November 4, 2018 5th Sunday of Luke Joannicius the Great The Holy Hieromartyrs Nicander, Bishop of Myra, and Hermias the Presbyter Porphyrios the Mime ENTRANCE HYMNS Resurrectional Apolytikion Angelike Dhynamis ( Angelic Powers ) Angelic Powers were in Your Sepulchre and those who guarded You became as men long dead. And standing there was Mary by Your Tomb seeking Your pure and sacred Body, O You despoiled Hades yet tempted not by him were You. You did meet the Virgin O Life Bestower, O You Who rose from the dead, Glory to You O Lord. Apolytikion of Martyr, Righteous Ioannikios the Great Tes ton dhakrion sou roes ( With the river of your tears ) With the rivers of your tears you made the barren desert bloom; and with your sighs from deep within, you made your labors bear their fruits a hundredfold; and you became a star, illuminating the world by your miracles, O Ioannikios, our devout father. Intercede with Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls. Apolytikion of St. Sophia/Ss. Faith, Hope & Agape Greek Oς ελαία κατά καρπος ανεβλάστησας, έν ταίς ανλαίς του Κυρίου, Σοφία μάρτυς σεμνή, καί προσήγαγες Χριστώ καρπόν η δύτατον, τούς τής νηδύος σου βλαστούς, δί α γώνων εύαγων, Αγάπην τε καί `Ελπίδα σύν τη θεόφρονι Πίστει, μεθων δυσώπει υπέρ πάντων ήμων. English Phonetics for Greek Os elea kata karpos anevlastisas, en tes avles tu Kyriou Sofia martys semni, ke prosigages Christo karpon idytaton, tus tis nidyos su vlastus, di agonon evagon, Agapin te ke Elpida, syn ti theofroni Pisti; meth on dysopi yper pandon imon. English As an olive tree laden with fruit you sprouted forth, in the courtyards of the Lord, Sophia martyr dignified, and you brought to Christ a fruit most sweet, Namely your womb s own sprouts, brought up by instructive deeds: your daughters Love and Hope, along with God-minded Faith; together intercede with God for us all. Seasonal Kontakion Prostasia ton Christianon ( O unfailing protection of Christians ) O unfailing protection of Christians, and our faithful advocate before the Creator: though we are sinners, do not ignore our entreaty; but in your goodness, grant your timely help to us who appeal to you in faith. Quickly make intercession; on our behalf make speedy supplication, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you.
THE EPISTLE The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:4-10 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.
THE GOSPEL The Reading is from the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31 The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'" ΕVΑΓΓÉΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 16:19-31 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ανθρωπος δέ τις ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐνεδιδύσκετο πορφύραν καὶ βύσσον εὐφραινόμενος καθ ἡμέραν λαμπρῶς. πτωχὸς δέ τις ἦν ὀνόματι Λάζαρος, ὃς ἐβέβλητο πρὸς τὸν πυλῶνα αὐτοῦ ἡλκωμένος καὶ ἐπιθυμῶν χορτασθῆναι ἀπὸ τῶν ψιχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τοῦ πλουσίου ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ κύνες ἐρχόμενοι ἀπέλειχον τὰ ἕλκη αὐτοῦ. ἐγένετο δὲ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πτωχὸν καὶ ἀπενεχθῆναι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἰς τὸν κόλπον Αβραάμ ἀπέθανε δὲ καὶ ὁ πλούσιος καὶ ἐτάφη. καὶ ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ, ὑπάρχων ἐν βασάνοις, ὁρᾷ τὸν Αβραὰμ ἀπὸ μακρόθεν καὶ Λάζαρον ἐν τοῖς κόλποις αὐτοῦ. καὶ αὐτὸς φωνήσας εἶπε πάτερ Αβραάμ, ἐλέησόν με καὶ πέμψον Λάζαρον ἵνα βάψῃ τὸ ἄκρον τοῦ δακτύλου αὐτοῦ ὕδατος καὶ καταψύξῃ τὴν γλῶσσάν μου, ὅτι ὀδυνῶμαι ἐν τῇ φλογὶ ταύτῃ. εἶπε δὲ Αβραάμ τέκνον, μνήσθητι ὅτι ἀπέλαβες σὺ τὰ ἀγαθά σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου, καὶ Λάζαρος ὁμοίως τὰ κακά νῦν δὲ ὧδε παρακαλεῖται, σὺ δὲ ὀδυνᾶσαι καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις μεταξὺ ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται, ὅπως οἱ θέλοντες διαβῆναι ἔνθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς μὴ δύνωνται, μηδὲ οἱ ἐκεῖθεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς διαπερῶσιν. εἶπε δέ ἐρωτῶ οὖν σε, πάτερ, ἵνα πέμψῃς αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου ἔχω γὰρ πέντε ἀδελφούς ὅπως διαμαρτύρηται αὐτοῖς, ἵνα μὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλθωσιν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον τῆς βασάνου. λέγει αὐτῷ Αβραάμ ἔχουσι Μωϋσέα καὶ τοὺς προφήτας ἀκουσάτωσαν αὐτῶν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν οὐχί, πάτερ Αβραάμ, ἀλλ ἐάν τις ἀπὸ νεκρῶν πορευθῇ πρὸς αὐτούς, μετανοήσουσιν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ εἰ Μωϋσέως καὶ τῶν προφητῶν οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ ἐάν τις ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ πεισθήσονται. Craft Fair/Food Fest: Volunteers are needed to help in the restaurant during the upcoming Craft Fair on Friday, November 9 th through Sunday, November 11 th. Please take a moment to sign up using the Signup Genius link below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054cacaf2ca3f58-stsophia3
