Sunday, February 18th, 2018 Cheesefare Sunday

Transcript

1 Epistle Reading St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake Sunday, February 18th, 2018 Cheesefare Sunday Epistle Reading Πρὸς Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα είναι απο Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν. V. Rev. Archimandrite George Nikas, Cathedral Dean Cell: Rev. Protopresbyter George Politis (retired) CATHEDRAL OFFICE HOURS: Monday Friday 9AM 5PM Holy Trinity Cathedral: 279 S. 300 W. SLC, UT 84101, Prophet Elias Church: 5335 Highland Dr. Holladay, UT 84117,

2 Gospel Reading The Gospel According to Matthew 6:14-21 The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Gospel Reading Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν. Sunday Services at both churches Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Upcoming Services February 19 th Great Compline (Mega Apothipnon) Monday 7:00 pm Prophet Elias February 21 st Presanctified Liturgy Wednesday 6:00 pm Prophet Elias Philoptochos will be hosting Lenten Pot Luck February 23 rd 1 st Salutations Friday 7:00 pm Holy Trinity February 24 th 3rd Saturday of Souls Saturday Orthros 9:00am followed by Divine Liturgy Prophet Elias February 26 th Great Compline Monday 7:00 pm Holy Trinity February 28 th Presanctified Liturgy Wednesday 6:00 pm Holy Trinity Parish Council will be hosting Lenten Pot Luck March 2 nd 2 nd Salutations Friday 7:00 pm Prophet Elias Memorials February 18 th, 2018 Stylianos Tzeranakis 40 days Holy Trinity Valentina Andriasyan 40 days Prophet Elias Scheduling Memorials Please contact the church office to schedule a memorial or orthodoxy3@gmail.com Include the baptismal names for the memorials Prayer List Luke David, Tammy, George, Stella, Steve, Stephanie, Karri, Mary, Constance, Alexandra, Angelo, Eleni, Paul, Christian, Angie and Margie

3 The office will be closed Monday, February 19 th in observance of President s Day. UPCOMING EVENTS Today, February 18 th 2018 Parish Council Oath of Office Prophet Elias Today, February 18 th 3:00 pm Daughters of Minos Meeting Holy Trinity March 6 th 6:30 pm Philoptochos Meeting Prophet Elias Philoptochos The Philoptochos will be hosting an Artoclasia and the Coffee Hour TODAY, at both churches in honor of St Philothea s Name Day (Feb. 19). We hope that you will all join us! Thank you to all the ladies that attended the annual Philoptochos Membership Tea, at the Cottonwood Country Club. It was a pleasure seeing so many familiar faces we have grown to love, and many new faces. Through your continued Philanthropy, Fellowship and Faith in Action, we look forward to a year of success with the membership that we treasure. Please save the date for the annual Lenten Retreat, hosted by the Philoptochos, on Saturday, March 17 th at Prophet Elias More details to follow HELLENIC CULTURAL ASSOCIATION The Hellenic Cultural Association. will be having their annual Membership Luncheon on Sunday, February 25 th at 12:30 in the Hellenic Memorial Hall. $25.00 membership for 2018 will also include the lunch. The Hellenic Cultural Association is an active organization with a focus on preserving and perpetuating our unique Hellenic culture and ideals. We invite all of you to attend, thank you. Job Position Available There is a part time position available for a Maintenance Assistant for Prophet Elias Church and the LaFrance Apartments. Candidates must be flexible with their working hours. Qualified candidates must be able to handle all basic maintenance issues with both facilities. Main duties include cleaning and repair. Send a brief resume to conniegoc@gmail.com or contact Connie Yengich at The Ted and Katy Speros Scholarship The Ted and Katy Speros Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the school year. Applications can be picked up and dropped off at Holy Trinity church office. Attention: Ted and Katy Speros Scholarship Committee and to Katie Peters ktpeters71@gmail.com If you have any questions, please feel free to call Katie Peters at The deadline for applying is April 1 st, Daughters of Minos Scholarships The Daughters of Minos sponsors scholarships for University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College and Westminster College. Please encourage high school seniors or college students who are currently enrolled and interested in applying for these fall semester scholarships. Please contact below institutions. It s not too early to consider these opportunities! For questions, contact Kathy Paras at nkgparas@msn.com University of Utah (801) Salt Lake Community College (801) Westminster College (801) PAN ARCADIAN WESTERN DISTRICT SCHOLARSHIP 2018 The application for the scholarship is available at: Applicants must have a grandparent or parent be a member of the local Arcadian Chapter #90 OR be a member herself/himself. Postmark deadline is April 16 th, Please contact Karen Anastasopoulos for any information or questions regarding the scholarship karenanast@gmail.com or

