THE GOOD NEWS
The Monthly Bulletin of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption
Volume 20, Issue 9 September, 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 Irene Prekeges 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 YAL Assumption Bookstore Steven Miller Trilby Coolidge (406) 696-0057 (206) 782-0997 Youth Ministry Fellowship Hour Fr. Michael Johnson Ingrid Papahronis (206) 420-1728 (206) 932-8085 St. Sophia with her daughters Faith, Hope and Love.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES: AN ORTHODOX PERSPECTIVE
peaking in Tongues, "Glossolalia," a popular practice with many
S Churches today, is a phenomenon which can be traced to the days of the Apostles. A decade ago, Speaking in Tongues was en- countered only in Pentecostal Churches, Revival Meetings, Quaker gatherings and some Methodist groups. Today, Glossolalia is also found in some Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.
The Greek Orthodox Church does not preclude the use of Glossola- lia, but regards it as one of the minor gifts of the Holy Spirit. If Glos- solalia has fallen out of use it is because it served its purpose in New Testament times and is no longer necessary. However, even when used, it is a private and personal gift, a lower form of prayer. The Orthodox Church differs with those Pentecostal and Charismatic groups which regard Glossolalia as a pre requisite to being a Chris- tian and to having received the Holy Spirit.
FR. GEORGE NICOZISIN Serapion of Egypt, a fourth century contemporary of St. Athanasios summarized Eastern Orthodox theology: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America "The Anointing after Baptism is for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, that having been born again through Baptism and made new through the laver of regeneration, the candidates may be made new through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and secured by this Seal may continue steadfast."
Bishop Maximos Aghiorghoussis, Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh and world-renowned Orthodox theolo- gian on the Holy Spirit states it this way: "For Orthodox Christians, Baptism is our personal Paschal Resurrec- tion and Chrismation is our personal Pentecost and indwelling of the Holy Spirit."
There are two forms of Glossolalia: Pentecost Glossolalia happened this way: Fifty days after the Resurrection, while the disciples were gathered together, the Holy Spirit descended upon them and they began to speak in other languages. Jews from all over the civilized world who were gathered in Jerusalem for the religious holiday stood in amazement as they heard the disciples preaching in their own particular language and dialect (like in a United Nations Assembly). They understood!
Corinthian Glossolalia is different. St. Paul, who had founded the Church of Corinth, found it necessary to re- spond to some of their problems, i.e., division of authority, moral and ethical problems, the Eucharist, the issue of death and resurrection and how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit operated. In chapter 12, St. Paul lists nine of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, i.e., knowledge, wisdom, spirit, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, speaking in tongues and interpreting what another says when he speaks in tongues.
Specifically, Corinthian Glossolalia was an activity of the Holy Spirit coming upon a person and compelling him to external expressions directed to God, but not understood by others. In Pentecost Glossolalia, while speaking in several different tongues, both the speaker and the listener understood what was uttered. The Glossolalia manifested in Corinth was the utterance of words, phrases, sentences, etc., intelligible to God but not to the person uttering them. What was uttered needed to be interpreted by another who had the gift of interpretation.
When the person spoke, his soul became passive and his understanding became inactive. He was in a state of ecstasy. While the words or sounds were prayer and praise, they were not clear in meaning and gave the impression of something mysterious. The phenomenon included sighs, groaning's, shouting's, cries and
PAGE 2 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 3 utterances of disconnected speech, sometimes jubilant and some times ecstatic. There is no question- the Church of Corinth had Glossolalia; St. Paul attests to that and makes mention of it. But he also cautions the Corinthian Christians about excessive use; especially to the exclusion of the other more important gifts.
It appears St. Paul was questioned about the working of the Holy Spirit through the Gifts. Corinth was greatly influenced by Greek paganism which included demonstrations, frenzies and orgies, all intricately interwoven into their religious practices. In post Homeric times, the cult of the Dionysiac orgies made their entrance into the Greek world. According to this, music, the whirling dance, intoxication and utterances had the power to make men divine; to produce a condition in which the normal state was left behind and the inspired person perceived what was external to himself and the senses.
In other words, the soul was supposed to leave the body, hence the word ecstasy (ek stasis). They believed that while the being was absent from the body, the soul was united with the deity. At such times, the ecstatic person had no consciousness of his own.
The Corinthians of Paul's time were living under the influence of Dionysiac religious customs. It was natural that they would find certain similarities more familiar and appealing. Thus the Corinthians began to put more stress on certain gifts like glossolalia. No doubt the Apostle was concerned that their ties and memories of the old life should be reason enough to regulate the employment of Glossolalia. In chapter 14, he says:
"I would like for all of you to speak in strange tongues; but I would rather that you had the gift of proclaiming God's message. For the person who proclaims God's message is of greater value than the one who speaks in strange tongues-unless there is someone who can explain what he says, so the whole Church may be edified. So when I come to you, my brethren, what use will I be to you if I speak in strange tongues? Not a bit, unless I bring to you some revelation from God or some knowledge or some inspired message or some teaching."
