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The Epistle of St The Epistle of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church January 2021 PASTORAL THOUGHTS Vasilopita Cutting COVID IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT Happy New Year from Fr. Andy Sunday, January 3 The song “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John This year, Vasilopita will be Lennon and Yoko Ono has been a part of the radio distributed pre-wrapped to the Christmas canon for decades. The dissonance of the ministries & parishioners. lyrics and the background story of the song resonate Free will donations will benefit the Greek with me each year, and they summon every listener into reflection with Orthodox Archdiocese’s St. Basil Academy the question, “So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” Another year over. A new one just begun! The song sings both about Christmas celebration of His Nativity, and as one of the Holy and declares war over, with the condition of “if we want it.” “Happy Trinity on Epiphany. When we seek forgiveness of our Xmas (War is Over)” presents us with an unnervingly raw and real sins, our confession is always made in the presence of response to the otherwise well-organized concept of Christmas each of the priest who helps keep us accountable and provides us holds. Throughout one’s life, eventually there is a Christmas that is the physical laying on of hands that provides God’s different from all other Christmas celebrations, be it on duty as a saving forgiveness, mercy, and love. Our Faith is one soldier, as a student overseas, or perhaps even a pandemic. Today all of peace, and one that offers peace. Now is the time to 7.8 Billion human beings share a common experience of suffering, and shout it from the roof tops, and to run out to the the transition from one year to the next begs the question, “What have highways and hedges and compel people to come in we done?” and enjoy the master’s banquet! In a time when we The background information on have all been ripped out of the schedules and lives we the song offers some clarification were accustomed to, we have an opportunity to convey on the otherwise confusing dissonance the good news of hope, peace, and the opportunity to between the celebration of enjoy eternal life in Paradise where there is no pain, Christmas and the call to end all sorrow, or suffering. We may not have had the war. The song came about after Christmas we all wanted, but look to the positive things more than two years of peace that have come of this different experience. activism by John Lennon and his COVID is over, if you want it. We can choose to be wife Yoko Ono, and was part of an miserable, lazy, and sulk; or we can choose to be filled international multimedia campaign with joy in witnessing all of the good and beautiful launched by the couple in December 1969, at the height of the things happening because of and in spite of this counterculture movement and protests against America's involvement in pandemic, to be active and set achievable goals (choose the Vietnam War. They had rented billboard spaces in 12 major cities to read a book instead of social media posts, or learn a around the world, for the display of black-and-white posters that new English word each day instead of trying to be declared “WAR IS OVER! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from fluent in a new language), and to be happy. That last John & Yoko.” The slogan had previously appeared in the 1968 anti- suggestion might be toughest of all. There’s a reason war songs ‘The War Is Over’ by Phil Ochs, and ‘The Unknown Soldier’ our Founding Fathers declared the “pursuit” of by the Doors. However, it is not known if this was deliberate or merely happiness as an unalienable human right, and not coincidental. Lennon came up with the song as a way of continuing the happiness itself. Many philosophers have stated the themes of social unity and peaceful change via personal accountability, key to happiness, with many coming down to some that was previously the basis of the earlier billboard campaign, while form of expectation management—set your attempting to convey optimism and avoiding the sentimentality he felt expectations low, or better yet don’t have any at all, and often characterized Christmas music. you won’t be disappointed. Bam! Instant happiness! With themes of social unity, peaceful change, and personal But even this falls short. The key to happiness isn’t accountability, you can begin to understand how an Orthodox priest can proper management of our expectations, it’s far more rock out to such a song! After 9 months of dealing with a pandemic, radical. Expectations require our will, but the key to many are understandably nauseated by the phrase “we’re all in this happiness requires us to give that up. The key to together,” but it’s still true. Moreover, this has been and forever will be happiness is replacing our will with God’s will. Only the Gospel message! It is only in communion with one another, as the