Summer at Holy Trinity Church - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

NEWSLETTER OF HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH, PORTLAND, MAINE
AUGUST 2013
Summer at Holy
Trinity Church
We Are A Community
“And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:29
When I began my pastoral ministry at
Holy Trinity Church, I found Portland to
be a wonderful city in which to live and
work, but it was lacking the diversity that
I was used to after living in several large
cities in Canada and the US. And Holy
Trinity Church, just like Portland, had
very little diversity in those days.
But things change, thank God, and
both Portland and Holy Trinity Church
have seen immeasurable changes in the
past quarter century. And we are spiritually richer for these changes. We have
matured and grown in so many ways, and
we still have more and exciting growing
to do. I am committed to seeing the progress continue! I will not give up the
fight until my last day as your priest.
I am grateful for the participation of
children and young people in our Liturgy. I am grateful for the support that our
Stewardship program has received from
a large portion of our membership,
though we still have some way to go before everyone is giving to the best of
their ability.
I am grateful for the openness that
we show to visitors and newcomers to
our church. But it is still difficult for
many of us to go beyond the casual
greeting and get to know people who are
not part of our circle.
“Who is my neighbor?” a man asked
Jesus, wishing to get himself off the
hook. But Jesus did not let him off the
hook. He confronted him with the parable of the good Samaritan. Who is my
“neighbor”? My neighbor is everyone,
especially the one whose name I don’t
know, especially the one I never talk to
during coffee hour on Sunday. My neighbor is everyone who is not like me. My
neighbor is everyone who is searching
for God and who yearns to be embraced
by God’s people. My neighbor is everyone who comes to church hoping to be
part of a community.
Are we a community? Silly question,
you might say. Of course, we’re a community: We are the Greek (or, Hellenic,
if you want to be even more authentically
ethnic) Orthodox Community of Portland! Of course we are a community. We
have property, a bank account, we have a
Festival, we have community events.
Why ask such a silly question? Why,
indeed? Because the things that I listed
here are things that make up a club!
The church is not a club. It’s the
“body of Christ.” It is a body, a living
organism, that embraces everyone who
believes in Jesus Christ and welcomes
everyone who is drawn to Christ. It is a
spiritual family where everyone is equally important, regardless of background,
financial status, age, ethnicity.
Some among us lament the fact that
this is no longer the church of their
youth. Hallelujah for that! Thank God we
are not dead and buried in our 1950’s
clothes. Nothing wrong with the 50’s, but
we are in the 2010’s!
The church today is in a similar situation as it was in the first 300 years of
Christianity. While the Roman Empire
provided one type of unity, based on
power and violence, the Church provided
a spiritual home and a unity that overcame the divisions of society. So also
It’s a wonderful time to be part
of a worshipping community.
Liturgy is quicker in summer,
sermons are shorter, and the air
conditioning keeps us cool. It’s a
good place to be on Sunday
mornings.
today, while money and power seek to
control and divide humanity, the Church
provides a respite, a home to all who
seek a unity rooted in God and not in
money or entertainment.
So let us continue to cultivate those
things that unite us as a spiritual family
and make us a community:
Faith: Our faith in J esus Chr ist, by
which we are one in his name. We are all
children of one God. We are all equally
loved, filled with the Holy Spirit.
Worship: When we gather in the Liturgy, we manifest our faith and our unity. We experience mystical unity with
God and with each other, and we go forth
to live that unity.
Language: Our wor ship can only be an
expression of our spiritual unity if we
worship in a language that is meaningful
to us. We come from different backgrounds, but we all speak one common
language, English. It stands to reason that
English should be the language of our
worship. Otherwise we’re just preserving
a museum faith and a museum Liturgy,
rather than a living faith and worship!
We are a community! Let’s keep
working on it, with love and humility.
Let’s practice the art of being neighbor.
Start with coffee hour on Sunday. If you
see someone sitting alone go and sit with
that person and start a conversation. Being a neighbor almost always starts with
a conversation. God himself starts with a
conversation! Jesus is the Word of God!
Fr. Constantine Sarantidis
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Most Weekdays, 12:00 — 3:00 PM
Office Phone Number: 207-774-0281 — Email: [email protected]
Fr. Constantine’s Cell Phone Number: 207-831-3016. His email address: [email protected].
