December 2019
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From Glory to Glory The monthly newsletter of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Fr. Joseph Strzelecki December 2019 The Gift of Christmas Theo Nicolakis 1755 Des Peres Road Town & Country, MO 63131-1405 he Christmas season is such a beautiful time of the year. Lights, candles, Phone: 314-966-2255 T and cutout snowflakes begin to decorate our city’s streets. People begin to Kitchen: 314-966-6720 adorn their homes with the colors of red and green, wreaths, candles, and Web Site: www.assumptiongoc.org dazzling arrays of lights. These decorations even spill into our schools and businesses. That’s the Christmas season! That is the Christmas season? [email protected] This past week, as I was speaking with one of my staff members, we began to Office Manager: Diane Sieckmann discuss putting up Christmas decorations in the office. As we were talking Email: [email protected] about Christmas decorations, she told me that at her son’s school, her son’s class had to write an essay on what Christmas meant to them. When her son showed her the essay he had written, she did not see any mention whatsoever about Jesus or His Birth. So she asked her son why he didn’t mention anything Dates to Remember about Jesus. He responded to her and said, "Well mom, Christmas isn’t about Christ anymore"; that’s not what it is about anymore? Then what is Christmas December 4 about? "It’s about presents, "he said. Great Martyr Barbara It’s about presents. When I first heard this story, I was shocked and disturbed; but the more I December 5 thought about it, the more I began to realize that he’s right. Christmas really is St. Savvas the Sanctified about presents. December 6 But what kind of presents? St. Nicholas the Wonderworker It’s about a father who punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a December 12 roll of gold wrapping paper. Since money was tight, he became furious when St. Spyridon the Wonderworker his little daughter tried to decorate a box with gold wrapping paper and put it under the Christmas tree. Yet, on Christmas day, the little girl brought the gift December 15 wrapped in gold paper to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy." When Holy Forefathers he saw the gift, he was embarrassed by his earlier reaction, but his anger flared St. Eleftherios up again when he unwrapped the gift, opened the box, and found it to be December 22 empty. Genealogy of Christ "Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside of it?" he shouted. With tears in her eyes, the little girl December 24 St. Eugenia looked up at him and said, "Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into the box and put them in there for you." Her father then smiled, put his arms around his December 25 little girl, and begged her forgiveness and kept that gold box by his bed for Nativity of Christ years so that whenever he was discouraged he would take out a kiss and December 26 remember the love of his little daughter who put it there. — The gift of love. Synaxis of the Theotokos It’s about presents. Christmas really is about presents. It’s about a contest held to find the most caring child. The winner was a December 27 four-year-old boy whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who First Martyr Stephen had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked the little boy what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing… I just helped him cry." — The gift of consolation. 2019 Parish Council It’s about presents. Christmas really is about presents. It’s about a four-year-old who went to the pediatrician for a check up. As Fr. Joseph Strzelecki the doctor looked down her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you think I’ll Scott Thompson, President Greg Simos, Vice President find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a Elefteria Marcou, Secretary tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I’ll find Gus Harris, Treasurer the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doc- Peter Regopoulos, Assistant Treasuer tor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heartbeat, he asked, "Do Daniel Gantner, Carol Marshall, Pam Martin, Samia Rabie, Vasilios Simos, Greg Simos, you think I’ll hear Barney in here?" Oh no!", the little girl replied. "Jesus is in Sotirios Sotiriou, Tom Stamos, Chris Tsoubanos, my heart." — The gift of faith. Nick Tsoubanos, Tonis Zafiropoulos It’s about presents. Christmas really is about presents. It’s about God, who loved each one of us so much that he gave us his only Acolytes begotten Son, Jesus Christ so that whoever believes in Him should not perish