Petra News. Metropolitan Isaiah s Address to the Clergy-Laity Assembly. April 28th, S t s. Peter & Pa u l. Greek Orthodox. I nside this i ssue:

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1 S t s. Peter & Pa u l G r e e k O r t h o d ox C h u r c h I nside this i ssue: Metropolitan s Address to Clergy-Laity Have You Planned Your Summer Away From God? News & Events Monthly Calendar Stewardship 11 Petra News A ministry and monthly publication of Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church. Supported by the stewards of the parish Petra News J u n e 1 s t, S u m m e r E d i t i o n Metropolitan Isaiah s Address to the Clergy-Laity Assembly April 28th, 2015 Reflecting back this past year, we offer grateful thanks to our loving God Who has made His presence known in multiple ways in various parts of this Metropolis. The fact of the matter is that this Metropolis has grown incrementally with new members, as well as with the increase of marriages and baptisms in contrast per capita to the other metropolises, even though we are the smallest in numbers. Moreover, in the past twenty years we have seen seven new parishes established in the Metropolis, the newest in the Salt Lake City area. The new parish in Utah is emblematic of the active presence of the Holy Spirit when one sees the peace and the joy which reflect in the faces of all its members. This very positive picture does not ignore the two issues which are more problematic in the life of the Metropolis. Fortunately, they are not widespread. One is the poor attendance of parishioners at the weekday services, but also on certain Sundays. This raises the question - if we, too, are being "infected" by the decreasing respect of the Christian faith which is steadily growing in our nation. The other issue is the less than expected support by the parishioners in sharing God's blessings to them with God's Church. In analyzing these realities, we come to the natural conclusion that, when Christian families weaken as families, then support for the Church also weakens. What is the remedy for this spiritual apathy? It is so very obvious: the study of sociology brings out the fact that the first society in any culture or government is the family structure. If the family structure is strong, then the greater society is healthy, productive, and progressive. That which has preserved the overall good health, thus far, of our parishes is the fact that - up until now - we have had a strong family tradition. Of course, with some children this could be stifling. Probably this is one reason why our children of all ages shelter themselves in their rooms and on their cell phones when they feel any unnecessary or undesired parental pressure. On the other end of this spectrum, our legal systems are contributing to the breakdown of the family structure by not only legalizing, but encouraging, abortions, by accepting same-sex unions, and even by allowing children to have their parents arrested by the legal authorities on the premise that parental discipline is abusive. The concept that qualified parents might not have the right to raise their children in ways they consider proper, due to false

2 P a g e 2 As members of the family of God our eternal destiny is to dwell - as family - in the Church, which is our first home. Metropolitan Isaiah s Address to the Clergy-Laity Assembly April 28th, 2015 accusations, can certainly negatively affect the family structure. This behavior pattern is probably more prevalent in families where there is no love and little, if any, respect for parental authority. What does all this tell us? If we are going to live our lives as Orthodox Christians, it is imperative that we preserve the concept of family as we have received it from our parents and grandparents. We must continue the traditions of love and respect for parents, and the love of parents for their children. If God created us as family, which He did, this means that the family unit is based on love of God, love of parents, love of children. According to Holy Scripture, where there is love, rules and regulations are minimal in human behavior. This also includes the family structure. Although, at the last Clergy-Laity Congress in Philadelphia in July 2014, the theme was the Christian family, many delegates walked away from the congress with inadequate insight concerning the Orthodox Christian family. As an aside, in our Metropolis we have already established an excellent example pertaining to the Orthodox Christian family. Our annual basketball tournament, which brings together over one thousand two hundred people, is a beautiful picture of the family structure. In addition to the over eight hundred players, we typically see parents and grandparents among the young people, demonstrating by their very presence that our Metropolis reflects the fact that our Orthodox Christian family relationships remain strong. In addition, we all, players and parents alike, meet together at the Sunday Divine, strengthening our spiritual relationship to each other. I, therefore, ask all of us throughout this year and beyond to focus on our family and its proper formation as we, the adults, have known it, and to instill into our children that we belong to each other, that we are connected by the love of God, His Church, and our families. This is why the Church declares that we are the family of God. As members of the family of God our eternal destiny is to dwell - as family - in the Church, which is our first home. In this way, we prepare ourselves in this life to await the Bridegroom of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who promises to take us on our eternal journey of life, peace, and love to our everlasting home. P e t r a N e w s

