Welcome to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Stamford

Transcript

1 Our Church Family worships the Holy Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit and every Sunday, the Lord s Day, we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Welcome to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Stamford Your Pastoral Team Presiding Priest: Fr. Evan Evangelidis, Fr.Evan@annunciationofstamford.org Parish Council President: Paul Poulos, ppoulos@yahoo.com School Committee President: Paraskevi Radis, pdr0331@gmail.com Philoptochos co- Presidents: Rebecca Boutsikoudis, rboutsikoudis@gmail.com Toula Varvitsiotis, Toula_v@msn.com Greek School Director: Penelope Venetsanos, Kladielias@yahoo.com Sunday School Director: Patty Bakes Servos, pattybakesservos@yahoo.com Hall Rentals: Larry Karipides, larry.karipides@outlook.com GOYA: Georgia Poulos, georgiapoulos@ymail.com HOPE & JOY: Irene Tournas, irenetournas@hotmail.com Mommy & Me: Kiki Kabouris-Tournas, kikikabouris@gmail.com P.T.A.: Stella Lambrinakos, stellalambrinakos@gmail.com Christianne Contopoulos, ccontopoulos@yahoo.com Joanna Soulios, joanna@soulios.net Bingo: Jamie Philippopoulos, wg@windsor-grey.com Sunshine Club: Kiki Marmarinos, kiki3682@gamil.com Church Webpage: Paul Poulos, ppoulos@yahoo.com Church Secretary Glyka Athanasiou, secretary@annunciationofstamford.org Saints of the Day January 14th, 2018 The Leave-taking of the Feast of Epiphany The Holy Fathers slain at Mt. Sinai Απόδοσις Θεοφανείων Τῶν Ἁγίων Πατέρων ἐν Σινᾶ. Schedule of Liturgical Hours Sunday Orthros 8:45 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM 11:30 AM Weekday Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM 10:30 AM Paraklesis & Vespers 7:00 PM 8:30 PM Office Hours : Monday Friday 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Tel Web: secretary@annunciationofstamford.org

2 Welcome to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church January 14th, 2018 What s Happening This Week! Mon 1/15 Tue 1/16 Weds 1/17 Thurs 1/18 Fri 1/19 Sat 1/20 Martin Luther King Day Church Office Closed. Greek School 4pm-6pm Feast of St. Andonios Divine Archangels. 9:30am Midgets Basketball Practice 6pm-8pm Feast of St. Athanasius & Cyril Divine Liturgy 9:30am Bingo 7:00pm Bible Study Topic: Is Baptizing Infants Biblical? 11:00am Greek School 4pm - 6pm HOPE/JOY 6:15pm - 8:00pm Greek School 10am-12pm AHEPA Lecture 6:30pm-8:30pm...K i d s Have you ever gotten some advice from one person but then you heard it from another person too? Maybe your parents told you one thing, and then your grandparents or your teachers said it too. In today s Gospel reading, we hear about the very beginning of our Lord s work, His ministry. When Jesus began to preach and to teach, He said, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He told the people to say they were sorry for the wrong things they had done. He told them to get ready for God to be with them. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus wasn t the first person to say this. Just last week, we heard that Saint John the Baptist said the same thing! Saint John told the people, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Get ready, he told them. Saint John and Jesus told the same advice, the same story. The saints of our church tell the same story that Christ did. The saints are all on the same page. They tell the same message. They know what God wants from us. Our Lord wants us to get ready for Him. Our Lord wants us to be with Him! We hear the same story from Saint John that we hear from Christ. We hear the same message from all the faithful saints of our Church. Let s try to listen to all of them! K o r n e r...

