THE GOOD NEWS
The Monthly Bulletin of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption
Volume 20, Issue 5 May, 2015
GREEK ORTHODOX Missions CHURCH Carolyn Mesagno OF THE ASSUMPTION (401) 617-1109 1804 13th AVENUE SEATTLE, WA 98122 Camp Agape NW Rev. Fr. Dean Kouldukis Kristina Mehas Rev. Fr. Michael Johnson (206) 232-8690
Parish Office Hours Chanters M-TH 10:30 am - 5:30 pm Evangelos Pampoukas Telephone 206-323-8557 (206) 246-7573 assumptionseattle.org Choir Parish Office Manager Chris Kouldukis Jillian Chandler (425) 691-7610 (206) 323-8557 parishoffice@ Greek Dance Groups assumptionseattle.org Voula Xenos (206) 784-7644 Parish Office Bookkeeper Now Hiring Church School Parish Accounting Office Rachael Pamboukas (206) 323-7230 (425) 432-2786 accounting@ assumptionseattle.org St. Catherine Philoptochos Parish Events Manager Kristina Mehas Corinda LeClair (206) 232-8690 (206) 432-1801 St. John the Almsgiver Parish Council Basil Papahronis Penny Peppes, President (206) 923-0449 (425) 823-3031 Stewardship Parish Treasurer Gus Mehas Demetrios Geokezas (206) 232-8690 (206) 617-4716 Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made YAL Assumption Bookstore Steven Miller Trilby Coolidge fishermen all-wise, sending upon them the (406) 696-0057 (206) 782-0997 Youth Ministry Fellowship Hour Holy Spirit and, through them, netting the world. Fr. Michael Johnson Ingrid Papahronis (206) 420-1728 (206) 932-8085 O Loving One, glory to You.
PASCHAL ENCYCLICAL 2015
“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
early Beloved, D Today we rejoice because the Lord has set us free. In His Resurrection, death and its hold over mankind has been defeated. As we see in the icon of the Resurrec- tion, Christ lifts Adam and Eve out of their tombs and MET. GERASIMOS through them lifts all of us from the bonds of corruption. The doors of Hades have been broken forever and Gerasimos - Metropolitan of death himself has been bound, rendered powerless be- San Francisco fore the omnipotent God. As Moses led the Hebrew peo- ple from slavery and death in Egypt to life in the Prom- ised Land, Christ has led us from the tyranny of death and corruption into a new reality of life with God. As we hear in the praises of Pascha, “Paradise has been opened for us.”
We have labored throughout our Lenten journey to bring us to this point. We have observed the practices and ascetic disciplines of our Tradition so that we would be prepared physi- cally, intellectually, and spirituality for this moment. We have spent Holy Week sharing in the Passion of the Lord so that we might enter that blessed and empty Tomb and bear wit- ness to the reality that, “He is not here. He is risen” (Matthew 28.5). To paraphrase St. Epiphanius of Cyprus, the sixth century father of our Church, we have descended with Him so that we may rejoice together.
And so, my beloved sisters and brothers, today, we can put our asceticism aside and cele- brate. As we hear in the Paschal homily attributed to St. John Chrysostom, “O rich and poor … dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!”
Yet, not all are able to feast at the table as we do today. Not all are able to celebrate in freedom. The Christian community in the Middle East and Africa still yearn to be free from persecution, merely for calling themselves Christian. They long to be able to walk through the streets of their cities and share the Good News that Christ is risen and “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15.22). But out of fear of persecution and martyrdom, the message of the Resurrection must only beat in their hearts. So, for them, let us chant the hymns of Pascha with greater strength and joy, proclaiming “God has put all things
PAGE 2 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 3 under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15.27). For them, let us raise our lit candles high be- cause “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15.554). For them, let us share the Good News with our neighbors.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! - ! !
With Love in the Risen Lord,
Metropolitan of San Francisco
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 3 MAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Vespers
Saturday, May 2 Wed., May 20 / Apodosis of Pascha 6:00 pm Great Vespers 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Sun., May 3 / Sunday of the Paralytic Epistle: Acts 18:22-28 8:45 am Matins Gospel: John 12:36-47 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: Acts 9:32-42 Thurs., May 21 / HOLY ASCENSION Gospel: John 5:1-15 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Tuesday, May 5 Epistle: Acts 1:1-12 10:30 am Prayers at the 3rd Hour Gospel: Luke 24:36-53
Wed., May 6 / Mid-Pentecost Saturday, May 23 8:45 am Matins 6:00 pm Great Vespers 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: Acts 14:6-18 Sunday, May 24 / Fathers of the 1st Gospel: John 7:14-30 Ecumenical Council 8:45 am Matins Fri., May 8 / St. John the Theologian 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 8:45 am Matins Epistle: Acts 20:16-18; 28-36 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Gospel: John 17:1-13 Epistle: I John 1:1-7 Gospel: John 19:25-28, 21:24-25 Tuesday, May 26 10:30 am Prayers at the 3rd Hour Saturday, May 9 6:00 pm Great Vespers Sat., May 30 / Saturday of Souls 8:45 am Matins Sunday, May 10 / Sunday of the 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Samaritan Woman (Mother’s Day) Epistle: I Thessalonians 4:13-17 8:45 am Matins Gospel: John 21:14-25 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: Acts 11:19-30 Sun., May 31 / HOLY PENTECOST Gospel: John 4:5-42 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Sunday, May 17 / Sunday of the Blind Epistle: Acts 2:1-11 Man Gospel: John 7:37-52; 8:12 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: John 9:1-38
Tuesday, May 19 10:30 am Prayers at the 3rd Hour
PAGE 4 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015
USHERS FELLOWSHIP HOUR & ellowship Hour is a nice time to sit and visit with old F friends or make new ones. Please join us after Liturgy. All are welcome! READERS “THANK YOU” to our friends and families who hosted a Fel- Sunday, May 3 lowship Hour in April: St. Catherine Philoptochos and the Greek Dance Groups. Ushers: Christina Siaterlis, Girma Bulbula & Ted Thank you to our friends who have volunteered to host in Dimitriou May and June.
