The Voice of Holy Trinity

The Voice of Holy Trinity December 2012... Since the kingdom of God is not just words, it is power. 1 CORINTHIANS 4:20 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL + PORTLAND, OREGON ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Don t Tell Me The Sky Is The Limit When There Are Footprints On The Moon. By: Bill Marianes Will Rogers once concluded: Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. Voltaire reminded us: Common sense is not so common. Winston Churchill observed: "There but for the grace of God - goes God." Comedian Bill Cosby opined: A word to the wise ain t necessary because it s the stupid ones that need the advice. Each of these four comments (and this article s title courtesy of satirist Ashleigh Brilliant) is a paraprosdokian. A paraprosdokian is frequently used by philosophers, comics, politicians and lawyers. The father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding would explain this word comes from the Greek word "παρά", meaning "against" and "προσδοκία", meaning "expectation". So a paraprosdokian is a phrase where the latter part is surprising or unexpected given the earlier part. As a lawyer, I negotiate/argue for a living and posted near my telephone is the wise counsel: Never argue with an idiot or fool, because: (1) people listening may not be able to tell the difference, and (2) they will lower you to their level and then beat you with their experience. If you see me suddenly stop in the middle of a negotiation/argument, you ll now know why. So what does this great Greek word have to do with my life s calling of stewardship? I am reminded of the direct paraprosdokian: If you have to tell someone you are a gentlemen (or lady), then you are not. So let me ask you very directly, If you have to tell someone you are a steward (or see your name on a list of stewards) are you really a steward of God s blessings? What is your motivation, and what does it really mean to be a steward? Dictionaries define a steward as someone who manages the assets of another. But if a steward manages the resources of SOMEONE ELSE, am I am really managing MY time/talents/treasures? If not, then whose are they? St. John Chrysostom offers us the answer in his homily On Living Simply. He asked if he owned his own mind, body, house or clothes? He concluded that he did not, and that they were only on loan to him from God during his life and would be taken back upon his passing. (You ll never see a hearse drivin g down the road followed by a U-Haul trailer.) Thus, St. John Chrysostom clarified that what we really possess during our lives are the virtues that we allow to grow and flourish within our souls. He reminded us that these were immortal gifts that God would not take back because He wanted Heaven to be filled with virtue. Hopefully by now we all realize that we are stewards of everything we have because they are really God s and he has temporarily entrusted the management of them to us. So what will you do with God s gifts to you? The principal message of our National Stewardship Ministries training is to focus more on what you do with your most valuable asset, your time. Indeed, my personal paraprosdokian is: Your actions speak so loudly, that I can t hear what you re saying. So are we walking the stewardship walk, or just talking about it? Are we living the life our Lord called us to live by giving sacrificially of our time, talents, treasures and tithes to God s work here on this earth? The parable of the Talents from the Gospel of Matthew (25: 14-30) provides us the perfect roadmap. We are reminded that we each have received different talents, but it s what we do with our talents that determines our future. In those days, talents were a unit of economic measure. Today it means something different, but the message is still the same. We are not better because we have more, we are better because we do more with whatever we have. Is there anything more you can do for your Parish/Metropolis/Archdiocese and your salvation? Do you have any skills, abilities or things that others in your Parish and community can use? If so, what s keeping you from giving of that talent and your time to God s Holy Orthodox Church and those who need you? The parable of the Talents assures us that the payoff for blessing others with the multiplication of your talents on this earth is to be told well done,