3 Today's Sunday Hymns Οἱ Σημερινοί Ὕμνοι τῆς Κυριακής Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Ἠχος βαρύς - Resurrectional Apolytikion Grave Mode Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον µετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. To the robber You opened Paradise. The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all that You had risen, O Christ our God, and granted the world Your great mercy. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἑορτῆς. Ἠχος αʹ - Apolytikion of the Feast. Mode 1. Ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ βαπτιζοµένου σου Κύριε, ἡ τῆς Τριάδος ἐφανερώθη προσκύνησις τοῦ γὰρ Γεννήτορος ἡ φωνὴ προσεµαρτύρει σοι, ἀγαπητόν σε Υἱὸν ὀνοµάζουσα καὶ τὸ Πνεῦµα ἐν εἴδει περιστερᾶς, ἐβεβαίου τοῦ λόγου τὸ ἀσφαλές. Ὁ ἐπιφανεὶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τὸν κόσµον φωτίσας δόξα σοι. As You were baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, then the worship of the Trinity became manifest, for the voice of the Father bore witness to You, naming You the Beloved Son; and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ God, who appeared and illumined the world, glory to You. Τοῦ Ναοῦ - Hymn of our Parish Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ Κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται, Διὸ σὺν αὐτῷ τὴ Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν, Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. Today marks the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims your grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Κοντάκιον.Ἠχος δʹ - Hymn of the Liturgical Season in Tone 4. Ἐπεφάνης σήµερον τῇ οἰκουµένῃ, καὶ τὸ φῶς σου Κύριε, ἐσηµειώθη ἐφ' ἡµᾶς, ἐν ἐπιγνώσει ὑµνοῦντάς σε. Ἦλθες ἐφάνης τὸ Φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον. You appeared today to us * on earth, O Master, * and Your light was signed on us * who cry aloud to You and say * with understanding, O Christ our God: You came and shone forth, O Light unapproachable.

4 Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Προκείµενον. Ἦχος πλ. βʹ. Ψαλµὸς ΛΒʹ (32). Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡµᾶς, καθάπερ ἠλπίσαµεν ἐπὶ σέ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, δίκαιοι, ἐν Κυρίῳ τοῖς εὐθέσι πρέπει αἴνεσις.. Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου τὸ ἀνάγνωσµα. (4:7-13) Ἀδελφοί, ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡµῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ µέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ λέγει, Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχµαλώτευσεν αἰχµαλωσίαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν δόµατα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὸ δέ, Ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ µὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον εἰς τὰ κατώτερα µέρη τῆς γῆς; Ὁ καταβάς, αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα. Καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς µὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιµένας καὶ διδασκάλους, πρὸς τὸν καταρτισµὸν τῶν ἁγίων, εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, εἰς οἰκοδοµὴν τοῦ σώµατος τοῦ Χριστοῦ µέχρι καταντήσωµεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς µέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώµατος τοῦ Χριστοῦ.. THE EPISTLE Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 32 (33). Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we hope in You. Rejoice greatly in the Lord, O righteous ones; praise is fitting for the upright. The reading is from Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. (4:7-13) Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Epistle in Modern Greek Ἀλλ εἰς τὸν καθένα ἀπὸ μᾶς ἐδόθηκε ἡ χάρις σύμφωνα πρὸς τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο λέγει, Ὅταν ἀνέβηκε εἰς τὰ ὕψη ἔλαβε αἰχμαλώτους καὶ ἔδωκε δῶρα εἰς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους.τὸ δὲ ἀνέβηκε, τί σημαίνει παρὰ ὅτι καὶ κατέβηκε πρῶτα εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς; Ἐκεῖνος ποὺ κατέβηκε εἶναι αὐτὸς ποὺ καὶ ἀνέβηκε ὑπεράνω ὅλων τῶν οὐρανῶν, διὰ νὰ γεμίσῃ τὰ πάντα. Καὶ τὰ δῶρά του ἦσαν: μερικοὶ νὰ εἶναι ἀπόστολοι, ἄλλοι προφῆται, ἄλλοι εὐαγγελισταί, ἄλλοι ποιμένες καὶ διδάσκαλοι, πρὸς τὸν σκοπὸν νὰ καταρτίσουν τοὺς ἁγίους, διὰ τὸ ἔργον ὑπηρεσίας, διὰ τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