Close: Girma Bulbula In May, we have three Sundays available to host: Reader: John Nicon May 03: All Saints Camp (Andrea Gray) Sunday, May 10 May 10: (Mother’s Day) AVAILABLE TO HOST May 17: AVAILABLE TO HOST Ushers: Demetrios May 24: AVAILABLE TO HOST Geokezas, Carolyn Geller & May 31: BITE OF GREECE! Andrea Gray In June, we have two Sundays available to host: Close: Demetrios Geokezas June 07: James Prekeges Reader: Joanna Pulakis June 14: AVAILABLE TO HOST June 21: Stella Bass & Molly Conom Sunday, May 17 June 28: AVAILABLE TO HOST
Ushers: Nicholas For more information on hosting a Fellowship Hour please Mesagno, Penny Peppes & view the Guidelines at the Assumption home website, as- John Prekeges sumptionseattle.org or on our Members Only website, Close: Gus Mehas http://assumptionseattle.360unite.com/groups/ Reader: Evan Sarantinos fellowship-hour
If you would like to host a Fellowship Hour, please contact Sunday, May 24 me at (206) 932-8085, or via email at
Ushers: Christina Siaterlis, [email protected] . Girma Bulbula & Ted Dimitriou Thank You for serving!
Close: Chris Pamboukas Reader: Christopher Sayles Ingrid Papahronis Coordinator - Fellowship Hour Sunday, May 31
Ushers: Demetrios Geokezas, Carolyn Geller & Andrea Gray Close: Nicholas Mesagno Reader: Straton Spyropoulos
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 5 OUR JOURNEYS TO ORTHODOXY
by Dan & Teresa Maschinsky
Dan Maschinsky: “I was raised in a semi-practicing Roman Catholic family in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland. I was seven years old when I was baptized and my family regularly attended Church for a few years before falling away from the faith. After experiencing some difficulties adjusting to a large public middle school, my family chose to send me to Catholic school starting with seventh grade. This act drew my family back into regular Church attendance, which was very instrumental in forming my morality and values during those critical early teenage years.
For high school, I attended Mount Saint Joseph, which combined both an excellent college preparatory academic program with studies in the faith. However, during these years I began to become disillusioned with the Roman Catholic faith. It seemed to me, to be a lot of meaningless ritual and I was just going through the motions with no real richness of faith. My family started attending the 7am Sunday services which was DAN MASCHINSKY a trimmed down service with no singing, and at that point Church had begun to feel like more of an obligation than something to cherish.
After high school, my family's Church attendance became sporadic, until it eventually fizzled out altogether. After graduating college and getting out on my own, I was no longer attending Church at all, but could feel that I was missing a crucial part of my being. I still had faith and wanted that to be a part of my life, so I be- gan considering alternatives to returning to the Catholic Church. I read about different Protestant faiths, and had considered attending a Lutheran service, but could not bring myself to make such a large leap from my liturgical upbringing.
Eventually, a job opportunity brought me to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where I met my wife-to-be Teresa within a month of moving to the city. Teresa told me that she was Greek Orthodox, and that she attended services regularly. From what I remembered from my world religions class in high school Orthodoxy was pretty much the same as Catholicism, except for the Pope. When Teresa and I got engaged, I decided that I should start attending Church with her, so that I could share and support her in her faith. That first service with her showed me a different faith than anything I had experienced before.
The Church in Colorado Springs, Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, is very small, for not being a mission parish. It has seven pews on each side, and on a good Sunday has about 75 attendees. Needless to say, it was a tight-knit community where everyone knew each other. That first service I attended was a bit of a shock. Sure, there were some familiar things, but what struck me the most was that everyone was so involved with the service, singing along, and sharing in the joy of praising God. Even though there were a few sidelong glances at the newcomer, I felt comfortable being there. My heart had been missing the ex- pression of faith, which I had not been around for so long. During the announcements at the end of service, it was announced that Teresa and I were engaged, and I was asked to stand up and introduce myself. For a shy person like me, it was tough to do, but it did not sway me from my desire to return to Church the next week.
We attended services together every week after that point, and I truly looked forward to being there every Sunday. There was no pressure to convert, and the community was so welcoming, that it became like a second home. We were married in the Church in April of 2010, and were regular participants in many of the services and events at the Church.
