Fr. Alex s Message: This Nativity Season

Transcription

1 Fr. Alex s Message: This Nativity Season It s almost here. It s that time of year again. This is the time when we look forward to the most joyful of arrivals: the beloved Christ Child, the King of Kings, who came not with the heralding of trumpets or brandishing a sword but quietly, peacefully, unexpectedly in humble conditions just outside the walls of Jerusalem. With Christ's birth, new hope is offered us. The world is made new; despair and death scurry into the shadows in fear. And not only humanity but Creation itself which also groans under the weight of our sin is given new life. The question is asked, How can the Lord come to us as true man and true God? And, How can we fathom this how does this work? If you can't quite wrap your mind around this, you're not alone. God's ways are His, not ours. There's no reason we should be able to understand. The point is, in fact, that we don't need to understand how. All we need to know is that He did come and that His coming was motivated by nothing but pure, unadulterated, unswerving and unexpected love for all of us. This is something to celebrate. To this end, I invite you to participate fully in our cycle of Nativity services (please see the calendar on Pg. 7 and stphilipnh.org). There is much distraction for you and me each day: our phones, myriad gadgets, errands, obligations, work concerns and more. We seldom take time to think, reflect it is even more seldom that we pray and give thanks for another day surrounded by those we love. This Nativity season, make the time to do these things. Join your brothers and sisters in worship. Bring your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and Godchildren to Liturgy. Join in the outreach and philanthropic efforts of our parish, which recently blessed so many at Thanksgiving time. Give yourself permission to take time out to nurture your spiritual life, your relationship with the Lord. Come into the Narthex and light a candle; be inspired by a holy icon; pray at home; read the Bible; approach the Kingdom of Heaven. Come face to face with the Christ Child. See His tender gaze witness His humility and His vulnerability. Anticipate the gravity of what's to come, what's being done for us. As the icon above reminds us, the peace Cont. on Pg. 2 DEC JAN 2017 Table of Contents Liturgical Schedule 2 Stewardship 3 Youth 4, 5 Photos 6 Calendar 7 Community/ Outreach 8 Education/ News 9 Sponsors 10, 11 Saint Philip Church 500 West Hollis St. Nashua, NH P: facebook.com/ StPhilipNashua instagram.com/ stphilipnashuanh

2 LITURGICAL SCHEDULE Schedule Sundays Divine Dec. 4: 10th Sunday of Luke 11: 11th Sunday of Luke 18: Sunday before the Nativity 25: The Nativity Jan. 1: Circ. of the Lord 8: Sunday after Theophany 15: 12th Sunday of Luke 22: 15th Sunday of Luke 29: The Canaanite Weekday Services Dec. 24: Eve of the Nativity. Vesperal Liturgy, 6 pm (Reception) Jan. 5: Eve of Theophany. Vesperal Liturgy & Blessing of the Waters, 6 pm 6: Theophany. Orthros, Divine Liturgy, & Blessing of the Waters, 9 am 7: St. John the Baptist. Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9 am Parish Council Pledge We look forward to the prayerful confirmation of our 2017 council, upon ratification of our election. We are grateful to those have offered themselves and our outgoing members. The Pledge date will soon be announced. Again, thanks to all! Voices of Faith Our parishioners of all ages are always invited to read the Epistle during Sunday Divine Liturgy. Contact Fr. Alex to reserve your special date. Dec. 4: Marisa Donati 11: Lori Pitsas 18: Elena Barker 25: Dorothy Pitarys Jan. 1: Parish Chanters 8: Devany Pitsas 15: Lori Pitsas 22: Bette Gioffre 29: Dorothy Pitarys This Nativity Season (continued) and spiritual beauty He brings to all are beyond measure. And if this is not a good time of year for you if you're feeling lousy, low, and like you don't deserve to be in God's presence, this is all the more reason for you to come to Church. Absolutely no excuses. The Church is here for us all, and we all need healing. On behalf of our Parish Council and all of our ministry leaders, I wish you and yours a radiant, joyful Christmas, and a truly blessed New Year. With love in our Incarnate Lord, Fr. Alex Christmas Wisdom For they said, is was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day. And so it was! God love it, so it was! Charles Dickens "It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. W. T. Ellis What Is Theophany All About? When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to You. (Hymn of Theophany) Each year, the Theophany of the Lord is celebrated on Jan. 5 (the Eve) and 6. The feast marks the baptism of Christ and the manifestation of God in 3 Persons through the witness of the Father, the descent of the Holy Spirit and the blessed presence of the Son. Come celebrate this great feast with us! Pastoral Visits this Holiday Season The Church is here for us all, and we all need healing. To arrange a visit for a loved one, or yourself, as we approach Christmas and Theophany, please contact Fr. Alex anytime. During this heartwarming season, it is especially important to bring the Church to those who can t come. Come and See 2

