CALENDAR September 6 30, 2015 Date Time Event Sept 6 - Sun 8:45 a.m. 14 th Sunday of Matthew Orthos Divine Liturgy Agiasmo - Blessing of the Waters (Sunday School Teachers and Students will participate) Welcome Ministry Deborah Bowen Parish Council Helen McCart/John Patrick Fellowship Hour after Service in the Blue House hosted by Diane Walters Greek Dance Lessons (Youth Room) Contact evie.atkinson@yahoo.com for details 1:00 p.m. Baptism of Olivia Elle Carney Sept 7 - Mon Sept 8 Tues Sept 9 Wed Sept 10 Thurs 8:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. LABOR DAY Feast Day - The Nativity of the Theotokos Orthos Divine Liturgy Greek Festival Baking (Youth Room) Bible Study Class Genesis Vespers followed by Adult Education Greek Festival Baking (Youth Room) Philoptochos Board Meeting (Blue House) Sept 12 - Sat 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Church Clean Up Day Vespers 1
Sept 13 Sun Sept 14 - Mon Sept. 15 - Tues 8:45 a.m. 8:00 9:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Noon 1:30 p.m. Sunday before Holy Cross Orthos Divine Liturgy Procession for the Elevation of the Holy Cross Welcome Ministry Jan Christy Parish Council David Chapman/Len Vanerstrom Fellowship Hour after Service on the lawn BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS Greek Dance Lessons (Blue House) Contact evie.atkinson@yahoo.com for details Faith Encouraged LIVE program www.ancientfaith.com Feast Day - The Elevation of the Cross Parish Council Meeting Ladies Fellowship Luncheon at Mary Milam s home Contact Mary at dmarymilam@bellsouth.net Sept. 16 - Wed 6:30 p.m. Bible Study Class Genesis Vespers followed by Adult Education Sept 19 - Sat Sept. 20 - Sun 10 a.m. Noon 5:00 p.m. 8:45 a.m. Project Comfort at Hobby Lobby Vespers OPA PICNIC following Vespers Sunday after Holy Cross Orthos Divine Liturgy Welcome Ministry Michelle Boyd Parish Council David Chapman/Helen McCart Fellowship Hour after Service in the Blue House hosted by Marina Raymond and Len Vanerstrom Greek Dance Lessons (Blue House) Contact evie.atkinson@yahoo.com for details Sept. 21 - Mon 10 a.m. - noon Sept 22 Tues 9:30 a.m. - noon 6:00 8:00 p.m. Project Comfort (Blue House) Prosforo Baking (Blue House) Project Comfort Dinner (TBD) 2
Sept 23 - Wed Sept 25 - Fri Sept. 26- Sat Sept 27 - Sun Sept 30 Wed 6:30 p.m. 8:45 a.m. 8:00 9:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Bible Study Class Genesis Vespers followed by Adult Education Deadline for receipt of yard sale items Church Yard Sale CANCELLED VESPERS (Father Barnabas Out of Town) 1 st Sunday of Luke Orthos Divine Liturgy Welcome Ministry Michelle Boyd Parish Council G. Pappas/P. Vamvakias Fellowship Hour after Service in the Blue House hosted by Deborah Bowen Greek Dance Lessons (Blue House) Contact evie.atkinson@yahoo.com for details Faith Encouraged LIVE program www.ancientfaith.com Bible Study Class Genesis Vespers followed by Adult Education 3
SEPTEMBER 2015 2015 Donations are still needed for the Sewer Connection and the Parish Life Center Fund. God s House and Community needs for all of its parishioners to step up and donate. This is for our outreach to those who do not know the Greek Orthodox faith and to those who cherish the faith and love to worship and visit with the community. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO THOSE PARISHIONERS WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED. Because of people like you, God s House will be magnified! Greek Festival volunteers needed for SIGNS! Please contact Johnny Melts at johnnymelts@gmail.com if you have any questions. Make plans to volunteer! Mommy s Morning Out Please fill out a survey which is in the Narthex for MMO. We would like to start a program here and would like feed back from YOU! Ladies, Ladies and more Ladies. How blessed we are to have our cooks. They have been baking for the Greek Festival on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am to 3 pm. Yum! The smell in the Blue House is Fabulous!!!! If we have enough people who are interested in baking in the evening or on a Saturday please let Diane Walters know at DianeWalters@tnwinc.com so we can plan accordingly. Fellowship and Welcome Ministries are now set up with Sign Up Genie. Please volunteer your time to help these ministries. Web address for Sign Up Genie is listed below under each ministry. 4
