Saint Sophia Axiologa worth mentioning JUNE 4, 2017 Sunday of Pentecost
FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE OFFICERS George E. Preonas, President; Dr. James A. Demetriou, Vice President & C.F.O.; Gig Kyriacou, 2 nd Vice-President; Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary; Tina Callas, Treasurer MEMBERS V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Timi Loomos Freshman, Alek Haidos, Steve Hanna, Diane Sakellaris Lapa, Tony Natsis, Brent Noyes, John Peterson, Jean Paul Wardy, Jim Zaferis PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel John G. Marakas III, Sr. Advisor to the Board ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT Anthony A. Demetriou TRUSTEES EMERITUS Andrew Evangelatos, Nicholas Bissias and John T. Pappas PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Brent A. Noyes, President; Anna Yallourakis, Vice President; Jeanine Hanna, Co-Treasurer; Peter Cosfol, Co-Treasurer; Dinah Wellington, Recording Secretary MEMBERS Angela Ananias; Bertha Angels; Bill Striglos; Costa Bargeliotes; Glenn Lianos; Jonas Metin; Karen Sarames; Maria Baltazzi; Mauro Metini; Paris Yatskar. BOARD OF AUDITORS: James Boltinghouse, Anthony Demetriou Saint Sophia Cathedral 1324 S. Normandie Ave Los Angeles, CA 90006 Office: 323.737.2424 Fax: 323.737.7029 www.stsophia.org/bulletin When you write your will or update it, won t you please remember Saint Sophia Cathedral? Such a gift will live forever as our church ministers to our spiritual needs. It s an investment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
MINISTRY NEWS 1. Tonight: Holy Pentecost Vespers Kneeling Service 2. Monday, June 5: Coffee Hour sponsored by the VIP s after the Feast of the Holy Spirit Divine Liturgy 3. Sunday, June 11: Holy Priesthood Ordination of Dr. Christopher Kolentsas 4. Thursday, June 22: VIP s Prizes and Surprises HOLY PENTECOST VESPERS KNEELING SERVICE TONIGHT AT 7 PM Let us rejoice together as we celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and worship the Holy Trinity. Join us for Vespers and take some time to reflect on the many blessings we receive from God. The strength we draw from the Holy Spirit allows Him to dwell in and work through us. We will kneel in prayer for the first time since Holy Week. SEEKING A FEMALE ROOMATE To share a 2 bedroom apartment next to the church; will have own bedroom and balcony. Preferably Greek speaking. Please call Jessica at 323-737-2424 2
The Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Deacon Christopher Kolentsas Sunday, June 11 th Divine Liturgy at 10 am Please join us (let s have a full church) for the Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Deacon Christopher Kolentsas. Metropolitan Gerasimos will conduct the Ordination assisted by Metropolis Chancellor Bishop Apostolos. It is a beautiful and impressive service. It will be a joy to welcome our new assistant priest Fr. Christopher. A complimentary reception will be hosted in the Maniatakos Hall of the Huffington Center. Please plan to prayerfully attend. A Special Divine Liturgy Monday, June 12 th at 10 am Our newly ordained priest Fr. Christopher Kolentsas will celebrate his first Divine Liturgy along will seminary classmates Fr. Tom Filactu and Fr. Chris Retelas. Please join us in worship and prayer as we lift up these new priests to the ministry of the Lord. 3
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Monday, June 5 Feast of the Holy Spirit Please join us for Divine Liturgy and Coffee Hour sponsored by the Philoptochos VIP s. Celebrate with us our beloved and beautiful Saint Sophia Feast Day. 5
PHILOPTOCHOS V.I.P. Monday June 5, 2017, the celebration of our church s name day. After the Divine Liturgy, the VIP is sponsoring coffee hour. Ourania will be making her famous Koulouria and Koulourakia, Angela is making Paximathia and Niko Begakis is offering fruit. Please join us for the Divine Liturgy and Coffee Hour. Thursday, June 22, 2017 we will be playing our favorite game Prizes and Surprises. Whoever brings a gift for exchange will enter free. Otherwise, the entry fee is $10.00. Event is at 11:30 am in the Maria Maniatakos Pavilion. Food will be prepared by Ourania and Angela. RSVP with Anne Dres at 323-469-1746 In His service Mersy Loukaris VIP President. 6
PRAYER OF THE HEART MEDITATION WORKSHOPS The evening sessions will resume in the Fall with Parish Council Member and Meditation Teacher, Maria Baltazzi. However, there will be a Saturday retreat on July 29 th. Topic details to be announced. Location: Huffington Center Saint Sophia Cathedral, Maria Maniatakos Room Time: 10:00 am 2:30 pm Recap May 30th Session: How Forgiving Creates Miracles Miracles: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs; the healing miracles described in the Gospels. (Merriam-Webster) Thoughts and Suggestions One. Respond with grace. Learn to forgive others as God forgave you. In turn, show this grace through kindness toward others. One definition of grace: God giving us what we don t deserve. Instead of punishing, he gave us the gift of Christ. This act of forgiveness is the greatest miracle of all. Two. Accept apologies with ease and openness. Saying, or gloating, I told you so only makes you feel good at the moment. Appreciate that they are coming to you with humility to ask for forgiveness. Allow that dignity. It will bring you two closer. Anytime two people can put their egos aside to say thank is a miracle. Three. Learn to say "I am sorry." You can seethe for as long as you want, though the sooner you find it within yourself to consider an apology, the sooner you can see the lesson in the situation that is disturbing your peace of mind. Learning means growing, and that is always a miracle. 7
Four. Show forgiveness with kind words. Advice that is challenging to put into practice during the heat of the moment. However, this can go miles towards finding a quicker resolve. Healing a broken relationship is a miracle. Five. Keep short accounts, especially with those you love. My father taught me this one. When you tear-up the scorecard of wrongdoing, it allows for the remembrance of the good that exists. Most offenses are insignificant in the scheme of life. The miracle is having a short-term memory for the negatives in life, and a long-term one for the positives. Six. The are many health benefits to forgiveness: lowers stress levels, keeps your heart healthy, decrease your blood pressure, and can even extend your life. A study showed that adults 66+ who were more forgiving in nature tended to live longer. Now that is a miracle! Seven. Forgiveness brings you closer to God. When we ask God for help and offer our fear, sadness, and pain as a prayer, we receive peace and divine love in return. A true miracle indeed. Eight. Forgiveness is the answer to the child s dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again. ~ Dag Hammarskjold, Swedish diplomat who served as the second UN Secretary-General Bible Quote And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ;" ~ Philippians 1:9 8
Congratulations To Our New Philoptochos Board PHILOPTOCHOS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2017-2019 EXECUTIVE BOARD Judith Christopoulos, President Christina Peratsakis, 1 st VP Jan Pastras, 2 nd VP Virginia Noyes, Recording Secretary Mary Tassop, Corresponding Secretary Mary Gallanis, Treasurer Connie Cooper, Assistant Treasurer BOARD MEMBERS Dorothea Ales Anna Aronis Mary-Kay Demetriou Dina Demetrius Olga Jordan Constance Manders Sophie Mastor Alexia Itzigsohn Marianna Politis Jayne Poullos Patricia Skeriotis Allison Stavaridis 9
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5t The Mission of Saint Sophia Cathedral 1. Proclaim and teach the Gospel according to the Orthodox Christian Faith 2. Sanctify and enhance the spiritual life of the faithful through Orthodox Christian worship. 3. Receive persons into the Church through instruction, baptism and/or chrismation. 11