ALL SAINTS JUNE 10th, 2012

Transcript

1 ALL SAINTS JUNE 10th, 2012 Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos Paul Bilson, Psaltis 3074 Bethelview Road Cumming GA (770) cell (770) We are an intentional Orthodox Christian Community for North Georgia!

2 WORSHIP First Gospel/Tone - Plagal Fourth We are so very glad you have joined us today, and we pray you will be inspired and encouraged by your time with us. The Orthodox worship service is an ancient and timeless expression of how people have loved, served and worshipped God for many centuries, but it may be a bit of a different experience for you. Please feel free to use a service book or not and simply allow the words of the service to wash over you. The central act of our worship culminates in people receiving communion. This is a very special time for us all and we have some specific beliefs about our communion together. This is why we never impose this service on those who are not prepared or are not baptized Orthodox. This service may raise questions in your mind. Please feel free to ask Fr. Barnabas or Fr. Paul anything you wish after the service. At the end of the service EVERYONE is invited to come forward and receive a portion of the blessed bread from Fr. Barnabas. No one should leave church hungry! Know you are welcome and we are glad you are here. May God bless you and your family. Apolytikion in honor of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Having contended on Lesvos for the sake of Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O Godbearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord. Prosforo: Is lovingly offered by the Prosforo Ministry Team Please pray for those faithful who are currently in need of our most fervent intercessions: Andrew, Archie, Bill, Bill, Carrie, Demetra, Dina, Donna, Efthymios, Elaine, Elizabeth, Christina, Gus, Heidi, Igli, James, Jerry, Joe, John, Maria, Michael, Nomiki, Oni, Paul, Peter, Sarah, Taki, Tara and Violeta Schedule for the Week Wednesday, June 13th - 6:30 p.m. Vespers followed by Exploring the Liturgy Saturday, June 16th - 5 p.m. Great Vespers Confessions will be heard following Great Vespers by Fr. Paul ACOLYTES James Blane, Nathan Frazier, Spiros Kefalas, Dean Pryles, Nicholas Pryles, Mike Manos, Giovanni Ray, Tommy Roberts, Luke Sulyma, Mike Trainor, Connor Walters, Roney Walters, Thomas Miller and Christos Zourzoukis

3 TODAY WE REMEMBER All Saints Reading: Honouring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, "But to me, exceedingly honourable are Thy friends, O Lord" (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1). This commemoration began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of "Martyr" in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood. Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we the pious honour all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God's commandments, shining examples of virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honour the known Saints especially on their own day of the year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many Saints are unknown, and their number has increased with time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, the Church has appointed that once a year a common commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celebrate today. It is the harvest of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world; it is the "much fruit" brought forth by that "Grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died" (John 12:24); it is the glorification of the Saints as "the foundation of the Church, the perfection of the Gospel, they who fulfilled in deed the sayings of the Saviour" (Sunday of All Saints, Doxasticon of Vespers). In this celebration, then, we reverently honour and call blessed all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives. All these, as well as the orders of the Angels, and especially our most holy Lady and Queen, the Ever-virgin Theotokos Mary, do we honour today, setting their life before us as an example of virtue, and entreating them to intercede in our behalf with God, Whose grace and boundless mercy be with us all. Amen. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone: You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone: Your Church, O Christ our God, clothed itself in the blood of Your martyrs from throughout the world, as though it were a robe of linen and purple; through them, she cries out to You, "Send down upon Your people compassion, grant peace to Your commonwealth, and to our souls, great mercy." Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone: The world offers You, the author of all creation, as the first-fruits of nature, the God-bearing martyrs. O most merciful, by their intercessions, through the Theotokos, maintain Your Church in perfect peace. Resurrectional Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone: When You had risen from the grave, You also raised those who had died and resurrected Adam; and now Eve is celebrating in Your Resurrection, and the ends of the world keep festival, for Your rising from the dead, O Most -Merciful. We Also Remember Alexander & Antonia the Martyrs Timothy, Bishop of Proussa Our Holy Father Gregory, Bishop of Assos Theophanes & Pansemne of Antioch The Holy Martyrs of China Parish Council On Duty Today - Paul Ray & Harald Hagen Welcoming Ministry - Helen McCart - Ushering Ministry - Men s Club

4 Epistle Reading The Reading is from St. Paul s Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15 BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith. Α Ω Ἀδελφοί, οἱ Ἅγιοι πάντες διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν. Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν.

5 Gospel Reading The Reading is from Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 The Lord said to his disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first." Α Ω Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. ὅστις δ ἂν ἀρνήσηταί με ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἀρνήσομαι αὐτὸν κἀγὼ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. Ο φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος καὶ ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ὀπίσω μου, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος. Τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν πάντα καὶ ἠκολουθήσαμέν σοι τί ἄρα ἔσται ἡμῖν; ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οἱ ἀκολουθήσαντές μοι, ἐν τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ, ὅταν καθίσῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καθίσεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπὶ δώδεκα θρόνους κρίνοντες τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ισραήλ. καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἀφῆκεν οἰκίας ἢ ἀδελφοὺς ἢ ἀδελφὰς ἢ πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ἢ γυναῖκα ἢ τέκνα ἢ ἀγροὺς ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, ἑκατονταπλασίονα λήψεται καὶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσει. Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι.