3 P a g e 3 There is a danger to spiritually backslide, in the summer months. This is not healthy for us. Pentecost and the Feast of All Saints call us to follow the steps of our spiritual fathers and mothers. Have You Planned Your Summer Away from God? We enter the beautiful season of Summer. Colorado is definitely one of the most beautiful places to be in during the summer months. School has come to an end. Many of the extracurricular activities are slowing down. Sunday school and many other ministries in the church take a break for summer. My hope and prayer is that we are able to slow down our fast pace this summer, and spend quality time with our family and friends. I hope you can take some time off to enjoy the majestic Rocky Mountains and a hike in our own backyard. As we enter the first days of summer, the church celebrates the family of God, the family of holy men and women dedicated to God. The Sunday after Pentecost celebrates the Feast of All Saints. There is a very special reason the Feast of Pentecost coincides with summer, a time when most of us attempt to slow down our schedules. There is a danger to slow down our commitment to church in the summer. I sadly remember a few years ago visiting a church on a Sunday during a family vacation to discover the only members present in the church were my own family. There is a danger to spiritually backslide, in the summer months. This is not healthy for us. Pentecost and the Feast of All Saints call us to follow the steps of our spiritual fathers and mothers. There is no reason for anyone to spiritually backslide in the summer. We can truly grow this summer and realize our potential as children of God. St. Paul offers us a great definition of what a saint is; let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith, Hebrews 11. There are a few simple practical things, but very powerful, we can do this summer in addition to faithfully participating in the Sunday Divine ; Attend the Saturday Service. is not only for the priest and chanter, but for all us to prepare for the Sunday. Take the time during the Apostles as we prepare to celebrate our Patron Saints Peter and Paul by reading some of the their epistles. Read the lives of the Apostles. How beautiful the day will be when it begins with an epistle and life of an apostle. The Saints are venerated and honored because they teach us about God s image and likeness in all of us which was restored by Jesus Christ. The Saints can be our guides and encouragement about the possibility of a life in Christ. Holy Scripture Fr. Jordan & Pres. Marika P e t r a N e w s

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6 J u n e 1 s t, S u m m e r E d i t i o n P a g e 6 K-8th Vacation Church School August 10th-14th 9am-12pm Daily at Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church Theotokos: The Ark of Salvation You are the Ark in which is found the golden vessel containing the true manna, that is, the flesh in which divinity resides. -St. Athanasius the Great ca : Homily of the Papyrus of Turin Free of cost. Lunch included. Please register by July 31st: Contact Cindy Stamus (Sunday School Director) at thestamii@earthlink.net or (303)

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8 June 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat am Bible Study 4 10 am GOYA Trip to Metropolis 5 6 Holy Apostles Peter & Paul June pm General Assembly 8 Apostles 9 Apostles 10 Apostles 11 Apostles 12 Apostles 13 Apostles 14 Apostles 15 Apostles 7 pm PC Meeting 16 Apostles 17 Apostles 10 am Bible Study 18 Apostles 19 Apostles 20 Apostles 8 am Men s Group / Community Night 21 Apostles 22 Apostles 23 Apostles 24 Nativity of the John the Baptist 9 am Divine 25 Apostles 26 Apostles 27 Apostles 9 am Young Adult Hike 28 Apostles 6 pm Feast Day 29 Synaxis of the Holy Apostles 9:30 am Hierarchical Divine am GOYA Elitch Gardens Shaded Days = ing Days Visit oarch.org for specific fasting criteria.

9 July 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Shaded Days = ing Days Visit oarch.org for specific fasting criteria. 1 9 am Blessing of the Holy Waters / Community Night 12 9 am GOYA Trip to Hot Sulphur Springs

10 August 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Dormition 2 Dormition 3 Dormition 4 Dormition 5 Dormition 6 Transfiguration of our Lord 8 am Orthros 9 am Divine 7 Dormition 8 Dormition 9 Dormition 10 Dormition 9 am Vacation Church School 11 Dormition 9 am Vacation Church School 12 Dormition 9 am Vacation Church School 13 Dormition 9 am Vacation Church School 14 Dormition 9 am Vacation Church School 6 pm Cathedral 15 Dormition of the Theotokos 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine 5 pm pm PC Meeting am Altar Boy Retreat pm GOYA Kick-off 30 1:30 pm School Skate Party pm OCF Kick-off 26 6 pm Divine Beheading of John the Baptist 9 am Divine 10 am Youth Workers Retreat 5 pm 31 Shaded Days = ing Days Visit oarch.org for specific fasting