4 YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES February 25 th Sunday of Orthodoxy (Icon Procession, bring your icon to church) St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival 2018 March 4 th (all students will present their speech at Holy Trinity) Metropolis St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival 2018 March 10 th & 11 th at St. Anna in Cottonwood Heights Metropolis St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Banquet Saturday, March 10 th 6:30pm St. Anna G.O. Church, Cottonwood Heights, UT $35.00 per person For reservations please, RSVP to Sophie at or swondo@comcast.net Elementary St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival 2018 March 18 th at Holy Trinity & Prophet Elias It s GAME Time! Come support our GOYA Basketball See schedule below for dates and times February 24 th, rd Grade Boys No Game 5 th Grade Boys No Game 8 th Grade Boys Blessed Sacrament Gym 12:00 pm 8 th Grade Boys Blessed Sacrament Gym 1:00 pm Intermediate Boys Prophet Elias-Big Gym 10:00 am Intermediate Boys Prophet Elias-Big Gym 11:00 am Seniors Boys Prophet Elias-Big Gym 2:00 pm Please check the website: to make sure the game time and gym location has not changed. Playoffs start the week of February 26 th. Championship games are March 2 nd & March 3 rd. YOUNG ADULTS Our Young Adults will be venturing to Gorgoza Park in Park City to go tubing! Saturday, February 24 th, 2018 at 12:30 pm. Cost: $23.00 Meet at Walmart on Parleys to carpool at 12:00 pm RSVP Anthony Arrasi Follow us on our new Facebook page: Greek Orthodox Young Adults of Salt Lake City

5 Come join us for Kali Parea on Thursday February 22 nd at Prophet Elias at 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please bring a Lenten snack, food or dessert. Write down a recipe for what you bring to share. We look forward to seeing all of you. SAVE THE DATE The Young at Heart will be going to Wendover on Saturday March 3 rd. Leaving Prophet Elias at 8:30 am, leaving Memorial Hall at 9:00 am and returning at 5:00 pm. Cost $17. Receive $7 back and an all you can eat BUFFET! RSVP Bill Kandas or Bill Rekouniotis The Hellenic Cultural Association Is planning a trip to the Topaz Museum in Delta, UT. The trip is scheduled for Saturday March 10 th, we leave from the Hellenic Memorial Hall at 9:00 am and return 5:00 pm. There is no cost to get into the Museum. Bus Cost $20.00 per person. Topaz was an internment camp for Japanese Americans during WWII. Space is limited, please RSVP Bill Rekouniotis or billrek@gmail.com SAVE THE DATE MINOS 100 YEAR CELEBRATION WEEKEND JUNE 1-3, 2018 Sponsored by: Minos, Daughters of Minos, and Minotavros Friday June 1 st, Welcome Night Saturday June 2 nd, Glendi Sunday June 3 rd, Barbecue Volunteers, donors, and sponsors are welcome to Organizing Committee meeting on: Sunday, February 25 th, 2018, at Prophet Elias boardroom at 2:00 pm. Thank you to all who donated blood this past weekend. It was one of our best turnouts with 27 donors that have the potential to save 81 lives. We thank you for this most selfless gift. YOUTH COMPETITION Eligibility 18 years and young We are looking for front cover art for the new Greek Festival cook book sponsored by the Philoptochos. Each applicant needs to provide a colored full Greek Festival themed art work. Must fit 5 ½ wide by 8 long plain white paper. Within the art work the title Greek Festi-fare must be incorporated. To Mary Saltas Mannos for celebrating her 103 rd Birthday on February 24 th! Xronia Polla! Deadline for art work to be collected before or on March 18 th. NO EXCEPTIONS!! The art work can be dropped off at the church office, Narthex, at either churches or to your Sunday School Teacher. Art work needs to be in a flat large envelope or protective sleeve. On a separate piece of paper, include your name and age, DO NOT PUT YOUR INFORMATION ON THE ART WORK, BECAUSE IT WILL BE JUDGED BY A BLIND PANEL. Prize will be given to the winner and will be acknowledged in the book for their contribution. THANK YOU