Philoptochos "Yiayia s Bakery" Table: The Philoptochos will once again have their annual Yiayia s Bakery table at our Craft Fair/Food Fest Nov. 9-11. We are asking for donations of whole cakes, pies and breads only. We will be accepting the homemade goods as early as the evening of Thursday, November 8 th in the Cultural Center during setup. Anyone wishing to share their baking talents, please contact Alexis Witt (cell # 610-213-9518) as soon as possible with the item you would like to donate. In addition, should you have a little time to spare to help sell our goods on Friday or Sunday, please let Alexis know and we will add you to the schedule. NOTE: Please DO NOT bring any Greek pastries that are already sold at the Craft Fair/Food Fest. Thank you in advance for helping support the ministries of the Philoptochos! Vasilopita Sale: The Ladies Philoptochos is having a Vasilopita sale once again. Order forms are available at the back of the Cultural Center or online at https://www.saintsophiachurch.org/philoptochos.html. Order deadline is December 9 th. Pickup is December 16 th. PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation: The 2018/2019 scholarship application is available and can be completed online! Applications from eligible college students accepted through January 31, 2019. The application and qualification criteria, requirements, and guidelines are available at www.panhellenicsf.org. To Parents of Young Children: In case you are not aware, our church has a Cry/Bride Room in the Narthex. For those parents whose young children might understandably get fussy during a service, please feel free to take your youngster into that room for a short while. (There is a closed circuit TV showing the service in the room as well as a bathroom/changing station). The intention is NOT to relegate you to another room; rather, this will enable you to attend to your child in a quiet environment before bringing him/her back into the church. Pastoral Visits - A Request to All Parishioners: If you desire a pastoral visit in case of a hospitalization, or for someone who is homebound, in a nursing facility, or in prison, please have an immediate family member notify the Parish office at 610-650-8960 so that a visit can be arranged. In Case of Emergency: If you are having an extreme medical emergency ONLY and are in need of an Orthodox priest, please call the Parish office a t 610-650-8960. Community Christmas Card/Poinsettias: If you would like to be included in this year s Christmas card and/or if you would like to donate a poinsettia, please complete the enclosed form as soon as possible and mail or bring it with payment to the Parish office. PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE FORM IN HALF. The deadline to be included in the Christmas card is Sunday, November 25 h, and for placing your poinsettia orders is Sunday, December 2 nd. Additional forms are available at the Pangari and on the table outside the office.
November 4, 2018 5th Sunday of Luke Joannicius the Great The Holy Hieromartyrs Nicander, Bishop of Myra, and Hermias the Presbyter Porphyrios the Mime St. Nicholas Shrine Vigil Candle: Thank you to the Bart & Lucy Kline for sponsoring today s vigil candle for St. Nicholas Shrine in memory of Eleousa and Spiros Pappas. Anyone wishing to sponsor a vigil candle should sign up at the Pangari. (Each vigil candle lasts one week). Each week a new vigil candle will be placed next to the icon of St. Nicholas until the construction of St. Nicholas Shrine has been completed. The asking donation is $10. Memorial Service: This morning s memorial is being chanted for the souls of: Miltiades and Demitra Thomloudis (10 years), beloved parents of Ilias Thomloudis; AND LaVerne Perrotto (40 days), beloved mother of Donald Perrotto and Suzanne Carcarey of Collegeville. May their memory be eternal. Artoklasia: St. Sophia s Philoptochos Society is offering today's Artoklasia in honor of their Patron Saints and Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas & Damianos. 40-day Baby Blessings: This morning the following families are presenting their newborns for their traditional 40-day blessing. May God bless the babies, their parents and their families! Mr. & Mrs. Ilias and Athanasia Papachristou present their first child, Dimitra Ilianna; Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Katherine Vail present their third child, Penelope; Mr. & Mrs. Bob and Katie Schillinger present their first child, Eleanor. Special Offering Tray: St. Sophia s Philoptochos Society is passing a special tray today in honor of their Patron Saints and Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas & Damianos to benefit the many philanthropic ministries of the Philoptochos society. Stewardship Appeal: Thank you to all those who have responded thus far to our stewardship appeal. We appreciate your generosity and dedication to the financial stability of our community. General Assembly Meeting: The Fall General Assembly meeting will take place today following the Divine Liturgy. At the meeting we will review the current and future business of our parish, including review of the 2019 budget and nominations for seven candidates to serve on Parish Council for two-year terms beginning in January, 2019. Elections for Parish Council will be held on December 9, 2018. Please note that in order to vote in both the General Assembly and Parish Council Elections, you must have returned a 2018 Stewardship Commitment Form and be current in your commitment. If your name does not appear on the 2018 Stewardship Listing, we request that you complete a 2018 Stewardship Commitment Form. Pledge forms can be found at the Pangari. If you have any questions, please contact Tom Cox at 215-859-1009. Investiture of an Archon: We wish to congratulate Anthony Pantazopoulos on being inducted into the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He was bestowed the title, Orphanotrophos, recognized for his work with the IOCC. GOYA Fundraiser: During today s General Assembly meeting, our GOYA members will be having a fundraising lunch, which includes a cheeseburger, tater tots and soda all for just $8. Please help support this worthy ministry.