5 ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ἰωάννην ἁγίου Εὐαγγελίου τὸ ἀνάγνωσµα. (1:29-34) Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι Ἰωάννης παρεδόθη, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν,καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὲτ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καπερναοὺµ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλείµ,ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλείµ,ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήµενος ἐν σκότειεἶδε φῶς µέγα,καὶ τοῖς καθηµένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτουφῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς. Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν µετανοεῖτε ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν THE GOSPEL The Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:29-34) At that time, Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Gospel in Modern Greek Ὅταν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἄκουσε ὅτι ὁ Ἰωάννης συνελήφθη, ἔφυγε εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν.Ἄφησε τὴν Ναζαρὲτ καὶ ἦλθε νὰ κατοικήσῃ εἰς τὴν Καπερναούμ, ἡ ὁποία ἦτο κοντὰ εἰς τὴν λίμνην εἰς τὰ σύνορα Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλείμ, διὰ νὰ ἐκπληρωθῇ ἐκεῖνο, ποὺ ἐλέχθη διὰ τοῦ Ἡσαΐα τοῦ προφήτου, Ἡ χώρα τοῦ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ ἡ χώρα τοῦ Νεφθαλείμ, ἡ ὁποία ἐκτείνεται κοντὰ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἡ γῆ πέραν ἀπὸ τὸν Ἰορδάνην, ἡ Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνικῶν, ὁ λαός, ποὺ κάθεται εἰς τὸ σκοτάδι, εἶδε μεγάλο φῶς καὶ εἰς ἐκείνους ποὺ κάθονται εἰς τὴν χώραν καὶ τὴν σκιὰν τοῦ θανάτου, ἀνέτειλε γι αὐτοὺς φῶς. Ἀπὸ τότε ἄρχισε ὁ Ἰησοῦς νὰ κηρύττῃ καὶ νὰ λέγῃ, «Μετανοεῖτε, διότι ἐπλησίασε ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν».

6 Memorials & Church Services Memorials: 01/14/18-1 year Memorial for Vasiliki Tsangarakis. Church Services: 1/17/18 - Feast of St. Andonios. Divine The Archangels 9:30am.. 1/18/18 - Feasts of Ss. Athanasios & Cyril. Divine Liturgy, 9:30am. Church Announcements Congratulations to our 2018 Parish Council. Paul Poulos, President; Nikiforos Mathews, Vice-President; Dino Kallenekos, Treasurer; Spiros Pavlatos, Asst. Treasurer; Stanley Sakellson, Secretary. Chris Vlahakis, Lazaros Karipides, John Iatrou, Elias Bistolas, Pavlos Diamantis, Angelica Philippopoulos. Today s coffee hour is sponsored by the family of Vasiliki Tsangarakis in honor of her memory. May Vasiliki s memory be eternal and many blessings to her daughter Eleni Sotiropoulos, to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! There is a Philoptochos Meeting tomorrow, January 15th at 7:30pm. To have your house or business blessed for Epiphany, please give the church office three dates/times that work for you. Fr. Evan will pick one of them. Join us for our annual Vasilopita cutting today after Diving Liturgy in our church fellowship hall. There is a gathering of HOPE/JOY aged children on Friday, January 19th from 6:15pm- 8:00pm. The topic is faithfulness with St. Noah as the example. Food and refreshments are served. All kids aged 6-12 are welcome. Our seasonal AHEPA lecture continues on Friday, January 19th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in our church hall. The topic is Alexander the Great and his venture into India. Pizza and refreshments are served. All are welcome. Congratulations Congratulations to Maria & Pavlos Katsetos on the 40 day blessing of their daughter today! Na sas zisi! Feast of the Week St. Anthony "the Great", is known as the father of monasticism ranks with those saints whose life exercised a profound influence upon future generations. He was born in Egypt (about 250 AD) into a wealthy Greek family and received a classical education, probably in Alexandria. After his parents death, he wholeheartedly took up the Christian life. One day in church he heard the words of the Gospel: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor" (Matt. 19:21). It seemed as if Christ had spoken to him directly. Without delay he sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and went into the desert (about 270 AD). He fasted rigorously and drank only water. Sometimes he wouldn t eat for days. Often, he spent nights in prayer. The saint suffered repeatedly from diabolical attacks, which made him more steadfast. He would encourage his disciples in their struggle with the devil with such words: "Believe me; the devil fears the vigils of pious souls, and their fastings, their poverty, their compassion, their humility, but most of all their ardent love for Christ. As soon as he sees the sign of the Cross, he flees in terror." St. Anthony died in 356 AD near the Red Sea, 105 years old. A year later his friend, St. Athanasius, wrote his biography, which for centuries became the classic handbook of ascetics. As seen by St. Anthony, the purpose of asceticism is not to destroy the body but to bring it into subjection, re-establishing man's original harmonious integrity, his true God-given nature. St. Anthony lived in solitude for about twenty years. In a word, he was thoroughly immune to the vanities of the world, like a man unswervingly established in inner peace and harmony." Here are a few of his famous sayings to monks. "Let it be your supreme and common purpose not to grow weary in the work you have begun, and in time of trial and affliction not to lose courage and say: Oh, how long already have we been mortifying ourselves! Rather, we should daily begin anew and constantly increase our fervor. For man's whole life is short when measured against the time to come, so short, in fact, that it is as nothing in comparison with eternity.... Therefore, my children, let us persevere in our acts of asceticism. And that we may not become weary and disheartened, it is good to meditate on the words of the apostle: 'I die daily.' If we live with the picture of death always before our eyes, we will not sin. For If we are convinced of this and live each day as the apostle suggests, then we will not fall into sin; no anger move us, no treasure bind us to earth; we will await death with unfettered hearts." Christians around the world celebrate St. Anthony s feast day on January 17th.

