Winter 2012 IN THIS ISSUE

Transcription

1 Winter 2012 IN THIS ISSUE Mediterranean Festival 2013 Save the Date Sunday Services Matins.. 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:30 a.m. Church School..9:20 a.m. Saturday Services Confession... 4:30 p.m. Great Vespers... 5:00 p.m. Weekly Services Matins ~ Wed. & Fri... 7:00 a.m. Bible Study ~ Wed..11:00 a.m. Church Contacts Fr. Aaron Warwick, Pastor stmarywichita@cox.net Diana Peterson, Admin. Asst. stmaryoffice@cox.net PHONE - (316) FAX - (316) Facebook The Scroll thescrollnews@yahoo.com The Origin of the Feast of Christmas by Father Antony Bassoline Memory Eternal Dr. Thomas D. Ellis Project Mexico 2012 Report From Elena Somerhalder Nativity Fasting Guidelines Christmas Traditions Question of the Month for December Recipes for the Nativity Fast St. Mary Church Bookstore Cook's Corner Desserts for Christmas Day Bp. BASIL Endowment Fund Mid-Term Graduates The Kosjer Men Plus..From the Ministry Teams, Celebrations, and Bits and Pieces St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church 344 S. Martinson Wichita, KS Rev. Fr. Aaron Warwick Website:

2 Save the Date! The 2013 Mediterranean Festival will be held SATURDAY, MAY 11 th, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm Please note: Since Pascha is the first Sunday in May, and Mother s Day is the second Sunday, the 2013 Festival will be a ONE DAY event. May 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 Pascha 6 Hall set-up 7 Work Day 8 Work Day 9 Work Day 10 All Day Work Day 11 FESTIVAL 11 am - 8 pm 12 Mother s Day Everyone s help is needed! In the annual report, Fr. Aaron invites us to make a new year s resolution to fully commit to following the life of Christ as expressed in our parish experience. This is a perfect opportunity! The Festival is undergoing many exciting changes this year, but for it to be a success, each parishioner must be willing to participate. The calendar above is just for the last week of preparation. Many more work days will be scheduled after the first of the year. If you have questions, please contact Mike Zarich. Let s all commit to making the 2013 Festival the best ever!

3 THE ORIGIN OF THE FEAST OF CHRISTMAS by Father Antony Bassoline The celebration of the birth of Christ has become the most obvious religious-based public festival of American life. Its arrival in December is prepared for months in advance. It is the one event which generates the most anticipation and to which the most tradition and custom have attached themselves. Individual homes and whole cities dress up for Christmas. In popular sentiment it has eclipsed the greater feast of the Resurrection, and has completely dwarfed its twin festival, the Epiphany. But how did we get a feast of Christmas? What was its original purpose? How does it actually fit into the life of the Orthodox Christian Church? The Christian Church in the first three centuries of its existence knew of only one great festival, Pentecost (by Pentecost is here meant the complete celebration of the Christian Passover from the cross and resurrection to the 50th day commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit). Every Sunday was considered a feast in that it was a gathering to proclaim the mighty redemption brought by the death and resurrection of Christ. This festival of redemption was realized weekly by the Holy Eucharist, the presence of the victorious Risen Christ in the midst of the assembly. It was realized yearly in the great Paschal Feast in the administration of baptism. We see that in this ancient period the interest and emphasis was not at all on the historical facts concerning what happened to Jesus, but rather how what happened to Jesus now happens to those who join His Church; how the new believer dies and rises to new life in Christ through baptism and how in the Eucharist the believer participates directly in the sacrifice of Christ. In time the celebration of martyrs' days, that is, the yearly anniversary of a martyr's death, came to be celebrated. But these festivals were local and usually conducted at the martyr's tomb. It is not until the Fourth Century that the idea of celebrating occasions in the earthly life of our Lord started to become popular. Much of this is due to the Church of Jerusalem. Special celebrations which were devised on the actual or supposed sites of the events of the life of Christ lent themselves particularly well to the celebration of historical remembrances. Thus interest developed in where Jesus was born, where He grew up, where He performed His miracles, etc. It is to the Church of Rome, however, that we must give the credit for the origins of the feast of the birth of Christ. But on what was this feast based and why was December 25th chosen as the day for its celebration? The actual historical facts surrounding the birth of Christ are clouded in mystery. No one really knows when Jesus was born. Only certain facts can be deducted from the biblical account and from history. For one thing, Jesus was definitely born in B.C. (Before Christ!). This is known because Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., and Herod figures in the account of the Nativity given by St. Matthew. Jesus was definitely not born in winter. St. Luke mentions that the shepherds were staying out in the pasture land with their flocks, an event that does not take place in winter. We must look elsewhere for the origin of the late December celebration of the Nativity. We find the origin of the winter feast of the Nativity not in the historical facts available concerning the birth of Christ, but in a curious astronomical phenomenon. In late December we reach the shortest day of the year with more hours of darkness than daylight. From this point the hours of daylight become gradually longer. This observable phenomenon was given a religious significance in the pagan Roman world. It became the feast of Sol Invictus (the Unconquerable Sun). It was popularly celebrated in Rome during the last two weeks of December as Saturnalia. What better time for the Christians to celebrate the coming of the true unconquered "Sun"? Thus the feast of Christmas was born; the celebration of the dawning on the world of the Sun of Righteousness. continued...

