The monthly newsletter of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church —Tacoma, Washington Volume 27, Number 1 January 2015 Saint Nicholas Messenger 14 New Year’s Resolutions for Orthodox Christians by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick 1. Get serious about coming to church (more) While many who read this are no doubt at least every-Sunday attenders at church, it is statistically true that only 26% of Orthodox Christians in America come to church weekly . And if you’re already coming to church weekly, consider adding at least one service per week. What are you normally doing when those services are going on? Your priest and other parishioners are there praying, including praying for you. Why don’t you join them? You won’t regret it. And while we’re at it… 2. Come to church on time It’s kind of an in-joke that Orthodox people are always late to church. But why is that? We too often accept the excuse that we function on “Greek time”. Why can we show up on time for work, sporting events, movies, doctor’s appointments, etc., but reserve our tardiness for an encounter with the King of Kings? What you show up on time for tells the world what you find important. It’s what you find indispensable. And it also communicates it to your kids. And you can be assured that they will imitate you. Come at least ten minutes early. That says you are serious. You know what also says you’re serious? 3. Tithe Nothing says you’re serious like giving 10% of your income to something. Giving 10% to God sounds crazy to a lot of people, but the reality is that it’s actually totally normal for many Christians—even for genera- tions. Some inherited a system based on union dues. So many may think that giving $500 a year (less than $10/week) is a lot. But if you have a parish of 100 families and each family only gives $500 a year, then you only have an annual income of $50,000. With that, you cannot support your priest, and you cer- tainly cannot pay for a building and its maintenance. Other people are picking up the slack for you. If they’re not, your priest may be on food stamps or welfare. I know Inside Messenger some who are. But if those 100 families each made the median household in- January Calendar 4 come for the US (about $52,000), and they all tithed, that same 100-family parish would have $520,000 to work with. If they even News & Announcements 5 gave just 5%, they’d have $260,000. Meanwhile, you are proba- bly spending a lot more just on cable TV. Or Internet access. Or News from our Ministries 6 your smartphone. Or eating out. Or coffee. Or a lot of other things. But the most important thing about pledging and tithing is not Stewardship card 14 about meeting parish budgets or supporting your priest like the hardworking, educated man he is. It’s about worship. Your heart is where your treasure is (Matt. 6:21). Where’s your treasure? Fol- Informational flyers 16 low the money, find the heart. If you’re not up for 10% yet, then try 8%. Or 6%. Or whatever. But go on record, and get disciplined about giving. Don’t give until it hurts, but until it actually feels good. 4. Pray at home. Even if all you do is say the “Our Father” when you wake up (saying it three times a day is the most an- cient known prayer rule), you will notice a change in how you think and feel about your faith. It will be- come more present for you and will define you more. Oh, and, parents? It will have a huge impact on your kids. Watching parents pray at home and (in time) joining them in that prayer is one of the biggest contri- butions that kids can receive toward their long-term spiritual viability. If you don’t bring the faith home, you can forget about it mattering in the long run, either for you or your kids. (continued on page 12) Page Saint Nicholas Messenger JANUARY 2015 St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 1523 S Yakima Ave Tacoma, WA 98405 Phone: 253-272-0466 Fax: 253-572-3245 Parish Website: stnicholastacoma.org E-Mail: [email protected] Sunday Services 8:45 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Please join us for Social/Coffee Hour in our downstairs hall, following the Divine Liturgy Fr. Seraphim Majmudar, Our Presiding Priest For appointments, questions or urgent needs, Fr. Seraphim is available 24/7 on his cell phone. Fr. Seraphim’s Cell phone: 253-365-5817 Office Hours at St Nicholas Thursdays 9:00am - 12:00 noon Email: [email protected] Saint Nicholas Messenger is the official monthly newsletter of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Tacoma. Editor: Bill Samaras Media team: Paula Karanasos, Rebecca Phillips, Andrew Primis, Bill Samaras, Fr. Seraphim Saint Nicholas Messenger is published monthly on the 25th of each month. Contributors are encour- aged to submit content by the 15th of each month to allow for timely compilation. Saint Nicholas Mes- senger is published in electronic format to the St. Nicholas web page stnicholastacoma.org, and