6 Congratulations to our Graduates! We are so very proud of your accomplishments. University James Zachary Farr Son of Quay & Trissie Farr Graduated from University of Dayton School of Law with a Law Degree High School Alexandra Lexi Bright Daughter of Perry & Georgia Bright Graduated from West Forsyth High School Joshua Harrell Son of Tim & Diane Walters Graduated from North Forsyth High School and plans to attend Kennesaw State University Emanuel Mike Manos Son of Billy & Margaret Manos Graduated from Northview High School and will attend the University of Georgia Olivia Ray Daughter of Paul & Gigi Ray Graduated from South Forsyth High School and will attend Auburn University Sasha Tadros Daughter of Koko & Carol Tadros Granddaughter of Leila Beyrouthy Graduated from West Forsyth High School with honors and will attend Georgia College & State University with a pre-med major Connor Walters Son of Tim & Diane Walters Grandson of Jimmy & Pat Roney Graduated from North Forsyth High School and is going to serve our Country in the Marine Corps Elementary School Sophia Hagen Daughter of Harald & Stamatia Hagen Moving up to Hopewell Middle School from Fulton Sunshine Academy

7 ANNOUNCEMENTS Father Barnabas will be away beginning Saturday, June 23rd, through Thursday, July 5th, for Seniors Summer Camp at the Diakonia Center and for the National Clergy-Laity Conference. In case of emergency during this time, please contact Fr. Paul Stoll on his cell at SATURDAY, June 16th - Stewardship 101 & 102 Please RSVP to the Church Office ( or officeadmin@stsrni.org) so the Parish Council can confirm attendance and for the luncheon head count. SUNDAY, June 17th - Coffee Hour will honor all 2012 Graduating High School Seniors as well as all Dads for Fathers Day. We would like all high school graduates to be in church for recognition from the Parish Council. Society of Wisdom Tuesday, June 19th, 11:30 a.m. Luncheon at Buckhead Pizza Company 415 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming (shopping plaza behind Starbucks - across from The Avenues of Forsyth) Please plan to attend to recognize a sponos of our recent Food & Wine Festival. RSVP to Grace Chihlas at MONDAY, August 20th - Golf Outing at the Polo Golf & Country Club Contact Quay Farr at or farrside@bellsouth.net for more information.

8 ANNOUNCEMENTS WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY The Wednesday morning Bible Study will be on summer hiatus. The Wednesday evening Bible study class Exploring the Liturgy will continue to be held following the Wednesday evening Vespers. All are invited to attend. SUMMER OFFICE HOURS Tuesday, 9 a.m. to Noon Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ginny will not be in the office this week. GOYA BIBLE STUDY WITH FR. BARNABAS August 19th, 5-6:00 home of Jessica Catapano Sts. RNI Choir Practice Tuesday Evenings at 6:45 p.m. in the Blue House Contact Marie Chapman for more information or mommystargater@comcast.net

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Festival Steering Committee has been meeting the last several weeks and with the approval of the Parish Council has decided to enlarge our Festival to three days in Save the dates which are: Friday, October 19 from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm Saturday, October 20 from 11 am to 10:00 pm Sunday, October 21 from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm We also need help for: Set-up: Thursday, October 18 Clean-up: Monday, October 22 It will be a lot of work for all of us and we are praying that our entire parish family be available in the preparations and implementation of the festival. We hope by giving early notice everyone can plan to give of their Time and Talents for this five day period to help make the 2012 festival a huge success. Questions, concerns, and to volunteer to help plan the festival should be ed to Johnny Melts at greekfest@stsrni.org. OPA! Book Club The Book Club, Saturday, June 16th For more information call Lisa Boston at or myakunda@yahoo.com or contact Donna Smith at missmagnoliasmoxie@gmail.com (note new address). Prosforo Baking Friday, June 22nd, 9 a.m., in the Blue House Contact Stamatia Hagen for more information at or mamma2maria@aol.com