4 The feast was not originally called Christmas or Nativity, but Epiphany or "Manifestation." It celebrated the idea of Christ's coming and manifesting Himself through several events of the New Testament and its timing was based on the feast of the Unconquered Sun. In the East this feast of "coming" was generally kept on January 6th and in the West on December 25th. It did not originally concentrate exclusively on the birth of our Lord, but celebrated several aspects of His manifestation: the birth in the cave, the adoration of the Magi, the baptism in the Jordan, and the first miracle at Cana in Galilee. All of these themes came in one way or another to be associated with the feast of the Epiphany. The East celebrated all of this on January 6th and knew of no feast on December 25th. (The Armenian Church to this day still celebrates the nativity and the baptism together on January 6th with no celebration whatsoever on December 25th.) Egeria, a nun from Spain, traveling in Palestine at the end of the 4th century mentions a great celebration of our Lord's coming. Thus it was only later that the East and the West came to share both December 25th and January 6th. The East separated the Nativity from the Baptism, leaving the January date as the feast of the Baptism of Christ and accepting the December date as the feast of the Nativity. The West in turn added January 6th to its "Manifestation" celebration as the commemoration of the Adoration of the Magi. Once this double feast, Christmas-Epiphany, entered the life of the Church it became, like Easter-Pentecost, an occasion for the celebration of baptism. The feast of Christ's coming was seen to be appropriate for the administration of the sacrament by which Christ would come to the new believer. Several relics in our present liturgical practice hint at the baptismal connections of Christmas and Epiphany, as the long list of readings of the vigil of both days (meant to cover the time of actual baptizing), and the singing of the baptismal verse "As many as have been baptized into Christ" in place of the Trisagion. The strange notation in the liturgical books: "Nativity of our Lord Three days Passover" and "Epiphany of our Lord Three days Passover" can only be explained in connection with the sacrament of baptism. The hymns of both Christmas and Epiphany reveal the origin of these days in the old winter festival of the Unconquered Sun. Note how many astronomical references we find in the Nativity Troparion: Christ is described as the "Sun" of Righteousness, who illumines those who worshipped stars (of which the physical sun is one). Jesus has come as the dawning from the East (as the sun does). The Matins exapostilarion hymn speaks of: A newly risen day. Our Savior is the Dayspring from the East. Those who were in darkness and shadow found the Light. Epiphany is still known as "ton Foton" (feast of Lights). Its hymns also concentrate on astronomical themes. In Vespers Christ is described as "Bestower of light," who desires to give light to those in darkness. In the Matins of the feast we find: "With Thy light that never sets, shine forth, O Christ." Unfortunately most of society has reverted to celebrating the pagan winter holiday under the excuse of celebrating the birth of Christ. The Romans had their Saturnalia, but modern man has his Santa, reindeer, drinking parties and materialism to highlight his feast. In spite of all of this Christians are still called to celebrate joyfully in the Spirit, the coming of the Messiah. As the Christians of old celebrated under the guise of Saturnalia, so the modern Christian must still celebrate the true feast as the rest of our society keeps its pagan winter holiday. The Church at one time conquered and transformed that pagan holiday into the sublime celebration of the coming of the Sun of Righteousness. She still is challenged to transform and transfigure and to proclaim that coming and to lead men beyond tinsel and cheap lights to the true meaning of this holiday: the glorification of the true Gladsome Light of the Holy Glory of the Immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ. From The Word Magazine Publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America December 1979

