Saint Sophia Axiologa worth mentioning FEBRUARY 17, 2019 Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE OFFICERS George E. Preonas, President; Gig Kyriacou, 2 nd Vice-President; Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary; Tina Callas, Treasurer MEMBERS V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Timi Loomos Freshman, Steve Hanna, Diane Sakellaris Lapa, Tony Natsis, John Peterson, Dean Peratsakis, Jean Paul Wardy, Jim Zaferis PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel; Nicholas Manolelis, Associate TRUSTEES EMERITUS Andrew Evangelatos, Nicholas Bissias, John T. Pappas, Alek Haidos, Dr. James A. Demetriou PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Dean Peratsakis, President; Glenn Lianos, Vice President; Anna Yallourakis, Vice President; Angela Ananias, Treasurer; Dinah Wellington, Secretary MEMBERS Bertha Angels, Bill Striglos; Costa Bargeliotes; Daniel Settelmayer; Greg Beers; Jeanine Hanna; Kathleen Kyriacou; Peter Cosfol, Tonifaye Palomares; Victoria Deryiades; Associate Member BOARD OF AUDITORS: Jim Boltinghouse, Michele Panagiota Olivar Saint Sophia Cathedral 1324 S. Normandie Ave Los Angeles, CA 90006 Office: 323.737.2424 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. Sunday, Feb 24: Faith, Hope and Love Movie Premiere 2. Saturday, March 3: Mardi Greek 2019 BIBLE STUDIES - w/ Fr. John Bakas Increase your knowledge about our faith at our weekly Bible study class. You'll have a chance to ask Fr. John questions and engage in interesting discussions with your fellow parishioners in a casual setting. Everyone is welcome to attend every Tuesday at 11 am at the Huffington Center. STEWARDSHIP 2019 WE NEED YOU! There is an ancient story about a man who hid his gold by burying it at the foot of a tree. Every week he used to dig it up and admire it. A thief noticed this routine and dug up the gold and ran off with it. The next day the man went out to discover his gold was missing. His mournful cry was so loud that his neighbors came to comfort him. One of his friends asked if he ever used the gold. No, said the man, I only came out to look at it. The friend replied, Why don t you just keep coming out and look at the hole? That will do you as much good as just looking at the gold. Do we make the best use of our resources, or is it just as if we did not have it at all? Please consider making a generous pledge and gift to our 2019 Saint Sophia Stewardship Drive. Your financial support is so very important and necessary. Let s not just look and admire our prosperity. In the name of the Lord, let s use it to do good! 2
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2019 The Saint Sophia Philoptochos Society proudly presents a sneak preview of Faith, Hope and Love Sunday, February 24 th, immediately following liturgy at the Jim Gianopulos Family Theater in the Huffington Center Saint Sophia Cathedral. This faith inspired movie features actor, director and former Saint Sophia parishioner Bob Krantz. Come enjoy a fun and life affirming afternoon and magnify the power of Orthodoxy. Proceeds will benefit the Theotokos Orphanage and St. Ignatius School in Kolkata, India which were started by a Greek Orthodox nun and His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas, to shelter children from human trafficking. Tickets: $20 for adults; $15 for children 12 years and under: lunch and popcorn included. Reserve your tickets by contacting Christina Peratsakis at cperatsakis@yahoo.com or call (818)618-1602 or buy tickets on Eventbrite: https://faithmovielunch.eventbrite.com More about the movie: https://fhl.movie/ OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Our year long joint effort with the Saint Sophia Sunday School, Hellenic Academy and Dance groups will focus on collecting accessories in February for the shoe box gifts for needy children. (see flier) FOR YOUR INFORMATION, 2019 is Election Year. Potential board members must attend at least FOUR General Assemblies by the Philoptochos Election Assembly on May 19, 2019. Board members must also be in good standing with Saint Sophia Cathedral and Saint Sophia Philoptochos Society. 3
