The Trophybearer - St. George Greek Orthodox Church

The Trophybearer
CHURCH
STAFF

Fr. Christodoulos
Margellos

Office Secretary:
Candice Kalman

Philoptochos President: Alexa Florence

Sunday School Director: Andrea Jacobs

2 0 1 3
BREAK AWAY FROM THE PACK
Parish Council President: Dennis Spurgetis

J U L Y / A U G U S T
Parish Priest/Editor:
Youth Director:
Deacon Paul Speed
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Fanari Camp
pictures
2
Rummage
Sale
3
July/August Service
Schedule
5
Youth News
8
Missions Letter
9
Community
News
10
Festival Volunteers
11
One of the most difficult challenges to deal with in life is the opinion of others. In today’s world,
we are bombarded from so many different directions, which put pressure on us about how to live our
lives. Of course there is peer pressure, the pressure that teenagers as well as all of us feel to be traditional to ideas that we may not even agree with. The media influences us constantly, whether it’s by
newspapers, television or the Internet. Almost everywhere we look; someone or something is telling
us how we should live our lives. And because we all have an instinctive need for acceptance, many
times we succumb to going along with the crowd, even when we do not agree with the crowd, sometimes even when the crowd is wrong. So great is the need for acceptance, for love, for popularity, it
seems that in an increasing way, we are willing to put aside more and more for popularity, to allow
ourselves to be influenced more and more, and we stop standing up for what is right or what we really feel less and less.
People tell me all the time that they wish they could come to church more. Or, there is so much
to do that there is no time for church. On some level, I’m sure we’d all like to worship more, to pray
more, to have a closer relationship with God. Anyone who has ever uttered a genuine prayer, or who
has really prayed the Divine Liturgy, or who has approached the Holy Chalice with awe and with
love, knows the joy and the peace that comes only with a good spiritual life and relationship with
Christ. Is that not what we all want deep down?
However, society works harder to convince us that what we want is not joy, love, or peace of
mind, but rather a new car, the latest fashionable attire, or the second home at the beach. Society tells
us that Sunday mornings are for the golf course and not for church. And that our kids should be athletes instead of altar boys, going to birthday parties instead of Sunday School. So, we are left with the
decision – to listen to the heart or listen to the television; to listen to God, or to our friends; to follow
God’s Commandments or the popular trends of our society.
I write this message this month because summer is soon coming to a close. All of society seems
to be geared around the seasons. When school is in, society moves faster, and when school is out,
and summer comes, society slows down, people take off for vacation. As August begins, our kids
prepare to go back to school, and the rollercoaster eases out of the station, climbs the hill and prepares to take us on another rollercoaster ride through another busy year. It’s also at this time of the
year that the church gets into the full swing of its programs. The menu of life, which summer offered
us the choice of the beach or the mountains, fishing or golfing, now overwhelms us with athletic contests, sports teams, dance practices, scouts, homework, and so many other things, and somewhere in
all the chaos is the church. However, while the heart tells us that God, and what God offers us, is
what we want for ourselves and our children, society pushes away the voice of God.
So, as you plan your busy schedule, don’t buy into what society tells you are good and right and
popular. Listen to your heart. Make God the priority. Because whether a child plays on the football
team, or dances in a recital, or if our golf handicap comes down and our business profits go up, all
fail to measure up to the reward that comes from having a close and genuine relationship with God.
If we can stand up as a community, each person doing his or her part, filling our church and Sunday
School each Sunday, we then can turn the tide of assaults away from our Church. It is time to take a
stand and order God first, before looking at the other choices on the menu. After all, how much does
it say about our love of God if we only order Him after we’ve had our fill of everything else!
+Fr. Christodoulos Margellos
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FANARI CAMP 2013
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Parish Council Minutes
14 May 2013
Members Present: Dennis Spurgetis, Angela Spurgetis, Mary Rankin, Gus Pappas, Joe Burmeister, and
Mike Patramanis
Call to order: Council President Dennis S. called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and led the council in
prayer.
Minutes: The council approved the minutes of the April meeting.
Guest: Mike Avgenackis showed the council some proposed changes to the parish website he has been developing. All those present thought the proposals were excellent and thanked him for his hard work on preparing them.