Apostolic times were a unique period, rich with extraordinary and supernatural phenomena, for the history of mankind. The Lord God set out to make new creations through the saving grace of His Son, and implemented into perfection through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit endowed men and women with many gifts in order to bring this about. One of its gifts during New Testament times was Glossolalia. But even from New Testament times, it would seem Glossolalia began to phase out. St. Paul, it seems, indicates later in chapter 14 that Glos- solalia should be minimized and understood preaching, maximized. Justin Martyr, a prolific mid-century writer lists several kinds of gifts but does not mention Glossolalia. Chrysostom wrote numerous homilies on Books of the New Testament during the fourth century but does not appear to make mention of Glossolalia as noted in First Corinthians.
Many Christian writers, certainly the mystics, wrote about states of ecstasy during praise and worship, of see- ing visions of God's heavenly kingdom, of what they perceived eternal life with Christ to be, of how the Holy Spirit spoke to them and through them, to others. But theirs was always understood, intelligible, comprehensi- ble communication. Perhaps they could not describe in earthly and material frames of reference, what they saw and experienced, but they were conscious and fully aware of what was happening. They were not in some state of senselessness. Even the monks on Mount Athos who experience divine communication and have reached a plateau of holiness, do not speak in tongues. They speak in words that are intelligible and utter clear words in hymn and praise of God and His truth.
What then is the Orthodox Christian perspective on Glossolalia? The Orthodox Christian viewpoint on Glossola- lia is based on St. Paul's words in chapter 14 of the same Epistle, "I thank God that I speak in strange tongues much more than any of you. But in Church worship I would rather speak five words that can be understood, in order to teach others, than speak thousands of words in strange tongues." (verses 18-19) In chapter 13 St. Paul says, "Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. Best of all, however, is the following way." Then St. Paul proceeds and shares with his readership the greatest gift of all - Love!
The Orthodox Church does not rule out Glossolalia. She simply does not regard it as one of the important ones. Better to "speak five words that can be understood ... than speak thousands of words in strange tongues." This is the Orthodox Christian viewpoint.
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER WORSHIP SCHEDULE 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Vespers
Tues., Sept. 1 / Beginning of the Thursday, Sept. 17 / Sts. Sophia, Ecclesiastical Year Faith, Hope & Love 8:45 am Matins 9:00 am Matins at St. Sophia GOC 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Divine Liturgy at Sophia Epistle: I Timothy 2:1-7 GOC in Bellingham Gospel: Luke 4:16-22 Epistle: Ephesians 1:1-9 Gospel: Mark 7:24-30 Saturday, September 5 6:00 pm Great Vespers Saturday, September 19 6:00 pm Great Vespers Sunday, Sept. 6 / 14th Sunday of Matthew Sunday, Sept. 20 / Sunday after Holy 8:45 am Matins Cross 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 8:45 am Matins Epistle: Hebrews 2:2-10 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Gospel: Matthew 22:2-14 Epistle: I Corinthians 16:13-24 Gospel: Matthew 21:33-42 Tues., Sept. 8 / Nativity of the Theotokos Tuesday, September 22 8:45 am Matins 10:45 am Prayers at the 3rd Hour 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11 Saturday, Sept. 26 / St. John the Gospel: Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Theologian 8:45 am Matins Saturday, September 12 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Great Vespers Epistle: I John 4:12-19 Gospel: John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Sunday, Sept. 13 / Sunday before Holy Cross Sunday, Sept. 7 / 1st Sunday of Luke 8:45 am Matins 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18 Epistle: II Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1 Gospel: John 3:13-17 Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
Monday, Sept. 14 / Exaltation of the Tuesday, September 29 Holy Cross 10:45 am Prayers at the 3rd Hour 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Epistle: I Corinthians 1:18-24 Gospel: John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25- 28, 30
Wednesday, September 16 6:30 pm Great Vespers at St. Sophia GOC in Bellingham (followed by a light reception)
PAGE 4 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 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-
lowship Hour in July: William & Maro Howe and family, the Sunday, Sept. 6 Founders’ families, Mary Lou Barton, Nikoletta Skarlatos, Dan & Teresa Maschinsky, and the Trapalis & Paralis families. Ushers: Carolyn Geller, Also, a very special thank you to Joanne Zarkades for filling in Nicholas Mesagno & wherever needed and making sure the kitchen runs smoothly Penny Peppes for Fellowship Hour. We appreciate you so much, Joanne!! Close: Chris Pamboukas Thank you to our friends who have volunteered to host in Reader: Stella Athans September and October.
September: Sunday, Sept. 13 Sept. 06: Jerry & Eva Costacos
Ushers: John Prekeges, Sept. 13: James & Irina Visintainer Christina Siaterlis & Girma Sept. 20: St. Catherine Philoptochos in honor of Bulbula the Holy Cross feast day Close: Nicholas Mesagno Sept. 27: The Diafos Family
Reader: Nick Cosmakos In October, we have one Sunday available to host:
October 04: St. Catherine Philoptochos for aid to Sunday, Sept. 20 Greece and Cyprus October 11: AVAILABLE TO HOST Ushers: Ted Dimitriou, October 18: Louie & Stella Apostolou and family Demetrios Geokezas & October 25: Nancy Charoni & Family in memory of Andrea Gray Gus Charoni Close: John Prekeges, Jr. Reader: Jerry Costacos Hosting Ideas: Honor a loved one for their Nameday, Birth- day, Anniversary, or any special occasion by hosting a Fellow- ship Hour.