Eventually, in early 2012, I decided that I could no longer bear to continue attending the services without
PAGE 6 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 7 being able to fully take part in the mysteries of the faith. I began talking to the priest, Father Dennis, about converting to Orthodoxy. He recommended some reading materials, with the most helpful book being Two Paths, by Micheal Whelton. Written from the perspective of a Catholic convert to Orthodoxy, it answered a lot of the questions I had about the differences between the faiths. With everything that I read, I knew that I had finally found what I had been searching for, for so many years. Really, the only thing that took time to get used to, was that the priest was married and had a family, which was quite the shock to a longtime Catholic. Everything else about the faith felt completely natural and right. So, on December 23rd, 2012, I was Chrismated in the Orthodox faith. A few weeks after being received into the Church, I was recruited to be an altar server. It was so joyful to be able to help during the services, and it served to strengthen me in my new faith.
Now that Teresa and I have our daughter, Anna, I know that I have an important responsibility to be the spiritual head of my household and to guide my family in the faith. It is a joy to be able to attend services every Sunday and take part in the richness that is Orthodoxy.”
Teresa Maschinsky: “I was born into Orthodoxy, the oldest child of a third generation Greek immigrant fam- ily. Our home parish was St. Nicholas in Northridge, California. When I was young, my mother, my two broth- ers, and I attended Church services regularly. One of my fondest memories of Church was being able to give alms, which consisted of a quarter in a small envelope during Sun- day school.
My mother became sick when I was eight years old, and we were una- ble to make it to Church on a regular basis after that point, only mak- ing it to Holy Week services. We had icons in the house and still had our mealtime prayers, which kept us grounded in the faith. My mother made sure we had a Christian upbringing the best she was able.
Being from a fairly typical Greek background, we had the culture as a forefront during family gatherings. I remember that my mother's cousin made the best pastitsio. It was great being able to see all my extended family when we were able to make it to Church. In fact, my Papou was one of the founding members of St. Nicholas, and initially the services DAN & TERESA MASCHINSKY were held in his house.
When I was 25, I could no longer bear the feeling of being removed from the life of the Church and made a resolution to find out more about my faith. I spoke with my Nouna, and she helped me to learn the faith on a deeper level. A few years later, after moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, I was determined to make Church a regular part of my life. I could feel that I was missing something in my being. Before attending the Church for the first time, I called the priest, Father Dennis, to inquire about parish activities. He told me it was a rinky-dink operation that they were running there, but assured me that they had the full complement of services to enrich my life. Being such a small Church, even though it was my first time there, the priest was able to pick me out in the line to receive antidoron, and remembered my name from that initial phone call. After that point, I began attending Church every week with my mother. It felt so good to be taking an active role in the faith, and it was definitely something that was missing from my life.
My husband and I definitely feel that the Church has been a blessing for us. We had difficulties in our de- sires to have children, and in December of 2012, we were able to venerate the myrrh streaming icon of St. Anna, which was making a visit to our parish from St. Tikhon's in Pennsylvania. We experienced a miracle, and nine months later we were blessed to have our daughter, whom we named Anna out of respect and gratitude.
I am so happy to be able to raise my daughter in the faith and give her a regular exposure to Church that I was not able to fully experience. The faith strengthens my relationship with my husband, and we often help each other in this journey that we are in together as a family.”
