PANAGIA COHASSET JANUARY 2016 BULLETIN ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ - ΚΑΛΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ HAPPY NEW YEAR NATIVITY ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

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1 PANAGIA COHASSET JANUARY 2016 BULLETIN ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ - ΚΑΛΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ HAPPY NEW YEAR NATIVITY ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH FORMERLY THE POPE MEMORIAL CHURCH nativity assumption 811 Jerusalem of virgin Roadgreek orthodox church MA Cohasset, road, cohasset, ma january 2016

2 Orthodoxy is Life One must not talk about it, one must live it. JANUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER Our Lady of the Life Giving Fountain Newsletter ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ & ΚΑΛΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ May you all have a Blessed and Healthy New Year. Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. (Phil 3:13) (Ζωοδόχος Πηγή ) The Life Giving Fountain Celebrated each year on Friday of Bright Week, the 1st Friday after Holy Pascha May God grant all of us His grace and peace from above through our Lord Jesus Christ. I extend my best wishes for all the blessings of the Lord to come to you in this new year of We stand at the doorway of the New Year. As we stand here we should not enter it with anxiety and fear as to what lies ahead but give glory to God that He has deposited another 52 weeks in our spiritual bank account. This is a bank account that we are challenged to see grow and mature. It is an opportunity to resolve to make deposits of more time and attention to the weightier matters in life which are generosity, kindness, charity, assistance, personal peace, compassion, forgiveness and mercy towards our families, our spouses, and to others. New Years resolutions are good things to do because they help us to recognize our shortcomings and negative habits and resolve to improve them. These areas of improvement could be related to physical well being, professional and personal life or our spiritual life. Resolutions help us to determine where we are lacking and make a goal. But goals are not enough. We have to take that first step and determine how to reach those goals. Perhaps we can make a resolution to reconcile differences with those we have had disagreements with. When we do these things, our spiritual bank account grows and matures substantially and it will produce good dividends for us. This is the real meaning of a prosperous new year. Perhaps a goal may be to come back to church and to bring your family and your children into the presence God s community once again. One thing that our faith teaches is that God is present in our lives and is able to see us through difficulties and storms that might arise. If we choose this attitude our new year will be full of optimism. One suggestion comes from St Paul s letter to the Philippians 3:13, forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. In other words not to allow the past mistakes paralyze you. Another good resolution is to use a Morning Prayer book, or at least begin the day, with your first thoughts on God. Make the sign of the Cross and ask Page No. 2

3 for God s help and guidance to handle or sustain you in whatever happens during the day, putting away bitterness and misunderstandings with those we encounter. Finally, we can resolve to live and constantly express gratitude for what God has given us and not to complain about what we don t have. A good or bad year depends on the choices we make on how to live and what attitude to hold. Let us pray that our spiritual eyes and ears be opened and see the wonders God has done for us. May God enrich all of you with a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year for Fr Constantine Humility before Glory. In the New Year, we begin with two feast days, one the Circumcision of the Lord and the Feast of St Basil the Great on January 1st and the Great Feast of Epiphany on January 6th, in which God reveals Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. God illustrates both His glory and His humility in both of these feasts. Two Prayers for the New Year 2016 As I begin a New Year, Lord Jesus Christ I pray that my walk through the days ahead will be filled with the sensitivity of the needs of others and a love for my neighbor, a love that does not count the cost. Lord Grant me to greet he coming day in peace. Help me to rely upon Your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with a peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words let me not forget that all things are under Your care. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all it shall bring. Direct me according to Your will. Teach me to pray. Pray Yourself in me. Transform my life into a living prayer to You. Amen. Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow January 2016 Liturgical Services Normal Sunday Worship Hours: Orthros: 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 9:45 am On the Last Sundays of each Month: An All English Liturgy will be celebrated with a Children s Sermon. Vasilopita Cutting Sunday January 10th, 2016, following Divine Liturgy. Page No. 3