in print for pickup at the parish on Sundays on or after the 25th of each month. Physical mailings are limited to shut-ins and special needs parishioners. Submit comments, corrections, or content addressed to the Editor at [email protected] All content copyright © 2014, 2015 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Tacoma Page 2 Saint Nicholas Messenger JANUARY 2015 St. Nicholas Ministries AHEPA 2014 Parish Council Hands of Love George Pirotis Andrew Primis —President Merrilee Pangis David Frisk—Vice-President Altar Servers Christina Leinneweber—Treasurer Maids of Athena Bill Samaras—Secretary Debby Lord ,Helen McClure, Dr Nick Themelis Kula Andreas, Yvonne Brandvold, George Diane Pirotis -Advisors Delyanis, Fred Ehret, Tikon Hamilton, Kathy Katie McClure- President Bible Study Heiser, Zach Karanasos, Merrilee Pangis Brigid Majmudar- Vice President Paige Mosko- Secretary Fr. Seraphim Reanne Charuhas- Treasurer Greek Folk Dance Building Committee Anastasia Fyntrilakis-Chair & teen Instructor Philia Bill Acker Evy Kontos—Middle Group Instructor Kelly Rosati—Toddler Instructor and Treasurer Diane Pirotis Krisann Firth — Costumes Choir Savina Frisk — Secretary Philoptochos Society Christina Leinneweber Adult Group Instructor —George Pirotis Joyce Kalivas-Griffin- President Kathleen Heidal- Vice-President Coffee Hour Greek School Marian Palas- Secretary Savina Frisk Merrilee Pangis- Treasurer George Pirotis Daughters of Penelope GriefShare Sunday School Helen McClure- President Rebecca Phillips- Director Dean Hamos Ann Koopman- Vice- President Yvonne Brandvold- Secretary Pro Life Evy Kontos- Treasurer Fr. Seraphim Military Service Pilgrimage Fr. Seraphim Zach Karanasos News and Announcements Parish Council Board Meeting The Board meeting for January 2015 will be Tuesday January 13 at 7:00PM in the upper hall. Thank you Thank you everyone for coming to our home to celebrate our son Todd's life. Your support, friendship and love during this time was greatly appreciated and meant the world to us. May his memory be eternal. —The Heidal's: Richard, Kathleen, Troy, Lindsay and family. God Bless! Prosphoro Bakers January 4 Evdokia Dunlap January 11 Despina Ampatsis January 18 Lena Plunkett January 25 Lena Plunkett Page 3 Saint Nicholas Messenger January 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Basil the Great FAST FREE FAST FREE Circumcision of Our Lord and Seraphim of Sarov Genevieve of Paris Savior Jesus Christ 6:30am-7:30am Divine Liturgy 9:00am-10:00am Divine Liturgy Access latest content at: www.stnicholastacoma.org FAST FREE 7:30am-8:30am Paraklesis to St 10:00am-11:00am Poirot Baptism Seraphim 7:00pm-8:00pm Vespers 10:00am-11:00am Bible Study 8:00pm-9:00pm Catechism 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 FAST FREE Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord The Theophany of Our Lord and FAST: Wine & Oil ok George of Hozeva Polyeuctus the Martyr of Melitene Gregory of Nyssa/ Theophan the Parish Council Swearing In and Saviour Jesus Christ Saviour Jesus Christ Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious 11:00am-12:00pm Hands of Love in Armenia Recluse Vasilopeta Cutting STRICT FAST 8:45am-9:45am Orthros Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner STRICT FAST 7:00pm-8:00pm Vespers 8:45am-9:45am Orthros 6:30am-7:30am Orthros & Royal 10:00am-11:00am Divine Liturgy & 6:30am-7:30am Divine Liturgy 6:30am-7:30am Orthros 8:00pm-9:00pm Catechism Hours Blessing of Waters 10:00am-11:00am Divine Liturgy 7:00pm-8:00pm Paraklesis 10:00am-11:00am Bible Study 7:00pm-8:00pm Vesperal Divine 6:00pm-8:00pm Philoptochos Mtg Liturgy & Blessing of Waters 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Theodosios the Cenobiarch Tatiana the Martyr of Rome The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and FAST: Wine & Oil ok John the Hut-Dweller FAST: Wine & Oil ok Anthony the Great 8:45am-9:45am Orthros Stratonicus Leavetaking of the Theophany of 6:30am-7:30am Orthros Veneration of Apostle Peter's 7:00pm-8:00pm Reader's Com- 10:00am-11:00am Divine Liturgy 6:30am-7:30am Orthros Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 6:30pm-7:30pm Daughters of Precious Chains pline; no Catechism 10:00am-11:00am WOCA: St Paul's, 7:00pm-8:00pm Paraklesis Penelope 6:30am-7:30am Divine Liturgy Brier (Washington Orthodox Clergy 10:00am-11:00am Bible Study Association (WOCA) is a Pan- Orthodox br) 7:00pm-8:00pm Parish Council 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Athanasios the Great Macarius the Great of Egypt Righteous Euthymius the Great FAST: Wine & Oil ok Timothy the Apostle of the 70 STRICT FAST Xenia of St Petersburg Philoptochos Soup Potluck 6:30am-7:30am Divine Liturgy Maximus the Confessor 6:30am-7:30am Divine Liturgy The Holy Hieromartyr Clement, 7:00pm-8:00pm Vespers 8:45am-9:45am Orthros 7:45am-8:45am Canon to St Maxi- 7:00pm-8:00pm Paraklesis 11:00am-12:00pm Hands of Love Bishop of Ancyra 8:00pm-9:00pm