The All Saints Herald

Transcript

1 SEPT/OCT 2007 The All Saints Herald All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Welcome Father Elles On July 1, we welcomed Father Charalambos Elles as our interim priest. Father Elles has come out of retirement to serve our parish until a permanent priest is found. Father Elles was ordained in 1979 and served as the parish priest at St. George Orthodox Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, until 1991, when he moved to Toronto. In a brief address during coffee hour following his first service at All Saints, Father Elles noted that even though he would be with us for a short time, this did not prevent our community from growing spiritually and moving forward. May Father Elles time with us be a blessed one. We re Back! The All Saints Herald is back in a new, easy-to-read format. Our goal is to make the newsletter a lively source of practical and spiritual information a tool to help us all learn more about our church, our faith, and each other. We will continue experimenting with the design and content of the newsletter over the next few months. This issue features plenty of news and announcements. Turn the page to read about: Enjoying coffee in the parking lot after church New start times for Sunday services and Sunday School Fall registration for committees and groups Church services for September and October Preparations for the All Saints Bazaar Please tell us what you would like to see and read in The Herald! We welcome your feedback, suggestions, and help. You can talk to either one of us after church or leave us a note in the church office. Dimitra Chronopoulos Craig Graham Communications Team Turn to pages 8 9 for a message from Fr. Elles. Rev. Fr. Charalambos Elles August 19th BBQ a BIG success! Thank you to everyone who attended and to the Philoptochos and church boards for working so hard to make it happen. We are halfway to our goal of replacing the carpet in our church! Next up: Souvlaki Sunday, Sept. 30th. See you there!

2 From the Board Craig Graham Board Members Fred Graham President Bill Arvanitis Vice-President Fred Fotopoulos Treasurer George Christian Secretary Chris Letros Assistant Treasurer George Bitsakakis Assistant Secretary Jeannette Chronopoulos Member Peter Constantopoulos Member Craig Graham Member Steve Mavromatis Member Fotini Yaroshuk Member Let s Eat! To celebrate the beginning of the new church year, the Board invites everyone to lunch after church on Sunday, September 30 (Souvlaki Sunday). Come and catch up with friends and acquaintances after the summer holidays. The Search Is On The Board has begun interviewing priests. We are looking for someone who can help us to grow spiritually and to draw more youth and young families to our church. We hope to submit a candidate s name to the Metropolis for approval soon. Difficult Decisions We ve recently had to let go of two valued staff members: Tina Athanasakos wore many hats in her 21 years with All Saints, including those of teacher, cantor, and secretary. Her commitment to, and knowledge of, the church will be sorely missed. Louis Koutsaris joined our cantors in We thank Louis and Tina for their service to our parish and we wish them well in their future endeavours. Celebrating Father John A luncheon in honour of Father John is being planned for later this year. Stay tuned for details! Father Roberto visits Guatemala Father Roberto continues to serve the Orthodox community while running St. John the Compassionate Mission. In August, he travelled to Guatemala City with the 2007 Metropolis Mission Team. The team spent a week living and working at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage. All Saints continues to accept and forward donations to St. John the Compassionate. Please visit the Mission s Website for more information about hours, activities, and needs: Annual General Meeting The annual general meeting for parish members will be held later this fall. Date and time to be announced. 2

3 New Sunday Schedule! Coming to church on Sunday? Come early! We re keeping the summer schedule throughout the year. The early start leaves more time for coffee, lunch, afternoon activities, and nap time! Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy! 10 a.m. Sunday School After Communion! (All Ages) Fall Registration On September 9, representatives from the following groups will be available after church to answer questions and accept registrations: Sunday School Greek School Choir Bible Study Philoptochos Happy Birthday! Over 28 million scouts worldwide are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Scout movements. The 90th Scouting Group of All Saints will be honouring this occasion with special activities throughout the year. Children ages 5 through 18 are welcome to join. We also need adults to volunteer as leaders and group committee members. Come see us on September 9! Greek Dancing (Youth & Adult) Youth Scouts and more! Who s Who at All Saints Katherine Bouris Interim Sunday School Director Maria Tsiokos Greek School Director Sophia Grigoriadis Choir Director George Belegrinis Interim Youth Director Helen Karrys President, Philoptochos Steve Mavromatis Scouts Leo Lazaris Bible Study TBA Greek Dancing You can leave a message for any of the above with the church office: (416)