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 7 ALEX, Dn. Peter & Cathy NICKOLAS, Nick ALLAMANO, Eugene & Ann NICON, John & Joann AMORATIS, Anthony & Sophie OHMER, Ronald & Jennifer ANDERSON, Larry & Kate OJEDA, Theodore & Victoria ANDREWS, Rothopi O’NEIL, Katie APOSTOLOU, Elias & Stella OSBON, Joymarie APOSTOLOU, K.G. & Kostoula PAMBOUKAS, Chris & Glyka ARGERES, Peter & Diana PAMBOUKAS, Kosta ARGUE, Clifford & Theodora GELLER, Carolyn PAMBOUKAS, Niko & Sonia ATHAN, Steve & Anna GEOKEZAS, Demetrios & Eryn PAMBOUKAS, Niko & Rachael ATHANS, Eleni & Geo. Bariames GEOKEZAS, Maria & David Howard PAMPOUKAS, Evangelos & Tasoula ATHANS, Emmanuel GEOKEZAS, Meletios & Theodora PAPADOPULOS, Erasmia ATHANS, John & Stella GEORGE, Nicholas PAPAHRONIS, Basil ATTIAS, Anna GEORGES, Helen PAPAHRONIS, Michael & Ingrid AVGERIS, Christine GIANETSAS, Xenia PAPANDREW, David & Karen BANKS, Ginny Veronica GOULOUMI, Dora Roula PAPANICOLAOU, Stathis & Joanna BARBACHAN, Hugo & Popee GOVETAS, Eleni PAPANTOS, Spero & Tina BARBAS, E. Anthe GRAY, Elizabeth PAPPAS, Cristina BAROKAS, Marie GRAY, James & Andrea PAPPAS, George & Ann BAROKAS, Vasiliki GREENE, Marke & Angela PAPPAS, George & Lora BARTON, Roger & Mary Lou HADJIMICHALAKIS, Michael PAPPAS, Tina & Rob Aigner BASS, Steve & Stella HOSKINS, Jonah & Margeaux PARALIS, Panagiotis & Asimo BEKRIS, Chris & Diamando HOWE, William & Maro PEPPES, George & Penny BENIS, Helen HUNT, Kelsey PEPPES, Steve & Popi BUEHRER, Lee & Florence HUNT, Madeleine PIERIDES, Voula BLACKSTONE, Cleo ILES, Catherine POULOS, Pete BLACKWELL, Neena ILIAKIS, Bernardino & Pinar PREKEGES, Greg & Alice BRATSANOS, Steve & Rose JANJIC, Barbara PREKEGES, James BULBULA, Girma & Alemitu Wakene JEWELL, Emily & Gavin RAKUS, Tom BURKE, Joanne JOHN, Maggie RIGOPOULOS, Marianne CARDARAS, Vlasios & Voula KALASOUNTAS, Helen RITCHIE, Joe & Natalie CHACHARON, Christina KATSIS, Dimos & Alexis RONDOS, Sam CHACHARON, Claire KAVADAS, Janet SAKELLARIS, John & Penelope CHARONI, Alex KAZAKOS, Georgia SAVVIDES, S.D. & Katherine CHARONI, Nancy KEHAYES, Naya & Philip Head SAYLES, Katerina CHARONI, Tim & Rene KLIEROS-MERCOURIADIS, Pipena SCOTT, Leslie Sophia CHRISTOFILIS, Asimas & Dora KOHNKE, Ioanna SEBOK, Evangelia CHRISTOU, Ted & Barbara KOKKONIS, Nick & Jennifer SERPANOS, George & Meropi CONOM, Madeline KOSTAKIS, Constantine & Ann SIATERIS, Dimitrios & Christina COOLIDGE, Trilby KOULDUKIS, Bill & Betty SKANDALIS, John & Laurie COSMAKOS, Nick & Cheryl KOULDUKIS, Fr. Dean & Pres. Valerie SKEPETARIS, Evanthia COSTACOS, Constantine & Terry LACKIE, Randy & Athena SKEPETARIS, Tom & Teresa COSTACOS, Jerry & Eva LAZAROU, George & Christina SMETHERAM, Sofia COZZA, Bernardo & Michelle LEMONIDIS, Daniel & SaNni SOLOMON, Karen DALLAS-SMITH, Mary LENES, George & Rita SORENSON, Maria DELAROSE, Ron & Teresa LENTGIS, Dean & Kathleen SOUDAS, Elene DELIMITROS, Katie LIMANTZAKIS, Johnette SOUKAS, George & Ritsa DEMENEGAS, Emmanuel & Sapfo LING, Maria SOURAPAS, Steve DENOS, Thalia LIVIAKIS, Lea & Sam Nadler SPYROPOULOS, Straton DENOVAN, David Aniketos LORD, Tim & Debby STAFFORD, Stephanie Pulakis DERDEVANIS, Maria LOTAKIS, Greg STAMATOYANNOPOULOS, George & Thalia DIAFOS, Pauli LOTAKIS, Paul & Michele TAGIOS, Constantinos & Sophia DIAMOND, Maria LOUKAS, Edwin & Vasiliki TALERICO, Ed & Joyce DIAMOND, Nitsa LUCAS, Dean TARLSON, Popi DIEL, Angeliki LUCAS, Greta TAYLOR, Valerie Ann DIMITRIOU, Ted & Kiki LUCAS, Ida TEKLE, Selam & Amanuel Abraha DIMOS, Gabriella LUCAS, Maria THOMPSON, Charles & Niki DUDUNAKIS, Kenneth & Kristina MAKRI, Ioanna TOURAS, Antonios & Antonia DURHAM, Patrick & Margarita MALESIS, Louis & Mary TOURAS, Nikolas ESTEP, Charles & Lina MALLOS, Steve & Sophia TRAPALIS, Dina & Eleni EVANS, Jr., Peter & Anna MANOLIDES, Nancy TREMBANIS, Sophia EVERETT, Robert & Sophia MASCHINSKY, Daniel & Teresa TSALAKY, Tony EXARHOS, Helen & Arianna MEHAS, Gus & Kristina TSCHIDA, Stephanie FARMER, Joanna MESAGNO, Nicholas & Carolyn TSITSIS, Nick & Stacy FIDLER, William & Alia MICHAELIDIS, Christina & Darin Smith WATSON, Rob & Katherine FLY, Larry MICHAELIDIS, Michael & Elaine WEST, Joann FOOTE, Sophia & Maria MITALAS, Panagiota XENOS, Spiro & Voula FOURNARAKIS, Bill MITCHELL, Cameron & Sofie XYDIS, John & Janice FRAGGIAS, Effie MOORE, Georgia YEAMANS, David & Alysha FRANKS, John & Soula NATSIOPOULOS, Elias & Nancy ZANIDES, Frances GABRIEL, Laura & Tim O’Donnell NENTSON, Elaine ZARKADES, Joanne
PAGE 8 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 9 DOLLAR-A-DAY PROGRAM
want to thank everyone who has signed up for our Dollar A Day loan servicing plan. I As discussed at our General Assembly, we need more families to participate. With more people giving to the Dollar-a-Day program, we will be able to use our parking revenue to off- set the deficit in our yearly budget. Without it, our budget cannot be balanced. If you have- n't yet signed up for the program, please call the bookkeeping office at (206) 323-7230 and let them know you would like to participate.
