O my Christ and my life, you were placed in a tomb. Now the Mother of Life is carried to her tomb, wondrous sight before all angels and all men.

Transcript

1 \\\\\ \Issue 1209 August 2012 O my Christ and my life, you were placed in a tomb. Now the Mother of Life is carried to her tomb, wondrous sight before all angels and all men. 1st Hymn of the Frist Stanza of the Lamentations of the Repose of the Theotokos August 14 Great Vespers * August 15 - Matins and Divine Liturgy

2 PARISH MINISTRIES Parish Council President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Asst. Treasurer Stephen Bellos Dino Dart Dean Macris Penny Maistros Church Office Jeanne Fakis Sunday School Elsa Galetsa Director Choir Cantor George Papadopoulos Alexander Filip Altar Boys Andrew Papathanasiou Philoptochos Jeanne Fakis - President Bible Study Fr. Dean Greek School Dora Georgeady - Teacher Hellenic Dancers Nancy Bellos Sophia Karabelas Senior Citizens Myrtle Johnston President Youth G.O.Y.A. Andrew Papathanasiou Avery Whittaker Bookstore Penny Maistros Web Page Julianne Swanson Paula Dart Yannoula Ballassi John Fakis Dean Antipas JoAnn Ballassi Tim Matsas Karen Stearns Demetrius Tasoulas James Whittaker Order of AHEPA Demetrius E. Tasoulas - President Foundation Fund (Endowment) James Colonis Paedeia Society Stephan Nousiopoulos - President St. Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church 200 Hempstead St., New London, CT (860) FAX (860) Fr. Dean: (860) stsophiact@yahoo.com Web Page: saintsophianl.org Facebook: Saint Sophia Church Fr. Dean A. Panagos Pastor Weekly Please call the office to be placed on the parish weekly list for the most up-to-date parish news. Also, please let us know if you d like to receive the monthly bulletin via instead of having it mailed to your home. Sponsors of this issue of of the Orthodox Life John, Jeanne, Nicholas and Delia Fakis, in honor of the 90th birthday of their father and pappou, Gus Routsis, August 24. Bunny Dart, in loving memory of her mother, Pauline Tsesmelis, her husband, Duncan and her son, Kenneth. We thank those who have sponsored an issue of the Orthodox Life of St. Sophia Church. Your sponsorship helps defray the cost of printing and mailing the bulletin every month. Thank you! BULLETIN SPONSORSHIP FORM Yes, I would like to sponsor an issue of the Orthodox Life Name In memory of In honor of Other (circle) Donation: $50 Please make checks payable to: St. Sophia Church Thank you!

3 August Liturgical Life CHRIST the Light of the World AUGUST CHURCH SERVICES Summer Sunday Services Matins 8:30 am Divine Liturgy 9:30 am Weekday/Saturday Services Matins/Divine Liturgy - 8:30 am (C) Evangelismos Chapel Wednesday, 8/1: Friday, 8/3: Sunday, 8/5: Dormition Fast begins Paraklesis 7:00 pm Paraklesis 7:00 pm Martyr Eusignios Great Vespers 7:00 pm Throughout the Holy Bible we see a recurring theme of light and darkness, good and evil, and righteousness and unrighteousness. In the Gospel of John, we see the imagery of light expressed in many passages. At the introduction of his gospel, John calls the life of Christ the light of men (John 1:4) and says that the darkness has not overcome this light. St. John illustrates that Christ s life fulfilled Isaiah s prophecy that those who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isaiah 9:2). We also see this theme in the healing of the blind man, where Jesus proclaims I am the light of the world (John 9:5). Christ goes on to explain the meaning of light and darkness as something that is beyond our physical ability to see. One should look beyond the physical and towards Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who removes the darkness of sin and brings one to the true light. Monday, 8/6: Wednesday, 8/8: Friday, 8/10: Sunday, 8/12: Monday, 8/13: Sunday, 8/19: Sunday, 8/26: Wednesday, 8/29: Holy Transfiguration Matins/Liturgy 8:30 am Blessing of Grapes & Fruit Paraklesis 7:00 pm Paraklesis 7:00 pm Martyrs Photios & Niketos Paraklesis 7:00 pm FEAST OF THE DORMITION Tuesday, August 14 Great Vespers and Lamentations 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 15 Matins/Divine Liturgy 9:00 am Martyr Andrew the Commander 3 year memorial service for Stephanie Copsinis Martyrs Adrianos & Natalia 5 year memorial service for Irene Thanas Beheading of St. John the Baptist

4 Have We Lost America is suffering from an identity crisis. We have lost our rightful Judeo-Christian identity by hose who emphasize diversity and tolerance, while marginalizing our sacred heritage. Our world today had removed any form or remnant of the divine imprint in its decrees and policies. We have, due in part to ignorance and part apathy, permitted our Faith to be asphyxiated and extinguished in the society around us. It is us as Orthodox Christians, which have failed our true calling to be light bearers suffering Christ s image within us becoming icons of this world instead. We have subconsciously been led astray by the ever so gentle undertows of our time and been swept away from our Heavenly Father s embrace. We have found a new home, a new father a new destiny, and God is not welcome. We continue to make excuses why His invitation to our lives has been lost in the mail as did those who chose not to attend the marriage feast in the Gospels. Several poets of antiquity tell a charming but frightening tale about a young man who saw his own reflection in a pool and become so infatuated that he vowed never to marry. He even ignored the lovely nymph, Echo, who had followed him to that place, leaving her to wander off alone until she at last pined away to nothing but a faint, whispering voice. The young man s name was Narcissus, and he has become the image of the excess of self-love. When we say that a person is narcissistic, or that we live in an age of narcissism, we are alluding to the self-absorbed young man who sat, day after day, staring at his own reflection while ignoring the rest of the world around him. The story is of course, a parable of one of the many pitfalls to which humans are susceptible self-absorption. As Orthodox Christians we must remember the warnings of St. Chrysostom who began his lessons on the education of children with stern admonitions against this self-absorbed condition. Anticipating the question as to why such a young man would grow up to follow only the precepts of his appetites, St. John asked, Did you not marvel at him? Did you not sing his praise? Did you not lead him on to his present state by applause and flattery? As human beings we all share the image of God planted in us from creation. We all share in fact this divine identity and stamp, but under sin, God s face is covered in us and we become, at least outwardly, someone else. Through sin we lose our resemblance with God and we take the appearance that the godless world around has painted on us. The world itself has long lost its identity. It ceased to be a vehicle for man s edification in God and was transformed in a purpose to itself, an apple of discord and enmity between people. The devil, the greatest identity thief, diabolos, the deceiver, has succeeded to sell us, starting with Adam and Eve a reality that has nothing to do with the true reality of God, but it pleases the senses and promises everything and beyond. We got hooked by his promises and now we live in this world with the illusion that it can fulfill us, we struggle every day to achieve meaningless goals, missing completely our true purpose and destiny. A saintly person, on the other hand, is a person that has uncovered the image of God in him and has found his place in the world by acting according to His likeness. A saintly person shows to the world his true identity, imitating Christ almost to the point of confusion. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20). We are not ourselves and we are not truly living until we are with Christ. Don t let the world tell you otherwise; our identity is fulfilled only by being Christians. Christians don t just believe differently than others, they exist in a different reality; a genuine reality in which God becomes