August 2013
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SUNDAY LITURGY
10:00 am
FESTAL LITURGIES OF AUGUST — ΕΟΡΤΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
LITURGY OF TRANSFIGURATION — Tuesday, August 6th, at 10:00 AM
LITURGY OF THE DORMITION — Thursday, August 15th, at 10:00 AM
ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΕΩΣ — Τρίτη, 6 Αυγούστου, 10 π.μ.
ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΙΣ — Πέμπτη, 15 Αυγούστου, 10 π.μ.
August 4th — Sixth Sunday of Matthew
READINGS: Romans 12:6-14; Matthew 9:1-8 READERS: Panos Pantelas, Rahwa Michael
PROSFORO: Stacy Gikas PARISH COUNCIL: Team III—Angela, Greg, Mirela
FELLOWSHIP: If you would like to sponsor this Sunday’s fellowship, please call 774-0281.
August 11th — Seventh Sunday of Matthew
READINGS: Romans 15:1-7; Matthew 9:27-35 READERS: Tass Varaklis, Merilla Michael
PROSFORO: Elaine Vorias PARISH COUNCIL: Team I—John, Tess, Jim
FELLOWSHIP: Pantelas Family, for the 40-day churching of Alythia Pantelas Perry.
August 18th — Eighth Sunday of Matthew
READINGS: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Matthew 14:14-22 READERS: Stacy Gikas, Tom Peterson
PROSFORO: Rhea Williams PARISH COUNCIL: Team II—Helen, Regat, Paul
FELLOWSHIP: Eritrean & Ethiopian Communities.
August 25th — Ninth Sunday of Matthew
READINGS: 1 Corinthians 3:9-17; Matthew 14:22-34 READERS: Angela Varipatis, Greg Tselikis
PROSFORO: Bettie Moustrouphis PARISH COUNCIL: Team III—Greg, Mirela, Angela
FELLOWSHIP: Nicholas Family, in memory of Anna Nicholas.
September 1st — First Day of Ecclesiastical Year
READINGS: 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 4:16-22 READERS: Demo Varipatis, Diana Dowd
PROSFORO: Stacy Gikas PARISH COUNCIL: Team I—Tess, Jim, John
FELLOWSHIP: If you would like to sponsor this Sunday’s fellowship, please call 774-0281.
Melpomene Shamos announces that she has become a great-grandmother. Her grandson, Alex Shamos
Gaylord and his wife Andrea welcomed a boy, Bruin Nicholas. Congratulations to the parents, grandmother Elaine Shamos Gaylor, and great-grandmother Melpo.
Spiro & Claudiana Dede announce the birth of their second daughter Nika. Congratulations to the parents,
grandmother Letta, and great-grandmother Kasiani Para.
We note the recent death in Greece of Konstantina Papadopoulos, mother of Nick Papadopoulos. We
extend our sympathies to Nick & Stavroula and their family.
MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL!
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Holy Trinity Church, Portland, ME
CASH & IN-KIND FESTIVAL DONATIONS – 2013
Abraha, Michael & Regat Mebrahtu $150.00
AHEPA - $500.00
Belanger, Barbara - $35.00
Bodley, Constance & Rosalind Bridges
- $25.00
Bouras Family - $100.00
Brown, Amelia - $25.00
Budri, Emil & Helen – buckets and
butter
Budri, Thanas & Marianna - $200.00
Cala, Fotaq & Mirela - $100.00
Callahan, Robert & Anna - $100.00
Cannon, Katherine - $100.00
Carson, Penelope & Robert - $100.00
Cox, John & Debra Sinclair - $100.00
Dede, Redi - $300.00
Dobra, Shkelqim Hazis & Violeta $250.00
Dowd, Diana & Craig Doremus $150.00
Dragoumanos, Rosella - $100.00
Eco Electric – electrical services
Ferros, Maxim & Diana - $100.00
Flocatoulas, Costas & Lisa - $250.00
Foss, Ardelle & David Sturtevant $100.00
Gianibas, Dina - $100.00