5 In Loving Memory Of: Dr. Thomas D. Ellis Departed in the Lord December 19, 1936 October 20, 2012 A Christian ending to one s life painless, blameless, peaceful; and a good defense before the dread Judgement Seat of Christ, we pray to the Lord, Lord have Mercy Beloved son of Karimi (Memory Eternal!) Devoted dad of Diane (Memory Eternal), Janet and Susan Faithful husband of Shirley for over 50 years. Dedicated dentist to his patients for over 40 years. Memory Eternal! The following article was published in the Wichita Beacon newspaper on March 17, 1965.

6 PROJECT MEXICO 2012 By Elena Somerhalder Through the support, kindness and prayers of many in the Wichita Orthodox community, a team from St. George and St. Mary parishes were again blessed with the opportunity to experience the beauty and joy of serving at Project Mexico this summer! As we arrived at St. Innocent Orphanage the first day, we were greeted by the warmth and smiles of the boys who live there, inviting us to be a part of their soccer, basketball and four-square games they were playing. Many of them mentioned how much they appreciated all of the socks, shoes and jackets that were given to them at Christmas from the Orthodox parishes in Wichita. We were told those items are worn each day by the boys, with their commitments to school, sports, chores and church, and they and the staff were so grateful for the abundance of items sent to meet not only their immediate needs, but to have provided so many extras to have available for future use by the boys. Later that evening, we attended church together, had dinner with the 31 boys and shared an evening with the staff regarding plans for the coming week. As our work began in preparation for the homebuilding the next day, we were well aware of how the act of building a home for a needy family is truly a humbling experience and labor of love. In Mexico, many families live with not only their own immediate family, but with extended family members as well, for economic reasons, out of necessity or to keep the family close together. Upon arriving at the work site the first day, we met the family the home was being built for and were told a total of 12 family members would be living together in their new home. This 11 x 22 structure, the approximate size of a one-car garage, provides a safe, secure and weatherproof home, free from the rain and mudslides of the winter months and relief from the heat of the summer. Members of the family participated in prayers with us and expressed their gratefulness each day for the many gifts God has given them and for the work being done everyday to provide them with a beautiful new home. There are many memorable highlights to treasure throughout the week at Project Mexico, but perhaps the greatest lesson for each of us was to embrace the true spiritual fulfillment that comes from serving others, particularly those living in a third world country, who experience the plight of poverty and famine each day. While at the orphanage and work site everyday, we were free of distractions and able to completely focus on our purpose for being there, to work hard and build a home, to grow in our faith, to enjoy and cultivate relationships with the boys at the orphanage, the family and among one another and to serve as a light to God and those less fortunate. On the final day of building, having the young people of our parishes present an icon, Bible and keys to the family as their home is being blessed, seeing a sense of pride and dignity in being able to have a home to call their own and a safe place to raise their family, is a memory we will cherish and value for many years to come. As Project Mexico commemorates its 25 th year building homes in Mexico for needy families and serving the boys of St. Innocent Orphanage in the summer of 2013, may we ask for your continued daily prayers in support of this beautiful ministry. Project Mexico is truly one of the most fulfilling, gratifying and life-changing experiences one can have in the Orthodox faith. Please consider the opportunity to join us for the next trip in the summer of 2013 as Project Mexico celebrates this wonderful milestone. We will begin raising funds to help offset the costs of the trip in the month of February with Mexican luncheons offered at both St. George and St. Mary parishes. Some of these proceeds also provide a donation from the Wichita Orthodox community to the boys at the orphanage. Although the lives of the 31 boys are simple, their needs are many, as funds are continuously needed to provide food, clothing, shelter, school supplies, transportation, utilities, maintenance and staffing, among many other expenses necessary to keep the orphanage operating and managing efficiently. We are forever grateful for all that each of the parishes have done and continue to do in remembering the poor and orphaned in Mexico and in nurturing the faith of our young people and parishioners through this experience. You have provided our team with many moments of reflection on the importance of faith in our lives, a renewed appreciation for the many blessings God has given us and inspiration to give hope, friendship and love to those who need it most.