11 P a g e 1 1 Stewardship 2015 STS. PETER & PAUL GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 5640 Jay Road, Boulder, CO org (Office) CLERGY FR. JORDAN BROWN, PROISTAMENOS (Office) ~ (Cell) frjordan@stspeterandpaulb oulder.org PARISH COUNCIL JIM AZAR ~ PRESIDENT jamesazar@gmail.com ~ JIM ZISSIMOS ~ VICE PRESIDENT papoojim@msn.com ~ AARON WALL ~ SECRETARY awall609@yahoo.com ~ PETE STAMUS ~ TREASURER pasconsulting@earthlink.ne t ~ KIKI CHERONIS ~ PHILOPTOCHOS PRESIDENT kiki.mock@mac.com ~ TONY AZAR tony@azarswoodcraft.com ~ BRIAN GREGORY Brian_gregory@netzero.net~ PAUL VRANAS paulvranas@gmail.com ~ AMANDA NADER amandajnader@gmail.com ~ PAM TORRANCE mtnyiayia@aol.com ~ Anastas, Christie & Emil Georgis, Steven & Yoana Philoptochos Society Anastas, Hani & Katrina Gonis, Lou & Fran Piper, Ted & Sophia Andrusko, Gaynel Glasener, Gary & Robin Powers, Jim & Julie Artemis, Chris & Nancy Gregory, Brian Saliba, George & Cina Artemis, Steve & Marybeth Hamilton, Joanne & Darryle Sammoury, Tony & Christiane Ashmun, Joanne Haratsaris, Philip & Jennifer Sampson, Earl Azar, Jim Hess, Christel & George Sarris, Juli Azar, Tony & Rimona Houghton, Nancy & Guillermo Serougi, Eissa & Samira Barbu, Ileana & McDonald, Thomas Jacky, Tom & Tamsin Serougi, Sam & Adma Braswell, John & Elaine Kallan, Nick & Cavallaro, Danielle Shearin, Patrick Brown, Fr. Jordan & Pres. Marika Kapatayes, Gaby & Odeta Skodras, Nick Callas, Steve & Joanne Kapatayes, Khristo & Jospehine Skodras, Voula Conis, Bessie Kapatayes, Nuha Soderberg, Liz & Kurt Chellos, Aphrodite Kolias, Aristotle & Theodora Soulakis, Manuel & Candice Cheronis, Alekie Krol, Effie & Rick Stamus, Peter & Cynthia Cheronis, Dion Lukjan, Anthony & Judy Swiszcz, Paul & Marose-Swiszcz, Jan Christopher, Chris & Georgia Lymberopoulos, Mary Theodosis, Anthoula Dageenakis, John & Elayne McVeigh, Billy & Barbara Torrance, Pam DeGeorge, Tony & Rola Melonakis, Mathew Troicky, Chris Dotson, Pres. Kedrann Melonakis, Terry Troicky, Lis & Alex du Bernard, Margo Merrill, Toula & John Tsiouvaras, George & Nicole Dzilvelis, Fran Mills, Mary & Mark Tsiouvaras, Nicholas V. & Christine Dzilvelis, Steve & Ashley Nader, Jacques & Amanda Vasquez, Matthew & Christina Egeberg, Angela Nolte, Melina Voris, Angelos Elias, Elias Pagratis, Kostas & Erinn Vranas, Paul & Christopher, Diane Elias, Eric & Keity Pagratis, Maria Wall, Aaron Garcia, Mary Panas, Jim & Fannie Welker, Julie & David Garrity, Jane Pappageorge, George Yost, Cynthia & Narod, William Geerdes, Bruce & Andreatta Pappas, Nick Zarifa, Sonia Gehmeyr, Michael & Bakalis, Olympia Pappas, George & Charleen Zaronias, Dimitrios & Diangy Georgis, Maria Pappas, William Zissimos, Jim & Sheila P e t r a N e w s

12 Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church The mission of Sts. Peter and Paul is to be a beacon of Orthodox Christian spirituality in the greater Boulder area. Our diverse church family encompasses many converts to the Faith, as well as Greek, Arab, Romanian, Serbian, and Russian Orthodox members. We strive together to live our Orthodox Christian Faith by having a devoted prayer life, through fasting and almsgiving, and by participating regularly in the services and Sacraments of the Holy Orthodox Church. We welcome everyone to visit our parish to experience the ancient forms of worship that existed in the early centuries of the Christian Church - which we continue to practice unchanged today. Please take a moment to look through our website to learn more about our parish and our Faith, and if you have any questions, feel free to call Fr. Jordan at Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church 5640 Jay Rd. Boulder, CO 80301