4 From the Philoptochos Helen Karrys Fall is a time to celebrate the earth s bounty. What better way to do that than by attending any of the following events hosted by our Ladies Philoptochos. Your stomach will thank you, as will all those who benefit from the Philoptochos charity and good works. SEPTEMBER 11 VIP Lunch All very important seniors are invited to the first monthly lunch of the new year. Past lunches have featured live music, poetry recitations, and sing-alongs. There is no charge to seniors for this event. If you would like to host a VIP lunch in memory of a loved one who has passed away, or in honour of a special occasion (e.g., birthday, anniversary), please contact the Philoptochos. OCTOBER 4 Thanksgiving Dinner The annual Thanksgiving dinner has grown more popular over the years. Please call the office to reserve tickets in advance! Parties of 8 10 can reserve a table; otherwise, it s first come, first serve. Tickets: $15. NOVEMBER Christmas Bazaar & Bake Sale Preparations for this two-day celebration of the Christmas season have been underway since July. The bazaar features delicious Greek foods, Christmas crafts and gifts, and children s activities, including a visit from the big man in red. Avoid the crowds at the mall and drop in with your children for lunch, dinner, or coffee and dessert. Better yet, pick up some food to take home. (See opposite for details.) Last year s best-selling gift baskets will be back. Lovingly put together by members of the Philoptochos, these baskets make great gifts for neighbours, families, and colleagues. Food 9-1-1! The Philoptochos 5-star chefs need your help to whip up all the sweet and savoury treats they ll be serving at the Bazaar. They need lots of: flour eggs honey butter walnuts meat Can you donate any of the above ingredients? Do you know a quality meat wholesaler? Let us know! Contact Helen Karrys through the church office today. 4

5 Support the All Saints Ladies Philoptochos Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale November 14 and a.m. to 9 p.m. Take home PASTITSIO, MOUSSAKA, AND BAKLAVA made by the experts! Order early! Quantities guaranteed only with orders received no later than October 28th. Leave your order form at the All Saints Centre office or mail to: 3125 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M2K 1G2. ORDER FORM Quantity Amount Pastitsio 9 12 $30.00 = $ Moussaka 9 12 $30.00 = $ Baklava 9 12 $25.00 = $ TOTAL $ Name: Telephone: ** Orders can be picked up before or during the Bazaar.**

6 From the Sunday School Katherine Bouris Mark Your Calendars Registration for Sunday School Sunday, September 9 & Sunday, September 16 First Day of Sunday School & Agiasmos (Blessing of Holy Water) Sunday, September 23 Welcome back children and parents! This year promises to be an exciting one for the All Saints Sunday School. Our vision is to encourage our children's awareness and growth in the Greek Orthodox faith by active participation in the Divine Liturgy combined with enriching classroom instruction. To that end, we have changed the schedule for Sunday School. Children and teens of all ages will now come directly to church and join their teachers for the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Father Charalambos will speak with the children before Holy Communion. After they receive Holy Communion, all of the children will be dismissed to their classrooms. Parents, please pick up your children in their classrooms after church, as before. "Let the children come to me, said the Lord. The Divine Liturgy is our Love. We should give our children every opportunity to pray, chant, and worship with us. Look for more information about Sunday School teachers and programs in the next issue of The Herald. Greek School On behalf of the returning teachers and our new recruits, I thank Father Charalambos for his spiritual guidance and I thank you for entrusting your children's religious education to us. Greek School classes will begin on Monday, September 17. You can register your children after church on Sunday, September 9 or Sunday, September 16. Advertising will return in the next issue of The All Saints Herald. If you have prepaid for an ad for 2007, it will be printed as usual. Look for new advertising rates and terms for 2008 later this year. Thank you for your support! 6

