Rev. Economos Peter J. Thornberg, Proistamenos

June 7, 2015 The Sunday of All Saints Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council The Holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra Our Righteous Father Panagis (Paisios) Basias Tarasios & John the Martyrs ENTRANCE HYMNS Resurrectional Apolytikion - Ex Ipsus Katilthes ( From On High You Descended ) From on high you descended, O merciful Lord. You accepted the cross and three days in the tomb to free us from the bondage of sin, O our life and resurrection. Glory to You, O Lord. Apolytikion for the Saints - Ton en olo to kozmo ( Your Church, O Christ our God ) 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." 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 Faith and Hope, along with God-minded Love; together intercede with God for us all. Kontakion Os aparchas tis fiseos ( O Planter of creation ) O Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire world bring as an offering the God-bearing martyr Saints, as being nature's first fruits. At their earnest entreaties, keep Your Church in a state of profoundest peace, through the Theotokos, O Lord abundantly merciful.

Church Mortgage and Beautification Update June 7, 2015 We are pleased to let you know that we recently negotiated a lower mortgage rate, which will allow us to put more money into the principal payment and help speed up the payoff of our mortgage. We are also continuing the process of beautifying the church. God bless the recent anonymous donor for the Bishop s throne. In addition, a non-parishioner has donated $17,000 to sponsor the candle stands! God bless so many stewards and friends who have taken great interest in the beautification of His house!! Many sponsorships are still available for both iconography and the furnishings. Please check out the exhibit next door in the Fr. John Limberakis Cultural Center. As you ve probably noticed, we have new Narthex furnishings. They were carved by the world-renowned artisans at S. Kavroulakis Company of Chania, Crete, the same firm that carved our beautiful icon screen and other artifacts. This beautiful furniture now greets everyone who enters our church! Some of these items are still available for sponsorship. We have installed a donor plaque to acknowledge those who have contributed to make our new church and its decoration possible. You can see the framework in the Narthex. Please note that the white color is the primer. Our iconographer, Dr. George Kordis may return for a brief visit later this year to decorate the donor plaque and apply a protective varnish to the icons on the icon screen and other items. We have posted a draft of the names that will be listed on the plaque in the Fr. John Limberakis Cultural Center. Please double check your name and listing to make sure it is accurate. If you have questions or concerns, please see any Parish Council member. St. Sophia Church Mortgage Mortgage balance as of 5/28/15 is $1,354,577.03. We recently negotiated a lower rate with QNB Bank, which will lower our payment by $1,000/month. EPISTLE READING The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 God is wonderful among his saints. Verse: Bless God in the congregations. 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. Ἀνάγνωσις ἐπιστολῆς Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:33-40, 12:1-2 Θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς Ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ. Στίχ. Ἐν Ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεὸν. 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.

GOSPEL READING The Reading is from the Gospel of 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." ΕVΑΓΓÉΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30 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. Stewardship Update June 7, 2015 Today is the last day of our Sunday school program. As schools lets out, the summer vacation season will soon be upon us. Although we all like to take vacations, let s please be sure to keep Christ in our summer schedule. Earlier service hours make it easy to attend church and then still have lots of time to enjoy summer activities with family and friends. Worshipping together helps to refresh all of us spiritually each week as we prepare to face the earthly demands of the following week. Let s make sure we are scheduling time for God during the summer too! After all, we would not want God to take a vacation from us! God is calling each and every one of us! Are you listening?? Orthodox Christian Stewardship is our way of thanking God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. To be considered good stewards of our parish and the faith, we must give back in gratitude to Him by giving of our time, talent and treasure. Our Parish and His Ministries need all three from each of us! What are you personally doing to show your gratitude to Him for your own blessings? How are you giving to Him to support His ministries here on Earth? Our 2015 Stewardship Program is off to a great start. If you have not yet returned your Pledge Card please do so today. As a busy parish, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved by giving of our time and talents to support His work. Actively participating is not only spiritually rewarding it can be really fun too! God Bless You for your support of His Work and our parish! 2014 (Year End) 2015 (06/05/15) Pledge Unit Goal 240 240 Number of Pledges 215 179 Pledge $ Goal $210,000 $210,000 Amount Pledged $209,857 $194,202 Average Pledge $976.08 $1,085 New Stewards 23 6