Sunday, Sept. 27 For more information on hosting a Fellowship Hour please
Ushers: Carolyn Geller, view the Guidelines at the Assumption home website, as- sumptionseattle.org or on our Members Only website, http:// Nicholas Mesagno & assumptionseattle.360unite.com/groups/fellowship-hour Penny Peppes Close: Straton If you would like to host a Fellowship Hour, please contact Spyropoulos me at (206) 932-8085, or via email at Reader: Larry Fly [email protected] .
Thank You for serving! Ingrid Papahronis Coordinator - Fellowship Hour
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 5 STEWARDSHIP
ALEX, Dn. Peter & Cathy FARMER, Joanna LUCAS, Greta ALLAMANO, Eugene & Ann FIDLER, William & Alia LUCAS, Ida AMORATIS, Anthony & Sophie FLY, Larry LUCAS, Maria ANDERSON, Larry & Kate FOOTE, Sophia & Maria MACRIS, Eugenia ANDREWS, Rothopi FOURNARAKIS, Bill MAKRI, Ioanna APOSTOLOU, Elias & Stella FRAGGIAS, Effie MALESIS, Louis & Mary APOSTOLOU, K.G. & Kostoula FRANKS, John & Soula MALLOS, Steve & Sophia ARGERES, Peter & Diana GABRIEL, Laura & Tim O’Donnell MANN, Philip & Andrea ARGUE, Clifford & Theodora GELLER, Carolyn MANOLIDES, Andrew & Anastasia ATHAN, Steve & Anna GEOKEZAS, Demetrios & Eryn MANOLIDES, Nancy ATHANS, Eleni & George Bariames GEOKEZAS, Maria & David Howard MANZIERIS, Chris & Kathy ATHANS, Emmanuel GEOKEZAS, Meletios & Theodora MASCHINSKY, Daniel & Teresa ATHANS, John & Stella GEORGE, Nicholas McMILLAN, Michael & Elizabeth ATTIAS, Anna GEORGES, Helen MEHAS, Athan AVGERIS, Christine GIANETSAS, Xenia MEHAS, Gus & Kristina BANKS, Ginny Veronica GOULOUMI, Dora Roula MESAGNO, Nicholas & Carolyn BARBACHAN, Hugo & Popee GOVETAS, Eleni MICHAELIDIS, Christina & Darin Smith BARBAS, E. Anthe GRAY, Elizabeth MINADAKIS, Irene BAROKAS, Marie GRAY, James & Andrea MITALAS, Panagiota BAROKAS, Vasiliki GREENE, Marke & Angela MITCHELL, Cameron & Sofie BARTON, Roger & Mary Lou HADJIMICHALAKIS, Michael MOORE, Georgia BASS, Steve & Stella HENRY, Eleni MORRIS, James & Vickie BEKRIS, Chris & Diamando HOSKINS, Jonah & Margeaux NATSIOPOULOS, Elias & Nancy BENIS, Helen HOWE, William & Maro NEWTSON, Michael & Elaine BLACKSTONE, Cleo HULBERT, Mike & Jodie NICON, John & Joann BLACKWELL, Neena HUNT, Kelsey OHMER, Ronald & Jennifer BRATSANOS, Steve & Rose HUNT, Madeleine OJEDA, Theodore & Victoria BUEHRER, Lee & Florence ILES, Catherine O’NEIL, Katie BULBULA, Girma & Alemitu Wakene ILIAKIS, Bernardino & Pinar OSBON, Joymarie BURKE, Joanne JANJIC, Barbara PAMBOUKAS, Chris & Glyka CARDARAS, Vlasios & Voula JARVIS, Don PAMBOUKAS, Kosta CARDARAS, Yianni JEWELL, Emily & Gavin PAMBOUKAS, Niko & Rachael CHACHARON, Christina JOHN, Maggie PAMBOUKAS, Niko & Sonia CHACHARON, Claire KALASOUNTAS, Helen PAMPOUKAS, Evangelos & Tasoula CHARONI, Alex KANGLES, Vicky PANTAGES, Tarsi CHARONI, Nancy KARIS, Terry & Anna PAPADOPULOS, Erasmia CHARONI, Tim & Rene KATSIS, Dimos & Alexis PAPAHRONIS, Basil CHRISTOFILIS, Asimas & Dora KAVADAS, Janet PAPAHRONIS, Michael & Ingrid CHRISTOU, Ted & Barbara KAZAKOS, Georgia PAPANDREW, David & Karen CONOM, Madeline KAZAKOS, Stephano PAPANICOLAOU, Stathis & Joanna COOLIDGE, Trilby KEHAYES, Naya & Philip Head PAPANTOS, Spero & Tina COSMAKOS, Nick & Cheryl KLIEROS-MERCOURIADIS, Pipena PAPPAS, Cristina COSTACOS, Constantine & Terry KOHNKE, Ioanna PAPPAS, George & Ann COSTACOS, Jerry & Eva KOKKONIS, Nick & Jennifer PAPPAS, George & Lora COZZA, Bernardo & Michelle KOLIOS, Alexandre & Leta PAPPAS, Tina & Rob Aigner DALLAS-SMITH, Mary KOSTAKIS, Constantine & Ann PARALIS, Panagiotis & Asimo DELAROSE, Ron & Teresa KOULDUKIS, Bill & Betty PAVLOS, George & Pamela DELIMITROS, Katie KOULDUKIS, Fr. Dean & Pres. Valerie PEPPES, George & Penny DEMENEGAS, Emmanuel & Sapfo KOURTIS, Angelo & Aphrodite PEPPES, Steve & Popi DENOS, Thalia LACKIE, Randy & Athena PIERIDES, Voula DENOVAN, David Aniketos LANDIS, Sky & Marina POLIMENAKOS, Vasilios DERDEVANIS, Maria LARIMER, Bob & Billie POULOS, Pete DIAFOS, Pauli LAZAROU, George & Christina PREKEGES, Greg & Alice DIAMOND, Maria LEMONIDIS, Daniel & SaNni PREKEGES, James DIAMOND, Nitsa LENES, George & Rita PREKEGES, Jr., John DIEL, Angeliki LENTGIS, Dean & Kathleen RAKUS, Tom DIMITRIOU, Ted & Kiki LIMANTZAKIS, Johnette RIGOPOULOS, Marianne DIMOS, Gabriella LINARDOS, Jim & Jan RITCHIE, Joe & Natalie DUDUNAKIS, Kenneth & Kristina LING, Maria ROGERS, Jeff & Lexi DURHAM, Patrick & Margarita LIVIAKIS, Lea & Sam Nadler RONDOS, Sam EMMONS, Tom & Nancy LORD, Tim & Debby SAKELLARIS, John & Penelope ESTEP, Charles & Lina LOTAKIS, Greg SARANTINOS, George & Athena EVANS, Jr., Peter & Anna LOTAKIS, Paul & Michele SARIDAKIS, Arthur EVERETT, Robert & Sophia LOUKAS, Ioannis SAVVIDES, S.D. & Katherine EXARHOS, Helen & Arianna LOUKAS, Vasiliki & Edwin Triggs SAYLES, Katerina FARMASONIS, Petros & Colleen LUCAS, Dean SCOTT, Leslie Sophia (continued