3 STEWARDSHIP Online Giving: Faithful Direct Stewardship, Every Member & More Have you had a chance to visit the Giving pages of our website lately? We broke new ground in 2016 and implemented a secure and simple way to give to our church online. If you have any difficulty using it, please contact the Church Office. We pray that this innovative tool will help our parish strivings bear fruit. The respective giving pages are as follows: Stewardship Every Member Capital Campaign General Donations (Christmas, festival, etc.) St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church 500 West Hollis St. Nashua, NH Phone: P (603) ; ; F Web: (603) stphilipnh.org Rev. Fr. Alex Chetsas: fralex@stphilipnh.org Office Staff: Cheryl Petren Cheryl & Sophie Petren Theoharis: office@stphilipnh.org Office Hours: M - F, 10 am - 3 pm Online Delivery Help Us Reach of Come You & See We Are have you receiving been making weekly an s effort and to other introduce electronic delivery communications of Come from & See St. Philip? for some If not, time. we online Help may us not conserve have an needed updated resources for at you Saint and/or Philip, your and family. contact Please the help office us stay today close to to authorize you by online contacting delivery. the Thank office you with for your your . participation! Thanks! Stewardship Sunday, December 4 We hope you received the recently mailed 2017 Stewardship package, including your family s Commitment Card and that you are planning to join us for Stewardship Sunday! Please come to Church on the 4th with your 2017 Commitment Card prayerfully completed, so we may all offer them in unison. Cards are also in the Narthex and may be easily downloaded at stewardship/. Following Liturgy, we will celebrate another year of ministries and programs with you at the potluck (confirm your meatless offering with Joe Pappo: jpappo@nmexpress.net). Looking back, the Stewardship Committee would like to thank all of those who pledged their support this year by sending in the 2016 Commitment Card. We also thank our faithful that give every year as non-pledged stewards and recognize that all of us as a whole support and make Saint Philip the wonderful community that is! This year we received close to 120 pledge cards, which is a record. We are hopeful that this upward trend will continue for Our Stewardship Committee would love to add members. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Contact Doug Philipon and lend us a hand in the new year: duglas1004@gmail.com. Every Member Campaign Doug Philipon There was a story that I saw recently that showed the power of a community working together. The principal of Ogden International School sent out an emergency plea last year to save teachers' jobs. Parents at Ogden, a public school that serves grades K- 12, raised more than $138,000 in one day to prevent teacher layoffs. While it is an affluent public school of Chicago, who would think something like this would even happen? We too have a challenge here at Saint Philip that is to raise matching funds of $15,000 offered by 5 families. And while only 70 or so families have contributed to date, we remain optimistic! We are anxious to bring this fundraising initiative to a close for a spring start. Let s get this gosh darn dome done! Contact me to learn more: duglas1004@gmail.com. Come and See 3

4 YOUTH Don t let anyone look down on you because you are young Sunday School Heather Cloutier Hello Sunday School Families: We have entered the Nativity season and the children are working on the Lessons and Carols presentation. The dress rehearsal is on December 4 following Sunday School, and the presentation is on December 11 in Church following the Liturgy. There has been a change in the December schedule. Please note: we will not be going to AHEPA Manor this month. The children will be going to their Sunday School class for a Nativity lesson. CALENDAR NOTES December 25: Family Worship/No Class January 1: Family Worship/No Class January 29: Godparents Sunday Have a Blessed Nativity Season and a Happy New Year! Young Adult Gathering, Dec. 4 Our young adults are warmly invited to Martha s Exchange Restaurant (185 Main St., Nashua) for discussion and holiday cheer, beginning at 7:30 pm. RSVP to Elena Baker: elena.althea@gmail.com. Look What We Accomplished! Thanks to our youth for helping with the Thanksgiving Basket Drive. Here s a picture from the drop-off to local veterans. Your efforts made a difference! GOYA Marisa Donati, Advisor Hello GOYAns! GOYA has had many exciting events already this holiday season and has more planned. On November 13, we went to Market Basket for our annual shopping trip for Thanksgiving supplies after Liturgy. We were very successful with collecting all of the goods that we needed for the baskets. Thank you to all who donated food and/or financial help. The following Sunday, November 20, GOYA assembled the Thanksgiving baskets, with help from JOY friends. Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we will be busy getting ready for the holidays. And our next event is the GOYA Christmas/New Year s Party on Sunday, Dec. 11. We will gather at the Pappas home (5 Horse Hill St., Dunstable, MA), 4-7 pm. All GOYAns and parents are welcome to join us for holiday cheer and reflection on our efforts in Sunday, Jan. 15, will be our first regular GOYA meeting of the new year, following Sunday School. Come join us, and bring your creative ideas for GOYA is open to 7-12 grade Orthodox Christians, and we are ALWAYS welcoming new GOYAns. Contact me for more information or to get involved: marisapdonati@gmail.com. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our GOYAns and their families! Hellenic Dance Troupe Hellenic Dance Troupe is available to girls and boys 10 years old to 18 years old. Our practice sessions will begin in January the 8th and 22nd, following Sunday School and end in May after the Greek Food Festival performance. We will celebrate Hellenic culture by learning and performing folk dances from several regions throughout Greece. When possible we will perform at public and private events with the culminating performance being the Food Fest. A calendar of practice dates will be distributed to all dancers on the 8th, and we are looking forward to another great year together! For further details, contact Maria Donati: Come and See 4