7 ΤΑ ΧΑΡΙΣΜΑΤΑ ΜΑΣ From Father s Desk «Ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ» (Ἐφεσ. δ 7-13) Στὸ σημερινὸ ἀποστολικὸ ἀνάγνωσμα, ἀπὸ τὴν πρὸς Ἐφεσίους Ἐπιστολή, ὁ ἀπόστολος Παῦλος μᾶς διδάσκει σπουδαῖες ἀλήθειες σχετικὰ μὲ τὰ χαρίσματά μας μέσα στὴν Ἐκκλησία. Στὸ στίχο ποὺ προτάξαμε, μᾶς διαβεβαιώνει: «Ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις». Σὲ καθέναν ἀπὸ μᾶς δόθηκε «ἡ χάρις» «ἡ χάρις» ἐδῶ ἔχει εἰδικὴ ἔννοια: σημαίνει «τὰ χαρίσματα». Παρακάτω ἀναφέρει μερικὰ μεγάλα: τοῦ Ἀποστόλου, τοῦ Προφήτη Ὑπάρχουν ὅμως καὶ πολλὰ ἄλλα Ὅλοι ἔχουμε χαρίσματα, γράφει ὁ ἅγιος Ἀπόστολος. Μᾶς τὰ ἔδωσε ὁ Χριστὸς «κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς» Αὐτοῦ, ὅπως Ἐκεῖνος ἔκρινε. Ἂς μελετήσουμε λοιπὸν σήμερα βαθύτερα τὸ νόημα αὐτοῦ τοῦ χωρίου καὶ ἂς δοῦμε τί σημασία ἔχει αὐτὸ γιὰ τὴ ζωή μας. Δῶρα τῆς πάνσοφης ἀγάπης Του. Κατ ἀρχάς, οἱ λέξεις «χάρις» καὶ «δωρεὰ» μᾶς βοηθοῦν νὰ συνειδητοποιήσουμε τὸ ἑξῆς: ὅτι ὅλα τὰ χαρίσματα εἶναι χαρίσματα, εἶναι δηλαδὴ δῶρα τοῦ Χριστοῦ! Δὲν τὰ κέρδισε κανεὶς μὲ ἀγώνα, μὲ τὸ σπαθί του, ὅπως λέμε. Εὐδόκησε ὁ Θεὸς νὰ μᾶς τὰ χαρίσει. Μᾶς χαρίστηκαν «κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ». Ἐξαιτίας τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μας δὲν ἀξίζαμε δῶρα ἀλλὰ τιμωρίες. Ἤμασταν αἰχμάλωτοι τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ καταδικασμένοι σὲ αἰώνια ἀπώλεια. Ὁ Χριστὸς ὅμως μὲ τὸ ἀπολυτρωτικό Του ἔργο χάρισε σὲ ὅλους μας τὸ ἀνεκτίμητο δῶρο τῆς σωτηρίας καὶ στὸν καθένα μας ἰδιαίτερα χαρίσματα, τὰ ὁποῖα λαμβάνουμε κατὰ τὸ ἅγιο Χρίσμα, πέρα ἀπὸ τὰ φυσικὰ χαρίσματα, ποὺ ἔχουμε ἐκ γενετῆς. Εἶναι λοιπὸν δῶρα τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὰ χαρίσματά μας. Εὐγνωμοσύνη καὶ καρποφορία Τὸ θεόπνευστο αὐτὸ χωρίο ἀνοίγει νέα προοπτικὴ στὴ ζωή μας καὶ εἰδικὰ στὸ πῶς νὰ ἀντιμετωπίζουμε τὰ χαρίσματα τὰ δικά μας καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μας. Ὅποια χαρίσματα κι ἂν ἔχουμε, εἶναι δῶρα τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἴπαμε. Τὰ ἔδωσαν στὴν ἁμαρτωλότητά μας ἐκεῖνα τὰ Χέρια ποὺ μᾶς δημιούργησαν, ἐκεῖνα τὰ Χέρια ποὺ τρυπήθηκαν ἀπὸ τὰ καρφιὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ γιὰ χάρη μας. Ἑπομένως ποιὸς Χριστιανὸς μπορεῖ νὰ ὑπερηφανευθεῖ γιὰ τὰ χαρίσματά του; Ἀφοῦ τὰ ἔδωσε Ἐκεῖνος ποὺ μᾶς ἀγαπᾶ περισσότερο ἀπὸ ὅ,τι ἐμεῖς τὸν ἑαυτό μας τὰ μέτρησε Ἐκεῖνος ποὺ δὲν κάνει λάθη. Τὰ χαρίσματά μας οὐσιαστικὰ εἶναι διαφορετικοὶ δρόμοι τῆς ἀγάπης Του. Εἶναι εὐλογίες ποὺ γιὰ νὰ τὶς χαροῦμε, καλούμαστε νὰ κοπιάζουμε ὥστε μὲ αὐτὲς νὰ βοηθοῦμε τοὺς ἀδελφούς μας νὰ ἑνώνονται μὲ τὸν Χριστό. Πηγή: May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. - - (2 Thessalonians 13:5) I was stopped at a traffic light on my way to church one morning when from across the intersection, I watched a car hesitate when the light turned green. Then out of nowhere, a voice began screaming, Oh come on.. Go! Go! From what I could tell, the driver was an elderly man and appeared frightened by the angry cries and confused where they were coming from. Then I saw it, the driver behind him stuck his head out the window and began yelling even louder. Eventually, the elderly man collected himself and began moving along. I was struck by the rudeness and impatience of the angry driver. As I continued driving to church, I thought to myself that sometimes people think that God is like that driver irritated, impatient and ready to shout at them through some divine megaphone. They fear that Thought of the week: God s grace is infinite love that expresses itself in infinite patience. God is looking over their shoulder, ready to punish every wrong move. In reality, however, God actions toward His children, even though sometimes we make mistakes through life like that impatient driver did, are born out of His patient love for us. St. Paul thought it was really important to get his point across to the Thessalonians so that they understand it. God is at work in our lives and He will accomplish His purposes. While there may be times when God lovingly prods and disciplines us in such a way to get His point across, He will never impatiently yell at us. Because God in Christ was patient with us up until the very end, we too must be patient with others. This way, the world will know that we are truly His children. Prayer: Dear Lord, move me as needed and direct me to Your loving patience so that I may be more like You. Amen! A Blessed, Happy & Healthy New Year to All!

