MARCH / ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2016 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 3 the H ARK - ΚΙΒΩΤΟΣ M ONTHL Y B ULLE TIN OF THE ASS UM PTION OF OUR MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS GREEK ORTHODOX CH U RCH Μ ΗΝΙ ΑΙΟ ΔΕΛ ΤΙΟ ΤΗ Σ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΟΡ ΘΟΔ ΟΞΗ Σ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙ ΑΣ ΤΗ Σ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕ ΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟ ΚΟ Υ Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 111 Island Pond Road Manchester NH 03109 Phone: (603) 623-2045 Fax: (603) 232-6347 info@assumptionnh.org www.assumptionnh.org Join us on Facebook INSIDE THIS ISSUE Monthly Calendar (Greek)... 2 Ministries List... 3 Parish News... 4 Philoptochos News... 5 Youth News... 6 Stewardship... 12 Monthly Calendar (English)... 15 Annunciation of the Theotokos March 25 th 1
ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2016 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ ΤΡΙΤΗ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ ΠΕΜΠΤΗ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 1 2 3 Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:30µµ 4 5 A Ψυχοσάββατο Ορθρος: 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:15πμ 6 Κυριακή της Απoκρέω Ορθρος: 9:00πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ 7 8 9 10 Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:30µµ 11 12 Β Ψυχοσάββατο Ορθρος: 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:15πμ 13 Κυριακή της Τυρινής Ορθρος:9:00πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ 14 Καθαρά Δευτέρα Σαρακοστιανή Συνάντηση & Δείπνο 4:30μμ 15 16 Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7:00µµ Σαρακοστιανό Δείπνο 17 Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:30µµ Πρόβα Χορωδίας 6:30 μμ 18 A Χαιρετισμοι της Θεοτόκου - 7:00μμ 19 Γ Ψυχοσάββατο Ορθ: 8:30πµ Θ. Λειτ: 9:15πµ Συνάντηση Διοικητικού Συµβουλίου 7:00µµ 20 Κυριακή της Ορθοδοξίας Ορθρος: 9:00πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00πμ Εορτασμός της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας αμέσως μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία 21 Μεγάλο Απόδειπνο 7:00 μμ 22 23 Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7:00µµ Σαρακοστιανό Δείπνο 24 Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:30µµ 25 Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου Ορθ: 8:30πµ Θ. Λειτ: 9:15πµ 26 27 Κυριακή του Αγ. Γρηγορίου Παλαμά Ορθ: 9:00πµ Θ. Λειτ: 10:00πµ 28 Μεγάλο Απόδειπνο 7:00 μμ 29 30 Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7:00µµ Σαρακοστιανό Δείπνο 31 Ελληνικό Σχολείο Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30-7:30µµ Συσσιτιο Απόρων (New Horizons) 4:00-6:00μμ 2
Reverend Father Gregory Trakas Parish Council President... James Folopoulos Vice President... Nick Karagianis Secretary... Mike Rokas Treasurer... Ted Rokas Arthur Bakolas Costa Georgopoulos Harold Guidicelli Peter Lazos Charles Mardanes Kathy Papakostas Penny Papastathis Helen Rainey Philoptochos Board 2016 President...Lucie Skouteris Vice President...Maria Chronas Recording Secretary...Andrea Moutsioulis Corresponding Secretary... Iris Belinsky Treasurer..Georgia Palaskas Assistant Treasurer..Nancy Mardanes Liaison to National & Metropolis Boards...Mariana Gasis Advisor...Esther Kereakoglow Martha Galanis Artemis Lazos Staff Evangelia Gregorious Secretary...Janet Malin Chanter.Vasilios Rokas Choir Director.Joan Virga YOUTH MINISTRIES DIRECTORS GOYA... Stavroula Bakolas JOY... Julie Karagianis Mommy & Me Ranya Karatzoulidis PARISH SCHOOLS Sunday School Director..Stacy Caron Teachers.Nicole Condodemetraky Stavroula Bakolas Angeliki Kalampalikis Theohare Kapellakis Greek School Director... George Kitsis Teacher... Connie Stamoulis Newsletter Editors Fr. Gregory Trakas Sophia Annas Janet Malin James Folopoulos Nancy Mardanes Ellen Healy ADDRESS CHANGES Please notify the Church office if you are moving so that we may update our database. Thank you. Pastoral Home Visitation If a loved one is in the hospital, in a nursing home, or is house-bound due to an illness, please feel free to contact Fr. Gregory Trakas at the Church office to arrange a visit. Ark published monthly by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester NH 03109 3