4 Feast of Theophany/Epiphany: celebrated on the Eve of the Feast January 5th at 6:30 pm With Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Waters. HOUSE BLESSINGS In memory of Christ s Baptism on the Feast of Epiphany, when Jesus sanctified all the waters of the world, the Orthodox Church follows an ancient tradition of holding the SERVICE OF THE BLESSING OF THE WATERS on January 6. The Church asks God s blessing to come upon the water, which we then share with all believers. Through this water the grace of God comes upon us. The Church also has the tradition of the priest taking the holy water into the homes of all believers and blesses their home. Through this ritual we ask for God s blessings to come upon the household for the new year. I am available to visit and bless your homes or business January and February. For those of you who work, I can come between 6:00-8:00 pm or after church on Sunday. If you have a specific time that you want me to visit, call me at ( ). Sacraments/Memorial Services: A 3 year memorial was chanted on Sunday, December 27th 2015, for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, Christos Theodorou. +May his Memory be Eternal Orthodoxy 101 January 6th called Epiphany or Theophany: Epiphany or sometimes called Theophany is after Pascha and Pentecost the greatest Feast of the Orthodox Church. It is even greater than the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Why? Because it commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist and the beginning of Jesus public ministry. But it also a feast in which the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity come together and reveal themselves to the world. The church singles this event out as the revelation of God as three persons. The Scriptures tell us the voice of God the Father was heard, the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a Dove who anoints Jesus, and Jesus Himself is revealed who is God and Man, the Christ, the Anointed One. Very rare in Scripture does this happen but In this event, all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity are revealed and are present at Jesus Baptism. Tradition of Diving for the Cross on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th. FEAST OF YPAPANTY - 40 Day Churching of the Mother and Child The practice of presenting a child to God in the Church originated in the ancient Page No. 4

5 temples of the Jewish faith, and has been continued by the Orthodox Church through the centuries. On Feb. 2nd, forty days after Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord at the temple, YPAPANTY. This is one of the twelve great feasts of the church but is little known by most parishioners. In the feast, the baby Jesus was received by Simeon, a prophet and scholar of great age. Simeon had prayed to live to see the Messiah and, as his desire was fulfilled, he prayed: Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared in the presence of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and glory for Your people Israel. God Parents Sunday, February 7th This is an opportunity for Godparents and Godchildren to reconfirm their baptismal vows. Come to church with your Godparent. Godparents and Godchildren will be asked to sit together. Just before Communion Fr. will read a baptismal prayer and ask both Godparents and Children to reconfirm their baptismal vows. When coming for Communion Fr. will ask those Godparents to come with their Godchildren and a lit candle. Sunday February, 7th 2016 is Souper Bowl Sunday Help Our Community Become Soup-er Bowl Champions! Super Bowl Sunday becomes Souper-Bowl Sunday On Super Bowl Sunday February 7th 2016, team up with our parish s youth and help the needy in our community and around the world. Help our team in the Souper Bowl of Caring by bring one dollar and one can of Soup ( or another canned good) with you to Liturgy. The canned good will help support the Food of Friends and Food for Lazarus Ministry (Wellspring Food Pantry) and your tax-deductible dollar contribution will go directly towards International Orthodox Christian Charities. IOCC. Non-for profit information available at: IOCC, PO Box , Baltimore, MD Page No. 5

6 Wisdom from the Fathers Theophany/Epiphany: O Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father bore witness to You, calling You His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God, who has revealed Himself and has enlightened the world, glory to You. Apolytikion of the feast (first tone) Blessing of the Waters: John answered saying to all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16) The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:16-17) Stewardship Thank you for your stewardship offering to our Panagia Community and for your offering of time and talent. Your offering is an expression of the gratitude for God s Blessings. If you haven t fulfilled your 2015 stewardship commitment yet, please do so. If you haven t had the opportunity to submit your 2016 stewardship commitment card. Please take this opportunity today to fill out a card. Thank you. Page No. 6

