October Saint 2015 Sophia Greek Orthodox CathedralPage HERALD OCTOBER 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Dean’s Message 2 President’s Message 3 Philoptochos News 4 Philoptochos VIP 4 Philanthopia 4 Stewardship 5 Inner Stillness Meditation 6 Ministries List 8 Sacraments/Memorials 9 LA Greek Fest 2015 Pictures 13 Love of God 14 Orthodox Calendar 15 V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas Dean Rev. Fr. Allan Boyd Assistant Priest 1324 S. Normandie Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90006 Tel. 323-737-2424 Fax. 323-737-7029 www.stsophia.org Luke the Evangelist –October 18th Saint Iakovos - October 23rd Saint Demetrios - October 26th Saint Demetrios 12th-Century Mosaic from the Golden-Roofed Monastery in Kiev Page 2 October 2015 DEAN’S MESSAGE A Visit with Morris and Sadie It’s October. The summer has been over for a month. Schools if they were involved in the church, but all giving must be have been back in session for a month too and vacations motivated by love and to some degree sacrifice. The Lord have come to an end with a fading suntan being a reminder of tells us: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will our getaway. be also.” Matt 6:21. The beginning of the New Year on our church calendar was I pray that your heart is filled with the love of God and September 1st. It is the fourth quarter of the year and also a generosity for his earthly presence-the church. time to review our financial stewardship commitment to our beloved Saint Sophia Cathedral. To those who have already Please be a steward and support our great high house— made and are honoring your stewardship commitment on a our beloved Saint Sophia Cathedral. regular basis, we are truly grateful. To those who have not In Christ our Lord yet made a commitment for 2015, it is not too late to pick up a pledge card from the back of the cathedral pews, the narthex or from the office. I know asking for money in support of our church ministry makes some uncomfortable. Some people are givers and V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Dean receive by giving and others are takers, hiding behind the generosity of others. You’ll hear some say; “Well a buck is a buck, and I’m not sharing it with anyone.” It reminds me of the funny story a rabbi friend shared with me of Morris and Sadie, who went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, “Sadie, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Sadie always replied, “I know Morris, but that airplane ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.” One year Sadie and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, “Sadie, I’m 85 years old. If I don’t ride that plane this year I might never get another chance.” To this Sadie replied, “Morris, that plane ride is fifty dollars and fifty dollars is still fifty dollars.” The pilot of the airplane overheard the couple and said, “Folks, I’ll, make you a deal. I’ll take both of you for a ride. If you don’t say a word I won’t charge you a penny! But if you say one word, it’s fifty dollars.” Morris and Sadie agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Sadie and said, “By golly, Ma’am, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn’t. I’m truly impressed!” Sadie replied, “Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Morris fell out, but you know, fifty dollars IS fifty dollars.” I’m not sure what kind of stewards Morris and Sadie would be October 2015 Page 3 PARISH COUNCIL MESSAGE Paid in Full We continue to commemorate the beginning of the him how proud he felt about him. Then, he handed his son a ecclesiastical year and our cycle of celebrations and beautiful wrapped gift box. observances that connect our past, present and future as Orthodox Christians and offer a witness of the saving grace Curious, the young man opened the box and found… a lovely, and power of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. Our leather Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his dad and said, Sunday school and Greek School classes will soon begin and “with all the money you have, you give me a Bible?” and we hope that your children will be participating as an stormed out of the house leaving the Holy Book. important connection to our Church. Many years passed… the young man became very successful Our 17th Annual L.A. Greek Fest – 2015 was financially in business. He had a beautiful home, and a wonderful successful! We are very grateful to all of our volunteers, our family. One day, he suddenly thought of his father. He ladies who labored in preparing much of the food and thought that perhaps he should go visit him since he had not desserts, to our donors who came forward to help with seen him since his graduation day. Just when he was making underwriting the costs of the items we needed to buy for the the arrangements, he got a phone call telling him his father Fest, to our Parish Council members who managed booths passed away and left all of his possessions to his son. throughout the Fest grounds, to our Custodians and office When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness filled staff who were on duty throughout the weeks before and after his heart. He began to search for his father’s important the Fest, to our Trustees and volunteers who helped organize papers and… saw the still new Bible, his college graduation the counting of money, and of course, to our Priests, Fr. John gift, just as he had left it years ago. and Fr. Allan and their Presbyteras , Maria and Danita, a huge THANKS for all the work you did to help support all of us and With tears in his eyes, he opened the Bible and began to turn our Fest. This is one of the events which brings all of our the pages. As he read those words, car keys dropped from community together as we all pitch in to help within booths an envelope inside the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s and the serving up of some wonderful Greek food and drink. name, the same dealer who had the car of his desire. On the All funds raised from the Greek Fest help to offset the cost of tag was the date of his graduation and the words… PAID IN operations of the Cathedral and the Huffington Center and FULL. also in assisting our many ministries. We will be announcing the date of our luncheon to thank all of our volunteers and to Jesus Christ is the word of God. He has “PAID IN FULL” the receive constructive feedback on ways to improve our next price, to make you and me WHOLESOME in body, soul, and L.A. Greek Fest – 2016! spirit. The “keys” for all that you have been looking for are in the Bible. In remembering the past and future, I found an inspirational video called PAID IN FULL. I wanted to share the important Yours in Christ, message with all of you: Brent A. Noyes, Parish Council President A young man was graduating from college. He had been admiring a specific sports car for a long time. His father was a very rich man. So the young man asked his father for the car for his graduation gift. As graduation day approached, the young man awaited a sign that his father had purchased the car. Finally on the morning of his graduation his father called him to his office and told Page 4 October 2015 PHILOPTOCHOS PHILOPTOCHOS VIP The Philoptochos V IP Board has made plans for the following event: Thursday, October 29, 2015, Movie and Luncheon. Please join us for a special movie and luncheon on Thursday, October 29 at 11:00 a.m. at the Huffington Center in the Assembly Room. Please call for reservations chairperson Angela Ananias at (562) 695-7234, or co-chair Vivi Demopoulos at (310) 215-3130.You must RSVP by October 23rd. Donation is $10.00. Make your check payable to Philoptochos VIP and mail to: Angela Ananias 4017 Overcrest Dr., Whittier, CA 90601. In His Service, Athina Lolonis, VIP President PHILANTHROPIA NEWS Used Clothing and Canned Goods: Thank you for all the The Mission Statement of Philoptochos “ To aid the poor, the generous donation of used clothing. Please label all clothing destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the donations on the outside of the bags by indicating whether orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the they are for men, women or children. Thank you! victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the Street Outreach: Dr. Nikos Stefanidis, Ph.D. a Staff help of the church through fund raising efforts…” this is what Psychologist at Children’s Hospital, L.A., is the Clinical we do and this is why we put on fundraisers throughout the Director of this High Risk Program. Your continued help will years. “For the poor you always have with you, but you do assure that these children are cared for year round by not always have me” John 12:8 purchasing new items such as the following: T-Shirts (M-L), boxers (M-L) white socks, blankets, sleeping bags; sweatshirts, snacks, water and juices, bus tokens, sneakers, ADULT GREEK DANCE hygiene items (travel size), tooth brushes and toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, sun screen - be sure to label them for Dr.