The monthly newsletter of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church —Tacoma, Washington Volume 27, Number 4 APRIL 2015 Saint Nicholas Messenger Catechetical Homily for Holy and Great Lent Prot. No. 133 BARTHOLOMEW, Inside Messenger By God’s grace Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch April & Holy Week Calendar 4-5 To the Plenitude of the Church: Financial Statements 6 May the Grace and Peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you Together with our Prayer, Blessing and Forgiveness Announcements 6 The arena of virtues has opened; let those who wish to compete enter (Triodion Sticheron, Cheesefare Sunday) Building Committee Report 7 Beloved brothers and sisters, dear News from our Ministries 8 children in the Lord, Our Lord Jesus Christ grafts us into Stewardship card 20 His body, inviting us to become saints, “just as He is holy.” (1 Peter Informational flyers 16 1.16) Our Creator wants us to be in communion with Him in order to taste His grace, which is to participate in His sanctity. Communion with God is a life of repentance and holiness; whereas estrangement from God, or sin, is identi- fied by the Church Fathers with “evil of the heart.” Sin is not natural, but derives from evil choice” (Theodoret of Cyrus, Dialogue 1, Immutabilis, PG 83.40D) or from the evil spirit, since “no one sins, who promises faith,” according to Ignatius of Antioch, the “God-bearer.” Holiness is a quality that belongs to the Lord as “the one, who offers and is offered, who receives and is distributed.” The celebrant of the Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist, by divine grace offers to the faithful “the holy things for the holy people,” the body and blood of Christ; and he immediately receives from the Orthodox faithful the response to this offering: “One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father, “who is eaten but never consumed; who sanctifies those who participate.” In our struggle to achieve “likeness” to God, for which we were created, namely holiness, the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Orthodox Church, which aspires exclusively and solely to our salvation, “rightfully proclaimed” one season as a period of special prayer and supplication in order to calm the passions of our soul and body. This season commences tomorrow as a salvific preparation for the “great and most sacred Pascha of Christ.” We are referring to Holy and Great Lent, which we must live “by offering prayer and seeking for- giveness,” in order truly to taste Pascha “with all the saints,” by becoming “saints,” by confessing before God and people that we are “clay vessels” that are shattered on a daily basis by the evil one, always “falling and rising.” That is to say, we must admit our human imperfection and failure, as well as our insig- nificance before God, by repenting and repeating day-in and day-out, at all times and in all places – even as we are made “holy” through baptism – that “one is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.” (continued on page 14) Page Saint Nicholas Messenger APRIL 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 Messenger 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 © 2015 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Tacoma Page 2 Saint Nicholas Messenger APRIL 2015 St. Nicholas Ministries AHEPA 2015 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 Yvonne Brandvold, George Delyanis, Fred Diane Pirotis -Advisors Ehret, Kathy Heiser, Zach Karanasos, Katie McClure- President Bible Study Hariklia Motz, Kelly Rossi Brigid Majmudar- Vice President Paige Mosko- Secretary Fr. Seraphim Reanne Charuhas- Treasurer Greek Folk Dance Building Committee Anastasia Fyntrilakis-Chair & teen Instructor Philia Evy Kontos—Treasurer, Middle Group Instructor Bill Acker Diane Pirotis Kelly Rosati—Beginners Instructor Krisann Firth — Costumes Choir Karen Samaras—Board Member Philoptochos Society Christina Leinneweber Savina Frisk — Secretary