The Epistle St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church October 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, Ohio 2015 Pastoral Thoughts by Fr. Jim Doukas On the occasion of the ordination of our pastoral assistant Anastasios Athanasiou, I offer the following words of encouragement to him. I also would like to offer the same words of encouragement to all of us at St. Demetrios. These are the words of St. Paul as he addresses the faithful: Ephesians 4:1-8 : I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Celebratory parish brunch will take peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just place as you were called to the one hope that belongs Sunday, October 4, immediately to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, following Liturgy in the Cultural Hall. one God and Father of all, who is over all and All welcome. RSVP to the church office . through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of The Ordination to the Priesthood will take place at Holy Trinity Greek Christ’s gift . Therefore it says, “When he Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Nov. 21 st ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Dearly beloved members of St. Demetrios, ft|Çà WxÅxàÜ|Éá Yxtáà Wtç As we are witnessing before our eyes, Anastasios is answering a calling from God to serve the Church ‘with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one Sunday, Monday, another in love, eager to maintain the unity of October 25 October 26 the Spirit in the bond of peace.’ Christ’s gift for Anastasios is to serve in the capacity of the 7:00 p.m. Vespers 8:30 a.m. Orthros; Holy Priesthood. This gift is indeed a holy and Refreshments to 9:30 am Divine Liturgy serious responsibility that Anastasios has follow, hosted Luncheon to follow, accepted. This is why we must pray for him and for all the clergy so that ‘the gift’ he is by Choir & hosted by receiving today is for the glory of God and the Philoptochos Philoptochos people of His Church. Yet, as we read, all of us are called in one In the Metallinos Cultural Hall capacity or another to serve Christ and His Church: ‘But grace was given to each one of Adults Luncheon Ticket- $15 us according to the measure of Christ’s gift .’ It didn’t say the only way we can serve Christ RSVP is required to reserve your seat at the Luncheon by 10-20-2015 and His Church is to become a priest. Please contact Stephanie Zavatchen 440-385-7448 (continued p. 3) The Epistle is the official publication of the Greek Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS’ CONTACTS Phone: (440) 331-2246 Acolyte Coordinator …………..…Tom Hlepas…216-269-3265 Fax: (440) 331-8407 AHEPA …………………………...Costa Petros…440-937-8079 www.saintdemetriosrr.org Bible Study :……...………Evangeline Richards…216-221-3003 Bookstore ……….....……...…….Donna Vassos…440-331-5547 Editor : Eleni Papouras-Jenks Choir Director/Canto r…..…....Bill Matzorkis…..216-496-4230 Sunday Services: Orthros 8:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Youth Choir …….…..Diane Matzorkis…440-463-3068 Publication Deadlines : Weekly Bulletin – Wednesday Daughters of Penelope …..………Elisa Demis…440-665-1348 Monthly Epistle – The 15 th of the preceding month Greek School Principal Eleni Papouras-Jenks...216-965-8131 Board of Education Maria Mougianis…440-835-2888 Fr. James Doukas, Priest………………(Home) 440-899-3257 GOYA Advisors Athena Diamantis………………216-469-8607 Eleni Papouras-Jenks, Office Mgr [email protected] Dan Packis……………………..440-937-9531 Nick Hillman, Operations Mgr [email protected] Sophia Tjotjos…...……….…….440-331-4000 John Stamatiades, Church Accountant…440-331-2246, ext. 4 President Matthew Szekely……………….440-835-5712 Dale Stalnaker, Webmaster …………[email protected] Hellenic Dancers For a seasonal prayer, call the church and choose extension 7 Aeraki Beginners Group…….. Maria Coutris…412-915-7838 Kymata Jr. Group ….……...Angelia Szekely…440-724-3807 PARISH COUNCIL Kyklonas ………………. Eleni Papouras-Jenks…216-965-8131 Steve Steffas, President…….………………...….440-476-0746 JOY (Jr. Orthodox Youth) …...Stacy Loizos…...440-799-4846 Cindy Bountogianis, Vice President …………....440-554-6655 Κόλλυβα (Memorial Tray)…….Ann Carpadis..…440-871-8625 Steve Alex, Treasurer……………………………440-823-9595 Maria Statheros…216-226-1680 Byron T. Spooner, Financial Secretary ...……….440-724-1923 Library Committee :…………..…...Andie Titas...440-779-8581 Eugenia Burpulis, Secretary …..………………...440-356-1746 Philoptochos ……………………[email protected] Randy Carpenter…………………………………440-878-0036 President ………Stephanie Zavatchen….440-385-7448 Angelo Coutris……………………………..……440-343-4051 Sunshine Committee ….Elpida Kosmidis…440-779-8959 James Diamond……………………………….…440-725-9636 Sunday School ….