EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
GREEKFEST 2022!
IT’S ALMOST HERE! Our GreekFest 2022 will be held on Saturday, February 19th in the Hellenic Cultural Center, from 11:00 am – 11:00 pm. We will have delicious food and Greek sweets, live Greek music and dance, Taverna and Café, Marketplace, and Kids’ crafts and activities. Support our church by coming to the festival with your family! If you missed our appearance on TV2 news on Friday, here is the link: https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1034031?fbclid=IwAR24vCWnexMX1dgUfCHVZLRNz52QtvdH9n2i4_2MVmRvGyX3akv49SVwz6c
And catch us on FOX TV2 again next Thursday morning, 2/17 between 9:30 and 10:00 for a live segment promoting our Greekfest!
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED: We are still in need of volunteers to work the late afternoon and evening shifts. If you haven’t already, please sign up after church today, or online at:: https://www.stcons.org/projects-7 All of the volunteers work hard, but have a lot of fun, too! (And you get a cool Greek Fest t-shirt as a thank you!)
DRIVE-THRU DELICIOUSNESS! We know that some people are choosing to limit their public activities right now, but still want to support our parish and the GreekFest event. we are also offering drive-thru pick up, with advance purchase online. ONLINE FOOD ORDERS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED THROUGH FEBRUARY 16TH. To order your meals, or for more information, go to the GreekFest tab on our parish website, www.stcons.org.
HOPE AND JOY AT GREEKFEST: If you have children between the ages of 4 and 12, meet at the GreekFest Kid’s area from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm on February 19th. We will have fun kids crafts and activities, a special Olympic parade, and Greek Dance lessons for the whole family! Mom and Dad, plan to come early or stay after to purchase delicious food!
HOLY UNCTION SERVICE: The next scheduled Holy Unction service will be held at St Cons on Wednesday, February 16th at 7:00 pm. Adults and children will be anointed with Holy oil for physical health, well-being and forgiveness. Our sister churches Holy Cross and Nativity have joined with Sts. Cons to offer Holy Unction services on a rotating schedule once a month.
SATURDAY OF SOULS: Saturday, February 26, March 5th, and March 12th are designated as Saturday of Souls, where we commemorate our deceased family members. There will be a Divine Liturgy service each of those days. Please attend and bring koliva if you are able. If you cannot come and would like the name of your departed to be commemorated, fill the sheet at the Pangari and give it to Father or leave it in the church office. You only need to submit the names one time to be read all 3 Saturdays.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Adult Bible Study group meetings will continue on Tuesday February 15th, at 7:00 pm on the ZOOM platform. Reading and discussion of the Gospel of Matthew. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789 All adults are welcome to join, no pre-registration needed.
GOYA MEETING: The next GOYA meeting will be held on Sunday, February 27th in the Board room immediately following the church service. All young people ages 12 – 18 are welcome to join.
ATTENTION ST. CONS’ “GALS”! Join us for a “Galentine’s Day” Celebration: An Evening of Pampering and Fun! The event, hosted by our Moms’ Group, will be held on Sunday, February 27, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm in the library. For more information, contact Corrin Stamatakos at 312.961.8615, or cstamatakos@gmail.com.
KOULOUMA LENTEN LUNCHEON: The St. Helen Philoptochos will host their annual Koulouma Lenten luncheon on Monday, March 7th, immediately following the Great Compline Service for the first day of Lent. In addition to the delicious luncheon, there will be a variety of Lenten foods prepared by our Philoptochos members for sale to take home. Tickets will be on sale by Philoptochos members, or call the church office.
LENTEN SEAFOOD BUFFET: Each Friday evening, from March 4th through April 15th, the HCC will be serving a delicious Lenten Seafood Buffet Supper from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Adults: $16, Children $11). They will also offer carry out fish and chips dinners for those who would prefer not to dine in (Adults $13, Children $10). Please invite your friends and neighbors to join you for supper, no reservations are required. We will also be needing volunteers to work the door on those Friday evenings. If you’d like to help, contact Annette in the church office.