then can we achieve our rightful position, standing in One Body of Christ, that we can ever hope to achieve our salvation and the presence of God as His sons and daughters, as He be embraced by Christ whom we embrace as a child during our created us to be. The Epistle is the official publication of the Greek Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, Ohio ~ (440) 331-2246 ~ www.saintdemetriosrr.org Sunday Services: Orthros 8:20 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00 p.m. Publication Deadlines : Weekly Bulletin: Wednesday of each week. Monthly Newsletter– the 15 th of the preceding month Clergy and Office Staff Parish Organizations Fr. Andrew Lentz, Priest …………………….......216-777-9777 Acolyte Coordinator ………………..Ted Seidl...440-930-5759 [email protected] AHEPA …………………………...Costa Petros…440-937-8079 Eleni Papouras-Jenks, Office Manager/ Newsletter Editor American Legion ……………Spyro Farmakidis...440-779-8190 440-331-2246 ext. 2 [email protected] Bible Study Byron T. Spooner, Operations Manager 440-331-2246, ext. 3 Morning leader, Angie Giallourakis…216-387-2681 [email protected] Evening leader, Tony Kazanas….440-835-0272 x16 John Stamatiades, Church Accountant 440-331-2246, ext. 4 Bookstore ……….....……...…….Donna Vassos…440-331-5547 Andrea Giavroutas, Youth Coordinator Choir Director ………….............Maria Steffas…440-773-1533 [email protected] Daughters of Penelope ..…….……Elisa Demis…440-665-1348 Parish Council FOCUS Friends …….………..…Linda Glynias…216-469-2663 Lilly Anitas ……………. ….………………….…..440-734-3440 Greek School Marko Fourtounis………………………….……216-244-2222 Principal : Eleni Papouras-Jenks................216-965-8131 Irene Georgantas ………………………………..585-703-5005 Board of Education: Maria Mougianis…..440-835-2888 Anna Kachevas……………………………….….563-542-4692 PTO: Kelly Steffas ………………………..440-808-8788 Marianna Karakatsani…………………………...440-315-3936 Hellenic Dance Groups Sarah Kazanas…………………… …...………..216-409-2532 Aeraki……………………………… Lia Fresty…330-715-1704 Kostas Mathiellis…………......…..……..……...440-783-1988 Kymata ….……………....Angelia Szekely…440-724-3807 Evanthia Pallam …………………..…………….216-402-7646 Kyklonas ………………. Eleni Papouras-Jenks…216-965-8131 Gary Thomas…………………………………….440-356-1032 Κόλλυβα (Memorial Tray): Lee Zapis………………………………………..440-617-0266 Koula Callas………………………...216-347-2299 Sophia Tjotjos, Legal Counsel Christina Carpadis………………..…216-215-4232 Becky Giallourakis……………….....440-610-3516 Orthodox Organizations Legacy Fund …....…………Manuel P. Glynias…216-857-3388 Library Committee ….………..…...Andie Titas...440-779-8581 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America …www.goarch.org Philoptochos ……………………[email protected] Metropolis of Pittsburgh …….… www.pittsburgh.goarch.org President …………..…Maggie Steffas …440-871-6362 International Orthodox Christian Charities … www.iocc.org Sunshine Committee ….Elpida Kosmidis…440-779-8959 Orthodox Christian Mission Center …….…. www.ocmc.org Welfare Committee ……………………..Crystal Thomas Orthodox Christian Network ………...……. www.myocn.net Sunday School ….…………... [email protected] Orthodox Christian Fellowship ………..………… www.ocf.net Mary Seidl……………..…………....440-930-5759 St. Herman’s FOCUS Cleveland ….. www.sainthermans.com Spiritual Life Committee ...Angie Giallourakis…216-387-2681 St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach www.stpanteleimon.com Individuals w/ Disabilities Liaison ....Tina Kolas...216-970-3737 Zoe for Life ! ……………………... www.zoeforlifeonline.org Speaking of Stewardship… 3 December General Assembly Recap Meeting held on Sun., Dec. 6, 2020. Quorum of 25 Members In Good Standing was met. Fr. Andrew reported he was hopeful of the coming year, with good leadership of our Parish Council, noting that almost all the board will carry on for one more year, thru the pandemic. Board President Dr. Dimitri Tsatiris reported that the deed transferred for the Zapis Foundation Land donation, and Legal Council is currently working on getting tax exempt status for the parcel across the street (between Harbor Court & funeral home.) There will be two openings on Parish Council heading into 2021 which will be filled after the ongoing members are sworn-in. (See left) Youth Coordinator Andrea Giavroutas reported on Stewardship 2021 the 2020 youth ministries’ activities (full report These are difficult days. We are not able to fully gather in our spiritual available in the office.) She is working with Fr. home for prayer and fellowship. Yet we remain united as a family of Andrew on a post-pandemic plan. faith, always present for one another in love and support. We look A discussion ensued between several parents who forward to the time when we can all safely gather together in our want teen / youth events, including open gym versus beloved St. Demetrios. As leaders of our parish, we are working to build concerns of the priest and parish council as to the upon existing ministries and to initiate new ministries that will keep us safety of social/sports events.
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