John Nicholas Adult Orthodox Christians (18 years +): but have eternal life. — The ultimate gift. Diane Sieckmann It’s about presents. Christmas really is about presents; but it’s not about the Bible Study presents we give that we bought at the local Toys – R – Us, or the local Fr. Daniel Morton department store. It’s not about the giving of money; Christmas is not about a Bookstore Christos Tsiaklides, Diakonissa Kristen Vogt holiday season. Chanters Rather, Christmas is about the gift of giving of ourselves. Giving of our time Thomas Carroll, Dr. Steve Leon and talents so that we might touch the life of another. And the reason why we Choir give of ourselves is because we commemorate the gift God gave us — His Son. Stephanie Saunders So what gift we will give this Christmas? But not only this Christmas, but also Church Tours Janice Hazeltine every day of the year. Will it be the gift of love by telling our family and friends Friday Luncheon how special they are to us? The gift of consolation by remembering those who Art Liyeos have no one else to remember them; by visiting those who have no one to visit Greek Festival them? Bringing the gift of laughter to those who are in sorrow; imparting the Greg Simos, Art Liyeos Greek School gift of faith, by keeping Jesus Christ as the focus of our Christmas. Savas Kyramarios Therefore, how we can give of ourselves is perhaps summarized best in the Greek Dancers prayer of Francis of Assisi who said: Kyklos: & Armonia Stella Afentoullis O Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Ta Paidakia, Neo Kyma: Aliki Malek Where there is hatred, let us sow love. GOYA (9th -12th Grade) Yvonne Alexopoulos, Dr. Jenny Kardaris Where there is injury, pardon, Greeters Where there is doubt, faith, Mary Pitliangas Where there is despair, hope, JOY (Kindergarten - 4th Grade) Where there is darkness, light, Jr. GOYA (5th - 8th Grades) Alki Lappas Case, Dr. Debbie Cosmopoulos And where there is sadness, joy. Kafenio O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled, Art Liyeos as to console; Hope (infant - 5 years) To be understood, as to understand; Christos & Rachel Tsiaklides, To be loved, as to love; Orthodox Faith & Life: Dr. Farid Sadaka, Anna Sadaka For it is in giving that we receive Philoptochos It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; Flora Dimitriou, President And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Planned Giving Committee Amen. Amy Johnson https://www.goarch.org/-/the-gift-of-christmas Prison Ministry Bill Goranitis Stewardship Christmas Fast Michael Afentoullis The forty day fast period before the Nativity of our Lord begins on November Sunday School 15. The traditional fast consists of abstinence from meat, dairy, and eggs. On Diane Sieckmann Wednesdays and Fridays for twelve days (beginning at St. Spyridon’s Days Vacation Church Camp (VCC) Anna Sadaka December 12) before Christmas, there is also abstinence from fish. Those who Women’s Bookstudy are following the strict fast would also eliminate wine and oil on Wednesdays Presvytera Laura Morton and Fridays. Please consult your spiritual father for personal direction on Young Adult Ministry (18-30 yrs) fasting. This is a traditional time to come to receive the Sacrament of Holy James Murphy Confession. Please prepare to receive this most important sacrament which cleanses the heart and soul and prepares us for the feast of our Lord’s birth. 2 Stewardship Ministries Spotlight: Stewardship is not just about money, it is about giving your time and talent towards the ministries of your parish. Here is a description of a ministry in our parish you can be a part of: PRISON MINISTRY has been helping prisoners in the US Eastern District of Missouri with hygiene kits and clothing (for soon to be released men and women). Stewardship Corner: Faith With Philotimo The prison ministry also helps with “Family Day” at Fort Leavenworth and other prisons. Several children As the Father has sent me, so I send you” John 20:21 are bussed as well as counselors. Over the years this Family Day has resulted in much lower recidivism for To be stewards of the Gospel, we need to be stewards the participants. “Our liaison with the prisons pointed of our parish. We need to strive to live our “Faith out that during the eight years of sponsoring the family With Philotimo”. trips of children to see their parents in prison, only one parent of those visited wound up back in prison after This Stewardship corner is part of Assumption’s their release following a Family Day experience.” If continued effort to communicate to you (our interested in helping prison ministry, please talk to Bill stewards) about the meaning of stewardship.