Gianibas, Mary – supplies and hosting
children’s event table
Giatas, Amelia - $100.00
Giatas, Domna - $100.00
Giftos, Helene - $100.00
Gikas, Alexandra - $30.00
Gionis, Panagiotis & Kiriaki - $200.00
Glicos, Evangelos & Joanne - $50.00
Good Table - $500.00
Gribizis, Mary - $150.00
Gudis, Anna - $150.00
Habtemariam, Tsegaye & Tighisti
Reda - $100.00
Hasiotis, Olga - $30.00
Hassapelis, Ted – electrical services
and supplies for Set-Up Day
Heel, Helen - $300.00
Hunt, Elaine & H Draper - $100.00
Jasonides, Chris & Meg Handlin $210 (in-kind donation of licenses)
Jiottis, Constantine - $250.00
Kafenio - $100.00
Kapothanasis, Costa & Effie - $300.00
Kourakos, Sophie - $100.00
Kourinos-Sprague, Caroline & Mark
Sprague - $100.00
Krestos, Dean & Estelle - $225.00
Lampros, George & Mary - $25.00
LaRosa, Vincente & Margarita $50.00
Lekousi, Arthur & Freda - $140.00
Liakopoulos, George & Dorothy $25.00
Mageles, Priscilla - $30.00
Makrides, Christopher - $100.00
Makrides, John & Carol - $100.00
Markos, Arthur & Diana - $100.00
Michael, Merilla - $50.00
Moll, Richard & Faith - $50.00
Morrell, Joanna - $25.00
Morrell, William & Dorothy - $100.00
Moustrouphis, Angela – signage and
supplies
Moutzourogeorgos, John & Hrysoula
- $150.00
NTI/J Liponis Family - $1,000.00
Nanos, Lucille - $75.00
Nawfel, Michael & Karen - $100.00
Nawfel, Sam & Bonnie - $100.00
Neal, Byron & Alexandra - $300.00
Nere, Daniel - $100.00
Nicholas, James - $75.00
Pachios, Harold - $100.00
Paideia of Maine - $100.00
Pantelas, Panos & Phyllis - $27.00 plus
$23.00 for supplies for beans &
coffee table
Papalimberis, Ted & Laurie Sutherland - $150.00
Pappas, Argy - $50.00
Pappas, Nicholas & Nicoletta - $50.00
Peterson, Thomas & Marian - $100.00
Philoptochos - $1,000.00
Pizza Villa - $100.00
Poulios, Persefone - $100.00
Poulis, Aspacia - $100.00
Prompto Inc - $2,500.00
Regan, Dennis - $50.00
Regios, Constance - $100.00
Romeo’s Pizza - $150.00
Schneller, Marina - $100.00
Sferes, Jeanette - $200.00
Sferes, Philip & Nancy - $100.00
Shamos, Melpomeni - $100.00
Sibson, Cassandra - $50.00
Sotiropoulos, Angelo - $4,000 (in-kind
donation of the lamb)
Sotiropoulos, Sotirios & Antonia $350.00
Sparangis, Aristides – cups & coffee
Standish House of Pizza - $300.00
Stratis, Emily - $50.00
Stratis, Thomas - $50.00
Tesfai, Zeru & Askalu Ezra - $100.00
Tselikis, Gregory & Jackie - $400.00
Tselikis, Steven & Julie - $100.00
Ureneck, Paul - $31.84 (Propane)
Vaghena, Nicoletta - $100.00
Varaklis, Anastase & Soula - $100.00
Varipatis, Demosthenes & Angela $400.00
Varipatis, Theodore & Beth - $100.00
Vorias, James & Alexandra - $2,000.00
Vorias, Nicholas & Doreen - $350.00
Williams, Rhea - $50.00
We are extremely grateful for all the
cash and in-kind donations we received. These donations greatly enhanced the success of our Festival.
And it was indeed another successful
Festival, despite the less-than-ideal
weather.
Every effort has been made to accurately record all donations. But
mistakes and omissions can happen. Please notify the church office in the event of any error or
omission.
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August 2013
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The following have sent in payments and/or pledges for 2013.
Please report errors or omissions to the church office, 774-0281.
