AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH
Sunday's coffee hour is an opportunity to promote autism awareness and acceptance in our church community.
Currently, 1 in 68 American children is diagnosed with autism, a neurological developmental disability. Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in areas of communication, cognitive function and social interactions.
Please join us during the coffee hour, hosted by members, Peter and Maria Panagopoulos and their 8-year old twin boys, Teddy and Johnny, who each has a mitochondrial disorder and autism diagnosis. Come say hello and see how these parents are creating an inclusive church experience for their sons to learn about God and our Greek Orthodox faith.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will this Wednesday, May 2nd at 1 pm in the church library. All are welcome to attend!
SENIOR GUILD
The next meeting of the Senior Guild will be on May 25th (The Ascension). We will be discuss the June Event of attending the production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Please see the (upcoming) May Vine for dates and ticket prices. The deadline to buy tickets is Friday, May 12th. Please leave your payment at St. Demetrios or send it to: Artemis Martakis 2 Riga Road Dover, MA 02030. For questions contact Artemis Martakis at (508) 785- 0045. The Senior Guild hopes to see you there and thank you!
FESTIVAL NEWS- June 10 & 11
It's festival time again! This year it’s a 2-day event, and a great time to showcase our amazing community. WE NEED YOU! Join in the fun and fellowship. Cooking workshops will begin May 1st. GIVE YOUR BEST& LEARN FROM THE BEST- making, baking and serving our finest food and pastry. YOUR HELP IS ESSENTIAL-no effort is too great nor too small. Volunteer signup sheets for cooking workshops and festival day help are located at the entryway table in the lobby. For additional information, please contact Georgia Gefteas at 781 431 -7479 or gaghome1@gmail.com. OPA!!!
PETER JAMES MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Save the date: Monday, May 22nd at the Woodland Golf Course in Auburndale. For more information contact Anthony Marken at agmarken2@gmail.com.
GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
This year’s Greek Independence Day Parade is Sunday, April 30th. Following the Divine Liturgy, we will meet in the gym and take a bus into Boston to march and celebrate Greek Independence! If you have not reserved your seat on the bus or children's costumes, please contact Karen Grontzos (kGrontzos@yahoo.com/508-369-7893) or Art Stameris (artstameris@gmail.com/617-877-1007).
PHILOPTCHOS ELECTIONS
The Philoptochos General Assembly and elections of the board will be held on the evening of Wednesday, May 17. We welcome all members of the Philoptochos to participate more fully in the work of the Philoptochos by serving as a member of the board or on a standing committee. This is a wonderful opportunity to offer your talents to our church and have fellowship with the women of our church family. Please contact: Amalie George (781-953-2493) Stephanie Skedros (978-760-3347) or Aida Gennis (508-650-3869) for more information
ST. DEMETRIOS BOOKSTORE
New Lenten books are now available for adults and children for spiritual enlightenment. Additionally, the bookstore has a variety of hand-made icons, crosses and religious items that will make nice gifts. Please come and browse!
SUNDAY GREETERS
We are looking for additional people to help greet/welcome our parishioners to church on Sunday mornings. All those who are interested in being a part of this wonderful program please contact Angel Hatgelakas through Marianne at the church office. Tel: 781-237-5561 or email: office@stdemetriosweston.org. Thank you.
GROUND ZERO CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS
To learn more about the rebuilding efforts of St. Nicholas National Shrine in New York City and how you can be a part of history please visit: www.stnicholaswtc.org.
USHERING
If you are interested in joining the Usher Team please contact Georgia Gefteas at gghome1@verizon.net or 978-973-7476.
MAKING A CHANGE…
In an increasingly paperless, digital world, we ask those of you who receive church publications and letters in the mail to consider switching to email and digital distribution. Not only will it help save the environment but it will also cut back on church expenses. If you are interested in making this change, please call the main office or email Georgia Gefteas:
gghome1@verizon.net
WWW.GOARCH.ORG
The webpage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has a great amount of resources for anyone looking to learn more about the faith. You can find the daily readings of the church, information about saints, what we believe, and prayers for any occasion. Additionally, you can stay up to date with news that affects us as Christians. Be sure to check www.goarch.org regularly!
PHILOXENIA HOUSE
Located near HCHC in Brookline, the Philoxenia House offers a home and hospitality to patients and those who accompany them while they are undergoing treatment in the Boston area. For several years a few of us visit the home twice a year to try to brighten their lives by planting flowers. This is a joy for us. For more information regarding this ministry please contact Betty Titus, 781.237.4748, or Eleanor Spiliakos, 978.443.3746.
WHAT IS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
Being asked this during our festival a number of times — we as Orthodox Christians ought to respond:
“The Orthodox Christian Church is a worldwide body of believers who confess and worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as Lord and Messiah. This body has a tangible and continuous history of Christian faith and practice from the time of Christ’s Apostles. The use of the adjective ‘orthodox’ to describe the Church dates back to the earliest centuries and was applied to those Christians who maintained the tradition transmitted by Christ’s Apostles (1 Thess 2:15)”
FR. MANIKAS LIBRARY
Come and visit the Fr. Manikas Library and check out one of our many books on a variety of different topics. After Divine Liturgy, please stop by the library and see what we have to offer. See Cindi Dabrowski in the library for assistance on picking out a selection to take home and further your knowledge of our faith.
DAILY READINGS APP
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has developed and released a Daily Readings App for iOS and Android. It offers the daily Epistle and Gospel readings of the day as well as the saints that are commemorated on that day. Furthermore, it offers prayers, dates of future Feast Days and fasting guidelines.
It’s a great resource that is offered by our Archdiocese. Sign into your app store and download it today!
BE THE BEE WEBSERIES
The National Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries offers a weekly web video series on YouTube called “Be the Bee” each week a question or theme about our faith is answered in just 5 minutes! Check out this new and interesting approach to learning about our faith! Go to: www.youtube.com/user/y2am to see the entire series!