Priest's Message
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HolyTrinityGreekOrthodoxChurch Volume 16 Issue 9 December 2016 Fr. Peter Day–Proistamenos Priest’s Message Today is born of a Virgin, he who holds cre- ation in the hollow of his hand. As a mortal he is wrapped in swaddling rags, he who in his being cannot be handled. God lies in a manger, who of old established the heavens in the beginning. He is nourished with milk from the breast, he who rained Manna on the People in the desert. He summons Magi, the Bridegroom of the Church. He accepts their gifts, the Son of the Virgin. We worship your birth, O Christ. Show us also your divine Epiphany. from the Idiomelon of the Ninth Hour of Nativity. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, hat a joyous event we celebrate on December 25th – the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate with caroling and with feasting – the signs of “good cheer.” Christmas parties, gift swaps, house decorations, and the gathering together of family and friends give us a warming in our hearts that brings out the magic of the season. But there is more to the season than magic - there is mystery. What an awesome mystery it is, that the Son Table of Contents of God becomes man, for our salvation. The Father’s Message ...........................1 Christmas Stories ...................... 13 magic and the merry times of the season often Church News ...............................3 Pastry Sale ................................ 14 get in the way of our sensing the deep mystery St. Spyridon ..................................5 Stewardship .............................. 15 Dance in Portland ........................8 Memorials ................................ 16 that is contained within the Babe wrapped in Baptism-Johnson ...........................9 Calendar................................... 18 Nov. Retreat Pictures ..................10 continued on pg. 6 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURch DECEMBER 2016 BULLETIN OF THE Food for fellowhip time Council Members PARISH OF THE Church News President after church HOLY TRINITY December Jim Simones ................ (207) 946–7372 GREEK ORTHODOX CHURch t’s that bustling time of 4 ......... Vice President year, where we wonder, Norman Rattey ............. (207) 729-8155 11.. Treasurer 18...... December Where did the year go? Let us Melissa Simones .......... (207) 576–5925 25 ....... No Memorials 2016 enjoy this festive time enjoying Assistant Treasurer both families of blood and those Michael Pelletier .......... (207) 622-3107 If you wish to host a united by the blood of Christ. Secretary memorial or sponsor food Tracey Levesque .......... (207) 712-3607 Also remember during this busy for after church fellowship Holiday time to remember that please sign up. Stella Gammaitoni ....... (207) 753-0790 God did not abandon us to our John Kroger .................. (207) 689-6132 own devices, but bore a savior John Kesaris ................. (207) 622-5381 Tom Goodwin .............. (207)783–1734 of Himself to show us the way Peter Goranites ............. (207) 829-4165 home and that we are forgiven Roger Naous ................. for not following Him perfectly. 155 Hogan Road Norm Rattey ................. (207) 751-5650 Let us all keep Christine Sirois............. (207) 784-7107 P. O. Box 1344 Lewiston, Maine 04243-1344 Christ in Christmas. Michael Coombs .......... (207) 586-5112 Phone & Fax (207) 783-6795 Fall Community Retreat 2016 Committees Photographers: Dorothy Moskovis The Saint Methodios Faith & David Le Gloahec Building & Addition: John Stass, Mike Pelletier, & Jason Levesque Heritage Center, Contoocook, Cemetery: Writers: Michael Pelletier NH, was the ideal place for our Education: Chris Sirois Fr. Peter Day Festival: Peter Mars & John Kesaris David LeGloahec fall retreat, November 18-20. Journey back 2000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover Margery Mars a scientific explanation for the Star the wise men followed to Finance & Endowment: Dorothy Moskovis, Duke Goranites, This year it was a combined at- find the baby Jesus. Investigate possible dates for the birth of Hellenic Heritage: Georgia Chomas Light of Life is the monthly Christ and look at recorded sightings of significant historical publication of Holy Trinity Greek tendance from St. Gregory the Interior: and astronomical events during this timeframe. We’ll explore John Rozos Orthodox Church Theologian (Mansfield, MA) Maintenace: Jim Simones, Harry Simones, Stella Gammaitoni of Lewiston, Maine under scientific explanations for celestial objects that could have the Metropolis of Boston Parish Historical Soceity: John Kesaris and our Holy Trinity (Lewis- been remarkable enough to cause the wise men to travel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese across the desert from Babylon to Bethlehem just to see a of America. Spiritual Enrichment: Ann Robinson ton) churches. We were grateful newborn King. Stewardship: Ann Robinson It is intended for the communication for the efforts of Ann Robinson, Regardless of what the star was, the message of Peace on Libraian: Tom Goodwin and edification of the community of Earth and goodwill to all still rings true today! Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Father Peter and Father Ted to Ladies Society: Melissa Simones and its friends. Choir Directors: John Rozos, Chris Gianopoulos arrange this inspiring week- Publication created using: Sunday School Director: Stella Gammaitoni Adobe® InDesign® CS-5, Adobe® Photoshop® end for us all. The quiet and You have church News: C.S.5, Art Explosion® 750,000, Macromedia Readers: George Simones, David LeGloahec, John Rozos, Freehand® 9.0, IconGraphics™ Byzantine remote setting provided alone Jaye Goulet ClipArt on an Apple iMac. fonts used: Palatino, Papyrus & Optima. times with God, worship, lec- Send your text, your pictures, Acolyte Guides: Roger Park, John Zimbis your inspirations, whatever it is, tures, fellowship and various Book Store Manger: George Simones See us on the web at send it to: Visitation Committee: Margery Mars (933-4949) & Christine Sirois holytrinity.me.goarch.org activities as well as five meals. (784-7107) Other Members: Ann Pelletier, Rosemary Goranites, 2 [email protected] 3 Deserée Tanquay, and John Rozos. continued on pg.4 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURch DECEMBER 2016 a very worthwhile weekend of Church News Continued from pg. 3 reflection, spiritual and edu- n the holiest shrine on the island of St. Spyridon Kerkyra (Corfu), just off the western Participating from our cational enrichment, personal the Wonderworker coast of Greece, rest the Holy Relics of December 12 church were Father Peter growth and development, fun St Spyridon, which after sixteen centuries, are and Presbytera Anthe, Pe- and fellowship, in an environ- still in such a remarkable state of preservation ter and Rosemary Goranites, ment that truly encourages that every year he is carried in solemn triumph The Kroger Family (Dr. John, everyone to listen to the voice through the streets on the occasion of his feast day. Christine, Brendan, Stefan, of God and appreciate the Othniel, Nicholas, Christoff, surrounding natural beauty St Spyridon’s place in the holy company of See Pictures on pg. 10. Alexandra and Clara), The saints would be assured and his prominence Park Family (Roger, Elizabeth, established even if the whereabouts of his Valentine), Roger Naous, Do- holy remains were unknown. St Spyridon LEWISTON — Therese E. (Cayer) Lajoie, 90, passed reen Cote, Christine Sirois, was thrust into prominence by the climatic away peacefully Monday, Nov. 14, at d’Youville Pavil- Deseree Tanguay, John Zim- events just prior to and including the historic ion in Lewiston. She was born in Lewiston on July 4, 1926, bus, Mike and Rose Grimanes, Synod of Nicaea of 325 AD, after a somewhat the daughter of the late Antonio and Clerina (Roux) Cayer. Ann Robinson, John Rozos, prosaic and less-than-spectacular service to the Mike Coombs and Kathy Rus- Therese was a devout Catholic, regularly attending Mass at Lord in the obscurity that he seemed to prefer. Holy Cross Church in Lewiston. She sang in the choir, was a sin, Peter and Margery Mars. Born on the island of Cyprus, he preferred the lay presider and a Eucharistic minister. Therese was a mem- Orthros and Divine Litur- tranquility of the countryside he roamed as ber of the Holy Cross Senior Citizens and the Ladies Aux- gy were held in the beautiful a boy while shepherding his father’s flocks, iliary of the Knights of Columbus. Therese loved to travel Chapel of St. George, and Ves- and even after he rose to the office of bishop remarkable intelligence, which enabled him to with the senior citizens. She was an avid quilter, and in her pers and Compline services he would find the time to tend the sheep on a memorize long passages from the Bible simply downtime enjoyed playing cards and experimenting with were held in the small Retreat hillside, where he knew complete contentment. by listening. Although he was needed at home, new recipes. Family was the most important thing to her. House chapel. The breathtak- St. Spyridon’s beginning were inauspicious Spyridon was not denied the formal education Therese is survived by her son, The Rt. Rev. De- ing Great Room served as a enough, coming from a rural family which for he deserved. His parents, not wanting to see his nis (Roger) Lajoie; her daughter, Michelle Lajoie; her gathering place for the lecture generations had lived in such remoteness that great talent and love for Christ restricted, sought sister, Cecile Asselin; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Ter- sessions and in free times for there was no school for miles around and what counsel from their priest, who in turn arranged rio and Florence Potvin, and many nieces and nephews. chatting and doing activities little education there was to be had was imparted for the boy’s education and religious training. by the massive stone fireplace. by parents whose knowledge was severely Ordained a priest just after the turn of the We were blessed to have Fa- limited by their illiteracy. Although he was fourth century, Spyridon was assigned to a rural ther Bob (Rev. Robert Archon), exceptionally bright, Spyridon was no exception community much like the one in which he had presiding priest of St.