Penny Peppes Parish Council President
ANDERSON, Larry & Kate FRANGOS, Olivia PAMBOUKAS, Chris & Glyka ANDREWS, Rothopi FRANKS, John & Athanasia PAMBOUKAS, Niko & Sonia ANTONAKOS, Jetta GEOKEZAS, Demetrios & Eryn PAMPOUKAS, Evangelos & Tasoula APOSTOLOU, Elias & Stella GEOKEZAS, Meletios & Theodora PAPAHRONIS, Michael & Ingrid ARGERES, Peter & Diana GIANETSAS, Xenia PEPPES, George & Penny ATHAN, Steve & Anna GIBBONS, Nick & Maria PISHUE, James & Lisa Roberts ATHANS, Eleni & George Bariames GRAY, James & Andrea RITCHIE, Joe & Natalie BARBAS, E. Anthe GREENE, Marke & Angela ROGERS, Alexandra BARTON, Roger & Mary Lou HOWE, William & Maro SARANTINOS, George & Athena BASS, Steve & Stella HULBERT, Mike & Jodie SCOTT, Leslie Sophia BENIS, Helen ILES, Catherine SIATERLIS, Dimitrios & Christina BRATSANOS, James & Leslie ILIAKIS, Bernardino & Pinar SMETHERAM, Sofia BRATSANOS, Steve & Rose INNIS, Connie ST. CATHERINE PHILOPTOCHOS BUEHRER, Lee & Florence JEWELL, Emily & Gavin STAFFORD, Stephanie Pulakis CHACHARON, Alex KAZAKOS, Georgia THOMPSON, Charles & Niki CHRISTOU, Ted & Barbara KEHAYES, Naya & Philip Head TZIOTIS, Yiannis & Katerina CONOM, Madeline KOHNKE, Ioanna XYDIS, John & Janice COSTACOS, Jerry & Eva KOKKONIS, Nick & Jennifer ZANIDES, Frances DELAROSE, Ron & Teresa KOUKOUSOULA, Ourania ZARKADES, Joanne DELIMITROS, Katherine KOULDUKIS, Fr. Dean & Pres. Val DENOS, Thalia LIVIAKIS, Lea & Sam Nadler DIAFOS, Pauli LOTAKIS, Greg DIMITRIOU, Ted & Kiki LOTAKIS, Paul & Michele DURHAM, Patrick & Margarita LUCAS, Greta EVANS, Jr., Peter & Anna MEHAS, Gus & Kristina FARMER, Joanna MESAGNO, Nicholas & Carolyn FIDLER, William & Alia MOORE, Georgia FLY, Larry NICKOLAS, Nick FRANGOS, Christian O’NEIL, Katie
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 9 COMMUNITY DINNER TO FOL- LOW PASCHA LITURGY
he “Bite of Greece” planning committee is busy at work coordinating another fun T and successful fundraiser and community builder and now it’s time to sign-up to volunteer for our event! Please navigate to the below link and take a look at the shifts that are open.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0B44A8A922A3FD0-bite/17091545
Sign-Up Genius will show you all the volunteer shifts that need to be filled for our event to be successful. The “Bite of Greece” will take place over three days. Shifts are from 2-4 hour commitments and you should easily find an area to work that will be of inter- est to you! Please sign up for as many shifts as you can on as many days as you can! Thank you for being a part of our fun fundraising event! If you have questions, or for more information, please contact Penny Peppes at (425) 503-3421. Additional information will be available in the Assumption Weekly, so please be sure to open and read it weekly to stay current as more details become available. Also, please join our Facebook page “Bite of Greece” and share our posts. Let's get the word out and build interest and excitement in our community for our 2015 “Bite of Greece!”
PAGE 10 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 11 ASSUMPTION BOOKSTORE rthodox by birth, sociologist Kyriacos Markides considered himself an agnostic until a O visit to Mt. Athos revealed to him that there is a strong mystical life within Orthodoxy. He has written several best-selling books about the church since that visit. The Mountain of Silence describes his experiences on Cyprus with “Fr. Maximos”, a monk from Mt. Athos. This engaging book focuses on conversations with Fr. Maximos on topics such as the value of monastics in our time, theology as a way of life (rather than a subject studied in college), the value of memorials and prayers from the dead, and many others. The conversations include descriptions of contemporary miracles and other incidents to illustrate the points being made. Highly recommended!”
Trilby Coolidge
ALL SAINTS CAMP 2015
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 11 UPCOMING FAMILY OUTING EVENT FAMILIES PLAN A WEEKEND IN THE ENVIRONMENT, MAY 16-17
magine enjoying a whole weekend I in a beautiful outdoor setting, where you can finally de-stress, and concentrate on the most important people in your life – your spouse and your kids. Can’t afford it? Sure you can, because there’s no charge for using the facilities, and meals will be no more expensive than eating at home. Too good to be true? Not at all. Our own Assumption parish owns the site (jointly with St. Demetrios). It is literally our place to be.
Deer graze at beautiful All Saints Camp, Raft Island. On May 16th, you’ll arrive before noon, when your family can comfortably settle into a cabin. We’ll all be together for lunch in the camp dining hall, and then it’s off to afternoon activities. For example: we’ll head down to nearby Kopachuck State Park where the kids can play on the beach, in full view of mysteri- ous “Dead Man’s” Island. And/or we’ll head into the nearby, picturesque village of Gig Har- bor, for some shopping and sightseeing.