5 Our Identity? man and man becomes divine. This is God s edition of reality, the only one true and original. When someone asks What is your identity? most of us immediately think of our name, our associations, our vocation etc. But is there more? The more has to do with our spiritual identity. A spiritual identity is a given reality at Baptism. The water itself reveals the creative activity of God to bring forth something new. The waters of Baptism are also a rite of passage, as in the case of Noah, a passage from the former Adam to the New Adam, Christ. In this new identity we find ourselves in the community of the Triune God because personhood is being in community, this new relationship invites us to find our true humanity and identity with God and others. In short, spiritual identity is not a thing of our own choosing. It is not a psychological experience of getting in touch with the inner self. Rather, it is instead a union with Christ Jesus ( Romans 6) signified through Baptism. If we are not good Orthodox it is not because we are Orthodox; it Is more likely because our Orthodoxy is for some individuals a formal affiliation, rather than a way of life. A German theologian, Konrad Onash, himself a Protestant, stated that the supreme goal of Orthodoxy is Christ-likeness. Do we, Orthodox Christians in general really strive to attain some likeness to Christ? I could spend hours, even days, citing examples showing a tragic disparity between our professed faith and our way of life. I believe we suffer from a lack of the sense of the holy. Although sermons may be preached about God s absolute holiness and incompatibility with any form of impurity in churches today, Americans have a noticeably casual approach to God. Many churches today deliberately avoid any suggestion that approaching God ought to be paramount in our lives and placing a line in the sand for which our values stand. But when we look back to the Old Testament sources of our worship, we find an entirely different scenario. During the years of the Exodus, when the plans for the Tabernacle were revealed, the specifications were exacting. Why? Because the Tabernacle was a holy pave: it was where God dwelt with his people (Ex 25:21-22). What is this abode? Where is the Tabernacle? What is the temple? It is none other than the womb of the Virgin Mother Mary the Theotokos. As we approach in a couple of weeks the beginning commemoration of her Dormition we again are challenged to be born inwardly. Upon her Entrance to the Temple Feast it is here that we see clearly, how the Temple goes to the temple. The one temple is made of stone, the other, prepared by God himself to dwell. The womb is revealed as a sacred and holy place that our Lord calls all of us to be created in ourselves so He may dwell. It then begs the question, How our current awareness of the world around us is an illusion, and how can we be receptive to the indwelling of the true reality of Christ? When we contemplate upon the upcoming Feast of the Dormition it would serve us well to be reminded of the person of the Theotokos, who, embodies the living temple of God and herself became His temple. Our need today is to form obedience in the womb of our hearts and discover our true calling as Christians. Martha and Mary stand for two kinds of this calling: the call to the active life and the call to the contemplative life. Mary the Mother of God fulfilled both of these as her response to God s call. He Who is love came down to earth and was born of the Virgin as a child in her so that we too may become receptacles of His divine indwelling. Our churches today can resemble many things. More often than not in spite of all our efforts, they tend to resemble more secular goals than spiritual. We have a great challenge before us, to challenge the very hearts and souls of our flocks to first and foremost discover the importance of a shift towards the divine. The more our faithful discover their true identity in Christ the more fruitful our ministries become and the more God will bless our endeavors. The abundant life promised us by Christ so many lack; I pray we may use every effort possible to be vehicles so God may transform our lives and our churches to beacons of light for the world to see the true reality. Submitted by: +Rev. Fr. Robert J. Archon St. Nicholas Portsmouth, NH

6 PARISH REGISTER Baptism Parish Life FLOWERS FOR DECORATING THE EPITAFIOS On Sunday, July 29, 2012, the daughter of Joseph and Demetra Glynos Modeen was baptized and given the name Sophia Maria. Sacramental sponsors were Vasilios and Lauren Kaloidis. Weddings On Saturday, July 21, 2012, Leah Cunningham, daughter of Daniel and Marcie Cunningham, was married to Matthew O Connor. Koumbara was Sophia Brubaker. On Saturday, July 28, Stephanie Roberts, daughter of Mark and Barbara Roberts, was married to Kevin Goodwin. Koumbara was the bride s sister, Taylor Roberts.. Repose Penelope Korkoumelis, beloved cousin of Angeliki Economou, reposed in the Lord on June 10, The Voice of Orthodox Christianity with Fr. Charles Metrocast Cable Channel 24 Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm Comcast Channel 12 (Groton) Thursday evenings at 5:00 pm Thames Cable Channel 12 Groton) Thursday evenings at 5:00 pm Comcast Channel 14 (Clinton) Monday evenings at 8:00 pm Comcast Channel 14 (Lyme) Monday 4:30 pm Comcast Channel 19 (Norwich) Monday 4:30 pm Please use the enclosed envelope to make your donation for the decoration of the Epitaphios for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Decorating of the Epitafios Tuesday, August 14 10:00 am START UP DATES The Young at Heart Club (seniors) Meeting will be Thursday, September 13, at 12:30 pm. Bible Study resumes Wednesday, September 19 at 10:00 am & 7:00 pm. The first meeting of the Philoptochos Society will take place Thursday, September 20, at 6:30 pm. Sunday School classes will resume Sunday, September 23. Greek School classes begin Saturday, October 6. Registration will take place Sunday, September 23 & 30, in the Community Center. FESTIVAL AD BOOK Place your festival greetings in our Ad Book Ad Rates Full Page = $100 1/2 Page = $60 1/4 Page = $40 Patron Listing $25 An advertising contract is included in this bulletin and forms are available in community center. Deadline: October 15 Please make checks payable to:

7 Parish Life AUGUST MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES Thursday, 8/2: Festival Meeting 5:30 pm Sunday School Advisory Meeting 7:00 pm Friday, 8/3: Monday, 8/6: Men s Support Group 7:00 pm Parish Council meeting 6:00 pm Monday, August 6 Friday, August 10 Vacation Bible School Welcome to Babylon Thursday, 8/9: Philoptochos Board Meeting 6:30 pm Friday, 8/10: Friday, 8/17: Soup Kitchen Outreach 4:00 pm Men s Support Group 7:00 pm DISCRETIONARY FUND Our Parish has a Discretionary Fund to assist our parishioners in times of financial need. If you would like to contribute to this Ministry of our Parish please send your contributions to the Church office payable to: St. Sophia Discretionary Fund FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION In the Orthodox tradition the first harvest, particularly grapes, is brought to the church and blessed on the Feast of the Transfiguration and then distributed amongst the parishioners. All parishioners are invited to bring fruits and vegetables from their gardens to be blessed at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on August 6th. PARISH OUTREACH We have made a commitment to work at the New London Community Meal Center (Soup Kitchen) on the second Friday of each month. We start at 4:00 pm and finish about 6:30 pm. Please see or call Elene Mosher at or Irene Synodi at , or call the Church Office at to volunteer your time. Upcoming Dates: August 10 & September 14 Please Consider Sponsoring the Fellowship Hour after Sunday Services Fellowship Hours may be sponsored in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a birthday, name day, etc. The Parish Council will make the coffee and assist the hosts as needed. The following dates are available: August 5 & 12 Thank you to our July Sponsors: The Family of Evangelos Akavalos in his memory. The Family of Penelope Korkoumelis, in her memory. The Family of Stella Katechis in her memory. The Family of Stephanie Ballassi in her memory. MEN S SUPPORT GROUP This support group is free to the public and deals with issues related to marriage, separation and divorce. The group will meet on Friday, August 3 & 17, at 7:00 pm. For more information, please contact support group facilitator, David Arpie at (860) or the Church office at SUMMER OFFICE HOURS Please note that the Church Office will be closed on Tuesdays in August. Office hours for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are 9:00 am 3:00 pm.

8 ORTHODOX STUDIES IN THE FAITH To know God is to study the Word of God Wednesday in the Vallas Building Morning Study - 10:00 am Evening Study - 7:00 pm The Study last one hour Beginning September 19 The Book of Exodus LIBERATING GOD S PEOPLE September 19 Introduction to the book of EXODUS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 & 4 September 26 Courageous Resistance October 3 A Mother s Faith October 10 Facing the Impossible October 24 Chapter 5 7:7 Obedient Courage Exodus, from Greek ἔξοδος, Exodos, meaning "going out"; from Hebrew Semot, meaning Names", is the second book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The book tells how the children of Israel leave slavery in Egypt through the strength of Yahweh, the God who has chosen Israel as his people. Led by their prophet Moses they journey through the wilderness to Mount Sinai, where Yahweh promises them the land of Canaan (the "Promised Land") in return for their faithfulness. Israel enters into a covenant with Yahweh who gives them their laws and instructions for the Tabernacle, the means by which he will dwell with them and lead them to the land. Parish Life SUMMER READING Come, O Christ by Metropolitan Meletios from the book Beauty For Ashes The Spiritual Transformation of a Modern Greek Community. Upon reading this writing, I invite you to take part in a spiritual exercise! Read the article, once, twice, or more. In each section write down where you become aware that your life departs from the Lord and is need of assistance to bring Him back in. Example, in the living of your life.what is it that you would be ashamed of if the Lord was to enter that room. You should extend this into other rooms of your life.your office, work environment, social life, your computer, your bedroom, etc. Why do this? To help one understand when, where and why we may close the Lord off in parts of our life. When we see this then we can open the door a bit more and allow the Lord in a bit more. For this is the aim of our Christian life! If you choose to do this I want you to be honest and open. The good, the bad, the ugly. If you feel you need to speak about aspects of this reading which you need to address then please speak with me and together we can map a path of spiritual growth. The booklet can be picked up at our bookstore. We will meet on Wednesday, September 12 at 10:00 am or 7:00 pm to discuss general aspects of this writing. "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from The Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book." Abraham Lincoln ( ), 16th U.S. President Bible reading is an education in itself. --Lord Tennyson