7 The Nativity Fasting Guidelines The Nativity Fast begins on November 15 and is in effect until December 25. Prayer and Almsgiving We will offer additional morning and evening services during the Nativity Fast. In addition, we should look for opportunities to help those in need during this holy season. Judging Others While we should always avoid judging others, we are especially careful not to judge during the Nativity Fast. Most especially, we should remember that due to health or other concerns some people have been blessed to follow a diet less strict than outlined below. We remember it is not our place to judge another s servant (Romans 14:4), and the kingdom of heaven is not about food and drink (1 Corinthians 6:13, 8:8, and 10:30; Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 9:10). Our only concern during the fast is improving our own spiritual life and relieving those who are poor or needy (Isaiah 58:3-12). Traditional Dietary Restrictions During the Nativity Fast: Meat Abstain from all meat, including beef, chicken, lamb, pork, veal, buffalo, venison, etc. Dairy Abstain from all dairy including milk, cheese, butter, eggs, yogurt, cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. Fish Allowed only on Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays & Sundays before Dec. 20. This does not include shellfish (i.e. fish without a backbone) such as lobster, shrimp, etc. Wine and Oil Allowed only on Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays & Sundays before Dec. 20. Allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays after Dec. 20. The Parish Council is accepting donations for the poinsettias which will adorn the altar in December. Please make your check payable to: St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church, note that it is for Christmas Flowers and place it in the offering tray. Thank you.

8 Christmas Traditions Simmering Potpourri 5 to 6 cinnamon sticks, broken in 1-inch pieces 1 TBSP. Lemon peel 1 TBSP. Orange peel ½ cup whole cloves 1 TBSP. Nutmeg ¼ whole Allspice 1 TBSP. Bay leaves, broken in pieces 2 slices dried apples, optional Combine all ingredients. Add water to cover and simmer on stove in saucepan. Have this simmering on Christmas Day. Your house will smell wonderful. Pomander Balls For one ball, you'll need: A piece of ripe fruit (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime or apple) 2 ozs. Whole cloves Spice Mixture: 2 tsp. Each ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and ginger Stud the fruit with cloves, then roll in the spice mixture. Let stand a few days to dry. Gather several pomander balls in a basket. You can also suspend from a ribbon and hang as an ornament. Make these early and enjoy their scent through December and into the first of the year. Holiday Wassail Bowl 2 TBSP. Whole cloves 1 TBSP. Whole allspice 1 Gallon apple cider or apple juice 2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail 6 3-inch long cinnamon sticks 6 small McIntosh apples, optional About 45 minutes before serving: Wrap cloves and allspice in piece of double-thickness cheesecloth to make a spice bag; tie with string. In an 8-quart pot over high heat, heat to boiling the apple cider, cranberry juice cocktail, cinnamon sticks and spice bag. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes. Discard spice bag. Pour hot wassail into 8-quart heat-safe punch bowl. Gently place whole apples in hot drink bowl for garnish. Or just serves cups of wassail from the pot on the stove. Makes 24 cups. Recipe may be halved. It's nice to keep this on hand for the holidays. Store in the refrigerator and re-heat small amounts as needed. Perfect for Christmas Day.

