Saint Sophia s Cathedral Communiqué March 9, 2014 Sunday of Orthodoxy
FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE OFFICERS George E. Preonas, President; Andrew Evangelatos, Executive Vice President; James A. Demetriou, PhD, Vice President & C.F.O.; Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary; Tina Callas, Treasurer MEMBERS V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas; Nicholas Bissias; Timi Loomos Freshman; Alek Haidos; Steven C. Hanna; Michael Huffington; Gig Kyriacou; Brent A. Noyes; John T. Pappas; Jim Zaferis PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS Anthony A. Demetriou, Presidential Assistant; John G. Marakas III, Sr. V.P. of Wells Fargo, Advisor to the Board; Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Brent A. Noyes, President; John Kopatsis, Vice-President; Irene Andreadis, Recording Secretary; Karen Sarames, Corresponding Secretary/Legal; Michael Kraios, Treasurer & C.F.O. MEMBERS Bertha Angels; Jeanine Hanna; Glenn Lianos; Eleni Constantine Manolelis; Loula Moschonas; Peter Pallas; Dean Peratsakis; Dorothy Spirus; Tom Ward; Anna Yallourakis BOARD OF AUDITORS: Jim Ananias; Anthony A. Demetriou; Tom Moore 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.
PHILOPTOHOS NEWS MOTHER S DAY: We are pleased to announce the Philoptohos Mother of the Year is: JOAN TSIOUTSIAS ANAST! Joan is a long-time member of Saint Sophia who was involved in many aspects of Philoptohos and the church groups. Please join us on Saturday, May 10 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel as we honor Joan and for another wonderful afternoon. Co-chairs Coni Manders and Christina Peratsakis are hard at work planning for this yearly family tradition! Mark your calendars and save the date! OUR NEXT MEETING has been changed to Sunday, March 30th after liturgy in the General Assembly meeting room of the Huffington Center. Please make a note of it on your calendars. Andrea Bakas will be making a presentation to us on medical missions to Honduras that she is involved in. Lunch will be available. We hope you will join us. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY SPRING PROJECT: Our yearly collection of socks, under garments and plain t-shirts for women and children who are victims of domestic violence is going to start up in March at our meeting on the 30th. Please start picking up new packages of items when you see them - perhaps on sale - and bring them to the meeting. Assorted sizes are fine. The renewal of life and the earth comes with spring and the Resurrection of our Lord at Easter time. As our Lord came into the world to save us, we need to show these women and children that they are not forgotten and we want to help them. We may not be able to save everyone but Philoptohos brings hope to those who are hurting, to let them know that someone cares. Please consider signing-up to work the pastry booth at the Easter picnic and giving a couple of hours of your time. You may call Jan Pastras at 323-848-9988 and select a shift to work. The picnic opens at 1:00 p.m. Hours to work are 1 to 3, 3 to 5 and 5 to closing. Thank you! For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. John 12:8 With love in Christ s service, Virginia Noyes and The Philoptohos Board of Directors 2
MINISTRY NEWS SAVE THE DATE 1. Sunday, March 16: St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival after Liturgy in the General Assembly Room. 2. Saturday, March 22: Measuring Up Lenten Retreat with Fr. Barnabas Powell at the Huffington Center. 3. Saturday, May 3rd: Heaven and Earth: Perspectives on Greece s Byzantium Symposium co-presented by the Getty Museum and the UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the Huffington Center. HEAVEN & EARTH: PERSPECTIVES ON GREECE S BYZANTIUM MAY 3, 2014 HUFFINGTON CENTER Come to this informative symposium and hear from some of the greatest minds concerning the heritage and contributions of Byzantium. Father Maximos Constas (who you may recognize from 60 Minutes coverage of Mt. Athos) will present on iconography. Hear from the leading professors in Byzantine history and culture Sharon Gerstel (UCLA), David Schaberg (USC), Spyros Vryonis, and many more. LIFE IN FATH STUDIES WITH FR. JOHN BAKAS Men and Womens Faith Studies classes are suspended until after Pascha. OLD TESTAMENT WITH FR. ALLAN BOYD The Thursday night Old Testament class are suspended during the Lenten season and will resume after Pascha on April 24th THE WHY S OF ORTHODOXY WITH FR. ALLAN BOYD Class will continue to meet on Monday nights at 7:30pm in the general assembly room. This class is for you if you would like to go further in your understanding and conviction of the Orthodox Christian Faith. All are welcome! 3
