ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION MEETINGS
At the General Assembly last fall, the parish voted to authorize the first phase of an architectural planning study for development of our church property. Parish Council has received the report of phase 1 of this study. Information sessions for the parish will be held after the liturgies on Sunday, February 2 and Sunday, February 16. The architect’s report of phase 1 will be shared with the parish at these information sessions, and there will be an opportunity for questions. The study shows several possible scenarios for development of our property. At the Spring General Assembly in March, the parish will be asked to choose a scenario to pursue further.
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY - JAN 26
Stewardship Sunday will be held on Sunday, January 26th. As this is a new year, previous cards will no longer be valid. Please support our little parish. As Gregory the Theologian writes, “You will never overcome God’s generosity, even if you give away all that you have...And however much you bring to Him, always more remains. Nor will you give anything that is your own; for all things flow from God (Or 14.22)
PHILOPTOCHOS
Our Annual Philoptochos Vasilopita Auction will be held on Sunday, January 26 in the church after the Divine Liturgy. We encourage everyone to stay and bid on the beautiful Vasilopites and cakes that will be available. Our past auctions have been very successful as we have had several beautiful Vasilopitas to auction off. We are hoping this year will be no different. We welcome any kind of pita - cake, bread, sweetbread, apple strudel etc. with a coin in it and wrapped nicely for presentation. Our auction can’t be successful without your help. Proceeds from the auction benefit the children of St. Basil Academy, and scholarships for our youth entering higher level learning. Thank you in advance and we hope all of you will join us to have the best auction ever.
HOUSE BLESSINGS
Parishioners wishing to have their homes blessed for the new year - please call Father, or email the office.
ASTERIA DANCE GROUP
ATTENTION ALL INTERESTED IN GREEK DANCING. If interested in dancing, please email asteriagreekdancers@gmail.com Thank you, Andrea Campbell
COFFEE HOUR
Coffee hours are continuing in the Sunday School rooms after the Liturgy. Our teams will be providing light (non-cooked) foods. This week’s coffee hour is sponsored by the the White team. Thank you!
Jan 19 Team White
Jan 26 Team Red
SUNDAY AND GREEK SCHOOL
Sunday School will be held immediately following communion. We invite all youth present from Pre-K to Senior High to join us in activities to help our youth grow in their Orthodox faith. We need substitute teachers who are willing to cover a class if needed. Please contact Mary Maxson if you can help.
Greek School:
Classes resume on Saturday, January 11th. Wishing you all the best for the New Year 2020!
Warm regards,
Deena Metaxas & Jimmy Dimitris Tsiantopoulos
St. Kosmas the Aetolian Greek School
INTRODUCTION TO ORTHODOXY
Michael and Angela have two people interested in our intro to Orthodoxy class, which will begin mid-February at no cost of course. This course is not only designed for people new to the faith or wishing to learn about Orthodoxy, but also to those who are already Orthodox and would like to learn more.
Session 1: Introductions-Why are you here? Video - Mt. Athos
Session 2: Topics - The Creed; The Holy Trinity; The Bible; Salvation.
Session 3: Topics - The Church Building; The Sacraments; Daily Prayers
Session 4: Video: The Patriarch. Topics - The Church Year; The Divine Liturgy; Introduction to Church History
Session 5: Topics - Church History (The early church); The Ecumenical Councils; The Great Schism; The Crusades
Session 6: Topics - Developments in East and West; Orthodoxy in America; Persectuion in the Modern Church
Session 7: Topics - Spirituality; The Beatitudes; The Great Virtue of Love; Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving
Session 8: Topics - Sexuality; Marriage and Family; Sickness, Suffering & Death; The Kingdom of Heaven; Holy Week
Please speak with Michael or Angela, read more on our website, or contact the office for more information.
IN OUR PRAYERS
Theodoros Pisimisis, Karen Helstrom (Mariam's friend), Tammy Cromartie (Ty’s mother), Panagiota (Dimitri’s niece), Merja Tambourides, Mary Ann Donefas (friend of Colette’s), Robert Finch, Remy Koks, Abigail Robertson, Nicole, Demitri (Creighton’s daughter, & grandson
CLEAR LAKE GREEK FESTIVAL
Attention Time Management Organizers! Our most important fund raiser, the Clear Lake Greek Festival needs your expertise. We have three (3) vacancies on the festival committee that need to be filled as soon as possible. You will join Sylvia Mourtakos and Nick Andrews in shaping this years festival. A significant chunk of our operating budget comes from the festival. Please contact Chris Wood, or any parish council member.
We have wine for sale. Apelia Rose - $6. See Sylvia.
NARTHEX ROTATION SCHEDULE
We are looking for volunteers to help with this Ministry. This is first contact with parishioners and/or guests visiting us for the first time. You do not need to be on Parish Council to volunteer for this ministry. A smile and gentle demeanor goes a long way in welcoming a newcomer to our church. Please contact the office to volunteer.
Jan 19 Lou Marinos, Deena Metaxas
Jan 26 Chryse Padilla, Lou Marinos
Feb 02 Demetrios Mourtakos, Ross Leo
Feb 09 Ross Leo, Demetrios Mourtakos
Feb 16 Deena Metaxas, Ross Leo
PROSFORO
Of the many ways of supporting our Church, there are few which stand out as uniquely personal offerings of faith. The offering of Prosforo bread for the Divine Liturgy is one of them. We are thankful to the handful of ladies who have faithfully fulfilled this responsibility over the years and we invite more of our faithful - especially young families with children - to make this a part of their lives as well. Want to be added to our Prosforo list? Please see Maria Simeon.
Please make sure that Prosforo is in church before the start of the Orthros service on Sunday. Please write the date (or put a sticker with the date) on the plastic bags with the Prosforo. That way the oldest will be used first. Thank you for your help.
Jan 19 Andrianna Tambourides
Jan 26 Ellie Ashley
Feb 02 Soula Koumbias
Feb 09 Metaxas Family
Feb 16 Maria Saphos
Feb 23 Cleopatra Nelson
Mar 01 Helen Gazaw
Mar 08 Lela Yunakou
AMAZON AND KROGER GIVES US MONEY!
If you are an AmazonSmile customer, you can now support St. John The Theologian Greek Orthodox Church in the Amazon shopping app on your Android device! Easy set up instructions can be found on the home page of our church website.
Link your Kroger Plus Card to Community Rewards #UF318.
Many thanks to those who have linked their Kroger card and used the spec
PANHELLENIC SCHOLARSHIPS