9 My Life in Christ PRAYER REQUESTS Please remember in prayer the servants of God Mimi, Mary, Helen, Rosaleen, Mari, Peter, Irene, Katherine, Athena, Lee, Costas, Barbara, Alexandra, Jacquelyn, Efrosine, John, Kyriaki, Helen, Catherine, Mary, Angeliki, Despina, Dodi, Joseph, John, George, Richard, Sophia, Melissa, Karl, Antigone, Donna, Tony, Caryn, Philip, Ernest, Olga, Yvonne, Tia, Constantine, Shaun, Niko, Calianthe, Paraskevi, Christos, Effie, Peter HOSPICE OF SOUTHEASTERN CT Support Groups Coping with the Loss of a Child Day/Time: Thursdays, 6:00 7:30 p.m. Dates: August 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2012 Location: L + M Hospital, Conference Room 3, New London Coping with the Loss of a Loved One by Suicide Day/Time: Tuesdays, 5:30 7:00 p.m. Dates: August 7 & 14, 2012 Location: Hospice 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT Coping with the Loss of a Spouse or Partner Day/Time: Mondays, 5:30 pm 7:00 pm Dates: August 6 & 13, 2012 Location: Hospice 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED ΟΝΟΜΑΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΘΑΝΟΝΤΩΝ We will have a special memorial service on August 26, for the following Orthodox Christians who have fallen asleep in the Lord in the month of August. John Callipolitis, August 1938 Theodoros Panagopoulos, Aug. 3, 1941, age 39 Evangelos Chrysogelos, Aug. 6, 1944, age 59 Papadoula Tsesmelis, Aug. 20, 1948, age 56 Efstratios Tzamtzes, Aug. 13, 1952, page 54 Nicholas Vafiades, Aug. 16, 1954, age 57 Athanasios Mantzaris, August 18, 1955 Themistocles Dadimos, Aug. 20, 1955, age 72 Odysseus Hurdes, Aug. 20, 1955, age 74 Peter Vong, Aug. 5, 1963, age 80 Nicholas Traggis, Aug. 1, 1971, age 71 Philip Kyritsis, Aug. 1, 1973, age 76 Papadoula Yatrousis, Aug. 23, 1974, age 88 Periandros Fotis, Aug. 7, 1975, age 75 Peter Spanos, Aug. 9, 1975, age 80 Leonidas Mantzaris, Aug. 24, Age 80 Sotirios Maistros, Aug. 8, 1976, age 78 George Kombouzis, Aug. 29, 1976, age 76 Maria Stacinou, Aug. 24, 1980, age 90 Theresa Manos, Aug. 14, 1982, age 71 Nicholas Mattis, Aug. 22, 1982, age 85 John Johns, Aug. 16, 1984, age 68 Harry Krotsis, August 28, 1983, age 88 Peter Lalaiatis, Aug. 31, 1985, age 97 Panagiota Michael, Aug. 22, 1986, age 84 Jennie Kontogouris, Aug. 13, 1989 Christos Orphanides, Aug. 22, 1991, age 88 Evangelos Dimitroulias, Aug. 17, 1993, age 67 Peter Karalis, Aug. 3, 1994 Theofanis Papathanasiou, Aug. 2, 1995, age 44 Nafsika Giagios, Aug. 6, 1995, age 91 Sophie Poulos, Aug. 29, 1995, age 81 Olga Komata, Aug. 1, 1996, age 96 Alexander Gianacoplos, Aug. 12, 1996, age 89 Elaine Stravoravdis, Aug. 15, 1998, age 33 Irene Fakis, August 15, 1998, age 81 George Longinidis, Aug. 31, 1999, age 59 William Krotsis, August 9, 2001, age 79 Lydia Barbar, August 23, 2001 Pauline Poulios, August 30, 2002, age 94 George Provatas, August 6, 2003, age 83 Nicholas Doukas, August 21, 2005, age 80 Peter Millaras, August 17, 2006, age Nicholas Pertesis, August 18, 2006, age Vasiliki Goumenos, August 3, 2007, age 88 Elaine Burke, August 13, 2007, age 51 Irene Thanas, August 27, 2007 Efstratios Kortesis, August 27, 2007, age 86 Diana Ballassi, August 3, 2008, age 90 James Condulis, August 27, 2009 Veronica Borkowski, August 6, age Penelope Woviotis, August 16, 2009, age 82 Stephanie Copsinis, August 21, 2009, age 97 Stella Katechis, August 2, 2011, age 36

10 Philoptochos News The Philoptochos Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, August 9, at 6:30 pm in the GOYA Room to review the tentative calendar of events and form committees for the year. The Membership Committee, comprised of Nina Vallombroso, Alice Poulios and Penny Maistros have been hard at work reviewing the questionnaires submitted by members and working on ways to increase membership and planning special events and fun themes for our meetings. All board members are urged to attend this very important meeting. AUGUST 15 COFFEE HOUR On Wednesday, August 15, the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Philoptochos Society will host he Fellowship Hour following the Divine Liturgy. Members are asked to bring in baked goods and/or brunch items More information will be given at the board meeting. SEPTEMBER MEETING The first meeting of the year will be held on Thursday, September 20, at 6:30 pm. The theme for the evening will be Sangria and Song. Members will enjoy Sangria, appetizers and musical entertainment following the meeting. I m looking forward to seeing our members at this meeting and extending a warm welcome to new members as well. Philoptochos functions at the local, metropolis, national, and international levels and is open to all women over 18 years old who are of the Greek Orthodox faith. It is your right and your privilege to be a member of the Philoptochos. We need the input, talents and energy of all of the women of St. Sophia. WARM UP AMERICA The Philoptochos has started a knitting/crocheting ministry and we need YOU, the St. Sophia parishioners to help us. Create a warm afghan for someone in need that s what WARM UP AMERICA is all about! keeping people warm. It s very simple because you can make a difference whether you complete one small 9x9 square or enough squares for an entire afghan. Please call or see Yannoula Ballassi at or Penny Maistros at to get involved and for some simple instructions and patterns. We have a few Agora items for sale such as olive oil, tarama, taramosalata, orzo, semolina, olives, manouri cheese, capers and #4, #7 and #10 fillo. SAVE THE DATE!!!!!! August 9: August 15: September 9: September 20: October 14: Board Meeting 6:30 pm Dormition Fellowship Hour Elevation of the Holy Cross Liturgy and Picnic at Eastern Point Beach Opening Meeting Appreciation Luncheon Ι look forward to another successful year and hope to see more of you at our meetings. Enjoy the rest of the summer. Submitted by Jeanne Fakis, President Philoptochos Membership 2012 Join today, complete the form below and mail with your check (Minimum Stewardship Donation $25) to: Sharon Whittaker, 169 Beckwith Hills Drive, Salem, CT Name Phone Address City State Zip Donation $