PAGE 6 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 7 SEBOK, Evangelia STAFFORD, Stephanie Pulakis TSALAKY, Tony SERPANOS, George & Meropi STAMATOYANNOPOULOS, George & Thalia TSCHIDA, Stephanie SIATERIS, Dimitrios & Christina STOCKER, Bill & Georgi TSITSIS, Nick & Stacy SIDERIS, Panagiotis & Voula STUBBS, Jerry & Sue VASILATOS, Katheryn SKANDALIS, John & Laurie TAGIOS, Constantinos & Sophia VISINTAINER, James & Irina SKEPETARIS, Evanthia TALERICO, Ed & Joyce WATSON, Rob & Katherine SKEPETARIS, Tom & Teresa TARLSON, Popi WEST, Joann SMETHERAM, Sofia TAYLOR, Valerie Ann WILSON, David & Maria SOLOMON, Karen TEKLE, Selam & Amanuel Abraha XENOS, Spiro & Voula SORENSON, Maria THOMPSON, Charles & Niki XYDIS, John & Janice SOUDAS, Elene TOURAS, Antonios & Antonia YEAMANS, David & Alysha SOUKAS, George & Ritsa TOURAS, Nikolas ZAFIROPOULOS, John & Andreanna SOURAPAS, Steve TRAPALIS, Dina & Eleni ZAFIROPOULOS, Vivian SPOTTS, James TREMBANIS, Sophia ZANIDES, Frances SPYROPOULOS, Straton TRUMAN, Jerry & Adair ZARKADES, Joanne
DOLLAR-A-DAY PROGRAM
ANDERSON, Larry & Kate FRANKS, John & Athanasia PAMBOUKAS, Niko & Sonia ANDREWS, Rothopi GEOKEZAS, Demetrios & Eryn PAMPOUKAS, Evangelos & Tasoula ANTONAKOS, Jetta GEOKEZAS, Meletios & Theodora PAPAHRONIS, Michael & Ingrid APOSTOLOU, Elias & Stella GIANETSAS, Xenia PEPPES, George & Penny ARGERES, Peter & Diana GIBBONS, Nick & Maria PIERIDES, Voula ATHAN, Steve & Anna GRAY, James & Andrea PISHUE, James & Lisa Roberts ATHANS, Eleni & George Bariames GREENE, Marke & Angela RITCHIE, Joe & Natalie BARBAS, E. Anthe HOWE, William & Maro ROGERS, Jeff & Lexi BARTON, Roger & Mary Lou HULBERT, Mike & Jodie SARANTINOS, George & Athena BASS, Steve & Stella ILES, Catherine SCOTT, Leslie Sophia BENIS, Helen ILIAKIS, Bernardino & Pinar SIATERLIS, Dimitrios & Christina BRATSANOS, James & Leslie INNIS, Connie SMETHERAM, Sofia BRATSANOS, Steve & Rose JEWELL, Emily & Gavin ST. CATHERINE PHILOPTOCHOS BUEHRER, Lee & Florence KAZAKOS, Georgia STAFFORD, Stephanie Pulakis CHACHARON, Alex KEHAYES, Naya & Philip Head THOMPSON, Charles & Niki CHRISTOU, Ted & Barbara KOHNKE, Ioanna TZIOTIS, Yiannis & Katerina CONOM, Madeline KOKKONIS, Nick & Jennifer XYDIS, John & Janice COSTACOS, Jerry & Eva KOUKOUSOULA, Ourania ZANIDES, Frances DELAROSE, Ron & Teresa KOULDUKIS, Fr. Dean & Pres. Val ZARKADES, Joanne DELIMITROS, Katherine LIVIAKIS, Lea & Sam Nadler DENOS, Thalia LOTAKIS, Greg DIAFOS, Pauli LOTAKIS, Paul & Michele DIMITRIOU, Ted & Kiki LUCAS, Greta DURHAM, Patrick & Margarita MEHAS, Gus & Kristina EVANS, Jr., Peter & Anna MESAGNO, Nicholas & Carolyn FARMER, Joanna MOORE, Georgia FIDLER, William & Alia NICKOLAS, Nick FLY, Larry O’NEIL, Katie FRANGOS, Olivia PAMBOUKAS, Chris & Glyka
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 7 BOOKKEEPER’S SUMMARY
GENERAL FUND JULY YTD REVENUE July Stewardship Collected $13,811
Other Revenue 5,196 TOTAL REVENUE 19,007 TOTAL EXPENSES ( 40,085 ) NET LOSS ( 21,078 )
IRENE PREKEGES YTD REVENUE (through 08-15-15) $230,538 YTD EXPENSES (through 08-15-15) ( 269,780 ) Assumption Bookkeeper YTD NET LOSS ( $39,242 )
STEWARDSHIP REPORT
Number of Steward Families: 239 2015 Budgeted Stewardship $299,000
Stewardship Pledged (through 08-15-15) 246,279 Pledges needed to meet Stewardship Goal 52,721
Stewardship Collected (through 08-15-15)
Regular Stewardship $164,667 Budgeted to Date 187,499 Unpaid Pledged Stewardship Balance $81,612
PAGE 8 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE UPDATE
eptember 1st is the first day of the Church New Year. According to Holy Tradition, Christ en- S tered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). The Savior proclaimed “The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty all who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…” Should not the start of the Ecclesiastical year be a time for us to recommit our- selves to our own spiritual mission, for us to remember Jesus’ exhortations to heal the sick and feed the poor?