5 YOUTH...but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in faith and in purity. Timothy 4:12 JOY Scavenger Hunt, Jan. 15 Mission: Possible The Sequel! Last year s JOY (grades 3-6) scavenger hunt was truly awesome. Now it s time for the sequel another adventurous hunt with some fun and inspirational new twists. On the 15th, after Sunday School and having a quick bite at Fellowship Hour, please join us in the Church for this activity: Mission: Possible The Sequel! Younger siblings are more than welcome to come too. Contact Brandy Chetsas for details or to help out: abchetsas@hotmail.com. Altar Server News Congratulations to Jeffrey, Thomas and Stephen Johnston, who were tonsured as Altar Servers & Readers on Nov. 13, during Metropolitan Methodios pastoral visit. Axios to these wonderful young men! Oratorical Festival 2017 Join Our Parish Team Many of our younger families may not have heard of the Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, which is a program of our Archdiocese carried out each year within every Metropolis. It offers 7-12th graders an engaging opportunity to learn more about their faith and share Orthodoxy by delivering thoughtful homilies to their young colleagues and entire parish families! Scholarship prizes range from $2,500 - $30,000. This year s theme is all about the liturgical and moral outlook of the Orthodox Christian Church. To join our parish team and learn about the theme, contact Fr. Alex by Jan. 8. Winter Camp at MBC Feb Each summer, a growing number of our children are discovering the wonder of the Metropolis camping ministry. They return with a renewed spiritual life and a desire to put what they ve learned into practice in our parish. But the experience doesn t end in August. Winter Camp keeps the flame alive during the colder months. Family Camp (Parents & children of all ages) and GOYA Camp (ages 12-18) will run from Feb ; registration is not open yet but soon will be. Keep an eye on the Metropolis Camp page for registration updates: Saintly Lives: Saint Modestos (Dec. 16) Born in 292 in Sebastia, St. Modestos was raised as a pagan in the imperial court, following the murder and martyrdom of his Christian parents. As a teenager, though, a spiritual awakening occurred. He learned of his parents faith and martyrdom and that he had actually been baptized a Christian before their execution. A Christian goldsmith began to mentor him, but the man s jealous sons sold him into slavery in Egypt. After converting his master s family and ultimately gaining his freedom, he made a pilgrimage to Mt. Sinai and was ordained a priest at a local monastery. He quickly became known for his devotion and loving nature. After years of service to the Church, he was selected Patriarch of Jerusalem. It was during these latter years that his long-time appreciation for all of God s creation intensified and blossomed. He had a particular affection for animals, seeing them as sublime, mysterious gifts from God. Often he would bless livestock, praying for their health and productivity and giving thanks for all Creation. Getting Practical: In November, our parish held a Saint Modestos Pet Blessing event, and Fr. Alex has copies of the blessing prayer we used (one of several that survive from Saint Modestos) to share with you. Feel free to ask for one, and then take it home to read over your pet(s) on the 16 th or any time you like. Come and See 5

6 His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios Visit St. Modestos Pet Blessing Holiday Outreach Prayerful Pumpkin Carving Come and See 6