Treasurer’s Report: Gus P. reviewed the current report and noted that the parish is in good financial shape
heading into the summer with revenue about $24,000.00 ahead of budgeted revenue for this time of year.
Gus will make sure that Tom Hammar gets a copy of the 2013 budget so it will appear in the monthly report.
Mike P. moved and Angela S. seconded to approve the report. The motion was approved.
Festival Fund Report: Gus P. reported that there has been no activity in the account since the last report.
The balance as of 31 March 13 is $66,423.96
Foundation Report: In the absence of the chairman, Gus P. reported that the fund’s value was approximately $522,000.00.
Building and Grounds: In the absence of the chairman, Dennis S. reviewed the following:
The recent heavy rains have exposed leaks in the ceiling. Tom Bakeris will follow up on this matter.
FW Asphalt’s bid for repairs is $4,000.00. Jason Leon has used cold patch for a temporary solution until
the council decides how to proceed. Joe B. suggested the council consider concrete paving on the
west side of the church by the kitchen. His reasons included that that side gets heavier traffic
(delivery trucks, school drop-offs, etc.), runoff from the hill, and the price of oil is high making concrete
more competitively priced with asphalt. Joe B. volunteered to investigate this further.
Stewardship: Mary R, reported that as of April 30, $67,657,27 has been contributed to the parish as stewardship contributions. Additional information will be in the next Trophybearer.
There was no youth report or report from Father because he is currently attending the Metropolis Clergy Retreat.
There was no new or old business.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
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JULY/AUGUST 2013 SERVICE SCHEDULE/HOLY WEEK
Sunday, July 7th
2nd Sunday of Matthew
Thursday, July 11th
Saint Euphemia
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Orthros: 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 13th
Great Vespers
Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 14th
Sunday of the Holy Fathers
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, July 17th
Saint Marina
Orthros: 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 20th
Prophet Elias
In Dubuque, IA
Saturday, July 20th
Great Vespers
Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 21st
4th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, July 24th
Saint Anne
Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Orthros: 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m.
Friday, July 25th
Saint Paraskevi
Saturday, July 26th
Great Martyr Panteleimon
Orthros: 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m.
Orthros: 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, July 27th
5th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, August 1st
Great Paraklesis
6:00 p.m.
Friday, August 2nd
Small Paraklesis
6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 3rd
Great Vespers
Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 4th
6th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Monday, August 5th
Transfiguration Vespers
At Monastery in Harvard, IL
Tuesday, August 6th
Transfiguration of our Lord
At Monastery in Harvard, IL
Wednesday, August 7th
Small Paraklesis
6:00 p.m.
Friday, August 9th
Small Paraklesis
6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 10th
Great Vespers
Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 11th
7th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Monday, August 12th
Small Paraklesis
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 14th
Dormition Vespers
7:00 p.m. Assumption East Moline
Thursday, August 15th
Dormition of the Theotokos
Orthros: 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 18th
8th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 24th
Great Vespers
Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 25th
9th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros: 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, August 29th
Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Orthros: 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m.
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ALTAR BOY SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR JULY/AUGUST 2013
On Sunday, July 14th, 2013: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter
Matos, Ian Matos.
On Sunday, July 21st, 2013: Team 1 Jakob Peters, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Andrew Leon, Jorge Elias, Zack Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias.
On Sunday, July 28th, 2013: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter
Matos, Ian Matos.
On Sunday, August 4th, 2013: Team 1 Jakob Peters, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Andrew Leon, Jorge Elias, Zack Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas
Elias.
On Sunday, August 11th, 2013: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter Matos, Ian Matos.
On Sunday, August 18th, 2013: Team 1 Jakob Peters, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Andrew Leon, Jorge Elias, Zack Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas
Elias.
On Sunday, August 25th, 2013: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter Matos, Ian Matos.
July/August 2013 Parish Council Sunday Duty List
-Names in Parenthesis indicate team member to arrive by 9:00 a.m.
On Sunday, July 14th, 2013 members on duty: (Joe Burmeister, Dennis Spurgetis), Gus Pappas.