One important tool that we can use in our spiritual mission is the community of Christ that is the church we belong to. What better way to make a New Ecclesiastical Year’s Resolution than to commit to giving your time and talent to one of the many ministries at Assumption?
Simply fill out Stewardship card and check the ministries that you are interested in or go to http://assumptionseattle.org/ministries.html for more information.
Stewardship of time and talents provides a way for all faithful Orthodox Christians to build up our Church and to model the proclamation our Savoir made at the start of his ministry. Make your New Ecclesiastical Year’s Resolution today!
The Stewardship Committee
ASSUMPTION MEN’S MINISTRY
or all men in the parish, we will be starting up the Men's Ministry this fall on Wednesday, F September 9th, at 6:00 PM at the home of Gus Mehas - beverages and a light meal will be provided. Gus and Kristina’s address and phone number are:
Gus & Kristina Mehas, 5610 W. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, 98040 (206) 232-8690
All men in the parish are welcome, but please do RSVP to me, Andrew Manolides (the new Men’s Ministry coordinator), via e-mail at [email protected].
If you would like to be on the e-mail contact list, please e-mail me with your information. We will try to meet at least monthly, usually weekday evenings, to discuss topics but we’ll also plan some weekend activities throughout the year. Ideas for meeting topics and activities are en- couraged. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Andrew Manolides Men’s Ministry Coordinator
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 9 A SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
here will be a special General Assembly meet- T ing immediately after church on Sunday, Sep- tember, 13th.
We will meet to discuss and vote (hopefully approve) regarding the replacement of the windows in the church, and to repair the church, both inside and out.
Please make all efforts to attend. It's only with the support and input of all our parishioners that we make the Assumption a continuing success.
Thank you! Penny Peppes Parish Council President
THANK YOU ...
ear Beloved Parishioners, D
My family and I would like to take this oppor- tunity to thank you for all of your love and sup- port provided throughout my father’s illness and funeral. To those who visited dad, the cards received, the phone calls, to all who baked paximadia for dad’s funeral, to those who donated to the beautification fund and to the various non-profits in Dad’s memory, to the Philoptochos and Corinda for their support dur- ing the Makaria Meal, and to all who offered their time supporting us in prayer, thank you so very much!!! We are so very blessed to be walk- ing this journey of life with our parish family and community. We love you and appreciate you very much!
PAGE 10 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 11 ASSUMPTION BOOKSTORE
eptember is a time for thinking about “back to school”, and also S marks the turning from summer to fall. Many of us enjoy the fruits of the harvest as tomatoes and other delicious fresh foods are at their peak. The Orthodox ecclesiastical year also begins in Sep- tember. Therefore it is fitting to recommend a book which focuses on our calendar year!
The Year of Grace of the Lord (by Lev Gillet, aka A Monk of the East- ern Church) is a wonderful resource for understanding our liturgical year and its cycles, starting in September and going through the seasons of Christmas, Great Lent, Holy Week, Pascha, Pentecost, and of course our feast day of the Koimisis of the Theotokos. The author focuses on the spiritual meaning of the Epistle and Gospel readings of the day for each Sunday of the year. (Note that often the Epistle readings de- scribed in the book are those set for the Russian church rather than the Greek one.) He also describes the history and development of our feasts, from the worship of the early Christians to today. Thus, this book is a devotional and intellectual resource for anyone who wants to know more about Orthodox worship.