7 thoughts On my way to work, going through Shawmut Street in Boston I noticed one of the landmarks in South End, the Holly Trinity Catholic Church was demolished and only the exterior walls to remain. The Church was build in 1844 by German immigrants, made from Roxbury puddingstone and Maine granite, with seating for 1,200 parishioners upstairs and 700 in the lower church. The Archdiocese of Boston closed this church because its congregation was too small to sustain it. I walk this street frequently, and a sad feeling strikes me every time I look at the very active construction site. I think of the work that so many people put to raise money and build the Church and kept it going for more than 170 years. It will now become housing for the wealthy. The project dramatically showcases the change in society were nothing is sacred. What can we do to make sure this doesn t happen to our Church? Can we keep the Church going? These are questions and challenges this Board, as well as the previous Boards are continually trying to address. As you know, we are trying to keep our bills low, and have a balanced budget. This has been the case ever since the decision was made to have a part time priest. Even so, we are still need to organize several fund-raisers during the year. Why? Simply because we have less and less stewards and as a result fewer people attending service. I am convinced we can do more to address the stewardship issue. We start by asking our own kids to join us. Let s talk to them and ask them to become stewards. It doesn t matter how much they pledge, theit talent, or even a small symbolic amount. Then lets get them together and see in what activities they would be interested, and ask them to organize them. I know, sounds easy, difficult to do, but this I feel is our best hope. We will not know the results until we actually try. Let s put a real effort!!! Phyllis Barkas is now preparing KOLYVA for memorial services. Those interested in this service please call Phyllis at Page No. 7

8 ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ - ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑΣ & ΦΩΤΩΝ ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑΣ Αρχιμηνιά κι Αρχιχρονιά ψηλή μου δεντρολιβανιά κι αρχή καλός μας χρόνος εκκλησιά με τ άγιο θρόνος. Αρχή που βγήκε ο Χριστός άγιος και Πνευματικός, στη γη να περπατήσει και να μας καλοκαρδίσει. Αγιος Βασίλης έρχεται, και δεν μας καταδέχεται, από την Καισαρεία, συ σαι αρχόντισσα κυρία. Βαστά εικόνα και χαρτί ζαχαροκάρνο, ζυμωτή χαρτί και καλαμάρι δες και με-δες και με το παλικάρι. Το καλαμάρι έγραφε, τη μοίρα του την έλεγε και το χαρτί-και το χαρτί ομίλει Άγιε μου-άγιε μου καλέ Βασίλη. Και νέον έτος αριθμεί την του Χριστού περιτομή και η μνήμη του Αγίου Ιεράρχου Βασιλείου. Του χρόνου μας αρχή καλή και ο Χριστός μας προσκαλεί την κακία ν αρνηθούμε μ αρετές να στολιστούμε. ΦΩΤΑ Σήμερα τα φώτα κι ο φωτισμός η χαρα μεγάλη κι ο αγιασμός. Κάτω στον Ιορδάνη τον ποταμό κάθετ η κυρά μας η Παναγιά. Όργανo βαστάει, κερί κρατεί και τον Αϊ-Γιάννη παρακαλεί. Άϊ-Γιάννη αφέντη και βαπτιστή βάπτισε κι εμένα Θεού παιδί. Ν ανεβώ επάνω στον ουρανό να μαζέψω ρόδα και λίβανο. Καλημέρα, καλημέρα, Καλή σου μέρα αφέντη με την κυρά ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες κι αν είναι ορισμός σας Χριστού την θεία γέννηση να πω στ αρχοντικό σας Χριστός γεννάται σήμερον εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλη οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται χαίρει η φύσις όλη Εν τω σπηλαίω τίκτεται εν φάτνη των αλόγων ο βασιλεύς των ουρανών και ποιητής των όλων Να ζούμε βίον τέλειον κατά το ευαγγέλιον με αγάπη με ειρήνη και με τη δικαιοσύνη. Χρόνια πολλά και ευτυχή με καθαρά κι αγνή ψυχή με χαρά και με υγεία και με θεία ευλογία. Page No. 8

