THE EPISTLE St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church November 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, Ohio 2013 Pastoral Thoughts by Fr. Jim Doukas Also, on this day of national Thanksgiving, Lord, we remember all those who suffer: Dear Parishioners, The sick, the poor, the hungry I’d like to share with you the following The victims of natural disasters Thanksgiving Day prayer: The captives in all prisons, everywhere Gracious God, Creator of the Universe, Giver of Life, Alpha and Omega of existence, we pause at this time to contemplate The persecuted, the hopeless your multiple blessings. Those who live in terrible conditions out which there is no We thank you for our spiritual blessings, for our Judaeo- escape Christian heritage replete with wisdom and grace… The aged and lonely, the mentally ill from Abraham, the father of many nations The forgotten people hidden from our eyes to Moses the Law giver Bless us, Lord God, that in our prosperity and good estate, to the prophets we may find ways to be useful and helpful to someone. to your own dear son and our Savior Jesus Christ We give thanks, we praise and magnify You, and we bow down before You, Our God and Creator, in the name of to your Holy Church, established to bless the people of all Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN ages, everywhere Happy Thanksgiving! To your Holy Spirit who guides and sanctifies, strengthens and encourages us with divine presence. We thank you for the Bible, Your Holy Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a path unto our way (Psalm 119:105.) Grant that we keep its teachings buried in our hearts and burned on our consciences. We thank You, too, for our material blessings… For this nation, flowing with milk and honey For jobs which enable us to live adequately For medical people, who keep our bodies healthy For educators who open our minds to new awareness For all who serve us For families and loved ones who add comfort, joy, and fulfillment to our lives For comfortable homes For abundance, which when properly used, can satisfy the needs of all. Grant, Lord, that we may obtain wisdom enough to realize that it is Your command and our duty to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, that our spiritual heritage is given to us to make our material heritage a blessing instead of a curse, that all we now possess is but temporary, to be used not to control us, but to share with others so that life may be hospitable for all. The Epistle is the official publication of the CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS’ CONTACTS Greek Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios Aesthetics ….…………………Ageleke Zapis… 440-617-0266 Phone: (440) 331-2246 AHEPA …………………………...Costa Petros…440-937-8079 Fax: (440) 331-8407 Bible Study :……...………Evangeline Richards…216-221-3003 Bookstore …...……...…….Pres. Goldie Doukas…440-899-3257 www.saintdemetriosrr.org Choir Director/Canto r…..…....Bill Matzorkis…..216-496-4230 Editor : Eleni Papouras-Jenks Youth Choir …….…..Diane Matzorkis…440-463-3068 Sunday Services: Orthros 8:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Daughters of Penelope …..………Elisa Demis…440-655-1348 Publication Deadlines : Weekly Bulletin – Wednesday Greek School Principal Eleni Papouras-Jenks...216-965-8131 Monthly Epistle – The 15 th of the preceding month Board of Education …..Maria Mougianis…440-835-2888 Fr. James Doukas, Priest………………(Home) 440-899-3257 PTO Co-Presidents :……..…Marianna Hadgis….440-937-0330 Eleni Papouras-Jenks, Office Mgr [email protected] Kiki Poulopoulos…440-915-1402 Nick Hillman, Operations Mgr [email protected] GOYA Advisors Ellen Chrisman………………...440-835-8430 Dale Stalnaker, Webmaster …………[email protected] Dan Packis……………………..440-937-9531 Helene Santarelli………………440-779-8312 PARISH COUNCIL Student President Nick Stamatis Steve Steffas, President…….………………...….440-899-7652 Hellenic Dance Groups: Nikolaos Petousis, Vice President………....…….440-808-9005 Kyklonas ….Eleni Papouras-Jenks…216-965-8131 Steve Alex, Treasurer……………………………440-835-2348 Kymata ….…….…..Mary Szekely…440-835-5712 Ageleke Zapis, Secretary …….………………….440-617-0266 Aeraki ………….Eleni Giavroutas…440-835-5267 Byron T. Spooner, Financial Secretary………….440-333-5013 JOY (Jr. Orthodox Youth) …...Stacy Loizos….440-799-4846 Cindy Bountogianis……….……………………..440-808-0227 Κόλλυβα (Memorial Tray)…….Ann Carpadis..…440-871-8625 Eugenia Burpulis………………………………...440-356-1746 Maria Statheros…216-226-1680 Angelo Coutris……………………………..……440-333-3674 Library Committee :…………..… Andie Titas...440-779-8581 James Diamond……………………………….…440-653-9695 Philoptochos ……………………[email protected] Ted Loizos…...…………………………………..440-799-4846 President ………Stephanie Zavatchen….440-243-6221 Bette Nutt……………………….……….………440-930-2652 Sunshine Committee ….Elpida Kosmidis…440-779-8959 Anthony Trakas……...…………………………..440-799-4409 Sunday School ….…………... [email protected] Greg Kolocouris, Legal Advisor Principal Maggie Steffas…….440-871-6362 Assistant Principal Cindy Genin……440-610-7686 ST. DEMETRIOS’ TRUST BOARD OF MANAGERS Spiritual Life Committee….Angie Giallourakis…440-871-2681 John Stamatis, Chairman……..