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued) SHOP-RITE or GIANT shoppers: We have enrolled in their Gift Card Program and the gift cards are on sale during coffee hour. If you are interested, please see Alexis Witt. Register Tapes: Don t forget to save your Shop-Rite register tapes. We can only use receipts from any of the ten Brown s stores located in: Bensalem PA, East Norriton, PA, Fairless Hills PA, Cheltenham, PA and in iladelphia, PA, on Island Ave., Oregon Ave., 52 nd & Parkside, Haverford Ave., and Ridge Ave. in the Roxborough section. They also have one store in Brooklawn, NJ. The drop off box is located in the lobby of the Cultural Center. Please submit receipts timely, only tapes from within 4 months of the transaction date are accepted. REDNER S Register Tapes: We are now collecting Redner s Market register tapes. Remember to use your Pump Perks card when making purchases. The drop off box is located in the lobby of the Cultural Center. Movie Tavern Tickets: This is the fabulous movie theater in town that offers first run movies as well as an "inhouse" dining experience. The Ladies Philoptochos is selling discounted MOVIE TAVERN movie tickets for $8.50 each. They can be used on any day and even for new releases. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Maria or Kathy Tsipras. For show times visit www.movietavern.com. 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 and are in need of an Orthodox priest, please call the Parish office at 610-650-8960. A note from Fr. Peter Thank you to all the volunteers who supported our annual Grecian Festival in many and various ways. While the weather wasn t perfect, we were blessed with a tremendous turnout from our supporters in both the Greek and non-greek communities. The highlight for many was to visit our church and see the new additions of the ecclesiastical woodwork and additional iconography. Thank you again for all of your hard work. Have a blessed summer, and I looking forward to seeing you each Sunday!

June 7, 2015 The Sunday of All Saints Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council The Holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra Our Righteous Father Panagis (Paisios) Basias Tarasios & John the Martyrs SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Chrismation Today: Mr. Matthew Claudy (husband of Mrs. Christina Claudy) will be Chrismated this morning just prior to the Divine Liturgy. The sponsor is Mr. Vasilios Kottas. Join us in welcoming Matthew into the Orthodox Church. Memorial Service: Today s memorial service is being chanted for the souls of: Mrs. Sophia Piligian (1 year), beloved mother of Aram Piligian (Elaine) and Mrs. Karen Kinman (William). She was the beloved grandmother of Aram Christopher, Georgeanne and Thomas Piligian. May her memory be eternal. Mr. Nikolaos Demopolis (9 days), beloved husband of Konstantina and father of Thanasi (Irini) Demopolis. He was the beloved grandfather of Elaine, Tina and Nicholas Demopolis. May his memory be eternal. Graduate Sunday: Today after the Divine Liturgy we will be honoring the Sunday school graduates, High school and College graduates, and a special presentation by AHEPA to Greek school students and St. Sophia s athletes. Coffee Sponsor: Thank you to St. Sophia s PTO for sponsoring today s end-of-the-year party and coffee hour. SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS Mon., June 8 th Fri., June 12 th Sun., June 14 th Wed., June 17 th Mon., June 29 th Apostles Fast Begins 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Feast day of St. Onouphrios the Great AND Celebration of Fr. Peter s 10 th Anniversary of his Ordination to Priesthood New Summer Hours Begin 8:30 am Orthros; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy American Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Sophia 2pm to 7pm 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Synaxis of the Holy Apostles GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Greek School Registration: The finalized Greek school 2015-16 registration form is now available at the Pangari or on our website. For questions regarding the program, please contact Erietta Fotiadis at 484-716- 6059 or eriettafotiadis@gmail.com AFTER September 10 th. For questions regarding registration, please contact Roula Matsiras at 484-744-9374 or rmatsiras@hotmail.com, or Christine Bailey at 610-256-1087 or christinebailey@outlook.com. Please complete form and return along with your payment to St. Sophia Parish Office by August 30, 2015.