11 Youth News YOCAMA (Young Orthodox Christian American Missions Adventures) Mission Trip News Submitted by Avery Whittaker For a week from June 21st to June 28th I volunteered for a mission trip on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. I participated in this mission trip though the organization YOCAMA (Young Orthodox Christian American Missions Adventures) along with about 80 other high school and college age missionaries from Massachusetts, Illinois, and Connecticut. The Blackfeet Reservation is located in the northwestern portion of Montana and goes briefly into southern Canada. The entire reservation is 1.5 million acres. We stayed on the reservation in Browning Elementary School in the town of Browning, Montana. The entire reservation was and is, in need of a lot of help. Poverty is widely evident in the reservation. It's a shame because the surrounding landscape is so beautiful and untainted by industry yet the people of the Blackfeet tribe live in rampant poverty conditions. In addition to poverty the reservation faces unemployment issues, domestic abuse, child abuse/neglect, and drug and alcohol abuse. YOCAMA did a lot of construction work on the reservation. We worked in Browning and also in Heart Butte, another town on the reservation. As a group we painted the house of an influential and important member of the tribe with a unique style that resembles a tee pee; we scraped, painted and repaired the senior center in Heart Butte including replacing a linoleum floor and walls. DO YOU WISH TO SERVE IN THE ALTAR? If you are 9 years old through a senior in High School and would like to serve in the Altar please contact Fr. Dean at the church. We built benches, a picnic table and repaired the playground YOCAMA built two years ago in Heart Butte. We fed breakfast and lunch, played and made crafts with the Blackfeet children; around 100 per day for five days in Napi Elementary School in Browning. We also planted a vegetable garden in the community garden; we weeded, planted and weed whacked an over grown garden and built a stonewall and a fence around the garden at the community college in Browning. We gathered old bricks, cleaned them and dug out and paved a walkway at the Catholic Mission outside the reservation and added a garden there. And we stained the deck and window trim of senior citizen's home in Browning. Every night we also either played basketball or volleyball against the Indians, whom every time won (Browning High School is highly recognized in Montana for basketball and cross country). One night there was an intense game of Greeks vs. Indians in basketball, the Blackfeet won We also learned about the tribe's history and what lead to their downfall and why they are in their current state. This was my first mission trip and it was an eye opening experience. I was amazed to find out how little some people have right here in America. The tribe is the fifth poorest in the nation. It was a great experience and I would do it again and I hope that I can raise enough money again to do it next year. College Bound Please forward to the church office the mailing and address of your sons/daughters who are at college. We would like to keep them up-to-date about parish activities!

12 Welcome to Babylon! Daniel was way more than the guy who survived a den of hungry lions! Youth News Travel back to Babylon and join Daniel torn from his home and forced into the king s service. Imagine the pressure of learning anew language and culture and the shock of discovering your best friends have been tossed into a fiery furnace. Explore exotic sights and smells in a Babylonian bazaar! Kids and adults will find that they re not much different from Daniel and his friends, who kept their faith in a faithless culture. Monday, August 6 Friday, August 11 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm A Light Dinner will be served. $20.00 per child Your Tour Guide in Babylon is Greg Ballassi Sign up today! Greg (860) ) Church (860)

13 Parish Council News ST. SOPHIA FINANCIAL REPORT 6/1/12 to 6/30/12 Income Stewardship $ 16, Candles 1, Trays General Donations Greek School Memorial Donations Bulletin Coffee hour Bookstore Fund Raisers Total Income $ 20, Expense Salaries/Benefits $ 15, Archdiocese Commitment 4, Utilities 2, Maintenance 2, Greek School Sunday School Bookstore RISO Lease Rel. Programs/Choir/Youth Office Expense Coffee Hour Clergy Laity Conference Insurance 7, Kitchen Equipment 1, Fund Raisers 21, Designated Donations General Expense Church Expense Stamps Total Expenses $59, Overall Total (-$38,967.85) Operating Funds of the Parish as of 6/30/12 Checking Account Balance $ 7, Money Market Balance - $ 62, Restricted Funds/Loan Balances as of 6/30/12 Foundation Fund Assets - $362, St. Sophia F.F Loan Balance $ 71, Kavarnos Trust - $ 49, (after icon ceiling project is completed & paid for) Development Fund Acct. - $ 2, Chelsea Bank Loan Balance - $326, Maintenance Account - $ 14, FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAULA DART I hope everyone is enjoying the hot sticky summer with family and friends. I was very disappointed in the lack of participation at our General Assembly meeting as we aim to do major repairs to OUR church the roof, the community center roof and floor, etc. This was your chance to be heard and help in the decision making process. Contrary to what you may have heard, these decisions were not made ahead of time. Of approximately 350 families in our parish, 54 individuals attended the meeting and made these decisions for you. If you are not going to attend these meetings and make yourself heard, don t complain. I was appalled to find out that a certain individual was actually telling parishioners to boycott the General Assembly. That s a disgrace and not a very Christian thing to do, however, we WILL move forward. For those of you that did attend and gave your support I thank you. A motion was made to replace the church roof, which brings us to move forward with the Capital Campaign. Questions have been asked as to why we need a Capital Campaign. The Parish Council sees no other way to raise the hundreds of thousands of dollars that we need to do all the repairs that MUST be done. We will prioritize and spend the money on exactly what was stated in the Statement of Need. Father Dean and I are in the process of assembling a committee for the cap campaign project. We will keep everyone abreast of what s going on. Remember, all of us working together will get this done. Thank you for your continued support. Paula