Parish News Great Lent will begin on Monday, March 14 th and church services will be performed on many days throughout the next few months leading up to Pascha. For the Wednesdays of Presanctified Liturgy on March 16 th, 23 rd and 30 th we will once again have our Pot Luck Dinner. Last year, we had a wonderful time where we all gathered in our church hall and partook in some phenomenal food that was created by the superb chefs of our church. Those who attended church service and participated experienced an exceptional evening of fellowship. We hope and pray to continue this special tradition and we look forward to seeing everyone gathered at our church for these special evenings. The 9 th Annual Spring Dance will be held on Sunday, May 29 th at the Executive Court Banquet Facility. For more information, please contact Penny Papastathis at 512-0996 or the church office. Parish Council The monthly Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 14 th at 7:00 PM. Choir Calling all parishioners! We are looking for volunteers to join our talented choir. All ages are welcomed; all that is required is your passion and love for our church! Please contact our Choir Director, Joan Virga at 603-553-9525 or the church office. New Horizons Soup Kitchen New Horizons Soup Kitchen is Sunday, March 27 th, 4-6 PM. We are looking for new volunteers to join our group. This is such a rewarding experience; please join us for less than two hours of fellowship with the group from the Assumption Church. If you have any questions, please call Stephanie Piet at 315-5026 or the church office at 623-2045. Thank you! 4
Philoptochos News Easter Flowers Donation Dear Parishioners, Great Lent begins on Monday, March 14, 2016. The Ladies Philoptochos Society will be collecting donations for flowers for the Salutations to the Virgin Mary, Holy Week, including the Epitaphion, and Pascha, which falls on May 1st. These donations will also be used for flowers for the Paraklesis services and the services commemorating the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (August 1-15) and for Christmas. Please complete the form below and either give your donation to any Philoptochos Board member, or mail it in the enclosed envelope. We sincerely appreciate your support. God bless you. Lucie Skouteris, President Philoptochos Board Members: Iris Belinsky Maria Chronas Martha Galanis Mariana Gasis Evangelia Gregorious Esther Kereakoglow Artemis Lazos Nancy Mardanes Andrea Moutsioulis Georgia Palaskas Lucie Skouteris Please cut here and include the bottom portion with your donation in the enclosed envelope. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLOWER DONATION NAME: AMOUNT: 5
Youth Ministry News KATHARA DEFTERA - PARISH COMMUNITY GATHERING On Monday, March 14th, please join Fr. Gregory in celebrating Kathara Deftera. Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday or Ash Monday) marks the beginning of the Great Lent. It is called clean because on this day we are supposed to leave behind all sinful attitudes together with non-fasting foods. There will be two gatherings, both in the church hall. The first is intended especially for families with very young children and will be 3:00-4:30 pm (please see Mommy & Me below). The second one is for all families and parishioners and it will be from 4:30-6:00 pm. At 4:30 pm, there will be a prayer, followed by a light Lenten meal offered by Philoptochos. You are welcome to bring a Lenten dish or dessert (such as Halva). During the celebration, we will talk about the significance of Clean Monday and the Lenten period that begins. For kids, it will be a fun time together and there will also be a special craft! For the adults, it will be a joyful evening of fellowship! We look forward to having all parishioners take part in this new parish tradition as we start off the Great Lent! Mommy & Me On Monday, March 14 th, 3:00-4:30 pm, families with infants and children 40-days old to 4 years old are invited to a Mommy & Me event (Dads, Yiayias & Pappous welcome too!). Please join us for a story, a song, a small activity and a light Lenten snack to celebrate Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday), the beginning of Great Lent and our journey to Pascha! Our theme this month will be Clean Monday and Kite flying as is the