10 The Gospel of Stewardship 101 & 102 Saturday, June 16, Sts. RNI, 10 a.m. Dear Faithful of Sts. RNI, Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be! One of the most important days in my life was when I was ordained to the priesthood. That moment of ordination forever defined my life and its purpose and I will never forget the feeling of knowing both the joy and the heavy responsibility of this blessed calling. What is the most significant day in your life? Do you remember how that moment changed you forever? The fact is we all have life-changing events in our lives and the real power of those events are when we can grasp just how important these moments really are. Our community is coming up on one of those life-changing opportunities this month! On SATURDAY, JUNE 16th, we will have a powerful religious education seminar at our parish on Stewardship 101 taught by parishioners Bill Marianes and George Matthews. These men have been at the head of this revolutionary way to grow and strengthen our Greek Orthodox parishes all over the country and they are bringing their Christ-centered teaching to our parish on this special day. I want to not only encourage you to attend, I want to literally beg you to rearrange your schedule so you can come together with all of us as a community for this special day. Please consider this my invitation to you as your parish priest and spiritual father to assist you in becoming an intentional Greek Orthodox disciple of Jesus Christ. Find a babysitter, change an appointment, miss a ballgame, rearrange a family outing but please go to the trouble of being at our parish on Saturday, June 16th, starting at 10 a.m. I expect ALL of our parish leaders to attend and I am asking that each faithful steward of our parish be there as well. Plus, we ll feed you a wonderful lunch besides! Our community is growing so very fast. Our community is blessed with this growth, but if we don t educate and develop all aspects of our community, the growth will just be a flash in the pan. This training will insure our growth is healthy and for the long term. As your spiritual father, I encourage you do what you must to be in attendance at this special seminar for our parish future. Please Ginny at officeadmin@stsrni.org and let her know how many are coming so we can plan for your lunch. Praying for you daily and grateful for your love and service to our community, I remain Your servant, Fr. Barnabas P.S. SATURDAY, JUNE 16th, will be one of the most important dates in the history of our parish. Please be here for this special day.

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS February-March-April 2012 Income / Expense Summary Month Income Expense Diff +/- February $25, $21, $ 4, March $17, $18, ($ ) April $18, $22, ($ 3,695.37) Totals $60, $61, ($ ) FELLOWSHIP HOUR Our Fellowship Hour Donation Campaign has begun. We hope you have enjoyed the refreshments provided over the past year and will continue to support the Fellowship Committee s efforts to serve you each Sunday. For the year, donations have been made by the following families: Andropoulos Birozes Bozzuto Chapman Chihlas Doulgerakis Druffner Hayes Johnson Jordan Kanellos Kefalas Klock Kostulakos Koulouvaris Livaditis Lytle Manos Marvos McCart Melts Milam Miller Moissiades Morris Panos Pappas Patrick Pardinas Philoptochos Pournaras Powell Pryles Ray Sulyma Trainor Willis 2012 PARISH COUNCIL Dennis Kostulakos (President), John Patrick (Vice President), Paul Ray (Secretary), Vic Pryles (Treasurer), David Chapman, Harald Hagen, Harriet Howell and Florence Lytle Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church Our Vision & Mission Our vision as Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church is to grow as a family in Christ. Our mission as a Greek Orthodox Church is to serve God and neighbor, strengthen the family and reach out to the community.

12 To date the 88 stewards below have returned Stewardship Commitment Cards for Total Pledges to Date: $157, Average Pledge: $1, Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou Jim & Angie Andropoulos Richard & Sophia Bethune Paul & Elaine Bilson Anthony & Mary Birozes Renee Birozes Katherine Blanos Joseph (Ike) Bonnelli-Barbara Selwa Jordan & Lisa Boston Niko & Helen Bouboulis Kosta & Carolyn Bozzuto Talia Bruno Athena Catapano David & Marie Chapman Grace Chihlas Julie Chokos Arthur Costakis Jamie Crossno Dean & Jenny Demos Wesley & Donna Dennison Keith & Mary Druffner Quay & Trissie Farr Chris & Liz Foxhall Dan & Sonia Frazier Paul & Caroline Geertgens Robert & Jennifer Guano Harald & Stamatia Hagen Kevin & Allison Hammond Christine Hatcher Michael & Ann Hayes Harriet Howell Mark & Jennie Johnson Eleni Jordan Bill & Mary Kaloudis Jim Kanellos Maria Kalou Kardomateas Theodoros & Aphrodite Kazazakis-Levendakis Tasso & Laura Kefalas Jackie Klock Dennis & Ginny Kostulakos Louis & Dianne Koulouvaris Alex & Melpo Levantis Earnest & Elizabeth Livaditis Leon & Frances Lopez Archie & Florence Lytle Connie Machoudy Harry & Tina Maheras Kiki Manolakis Emanuel Manos William & Margaret Manos Riley & Elizabeth Marvos Al & Helen McCart Johnny & Becky Melts Bill & Mary Milam Matt & Athena Miller Nik Moissiades Patricia Morris Nick & Teddie Panos Constantinos & Evelyn Pantazopoulos Gus & Albie Pappas John & Evon Patrick Lawson & Susan Plummer Mihai & Heidi Popa Fr. Barnabas & Pres. Connie Powell Pam Powers Katherine Prattes Vic & Suzi Pryles Paul & Gigi Ray Earl & Marina Raymond David & Mary Roberts Jimmy & Pat Roney Bill & Debbie Sarandis Dina Sarandis Taka & Kathryn Shoji Eric & Donna Smith George & Anna Sofikitis Stamatia (Estelle) Sofikitis Dennis & Laura Sparks Robert & Alexis Sulyma Tohotmos & Carol Tadros Mike & Estelle Theodosion Nikolaos & Eva Thrasivoulou Ed & Anne Trainor James & Jane Vlahos Plutarch & Tina Vamvakias Tim & Diane Walters Steve & Smara Wolff Sam & Katherine Yalanzon