Speaking of back to school, we have a number of children’s books ranging from picture books for the little ones to those appropriate for teens.
Is there a wedding or a baptism coming up? We have a large selection of wedding stephana (crowns) and metal coins/crosses for martyrica (baptism favors). Drop by and take a look!
CAPELLA ROMANA
appella Romana presents RACHMANINOFF’s ALL-NIGHT VIGIL (a.k.a. “The Vespers”) C marking its 100th birthday this year, the Vigil is widely regarded as the greatest mas- terpiece of the Russian Orthodox tradition. Mark Bailey (Yale Russian Chorus) conducts, with Rev. Dr. Deacon Nicholas Denysenko (Los Angeles) as the deacon. Sung in solemn remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11/2001. Free pre-concert talk one hour prior to concert time.
Friday, September 11, 7:30 pm at St. James Cathedral, 9th & Marion, Seattle.
Prices start at $26. Discounts for students and when you subscribe. Visit cappellaroma- na.org or call (503) 236-8202. SAVE 25% in Sections A and B with coupon code "ORTHODOX". Cappella Romana is a 2015 Guest Choral Artist at St. James Cathedral, Seat- tle.
PAGE 12 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 13 CHURCH SCHOOL
he Assumption online Sunday School Registration form is now available! Sunday T School will begin on Sunday, September 13th. Please complete and submit the regis- tration form by Sunday, September 6th for each student who will be attending Sunday School at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qJf6AR6cPVaC6XEgXGQy1L_SfVNmIidP8e-QGRH0OrI/ viewform?c=0&w=1 Rachael Pamboukas Church School Director
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 13 OCMC MISSIONS
GROWING IN TRUTH: LESSONS LEARNED AND GIVEN IN ALASKA by Andrew Wythe
This year's team to Kasigluk had the opportunity to teach Alaskan youth about the Orthodox Faith and a life in Christ. Team members like Andrew Wythe also came away having grown from the experience as well.
uring Vespers in the village parish at Kasigluk, a young girl named Heather came into D church, looking for our mission team. She ran up to me and began to hang off the pockets of my cassock. Now, in Holy Trinity, as with many parishes in Alaska, the faithful are separated with men on the right side of the church and women on the left side. So here I was, trying to fo- cus on Vespers with a child hanging off of me, and worse yet, she was on the "wrong" side of the church! What if she got in trouble? What if I got in trouble? Order was broken, and in my mind the sky was falling. So I did what any order-loving Orthodox would do, and I pointed her to the proper side of the church. That was where all the young women were standing, right near the door. Un- fortunately, Heather got the wrong message and thought I was showing her the door. She left im- mediately.
In the Orthodox Church we have rubrics and rules for almost everything. Unfortunately, some- times these rules shift from an outward display of piety into making sure all Christians are "good soldiers" who "play by the rules". Stand up here, sit down there, kneel here, eat this but not that. There is a reason for this order in maintaining holy tradition, but there’s no “magic formula” that makes a service a service. In the lower 48, we can obsess about these things to the point at which they become a superstition, and correction for breaking a rubric can often be more con- cerned with the fact that the rule was broken than with the fact that there is an underlying spiritu- al reason for the rules. It’s almost as if having water before receiving Holy Communion is a great- er transgression than forgetting you are about to receive the Body and Blood of the Jesus
PAGE 14 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 15 Christ later in the morning. In Alaska, I was immediately struck by the fact that they do not obsess over rules like we often do. I was served moose on nearly every fasting day I was there. If you are practicing subsistence living, you have to eat what you catch. At the same time, they ex- hibited a care for one another and a humility unlike anything I’d ever seen.
Kasigluk is a small subsistence village along a spot where two rivers meet. Kasigluk literally means “the meeting place” in Yup’ik, their native language. They live off fish, berries, and moose, which have to be hunted during the summer. Very few things are purchased like the rest of the United States. But they understand what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. As Saint Paul tells the Corinthians, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” If you don’t forage, you don’t eat. Worse yet, if you don’t forage, those around you suffer as well. Fr. Larsen, the village priest, constantly preached against laziness, be- cause if it doesn’t get done now, he would say, it won’t get done later. The villagers of Kasigluk rely on one another to survive, and if one part suffers, the whole village suffers. There is a single village police officer, but other than that, they are all responsible for one another’s safety and sur- vival. Their lives are in one another’s hands.
Back to where we began, with accidentally asking a child to leave the church building. I thought about how a lot of correction in the Church happens this way. We think we’re showing people the right way, but we’re actually showing them to the door. We forget that our lives are in one an- other’s hands and that we are all in God’s hands. In the Gospel of Mark, Christ tells us if we drive someone out of the Church for not being like us, we’d be better off having a millstone hung around our neck and being thrown into the sea. When we forget that we lack compassion and say “Your way is wrong, you’re not one of us, we don’t need you unless you can learn to be like us,” that’s essentially what the Pharisees said to Christ, and whatever we do unto the least of us we do unto Christ.