On Sunday, July 21st, 2013 members on duty: (Harry S. Coin, Mike Patramanis), Vickie Pyevich, Tom Bakeris.
On Sunday, July 28th, 2013 members on duty: (Angela Spurgetis, Steve Eckert), Mary Rankin, Ted Kutsunis.
On Sunday, August 4th, 2013 members on duty: (Gus Pappas), Joe Burmeister, Dennis Spurgetis.
On Sunday, August 11th, 2013 members on duty: (Vickie Pyevich, Tom Bakeris), Harry S. Coin, Mike Patramanis.
On Sunday, August 18th, 2013 members on duty: (Mary Rankin, Ted Kutsunis), Angela Spurgetis, Steve Eckert.
On Sunday, August 25th, 2013 members on duty: (Joe Burmeister, Dennis Spurgetis), Gus Pappas.
Coffee Hour Hosts for July/August 2013
On Sunday, July 14th, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Elizabeth Teros & Fran Spurgetis.
On Sunday, July 21st, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Claudette Jannes & Helen Spurgetis.
On Sunday, July 28th, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Pat Andrews & Polly Bagatelas.
On Sunday, August 4th, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Anne & Quinn Kirkpatrick.
On Sunday, August 11th, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Family of George & Georgia Kutsunis.
On Sunday, August 18th, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Veronica Tolescu & Roxana Leinbach.
On Sunday, August 25th, 2013 Coffee hour will be hosted by: The Elias Family.
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YOUTH CORNER!
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YOUTH NEWS
FANARI CAMP: This is the last chance to register for Fanari Camp. Fanari this year will be held on June 16th to the 22nd at
Green Lake Wisconsin. This is open for kids going into 6th grade to 11th grade. This is an opportunity for our children to get to
know children from all around the Metropolis of Chicago. As usual Fr. Christodoulos will be one of the priests in attendance. Please
see Fr. Christodoulos for the application.
SAVE THE DATE: SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA OUTING TO CHICAGO: On Tuesday, July 23rd the Parish of St.
George along with Assumption parish will be doing a outing to Six Flags Great America in Chicago. The cost of this outing normally would be over $60 and we will be getting it for $40. This is a great opportunity to for families to go out this summer and have a
fun filled day along with your church and friends. Please R.S.V.P. with Fr. Christodoulos by Thursday, July 19th.
ALTAR BOY WORKSHOP: As we get ready to begin a new Sunday School year in September we are once again going to take
the time train our Altar boys. We are also opening up to any new boys who would like to become part of our proud tradition o f altar
boys here at St. George. We are going to continue on with Bill Johnson as our head altar boy, but this year we are also going to
begin implementing group captins. We will have two captins in each group. These boys will be responsible for running the groups
along with Bill and in place of Bill when he is unable to make it. We will be holding the meetings on 2 Sunday’s in August so that
each group can make it to the meetings. It is very important that we have all the Altar boys attend one of these dates. The dates of
the meetings will be Sunday, August 18th & Sunday, August 25th. For anyone who would like their boy to start in the Altar, try to
make it to either one of these meetings. May God continue to bless the ministry that our children bring every Sunday.
READERS FOR JULY/AUGUST 2013
On Sunday, July 14th, 2013: Alexa Florence
On Sunday, July 21st, 2013: Steve Eckert.
On Sunday, July 28th, 2013: Colleen Matos.
On Sunday, August 4th, 2013: Kay Coin.
On Sunday, August 11th, 2013: Alexa Florence.
On Sunday, August 18th, 2013: Steve Eckert.
On Sunday, August 25th, 2013: Colleen Matos.
On Sunday, September 1st, 2013: Kay Coin.
SAINT MARINA THE GREAT MARTYR: This Martyr
lived during the reign of Claudius II (268-270). She was from Pisidia of Cilicia
and was the only daughter of a certain priest of the idols. On being orphaned by
her mother, she was handed over to a certain woman who instructed her in the
Faith of Christ. When she was fifteen years old, she was apprehended by the
ruler of Olmbrius, and when asked her name, homeland, and faith, she answered: "My name is Marina; I am the offspring of the Pisidia; I call upon the
Name of my Lord Jesus Christ." Because of this she endured bonds, imprisonment, and many whippings, and was finally beheaded in the year 270. Saint
Marina is especially invoked for deliverance from demonic possession.