14 Stewardship Our St. Sophia 2012 Stewardship Report as of July 20, 2012 Total pledged: $136, Offerings received: $ 123, # of Pledging Stewards: 184 Highest pledge: $ 5, Did you know: It cost an average of $34,008 per month ($1, a day) to keep our doors open in Our average income was $24,238 per month. # of Yearly Amount Weekly Amount Pledges Range Range 5 $3,000 + $ $2,000 $2,999 $ $1,000 $1,999 $19.23-$ $500 $999 $9.61 $ Less than $500 $9.60 and under Our 2012 Stewardship Goal is for Stewardship is $469,200, the entire income budget. We are aiming for 100% participation in the Stewardship Program from our parishioners. As of July 20, we have received 184 pledges amounting in $136,190, which is 29% of our goal. Please help us reach our goal by making a Stewardship Commitment today. Thank you to those who have submitting their pledge for Our Challenge to You Our ancestors in the Bible knew that all they had came from God. What they had they held not as owners, but as stewards. Adam was made steward, or caretaker, of creation. They also knew that God had decreed that a tithe, or 1/10, of all they harvested was to be returned to Him in thanksgiving and as appropriate worship. Christ calls us to be Stewards through tithing. We tithe, like all we do for Christ, out of love for the sacrifice He made for us, and out of love for those who are seeking the true faith. Help us meet our budget in 2012! Our budget is $469,200 With 350 supporting families/individuals it means that in 2012 it will take $1,200 per family/ individual to operate our parish This is $100 a month, $25 a week Stewardship is a way of life, assisting each of us to identify our God-given gifts and encourage each of us to offer our time, talent and treasure to support our St. Sophia Ministry. THE TWO OTHER T s IN STEWARDSHIP Stewardship of Time and Talent "Time? I have no time. And 'talent'.. Ha! I'm the least talented person you know." Have you ever thought something similar yourself? God has given us all the same amount of time and talent, we all just choose to use them differently. We all are given many gifts of time and talent. Are you sharing your gifts as a good steward? Throwing a $5 bill in the collection basket is just not enough. God and the Church don't need your money as much as He and we need you. On the back of our Stewardship Pledge Card we are given the opportunity to offer our time and talents to the various ministries of our church. Less than 10% of those received have been filled out. There is so much you can do serve through church programs, serve through church projects, serve through teaching, attend General Assembly and festival meetings. Join the Philoptochos, the Senior Citizens, become a member of the Parish Council. Don t be afraid to get involved. Good things happen when you share of yourself; you will know the deep joy that comes from being a part of God s work here on earth. Be a good steward of your time and talent Recognize your gifts - Use your time wisely Give of your time generously - Develop existing talents Flex your talent muscles - try out new ones. Do your best ON THE LIGHT SIDE The pastor stood before the congregation and said "I have bad news, I have good news, and I have more bad news." The congregation got quiet. "The bad news is: the church needs a new roof!" the pastor said. The congregation groaned. "The good news is: we have enough money for the new roof." A sigh of relief was heard rippling through the gathered group. "The bad new is: it s still in your pockets"

15 THE PARAKLESIS SERVICE ΑΙ ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΣΕΙΣ Αί Παράκλησεις θά τελεσθούν στές εξής ημέρες τού Αυγούστου: The service of Paraklesis will be celebrated on the following dates: Wednesday, August 1, Friday, August 3, Wednesday, August 8, Friday, August 10, and Monday, August 13, at 7:00 pm Ή Παράκλησις είναι μιά ακολουθία όπου προσευχόμεθα καί ικετεύομεν τήν Παναγίαν νά μάς βοηθήση είς τήν ζωήν μας. Πιστεύομεν ότι ή Αειπάρθενος Μαρία κάθεται στό πρώτο θρανίον τής Εκκλησίας συμπροσευχόμενη πρός τόν Υιόν της. Ολόκληρη ή ζωή της καί ό σκοπός της είναι νά μάς φέρη κοντά στόν Υιόν της. Επομένως, ή Θεοτόκος, έχουσα περάσει όλες τές πειό σκληρές δυσκολίες τής επιγείου ζωής βλέπει κάθε δάκρυ καί πόνο πού μάς πληγώνει είς τόν κόσμον αυτόν. Ή Παναγία ευρίσκεται ιδίως κοντά σ αυτούς πού προσπαθούν νά ζήσουν μιά ζωή κοντά στόν Θεόν. Ή Ακολουθία τής Παρακλήσεως εκφράζει τές ταραχές τής ψυχής μας πού μάς φέρνει ή αμαρτία. Αυτή ή ακολουθία προσπαθεί νά μάς επαναφέρη στήν φυσικήν καί πνευματικήν υγείαν πού θέλει ό Θεός διά τόν καθέναν μας. Μεγάλου Εσπερινού καί οί Ύμνοι τών Εγκωμίων τής Παναγίας θά ψαλούν τη Τρίτη, τήν 14 ην Αυγούστου, 7:00 μ. μ. Παρακαλείσθε νά προσφέρητε τό ονόματα τών ζώντων πού θέλετε νά μνημοσεύσωμεν κατά τάς ακολουθίας τής Παρακλήσεως. The Paraklesis is a service of supplication and prayer. We believe that the Virgin Mary sits in the first pew leading us in our prayers to her Son. Her whole life and purpose is simply to bring us to Him. Thus, the Theotokos, having experienced all the difficulties of earthly life, sees every tear, hears every groan of mankind. Especially near to her are all those who strive to live a God-pleasing life. The service of Paraklesis expresses the troubles of the soul surrounded by Sin, and asks for help in being restored both physically and spiritually to original health and beauty. Great Vespers and the Hymns of Lamentation will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 14th, at 7:00 pm. Please use this form to list the names of those living whom you wish to be remembered in prayer during the Paraklesis Services.

