Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral God s people, serving God s people Sunday, 7th of April 2013 Sunday of the Holy Cross 1324 South Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, 90006 Office: 323.737.2424 Fax: 323.737.7029 www.stsophia.org www.stsophia.org/bulletin Very Reverend Father John S. Bakas, Dean Reverend Father Allan Boyd, Assistant Priest
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; Steve Hanna; Michael Huffington; Gig Kyriacou; Brent 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 PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Officers Brent Noyes, President; John Kopatisis, 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; Kouji Nakata; Alex Oxyzolou; Peter Pallas; Dean Peratsakis; Dorothy Spirus Board of Auditors Jim Ananias; Tony Demetriou; Tom Moore CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK Sunday, April 7th Orthros...............8:30am Studies in the Faith...........9:30am Memorials....9:45am Divine Liturgy............... 10:00am Monday, April 8th Catechism with Father Allan.... 7:30pm Tuesday, April 9th Women s Bible Study with Fr. John........10:00am Men s Bible Study with Fr. John........11:30am Wednesday, April 10th Pre-Sanctified Liturgy.....7:30pm Thursday, April 11th Old Testament Bible Study with Father Allan....Cancelled Until After Easter Friday, April 12th Pre-Sanctified Liturgy..............9:30am Akathist Hymn...........7:30pm Saturday, April 13th Hellenic Academy (PreK 6)........ 9:30am Hellenic Academy (Adults).......,,12:30pm Coffee Hour in the Huffington Center Maniatakos Fellowship Hall 2
DAIILY VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH 3
HYMNS OF THE DAY Apolytikion of the Holy Cross (sung after the Doxology and at the Small Entrance) Save O Lord Your people and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to our leaders against the adversaries of the faith and protect Your commonwealth by Your Holy cross. Isodikon Come let us worship falling down before Christ. Save us O Son of God who didst arise from the dead sing we to Thee Alleluia. The Resurrection Apolytikion, Tone 3 Come rejoice all ye Heavens and be glad all ye on earth, for within the arc of His great arms He created a vast Dominion, by His own death He conquered death, for He became the first born of the dead. From the depths of Hades, He delivered us and He granted to mankind His great mercy. Troparion of Saint Sophia (Holy Wisdom) Blessed are You O Christ our God, Who as all wise the fishermen You showed forth; By sending your Holy Spirit down upon them and through them the universe You drew unto Your net. O lover of mankind glory to You. Lenten Kondakion Victorious leader to thee we give thanks, who has delivered us from calamity and suffering, your city gives thanks O Theotokos. As thou dost possess invincible might and power from all forms of danger, free us and deliver us, that we may cry unto thee, Hail bride unwedded. Trisagion Thy Cross we worship Lord and Thy Holy Resurrection we Glorify. (3 times). Glory to the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and forevermore and from all ages to all ages. Amen.and Thy Holy Resurrection we Glorify. Megalynarion All creation rejoices in thee full of grace, the company of Angels and the race of all people. O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, the glory of virgins from whom God was incarnate and became a child our God before all ages. And thy womb God made a throne more vast than the heavens. All creation rejoices in thee full of grace, glory to thee. Communion Hymn The radiant light of Thy countenance O Lord has filled our hearts with joy. (3 times). Alleluia. 4
EPISTLE READING Priest: Let Us Attend EPISTLE READER... ANDREAS PAPOUTSIS SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT Reader: O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance to you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. Priest: Wisdom Reader: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 Priest: Let us be Attentive... Reader: BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." 5
GOSPEL READING The Reading is from The Gospel of Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." 6
MEMORIALS Ted Pastras - 40 days, Peter Ellis - 23 years, John Kouveliki, Tasia Kouveliki, John Kouveliki, Theodoros Kouveliki, Amelia Kouveliki, Nicos Stavropoulos, Christina Stavropoulos, Theofanis Stavropoulos, Anastos Eliopoulos, Eleni Eliopoulos, Panayiotis Georgeson, Sophia Georgeson, Mihali Popoff, Georgia Scocchio, Kostandinos Pouridis - 30 years, Rebecca Berdos - 11 years, Helen Phinos, Paul Kalaitzian - 5 years, Joseph Otis 5 years, John Otis 5 years, William Otis 6 years, Mary Otis 5 years, Elizabeth Otis 40 days May their memory be eternal ALTAR CANDLES One side offered in loving memory of Nikos, Christina and Theophanis Stavropoulos and Anastos and Eleni Eliopoulos by Mr. & Mrs. Nick Eliopoulos and family One side offered in loving memory of Panayiotis and Sophia Georgeson by Mr. & Mrs. Michael Georgeson ALTAR TABLE CANDLES One side offered in loving memory of Peter Ellis by his wife and children One side offered in loving memory of Georgia Scocchio by her sister Virginia Sinanis SOLEA CANDLES One side offered in loving memory of Ted Pastras by his wife Jan Pastras PERPETUAL LIGHTS Offered in loving memory of Mihali Popoff by his daughter Helen Hinsley 7