MINISTRY NEWS ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL NEXT SUNDAY - MARCH 16TH (MOVED FROM MARCH 2ND) Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides Greek Orthodox teenagers the opportunity to learn to write and talk about their faith. The Oratorical Festival Program begins at the parish level and is divided into three divisions: Elementary Division (local festival only) for students in grades 4 6 Junior Division for students in grades 7 9 Senior Division for student in grades 10 12 The top speakers in the Junior and Senior Divisions advance to the district level. Two finalists in each district division represent the district at the Metropolis Oratorical Festival. The top speaker in each metropolis division is then selected to participate in the Archdiocese Finals, which is hosted by a different metropolis each year. Thank you again, and we look forward to an amazing Festival this year. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Yallourakis aty@charter.net 4
MINISTRY NEWS LENTEN RETREAT: MEASURING UP! SATURDAY MARCH 22, 2014 5
MINISTRY NEWS JOY OF PARENTING CLASSES IN THE HUFFINGTON CTR. Join your fellow parishioners in a lively discussion of parenting children of all ages: from toddlers to teens and beyond. Classes are held in the Work/Study Room in the Huffington Center, upstairs near the left-hand side staircase, immediately following Holy Communion and concluding at 12:15. Come with your concerns and questions or just listen; there is no pressure to speak to the class. It's a wonderful way to get acquainted with other parents. There is no fee to attend. The Joy of Parenting Ministry is facilitated by Barbara Kappos, LCSW and Nikolaos Stefanidis, Ph.D. Upcoming classes: March 16, "Street Smart," March 23, "Mom vs. Dad," March 30, "The Over-Scheduled Family." 5 TONS OF LOVE As we embark on another beautiful Lenten season, let us once again show our Love of neighbor. Please join the AMNOS Ministry and the students of our Saint Sophia Sunday School, in an attempt to fill a 5 ton truck with your donation of quality clothing which will be distributed to those less fortunate. Conduct your own clothing drive at school, work or in your neighborhood. This, St. Sophia's 11th annual!, 5 TONS OF LOVE clothing drive will take place over the next six weeks. Clothing may be dropped off at the St. Sophia Sunday school office. For further information please contact Fr. Allan Boyd or Dean & Christina Peratsakis @ 818-351-0122 or dotos@msn.com.volunteers needed. Thank you. 6
MINISTRY NEWS FOOD J DRIVE esus said, Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done for Me. Therefore, Lenten Love must begin with "almsgiving"...offering to those in need. Once again, Saint Sophia Cathedral is teaming up with Saint Thomas Catholic Church to help fill their food pantry to help those in need. We re asking you to take one of the Grocery Bags in the Narthex, fill it with everything on its attached list (it might take more than one bag, but it's only about $50 worth) and bring this grocery bag back on Holy Friday. Otherwise, simply offer a $50 donation to Presvtera Danita Boyd before Lazarus Saturday (April 12th), so that we have time to shop on your behalf. All of St Sophia's children who are there at the Holy Friday Kid's Retreat will deliver these items to St Thomas on Holy Friday, April 18th. Last year we were able to fill up the back of an entire pickup full of groceries. Can the size of Saint Sophia's love be measured by more than one pickup truck? ATTENTION SUNDAY SCHOOL FAMILIES! The first two pews on the left side are special reserved seating for you right up front in the Cathedral every Sunday. Your children will likely be more engaged in the service through increased visibility. 7
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EASTER PICNIC NEEDS LIST SUNDAY APRIL 20, 2014 BROOKSIDE PARK PASADENA 9
MINISTRY NEWS THE FORUM Tuesday March 11th 7:00pm The Forum is a weekly gathering of Orthodox Christian adults seeking to deepen their life in Christ through fellowship, discussion, prayer, and dining together! Join the us as we continue our series reading Victory in the Unseen Warfare this Tuesday night at 7:00pm enrich your week! YOUTH SUNDAYS Have you ever wondered what those people working in the Narthex do every Sunday? Probably not. But we want you to find out anyway! The first Sunday of each month has been officially named Youth Sunday. In addition to a Sunday School student reading the Epistle, the Parish Council of Saint Sophia Cathedral invites middle and high school students to volunteer in the Narthex during Divine Liturgy. Besides helping out with the candles and ushering, you may also assist in passing the baskets to the parishioners to collect their monetary donations. GREEK CAREGIVER SEEKING OPPORTUNITY Fluent in English, German, French and Greek. Degree in psychology. Wonderful care for children and the elderly. Contact the office for more information. (323)737-2424. 10