Joyce Kalivas-Griffin- President Kathleen Heidal- Vice-President Coffee Hour Adult Group Instructor —George Pirotis Marian Palas- Secretary Savina Frisk Merrilee Pangis- Treasurer Greek School Daughters of Penelope George Pirotis Sunday School Helen McClure- President Rebecca Phillips- Director Ann Koopman- Vice- President GriefShare Yvonne Brandvold- Secretary Dean Hamos 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 April 2015 will be Tuesday April 14 at 7:00PM in the upper hall. Prosphoro Bakers April Prosphoro Schedule April 5 & week to follow: Lena Plunkett April 12 & week to follow: Despina Amptatzis April 19 & week to follow: Evdokia Dunlap April 26 & week to follow: Kathy Bouzenekis Thank you Thank you for the good thoughts and prayers for my dad, Andy Manos during his funeral. We appreciate everyone and especially the Philoptohos for their hard work for the luncheon. It was amazing. Thanks also to the parishioners who gave to St. Nicholas or Camp Agape! Ted and Olga Page 3 Sat Orriss Crowning Service Crowning Orriss 1:00pm Palm Tying/ Luncheon Tying/ Palm 1:00pm Paschal & Anastasis 12:00am 11:00am Divine Liturgy Divine 11:00am Baptisms/Chrismations 12:00pm Stof Liturgy Vesperal 11:00am Parish Resurrection Holy 11:00am - - - - - - 2:00pm Altar Server WorkParty Server Altar 2:00pm 4:00pm VESPERS NO 8:00pm Vespers 8:00pm 9:45am Orthros 9:45am - - - - - ermitted on Sat &Sun & feasts & &Sun Satermitted on 4 Chrismations & Baptisms & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil Saturday Lazarus 8:45am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 11 Saturday Holy & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN p oil 10:00am Basil 11:30pm Liturgy 18 WEEK FREE FAST Saturday Renewal 10:00am Liturgy Feast 3:00pm 7:00pm 25 Evangelist & Apostle the Mark 7:00pm giving giving - Fri Saint Nicholas Messenger 8:00pm Presanctified Liturgy Presanctified 8:00pm Rehearsal Choir 9:00pm Cross the from Descent 4:00pm Lamentations 8:00pm 7:30am Orthros 7:30am Hours Royal 7:30am Orthros Paschal 7:00am Liturgy Divine 7:30am services no 7:30am - - - - - - - - - 3 & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil ofMonasterytheof Abbot Nicetas, Medicium 6:30am 7:00pm 8:00pm 10 Friday Holy & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil 6:30am 3:00pm Vespers 7:00pm 17 WEEK FREE FAST Life theofTheotokos Friday: Renewal Spring 6:00am 6:30am 24 Wonderworker the Elizabeth ok & Oil Wine FAST: 6:30am Notes: Thu Access latest content at: www.stnicholastacoma.org Penelope of Daughters Laity Assembly: NO SERVICES NO Assembly: Laity - 11:00am Liturgy of the Last Supper Lasttheof Liturgy 11:00am - 8:00pm Twelve Gospels Twelve 8:00pm 7:30pm 7:30am Orthros 7:30am Orthros 7:30am services no 7:30am - - - - - m 2 & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil Wonderworker the Titus 6:30am 9 Thursday Holy & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil 6:30am 10:00am 7:00pm 16 WEEK FREE FAST Thursday Renewal 6:30pm 23 Triumphant & Martyr Greatthe George 6:30a 30 Clergy @ Fr the John brotherSt. of & Apostle Jamesthe Theologian Wed Laity Assembly: NO SERVICES NO Assembly: Laity - 7:00pm Presanctified Liturgy Presanctified 7:00pm Service Unction Holy 8:00pm Vespers Paschal 8:00pm Liturgy Evening 8:30pm Vespers 8:00pm George Liturgy:St Evening 8:45pm 7:30am Hours & Reading of Gospel Gospel of Reading & Hours 7:30am Liturgy Presanctified 8:30am - - - - - - - - April 2015 April 0am 1 & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil Egypt of Mary 6:00pm 8 Wednesday Holy & Wine fish.dairy,meat, No FAST: LENTEN feasts & &Sun Satpermitted on oil 6:30am John of 7:3 7:00pm 15 WEEK FREE FAST Wednesday Renewal 7:00pm 7:30pm 22 ok & Oil Wine FAST: Sykeon of Theodore 7:00pm 7:45pm 29 ok & Oil Wine FAST: Clergy @ Fr & 70 theof Apostles the Sosipater & Jason Companions their ospel ospel Tue MartyrsCyzicus of m Paschal Orthros Paschal m revealed MartyrsLesbos of revealed Laity Assembly: NO SERVICES NO Assembly: Laity - -