9 Question of the Month ~ December What's one of your favorite Christmas memories? Tana Salome ~ One of my favorite Christmas memories is the Christmas prior to Joey and my engagement! I flew to Albuquerque to meet his extended family and celebrate Christmas. We then went snowshoeing in Taos. It was beautiful! And his family was so welcoming! Dee Ann Bragg ~ My favorite memories are the simplest things ~ a new blanket of snow back in Indiana where I grew up, the warmth and smell of the Christmas tree, the strange mystery of the Incarnation, good conversations with family, hot chocolate, surprises from my husband, etc. Another unique memory is working at St. Joseph hospital on December 25 th, delivering Christmas babies. Tom Patten ~ I remember one Christmas when I was about nine or ten, I had just one package under the tree that said From Santa. Not even my usual three-pack of socks from Mom, each wrapped individually so I would have six separate presents. Nope, just the one box. In it was a set of Sears Walkie- Talkies. My Dad told me to walk around so he could test the range. Lock the talk button down, he said as I went into the garage. That s how he and Mom heard me scream when I found my big gift, a deep maroon Schwinn Varsity ten-speed with stem shifters and quilted saddle. It was 50 pounds of awesome. I rode it all over Mesa and Tempe that year. We even took it on vacation where I tried to ride it up a hill. Everywhere I went, I locked that 50-pound bike with a 30-pound chain and a 20-dollar lock. Alison Pike ~ My favorite Christmas memory is gathering at my Siti and Jidi's house on Christmas day with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We'd eat until we were stuffed, then we would spend the rest of the day hanging out and playing games. It's a tradition that we continue to this day and we're passing it on to the next generation. Rena Hemmert ~ Sitting on Santa's lap at the mall and pulling as hard as I could on his beard to see if he was really Santa. He was!!! Tom Laham ~ I have two memories to share. Our American Flyer electric trains (our layout was in the basement at our old house on West Douglas) and the Sunday School Christmas play. The play was the Nativity story with the Shepherds, Wise Men, Angels, etc. The Belles would put out a lavish holiday spread after the program and the special feature was Delia Laham's hand-frosted, decorated Christmas cut-out cookies (Santa Claus, Stars, Christmas Trees, etc.). And I know that's a lot of work. We enjoyed them and looked forward to those cookies every year. Jon Von Achen ~ Actually last Christmas because it was the first Christmas that Jack knew what Christmas really was...and he had a new baby sister. Tracy Namee ~ It would be impossible to find just one favorite Christmas memory. My family has always celebrated Christmas in big way and we have so much fun being together. Gifts really aren't a key part of it all. For me to be able to spend the day with my amazing Mom (and Dad when he was living), my awesome siblings and their families, along with my own husband, children and now grandchildren, is a blessing beyond words. We make a new favorite Christmas memory every year! Linda Farha ~ "I think my favorite Christmas memory is getting up and looking in my stocking and taking pictures on our stairwell." Nick Kallail ~ Getting surprised with Super Nintendo and an air hockey table all in the same Christmas. It was epic!

10 Recipes for the Nativity Fast Note: The Nativity Fast begins on November 15 and is in effect until December 25. Shellfish is allowed throughout the fasting period. Oil is allowed only on Tuesday, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays before December 20. Oil is allowed on Saturdays and Sundays after December 20. Shrimp Pilaf 1/3 cup olive oil 1-1/2 cups long-grain white rice 1 large onion, chopped 3 cups water 2 lbs. medium uncooked shrimp, Salt and pepper to taste peeled and deveined 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce Heat oil in pot over medium high heat. Add onion and saute` until softened. Add shrimp and saute` just until tender, 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to a plate. Add rice to pot and stir until coated with the onion mixture. Add remaining ingredients and bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Return shrimp to pot and stir into the rice. Cover and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6. Eggplant and Pasta 1/3 cup olive oil Salt to taste 1 small eggplant, peeled and chopped 1/3 cup dry red wine 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 large tomato, chopped OR l red bell pepper, cut julienne 1 can (14-1/2 ozs.) diced tomatoes 1 cup mushrooms, sliced ¾ lb. penne or other pasta, freshly cooked 1 TBSP. fresh oregano or ¼ tsp. dried ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted ½ tsp. dried crushed red pepper (or to taste) Heat oil in a heavy large skillet over moderate heat. Add eggplant and garlic. Cover and cook until eggplant is just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in red bell pepper, mushrooms, oregano, crushed red pepper and salt. Saute` until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Stir in the wine and tomato. Cook just until mixture is heated through. Transfer sauce to a large bowl. Add the pasta and pine nuts. Toss until combined. Serves 4.