Our Parish is pleased to present the Honorees from our Community for the 2018 Metropolitan Evangelos Ambassador Awards Banquet Parish Honoree: Mrs. Christine Samaras Philoptochos Honoree: Mrs. Despina Notaras Sunday School Teacher: Dr. Marianne Nikas Youth Worker: Mr. Anthony Dimitriadis Ambassador of Faith: Nicholas Papadimitriou Ambassador of Hope: Nicholas (Cole) Nikas We are so proud of our Honorees!
St. Sophia SS. Faith, Hope & Agape Greek Orthodox Church of Valley Forge 900 South Trooper Road, Jeffersonville, PA, 19403 Tel.: (610) 650-8960 Fax: (610) 650-8961 Web: www.saintsophiachurch.org E-mail: office@saintsophiachurch.org Rev. Economos Peter J. Thornberg, Proistamenos October 25, 2018 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: With the Fall Festival in our rear view mirror, we would like to thank all of the parishioners who gave of their time, talent and treasure in order for our festival to operate smoothly. Whether you helped for 20 minutes or 14 hours a day, every effort is greatly appreciated. A very special thank you to our festival Chairman, John Papadimitriou, for his continued and tireless dedication to our Parish. We would also like to thank our new Executive Chef, Stelios Fountas, who not only stepped up when we were in desperate need, but he did so out of love to serve our God and our Parish. We are truly blessed to have both of these fine gentlemen as members of the Saint Sophia family. As most of you know, we were faced with horrible weather all weekend. That resulted in a shortfall of over $8,000 under our budget. This is in addition to the nearly $16,000 budget shortfall from the Spring festival (also weather related), which was almost $22,000 less than last year. This is money we were counting on to continue to pay our bills. We rely on Festival revenue and your Stewardship financial contribution to pay for our major expenses (the mortgage, electric, water, gas, insurance, lawn service, exterminators, equipment repair services, etc.). In addition, we have an obligation to the bank that holds our mortgage to show income of 110% over our annual mortgage payments. As of the date of this letter, we have a net loss of over $18,000 year to date, which means we have a deficit of approximately $42,000 compared to what we need to show to the bank. This means we need to take in $42,000 more than we spend for the remaining two months of the year. If you have any questions about these numbers, please attend the November 4 th General Assembly for a full financial report. This is OUR parish and making up this deficit is dependent solely on OUR financial contributions. Unlike other denominations, we do not receive financial support from the Archdiocese or Metropolis. The bottom line is that we need your help. We are asking each Steward to make a one-time Stewardship donation of $200 or more to help bridge this financial gap. $200 is what many of us spend on a nice dinner out. $200 is the cost of a new dress or a cheap suit. $200 is the cost of a new purse or a new golf club. This works out to less than $4.00 a week (the cost of a latte at Starbucks).
We understand that some families have financial constraints; but most of us have been blessed tenfold with good health, good fortune and prosperity. For those blessed families, we are asking that you consider a minimal gift of $200 to help us bridge the gap for 2018. Note that this is the first time in decades that we have had a budget shortfall that caused us to make an appeal like this, and we do not make this lightly. God willing, and with your help, we will return to prosperity in the years to come. If you have any questions regarding this appeal, please feel free to contact any of our Parish Council members. As always, we are thankful for the generosity of our Parish Family. Yours in Christ, Rev. Economos Peter J. Thornberg, Proistamenos John Pogas Parish Council President