9 ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ - ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑΣ & ΦΩΤΩΝ Page No. 9

10 PRAYER OR MEMORIAL FAMILY OF: (PLEASE GIVE TO FATHER CONSTANTINE) LIVING DEPARTED Page No. 10

11 TREASURER S REPORT Panagia Greek Orthodox Church Operating Account Profit and Loss Statement 11/30/ Budget Difference Actual Income Candles 10, , Offering Tray 11, , (594.75) Stewardship 47, , (5,719.15) Events/ Donations/ Other* 25, , , Total Income 94, , (3,090.16) Expenses Payroll / Payroll taxes 29, , (2,545.18) Auto Allowance/ Priest other 4, , (0.00) Arch Dio. Dues 11, , (0.00) Rent Expense 9, , Candle Expense 2, , (268.50) Insurance Expense 4, , Electric 3, , Gas Heat 5, , (2,303.66) Water (120.56) Waste/ Sewer assessments 4, , , Telephone 1, , (355.51) Maintenance / Repair of Church 4, , , Religious Education (714.52) Events Expense 5, , Printing / Postage 3, , (52.84) Restoration payback 2, , All other (supplies, bank fees, prof. fees) 2, , (2,504.39) Total Expenses 94, , (2,850.97) Net Operating Income (239.19) - (239.19) *Events income is at 23K, (envelope 5K, Oct 24th event 18K) Page No. 11

12 OUR REFUGE - PRESIDENT S MESSAGE HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!! As 2016 begins our world is a confusing, sometimes frightening, place. We have Islamic Terrorism and Anti-Islamic Bigotry. We have too much surveillance and yet, at times, too little security. We have angry people with weapons and the threat of government confiscation of guns. We have a few racist law enforcement officers and lawlessness in many localities. We have threats to our Democratic process and way of life. And, on and on. Confusion. Fear. But we also have a refuge. We have our beloved Panagia Church and the right to prayer. Both are powerful antidotes to the difficulties of this world. NEW YEAR S RESOLUTON: and in prayer. We should join our Panagia family at liturgy Panagia Church on Jerusalem Rd. is our refuge against a confusing and sometimes frightening world. With love and for our Parish Council, Ed Page No. 12

13 philoptochos CORNER HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!! Another Year Older & Hopefully another year Better! What is your New Year s Resolution? Hopefully it will be to help those in need! That is what Philoptochos does and it really makes you feel good. So make an effort to give to a charity, give to the food bank, or help someone a little down on their luck. Thank you to all the ladies & gents that helped make the Village Fair Amazing this year! Angela & Ed, Sharon & Chuck, Donna & Nick, Joan & Tony, Faye, Dottie, Frannie, Eva, Kathy Brunelle, Kiki, Sophia, Katina, Lois Athanasiou ( forgive me if I left anyone out) Thank you to everyone that baked also Please sign up for coffee hour, the sign up sheet is by the back door. Check your calendar to see if there is a Sunday you can host in honor of a birthday, anniversary or feast day. SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 10th is Vasilopita Sunday. We will be passing a basket for Saint Basil s Academy so please be as generous as you can. Our next meeting is January 7pm. Hope to see you there. Dues can be given to Sophia or myself. Thank you! Kerri Vallas Luisi, Philoptochos President, GREETINGS FROM ARIZONA! Greetings from Arizona and best wishes for a great New Year for all my Panagia friends! With love, Estelle MacDonald. estellemac@comcast.net Estelle McDonald, a former President and long time steward of the Panagia Parish moved to Arizona where she will be closer to family. We like to take this opportunity to thank Estelle and wish her and family a Happy & Healthy New Year. We thank Estelle for her valuable service to the Panagia Parish. Estelle was our event planner/ coordinator. Page No. 13