tradition in Greece. Please contact Ranya Karatzoulidis or the church office at 623-2045 with any questions. See you all there! JOY On Monday, March 14 th at 4:00pm all school aged children are welcomed to join us for an activity and a light luncheon to celebrate Kathara Deftera. G.O.Y.A. LOUKOUMADES & FRAPPE` FUNDRAISER On Sunday, March 20th, our GOYA youth will have a Loukoumades & Frappe` fundraiser (please see enclosed flyer for details). Freshly made delicious loukoumades and traditional Greek frappes` will be sold during the Greek School Greek Independence Day celebration taking place on that day in the Assumption Church hall. We appreciate your participation and support of our Goyans! 6
GREEK SCHOOL ~ MARCH 25th CELEBRATION On Sunday, March 20th, our Greek School students will be reciting poems, Greek dancing and singing songs in celebration of Greek Independence Day and "Tou Evangelismou. Please join us for this joyous program and show your pride in our children and in our heritage. The program will be presented in the Assumption Church hall immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The coffee hour on Sunday, March 20th will be sponsored by the Greek School families and the Assumption Youth Ministry. You are welcome to participate by offering a baked good or breakfast snack. A sign-up sheet will be circulated at the rehearsal on Thursday, March 17th. The REHEARSAL for the March 25th Celebration will be held on THURSDAY, MARCH 17th from 4:00-6:00pm in the Assumption Church hall. All Greek School classes will participate in the rehearsal during that time. DATES TO REMEMBER March Monday, March 14th - 3:00pm: Mommy & Me monthly gathering for families with children ages newborn to 4 years old. Monday, March 14th - 4:30pm: KATHARA DEFTERA (Clean Monday) parish community gathering and Lenten dinner celebrating the start of Great Lent. Thursday, March 17th - 4:00-6:00pm: Greek School rehearsal for all classes for the March 25th Greek Independence Day celebration. Sunday, March 20th - SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY. ALL children please bring an icon to church to hold during the special, in-church, procession on that day. Sunday, March 20th - GOYA Loukoumades & Frappe fundraiser in the church hall. Sunday, March 20th - Greek School March 25th Celebration in the church hall immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Thursday, March 25th - Tou Evagelismou. Church services in celebration of March 25th. Please see liturgical schedule. April Sunday, April 3rd - Greek Independence Day Parade in Boston. A bus will be departing from the Assumption Church at 11:15am. Please see enclosed flyer for more details. Saturday, April 23rd - Lazarus Saturday. After Divine Liturgy we will have a pancake breakfast and will make Palms. April 24th - April 31st - HOLY WEEK. There will be a number of special services & events this week. Please see next month's bulletin. 7
On Tuesday, February 16th, our GOYA Co-Chairs, together with Fr. Gregory, visited the Philoxenia House in Boston and delivered the many generous Gifts of Giving items collected by our Youth Ministries over the holidays. The family members and young patients currently staying at Philoxenia House were extremely grateful for all the gifts. They were also very happy to see our parish youth, and it was a wonderful opportunity for our young adults to learn about the families and how Philoxenia House assists them. Thank you everyone for your kind donations! On Sunday, February 14th, our Youth Ministries together with the Youth Ministries of St. George's held a Family Game Day event. The families joined together in playing various games and watching movies while enjoying a delicious assortment of food & refreshments. Children and adults alike had a wonderful time! It was a great opportunity for our families to spend time together which is important in building and maintaining strong relations and friendships amongst our Greek Orthodox community. We thank everyone who participated and look forward to getting together again soon! 8