To Plutarch Vamvakias for the beautiful cabinets that he built for the Vestry. Looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next! To Tina and Plutarch Vamvakias for donating the side-by-side refrigerator for the Blue House. To Rusty Waldron for hiring a painter to paint the Vestry before the cabinets were installed. To Luke Ralston and Harald Hagen for their work on the landscape. Hot and nasty task but they got it done. We hope that more volunteers will step up to mow and trim the property. To Afton Romanczak for the wonderful food for the Ministries meeting. Boy! It was sooooo good. To David Chapman, Marie Chapman and Deborah Bowen for vacuuming the flooded water from the PLC building (twice) and putting a cover over the stove vent to try to keep the water out. To Florence Lytle and Dennis Sparks for heading up a donation campaign for the sewer installation and the continuing work for the Parish Life Center ( PLC ). Also to Laura Kefalas for heading up the project to get some of the work done by parishoners, therefore keeping the costs down at the PLC. To John Patrick for cleaning out the church gutter which was allowing water to come into the Youth Room. 5
E V E N T S Study of the Book of Genesis on Wednesdays at in the Library of the Church. Everyone is welcomed to attend these wonderful and insightful gatherings that we have to become more enlightened in God s word. HERE IT COMES!!!!!! October 16, 17, and 18, 2015 Information regarding volunteers will be available soon. Contact Deborah Bowen @ officeadmin@stsrni.org Greek Dancing Lessons Right after church services meet in the Youth Room Ages: Kindergarten 92 See Evie Atkinson for further details at evie.atkinson@yahoo.com 6
Sunday School Begins September 13, 2015 at Sts Raphael Nicholas & Irene GOC. See Information and Sign Up Sheets in Narthex. OPA PICNIC GREEK FOOD GREEK MUSIC GREEK DANCING Fun for the Whole Family! Saturday, September 19, 2015 5:00 Vespers / 5:30 Picnic Dinner Bring your Blanket and enjoy a Traditional Greek Picnic! Proceeds Benefit Sts. RNI GOYA MINISTRY OPA Plate - $10 adult / $7 kids Gyro, Greek-Style Pasta Salad Dessert & Cold Drink 7
September 26 Sts RNI GOC Yard Sale VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SETUP, SELLING AND BREAKDOWN!!! Usable & Non-Broken Items Needed by Thursday, September 23, 2015 Contact Marie Chapman at mommystargater@comcast.net or Helen McCart at helenmccart49@gmail.com Sts RNI Food Fun! (Blue House) September 26 10:30 2:00 p.m. Gyro s and Fries SUPPORT YOUR PARISH!!!!!!! 8
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Feast Days The Orthodox church celebrates 12 beautiful feast days during the year and Sts RNI would like to show our respect and love for these days by presenting the icon with flowers. for Icon Decorations Would you, your family or group please consider sponsoring one of these feast days with a floral tribute? There are two ways to contribute. (1) you can be responsible for decorating the icon for a specific feast day or (2) you may donate money and/or flowers for a specific feast day and we will decorate the icon for you. These may also serve as a memorial for a loved one. Your contribution will be acknowledged in the church bulletin and newsletter. January 6: February 2: March 25, 2016 May 1, 2016: June 9, 2016: June 19, 2016: August 6: August 15: Sept 8: Sept 14: Nov 21: Dec 25: The Feast of Epiphany The Presentation of Christ Annunciation of the Theotokos (white flowers) Pascha Holy Ascension of Christ Holy Pentecost The Transfiguration of Christ The Dormition of the Theotokos (white flowers) The Nativity of the Theotokos (white flowers) The Exaltation of the Cross The Entrance Into the Temple of the Theotokos (white flowers) The Nativity of Christ Please contact Deborah Bowen at officeadmin@stsrni.org Your assistance with these Holy Days is appreciated! 10
H.O.P.E.(Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education) is a ministry to Kindergarten through 2nd grade, and J.O.Y. (Junior Orthodox Youth), is a ministry to 3rd through 6th grade children. Our H.O.P.E./J.O.Y. Ministry is also open to all siblings ages 3 and older. Since J.O.Y. is a ministry, the orientation and implementation of the program reflects the Orthodox Christian Faith, Tradition and Life. We strive to help our children develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Becoming active sacramental members of the living church, our young people are being equipped with tools necessary to assist them in their journey toward salvation. By laying a strong foundation of faith at this age, the young people will have something