MINISTRY NEWS PHILOPTOHOS NEWS Our Mother s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show will be held on Saturday, May 11 at the Universal Sheraton Hotel. We will be honoring the Philoptohos Mother of the Year, Susan Giokaris Patzakis. The solicitation forms for the program book are out in the mail and we hope you will support our philanthropic work by placing a greeting in the book. Invitations have been mailed and you should receive one soon. If you do not receive an invitation, please leave a message at the church office and we will mail one to you. The work of Philoptohos is often emotionally difficult but also rewarding. Please join us and support our outreach efforts. *Don t forget our SEE S candy sale will take place on Sundays after church. We will be selling for 3 Sundays: April 14, 21 and 28th! All proceeds will go to our Kids n Cancer Camps. Once the candy is sold out we won t be able to get anymore so be sure you buy early! The Kids n Cancer camps are located in California, Arizona and Washington. Please give these children and their families a little enjoyment. Our next general assembly and election meeting for the Board of Directors is Sunday, May 19 immediately after liturgy! Be sure you pay your dues so you are eligible to vote. If you wish to run for the Board, please send a letter addressed to the President of Philoptohos and state your intentions. You must be a steward in good standing with our Philoptohos and a steward at Saint Sophia Cathedral. Our spring projects are here! There s something to do for everyone. We are joining with the Sunday school in collecting items for the needy in conjunction with the Saint Thomas Neighborhood Food Bank during April. This year our Sunday school students will be provide with a shopping bag and an attached list, which will include the nonperishable food items and select toiletries that you can fill the bag with. Eleni Yokas will have extra bags in her Sunday School Director s office in the Huffington Center. Bags need to be returned to the Sunday school no later than Good Friday. Also, we are collecting undergarments and socks for the women and children in the safe houses that are run by the Domestic Violence Agency on Sundays. As the Earth undergoes a renewal of life from the dormant, cold winter to new blossoms of spring, we must give these victims hope that their lives will be renewed. No longer is domestic violence confined to husbands and wives now it s daughters and granddaughters in high school and college too. Please get ready for April and stock up on some of these items when you see them on sale or special in the stores. With love in Christ s service, Virginia Noyes and the Philoptohos Board of Directors 8
MINISTRY NEWS (continued) PHILANTHROPIA MINISTRY NEWS SCHEDULE FOR CONFESSIONS: During Great Lent (which began on Monday, March 18th) Father Peter will be available for confessions by appointment on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the St. Demetrios chapel. Please check with Eleni in the church office for detailed information. GET ON THE BUS: This project is in full swing of collecting monies so that we may sponsor a bus again this year. Exact times and dates will be forthcoming, but as always observed on Mothers Day and Fathers Day respectively. We will keep you posted as the day approaches. Thank you! STREET OUTREACH: To date $1,200.00 worth of items have been collected and distributed to the abandoned children in the outreach for the Children s Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Nikos Stefanidis, Ph.D. a Staff Psychologist at Children s Hospital, L.A., is the Clinical Director of this High Risk Program. Your continued help will assure that these children are cared for year round by purchasing new items such as the following: T-Shirts (M-L); Boxers (M-L); White Socks; Blankets; Sleeping Bags; Sweatshirts; Snacks; Water/Juices; Bus Tokens; Sneakers; Hygiene Items (Travel Size); Tooth Brushes & Toothpaste; Shampoo; Deodorant; Sun Screen -- be sure to label them for DR. NIKOS STEFANIDIS and leave them by the clothing bins. We will make sure that he comes to pick them up. Thank you. USED CLOTHING and CANNED GOODS: Please identify all clothing donations on the outside of the bags by indicating whether they are for men, women or children. The two new receptacles for "used clothing" and "canned goods" are working great. They are located near the nursery. Thank you! PHILANTHROPIA WEBSITE: The Winter issue of the PHILANTHROPIA Newsletter has been mailed and will be on the website shortly at: www.philanthropiaministry.org We thank Perry Lambert who is coordinating our website KALI ANASTASI & KALO PASCHA: The members of PHILANTHROPIA wish all of you a blessed Pascha. Take care and God Bless. With love, Father Peter 9