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS We will have General Assemblies in February (Movie Premier-24 th ), March (Fr. Bakas-Holy Land- 10 th ), April (TBA), and May (Board Elections-19 th ). If you love helping others who are in need, enjoy learning more about our Faith and programs that may improve one s life and you enjoy fellowship with beautiful people then Philoptochos is for you! YOU CAN HELP by joining Philoptochos and being a part of a wonderful group of ladies and men who are willing to serve others. We also offer wonderful fellowship and programs that educate us. Please see us on Sundays during Coffee Hour to pay your dues, if you have not already done so, or you may contact Maria Toczek, Membership Chair, at mttoczek@gmail.com. We have over 140 paid members to date! We need to send in our per capita dues to the National and Metropolis Philoptochos Society in March, so please remember to send in your dues. Thank you for your support! Upcoming Events: Sunday, February 24 th Movie Premiere FAITH, HOPE & LOVE to benefit Girls Orphanage Sunday, March 10 th General Assembly -Father Bakas presentation on recent Holy Land Trip Saturday, May 11 th - Philoptochos - Mother s Day Luncheon Sunday, May 19 th - Philoptochos General Elections *Change of Address have you moved recently? Would you like to receive invitations for events/programs from Saint Sophia Philoptochos? If so, please contact Maria Toczek at mttoczek@gmail.com 4
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PHILOPTOCHOS VIP NEWS I am sorry to announce that our trip to San Gabriel Mission scheduled for February 20 th has been cancelled. There wasn't any response or interest in the trip. There will be no event for this month. Monday, March 11, 2019 Kathara Deftera Luncheon is our next event. It is the start of Lent. The luncheon will take place after Liturgy as usual. Donation is $12.00. Please mark your calendars. More details to follow. Thank you all, In His service Angela Ananias President SAVE THE DATE Saturday, June 1, 2019 Saint Sophia Cathedral community will honor our long term stewards Eleni and Christopher Yokas for their many years of service to the Greek Orthodox Community as Sunday School Director and Organist and Assistant Director of Music. 7
SAVE THE DATES FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL Father John will be leading another trip! We are looking to make this journey sometime between mid-may and mid-june. More details to come. Maria Baltazzi, Trip Organizer 8
PHILOPTOCHOS VIP NEWS Please Do NOT forget to send in your membership dues. If you have not paid your VIP dues and wish to do so, please send this coupon with a check of $10.00 per person for the 2019 membership. We would like to have women and men as members. Mail to Mersy Loukaris at 3841 Edenhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039-1614. Name: Phone #: Address: City: ZIP: Email: 9
Operation Christmas Child donation idea of the month I was always late because I lacked a watch. Opening my shoebox gift, I found one. Now I am always on time for school. Niyonkuru, Burundi I am so happy! I cannot believe that someone from a different country would send me a gift of exactly what I like: rings and hairbows. I will keep going to church. Vanessa, Colombia Saint Sophia Sunday School, the Hellenic Academy, Saint Sophia Dance Program and Saint Sophia Philoptochos Society are collaborating this year to assemble Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. While this has been a project we have been supporting for over 10 years, it is the first time that we are coordinating our ministries to make this a bigger and better project. This year s goal is to fill 300 boxes. Every month, between January and October, all parishioners will have the opportunity to make donations to help us meet this goal. February s focus is on accessories. We are collecting hair ornaments, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches (best if not battery operated), sunglasses, sweat bands, baseball caps, visors, or anything else you can think of that would put a smile on a child s face. The boxes are assembled for either a boy or a girl and for either ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. And remember, your donation will go in a shoe box, so space is limited. In October, to celebrate the National Philoptohos Make A Difference Day, we will be hosting a Pack-A-Box party for any and all parishioners to join us in completing this wonderful diakonia project. 10
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SIGN UP FOR SAINT SOPHIA BASKETBALL! Our youth basketball league starts on March 2 nd and we are eagerly seeking all Saint Sophia youth who want to join in the fun! All age groups of boys and girls up to 11 yrs. old are welcome! No previous basketball experience necessary. Our league builds the youth as team players and promotes Orthodox Christian sportsmanship. To participate contact our Saint Sophia League Representative: Paul Cooper (818) 266-3017 mrpaul599@sbcglobal.net 12
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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. 4 15