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08 July 2013
Dear Friends,
I used to think “missions” referred to one of two things: Either it was people standing on a street corner handing out pamphlets and yelling
at passersby that they were sinners who were going to hell, or it was self-important foreigners going into another country and forcing their religion and their culture on the native people. I was very happy to discover that the Orthodox Church does not operate in either of these ways.
Last year, I was blessed to go on a mission trip with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) to the Turkana region in the desert of
northwest Kenya. What I experienced firsthand were people who welcomed OCMC missionaries with open arms, not as unwanted invaders, but
as brothers and sisters in Christ. Orthodox Christianity was not a foreign religion imposed on the people, but, in the words of a local elder, “What
my people have been waiting for.” The priests were Turkana men serving their own families and neighbors. The services, while familiar to any
Orthodox Christian, had a distinct Turkana flavor, with the entire congretation joining in clapping and singing.
Our goal in Turkana was to build a church – the first-ever actual building in the village of Loupwala. As the trip drew near and the costs of
travel, immunizations, medications, and supplies added up, I was concerned that the money so many people had generously offered would be
better spent just hiring a local construction crew. What I found in Kenya was, yes, a local construction crew would have been more effective than
a group of ‘soft’ Americans when it came to building a physical church. But the soft Americans were there to build a spiritual Church.
I cannot express how important it was to the Orthodox Christians in Loupwala that we were there. Time and time again, they thanked us for
leaving our comfortable lives and traveling halfway across the globe to live and work with them in their own land. They were amazed that so
many people all over the United States joined together to send us to them – to an insignificant and forgotten people with nothing to offer in return. (Boy, I could go on and on about how wrong that last statement is!)
You see, we are the Body of Christ here on earth. What we could offer that a local crew could not were the hands of Christ mixing concrete
and carrying bricks, the voice of Christ singing with the people, the heart of Christ loving Rebekah and her little boy Simon, the spitfire Mary and
her shy identical twin, the little girl we called “Dimples”, Deacon Herman, who has since been ordained a priest, and the rest of the villagers.
Matthew 6:20 reminds us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”. Every person who offered up so much as a prayer or a dollar for us
last year, layed up treasures for himself or herself in heaven.
This year, I have the opportunity to go on another construction trip with OCMC, to Huehuetenango in northwest Guatemala. Orthodox
Christianity is exploding in Guatemala – there are over half a million faithful and catechumens, with only EIGHT ordained priests to serve them!
The goal now is to train up 500 leaders of the community as soon as possible who will serve to catechize the thousands of faithful for proper reception into the Church.
The Centro Apostólico in Huehuetenango holds bi-monthly seminars to train these catechists not only to teach the faith, but to serve as the
voice of Christ to the people, and to organize the spiritual, educational, and worship life of their community. Catechists often travel great distances to attend the Centro, typically carrying their own bedding, and sometimes carrying children, and then having to sleep on the concrete floor of
the lecture hall.
The OCMC is constructing a dormitory for students of the Centro Apostólico. Our team currently consists of 14 people from across the United States, belonging to both the Greek Orthodox and Albanian Orthodox jurisdictions. None of us is a professional contractor experienced in the
construction methods of Guatemala, yet each of us offers what we offered in Kenya last year – the hands of Christ, to do Christ’s work among
Christ’s people on earth.
To learn more about this mission in Guatemala, go to the OCMC website at http://www.ocmc.org/about/view_team.aspx?TeamId=118 . From
that page, you can send financial support to any of the team members with a credit card. If you would like to send financial support by check, the
mailing address is:
Orthodox Christian Mission Center
220 Mason Manatee Way
St. Augustine, FL 32086
Please write “Ria Papageorgiou – Guatemala” on the memo line.
Most importantly, become involved in this mission by sending your prayer support! I believe you know the mailing address.
Thank you!!
Ria.