PHILOPTOHOS VIP NEWS We are pleased to announce that we'll be honoring Evans and Catherine Rodinos as VIP Philoptohos Senior Citizens of the Year 2013. Plan to attend this special day. Please join us for a very special luncheon and program that have been planned on Thursday, May 23rd. Chairperson is Mersy Loukaris and co-chair Pitsa Schwartz. Please contact Mary Kezios at (562) 923-7110 or Stella Morris at (818) 783-4055 for resevations. The price is $25.00 In His Service, Mary Morrison, VIP President JOY OF PARENTING CLASS - Today, Huffington Center, 2nd floor Join your fellow parishioners in a lively discussion of parenting children of all ages: from toddlers to teens and beyond. Today, following Holy Communion, concluding at noon. The topic: "Gratitude." 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. Classes are held in the Huffington Center, Work/Study Room, upstairs near the left-hand side staircase. The Joy of Parenting Ministry is facilitated by Barbara Kappos, LCSW and Nikolaos Stefanidis, Ph.D. Upcoming topics: April 14, "Handling Disagreements with Teachers," April 21, "Are You a Parent or a Friend?" April 28, "When Parents Don't Agree." PRAYER VIGIL THE JESUS PRAYER MAY 2nd We will be having an all night prayer vigil in the Chapel on Holy Thursday. This will be an hour by hour prayer for one hour reciting St. Constantine the Jesus Prayer. Beginning on Holy Thursday, May 2nd after the reading of the 12 Gospels and concluding on Holy Friday,May 3rd at 9:30am before the reading of the Royal Hours. If you would like to participate and reserve an hour, please contact John Kopatsis at kopatsis@gmail.com or Vickie Deryiades at 310/279-3722. Someone once asked Mother Theresa, When you pray,what do you say to God? Her answer startled the interviewer. She said, I don t say anything. I listen. Fumbling around for some reply, he finally blurted, Okay! When you pray, what does God say to you? Mother Theresa answered, He doesn t say anything. He listens. 10
As we enter this Lent, participating in prayer and fasting, make it joyful by feasting on showing Love of neighbor through almsgiving. Once again, the AMNOS Ministry will make an effort to fill a 5 ton truck with your donation of quality clothing to be distributed to those less fortunate. The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah suggests this bit of wisdom,...the fast that I have chosen...is when I see the naked, to cover him with clothing... Make this Lent even more joyful by conducting your own clothing drive at school, work or in your neighborhood. St. Sophia's 10th annual, 5 TONS OF LOVE clothing drive will take place over the next seven weeks. (Drop off location TBD) Please contact Fr. Allan Boyd or Dean & Christina Peratsakis for more info @ 818-351-0122 or dotos@msn.com Volunteers needed. Thank you. BASKETBALL NEWS 2013 Greek Orthodox Basketball League Game Date Start Visitor Home Location Sat. 4/6 9:00AM 7:30PM Quarter Finals St. Sophia Sun. 4/7 1:30PM 7:00PM Semi Finals St. Sophia Sat. 4/13 1:30PM 6:30PM Finals Assumption Gym Sat. 4/13 6:30PM -10:30PM Banquet 11
HOLY WEEK FLOWERS Donations are being accepted for floral arrangements, icons, underwriting the Epitaphios flowers in memory of loved ones, in full or in part and all related flowers for Holy week and Easter. Altar plant donations may be made in any amount in memory of loved ones. Please contact Ann Pappas or Jimmy Karatsikis for any additional information. (323) 737-2424 ext. 207 Ann or ext. 302 Jimmy ******************************************* PLEASE NOTE: The Lenten and Holy week schedule will be available in the Narthex, at the front desk of the Huffington center and at coffee hour. Holy Week, Lenten Liturgy & Akathist service books have arrived for our Lenten journey. Books are available in the Narthex & Bookstore. The supply is limited. ******************************************* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 2 HOURS Saint Sophia Cathedral Easter picnic, Brookside park in Pasadena, Easter Sunday, May 5th Please see Toula Kalatzis during coffee hour to sign up. ******************************************* ST SOPHIA DANCE PROGRAM EASTER BAKE SALE Sunday April 28th, 2013 Immediately following liturgy We will have: Tsourekia, cupcakes, koulourakia, baklava, melomakarona & kourabiethes. For Pre-orders for Tsourekia please call Demitra (818) 903-7059 12
13
14
15
16
17
18
For those who are sick or suffering St. James advises us, If anyone among you is sick, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:13-14) Ensuring that St Sophia s parishioners continue to be cared-for and prayed-for, please list names below of those in our midst that need prayer. Feel free to request the personal prayer of one of our priests after services, or to schedule this with one our priests during St Sophia Cathedral s office hours. As you request prayer, you may also wish to make an offering to Saint Sophia s Altar Fund. Label: For the health of PLEASE PRINT CLEARY: Please submit this form to: Saint Sophia Cathedral Office 1324 S Normandie Ave. Los Angeles CA 90006 When you write or update your will, please remember Saint Sophia Cathedral. Your gift will live into eternity. 19
20