UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
PARISH VASILOPITA/FAMILY SUNDAY: We will cut our parish TODAY, Sunday, January 10th. Let’s welcome the New Year together and please bring your family to services on this day, as we cut the parish Vasilopita, and distribute Vasilopita to all parishioners and see who receives special blessings for 2021!
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: Today is Stewardship Sunday, kicking off our 2021 Stewardship campaign. All parishioners must complete a Stewardship Pledge form each year to be considered a “member in good standing” at an Orthodox Church. All parish households were mailed 2021 Stewardship Pledge Forms and the 2021 Archdiocese Calendars by mail; forms can also be picked up at the Pangari or Church office. Please bring your completed pledge form with you when you attend church.
If it is more convenient, you may also complete your 2021 Stewardship Pledge online at our website, at https://www.stcons.org/stewardship
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Bible Study group will resume meeting via the Zoom platform on Tuesday, Tuesday, January 12th at 7:00 pm. All adults are welcome to join the conversation, as we return to the study of the Book of Job. Zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789 If you have trouble connecting, or for more information, contact: stcons2@gmail.com
GODPARENTS’ SUNDAY: Our next “Family Sunday” will be Valentine’s Day, February 14th. On that day, our parish will celebrate Godparents’ Sunday. Please plan to attend church and take communion with your Godchildren/Godparents on that day.
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE: Be a hero. As our country continues to deal with the COVID pandemic, the need for blood and plasma is greater than ever. On Thursday February 25th, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, we will be hosting another American Red Cross blood drive in the Hellenic Cultural Center. To schedule an appointment, please log onto RedCrossBlood.org (our sponsor code: stcons) or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) today.
NEWS AND NOTICES
PANHELLENIC SCHOLARSHIPS: January 31st is the deadline to apply for to the Panhellenic Scholarship fund for 2021/2022 undergraduate college scholarships. $250,000 in awards based on merit and financial need will be given to students of Hellenic descent. For any questions or inquiries please email info@panhellenicsf.org or call (312) 357-6432.
HOME BLESSINGS DELAYED: Due to COVID safety considerations, Father Teodor will not be making general visits to parishioner homes for annual home blessings in the early months of the 2021 as he normally would. As always, Father will still be available for the blessing of a new home or business, will provide care visits for those who are ill, and blessings in the home or hospital for newborn babies.
ICONOGRAPHY: Our parish has received delivery of 4 small and 4 large icons for the Iconostasis. We expect delivery on additional icons for the Iconostasis in the coming months. The Iconography committee is currently talking with contractors about installation and seeking estimates. There are still icons available for sponsorship, and we are still in need of general donations of any amount to complete our fundraising on Phase One: East and Dome. We are about 90% to completion of our fundraising goal! For those who are interested in sponsoring an icon, please talk to Father Teodor or contact the church office for more information
VOLUNTEER NEEDS: At this time, we are particularly in need of Adult Greeters, Ushers, and Youth and Young Adult Readers for Sunday services. We are also in need of volunteers to help with office/building clean up and organization tasks. If you can help, please contact Annette at the church office 734.525.6789 or stcons2@gmail.com
QUESTIONS FOR FATHER TEODOR: In this unusual year with no regular Sunday School classes, Father Teodor will take a few minutes on Sunday mornings to answer questions from our young people (or adults!) about our faith. Questions can be submitted online using this link: https://forms.gle/7ae8mqd6DNSghbQs6
INCLEMENT WEATHER: During inclement weather when there is nobody in the church office, phone messages and emails to the church are checked periodically during the day and responded to as soon as possible. We will always try to notify people whenever possible of a cancelled event or activity, but when in doubt, please call the church office before you come in. In an emergency, please contact Fr. Teodor directly on his cell at 248.330.3177.
PARKING COURTESY: During these months of cold, snow and ice it can be tempting to park close to the church entrance. Please do not park along the curb or in any fire lanes. Only use handicapped parking spaces if you have a need. We suggest you drop people off at the church entrance, and then go and park your car. If you cannot do that, or if you come to church alone and need help with parking, ask an usher to assist you.
HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER REOPENING: At the current time, the HCC is booking events beginning March of 2021. The State of Michigan is allowing banquet facilities to open for events with reduced capacity. Masks and social distance restrictions are still in place, along with increased precautions in the preparation and serving of food and drink. Although they are not yet keeping regular office hours, if would like to discuss future bookings or other issues with the HCC staff, please contact Victoria at 734.525.3550 or Kathy at 313.303.6350 or helleniccc@gmail.com
SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS
Funeral: 1/8/21 – ILIA MARKO
May his memory be eternal!
Memorial Service Information
Please call the church office to schedule memorials in a timely manner so we can include the information in the bulletin. On the day of the service, please bring a list of family names you would like Father to remember in prayer. At this time, due to COVID restrictions, koliva that has been prepared for the memorial service cannot be distributed to parishioners, but will be returned to the family to take home. We are not currently allowed to have coffee hour, or distribute any cookies, paximadia or koulourakia.
DID YOU KNOW? THE TRADITION OF VASILOPITA: Vasilopita is one of the most prominent Greek traditions on New Year’s Day. In honor of Saint Basil, or Agios Vasilios, people bake this bread every year. The tradition has evolved from the original story and now whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the rest of the year. However, the bread itself does serve as a reminder for all that Agios Vasilios did for people of Greece. It is a sweet, bread-like cake that is only made for New Year’s and is only eaten on New Year’s Day.
At some point during the first day of January, mostly commonly within the first minute of the year, a family will cut the vasilopita with two slices, making a cross, in order to bring luck and blessings to the home. A coin is inserted into the dough prior to baking it. The cake is then divvied up so that every family member and guest receives a slice, with the recipients lining up from oldest to youngest. The cake is not only served in Greek households, but also in organizations. For instance, churches often distribute pieces of vasilopita to parishioners who are active in the church for various reasons, such as the choir director.
The history of vasilopita can be traced back to the ancient festivals of Kronia and Saturnalia and is connected to a legend of Saint Basil. It is said that he implored the citizens of Cesarea, the place where he was from, to raise money in order to stop a siege. Each citizen was to give whatever they had in the form of coins or jewelry. When the ransom was handed to the siege, those who organized the siege were so shamed by the collective generosity that the siege was cancelled. When Saint Basil attempted to return the valuables to every Caesarean only to realize there was no way to distinguish how to distribute the funds back to the people. To solve this problem, he baked the coins and jewelry into bread and then distributed it all back to the people in that way.
Non-Orthodox Visitors Please Note: Holy Communion is offered to Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves. Visitors are welcome to receive the Antidoron (Blessed Bread), which is distributed at the end of the Divine Liturgy.