8 S t e w a r d s h i p R e f l e c t i o n Why should I give? Giving is Biblical Man shall not appear before the Lord empty handed. Man shall give as he is able, according to the blessιng that the Lord your God has given you. (Deuteronomy 16:17) Giving Connects us with others Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:40) Giving establishes priorities Store up for yourselves a good foundation for the time to come, so that you may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:21) Giving Energizes He who sows generously, reaps generously. (2 Corinthians 9:6) Giving Creates Perspective Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where our treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:20) Giving draws us closer to God s Character - For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) Giving is doable by everyone Let each of you give according to what your heart tells you, not reluctantly or out of a sense of duty, for God loves the one who gives gladly. (2 Corinthians 19:7) Everyone is called to be generous! Did you know people search for three things? 1 st people seek Transcendence (desire to know God). 2 nd people seek meaning and significance. 3 rd people seek community. Our mission is to know God through the Good News of salvation offered by Jesus Christ our Lord, to journey towards sanctification through our participation in the sacramental, spiritual and ethical life of the Church, and to build a community that glorifies God, seeking to do His will of loving one another, we may attain His Kingdom. Please join us in this sacred mission! Thank you and God bless you! Weekly Candles, Trays & Stewardship Collections Candles, week of 1/07/18 $ Candles, this time last year $ Trays, week of 1/07/18 $ Trays, this time last year $ Stewardship, week of 1/07/18 $2, Stewardship, this time last year $