Michael Abraha & Regat Mebrahtu
Mana Barnabas
Spiro & Margarita Basha
Christina Bathras
Barbara Belanger
Helen P Blewett
Kimberly Blewett
Constance Bodley & Rosalind
Bridges
Amelia Brown
Mark & Jean Butler
Robert & Anna Callahan
Katherine Cannon
Penelope & Robert Carson
Deane & Anne Constantine
John & Charlene Constantine
Viola & Fred Conti
Philip Coupe & Alexia Pappas
John Cox & Debra Sinclair
Christos Dadiotes
Lola Dadiotes
Menelaos Dadiotes
Lillian Dantos
Suzanne & David Dargie
Todd & Helen Delaney
Stratos & Carol Demakis
Despina Deveres
Christos & Sheila Dilios
William Doukas
Diana Dowd & Craig Doremus
Alexander & Elizabeth Dragatsi
Rosella Dragoumanos
Dolores Drivas
Fotini & Robert Eberhard
Maxim & Diana Ferros
Costas & Lisa Flocatoulas
Ardelle Foss & David Sturtevant
Hailegiogis & Tsega Gebrehiwot
Dina Gianibas
Mary Gianibas
Amelia Giatas
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Domna Giatas
Dyonisia Giatas
Helen Giatas
Helene Giftos
Alexandra Gikas
Anastasia Gikas
Stefanos & Kasiani Gikas
Aphrodite Goulatis
Connie Goulatis
Dimitri &Anilda Gribizis
Mary Gribizis
Anna Gudis
Tsegaye Habtemariam & Tighisti
Reda
Olga Hasiotis
James & Katherine Hatch
Aqilla & Kasiani Haxhi
Helen Heel
Stella & Guy Hernandez
Joni & William Hewitt
Evangeline & Richard Hopkins
Elaine & H Draper Hunt
Helen Huntley
Karen & Jeff Irwin
Constantine Jiottis
Christo & Kimberly Kapothanasis
Constantine & Effie Kapothanasis
Paul & Irene Kapothanasis
Tasso & Valentina Kapothanasis
Evanthia & Brian Kennedy
Anthony & Sylvia Kostopoulos
Angelo Koukos
George & Darlene Koukos
Harry & Maria Koukos
Vladimir Koulchin
Sophie Kourakos
Odie & Christine Kourapis
Emmanuel & Nicole Kourinos
John Kourinos
Dean & Estelle Krestos
George & Mary Lampros
Holy Trinity Church, Portland, ME
Vincente & Margarita LaRossa
Eugenia Lebares
Arthur & Freda Lekousi
George & Lisa Lekousi
George & Dorothy Liakopoulos
Peter Liakopoulos
Anne Madore
Ksenofon Makoci
Christopher Makrides
John & Carol Makrides
Arthur & Diana Markos
Cathi Mavodones
Lesya & Brian Mavor
Anthony Mezoian
Merilla Michael
Richard & Faith Moll
Joanna Morrell
Timothy & Susan Morrell
William & Dorothy Morrell
Angela Moustrouphis
Elizabeth Moustrouphis
John & Hrysoula Moutzourogeorgos
Lucille Nanos
Michael & Karen Nawfel
Sam & Bonnie Nawfel
Byron & Alexandra Neal
Daniel Nere
James T Nicholas
Alex Notis
Vasso Notis
Andrea & Edward Nutter
Arthur O’Neil & Maria Tzianabos
Amy Panagakos & Edward Libby
Petros Panagokos
Panos & Phyllis Pantelas
S Victor & Evie Papacosma
Ted Papalimberis & Laurie
Sutherland
Argyro Pappas
John & Kathy Pappas
Nicholas J & Nicoletta Pappas
Nicholas T & Anita Pappas
James & Flora Para
James & Taxia Paras
Nicholas Peterson
Thomas & Marian Peterson
Angela Plummer
Persephone Poulios
Aspacia Poulis
Nicholas & Lefco Poulos
Loucas & Thalia Prodromou
Jani & Irini Qirushi
Amanda & Mark Rand
Dennis Regan
Fr. Constantine & Madeline
Sarantidis
Theodora & Ken Sawyer
Jeanette Sferes
Philip & Nancy Sferes
Cassandra Sibson
Christopher Sibson
Carolyn Snyder
Angelo Sotiropoulos
Nicholas & Jodie Sotiropoulos
Sotirios & Antonia Sotiropoulos
George Spatoulas & Doreen Morrow
James & Shellie Spirounias
Emily Stratis
Paul & Allison Stratis
Thomas Stratis
CG & Anna Trouvalis
Gregory & Jackie Tselikis
Robbyn Tselikis
Steven & Julie Tselikis
Stephen Tsicouleas & Susan
Lemieux
Barbara Tsonis
Andrew & Mirella Tucci
Paul Ureneck
Anastase & Soula Varaklis
Kalliope Varaklis & Sean
McCormick
Demosthenes & Angela Varipatis
Connie Vatsinaris
Chris Velentgas
Anastasia Vorias
Elaine Vorias
James & Alexandra Vorias
Nicholas & Doreen Vorias
Iliana Vultur
Efrem & Alganesh Weldemichael
Rhea Williams
James Yalouris
Frank & Nicolette Yattaw
Christos & Niki Zoulamis
Laura Zoulamis-Gordon & Charles
Gordon
Chrissy Zoulamis-Miller & Jason
Miller
Total Pledged:
Total Received:
Average Pledge:
$104,613
$78,370
$608
“Thank You” to all our stewards!