Maybe when I corrected Heather, it would have been more appropriate to use the tone Saint Paul used with his problem parish in Corinth when he said, “Let me show you a more excellent way.”
Your way isn’t wrong, but I have a more excellent one, and then maybe we can incorporate it into your already excellent way together. There is no other way to approach instruction in the Church when we realize that correcting someone during worship is taking their salvation, their life, in our hands.
I kept an eye out for Heather for the rest of our stay in Kasigluk. She always enjoyed when our team did arts and crafts with her, so I made sure to give her some leftover crafting supplies I had found as we cleaned up. I tossed them into a bag and set them aside in case I ran into her. I only saw her briefly before leaving, just enough time to hand her the bag of yarn and Styrofoam shapes. Unfortunately we were off to somewhere else, and I didn't get to speak to her about my mistake. On my way to catch up with the team, I looked back and saw Heather running around the playground hugging the gift bag close to her chest. Hopefully she'll remember the Christian mis- sionaries that helped her make SpongeBob characters, and not me telling her what to do during worship.
In hindsight, I realize that when people are aware we are Christians, the majority know who we are, what we're about, and what we think is right and wrong. We don't really have to worry about people or things that they have certainly already heard. If they know who we are, then all we need to do is be a good and loving ambassador for Christ. Christ is as good an argument as there ever was, and He will teach and speak for Himself in His own time.
THE GOOD NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 PAGE 15 ST. CATHERINE PHILOPTOCHOS
First Membership Meeting of the Ecclesiastical New Year
lease join us in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00 PM on Thursday, P September 17th for a potluck and our first General Membership Meeting of the Ecclesiastic year.
All women (and men) in our community are invited to join us! Come learn how you can put your faith in action!!
Help Us Fill 250 Gift Bags for Homeless Women
During each Advent season St. Catherine Philoptochos donates fabric bags stuffed with hygiene supplies to homeless women at Angeline’s Day Center in Seattle. A huge THANK YOU to Popi Peppes who cut and sewed 250 bags for us to fill this year!! The bags cinch with ribbon but we don’t currently have enough ribbon for all 250 bags. If you have extra spools of ribbon, please consider donating it to this worthy project. We also need more of the following supplies to fill the bags:
Travel sized shampoo and conditioner Soap and lotion Toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss Combs Deodorant Wash clothes Socks Single serve hot cocoa packets Single serve granola, nut or protein bars
All donations can be placed in the collection bin located across from the bookstore. Please contact Kristina Mehas at [email protected] or (206) 232-8690 if you have any questions.
Card Shower for Phane Larson
You can help us “shower” Phane with cards for her 94th birthday on September 3rd. (If each Philoptochos members sends a card, Phane would receive over 50 birthday cards!!). Simply mail a birthday card to Phane at:
Broadmore Senior Living at Bristol 826 Meadowview Rd Bristol, TN 37620
If you would like to call Phane to wish her a happy birthday the number is (423) 764- 4084.
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PAGE 16 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER 2011 Metropolis Fall Spiritual Conference
The Metropolis Philoptochos Fall Spiritual Conference will be held on Friday, September 25th - Sunday, September 27th at the Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, California. The conference will begin at 3:00 PM on Friday with a spiritual message from His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and will conclude following Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of the Theotokos at 12:00 noon on Sunday. The registration deadline is Sep- tember 4th.
The mission of the Fall Spiritual Conference is to connect with other women, to promote the good works of Philoptochos at the National, Metropolis and Chapter levels. Additionally, elections will be held for the new Metropolis Philoptochos Board. National Philoptochos Assistant Treasurer, Georgia Vlitas will address us about our role in creating “hands-on” philanthropy projects highlighting, Feeding the Hungry and other ministries of National Philoptochos. Keynote Speaker, Presvytera Donna Pappas from Saint George Greek Ortho- dox Church in Fresno, California will present:
“What’s That You Say?” “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21a
We look forward to strengthening friendships and sharing our good works through service to gain a deeper understanding of the true mission of Philoptochos: Helping those in need.
Please contact Kristina Mehas for registration materials or with questions.
Philip’s Disneyland Trip
Thank you to all who donated to make Philip Janjic’s Disneyland princess dream come true!! Our parish responded to the plea for assistance with incredible love and generosity.
At this time we believe we have raised enough money to send Philip and his family to Dis- neyland. We’ll be planning the details of the trip in the near future and look forward to see- ing the joy in Philip’s face through pictures!! Stay tuned…..
Dormition of the Theotokos - August 14 - 15
The lovely reception following Vespers on August 14th
was held in the Atrium. We enjoyed new recipes of Len- ten cakes and fruit including sweet, freshly picked plums from Tasoula Pampoukas’ yard; lemonade and coffee, and a chance to visit with those attending from our sister Churches. This year was a stormy day on the outside but lots of love on the inside.
Again, special thanks to Chef Jimmy Marinopoulos, for preparing our luncheon with his delicious Greek Style Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Imamboildi, Greek Salata, Feta Cheese, and Rolls. Wonderful aromas filled the
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THEPAGE GOOD 18 NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER PAGE 2011 17 ST. CATHERINE PHILOPTOCHOS (continued) hall and Church long before lunch was served.