16 ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΟΣ ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΝ 2012 Ακολουθίες δία τές Κυριακές δία τό Καλοκαίρι Ορθρος 8:30 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30 π.μ. Καθημερινές Ακολουθίες Όρθρος/ Θεία Λειτουργία 8:30 π.μ. Τετάρτη, 1 Αυγούστου Παρασκευή, 3 Αυγούστου Κυριακή, 5 Αυγούστου Δευτέρα, 6 Αυγούστου Αρχεται η νηστεία τής Παναγίας Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. ΕΥΣΙΓΝΙΟΥ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ Μέγα Εσπερινός 7:00 μ.μ. ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΙΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ Όρθρος/ Θεία Λειτουργία 8:30 π.μ. Συμβούλιον 6:00 μ.μ. Δευτέρα, 6 Ίουλίου - Παρασκευή, 10 Ίουλίου 5:30 μ.μ. - 7:30 μ.μ. Κατασκήνωση Κατηχητικού για τα παιδιά της Αγίας Σοφίας. «Καλώς Ηρθατε στη Βαβυλώνα» Πληροφορίες για την κατασκήνωση υπάρχουν στο αγγλικό κείμενο. Τετάρτη, 8 Αυγούστου Παρασκευή, 10 Αυγούστου Κυριακή, 12 Αυγούστου Δευτέρα, 13 Αυγούστου Τρίτη, 14 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη, 15 Αυγούστου Κυριακή, 19 Αυγούστου Κυριακή, 26 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη, 29 Αυγούστου Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ ΦΩΤΙΟΥ Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΗ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ Μεγ. Εσπερινός καί Εγκώμια 7:00 μ.μ. ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ Ορθρος/Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ ΑΝΔΡΕΟΥ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΛΑΤΟΥ 3 χρόνια μνημόσυνον υπέρ αναπαύσεως τής Στεφανίας Κοπσίνη ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΝΑΤΑΛΙΑΣ 5 χρόνια μνημόσυνον υπέρ αναπαύσεως τής Ειρήνης Θανασούρα ΑΠΟΤΟΜΗ ΚΕΦΑΛΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΥ ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΣΤΟΛΙΣΜΟ ΤΟΥ ΕΠΙΤΑΦΙΟΥ Σάς παρακαλούμε νά χρησιμοποιήσετε τό φάκελο που εσωκλείουμε γία τήν δωρεά σας γία τόν στολισμό τού Επιταφίου γία τήν Κοίμησι της Θεοτόκου. Στολισμός τού Επιταφίου Τρίτη, 14 Άυγούστου

17 ΒΑΠΤΙΣΙΣ Ετελέσθη ή βάπτισις τής κόρης τού Ίωσήφ καί τής Δημητράς Μοδείν, την Κυριακήν, 29 Ιουλίου, 2012, κάι τής εδόθη τό όνομα Σοφία Μαρία. Οι ανάδοχοι ήσαν ό Βασήλειος καί ή Λόρεν Καλοίδης. ΣΤΕΨΙΣ Έτελέσθη ή στέψις τής Λέας Κόννινχαμ μετά τού Ματθαίου Ο Κόνερ, τήν 21ην Ίουλίου, Η κουμπάρα ήτο ή Σοφία Μβρούβεκερ. Έτελέσθη ή στέψις τής Στεφανίας Ρόμπερτς μετά τού Κέβεν Γούδουιν, τήν 28 Ίουλίου, Η κουμπάρα ήτο ή Τέλερ Ρόμτερτς, ή άδελφή τής νύφης. ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ Η αείμνηστος Πηνελόπη Κορκουμέλις, εξάδελφη τής Άγγελικής Εικονόμου, εκοιμήθη έν Κυρίω τήν 10ην Ίουνίου, ΜΕΛΛΟΝΤΙΚΕΣ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΕΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΟΣ 9 Σεπτεμβρίου: Θεία Λειτουργία, Ό Σταυρός & πίκ νίκ στήν θάλασσαν - Groton 13 Σεπτεμβρίου: Άρχεται ό Σύλλογος τών ηλικιωμένων 12:30 μ.μ. 16 Σεπτεμβρίου: Άρχεται τό Κατηχητικόν Σχολείον 19 Σεπτεμβρίου: Άρχεται ό κλυκλος τής προσευχής 10:00 π.μ. & 7:00 μ.μ. 20 Σεπτεμβρίου: Άρχεται ή Φιλόπτωχος 6:30 μ.μ. 22 Σεπτεμβρίου: Άρχεται τό Ελληνικόν Σχολείον Ετήσιον Φέστιβαλ τής Κοινότητος: Εκλογές διά νέον συμβούλιον: 6-9 Νοεμβρίου 2 Δεκεμβρίου ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΕΣ ΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΟΘΑΝΟΝΤΑΣ Τά ονόματα τών αποθανόντων διά τόν Αύγουστον μήνα ευρίσκεται στό αγγλικό κείμενον. Προσεύχεσθε ύπέρ ύγείας τών δούλων τού Θεου... Μιμή, Μαρία, Έλένη, Τριανταφιλιά, Μαρή, Πέτρο, Ειρήνη, Νικόλαο, Αίκατερίνη, Άθηνά, Έλευθερία, Βαρβάρα, Άλεξάνδρα, Ίακωβίνα, Εύροσύνη, Ίωάννη, Κυριακή, Έλένη, Αίκατερίνη, Μαρία, Άγγελική, Δέσποινα, Δόδη, Ίωσήφ, Ίωάννη, Γεώργιο, Ρικάρδο, Σοφία, Μελίσσα, Άντιγώνη, Άντώνι, Ντάνα, Κάρην, Καλιάνθη, Χρήστος, Φίλλιπα, Παναγιότη ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΤΡΟΠΟΣ ΖΩΗΣ Τό Πρόγραμμα τών Συνδρομητών 2012 Οί συνδρομηταί διά τό 2012 μέχρι τήν 20ην Ίουλίου: Kαρτες Υποσχέσειων 184 Υποσχέσεις $136, Εισπράξεις $123, Εάν δέν έχητε προσφέρει τήν συνδρομήν σας μέχρι τώρα παρακαλείσθε νά τό κάνετε τό συντομώτερον. Εάν έχητε προσφέρει τήν συνδρομήν σας εύχαριστό. «Η ΦΩΝH ΤHΣ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΥ XΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΣΥΝΗΣ» μέ τόν πατέρα Κωνσταντίνον Σιμώνην Metrocast Cable Channel 24 Κάθε Τρίτην 7 μ.μ. Comcast Groton Channel 12 Κάθε Πέμπτην 5 μ.μ Thames Cable Groton Channel 12 Κάθε Πέμπτην 5 μ.μ. Comcast Lyme Channel 14 Κάθε Δευτέρα 4:30 μ.μ. Comcast Norwich Channel 14 Κάθε Δευτέρα 4:30 μ.μ. Comcast Clinton Channel 19 Κάθε Δευτέραν 8 μ.μ.

18 Η ΚΟΙΜΗΣΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ Στις 15 Αυγούστου η Εκκλησία μας γιορτάζει την κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου. Αυτή η γιορτή είναι αφιερωμένη στην ταφή της και την «μεταφορά» της στον Παράδεισο. Αυτή η μέρα φέρνει στο προσκήνιο την βασική χριστιανική μας αντίληψη για την σωτηρία, η οποία επαναπροσδιορίζεται με την είσοδο ενός θνητού στο αιώνιο βασίλειο του Θεού, ξεπερνώντας τον Θάνατο και ανακτώντας το δώρο της αιώνιας ζωής. Στην Ορθόδοξη παράδοση η Θεοτόκος είναι αχώριστη από τον Κύριο και Σωτήρα Ιησού Χριστό. Αυτό ακριβώς πρεσβέυει και το όνομα Θεοτόκος (π.χ., που γέννησε τον Χριστό, μητέρα Θεού), δηλαδή ότι η θέση και η σημασία της Παναγίας στην εκκλησία μας δεν μπορεί να διανοηθεί χωρίς την σχέση της με τον Κύριο. Οι Ύμνοι της εορτής, μας τονίζουν όχι μόνο την βασική μας χριστιανική αντίληψη για την σωτηρία μας, αλλά και την σημαντική θέση που κατέχει η Παναγία σε αυτήν την προοπτική. Ο εορτασμός της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου καθιερώθηκε τον 6 ο αιώνα, αν και βρίσκουμε τις ρίζες της ακόμη πιο παλιά στους πρώτους αιώνες, κυρίως στον 5 ο, ακολουθώντας τις αποφάσεις των Πατέρων της Εκκλησίας της 3 ης Οικουμενικής Συνόδου στην Έφεσσο, το 431, της παραδοχής του όρου Θεοτόκος ως προσδιορισμό της Παναγίας Μητέρας του Χριστού. Οι λεπτομέρειες του εορτασμού της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου, κυρίως όσες παρουσιάζονται στους ύμνους, βασίζονται σε μια απόκρυφη περιγραφή των συνθηκών του θανάτου της Θεοτόκου, που μας πηγαίνει πίσω στον Άγιο Ιωάννη τον Θεολόγο, τον πιστό μαθητή του Ιησού ο οποίος είχε αναλάβει την φροντίδα της Θεοτόκου. Η περιγραφή μας λέει την ιστορία που τόσο όμορφα απεικονίζεται στην εικόνα της Κοιμήσεως.Μας αναφέρει ότι ο Αρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ επισκέφτηκε την Παναγία και την ενημέρωσε για τον επικείμενο θανατό της, κατόπιν η Παναγία γύρισε στο σπίτι της και άρχισε να ετοιμάζεται για τον θανατό της και συγχρόνως προσευχόνταν ώστε όλοι οι Απόστολοι να ενημερωθούν για το συμβάν. Ο Άγιος Ιωάννης ήταν ο πρώτος που κατέφτασε και έπειτα ακολούθησαν και οι υπόλοιποι. Τελευταίος έρχεται ο Κύριος ακολουθούμενος από αγγέλους και παίρνει την ευλογημένη της ψυχή, η οποία είναι τυλιγμένη ως ένα μωρό στα σπάργανα, στην αγκαλία του ώστε να την μεταφέρει στον Παράδεισο. Πριν αποκοιμηθεί η Παναγία χαιρέτησε τους Αποστόλους και τους ανθρώπους και τους υποσχέθηκε, «ότι όποια ψυχή καλέσει το ονομά της δεν θα λιδορηθεί αλλά θα βρεί έλεος, παρηγοριά, κατανόηση και τόλμη σ αυτόν τον κόσμο και στον επόμενο». Η κηδεία της ακολουθεί. Το ιερό σώμα της Παναγίας μεταφέρεται μέτα στην Γεσθημανή όπου και ενταφιάζεται. Σύμφωνα με την περιγραφή την Τρίτη ημέρα το σώμα της Παναγίας «μεταφέρετε» στον Π α ρ ά δ ε ι σο. Τ α γ ε γ ο ν ό τ α συνοψίζονται στον πρώτο ύμνο του μεγάλου εσπερινού της γιορτής. Ώ τού παραδόξου θαύματος! Ή πηγή τής ζωής, έν μνθμείω τίθεται, καί κλίμαξ πρός ούρανόν, ό τάφος γίνεται. Εύφραίνου Γεθσημανή, τής Θεοτόκου τό άγιον τέμενος. Βούσωμεν οί πιστοί, τόν Γαβριήλ κεκτημένοι ταξίαρχον, Κεχαριτωμένη χαίρε, μετά σού ό Κύριος, ό παρέχων τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος. Οι Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί τιμούν την Θεοτόκο ως την υπέρτατη παρουσία της Εκκλησίας, την μητέρα όλων των Χριστιανών, γιατί όπως αναφέρουν στα γραφομενά τους οι άγιοι πατέρες, αποτελεί την «Καινούρια Έυα», την νέα Μητέρα της ανθρωπότητας που μέσω της υπακουής της ανάστρεψε την κατάρα της ανυπακοής της Έυας, και έφερ στον κόσμο τον «Νέο Αδάμ», τον Σωτήρα Ιησού Χριστό, ο οποίος αποκατέστησε την επικοινωνία της ανθρωπότητας με τον Θεό τον Δημιουργό.

19 St. Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church 200 Hempstead Street, New London, Connecticut ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID New London, CT Permit No. 272 PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY TIME VALUED MATERIAL Please note new location!!!!! Liturgy at Eastern Point Beach, Groton September 9 Matins - 9:00 am Liturgy - 10:00 am Blessing of Waters and Swimming for the Cross - Picnic will follow Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Soda will be provided Please bring side dishes, salads, dessert and lawn chairs. There will be 3 age groups of swimmers: Ages 8 12 Ages Adults See Fr. Dean or George Ballassi if you wish to participate. In the Event of rain - Liturgy and picnic will be held at Church