14 PANAGIA PARISH STEWARDSHIP LIST Agostino, Diane Lane, Carol & James Alex, Thomas Lazaris, George & Angela Anastos, Adrienne Lofgren, Edwin & Angela Anastos, Arthur and Stacy Martin, Mathew Antoniadis, Spiros & Barbara Martin, Thomas Athanasiou, Harry and Peggy McDonald, Brian & Terry Athanasiou, Lois Michaelides, Andreas Athanasiou, Pantases Panetsos, Lois Bakas, Steve Panos, Peter & Anna Barber, Maria (Argos) & James Papachristos, Nick & Thespina Barkas, Bill & Phylis Papadonis, Paul & Mary Belezos, George & Katina Papadopolous, George & Faye Bolio, Jason & Stephanie Papadopoulos, Efstathios Booras, Peter & Angeliki Papadopoulos, George Bourikas, Peter & Susan Papadopoulos, Michael & Sophia Brunelle, Catherine & Eric Papavasiliou, Chris and Meryl Cambas, Barbara Papavasiliou, Peter Cambas, Fr. Constantine & Marilou Pappastratis, Angela Cambas, Marriane Polimenakos, Constantine & Bakas, Caradonna, Joan Poulos, Peter & Lucy Carlow, Adam and Kalina Raftopoulos, Gerassimo Cesario, Sal and Elena Rumble, Donna Chamberlain, Douglas & Evelyn Samara, Audrey Costas, Charles & Sharon Sedell, Eva Daoulas, James Smith, Kevin Dedes, James & Cindy Smith, Rebecca Demetropoulos, Elaine & John Sofis, Ernie & Mary Desilets, Arrianna and Bradford Soligan, Katherine Doku, Dr. Joanna Styles, Al & Stacey Emanuel, Mildred Theodorou, Efstathios & Angela Eneyni, Dr. Mazen & Janice Theodorou, Nick & Susan Fillon, Mary Theophilos, Maria Fuda, Nina Therrian, Robert Fyfe, Francis Tripolitis, Demetrios Gallagher, Elizabeth Tripolitis, Helen Janus, Anastasia Vallas, Michael Jordan, Mary Verenis, Steven & Georgia Kelley, Richard & Joanne White, Michael & Andrea Kent, Richard Zervas, Niki Kimball, Theodora Zotos, Fred & Zotos Freda Krause, Melanie & Alan NOTE: Next month, this list will be revised to only include stewards that have either registered, or made a stewardship committment. Please contact George Belezos, Faye Papadopoulos, the President or any Board Member Page No. 14

15 THE NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 811 Jerusalem Rd., Cohasset, MA PARISH PRIEST: FR. CONSTANTINE CAMBAS Leave message at Emergency Cell Only: PRESIDENT - Ed Lofgren erl@3amarine.com Phone: Work Home SECRETARY - Joan Cara Donna jb3806@hotmail.com TREASURER Susan Theodorou susantheodorou@gmail.com VICE PRESIDENT Michael Papadopoulos michaelpapadopoulos@verizon.net Phone: BOARD MEMBERS: Joanne Kelley kelley2000@comcast.net Phone: Home Cynthia Dedes cindy.dedes@verizon.net Home : Donna Rumble donnadonna365@yahoo.com Terry McDonald bmacky4@aol.com Orthros 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 9:45 AM. Diane Agostino Phone: daskala@comcast.net Kerri Vallas Luisi Phone: kluisi313@aol.com OUR PARISH COUNCIL BUILDING & GROUNDS: Ed Lofgren, Spiros Antoniadis, George Papadopolous & Michael Papadopoulos COMMUNICATIONS/BULLETIN michaelpapadopoulos@verizon.net Phone: COMMITTEE MEMBERS Faye Papadopolous/Stewardship Home STEWARDSHIP: George P. Belezos gpbelezos@bendongear.com OUTREACH Fr. Constantine Cambas Cynthia Dedes YOUTH GROUPS Presbytera Marilou Cambas mcambas@verizon.net Phone: SUNDAY SCHOOL: Susan Theodorou suzantheodorou@gmail.com 9:00 AM - Divine 9:45 AM. Page No. 15

16 THE NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 811 Jerusalem Road Cohasset, Massachusetts Page No. 16