…………... [email protected] Ted Loizos…...…………………………………..216-533-2698 Principal Maggie Steffas…….440-871-6362 Nikolaos Petousis ………………………....…….440-570-7889 Assistant Principal Cindy Genin……440-610-7686 Anthony Trakas……...…………………………..440-385-7741 Spiritual Life Committee ...Angie Giallourakis…440-871-2681 Ageleke Zapis …….………………………….….440-477-4775 Trust Fund ................John Stamatis, Chairman…440-937-6258 Greg Kolocouris, Legal Advisor Yassou Club …...…………....Mary Pappadakes…440-799-4821 ORTHODOX ORGANIZATIONS IOCC www.iocc.org Pascalis Papouras : [email protected] St. Herman’s House of Hospitality FOCUS Cleveland OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship of BWU, CWRU, CSU, www.sainthermans.com JCU, Tri-C)……… Mira Damljanovic: m [email protected] St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) www.ocmc.org www.stpanteleimon.com POYAF (Pan-Orthodox Young Adult Fellowship) Zoe for Life ! www.zoeforlifeonline.org ……Maria Koulioufas: 440-525-1187 For local Orthodox events: www.orthodoxcleveland.us Speaking of Stewardship… 3 $EPTEMBER 2015 BILL$ Pastoral Thoughts (continued from p. 1 ) St. Paul is telling the faithful that we must all Pay To For Amount walk in the same manner, no matter in Camelot Digital Epistle printing 95.00 whatever capacity we are called. The Cose Medical Mutual Health Care 3,432.21 Orthodox Church provides us with many First Federal Of Lakewood Mortgage Payment 4,169.71 ways to answer this calling – whether we Cox Business Phone /Cable 316.46 teach, sing, feed the poor, serve on boards, or Metropolis of Pittsburgh Monthly Commitment 570.00 give to His Church. Another way to put it, as we often hear, is that we are to offer our Henningers Candles 700.00 ‘time, talent, and treasure.’ Verizon Wireless Fr Jim Cell phone 81.54 St. Paul goes on to say: American Church Monthly Envelope Mailing 171.40 ….assuming that you have heard about Him Dominion East Ohio Gas bill 2,765.79 and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Cintas Rugs rental/cleaning 298.30 Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs Home Depot Misc. Repairs 32.27 to your former manner of life …., and to be Bank of America Clergy credit card 452.32 renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put Bank of America Operations Manager credit card 1,470.37 on the new self, created after the likeness of C.C.T. Financial Office Copy machine 294.00 God in true righteousness and holiness. (A Illuminating Co. Electric bill 2,284.99 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST) Cleveland Water Water bill 174.70 We are witnessing in front of us a young man, City of Rocky River Sewer Bill 577.60 Anastasios, listening to the words that St. Orthodox Health Care Fr Jim’s insurance 2,325.00 Paul was teaching to the faithful, ‘to put off Prime Source Bathroom Supplies 405.00 your old self, and to put on the new self, Ace Heating Heating unit repair 818.00 created after the likeness of God in true Abco Fire Fire suppression system Inspection 289.00 righteousness and holiness.’ As we shout “AXIOS” on the day of his ordination, we G.O. Archdiocese of America Monthly Commitment 6,761.42 are also giving him the encouragement that he Orkin Pest Control 65.00 will need throughout his life as he receives Zito Insurance 3-Quarter payment 4,167.00 Christ’s gift serving the Church within the Meritech School Copy Machine 55.00 Holy Priesthood. As we witness Anastasios Payroll (9/30/15) 18,000.00 renewed by the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are Archdiocese Commitment 600.00 also called upon (by the grace of Christ’s Payroll (9/15/15) 16,000.00 gift that is given to EACH OF US) to do the $ 67,372.08 same. In Christ, Fr. Jim GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING: Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Noon A QUORUM OF AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE (25) MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS MEETING. If Quorum is not met, the meeting WILL take place on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 at 7:00p.m. with or without quorum, per the by-laws. AGENDA: I. Final Report on Land Sale II. Status of Endowment Fund ELIGIBILITLY FOR THIS MEETING As per the Parish By-laws, Section 4, Page 26, Members Who May Participate in Parish Assembly: “A Parish Assembly consists of the members of the parish who have met their financial obligations to the Parish, in accordance with the Parish By- (above) Last month, Orley Construction began clearing laws. A person whose name appears on the membership roll, but who is in the land which we sold for their housing project, which arrears in payment of his or her stewardship obligations may take part in will expand the Quail Hollow development in Westlake.