9 Γιατί να συμμετέχω ενεργά στο έργο της Εκκλησείας; Η συμμετοχή μας αναφέρεται στην Ἁγία Γραφή - Ο άνθρωπος δέν θα εμφανίζεται μπροστά στόν Κύριο με άδεια χέρια. Ο καθένας θα προσφέρει ότι μπορεί ανάλογα με την ευλογία, που θα του έχει δώσει ο Κύριος ο Θεός σας. (Δευτερονομίον 16:17) Συμμετέχοντας συνδεόμαστεμε με τούς συνανθρώπους μας - Ἀλήθεια σᾶς λέγω, ὅ,τι ἐκάνατε εἰς ἕνα ἀπὸ τούτους τοὺς ἀσήμαντους ἀδελφούς μου, σ ἐμὲ τὸ ἐκάνατε. (Ματθαίον 25:40) Συμμετέχοντας καθιερώνουμε προτεραιότητες - Καὶ ἔτσι νὰ ἀποταμιεύσουν διὰ τὸν ἑαυτόν τους ἕνα καλὸ θεμέλιον διὰ τὸ μέλλον, διὰ νὰ λάβουν τὴν αἰώνιον ζωήν. (Α Προς Τιμόθεον 6:21) Συμμετέχοντας νιώθουμε ενεργοποιημένοι -. Eκεῖνος ποὺ σπέρνει μὲ ἀφθονίαν, θὰ θερίσῃ καὶ μὲ ἀφθονίαν (Β Προς Κορινθίους 9:6) Συμμετέχοντας δημιουργούμε προοπτικές - Ἀλλὰ θησαυρίζετε διὰ τὸν ἑαυτόν σας θησαυροὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ὅπου οὔτε σκόρος οὔτε σαπίλα τοὺς καταστρέφει καὶ ὅπου κλέπται δὲν κάνουν διάρρηξιν καὶ κλέβουν. Διότι ὅπου εἶναι ὁ θησαυρός σου, ἐκεῖ θὰ εἶναι καὶ ἡ καρδιά σου. (Ματθαίον 6:20) Συμμετέχοντας ερχόμαστε πιο κοντά στο χαρακτήρα του Θεού - Διότι τόσον πολὺ ἀγάπησε ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε ἔδωκε τὸν Υἱόν του τὸν μονογενῆ, διὰ νὰ μὴ χαθῇ ὅποιος πιστεύει εἰς αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ νὰ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. (Ιωάννην 3:16) Η συμμετοχή είναι εφικτή από όλλους μας - Ὁ καθένας ἂς δίνῃ ὅ,τι τοῦ λέγει ἡ καρδιά του, ὄχι μὲ λύπην ἢ ἀναγκαστικά, διότι ὁ Θεὸς ἀγαπᾶ τὸν χαρωπὸν δωρητήν. (Β Προς Κορινθίους 9:7) Όλοι καλούνται να είναι γεναιόδωροι! Γνωρίζατε πως οι άνθρωποι αναζητούν τρία πράγματα; 1ον-Υπέρβαση (επιθυμία να γνωρίσουν το Θεό). 2ον- Κατανόηση και σημασία. 3ον-Κοινότητα. Η αποστολή μας είναι να γνωρίσουμε το Θεό μέσα από τα Καλά Νέα που μας προσφέρει ο Κύριος ημών Ιησούς Χριστός, στο ταξίδι προς την σωτηρία συμμετέχοντας στα μυστήρια όπως και στη πνευματική και ηθική ζωή της Εκκλησίας. Να οικοδόμησουμε μια κοινότητα που δοξάζει το Θεό και αποσκοπεί να κάνει το θέλημα Του, αγαπώντας αλλήλους, ώστε να εισέλθουμε στην Βασιλεία Του. Παρακαλούμε ακολουθήστε μας σε αυτή την Ιερή Αποστολή. Ευχαριστούμε και ο Θεός να σας ευλογεί.

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11 Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. - Prayer of St. Francis