SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CHURCH S T A F F The Trophybearer • Parish Priest: VOLUME 5 ISSUE 10 NOVEMBER 2015 Fr. Michael Constantinides PASTORAL MESSAGE • Parish Council President: Mary Rankin We find ourselves in the winter of the year where all outside is brown, life- • Philoptochos less and cold. The days are shorter and the weather is more miserable. In- President: deed this is the time of year that brings us down both physically, with all the Susan Matos colds and flu that go around, and mentally, with all the dreariness and dark- • Sunday School ness. Director: Deacon It is at this time that we gather together and try to bring some good cheer to Paul Speed ourselves and our families. We have our national celebration of Thanksgiving • Caretaker: where we do indeed offer thanks to God for all that He has done for our na- Jason Leon tion throughout our history. While setting a day aside to thank God is actually good, is that all we do? Do INSIDE THIS we forget about God every other day of the year? Is He only in our lives I S S U E : when we need Him, or do we make Him an active member of our lives? November 2 These are questions that we should ask ourselves every day of our lives. Calendar President’s 3 We should make a special effort to make God an active part of lives by first Corner living the life that we are called to live. We need to come to Church and be- Community 5 come active members and not simply names on lists. Active members are News those who participate in the life of the Church. Active members are those Stewardship 6 Update who prepare themselves and approach the Chalice with the fear of God, faith Assembly 8 and love often. Active members are those who respond to the call of God Notice and His Church. In other words to be active, we must act. We cannot wait Lives of the 9- to be acted on. Our faith is a verb not a noun. Saints 10 So, while we are celebrating this holiday season, let us remember that we Test your 12 Faith must always be thankful to God for what He has done and continues to do for us. Let us act on our faith and renew our lives in Christ our God. Fr. Michael Constantinides Parish Priest November 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5th Sunday of Luke Fast Day Fast Day 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Orthodox Study Sunday School Class Forum following 7:00 p.m. Holy Communion Parish Council +Sacrament Seminar 7:00 p.m. Orthodox Study Forum 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 7th Sunday of Luke Fast Day Fast Day +Sacrament Synaxis of the 10:00 a.m. Archangel’s Michael and Orthodox Study Gabriel Forum Parish Assembly 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Sunday School Class following 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Orthodox Holy Communion Parish Council Parish Council Study Forum Seminar Meeting 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 8th Sunday of Luke Fish, Oil and Wine Fish, Oil and Wine Fast Day Fish, Oil and Wine Fast Day The Entrance of Fast of the Allowed Allowed No Orthodox Study Allowed the Theotokos Nativity Begins Forum Fish, Oil and Wine Fish, Oil and Wine Allowed Allowed 8:30 a.m. Orthros 8:30a.m. Orthros followed by the Divine 10:00 a.m. Liturgy Divine Liturgy Metropolis Assembly in Sunday School Class following Holy Communion Madison, WI 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 9th Sunday of Luke Fish, Oil and Wine Fish, Oil and Wine Feastday of Saint Thanksgiving Day Office Closed Fish, Oil and Wine Fish, Oil and Wine Allowed Allowed Katherine the Office Closed Fast Day Allowed Great Martyr Allowed Thanksgiving Fast Day Fish, Oil and Wine 8:30a.m. Orthros Ecumenical Service at 8:30 a.m. Orthros Allowed 10:00 a.m. the Congregation Beth Israel at the followed by the Divine Liturgy Tri-City Jewish Sunday School Class Divine Liturgy Center following No Orthodox Study Holy Communion Forum Evening Meal 29 30 13th Sunday of Feast Day of Saint Luke Andrew Fish, Oil and Wine Fish, Oil and Wine Allowed Allowed 8:30a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Orthros Divine Liturgy followed by the Family Worship only Divine Liturgy VOLUME 5 ISSUE 10 P A G E 3 g{x VÉâÇv|Ä VÉÇÇxvà|ÉÇ There are three events story that illustrates this our gifts, to continue His coming up in the next frustration: saving work in the world few weeks that have the One day, a person com- today. potential