Then it’s back to camp where we’ll listen to a story of how the Virgin Mary once appeared to some peasants in a forest. When they ran to the clearing where they had seen her, they found a miraculous icon of her Assumption, stuck in the branches of a tree. They retrieved the icon and gave it to the Church. We’ll let the kids search the camp for a similar icon in a tree and when they find it, we’ll take it down and have a solemn procession to the chapel, to do Vespers together.
After sharing a tasty dinner, we’ll enjoy an evening of learning about how our Orthodox Church is actively working to save the environment. Then of course we’ll gather around a campfire, sing songs, hear stories and roast marshmallows!
Then it’s up the next morning to rush off to church, right? Not at all! On May 17th Father Mi- chael is planning to do Liturgy right there in the camp chapel. Then after a leisurely brunch, we’ll head for home, stopping on the way to visit an Orthodox Monastery on Vashon Island. There, we and our children will be anointed with holy oil that miraculously appears from an- other miraculous icon of the Mother of God, a weeping icon (whose replica is kept in the chapel). At last, when we arrive home, we’ll be changed people, strengthened in both our families and our faith.
Don’t miss this opportunity – you owe it both to yourself and to those you love best. Infor-
PAGE 12 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 13 mation will soon be emailed to all our families, especially with young children. And since our whole parish is a family, everyone interested is welcome to join us.
More photos to help us look forward to an unforgettable weekend:
A scene in the picturesque village of Gig Harbor.
The expansive beach at Kopachuck State Park, with “Dead Man’s” Island offshore.
An icon of t h e Assumption similar to the one the kids will find at All Fr. Tryphon, abbot of the Vashon Saints Camp. Monastery, telling the story of the miraculous, weeping icon of Iviron, before anointing the congregation in the monastery chapel (Assumption GOYA visit, April, 2013).
An icon of the Mother of God walking in the forest, the day her miraculous icon appeared in a tree.
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 13 LAZARUS SATURDAY AT VOLUNTEER PARK
n Lazarus Saturday, eleven kids from our O parish toured Volunteer Park with their par- ents, along with other Assumption grown-ups who joined them in the spring sunshine. The kids and adults had already attended Liturgy that morning, followed by lunch in the parish hall, and a chance to try their hand tying crosses for Palm Sunday. Then it was off for a stroll to the park, where the kids enjoyed having their photos taken at some of the large, public artworks.
Most importantly, they got to “visit Paradise” in the park’s vintage Conservatory. Here the kids could pass from one world climate to another as they went from room to room – from desert cac- tus to luxurious tropical forest. The purpose was to help strengthen our Orthodox families while letting the kids (and grown-ups) appreciate how Christ’s Resurrection readmitted us to the Gar- den of Eden.
Attending the event were Stasi Dimassis-Benbow, with sons Josh and Jake; Laura Gabriel with kids O’Donnell Kids: “Gee, Mom, Gabrielle, Anthony and Christine; Alexia Cortes- this is cool - we could hang out Johnson with husband, Juan and son Elijah; Gus here all day.” and Kristina Mehas with sons Athan, Maximos and Vasilios; and Jeff and Lexi Rogers with sons Quinlan and Keyvyn. Other members of our parish family who joined them at the park were Stewart Anderson, Trilby Coolidge, Nancy Lee and Tom Nichol.
Here are some photos to help us all share in their happy memories:
Elijah: “Oh, boy - I can hardly wait till this camel gets up and starts walking.”
PAGE 14 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 15 Trilby and Nancy: “I wonder if this is something the Desert Fathers might have known.”
Jake: “I just can’t figure how this plant could possibly eat bugs.”
Mehas brothers: “Wow dad, this sure is a great work of art – even though it looks like a flat tire.”
Gabrielle: “You know, when they called these trees ‘red cedar,’ they weren’t kidding.” Josh: “Probably these are carnivorous plants that feed on insects.”
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 15 A VISIT FROM BISHOP APOSTOLOS
ALTAR BOYS HAVE THEIR FEET WASHED ON HOLY THURSDAY
During Holy Week Services, April 09, six of our altar boys participated in the foot-washing ceremony: Stefanos Pamboukas, Christo Mitchell, Stavros Mitchell, Athan Mehas, Christo Pamboukas and Elias Mitchell.
ur parish was especially fortunate this year to have Bishop Apostolos officiating at a O number of our Holy Week Services. Recently ordained to the episcopate, this year marked the first time the new bishop had officiated during Holy Week as an Orthodox “high priest.” It was especially meaningful for the altar boys, who had the bishop wash their feet during services commemorating Christ’s “Last” or better said, “Mystical” Supper.
Bishop Apostolos was ordained to assist Metropoitan Gerasimos in covering our enormous metropolis that includes seven western states. The new bishop will also continue to act as metropolitan chancellor.
Assisting Bishop Apostolos were Fr. Dean and Fr. Michael. In addition to the altar boys, six men also participated in the foot-washing ceremony - Niko Pamboukas, Aniketos Denovan, Gus Mehas, Nick Cosmakos, Chris Pamboukas and Dimos Katsis.
PAGE 16 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER 2011 G.O.Y.A.