If you haven’t made a pledge or payment for Stewardship year 2013,
please do so. It is important that you
be part of the community that cares
and supports our gospel ministry!
You can pay your Stewardship with a Credit Card!
Call the office, 774-0281, or visit the Bookstore after Liturgy.
Altar Oil
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July 21-27, Terry Sawyer, in memory of her parents and sister.
July 28-Aug. 3, Rosella Dragoumanos, in memory of loved ones.
August 4-10, Terry Sawyer, for the health of family and friends.
August 11-17, Alex & Byron Neal, for the good health of friends and family.
August 18-24, Connie and Freda Goulatis, in loving memory of their parents, Sylvia & Louie Goulatis.
Aug. 25-31, Melpo Shamos, in memory of Marie Shamos Twitchell and her birthday.
September 1-7, Connie and Freda Goulatis, in loving memory of their grandparents, Connie & Harley
Vetas and Aphrodite & Demetrios Goulatis.
Several weeks are open for your sponsorship. Donations are $10 per week.
THANK YOU. The Sunday School is grateful for the framed picture of Jesus that was donated by Dolores
Drivas, in memor y of Dana Vamvakias. Dolor es had Dana as student in Sunday School year s ago.
Have you noticed the two icons that frame the stairs to the Sunday School and fellowship area in our church?
The icon of the Trinity was donated by the Varaklis family, and the icon of the face of Christ is the icon
the children of our Sunday School made with the help of Chris Gossey last year. Next time you go downstairs after Liturgy, pause to look on both sides of the stairs. And praise God for all things great and small.
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August 2013
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AUGUST 2013
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
133 Pleasant Street, Portland, ME 04101
207-774-0281 [email protected]
THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY
ANNA & BOB CALLAHAN, FOR THE
HEALTH OF THEIR FAMILY.
The deadline for submissions to the September issue is August 16th.
Christos & Mary Papoutsy announce:
The Prof. John C. Rouman Classical Lecture Series
October 23, 24 & 25 at University of New Hampshire—Free Public Lectures
http://www.helleniccomserve.com/classical.html
GREEK SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014
AGIASMOS for the beginning of the new school year will take place on
Monday, September 16, 2013 at 4:00p.m. in the Parish House.
All children of Greek School and their parents are requested to be present for this special service. Any child 6
years or older can attend Greek school. For more information please call Mrs. Varipatis at 799-6485 .
Classes begin on Tuesday, September 17th. Class times remain the same, 4:00-6:00 pm daily.
STUDENTS WILL ATTEND CLASSES AS FOLLOWS:
MONDAY:
Theodore Gordon, Alexia Kostopoulos, Nia Kostopoulos, Richard Kourinos Despina Pashos
TUESDAY:
Pavlos Casvikes, Nicoletta Coupe, Andrew Jasonides, Jack Pellechia.
WEDNESDAY:
Dimitri Coupe, Philip Coupe, Nausica Ferros, Alexander Gordon
THURSDAY:
Kristina Arabatzis, William Ferros, Zachaios Fitts, Lena Kombakis, Evangelos Kapothanasis, Anna Pilioglos, Angela Spiler, Andrew Varipatis.
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ
Ο ΑΓΙΑΣΜΟΣ για την έναρξι του νέου σχολικού έτους θα γίνη την Δευτέρα, 16 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2013 στις 4:00μ.μ.
στην κοινοτική αίθουσα. ΄Ολα τα παιδιά του Ελληνικού Σχολείου παρακαλούνται να έρθουν με τους γονείς τους στην
ειδική αυτή τελετή. Παιδιά ηλικίας έξι ετών και άνω γίνονται δεκτά στο Ελληνικό Σχολείο. Για περισσότερες
πληροφορίες τηλεφωνήσατε εις την Κα Βαρυπάτη, 799-6485.
Μαθήματα αρχίζουν την Τρίτη, 17 Σεπτεμβρίου.
Οι ώρες της λειτουργίας των μαθημάτων παραμένουν οι ίδιες, 4 έως 6 μ.μ.
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Holy Trinity Church, Portland, ME