7 December 2016 & January 2017 Limited Overview Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednes- Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10th Sunday DEC of Luke - Sunday School/ Lessons & Carols Reh. - Stew. Sunday Event - Parish Elections - Y. Adults, 7:30 pm 11th Sunday of Luke - Lessons & Carols - Last Day to Sign up for Wish List Project - GOYA Party Agape Nashua Soup Kitchen Service, 4 pm AHEPA Christmas Social, 6 pm Stewardship, 6:30 pm Health/Wellness Ministry, 9:30 am Greek School, 4 & 6 pm Health/Wellness Ministry, 10 am Greek School, 4 & 6 pm Women s Prayer Group & Bible Study, 6:30 pm 15 Agape Nashua Soup Kitchen Service, 4 pm 16 Seniors Outing to Holiday Pops, 8 pm Sunday before the Nativity - Sunday School - Home Base 2016 Reflection - Fruit Bundles Compassionate Friends, 6:30 pm 20 Health/Wellness Ministry, 10 am Greek School, 4 & 6 pm Women s Prayer Group & Bible Study Christmas Party & Potluck, 6:30 pm Eve of the Nativity Vesperal Liturgy, 6 pm (Reception) The Nativity - Sunday School Family Worship Health/Wellness Ministry, 10 am No Greek School Classes Circ. of the JAN 1 Lord - Sunday School Family Worship 2 Parish Council, 6:30 pm 3 Health/Wellness Ministry, 9:30 am Greek School, 4 & 6 pm 4 Eve of Theophany Vesperal Liturgy, 6 pm (Blessing of the Waters to follow) 5 Theophany 6 St. John the 7 Baptist (Blessing of the Waters to follow) Sunday after Theophany - Sunday School - Agape Pledge - Vasilopita - Dance Troupe - Oratorical Festival Confirmations Due 8 9 Stewardship, 6:30 pm 10 Sponsoring Fellowship Hour Sponsoring is a beautiful way to remember a loved one or mark a family anniversary. Contact the Church Office to sponsor on a coming Sunday. Thanks to our November sponsors: 6: Pervanas Family (in memory of Margarita & Lekourgo Pervanas) 13: Agape (In honor of our parish feast day) 27: Helen Dabilis & Family (in memory of Spiro Pitarys) Come and See 7

8 COMMUNITY/Outreach Nashua Symphony Orchestra Holiday Seniors Outing Dec. 10! Outreach Snapshot GOYA In Action On Nov. 13 our GOYAns cheerfully shopped for the Thanksgiving Basket Drive, remembering the needs of others. We are proud of them all for acting on their faith. Holiday Outreach A Christmas Hymn Reminding Us of the Reason for the Season "O my child, child of sweetness, How is it that I hold You, Almighty? And how that I feed You, Who gives bread to all men? How is it that I swaddle You, Who with the clouds encompass the whole earth We hope our seniors are looking forward to a truly lovely night with the Nashua Symphony Orchestra and New World Chorale, at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua, NH). The event begins at 8 pm, with the holiday pops program to feature holiday favorites for the whole family. This will be an excellent way to gear up for Christmas and get us all in the holiday spirit! The event is completely sold out. Our parish has purchased a block of several rows, so we will all be sitting together. For help with a ride, please contact Fr. Alex by Thursday, Dec. 8. Otherwise, plan to meet our group at our seats within the center. We hope this joyous event will build even more friendship among our seniors! Among the moving services for the Nativity of the Lord, the hymn above (drawn from the Orthros of the Nativity) stands out as one of the most emotionally powerful elements. It is written from the perspective of the Theotokos, as she contemplates the mystery of the divine birth. It reveals her amazement, her sense of humility. Amid the many errands, parties and distractions of the season, may we take the time to rediscover our own amazement and humility and worship Him! The Outreach Committee offers warm thanks for all the support of our Thanksgiving Basket Drive in November we produced 24 full Thanksgiving dinners for local families and veterans in need. Now, we hope you will respond with equal generosity and thoughtfulness to the Christmas Wish List Project, which is well underway! Sign up to help local families by purchasing Christmas presents. Signing up is easy just see Stephanie Norris in the hall on Sundays or contact her during the week: norrisx2@yahoo.com. Sign up closes on Dec. 11. Stay Connected MINISTRIES/PROGRAMS MINISTRIES/PROGRAMS ADULT/GENERAL Chanting Theodore Persakis Choir George Karakantas Every Member Doug Philipon Food Festival Jamie Pappas Health/Wellness Katherine Richo Orthodox OCMC Life Frank Maryanne Edelblut Squeglia Parish Orthodox Council Life Jorge Frank Panteli Edelblut Outreach Committee Stephanie Norris Stewardship Parish Council Ministry Joe Malcolm Pappo Paradise Welcome Stewardship Committee Greg Joe Pappo Danas Women s Welcome Committee Prayer/Bible Paula Greg Danas Kouletsis Women s Prayer Group Maryanne Squeglia YOUTH Altar YOUTH Service Daniel Gioffre Family Youth Director Night Brandy Elena Barker Chetsas GOYA Altar Service Marisa Daniel Gioffre Donati Greek GOYA School George Marisa Donati Kitsis Hellenic Greek School Dance Troupe Maria George Donati Kitsis JOY Hellenic Dance Troupe Brandy Maria Donati Chetsas PC JOY/Family Mentoring Night Program Fr. Brandy Alex Chetsas Sunday School Heather Cloutier RELATED GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS Agape Ladies Society Dorothy Panayota Pitarys Mikedis AHEPA Nick Kallan Elpis Ladies Society Maria Donati Pan-Macedonians Society Charles Paskaley Come and See 8