11 THE SCROLL From the Ministry Teams Spring Issue Will Cover ~ March/April/May, 2013 Deadline to Submit News ~ February 17 On Website ~ March 1 Available in Foyer ~ March 3 Send news to: thescrollnews@yahoo.com TEEN SOYO Our new year began with a lock-in during which we said good-bye to David and Kristen Morgan. Leah Zarich participated in a YES (Youth Equipped to Serve in North America) weekend in Kansas City in September. At our October meeting, we had lunch with a representative of Inter-Faith Ministries who shared the various ways teens could volunteer with that organization. After lunch we walked around Old Town taking pictures and looking at art. Congratulations to Leah Zarich and Zac Zarich who took first place on Team Wichita in the DOWAMA Basketball Tournament that was held in Oklahoma City. Thanks to the teens that helped with the Fall Festival. Our November meeting was held at the Jacobs home. We enjoyed a meal together and went hiking in the dark. Thanks to all of you who supported the Special Olympics offering we collected in during Youth Month. Thanks too for your support of the teens with your prayers, encouragement, and financial contributions. Vicki Jones, Sponsor CHURCH SCHOOL The Staff this year includes: Director ~ Justine Nightingale Instructors: Kh. Gwen Warwick, High School Tracy Namee ~ Middle School Justine Nightingale and Claire Dannenberg ~ Grades 3rd-5th Paula Zarich ~ Grades Kindergarten - 2nd Randa Haddad-Stevens ~ Pre-School The Church School Christmas Program will be on December 9 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Christmas Break: December 16, 22, and 30 (no classes). Class will resume on January 6, DILLONS DILLONS has made fundraising easier with the Neighborhood Reward Program. All you do is purchase a $10 gift card from our current coordinator (Dennis Fairbanks) and reload the card with additional value when you shop at DILLONS. When the St. Mary s account reaches $5,000 or more in reloads, we will receive a rebate check for 5% of the total amount. HUMANITARIAN Thanks to everyone for helping to raise $ for Operation Holiday. Please mark your calendars for Humanitarian Sunday on December 16 which will help to keep our food pantry stocked during the winter months.

12 From the Ministry Teams THE BELLES The Belles of St. Mary have been very busy with numerous activities. We hosted a dinner on October 8 for all the ladies of the church. We voted in new officers for the year. They are: Robbie Namee - President, Ro Kallail - Vice-President, Cathy Fairbanks - Secretary, and Judith Shippy, Treasurer. We made chili, hot dogs, and brats for the Sunday School Fall Festival on October 28 and donated all the proceeds to the Sunday School. On November 11, we had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner and made almost $ We would like to thank everyone for their support of these fundraisers. We have continued to make Holy Bread for our church family. We will be giving money cards to the needy for Christmas and buying gifts for the angel tree at Towne West. We will also give gifts to those who are in need. We would like to raise money so we can get new table cloths for the church hall and order new altar boy robes. The Belles will have their annual Christmas party on Monday, December 10, 2012, at the home of Deacon James and Ro Kallail. All women are invited to this party, but please RSVP to Ro. PARISH COUNCIL The following parishioners were elected to a two-year term on the Parish Council: Dennis Fairbanks, Darren Minks, Alison Pike, and Nick Steinbrink. They will join the following five members to form the 2013 Parish Council: Bruce Ferris, Claire Dannenberg, Eric Namee, and Paula Zarich. Many Years! Please join us for the St. Mary Church School Christmas Program on Sunday, December 9 at 5 p.m. The entire parish is invited! This wonderful musical will certainly get you ready for the holiday season! A Lenten potluck follows the program along with a very special visitor! Don t miss this annual event!