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Community News
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASS: With many of our new parishioners recently immigrating, we will be offering
English as a Second Language classes at St. George. If you are interested or know someone who is please see either Angela
Spurgetis or Fr. Christodoulos Margellos for more information.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS MEETING: Will be held on Sunday, August 18th following Divine Liturgy. This will be an
informational meeting for all teachers. So that we can go over our Sunday School schedule for the year. Also anyone who might be
interested in teaching is welcome to attend. We must take a greater responsibility for teaching our children about our faith.
SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION: With Sunday school beginning this year on Sunday, September 8th we will be having
parents registering their children for Sunday School on Sunday, August 25th, September 1st & 8th following Divine Liturgy. Help
us make our Sunday school a top priority.
FESTIVAL MEETING: Our festival meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 16th & 30th at 6:30 p.m. Also on Monday, August
12th following Small Paraklesis. Also on Tuesday, August 27th at 6:30 p.m. All meetings will be held in the Library.
SUMMER HOURS CONTINUE: Orthros will begin at 8:15 a.m. with Divine Liturgy beginning at 9:30 p.m. We will have these
new hours until the Sunday, September 8th which is the first Sunday following Labor Day.
REACHING OUT: In an attempt to reach out to former parishioners of St. George we are asking all members to please call the
church office with any former members who have fallen away from the church. Fr. Christodoulos will then reach out to them.
Please if you have anybody in mind please call the church office or speak with Fr. Christodoulos
SAINT GEORGE ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE IS BACK: On August 2nd and 3rd our Ladies Philoptochos society will once
again hold their Rummage Sale. This is a great opportunity for all our parishioners to go through their homes and get rid of all those
items you may no longer want. We will begin accepting donation at the church after Memorial Day. It is only through the generosity of our parishioners that this can be a successful event.
KOLYVA FOR MEMORIALS: As many of us know in order to have a memorial in the Orthodox Church we need to have Kolyva. Because of this we have started offering to make Kolyva for anyone who needs to have one and either does not have time or
does not know how to make them. We will charge $100.00 for a tray and it will be ready for Sundays. Families are welcome to
help with the making of the Kolyva as well. At a later date will also offer a class on Kolyva making so that we can teach more people within the community to make Kolyva. For more information on ordering Kolyva contact the church office.
CHANTERS NEEDED: We have been blessed at Saint George over the years to have many people volunteer their time to help
with chanting the sacred services of the Church. Our current chanters Chris, Steve and Dn. Paul are doing a great job, but soon, God
willing, we will need a few more to help with services. We also hope to be able to add more English to our Orthros services. So
anyone who is interested please see Fr. Christodoulos for more details.
EVENING MEAL: For July will be hosted by Claudette Jannes & Helen Stiegel on Wednesday, July 24th. For August the Evening
meal will be hosted by Nancy G. Coin, Darlene Lingris & Dena Manta on Wednesday, August 28th.
HOSPITAL VISITS: If you or a family member are in the hospital, please call the office. Ever since the change in the privacy
laws, hospitals are reluctant to call churches. Please call us so that we can avoid missing our parishioners in their time of need.
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church
2930 31st Ave
Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: 309-786-8163
Fax: 309-786-8188
Priest Email: [email protected]
Office Email: [email protected]
www.stgeorgeri.il.goarch.org/
SAINT IRENE CHRYSOVALANTOU:
Saint Irene, who was from
Cappadocia, flourished in the ninth century. Because of her great beauty
and virtue, she was brought to Constantinople as a prospective bride for
the young Emperor Michael (842-867); however, as Saint Joannicius the
Great foretold, it was God's will that she assume the monastic habit instead. She shone forth in great ascetical labours, and suffered many
attacks from the demons; while yet a novice, she attained to the practice
of Saint Arsenius the Great, of praying the whole night long with arms
stretched out towards Heaven (see May 8). God showed forth great signs
and wonders in her, and she became the Abbess of the Convent of Chrysovalantou. She was granted the gift of clairvoyance and knew the thoughts
of all that came to her. She appeared in a vision to the king and rebuked
him for unjustly imprisoning a nobleman who had been falsely accused.
Through a sailor from Patmos to whom he had appeared, Saint John the Evangelist sent her fragrant and
wondrous apples from Paradise. She reposed at the age of 103, still retaining the youthful beauty of her
countenance. After her repose, marvelous healings beyond number have been wrought by her to the present
day.
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