9 EDUCATION/NEWS Agape News Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year! There will be no monthly meeting in December or January. But please keep these important events in mind... On Dec. 12 & 15 and Jan. 16 & 19, we will serve at the Nashua Soup Kitchen. Join us, beginning at 4 pm. We will host the Vasilopita Celebration on Jan. 8. Please offer a bread for this joyous celebration (details below). Our officers will also take their pledge on this day. Agape Favorites makes a great Christmas gift! Pick up a few copies for stocking stuffers or as hostess gifts. See an Agape member for your copy. AHEPA Updates A Time of Celebration & Giving On December 13, the chapter will hold its annual Christmas Social at AHEPA Manor, starting at 6 pm. All members are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for a local food pantry. Also, on December 18, during Fellowship Hour, we will be distributing fruit bundles to all our senior citizens. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our Saint Philip Family and all our members! Orthodox Life: Looking to 2017 We are most grateful to Dr. Jim Skedros and other friends for leading our gatherings the last few months. Looking ahead to the new year, a late January/February series will soon be announced, as well as news on some Lenten Orthodox Life events. More to follow soon, and thank you for participating in Orthodox Life in 2016! Women s Prayer Group & Bible Study Join us for our coming gatherings, 6:30 pm at Saint Philip: Dec. 8: Keeping Christ in Christmas Dec. 22: Christmas Party Potluck Jan. 12 & 26: Topics TBD Contact Paula K. to learn more about our offerings: boston1020@jetmail7.com. Health & Wellness Ministry: To Your Health! During the holidays, we tend to enjoy the Lord's blessings to the fullest extent, oftentimes to the point of gluttony and discomfort. Some individuals may experience an exacerbation of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), also known as "heartburn", though it has nothing to do with the heart. Over-the-counter antacids may not be enough. In fact, doctors usually treat GERD with prescription medications to minimize damage to the esophagus from gastric acid which could lead to a cancerous condition known as Barrett's esophagus. It is possible to have symptoms without tissue damage or to have damage without symptoms. Tips to manage heartburn: Stay upright after eating; avoid foods that trigger your heartburn (especially fats, spicy foods, chocolate, onions, citrus fruits/juices, coffee, tea, cola, and alcohol); and eat small meals and avoid exertion right after eating. Blessed holidays to all! Vasilopita Celebration Jan. 8 Agape will once again sponsor our parish Vasilopita Celebration. On the 8th, at the close of Liturgy, Fr. Alex will lead us in the Vasilopita Service, and then several of our parish leaders will be invited to come forth and receive a piece on behalf of their ministry or program committee members and those they serve. This is always an uplifting event. Don t miss it! Contact Sia Juris if you would like to offer a Vasilopita on this special day for our parish: This resource offers Orthodox Christian programming, featuring stories of faith, interviews, and more: Come and See 9

10 We thank our sponsors for their support! Stellos Family Investment Properties of Nashua, New Hampshire Proud Stewards of St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church Come and See 10

11 Come and See 11

12 Wisdom of Saint Basil The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it. Altar Flowers Vicky Batzoyanis & Family Oct. 26 (Festal for Saint Demetrios) Pervanas Family Nov. 6 (Margarita & Lekourgo Pervanas) Alton Family Nov. 13 (Zannis Raissis) Agape Ladies Society Nov. 13 & 14 (Festal for Saint Philip: Altar, Iconostasios & Processional) Anonymous Donation Nov. 20 Saint Basil the Great, Jan. 1 Funerals Jenny Elias Nov. 6 Memorials Margarita Pervanas, 3 yrs Nov. 6 Zannis Raissis, 1 yr Nov. 13 Panayiotis Limperis (6 yrs), Panayiota Gounaropoulis (6 yrs), Katherine Papapanayiotou (40 days) & Panayiotis Papapanayiotou (9 months) Nov. 20 Zacharaias Mandravelis (7 yrs), Spiro Pitarys (1 yr) & Andrew Sofikitis (15 yrs) Nov. 27