good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little, I will put you over much. Who wouldn t want to improve their odds of the gift of much and an eternity of joy with our Lord? God already gave us all our gifts. All we need to do is pay it forward and serve our Church and the world. G.K. Chesterton s offered the paraprosdokian: Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. Please take a moment now to reflect on how good a job you are doing being a steward (caretaker) of the gifts God has given you. Examine your last week of 168 hours (10,080 minutes) and ask how many of those hours/minutes did you actually devote to God s work? Which of God s gifts did you cause to multiply in the world this past week? What will you do this coming week to share your extraordinary talents for God s greater glory and your salvation? I believe that your stewardship is what you do with the gifts God gave you. So what does your salvation account ledger look like? I do not wish to make you as paranoid as author Tom Clancy, who once said: I know I m paranoid, but am I paranoid enough? Instead, I ask you to reflect on Mother Teresa s advice: If you can t feed a hundred people, then just feed one. Or consider the advice of Pablo Picasso and President Franklin Roosevelt who respectively offered: Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. Do something today! And God bless you as you pursue your own unique stewardship calling. SOTPAETJ (stay on The Path, and enjoy the journey) Stewardship Defined! Repentance. Almsgiving. Fasting. Forgiveness. Visiting the sick. Setting a Godly example for your family. Participating in Liturgy. Living the church life. What do all of these virtues have in common? The answer is Stewardship! These are all examples of true stewardship. It s being a wise and faithful steward (manager) over God s blessings in our lives. It s using our free will to choose what is right, not what is easy. Last week, Fr. Demos gave a beautiful sermon on the topic of death and dying. All too often we allow our soul to procrastinate when it comes to our spiritual growth. We assume tomorrow will pass. I ve spent countless days caught up in worldly concerns and distractions! I think to myself, I ll dedicate time tomorrow to God, or next week I ll take the family to church. Sounds like another failed diet plan, I ll start working out and eating better tomorrow. We all know the lack of results when we follow that plan. My brothers and sisters, I m realizing all too clearly this stage of procrastination is an extremely dangerous place to remain comfortable with in life. God is merciful, loving and compassionate, but the Gospels are clear we cannot view our Lord s loving sacrifice on the cross as a free pass to squander our time in pursuit of fleshly desires. As we enter into our Winter Pascha, consider the time we spend on shopping for gifts and preparing to celebrate and take the time to ask yourself, what have I done to prepare my heart for this Holy Season? Even a small change can have a huge impact on your life. If you are like me, it s time for Confession! Maybe it s stepping out in faith with your finances or mending relationships in life. Perhaps it s a commitment to bring the family to church and fast for Holy Communion. Wherever you are at in your spiritual walk, ask God to give you the desire, discipline, wisdom and strength to follow through with your intentions. This is NOT just another New Year s Resolution. Please leave that for 24 Hour Fitness. Stay focused to allow your soul to experience God s love, peace and mercy every day! Be a wise and faithful steward over the precious asset of time God has blessed you with today. Let s serve Him by serving others and look for opportunities to help each other in times of need. Never feel that what you have to offer is not enough to really help! It s the condition of your heart that pleases our