Greek Independence Day Parade On Sunday, April 3rd, we will be traveling to Boston to participate in March 25th Greek Independence Day Parade sponsored by the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England. A bus will be departing from the Assumption Church parking lot at 11:15am. A $10 donation is suggested for adults - children travel at no charge (please see enclosed flyer for more details). Please join us for a festive and fun day in Boston! Scholarships There are various scholarships available for graduates or college students. Please contact the church office at (603) 623-2045 to obtain a copy of the applications. 9
10
11
Funeral January 29 th Glykeria Papakostas 40 day Memorial Service March 6 th - Glykeria Papakostas 40 day blessing February 14 th Calliope daughter of Mark & Michelle Folopoulos Stewardship Reminder Please do not forget to submit your 2016 Stewardship Pledge Stewardship is the greatest source of income for our church. Memorial Donations In memory of Lieselotte Hartofelis In memory of Nicholas Kranias In memory of Chrysanthe Randos In memory of Alice Schubert In memory of John Xintaras, Jr. JANUARY DONATIONS Fuel Fundraiser Mr. & Mrs. Peter Camberis Georgia Gancarz Ellen Healy Mr. & Mrs. Milton Kalampalikis Mr. & Mrs. John Stergiou Pledges for 2015 Mr. & Mrs. Sotirios Gallos Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Karagianis Amalia Kostakis Kelly Locke Penny Papastathis Mrs. Thomas Tsecaris Mr. & Mrs. Yiannis Voyiatzakis Angelo Zisis Mr. & Mrs. Peter Camberis Mr. & Mrs. Christos Chalogias Mr. & Mrs. Costa Costinos Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dryer Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Gallos Polixeni Georgopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Nick Hart Mr. & Mrs. Spiro Kalampalikis Mr. & Mrs. Stathis Kapellakis Mr. & Mrs. John Karagianis Mr. & Mrs. Petros Kostakis Georgia Kyriazes Mr. & Mrs. Pierre LaBrie Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lazos Mr. & Mrs. Charles Mardanes Mr. & Mrs. Evangelos Pervanas Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Peters Faye Pliakos Mr. & Mrs. Michael Sakelarios Mr. & Mrs. John Stergiou John Vailas Nicholas Vailas Eleni Younis January Pledges Penny Arfanakis Phyllis Brown James Camberis 12
13
14 BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISING Anyone with a business that would like to advertise in our monthly bulletin, please contact the Church office. A business card format, about 2 ½ x 1 ½ will run for a period of 12 months for one set fee of $150.00 a year. This will help to defray the ever-increasing costs of printing and mailing these bulletins to our homes as well as advertising your business to our parishioners and through word of mouth, to their friends.
MARCH 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:30 4 5 Saturday of Souls Orthros 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy 9:15 AM 6 Judgment Sunday (Meatfare) Agiasmos (Blessing of the water) Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM 7 8 9 10 Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:30 11 12 Saturday of Souls Orthros 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy 9:15 AM 13 Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare) Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM 14 Lent begins Kathara Deftera-Ash Monday 4:30 pm Lenten Gathering and Dinner 15 16 Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 PM Lenten Pot Luck Dinner 17 Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 6:30 PM 18 Salutations to the Theotokos 7:00 PM 19 Saturday of Souls Orthros 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy 9:15 AM Parish Council Meeting 7:00 PM 20 Sunday of Orthodoxy Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM Greek Independence Day Celebration immediately after Divine Liturgy 21 Great Compline - 7:00 PM 22 23 Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 PM Lenten Pot Luck Dinner 24 Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:30 25 Annunciation of the Theotokos Orthros 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy 9:15 AM 26 27 Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas Efheleon (Holy Unction) Orthros: 9:00 AM Div. Lit: 10:00 AM 28 Great Compline - 7:00 PM 29 30 Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 PM Lenten Pot Luck Dinner 31 Greek School & Greek Dance 3:30 7:30 New Horizons Soup Kitchen 4:00 PM 6:00PM 15
ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 111 Island Pond Road Manchester, NH 03109 NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO. 6249 16