Philoptochos sisters who helped make our Church of Assumption Name Day Vespers Re- ception and Luncheon a success: Pauli Diafos, Stephanie Stafford, Teresa Maschinsky, Thalia Denos, Carolyn Mesagno, Catherine Iles, Laura Gabriel, Maggie John, Elene Soudas, Carolyn Geller, Joanne Zarkades, Kristina Mehas, Roula Goulumi, Ethel Barbas, Vasso Barokas, Pres. Val Kouldukis, Stella Bass, Marianthe Geokezas, Nota Lucas. And the kitch- en crew – Joanne Zarkades and Ethan LeClair.
Thanks to Pauli Diafos for her generous yearly monetary donation to St. Catherine’s on be- half of her parents Peter and Effie Wells, God- parents of our Church of the Assumption.
Thanks to Father Dean for his continuing love and guidance to St. Catherine Philoptochos.
The Dormition Luncheon proceeds benefit the Church’s General Fund.
With Sisterly Love, Katie O’Neil, Mary Lou Barton, Teresa Maschinsky, & Kristina Mehas Chairs
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PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER 2011 (continued
THEPAGE GOOD 18 NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER PAGE 2011 19 CAMP AGAPE NW 2015
t. Catherine’s Philoptochos would like to say a heartfelt “thank you” to all the wonderful S volunteers and supporters of Camp Agape NW. This year’s camp was a wonderful time; we served 19 families with approximately 100 volunteers, many of whom were from our local Orthodox parishes. The week was filled with beautiful weather, fun activities, deli- cious food, and terrific friendships. I would like to thank the volunteers from our Assump- tion parish, Sofia Argeres, Abby Gray, Elizabeth Gray, Matthew Gray, and Evan Sarantinos for spending the week as awesome counselors. I’d also like to thank Kristina Mehas, Mary Lou Barton and Elizabeth Gray for their time and talent as board members of this wonder- ful Philoptochos ministry this past year.
Andrea Gray
PAGE 20 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 PAGE 18 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER 2011
THEPAGE GOOD 18 NEWS - VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 THE GOOD NEWS - DECEMBER PAGE 2011 21 WINE TASTING TO BENEFIT IOCC
Thursday, Sept. 24th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Join us for an evening of wine tasting and heavy hors d’ouevres, and learn how you can make a dif- ference for those in need around the world.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles, Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute
TICKETS: $30 per person available at iocc.org/seattle
For more information, please contact Kim Angelis at (206) 419-0690.
PAGE 22 THE GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015 GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION SEPTEMBER 2015
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
MATINS GOSPEL & TONE SCHEDULE
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Sunday Gospel Tone
6 3 Plagal First M—TH 10:30 AM —5:30 PM ~ (206) 323-8557
13 4 Plagal Second (PARISH OFFICE is CLOSED on Fridays)
20 5 Grave 27 6 Plagal Fourth
1 2 3 4 5
BEGINNING OF THE 9:00 am St. John ECCLESIASTICAL YR the Almsgiver 8:45 am Matins 7:00 pm PARISH OFFICE 10:00 am Liturgy Philoptochos 7:30pm AA Meeting CLOSED 6:00 pm Great Planning Meeting 6:30pm All Saints Vespers Camp Board Mtg at
St. D’s
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
14th SUNDAY OF NATIVITY OF THE 9:00 am St. John MATTHEW THEOTOKOS 6:00 pm ASSUMPTION PARISH OFFICE the Almsgiver
8:45 am Matins CLOSED FOR Assumption Men’s FAMILY OUTING TO 8:45 am Matins PARISH OFFICE LABOR DAY Ministry Meeting (at MT. BAKER 10:00 am Liturgy 10:00 am Liturgy 7:30pm AA Meeting CLOSED HOLIDAY the Mehas 6:00 pm Parish Residence) Council Meeting
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 SUNDAY BEFORE EXALTATION OF THE STS. SOPHIA, FAITH, 10:00 am All Saints HOLY CROSS HOLY CROSS 6:30 pm Great HOPE & LOVE Camp Cleanup 8:45 am Matins 8:45 am Matins Vespers at St. 9:45 am Matins PARISH OFFICE Work Party at Raft 10:00 am Liturgy 10:00 am Liturgy Sophia GOC in 10:00 am Liturgy at St. Memorial: Nick Nickolas CLOSED Island PARISH OFFICE Bellingham Sophia GOC
Church School Begins CLOSED (followed by a 6:00pm Philoptochos 6:00 pm Great SPECIAL GENERAL 7:00 pm Greek Dance light Reception) Potluck & Meeting Rehearsals Vespers ASSEMBLY 7:30pm AA Meeting
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
SUNDAY AFTER 7:00pm IOCC Wine ST. JOHN THE 10:45 am Prayers HOLY CROSS rd Tasting Event THEOLOGIAN at the 3 Hour 8:45 am Matins 7:00 pm PARISH OFFICE 8:45 am Matins 10:00 am Liturgy Stewardship 7:00pm Byzantine 11:00 am Bible CLOSED Church School on 10:00 am Liturgy Committee Meeting Chant Classes Procession Schedule Study 7:30pm AA Meeting GLENDI!
27 28 29 30
1st SUNDAY OF 10:45 am Prayers Strict Fast LUKE at the 3rd Hour
8:45 am Matins Wine/Oil 10:00 am Liturgy 11:00 am Bible Allowed
Church School Study
Fish Allowed
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