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: Our parish Oratorical Festival will be held on Sunday, March 20th, immediately following the Divine Liturgy service. Young people, grades 7 – 12, are invited to participate in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, write a paper and give a speech about our faith. Competition finalists receive cash prizes. For more information about participation, contact Angie Colovas at 734.207.3980 or angiecolovas@yahoo.com.
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL: SAVE THE DATES! As you are planning your summer vacations and summer camp schedules, be sure to save these dates - Our Vacation Church school will be held the week of August 8th – 12th. If you have a young person between the ages of 4 and 12, save this week for learning about our faith, making new friends, and big fun! Teens ages 13 – 18 are needed to work as volunteers, teacher’s aids, etc. We also need adult help that week with teaching, crafts, and outside play. If you can help, contact Frances Marinos at fmarinos@comcast.net or the church office.
NEWS AND NOTICES:
HOME BLESSINGS: Father will continue home blessings until the beginning of Lent (March 7th). If you wish to have your home blessed for the New Year, please contact the church office to be added to Father Teodor’s schedule. Father will wear a mask in the home for those who prefer. Due to safety precautions, Father will keep the visit short (approx.. 15 minutes) and would prefer not to be served any food and drink.
STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE: If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to submit your 2022 Stewardship Pledge card today, indicating the time, talent and treasure that you will offer as a member of the Church, the Body of Christ on earth. You ae not considered a member in good standing at the parish, unless this card is completed each year. Stewardship Pledge cards we sent out to home, and are available at the Pangari or the church office. Parishioners can also complete the 2022 Stewardship Pledge Card online from our website, or at this direct link: https://form.jotform.com/220062911610138
MEMORIAL SERVICES: Koliva that has been prepared for memorial services can now be distributed to parishioners at the end of service. Requested Coffee Hour sponsorship donation is $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family. Paximadia and koulourakia may also be distributed at the coffee hour. Please call the church office to schedule memorials and coffee hour sponsorships 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.
DID YOU KNOW? GODPARENTS IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
The institution of godparents (sponsors) is one that dates back to the first century of the Christian Church. Anyone approaching baptism, be they infant or adult, was required to have a godparent. In the case of an infant, it is the godparent that speaks for the child, answering the questions posed by the priest during the baptismal service. But it doesn’t stop there! The godparent is charged by the Church with the duty to make sure the newly baptized is instructed in the teachings of the Church, remains a frequent communicant within the Church and remains active in the Church. In the case of a child, it is to the godparents that the parents entrust their child, knowing that the godparent will remain actively supporting the child within the life of the Church. Should something happen to the parents, it is traditionally the godparent who will make sure the child continues to be taken to church, and remains Orthodox.
Because of the awesome responsibility of godparents, it is important that great care be taken when choosing someone who will take on this role. The Church does not allow anyone to become a godparent who is not Orthodox, for how can one who is not himself a pious, active Orthodox Christian give witness to living a life immersed in the Orthodox faith? The godparent should be a person of high moral character, and able to inspire the newly baptized to fulfill their baptismal vows.
The person chosen to act as a godparent must be someone willing to honor their commitment to the newly baptized for a lifetime, and willing to help nourish the spiritual life and development of the child throughout their life. Thus, it is a very bad idea to pick someone as a godparent simply because they are a good friend. Godparents are duty-bound to continue giving support to their godchild, even into adulthood. They must be someone who will remember to honor their godson or goddaughter on special occasions, such as a birthday or namesday. They should be a part of the godchild’s life during the great feasts of the Church, such as Pascha or Nativity.
Everything should be done to strengthen the bond between the godparent and the godchild throughout the ensuing years. They can take each other out to a restaurant for dinner, or receive communion together when possible (if living in different cities). Time should be allotted to cultivate a unique spiritual bond, and the godparent should assist the godchild’s parents whenever possible – especially when doing so enhances the godchild’s commitment to their Orthodox faith.
Because baptism has been called Illumination, and brings us out of the darkness of sin and into the light of Christ, the role of the godparent is critical. The godparent must ensure that the Light of Christ continues to shine in the soul of the godchild. Thus, this role as godparent is an awesome responsibility, and is not to be considered a one-day event. If you’ve been asked to be a godparent, but are unwilling to see this as a lifelong vocation, please decline the honor.
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.