to impact our plained to his priest that Please keep this story in parish for many years to the Church and Christianity mind when you fill out come. is one continual “give, give, your pledge cards and On Sunday, November 8, give.” To which the priest prepare for Stewardship Serving on we will meet for our an- replied, “Thank you very Sunday. the nual Fall Parish Assembly much for the finest defini- Finally, on December 6, Council is following Divine Liturgy. tion of Christianity I have the parish will be called an honor! At the meeting we will be ever heard. You’re right; to vote for its 2016 Par- approving our 2016 Christianity is all about a ish Council members. If anyone is budget and also hearing constant “give, give, give.” Please prayerfully con- interested the report and plan of God giving His only Son to sider running for a term in serving action from our Renova- the world to show His un- on the council. The cur- please see tion Committee. This conditional love. His Son rent members would meeting will lie out an Jesus giving His life on the love to have you join Mary important path for the cross to forgive our sins and them as they address the Rankin or parish to follow for many destroy death. Then our needs of the parish. Father years. A light lunch will Lord’s disciples giving all Speak to a council mem- be provided so that more they had to make sure ber, Father Michael, or a Michael members might be able God’s Good News of love member of the election to attend. was preached to all people committee (to be ap- The second event, Stew- everywhere. They not only pointed at the Fall As- ardship Sunday, takes gave away their homes and sembly) if you are inter- place on the following businesses, but even gave ested in learning more Sunday, November 15. up their lives as martyrs in about this service oppor- We sometimes want to gratitude to God! It is by tunity! offering our blessings back avoid this day because it seems like we are being to God that He will be able asked to give so fre- to continue His forgiving, quently, often for such healing, liberating, empow- Yours in Christ, mundane things as a ering, transfiguring, loving Mary Rankin ministry through the plumbing bill or vacuum Mary Rankin Church. For God, Infinite cleaner repairs. Father Parish Council President Anthony M. Coniaris though He be, has chosen shared the following to work through us, through P A G E 4 THE TROPHYBEARER Epistle Readers Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, November 1, 2015 November 15, 2015 November 29, 2015 5th Sunday of Luke 8th Sunday of Luke 13th Sunday of Luke Alexa Florence Mary Rankin Kay Coin Sunday, Sunday, November 8, 2015 “O Lord, open my lips and November 22, 2015 my mouth shall show forth 7th Sunday of Luke 9th Sunday of Luke your praise!” Michael Pyevich Angela Spurgetis Anyone interested in being an epistle reader should con- tact the church office! Parish Council Sunday Duty Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, November 1, 2015 November 15, 2015 November 29, 2015 Brad Crosson, Brad Crosson, Mary Rankin, Mike Patramanis Mike Patramanis Joe Burmeister, Gus Pappas Sunday, Sunday, November 8, 2015 November 22, 2015 Mary Rankin, Steve Eckert, Mary Rankin, Joe Burmeister, Gus Pappas Mary Kay Eckhert Coffee Hour Hosts for November 2015 Sunday, November 1, 2015 Sunday, Sunday, hosted by: November 15, 2015 November 29, 2015 Diane Brackon in honor of her hosted by: Mary Rankin Chrismation Helen Stiegel and Sunday, November 8, 2015 Claudette Jannes hosted by: Sunday, Stan and Kay Coin November 22, 2015 Fellowship hosted by: and fun! Open VOLUME 5 ISSUE 10 P A G E 5 Community News PARISH COUNCIL STEWARDSHIP hospitals are reluctant to call ELECTIONS SUNDAY churches. Please call us so Parish Council elections will Our Annual Stewardship that we can avoid missing be held on Sunday, Decem- Sunday will be help on Sun- our parishioners in their ber 6. It is an honor and a day, November 15 th . We time of need. privilege to serve on the Par- ask you all if you like to bring INTERNET NEWS ish Council, but it is also a your pledge card with you Saint George is announc- commitment to the good of on that Sunday and deposit it ing to all Facebook users our Parish. If you feel the call into the pledge box. May the creation of our Face- to support and represent the Lord bless us with an- book page. See us at: our parish in this special way, other wonderful year.