Lord. My brothers and sisters, I sincerely pray that each of us in our church family will seek God s love and mercy so that He will nurture us in all our ways! Please remember to join us after Vespers on Saturday, December 8th for a wonderful evening of fellowship and enlightenment on Stewardship. Leave your wallets at home! This is an opportunity for us to come together as a church family and learn more about what authentic stewardship means. Our dynamic guest speaker, Mr. Bill Marianes, is a blessed man dedicated to furthering God s Kingdom by teaching us about stewardship! I ve heard wonderful things about what Mr. Marianes offers to communities like ours. If you plan on attending, please call the church office with the number in your group so we can plan for food and beverages. You can contact me at (503) 502-0294 or by e-mail at jcarandanis@gmail.com. I realize December is a busy month for many people, but please make every effort to join us for this unique opportunity. You will be blessed by it! John Carandanis

Ο ιερέας στον Παπαδιαμάντη Γιος παπά ο κυρ-αλέξανδρος και με επώνυμο παπαδικό. Τον ξεχώριζαν τ άλλα παιδιά. Κι αυτό τον πονούσε. Έβλεπε στον παπά τον συνεχιστή του έργου του Χριστού. Έδειχνεν ο παπάς τον αόρατο Χριστό. Εδάνειζε το χέρι και το στόμα του σ Εκείνον. Και όπως ο Χριστός νοιαζότανε τους ανθρώπους στα χρόνια της ενσάρκου οικονομίας Του, έτσι και ο παπάς νοιάζεται τους ανθρώπους. Λειτουργεί και συλλειτουργεί μαζί τους στο Ναό. Παίρνει τα αιτήματά τους, «τα πάθια και τους καϋμούς» των και τα προσφέρει στο Χριστό, που είναι «ο αμνός του Θεού, ο αίρων την αμαρτίαν του κόσμου». Κατεβάζει με την έγκριση των πιστών το Άγιον Πνεύμα σε όλους και στα Δώρα. Και σε λίγο, αφού μεταλάβει αυτός, βγαίνει να κοινωνήσει τους πιστούς το Σώμα και το Αίμα του Χριστού μας. Και γίνεται έτσι ο παπάς πατέρας που γεννά μέσα μας το Χριστό. Αρχικά βέβαια με το μυστήριο του Βαπτίσματος και ύστερα με τ ἄλλα. Οι τύποι των ιερέων στον Παπαδιαμάντη είναι μορφές (δηλαδή μορφωμένοι), ενάρετοι, σεβάσμιοι, ιεροπρεπείς. Μπορεί να είναι ολιγογράμματοι, αλλά μπορούν και κάνουν πολύ καλά το έργο τους. Μπορούν και στέκουν μέσα στο Ναό μα και στην Κοινωνία. Κάνουν τη θεία Λειτουργία και παίρνουν τα υπερκόσμια δώρα της. Και υστέρα βγαίνουν, «προέρχονται εν ειρήνη», και συνεχίζουν τη λειτουργία της ζωής. Τη λειτουργία μετά τη Λειτουργία. Ο ιερέας πατέρας του ήταν άριστος λειτουργός, τέκνον των Κολλυβάδων, αλλά και ικανός και θαρραλέος και χρήσιμος μέσα στην Κοινωνία. Στο διήγημα «Στο Χριστό στο Κάστρο» νοιάζεται για τους δύο αποκλεισμένους σε αυτό. Κάνοντας ο ίδιος το ντελάλη, το ανακοινώνει. Κι υστέρα στο σπίτι του συγκεντρώνει ενορίτες και συνεργάτες του και, αποφασισμένος όντας εκείνος, συμπαρασύρει και πείθει αρκετούς να τον ακολουθήσουν στον πηγαιμό του για βοήθεια των κινδυνευόντων ενοριτών του. Και όλοι μαζί πηγαίνουν με κίνδυνο της ζωής των στο Χριστό στο Κάστρο, βρίσκουν σώους τους κινδυνεύοντας από τα χιόνια, κάνουν εκεί τη Θεία Λειτουργία των Χριστουγέννων, προσφέρουν βοήθεια και σε ναυαγούς που ξώκειλαν κατά τ ακροθαλάσσι, κι όλοι μαζί τρώνε και πίνουν ευχαριστημένοι και κοιμούνται πανάλαφροι. Και την άλλη μέρα το απόγευμα γυρίζουν αισίως στην πολίχνη. Τι καρτερούν οι άνθρωποι από την Εκκλησία; Την αγάπη την έμπρακτη, την έγνοια και την αποδοχή. Η Εκκλησία είναι η Μάννα μας, κι εμείς πιστά Της τέκνα. Όπως και ο σήμερα τιμώμενος και φίλτατός μας κυρ- Αλέξανδρος. Στην Αθήνα τον εσαγήνευε ο μακάριστος παπα-πλανάς. Ο ταπεινός. Ο άξιος του πρώτου μακαρισμού του Σωτήρος. Πόση γαλήνη εύρισκε κοντά του. Γνωστό μας είναι και το άρθρο του γι αὐτόν. Τα μέγιστα τιμούσε και τους άγαμους ενάρετους κληρικούς και μοναχούς. Είχε υπέροχο παράδειγμα τον Διονύσιο το Γέροντα, τον ιεροπρεπή ασκητή και λόγιο, τον συγγενή του. Τόνιζε την προσφορά τους τη μεγάλη Father Dimosthenis Spiritual Message will be offered in both languages in our Weekly Update. Please call the church office to be added to the email list. Και στα τελευταία του εκάλεσε τον αξιαγάπητο αρχιμανδρίτη Ανδρέα Μπούρα, τον σπουδαίο και φίλο του, για εξομολόγηση και Θεία Κοινωνία. Ζήτησε να του διαβάσει τη μεγάλη εξομολογητική ευχή. Και τον μετέλαβε. Κι υστέρα ο