The Epistle St
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Epistle St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church December 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, Ohio 2015 Pastoral Thoughts St. St. St. St. Barbara Nicholas Spyridon Modestos by Fr. Jim Doukas 12/4 12/6 12/12 12/13 9:30 am 9:30 am 9:30 am 2 pm Dear Parishioners, I’d like to share with all of you the following article by Fr. Anthony Coniaris, a prolific author of our Archdiocese, relating to us “Why Did God Become Man?”: Why did God choose to come to us in person? Sunday Yassou What were the reasons that compelled Him to visit School Club JOY us? They must have been awfully important Philoptochos Pageant Potluck Ginger- reasons to make God empty Himself and take the Auction 12/6 12/8 bread form of a servant. Couldn’t He have ordered an 12/10 12/13 angel or an archangel to come? Why did the Lord of the Universe Himself have to come? We have seen an indication of why God would ultimately come to earth in the Old Testament, when we hear God say, ‘I have seen the affliction of my people and heard their cry…for I know their Καλές sorrows and sufferings and trials. And I have come down to deliver them ’ (Exodus 3:7-8) God came because He cared. He came in order Γιορτές! to deliver us from the slavery of sin and death. He came because He loved us! We can summarize this best by quoting the Evangelist John: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Epiphany Choir Greek Son to condemn the world, but in order that the GOYA Pool Concert School world might be saved through Him.” Caroling Party 12/20 Program We do not believe in an absent God, an 12/20 1/3 invisible, intangible, eternally elusive God. We 12/20 believe in a God who, when humanity fell into the ocean of sin and was drowning, did not just stay in heaven and shout direction on lifesaving, but who jumped into the ocean to save us. We believe in a God who intervenes in our lives. We believe in a God who came to seek and save the lost; who came not to be served but to serve; Xmas Eve Xmas Day who came to give us the abundant life; who came St. Basil 12/24 12/25 Epiphany as light that whoever believes in Him may not 1/1 7 pm 9:30 am 1/5 & 1/6 remain in darkness; who came not to judge the 9:30 am world but to save it! Jesus came at Christmas. He 9:30 am comes each day, waiting to enter into our lives! Have a Blessed Christmas! The Epistle is the official publication of the Greek Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS’ CONTACTS Phone: (440) 331-2246 Acolyte Coordinator …………..…Tom Hlepas…216-269-3265 Fax: (440) 331-8407 AHEPA …………………………...Costa Petros…440-937-8079 www.saintdemetriosrr.org Bible Study :……...………Evangeline Richards…216-221-3003 Bookstore ……….....……...…….Donna Vassos…440-331-5547 Editor : Eleni Papouras-Jenks Choir Director/Canto r…..…....Bill Matzorkis…..216-496-4230 Sunday Services: Orthros 8:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Youth Choir …….…..Diane Matzorkis…440-463-3068 Publication Deadlines : Weekly Bulletin – Wednesday Daughters of Penelope …..………Elisa Demis…440-665-1348 Monthly Epistle – The 15 th of the preceding month Greek School Principal Eleni Papouras-Jenks...216-965-8131 Board of Education Maria Mougianis…440-835-2888 Fr. James Doukas, Priest………………(Home) 440-899-3257 GOYA Advisors Athena Diamantis………………216-469-8607 Fr. Anastasios Athanasiou, Assistant Priest……..412-758-1068 Dan Packis……………………..440-937-9531 Eleni Papouras-Jenks, Office Mgr [email protected] Sophia Tjotjos…...……….…….440-331-4000 Nick Hillman, Operations Mgr [email protected] President Matthew Szekely……………….440-835-5712 John Stamatiades, Church Accountant…440-331-2246, ext. 4 Hellenic Dancers Dale Stalnaker, Webmaster …………[email protected] Aeraki Beginners Group…….. Maria Coutris…412-915-7838 For a seasonal prayer, call the church and choose extension 7 Kymata Jr. Group ….……...Angelia Szekely…440-724-3807 PARISH COUNCIL Kyklonas ………………. Eleni Papouras-Jenks…216-965-8131 Steve Steffas, President…….………………...….440-476-0746 JOY (Junior Orthodox Youth) Cindy Bountogianis, Vice President …………....440-554-6655 Κόλλυβα (Memorial Tray)…….Ann Carpadis..…440-871-8625 Steve Alex, Treasurer……………………………440-823-9595 Maria Statheros…216-226-1680 Byron T. Spooner, Financial Secretary ...……….440-724-1923 Library Committee :…………..…...Andie Titas...440-779-8581 Eugenia Burpulis, Secretary …..………………...440-356-1746 Philoptochos ……………………[email protected] Randy Carpenter…………………………………440-878-0036 President ………Stephanie Zavatchen….440-385-7448 Angelo Coutris……………………………..……440-343-4051 Sunshine Committee ….Elpida Kosmidis…440-779-8959 James Diamond……………………………….…440-725-9636 Sunday School ….…………... [email protected] Ted Loizos…...…………………………………..216-533-2698 Principal Maggie Steffas…….440-871-6362 Nikolaos Petousis ………………………....