13 BIRTHDAYS December 1 Brandi Slechta 3 Thomas McKenzie 5 Marcus Kosjer 9 Don DeBolt 11 Robbie Namee 12 Andrew Abdayem 14 Miriam Lessman 16 Raymond Lamone 18 Alex Lessman 19 Shirley Zarich 21 Yevgeny Novikov 23 Christina Namee 25 Katherine Clark 25 Julia Yanney 31 Vicki Jones January 1 Abdallah Abdayem 2 Deanna Ferris 3 Rosemary Kallail 4 Subdeacon John Laham 6 Jessica Abdayem 7 Randa Haddad-Stevens 7 Nicholas Holwey 8 Leah Zarich 11 Eric Namee 21 David Namee 22 Mark Zarich 26 Brandon Abdayem February 2 Jerry Stitt 3 Beverly Taylor 4 John Lansdowne 5 Ashley Aboud 6 Anna Jacobs 6 Ethan Pike 8 Linda Farha 8 Randy Janssens 9 Simone Warwick 15 Sophia Jacobs 20 Hannah Abou-Faissal 21 Marie Patterson 21 Kyle Shaheen 22 Zachariah Oller 23 Jana Laham 23 Mary Rose Nikoula 25 Alex Mandanis 27 Nicholas Kallail 27 Hannah Mandanis ANNIVERSARIES December December 17, 1994 December 22, 1967 December 28, 1973 December 28, 1974 Anthony and Keri Jacobs Kirby and Cheryl Jantz Jerry and Helen Stitt Mark and Victoria Jones February February 8, 1953 February 12, 1989 February 24, 1968 Andreas and Lula Christos Tony and Micheline Abdayem Bruce and Joan Ferris

14 Do Your Christmas Shopping at The St. Mary Church Bookstore *Orthodox Christmas Cards *Orthodox Christmas Ornaments *Orthodox Christmas Children s Books *Icons *Crosses *Icon Wall Calendars *Many New Items! If we don t have what you need, we will be glad to order it. Orders must be placed no later than December 2, 2012, to be in by Christmas. Supplies are limited! Stop by the Bookstore soon! Parish Life Conference-June 5-8, 2013 in Kansas City 9302 Riverview Avenue Kansas City,KS Phone: IS UP AND RUNNING NOW! Obviously some pages will be added as continued planning is done, but it has a link to the hotel and lots of great KC info as well.

15 McKenzie Baby Congratulations to Michael and Heather McKenzie on the birth of their third child, Mabelle Grayce. Mabelle was born on October 8, weighed 10 lbs., 3 ozs. and was 2l-1/4 long at birth. Mabelle's siblings are Thomas, age 4, and Ruby, 3 years old. Many Years to the McKenzie Family! Pike Baptism Liam Matthew Pike was baptized on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at St. Mary Church with Father Aaron officiating. Liam is the son of Matthew and Alison Pike. His godparents are Nick Holwey and Deanna Ferris. Many Years! Hall of Fame Inductee Joe Stevens will be inducted into the North High School Hall of Fame on December 14, Joe led the 1954 North High School Boys' Basketball Team to their first state championship. He still holds the Kansas State High School record for number of free throws in that state tournament. This is a record that still stands for 58 years! Joe went on to compete at Wichita State University and holds the 14 th highest scoring average in W.S.U. History. At that time in college basketball, freshmen were not allowed to play varsity because of the Korean War. Joe's record is for three years only and not four. Joe was recently inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations and Many Years! Christ the Savior Academy Please join us for our first ever Christmas Concert on Friday, December 7, at 6:30 pm in the St. George Cathedral fellowship hall. The children will delight the audience with song, dance and recitation. Look for Open House information in January. CSA is the only Orthodox, classical school in Wichita, and the school will begin enrollment for the school year in January Want more information? Call CSA at or see the website at