GOYA KIDS ENJOY FABULOUS RETREAT ON RAFT ISLAND MARCH 27th-29th
This group photo shows how the retreat was a chance for our kids to make lots of new friends.
t the big GOYA retreat in March, two of our teens, Stefanos Pamboukas and Christo A Mitchell, were “the last team standing” in a rousing game of “Musical Piggyback.” The retreat brought together over 50 Greek Orthodox 7th-12th graders at our own All Saints Camp. In addition to Assumption Parish, there were teens from St. Demetrios here in Seat- tle, plus two Oregon parishes, Holy Trinity, Portland, and St. John the Baptist, Beaverton. Traveling alumni from our archdiocese’s Ionian Village camp in Greece conducted the ac- tivities. In addition to Stefanos and Christo, the teens from our parish included: Paulette Argeres, Sofia Argeres, Elissa Kouldukis, Natalie Ling, Quinlan Rogers, Christina Thomp- son, Sophia Watson and Manny Xenos.
On the next couple pages are some photos so we can all share in the fun:
THEPAGE GOOD 18 NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER PAGE 2011 17 02
And the Winners are… Stefanos & Christo!
03 02 Elissa and Sofia were outstand- ing among the girls’ teams.
03 Natalie and a friend check out the action.
04 Christina makes some really cool moves.
05 Meanwhile, Christo cuts loose with a sizzling medicine ball.
06 There was roll play to help the kids find out who they really are – Stefanos and Paulette.
07 And Manny shows how to look cool even when eating Lenten food.
PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 19 05
04
06
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THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 PAGE 19 ST. CATHERINE PHILOPTOCHOS
May General Membership & Election Meeting
lease join us during Fellowship Hour on Sunday, May 24th, for the election of St Cathe- P rine Philoptochos 2015-2017 Board Members as well as our last membership meeting of the Ecclesiastical year. If you are interested in serving on the Board or would like more information please contact Katie O'Neil at [email protected] or (206) 230-9272.
Family Outreach Ministry
Good news everyone! Assumption parishioners Alexia and Juan Cortes-Johnson are expect- ing the birth of their second child in mid-May. The Family Outreach Ministry will be provid- ing the Cortes-Johnson family with meals while they adjust to life with a second little one. If you would like to help support the Cortes-Johnson family while they recover from the birth please contact Teresa Maschinsky at [email protected] or (719) 661 -7013. Volunteers provide and deliver meals - cooked at their home - to the Cortes- Johnson home in Shoreline after their baby arrives. This ministry is a beautiful way for us to show our love and support for one another and we hope you can join us in this joyful un- dertaking.
Toiletry Bags for Angeline’s Center for Homeless Women Travel-Sized Toiletry Items Needed
As in years past, this winter Philoptochos will be assembling and donating re-usable bags with toiletry items for homeless women at Angeline’s Day Center in Seattle. We will need travel-sized items to fill the bags. Please bring in any items that you collect during your trav- els. We are looking for donations of: Toothpaste * Toothbrushes * Shampoo * Condition- er * Deodorant * Purse sized kleenex * Travel Size Baby Wipes * Combs * Brushes Femi- nine Hygiene Products * Lotion * Facial Cleanser * Razors * Individual Hot Cocoa Packets * Granola or Energy Bars.
Please plan to bring all toiletry donations to Assumption by November. Donations may be placed in the collection bin located in the Fellowship Hall across from the Bookstore. Cash donations are also accepted so that we may purchase items to fill out what has been do- nated. Questions? Please contact Kristina Mehas at [email protected] or by phone at (206) 232-8690.
PICC Luncheon
The Annual PICC (Pediatric Interim Care Center) Luncheon is being held on Friday, May 15th at 11:30 am at ShoWare Center in Kent. Penny Legate, former KIRO News Anchor and KING Evening Magazine host, will be the Keynote Speaker for the fundraising luncheon for infants recovering from pre-natal drug exposures in PICC's Newborn Nursery. Penny lost her 19-year-old daughter Marah to a heroin overdose, and she will share her insights for families coping with the tragedy of addiction.
PAGE 20 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER 2011 ST. CATHERINE PHILOPTOCHOS
Tickets are free, but guests will be asked to make a donation to PICC’s babies at the lunch- eon ($50 minimum, $100 suggested).
To reserve a seat, contact Assumption’s Table Captain, Mary Lou Barton at bar- [email protected] or (425) 432-9592.
Upcoming Events at a Glance
General Membership Meeting after Liturgy (12:15 PM) on Sunday, May 24th
PICC Luncheon at the ShoWare Center in Kent at 11:30 AM on Friday, May 15th
With Sisterly Love, Kristina Mehas St. Catherine Philoptochos President
ALEXIA’S NEW BABY IS ON HIS WAY!
Fr. Michael's daughter, Alexia and her husband, Juan, are expecting their second son, Se- bastián, in mid-May. To celebrate, her family and friends are holding a shower Sunday, May 3rd, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All ladies of the parish are invited to join the happy occasion. The family emphasizes that gifts are not necessary, but since some of our ladies have asked, Alexia is registered at http://www.target.com/ or http:// www.buybuybaby.com/, under Alexia Cortes-Johnson.
(Actually, this is her first son, Elijah, on a simulated scooter ride!)