…….440-570-7889 Assistant Principal Cindy Genin……440-610-7686 Anthony Trakas……...…………………………..440-385-7741 Spiritual Life Committee ...Angie Giallourakis…440-871-2681 Ageleke Zapis …….………………………….….440-477-4775 Trust Fund ................John Stamatis, Chairman…440-937-6258 Greg Kolocouris, Legal Advisor Yassou Club …...…………....Mary Pappadakes…440-799-4821 ORTHODOX ORGANIZATIONS IOCC www.iocc.org Pascalis Papouras : [email protected] St. Herman’s House of Hospitality FOCUS Cleveland OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship of BWU, CWRU, CSU, www.sainthermans.com JCU, Tri-C)……… Mira Damljanovic: m [email protected] St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) www.ocmc.org www.stpanteleimon.com POYAF (Pan-Orthodox Young Adult Fellowship) Zoe for Life ! www.zoeforlifeonline.org ……Maria Koulioufas: 440-525-1187 For local Orthodox events: www.orthodoxcleveland.us Speaking of Stewardship… 3 November General Assembly On Nov. 22, 2015, we held the final General Assembly of the year to discuss the 2016 Budget (copies are available in the office.) Although the expenses exceeded the revenue, the budget was approved as it stood with the hope that the Stewardship campaign, asking each member to increase their What does Saint Demetrios mean to you? 2015 pledge by just “62 cents” a day, would cover How much are you willing to give to allow our beloved Saint Demetrios the short fall, along with some possible extra to stay operational? 10% of your annual income? 5% of your annual fundraisers. income? 3% ? 2%? There was also a presentation about the overflow Would you increase your pledge by 62 cents a day for 2016? Festival Parking onto the southwest field, which We have a large deficit in our budget heading into 2016. did not require a vote of any kind. Nick Hillman If every family gave 2-3% of their annual income to the church, we reported that due to generous donations, the cost would have an unprecedented surplus to allow us to increase our mission came in below $5,000. The field now has proper and outreach like we have never been able to do in the past. drainage and gravel. We can now accommodate If you are unable to give 2-3% of your household’s annual income, we 2,000 cars for the festival. are asking every family to increase their 2016 pledge by just 62 cents a day . (This is less than one Caramel Macchiato a week, or two scoops of ice cream at Mitchell’s a week!) Parish Council Election The Election 2016 Pledge Forms can be picked up in the Narthex or office. Committee (Angelo Karouzos, Betty Poulos, and For your convenience, secure online giving is available on our website, Angie Vianos,) have set an election for Parish www.saintdemetriosrr.org . You can have weekly or monthly deductions Council for Sun., Dec. 6, after Divine Liturgy until directly from your checking account or credit card. 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Room, to fill the following Parish Council vacancies: Cindy Bountogianis, Angelo Coutris, Ted Loizos, Steve NOVEMBER 2015 BILL$ Steffas, Anthony Trakas, and Ageleke Zapis. American Church Stewardship Envelopes 171.40 Andreas Koustis has submitted a Petition of Bank of America Church credit card 491.31 Candidacy. (Per Metropolis dictate, we are Bank of America Facility credit card 2,142.33 obligated to hold an election regardless.) C.C.T. Financial Office Copy machine 294.00 Parish Council members who have one year to Camelot Digital Epistle printing 95.00 complete and shall remain on the Parish Council in Cintas Rugs for Complex 401.28 2016 are: Steve Alex, Jeanne Burpulis, Randy Cleveland water Water bill 181.39 Carpenter, James Diamond, Nikolaos Petousis, Cose Medical Mutual Health Care 2,654.32 and Byron T. Spooner. Cox Business Phone /Cable 316.46 Dar Pro Cleaning Traps Kitchen 400.00 Once our election process has been ratified by the Dominion East Ohio Gas Bill 1,473.54 Metropolis of Pittsburgh, the board will be sworn- First Federal Of Lakewood Mortgage Payment 4,169.71 in and then appoint people to fill the remaining five G.O. Archdiocese of America Monthly Commitment 6,761.42 seats. Any member in Good Standing who would Gable Elevator Maintenance 350.10 be interested in being appointed and serving on Global Outdoor Lawn Care 1,688.25 Parish Council may submit a Letter of Intent to Fr. Henningers Candles 480.00 Jim Doukas by Dec. 15, 2015. Illuminating Co. Electrical bill 2,221.80 Mars Electric Lights 536.10 Meritech School Copy Machine 116.32 J.O.Y. Advisor Sought JOY (Junior Metropolis of Pittsburgh Monthly Commitment 570.00 Orthodox Youth) which ministers to our youngest Narthex Press Books 47.90 parishioners is now seeking an advisor or steering Orkin Pest Control 73.45 committee of advisors to work with our smallest Orthodox Health Care Fr Jim 2,325.00 Christians.