…………………440-937-6258 Yassou Club …...…………....Mary Pappadakes…440-799-4821 Constantine Corpas……………………………..440-740-1158 Other Orthodox Missions Harry Giallourakis……………………………...440-871-2681 I.O.C.C. ….Pascalis Papouras …………………410-243-9820 Manuel Steffas………………………………….440-871-6362 [email protected] ~ www.iocc.org Crystal Thomas…………………………………440-356-1032 O.C.F. ........Mira Damljanovic, College Program Coordinator Donna Vassos…………………………...……...440-331-5547 for: BW, CWRU, CSU, JCU, Tri-C 440-888-6213 or [email protected] Did you know that the church phone system has a Prayer Line? O.C.M.C . Orthodox Christian Mission Center www.ocmc.org Anytime, day or night, that you may need a spiritual lift, call For Pan-Orthodox events in the greater Cleveland area go to 440-331-2246 ext.7 to hear a seasonal prayer. www.orthodoxcleveland.us Speaking of Stewardship… 3 2013 PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS The members of the Election Committee (Aggie Arabian, Catherine Hillman, Angelo Karouzos, Betty Poulos, and Angie Vianos ,) have unanimously decided that election for the members of Parish Council be held on Sun., Dec. 8, 2013, immediately following Divine Liturgy until 3 p.m. in the hall. Election will be held to fill the following vacancies: Cindy Bountogianis, Angelo Coutris, Ted Loizos, Steve Steffas, Anthony Trakas, and Ageleke Zapis. (According to the By- laws, these individuals must be re-nominated and elected in order to continue serving). The Parish Council members who have one year to complete Last month, several of our past Parish Council presidents met and shall remain on the Parish Council in 2014 are: Steve with the current board to share their experiences and ideas, as Alex, Jeanne Burpulis, James Diamond, Bette Nutt, Nikolaos we look to sustain and grow our parish in the future. (above, L- Petousis, and Byron T. Spooner. R) standing: Dan Packis, Steve Alex, Gary Thomas, Lee Zapis, CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS: Nick Pyros, Manuel P. Glynias, Steve Steffas; seated: Pete A person desiring to qualify, as a candidate for the Parish Stamatis, Fr. Jim, Fr. Dean Dimon. Not pictured: Gus Corpas. Council must be a baptized or chrismated Orthodox Christian Photo courtesy of Gary Thomas who is in spiritual good standing with his/her church (i.e. if married, is married in the Orthodox Church, if divorced, has CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS secured the ecclesiastical divorce, and participates in the We recently installed a new sacraments of the church) and also have paid his/her financial heating/AC unit for the hall. obligation thru December 31, 2013. (pictured, right) to replace a CANDIDACY PETITIONS: broken unit. It took two large Petitions have been mailed and also available in the Narthex, cranes and several hours to can be placed in a sealed petition box that will be available in finish the project. The next phase the church office must be received by 12:00 noon, Sun., Nov. will be a unit to handle the east 24, 2013. Petitions mailed to the church office must be rooms currently without heat. postmarked by Friday, November 22, 2013 to be valid. ALTAR UPGRADES Recently some of our ecclesiastic items VOTING REQUIREMENTS; began to show their age. A big and sincere thanks to … 1. A member in good standing for this election is one who has paid his/her pledge up thru December 31, 2013. A member Anonymous and David & Dena Grubb for their donations of delinquent in his/her financial obligation desiring to vote may two censors, one to be used weekly and the other at Lent. pay the Financial Secretary any time prior to balloting. Any Anonymous, Tim & Gloria Knotek and Andrew & Sheena questions relating to the parishioners’ financial status will be Suvak, and Steve & Megan Papandreas for their donations to directed to the Financial Secretary and the priest to be resolved purchase a new altar chandelier. before a parishioner may vote. 2. The right to vote is strictly personal. It cannot be Family Ministry Meeting transferred to any person or to husband or wife. Monday, November 25 at 6:30 p.m. 3. New members of the Parish may vote if he/she has been enrolled at least 3 months prior. Our own Angie Giallourakis, representing the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, attended the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Family Ministry Conference in Minneapolis, MN in September. GENERAL ASSEMBLY Archbishop Demetrios directed all Greek Orthodox Parishes to Sunday, November 24, 2013 examine their ministries’ programs and determine how they can help our families grow in Christ. 12:00 p.m. Metropolitan Savas, in turn, asked Angie to develop a “Family Ministry Model Program” for the Metropolis of Pittsburgh and In the Cultural Hall St. Demetrios Church has been designated as the Model! A Quorum of at least 25 members in Good Standing are Fr. Jim Doukas requests that ALL our organizations send a required for this meeting . representative to attend this brief summary (20 minutes) of the Conference and then discuss how each of our ministries AGENDA: ~Approval of the Election Committee can help our St.