7 Feast Days and Services September 1 SATURDAY The Church New Year & Agiasmos Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 2 SUNDAY St. Mamas the Martyr Orthos, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. 8 SATURDAY The Nativity of the Theotokos Orthos, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 9 SUNDAY Sts. Joachim & Anna Orthros, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. 14 FRIDAY Elevation of the Holy Cross Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 16 SUNDAY St. Ephymia Orthros, Litury 8:30 11:30 a.m. 17 MONDAY St. Sophia & her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Love Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 23 SUNDAY The Conception of St. John the Baptist Orthros, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. 26 WEDNESDAY St. John the Theologian Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 30 SUNDAY Orthros, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. October 2 TUESDAY Hieromartyr Cyprian & Martyr Justine & Agiasmos Orthos, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 3 WEDNESDAY Dionysios Areopagitis Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 7 SUNDAY 3rd Sunday of Luke Orthros, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. 14 SUNDAY 4th Sunday of Luke Orthros, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. 18 THURSDAY Feast Day of St. Luke the Evangelist Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 20 SATURDAY St. Gerasimos & St. Artemios Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 21 SUNDAY 6th Sunday of Luke Orthros, Liturgy 8:30 11:30 a.m. 26 FRIDAY Feast Day of St. Demetrios the Great Martyr Orthros, Liturgy 28 SUNDAY 7th Sunday of Luke. Doxology on the OXI Day of October 28, 1940 Orthros, Liturgy 9:00 11:00 a.m. 8:30 11:30 a.m. 7

8 Από τον πατέρα Χαράλαμπο Αγαπητοί, Αισθάνοµαι ιδιαίτερη χαρά και τιµή, διότι κλήθηκα να υπηρετήσω στην τόσο προοδευτική και αγαπητή σ όλους µας κοινότητα, την κοινότητα των Αγίων Πάντων. Με την ευλογία του Σεβασµιοτάτου Μητροπολίτου µας, τη συνεργασία όλων των συµβουλίων, και τη βοήθεια του Τριαδικού Θεού, ριχνόµαστε στη δουλειά. Είναι γεγονός, όπως γνωρίζετε, ότι έχω τοποθετηθεί εδώ προσωρινά. Το προσωρινό όµως, δέν µας εµποδίζει καθόλου να βάλουµε την ψυχή µας και να εργαστούµε µ όλες µας τις δυνάµεις για τα παιδιά µας, για µάς τους ίδιους, για την κοινότητά µας, για την δόξα του Θεού. Το θέλουµε όλοι. Το θέλει και ο Θεός. Αυτό το µόνιµος και προσωρινός µου φέρνει στο νού το γραφικό: ου γαρ έχοµεν ώδε µένουσαν πόλιν, αλλά την µέλλουσαν επιζητούµεν (Εβρ. 13:14). Τί µας λέει αυτό; Ότι σ αυτή τη γή όπου ζούµε, δεν είναι µόνιµος κανένας. Είµαστε όλοι περαστικοί. Προσωρινοί. Φροντίζουµε µε κάθε τρόπο να δηµιουργήσουµε εκείνες τις προϋποθέσεις, ώστε να επιτύχουµε κάνοντας το θέληµα του Θεού και να αξιωθούµε να γίνουµε µόνιµοι πολίτες στην Άνω Ιερουσαλήµ, στην Βασιλεία των Ουρανών. Όσο λοιπόν θα είµαι µαζί σας, µε τη χάρη του Θεού και τις προσευχές των Αγίων Πάντων, θα πορευόµαστε προς την µόνιµη πόλη και κατοικία µας, την Βασιλεία του Θεού. Με τον µήνα Σεπτέµβριο αρχίζει το Νέο Εκκλησιaστικό έτος. Ή αγία εκκλησία µας το καθιέρωσε έτσι, διότι: Μήνα Σεπτέµβριο ο Μωυσής κατέβηκε από το όρος Σινά φέρνοντας στο λαό του και σ όλο τον κόσµο τις 10 εντολές του Θεού. Μήνα Σεπτέµβριο ο Χριστός, και σε ηλικία τριάντα χρονών, άρχισε το κήρυγµά του δηµόσια. Ακούµε στο Ιερό Ευαγγέλιο που διαβάζεται στη λειτουργία της 1ης Σεπτεµβρίου: Ο Χριστός σηκώθηκε από τη θέση του και ήλθε ανάµεσα στους διδασκάλους, για να διαβάσει. Του έδωσαν το βιβλίο του προφήτη Ησαΐα, το ξεδίπλωσε και διάβασε το µέρος εκείνο, που µιλούσε γι αυτόν, σαν Μεσσία. (Λουκ. 4:18 19) Εκεί που ήταν γραµµένο, Το πνεύµα Κυρίου αναπαύεται σ εµέ, διότι ο Κύριος µε έχρισε και µ έστειλε στους πτωχούς, να θεραπεύσω εκείνους των οποίων η καρδιά έχει συντροβεί από το βάρος της αµαρτίας, άφεσιν και ελευθερίαν στους αιχµαλώτους, να χαρίσω φώς στους τυφλούς, να ελευθερώσω τους συντριµένους από την αµαρτίαν, να κηρύξω το ξεκίνηµα νέας περιόδου. (Ησαΐα 61:1) Σεπτέµβριο µήνα ξαναρχίζουν τα σχολεία από το δηµοτικό µέχρι το πανεπιστήµιο. Σεπτέµβριο µήνα, συνήθως τελειώνουν για πολλούς οι διακοπές. Ετσι οι εργαζόµενοι κάνουν προγράµµατα, κάνουν σχέδια. Βάζουν στόχους για την περίοδο που αρχίζει. On September 1st, the Orthodox Church calls us all to start anew; to put off the old man with his deeds, and to be renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created us. Let us start the Ecclesiastical New Year by walking in newness of life, that we should serve God in newness of spirit. And let us put forth our best efforts for our church and our community. Έτσι το θέλει ο Θεός. Ας ριχτούµε όλοι στη δουλειά και ο Θεός βοηθός. Με την αγάπη µου, ο Ιερ. προϊστάμενος Fr. Charalambos Elles 8

