sandy Moceri, Eleni Shafkalis 4 th Grade: Eleni Giannopoulos 5 th Grade: Linda Boosalis, Mary Tangalos 6 th Grade: Betty Kosmas, Sotiria Seremetis 7 th Grade: Nick Stavropoulos, Alex Kourtesis 8 th Grade: Anne Simopoulos, Maria Aretakis Senior Forum: Anna Nezerites, Maria Tangalos

4 Fellow parishioners, ST. JOHN HALL RENOVATION PROJECT As you may have noticed we are nearing the completion of the construction of our renovated hall. We are so thankful to the tireless efforts of our renovation committee shepherded by Larry Stavrou, Evans Caruso and Gus Kondoleon. A special thank you to all the many volunteers who gave of their time and talent in the demolition and cleaning of the hall during this process (the list of volunteers is too large to document here but you all know who you are and you are appreciated!) We want to thank all of those who have given their time, talent and treasure to date and encourage all of those who have not had the opportunity to give, to please prayerfully consider making an offering today. To date we have received pledges and contributions from the following members of our church: Nikos & Mika Backos Donor Mrs Sophia Borgaonkar - Donor John Geottes - Donor Mr Matthew Vasilakis - Donor Mr & Mrs John HanJiantoniou- Donor Michael & Dr.Joyce (Patouhas) Aho- Donor Miss Elena Vasilakis Donor Joann and Timothy Welch - Donor Mr & Mrs Tom Aitas and Family - Friend Diana Chantis Friend Mr Nino Corsetti Friend John & Zoy Gilbert - Friend John & Becky Patouhas - Friend J. Gargasoulas/K. Patsarikas Families - Friend Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Theodorou Friend Mr. Gerry Floros Friend Mr & Mrs Bill Andreopoulos - Patron Mr & Mrs George Balalas and Family- Patron Lilian and Gus Demas - Patron Dr Demetri & Dina Demetriou & Family-Patron Mr & Mrs John Papakonstantinou - Patron Dr. Nick and Mrs Papakonstantinou - Patron Mr. & Mrs. George Collins and Family Patron Mr & Mrs Menas (Ted) Georgeson - Patron Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kourtesis and Family Patron Mr. & Mrs. John Kyritses and Family Patron Rev. Father Nicholas Kyritses Patron Mr & Mrs Gregory Marselis - Patron Anne Simopoulos - Patron Mr. & Mrs. Phil Tangalos and Family Patron Mr & Mrs Constantinos Tsitsis- Patron Mr & Mrs John Polyzois and Family- Patron Mr. & Mrs. Nick Prantzalos and Family - Patron Dr. & Mrs. Andy Kotsis and Family Patron Mrs Harriet Shafkalis - Patron St. John Senior Citizen s Patron Alex & Maria Aretakis Supporter Alex & Lind Boosalis Supporter1789 Mr & Mrs Bill Caruso and Family Mr & Mrs Konstantinos C. Marselis -Supporter Mr. & Mrs. John Tangalos and Family - Supporter The Souris Family Visionary Dr. & Mrs. Ted Tangalos and Family Visionary Dr. & Mrs. Steve Kotsonis and Family Visionary St. John Ladies Philoptochos Visionary St. John Youth - Visionary Please select an offering level below and remember that this offering is sincerely requested to be in addition to your current annual Stewardship Offering. Sincerely, St. John s Parish Council Donate today towards the renovation of our Church Hall! Name: Phone: Sponsorship Levels $ Donor Up to $500 $ Friend $500 $999 $ Patron $1,000 $2,499 $ Supporter $2,500 $4,999 $ Contributor $5,000 $9,999 $ Benefactor $10,000 $14,999 $ Visionary $15,000 plus

5 ST.JOHN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH STERLING HEIGHTS MICHIGAN St. John Church Please join us for our first annual service (agiasmos) on the beginning of the new school year and the Blessing of the B a c k p a c k s Sunday, September 10, 2017 All students are joyfully invited to bring their backpacks to church on Sunday, September 10 th for Blessing of the Backpacks. Father Nick will be performing the AGIASMOS SERVICE and a prayer for a wonderful year of learning! The blessing will take place after the sermon and before Holy Communion in our Church. Sunday School Picnic and registration to follow in the church hall.

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12 Invites you to An afternoon at the Orchards Saturday, September 23, 2017 At 1:00 PM Westview Orchards Van Dyke Washington Twp, MI Enjoy an afternoon full of fun filled activities: Wagon Rides, Indoor Maze, Slides, Jumping Pillows, Petting Farm and much more! Each person will receive cider and delicious fresh donuts!! Price per person is: FREE Please us with your reservation: Or respond on our Facebook Page: Hope and Joy, St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Chapter