6 The Apokreas Committee, GOYA Officers and GOYAN's want to thank everyone who attended the Apokreas party and who supported us by donating their time, gifts or money. We sincerely appreciate all of you! Our fundraiser was very successful and the funds collected will be used to help fund GOYA activities for the following year. Below is a list of our supporters: AAA Jewelers Anna s Alterations Aristo s Greek Restaurant Ballet West Bessy Thiros Bill & Pam Zoumadakis Charles James Cayias Insurance City Weekly Crown Burgers Highland Drive Cucina Toscana Deseret Memorial Mortuary East Valley Veterinary Clinic Flemings Prime Steakhouse George & Carrie Pappas GR Kitchen Greek City Grill Hub & Spoke Diner Joe & Melinda Kalodimos John Nicholas Kingsbury Hall Kosta & Georgia Katsohirakis Kyle & Kate Beckerman Larkin Mortuary MagicSpace Entertainment Market Street Olympus Burger Porcupine Pub & Grille Rio Grande Cafe Ruth s Chris Steakhouse Salt Lake Tribune Stan s Market Stark s Funeral Parlor Steve & Nickie Albert Tear A Part Auto Recycling Ted & Roula Sargetakis Todd & Joy Kapos Vasili Lyhnakis William M. Sergakis, DDS Daughters of Penelope - Jolene Vasilias, President The Dodo Tony Caputo s Market/Deli Wasatch Lawn Mortuary Anniversary Inn Apollo Burger Astro Burgers Café Madrid Elpitha Votsis GOYA Officers and GOYA City View Memoriam Coachman s Crown Jewelers & Pawn Dasks Desert Star Playhouse European Tan Gourmandise The Bakery Lynette Sakellariou Hale Centre Theatre Greek Souvlaki Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary Niko & Orie Kambouris Nick & Denise Nikols LaCocina Mexican Restaurant Kosta & Victoria Louras Charles & Cyndia Cayias Lunatic Fringe Mandarin Restaurant Nicholas & Company Pioneer Theatre Co Presto Print Roofers Supply Salt Lake Acting Co Settebello Stanza Bistro Stoneground Doug & Shelley Anderson The Art Floral Sifi Sifantonakis Angie Katsanevas /Shawn Trujillo Anthony Nicholas Silver State Inc St Philothea Philoptochos of SLC In Memory of Vasilios Priskos The Other Place Restaurant Utah Symphony/Utah Opera Yanni s Greek Express My Beloved Spiritual Children, Confession The forgotten Sacrament I pray that my message finds all of you spiritually rejuvenated and physically robust as we prepare to travel together on our Lenten Journey commencing on February 19 th, Clean Monday, and culminating with the triumphant and Life-giving Feast of Pascha, on April 8 th. Indeed, what a special time of year Holy and Great Lent is, a time when we look inward in retrospection and upward in humility and longing. It is a period when we must take an honest inventory of ourselves, our actions, our thoughts our whole being. The Church stands ready to assist us in our mission to forgive others, our desire to cleanse ourselves and lifelong goal to reach theosis. As the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection of our Lord, approaches, it is imperative that we use this time to prepare ourselves, through repentance and confession, so that we might come and receive the Light from the unwaning Light with a pure conscience and a soul undefiled. Repentance is an act of reconciliation, of reintegration into the Body of Christ, which has been torn asunder by sin. It is a new beginning, an invitation to new life, an opening up of new horizons, the gaining of a new vision indeed, an act in which the entire Church Community participates, where both prodigal and saint are repenting sinners. The Greek term for repentance, metanoia, denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook, of man s vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God. For in repentance, it is man s total limitation and insufficiency that is placed before God, not simply particular wrongdoings or transgressions. Through the act of repentance and the subsequent sacrament of confession, we experience a Pascha from death to life for we bury our sinful state in the abyss of our weakness and resurrect one in the presence of God s abundant mercy and love. For St. John Chrysostom exhorts us to enter into the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed again to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. Confession is thus a necessary sacrament in which our genuine repentance bears fruit and we are reconciled to the love of God. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16) In the Orthodox Church, it is customary that we make our confession before God to a Priest, who is seen as a witness of repentance, not a recipient of secrets or a detective of specific misdeeds. The senses of the Priest are dissolved in the sacramental mystery as the loving tenderness and infinite justice and mercy of our Lord take over. Through the forgiveness of sins in confession, the past is no longer an intolerable burden but rather an encouragement for what lies ahead. Life acquires an attitude of expectation, not of despondency; and confession becomes the way out of the impasse caused by sin. God Himself is revealed before us and walks in front of us. Praying that His loving kindness cascade over our very being and that He will strengthen us on our Lenten Journey, I Remain, With Love in Christ, Archimandrite George Nikas Cathedral Dean