9 From Father Charalambos Beloved in the Lord, I am very pleased and honoured to have been chosen to serve a community that is so progressive and so beloved to us all, the community of All Saints. With the blessings of his Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios, the cooperation of all of the boards and committees at All Saints, and the help of our Triune Lord, we have thrown ourselves into our work. As you all know, I have been posted here only temporarily. However, my temporary status does not prevent us from working together with all our heart and soul for our children, for ourselves, and for our community, for the glory of God. We all want this. And God wants it, too. Thinking about that which is permanent and that which is temporary brings to mind the following quote from Hebrews (13:14): For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. What does this quote tell us? That no one is here on Earth permanently; we are all just passing through. We are all here temporarily, trying to do the will of God, so that we might become worthy of permanent residence in the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Heaven. For as long as I am with you, through the Grace of God and the prayers of all the saints, we will set our sights on, and work toward, our permanent home in the Kingdom of God. September marks the beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year. Why has the Church consecrated the month of September in this way? In September, Moses came down from Mount Sinai, bringing the 10 Commandments to his people and to the world. In September, the 30- year-old Jesus began to preach in public. In the reading from the Holy Gospel for September 1 st, we hear: Jesus came into the midst of the teachers and arose to read. There was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and read the chapter about Him, as Messiah. (Luke 4:18 19) He found the place where it was written: The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; He has sent me to preach to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Isaiah 61:1) September marks the beginning of the school year for students young and old, from primary school through to university. For many people, September brings an end to vacations and holidays and a return to work. It is a time for making new plans and setting new goals. On September 1 st, the Orthodox Church calls us all to start anew; to put off the old man with his deeds, and to be renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created us. Let us start the Ecclesiastical New Year by walking in newness of life, that we should serve God in newness of spirit. And let us put forth our best efforts for our church and our community. This is the will of God. May He help us to do it. With Love, Fr. Charalambos Elles 9

10 From the Office Christine Ganas Vespers and Confession Father Elles will be celebrating Vespers every Saturday evening from 6 to 6:45 p.m., in preparation for the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Father is available to hear confessions every Saturday before Vespers (5 6 p.m.) or by appointment. Preparing for Marriage Father Elles invites couples preparing to be married to read Getting Ready for Marriage in the Orthodox Church by Anthony M. Coniaris (Light and Life Publishing). Couples are then welcome to schedule one or more meetings with Father Elles, to discuss any questions and concerns. Copies of the book will be available in the church office. Please take advantage of Father Elles experience and wisdom as you prepare for your life as husband and wife. Altar Flowers The flowers that adorn the altar every week are subsidized by donations from parishioners. Many parishioners choose to make a donation on a particular Sunday in honour of a name day, birthday, or anniversary. If you would like to contribute to the altar flowers for any remaining Sunday in 2007, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the office door in the church (across from the candle stand). Flowers cost $52 each week; when there is more than one donor, the cost is divided amongst them. Tax receipts are issued and mailed after the flowers are purchased. The deadline for submissions to the November/ December Issue of The Herald is: Monday October 8 In Joy and In Sorrow Eternal be their memories Long-term parishioners Dr. Demostenes (Jim) Vozoris and Mrs. Julia Akriotis passed away this summer. Would you like to announce a birth, death, engagement, wedding, anniversary, or baptism? Submit the details and a photo and we ll publish as many as we can! 10