16 Desserts for Christmas Day Strawberry Torte From the Kitchen of Amy Minks 2 pkgs. (3-1/2 ozs. each) instant vanilla pudding 2 cups milk 1 8 oz. container non-dairy whipped topping 1 purchased angel food cake (13 ozs.) broken into bite-sized pieces 1 pkg. (6 ozs.) strawberry gelatin 2 cups boiling water 2 pkgs. (10 ozs. each) frozen strawberries, partially thawed Fresh strawberries and additional topping In a large mixing bowl, combine the pudding with milk, mixing well. Stir in whipped topping and cake pieces. Spread mixture in the bottom of a 13 X 9 X 2 pan. Chill. In a large bowl, combine gelatin with water, stirring to dissolve. Add strawberries. Chill until slightly thickened. Pour gelatin mixture over cake mixture and chill until set. Cut into squares and top each square with whipping topping and a whole strawberry. You can make this torte in parfait glasses for an elegant presentation. White Chocolate Mousse Cherry Pie From the Kitchen of Michelle Shaheen Crust 14 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies ¾ cup chopped macadamia nuts 2 TBSP. butter, melted Filling 1 TBSP. Cornstarch 2 TBSP. Water 1 21-oz. can cherry pie filling ½ tsp. almond extract White Chocolate Mousse 1 cup cold milk 1 (3.3 oz.) pkg. Instant white chocolate pudding mix 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 3 cups heavy whipping cream, divided ¼ cup sugar ¼ tsp. almond extract Chocolate curls and drizzle (optional) For Crust In a food processor, combine the cookies and nuts; cover and process until the cookies are finely chopped. Add butter; cover and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press onto bottom and up the sides of ungreased 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack. For Filling Combine the cornstarch and water in a small saucepan until smooth. Stir in pie filling. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in the extract. Cool completely. For Mousse In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixture for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; set aside. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over ½ cup cream; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat. In a large bowl, beat remaining cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and extract; beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in gelatin mixture. Fold into pudding. Refrigerate until slightly firm, about 30 minutes. Spread cooled filling into crust; top with mousse. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Garnish with chocolate curls and drizzle if desired.

17 His Grace, Bishop BASIL Bishop BASIL s Name Day is January 1, The Bishop BASIL Endowment Fund helps to support missions in our Diocese. If you wish to contribute to this fund send your check to: St. Mary Orthodox Church 344 S. Martinson, Wichita, KS and earmark it: Bishop BASIL Endowment Fund Or you may put your check in the collection tray on Sunday. Our contribution will be sent to Bp. BASIL at the end of January. St. Mary Mid-Term Graduates Congratulations and Many Years! Nickolas Patrick Kosjer will graduate from Pittsburg State University in December, He will have earned his Bachelor's of Applied Science-Automotive Technology/Power Mechanics degree. Nick's minor was Business Administration. Nick previously graduated from Cowley Community College where he received an Associate Degree in Automotive Service Technology. Nick is the son of Marcus and Shirley Kosjer of Douglass, Kansas. Lewis Edward Kosjer will graduate from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, in December, His will receive his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Lewis is the son of Marcus and Shirley Kosjer of Douglass, Kansas. Lewis shared this quote from Rose Kennedy: Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments.

18 About The Scroll The Scroll is the news magazine of St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church, 344 S. Martinson, Wichita, KS, It was first published in March of 1974 as a newsletter and has evolved to its present magazine-style format. The Scroll includes information about our Orthodox Christian faith as well as news of our parish community. Deadline dates for publication are listed in each issue of The Scroll and also in the weekly church bulletins. Inquiries and news items should be sent to: thescrollnews@yahoo.com or to the above church address C/O The Scroll. All news must be received by the announced deadline dates. Submitted material may be edited for content and space limitations. All items submitted should include the name of the person sending the material as well as identifying the original source of previously published pieces. LOOKING AHEAD December 2 Bookstore Orders Due Scroll in Foyer December 6 Liturgy for St. Nicholas December 6 DUI Victim Center of Kansas Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope. December 7 CSA Christmas Concert December 9 Church School Christmas Program December 10 Belles Annual Christmas Party Christ is Born! Glorify Him! December 16 Sunday of Forefathers December 16/22/30 No Church School Classes December 23 Caroling at Masonic Home December 24 Festal Matins and Christmas Divine Liturgy December 25 Nativity of Christ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year December 31 Divine Liturgy at St. George for Bp. BASIL s Name Day January 1 Bp. BASIL S Name Day January 6 Epiphany January 6 Church School Classes Resume February 17 Scroll Deadline

19 AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. AND this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. AND all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. AND Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. TO be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. AND so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. AND she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. AND there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. AND, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. AND the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which is Christ the Lord. AND this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. AND suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!