κυρ- Αλέξανδρος άρχισε να κλαίει. Έφευγε για την άλλη πλάση. Είχε συναίσθηση της αμαρτωλότητός του. Αναφέρει στα έργα του και ιερείς με αδυναμίες. Αναγκάζεται να κρίνει. Αλλά με πόνο και ταπείνωση και μοναδικό σκοπό τη διόρθωση, τη θεραπεία και την σωτηρία. Φέρεται μ εὐσπλαγχνία και καλωσύνη. Ποτέ δεν προσβάλλει και δεν εκχυδαΐζει τους ήρωές του. Περιβάλλει μ ἀνείπωτη στοργή ακόμα και τον πειναλέο ανθρωπίσκο στο «Λαμπριάτικο Ψάλτη». Και δείχνει σε όλους και στον εαυτό του, χωρίς αφόρητο διδαχτισμό, την θύρα του Παραδείσου, που είναι η Μετάνοια. Θεωρεί ως κύρια αιτία του πολλαπλασιασμού των αιρέσεων την έλλειψη πραγματικής ποιμαντικής μέριμνας εκ μέρους των ιερέων. Το δέσιμο κλήρου και λάου και η συνεργασία σώζει. Πάντοτε φυσικά με του Χριστού τη Χάρη. Διαβάζοντας κανείς τα έργα του Παπαδιαμάντη έχει την αίσθηση πως βρίσκεται εδώ και κάπου άλλου ταυτόχρονα. Πως βρίσκεται εδώ, στα πάθια και τους καϋμούς του κόσμου και συγχρόνως στα Ρόδινα ακρογιάλια της Θείας Βασιλείας. Και τούτο γιατί ο Παπαδιαμάντης είναι γνήσιον τέκνον της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας μας. Και όλα μέσα σ αὐτὴν είναι θεανθρώπινα. Και ζώντα μέσα σ αυτήν την θεανθρώπινη διάσταση της Εκκλησίας ο κυρ-αλέξανδρος, μεταξύ της ανθρώπινης αδυναμίας και της Πηγής της Παντοδυναμίας σχοινοβατούσε κι

αγωνιζότανε. Άφηνε την οντότητά του στην Αγκάλη του Χριστού και στη στοργή της Παναγίας, που Τους υπεραγαπούσε. Υμνούσε «μετά λατρείας τον Χριστό του». Επόνεσεν αμέτρητα στη ζωή του. Πέρασε φτώχεια σαν ασκητής, μα έμεινε στην έντιμη πενία του, όπως έγραψε κάποτε στον ιερέα πατέρα του, και είχε τη βοήθεια του Θεού. Πέρασε μοναξιά και δυσκολίες «σαν σκοτεινό και άμοιρο τρυγόνι». Κατέφευγεν όμως στην αγία Εκκλησιά, εκεί που «το χελιδόνι ηύρε φωλιά και το τρυγόνι σκέπη». Δεν έγινε ο ίδιος ιερέας, μα ιερουργούσε με τα αθάνατα γραφτά του τον λόγον της αληθείας. Και πόσους δεν ωφέλησε και ωφελεί. Λένε πως κάποια φορά απελπισμένος επήγε να εξομολογηθεί (πίστευε στην Εξομολόγηση). Και είπε στον παπά πως δυσκολεύεται και υποφέρει πολύ. Και ο παπάς, χωρίς να τον ξέρει, αφού τον παρηγόρησε δεόντως, του συνέστησε να διαβάζει τα έργα του Παπαδιαμάντη. Αναφέρει ο Μικρασιάτης λογοτέχνης και μακαριστός πλέον Ηλίας Βενέζης πως ενώ ευρίσκοντο στα περίφημα τάγματα εργασίας κι έμεναν σ ἕνα σταύλο κλεισμένοι, βρήκε κάποιος πεταμένο μέσα εκεί ένα φύλλο από περιοδικό και άρχισε να το διαβάζει, για να περνά η ώρα. Και καθώς εδιάβαζε άρχισαν όλοι ν ακούνε μ ἐνδιαφέρον. Μαλάκωσαν και γαλήνεψαν οι ταλαίπωρες ψυχές τους. Και καθώς τελείωσε το διάβασμα, έβγαλαν όλοι ανακουφισμένοι μια φωνή: «ρε αυτό ήταν Ευαγγέλιο. Λες κι είμαστε στην Εκκλησία». Και τι λέτε πως ήταν; Ένα κομμάτι απ το διήγημα του Παπαδιαμάντη «Υπό την Βασιλικήν Δρυν». Θυμάμαι κάποια φορά ήρθε και με βρήκε στην εκκλησία ένας πολύ πονεμένος. Ήθελε να πεθάνει, μου έλεγε. Δεν ήξερα τι να κάνω. Ήταν Μεγαλοβδομάδα. Είχα μαζί μου τα «Πασχαλινά Διηγήματα» του κυρ- Αλέξανδρου και σκέφθηκα να ζητήσω κι εγώ μια εξυπηρέτηση από τον πονεμένο αδελφό μας. Τον παρακάλεσα να μου διαβάσει, αν ήθελε, ένα διήγημα πασχαλινό. Του είπα πως ήμουν πολύ κουρασμένος, και ήμουν, και θα με εξυπηρετούσε μ αυτό. Κι υστέρα θα μιλάγαμε για τα δικά του. Εκείνος σάστισε για λίγο, μα υποχώρησε στο αίτημά μου και άρχισε να διαβάζει σιγά-σιγά το «Λαμπριάτικο Ψάλτη». Και διαβάζοντας άρχισε λίγολιγο να συνέρχεται. Έβλεπα το πρόσωπό του ν αλλάζει. Έλαμπε αγάλι-αγάλι η θωριά του. Διαβασεν αρκετά. Και κάποια στιγμή άρχισε να κλαίει. Έσκυψε και μου φίλησε το χέρι. Κι είπε με χαρμολύπη: «Παππούλη, τι μου έκανες; Τι είναι αυτό που διαβάζω; Γιατί έφυγεν ο πόνος από μέσα μου κι αλάφρωσεν η ψυχή μου;» Κι έκλαιγεν, όλο έκλαιγεν από χαρά και θαυμασμό. Του είπα για τον Παπαδιαμάντη και το έργο του. «Μα τούτος είναι άγιος, άνθρωπος του Θεού, σοφός, ποιητής μεγάλος, μάγος του λόγου» μου είπε. Και έφυγεν ο άνθρωπος πουλάκι Ήθελε να ζήσει. Αυτός είναι ο κυρ-αλέξανδρος. Μιλάει όμως με γλύκα και αποδοχή για τους αρχαίους. Και συναιρεί στο έργο του το διαιώνιο Ελληνισμό. Καταγράφει τη γλώσσα μας απ τις αμμουδιές τ Ὁμήρου μέχρι σήμερα. Είναι λάτρης του Χριστού και μέγιστος πατριώτης. Και συνάμα αγαπά «πάντα τα έθνη», λέγοντας σε κάποιο διήγημά του «πως κι ο Εβραίος έχει ψυχή». Ευχαριστούμε το Θεό, που μας έδωκε τον κυρ-αλέξανδρο. Ευχαριστούμε και τον ίδιο, που αφηκε σε μας «άλλο, τας βίβλους, στόμα του». Πρεσβύτερος Δημοσθένης Παρασκευαϊδης Good Volunteers are hard to find (or, Our Ethos angel! ) In a church organization, as with many organizations, we find that it s critical to rely on volunteers for our ministries. Volunteers are like gold and sometimes we forget to acknowledge them for their true value. One example is Christina Koutures, who volunteered in the Ethos Bookstore for close to ten years. She began working in the Bookstore when it was located in the storefront at the corner of 31st & NE Glisan. She immediately dove in organizing the shelves, taking inventory, placing orders and coming in every single day except Saturday. She had to take some time off in 2003 when she discovered she had cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and recuperating from that. But as soon as she was able, she was back and has continued as our number one Bookstore volunteer. After the Community Center was finished in 2004, Christina was instrumental in coordinating the move from the storefront into the present location, next to the Conference Room and church office. Until recently, she was still coming in most weekdays and on Sundays. She celebrated her 96th birthday on September 30, 2012 and she has decided that it is time for her to hand the reins over to someone else. We will truly miss you in the Bookstore, Christina. You are one in a million and we were truly blessed by your dedication and service ~ Thank you!!

Stewardship Financial Update Thank you for all your gifts given so far this year. Stewardship giving has been encouraging for much of 2012. Currently, our 384 families who returned their Commitment Card aim for a goal of $381,710 an increase of approximately $36,000 over previous year! Through October, half of these families have already met or exceeded their commitment goal. An additional 145 families have gifted $49,000. Stewardship gifts through the end of October totaled $345,650. Yes, we still have a ways to go to reach our parish goal of $550,000. As we approach these last weeks of 2012, we offer a reminder to please continue to give generously to your Holy Trinity Cathedral. With all hands on deck we know we can accomplish much and, together, we can reach our goal! ---------------------------------------------- From Presv. Effy A big thank you to Father Jordan, Father Dimosthenis and to our Holy Trinity Parish Council, Philoptochos and Fr. Elias Stephanopoulos Memorial committee and to all of you who attended last Sunday s event celebrating my 50 Years as PRESVYTERA. I was very moved by the heart warming sentiments and good wishes that so many of you sent by cards, letters, phone calls, remembrances that were read from friends, presvyteres, clergy and remembrances from friends present. The entertainment, the wonderful meal and dessert that was prepared and served by our young adults was enjoyed by all us, and the elegance of the room will remain with me always as A NIGHT TO REMEMBER! The incredible scrap book, the Byzantine jewelry and the beautiful icon of the Holy Trinity are gifts that I will enjoy and cherish always. Being a Priest and Presvytera is a ministry of serving a parish together I offered what I could, to the best of my ability with joy, peace and love and it all comes from my heart, not to make an impression, but rather as an example of love and what we can do for each other. There is nothing greater! With my own personal health issues this year I too received your love & support that I needed thank you! Almost nine years later, this celebration brought my six children, their spouses and my 13 grandchildren all together as we celebrated Elias Gevorg Stephanopoulos baptism (named after his papou) a memorable family weekend. Once again, my appreciation to the clergy and to the three committees for all your efforts for the event and to my Holy Trinity family, I thank you for your presence to share with me and my family my 50 years as PRESVYTERA! In Christ s Love, Presvytera Effy