THEPAGE GOOD 18 NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER PAGE 2011 21
PAGE 22 THE GOOD NEWS - MAY 2015 GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION MAY 2015
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 MATINS GOSPEL & TONE SCHEDULE 10:00 am 4th Annual Sunday Gospel Tone All Saints Camp 3 5 Third PARISH OFFICE Cleanup Day at
10 7 Fourth CLOSED 17 8 Plagal First Raft Island
24 10 Plagal Second
Festal --- 31
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SUNDAY OF THE 10:30 am Prayers at the MID-PENTECOST ST. JOHN THE 9:00 am St. John the PARALYTIC 3rd Hour 7:00 am Men’s
THEOLOGIAN 8:45 am Matins 8:45 am Matins Almsgiver 11:00 am Bible Study Ministry 10:00 am Liturgy 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Liturgy 7:00 pm Byzantine Church School 7:00 pm Greek 12:00 pm Bible Study Chant Classes 10:00 am Liturgy Memorial: Florence Dance Rehearsals Fellowship 6:00 pm Great
Buehrer (40 days) Vespers 6:30 pm All Saints Camp 7:30pm AA Meeting PARISH OFFICE CLOSED
1:00 pm Baby Shower for Board Meeting at St. D’s Alexia Cortes-Johnson 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
SAMARITAN WOMAN 9:00 am St. John the (MOTHER’S DAY) ASSUMPTION 6:00 pm Parish Almsgiver
8:45 am Matins Council Meeting PARISH OFFICE FAMILY 7:00 pm Byzantine 10:00 am Liturgy CLOSED WEEKEND 7:00 pm Greek Chant Classes EVENT Church School Dance Rehearsals 7:30pm AA Meeting
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
ASSUMPTION FAMILY HOLY ASCENSION APODOSIS OF WEEKEND - DAY 2 10:30 am Prayers at 8:45 am Matins PASCHA
SUNDAY OF THE the 3rd Hour 10:00 am Liturgy
8:45 am Matins PARISH OFFICE BLIND MAN 7:00 pm Byzantine Chant 6:00 pm Great 7:00 pm Greek 11:00 am Bible Study 10:00 am Liturgy CLOSED 8:45 am Matins Classes Vespers 10:00 am Liturgy Dance Rehearsals 12:00 pm Bible Study 7:30pm AA Meeting Fellowship Church School PARISH OFFICE CLOSED
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
st FATHERS OF THE 1 MEMORIAL DAY SATURDAY OF
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL HOLIDAY 10:30 am Prayers at SOULS 8:45 am Matins the 3rd Hour 7:00 pm Byzantine BITE OF 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Liturgy PARISH OFFICE Chant Classes 10:00 am Liturgy CLOSED 11:00 am Bible Study GREECE Church School
12:00 pm Bible Study 7:30pm AA Meeting 12:15 pm Philoptochos 4:00 PM BITE OF GREECE Membership & Election Fellowship 11:00 AM Meeting
31 HOLY PENTECOST Strict Fast 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Liturgy PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wine/Oil Allowed
Church School M—TH 10:30 AM—5:30 PM ~ (206) 323-8557
Fish Allowed (PARISH OFFICE is CLOSED on Fridays) BITE OF GREECE 12:00 PM
NON PROFIT ORG. THE MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE GREEK U.S. POSTAGE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION PAID SEATTLE PERMIT NO GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7412 OF THE ASSUMPTION 1804 13th Ave Seattle, WA 98122-2515
POSTMASTER : DATED MATERIAL PLEASE EXPEDITE
A Movie No Greek Orthodox Should Miss Ends May 25th
From Father Michael – “I don’t write many movie reviews, but this time I simply have to bring a movie to your atten- tion, because no one of Greek descent – and broadly speaking, no one who values the gift that Greek civilization gave to the world – should miss this chance. In about a month, the opportunity will be gone, possibly for good.
On April 16, I decided to go see Greece: Secrets of the Past now playing at the I-Max theater at the Pacific Science Center. The movie is only 45 minutes long, but I’ve rarely been so affected by anything I’ve seen in a theater. In the first place, the scenery is simply stunning. The enormous, curved I-Max screen makes the Greek coastline, for exam- ple, unbelievably spectacular. But the movie is much, much more.
The executive director is prominent Greek-American, Alex G. Spanos, himself the son of Greek immigrants. Spanos dedicates the movie to the courageous people, like his parents, who relocated from Greece to America. In addition, much of the movie is narrated the Nia Vardalos, the star and main inspiration for the unforgettable film, My Big, Fat Greek Wedding. Like that film, the I-Max movie is about Greeks, but not just for Greeks. As one of the characters says (to the audience) “You are all Greeks.” Because of course, the roots of our modern culture were invented in Greece.
At one point, the film digitally recreates the Parthenon as it originally looked both inside and out, complete with the 40-foot tall statue of Athena, where the gold glints as the camera passes. And just as you think the effects couldn’t get better, a group of tourists walk into the building and the illusion is absolutely compelling. It’s an experience no one has had for close to 2,000 years!
For more information about the film go to http://www.greecefilm.com/ And for a schedule of show times at the Pacif- ic Science Center go to http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/IMAX/greece-secrets-of-the-past
By the way, at the same time, don’t miss “Pompeii: the Exhibition,” also showing at the Science Center. The artifacts are a continuous reminder that the civilization of the Roman Empire was actually Greco-Roman. It all ends May 25th. Don’t miss this rare opportunity - and be sure to take the kids.