that will guide and strengthen them as they progress into junior high and high school. The Greek Orthodox Youth of America, or GOYA, is the ministry to teenagers of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Since GOYA is ministry, the orientation and implementation of the program should reflect the Orthodox Christian Faith, Tradition and Life. GOYA is a ministry of junior high and high school grade Orthodox Christians. As a member you will participate in the following areas: Worship: Prayer, Participate in the Divine Services and Sacraments Fellowship: Retreat and Athletic Programs, Outings Service: Local Work Projects, Outreach Witness: Attending Spiritual Classes For grades 6 12 11
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Various ministries and parishioners will be responsible for the Fellowship Hour after services on Sunday. Please volunteer to assist with this special time on Sundays so that we all can continue to enjoy coffee, light refreshments & good fellowship together following our Divine Liturgy. Sign Up Genius: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0544aaaf2ba6ff2-weekly We are collecting non-perishable food items in the barrel in the Narthex. The contents will be brought either to The Place in Cumming or St. John the Wonderwork in Atlanta. Donations to the food banks are desperately needed. Please be as generous as you are able.. The members of this ministry are involved in all areas of philanthropy, whether it is on a global scale or helping a struggling parishioner. We find not only the joy in giving and helping but in creating fellowship and treasured friendships among our members. Contact Marie Chapman at mommystargater@comcast.net The first edition of the Cooking Greek in Cumming cookbook is now available for purchase for $15 a copy. Copies may be obtained from Marie Chapman, Helen McCart, or Ginny Kostulakos. 12
The Prosforo Ministry led by Stamatia Hagen meets once a month to bake loaves of Prosforo to be used during the Divine Liturgy each Sunday and any weekday services. If you would like to have Prosforo dedicated to the memory or health of someone or to donate towards Prosforo ingredient expenses, please reach out to Stamatia Hagen at 770-315-4530 or mamma2maria@gmail.com Or Helen McCart at 404-428-4336 at helenmccart49@gmail.com. The Ministry always welcomes volunteers to help on baking days. / Forsyth Fiber Artists The goal of Project Comfort is to provide handmade items to church members who have just given birth and to those who have recently lost a loved one. As FFA, we are also going to expand our charitable giving to include local charities (the underserved in hospitals and the area s homeless population) in the very near future. Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month at 10AM at the Blue House, every 3rd Saturday at 10AM at Hobby Lobby, and every 4th Tuesday at 6PM (dinner provided or potluck the location varies, please check our Facebook page for the location). Providing Christian hospitality to guests in our parish and to help them feel at home. For Sign Up Genius: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a45afab2ea1f58-welcome Please contact Michelle Boyd at boydmrh@gmail.com or Florence Lytle at FlorenceLytle@bellsouth.net for more information. 13
Women s Fellowship at Mary Milam s home. Laughter, friendship, education and sometimes even a little singing makes our special times together very blessed. Come join us and get to know the ladies of our church on a personal basis. One meeting a month one month starts at lunch time and the next month is at 6:30 p.m. See calendar at Sts RNI website or the calendar posted at the church. RSVP Mary Milam at 770-889-1325 or dmarymilam@bellsouth.net or Tina Maheras at 678-427- 3143 or tdmaheras@comcast.net Chairperson of Ministries: Margaret Gasper at mmgasper@comcast.net Church Office Hours: Tuesday Friday 2:00 p.m. Please contact Deborah Bowen at the church office (770-781-5250) or at officeadmin@stsrni.org to schedule an appointment at the church and/or with Father Barnabas; or to place any special events, announcements or changes to the bulletin each week. Please let us know in the office at officeadmin@stsrni.org if you know of any births, marriages, graduations, deaths, illnesses, or special events, so that we may keep our parish community informed. Schedule for Parish Council is posted outside the Administrative Office Door. Please call your ministry leader for changes in the schedules. 14