Giving Tree 2011 statistics of child welfare in Oregon indicate 6,190 children were in family foster care on an average daily basis, with 37.2 percent placed with relatives. Resources are very limited for foster homes and relative caregivers, especially during these economic times. The simple donation of a toy brings incredible joy to the hearts of children whose childhoods have been cut short and dramatically affected. I will be picking up gift donations December 10th so caseworkers can hand out some gifts at their holiday party for the children but we will continue to pick up donations through December 21st and gifts will be delivered to foster homes. There is a Christmas tree in the small hall to drop off unwrapped gifts as well as a box near the office. Ages for gifts should range from toddlers to teens. The child welfare caseworkers can't thank this community enough for all the kind and thoughtful gifts we ave provided over the years. If you have any questions call Demetria Hunt at 503-887-2428. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HACCM News Save the Date for an upcoming lecture on the 100 th anniversary of the Macedonian liberation set for Saturday, January 19 th at 7 pm in St. Dimitrios Hall. Our guest lecturer, Dimitri Gatziolis, promises a very informative talk. See you there. Nativity Service Schedule Paramoni/Forefeast December 24 Royal Hours, 7:00 am Vesperal Liturgy, 8:00 am Evening Nativity Service Nativity Orthros, 5:00 pm Nativity Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm December 25 Nativity Orthros, 8:00 am Nativity Divine Liturgy, 9:00 am Mark Your Calendar To Come And Reignite Your Flame for Orthodoxy! As we continue on our journey in shifting our thought patterns regarding Stewardship, please mark your calendars and join us on December 8 th for a dynamic faith building discussion. Our guest speaker is Mr. Bill Marianes from Atlanta who has traveled to many Greek Orthodox Churches across the country inspiring them to Reignite the Flame of Orthodox Stewardship. This will be a short informal presentation that will help us embrace the authentic spirit of Stewardship! Please leave your checkbooks at home as this is not a fund raising event. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a church family and become inspired as to how to grow together and move forward in these challenging times. It is my prayer and hope that you will be able to join us for this free event. Please bring your family and call your church friends to attend. We will have activities planned for the little ones. Food and beverages will be included. Food, fellowship and our guest speaker will begin after Vespers at 6:00 p.m. and last until 8:00 p.m. Date: Saturday, December 8th Location: Holy Trinity Hall Time: 6:00pm 8:00pm (food and fellowship after Vespers)

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral 3131 NE Glisan Street Portland, OR 97232 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 64 PORTLAND, OREGON Change Service Requested Service Schedule for December: Tuesday, December 4: Feast of St. Barbara Liturgy 700 am Wednesday, December 5: Feast of St. Nicholas 6:00 pm Evening Liturgy Thursday, December 6: Feast of St. Nicholas Orthros 9:00 am, Liturgy 10:00 am Saturday, December 8: Feast of St. Patapios Wednesday, December 12: Feast of St. Spyridon Saturday, December 15: Feast of St. Eleutherios Monday, December 17: Feast of St. Dionysios Tuesday, December 18: Feast of St. Sevastianos Liturgy 7:00 am Wednesday, December 19: Feast of St. Boniface Liturgy 7:00 am Thursday, December 20: Feast of St. Ignatios Liturgy 7:00 am Friday, December 21: Feast of St. Juliana Orthros 8:00 am Liturgy, 9:00 am Saturday, December 22: Feast of St. Anastasia Monday, December 24: Eve of Christmas Royal Hours 7:00 am, Vesperal Liturgy 8:00 am Evening Nativity-Orthros 5:00 pm Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm Tuesday, December 25: Feast of The Nativity Thursday, December 27: Feast of St. Stephen YOUTH CORNER December 1: GOYA Service project December 15: Sr. GOYA Fellowship December 16: Sunday School Christmas Pageant December 19: GOYA Skate Party December 23: GOYA Christmas Caroling