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St. John The BaptistGreek Orthodox Church14485 SW Walker RoadBeaverton OR 97006NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAIDBEAVERTON, ORPERMIT NO. 24S t . J ohn the B aptistG reek O rthodox C hurch14485 SW Walker Road * Beaverton, OR 97006Office: 503.644.7444 Fax: 503.296.2507E-mail: churchoffice@stjohngoc.org * Parish Website: stjohngoc.orgOffice Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.change service requestedAugust - September 2015VOL. XVIII NO. 4Witnessing the Truth of Apostolic ChristianityGardens: A Reflection of Paradise To Comeby Fr. Theodoress atto ble urationsepGrasfigBring Holy Tran st 5th!urggy fo, AuLitur ednesdayon W“PANIYIRI!”MARK YOUR CALENDARS Parish Directory Photos: August 10th - 11th &September 8th - 9th Paniyiri Parish Picnic: Saturday, August 15th Camp Angelos Summer Camp: August 16th - 21st ASA 1st Day of School: Tuesday, September 1st Fr. Timothy’s 20th Ordination AnniversaryLuncheon: Sunday, September 13th Sunday School & Theology 101 begin:Sunday, September 20th Annual Greek Open Golf Tournament:Monday, September 21st Annual Women’s Fall Retreat: September 25th-27th (Festal Celebration)For the Feast of the Dormition*Join us for food, dancing & fellowship to celebrate this beautifulFeast Day of the Theotokos.WHEN: Saturday, August 15th following LiturgyWHERE: Cedar Hills ParkCOST: 7.00 per person/ 20.00 per family (main dish provided)Any left-over funds will benefit the building fundSign up to bring a side dish! Bring drinks for yourself or to share.RSVP after Church to Pres. Stacey or to churchoffice@stjohngoc.orgGreek Dance Lessons Available after Paraklesis on August 3rd, 6th, 10th and 13thFestal Schedule:St. John the Forerunner Monastery 20th AnniversaryDinner in the Dalles: Sunday, October 11thFriday, August 14th – 6:30 Great Vespers/Litia/ArtoclasiaSaturday, August 15th – 8am Orthros/9am LiturgyPaniyiri Picnic to follow!!*It is traditional to have church picnics following major feast days, especially those preceded by a fast period.12Living in the glorious Northwest, we all know how beautifulare the summers. The days are long, and the sunny sky is amost pure shade of blue. With all the moisture we get duringthe fall, winter and spring, the humidity goes away and allthings green and flowery grow with gusto. Portland and thewholeWillametteValley become onelarge garden. I wouldlike to dedicate thisNewsletter to talkingabout our relationshipwith God’s creation.Since summertime is atime for gardening andoutdoor activities, it isgood to be remindedof our sacramental andmystical relationshipwith the environment.Patriarch Bartholomewstates, “The way werelate to materialthings directly reflectsthe way we relate toGod. The sensitivitywith which we handleworldly things clearly mirrors the sacredness that we reservefor heavenly things.” In a similar way, the newly canonizedPaisios of the Holy Mountain says, “Anything that you see orhear in this world, you should use it to reach up to Heaven; letit transport you there. Climb up step by step, from the creationall the way to the Creator.”to ‘serve and preserve the earth.’” (Patriarch Bartholomew)The fact that forests, meadows, mountains, lakes, rivers andthe oceans are so beautiful, orderly and balanced reveals to usmuch about the character of God.He could have createdeverything to bemerelyfunctionaland practical, whichis good, but instead,God made everythingwith artistry, grandeurand vivid color, whichis very good. In a way,God put Himself,by way of signature,into what He created.This is part of howwe understand God’screation as “Paradise.”When we look at thecarpet thick forest atthe base of Mt. Hoodor a Cascade volcanoreflected in the calmof a high cascademountain lake or the brilliant sunset lying low on the horizonof the rustic Pacific Ocean we recognize in these inspiringmasterpieces the fathomless love of God for us. Each oneof these and countless other intricate wonders of nature areGod’s gift to us for our pleasure and to inspire within us andactivate the very same image of this wondrous Artist andGardener. “Because the earth is sacred, then our relationshipwith the natural environment is mystical or sacramental. Thisis why we should view the world as a gift of encounter andcommunion with God and with the rest of creation.” (PatriarchBartholomew) It is for this reason that God commanded thefirst man, Adam, to also be a gardener. “And the Lord Godtook the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it andpreserve it.” (Gen.2:15)For those of us who live in dwellings with yards, we have theopportunity to be like God, the Master Gardener. It is notaccidental or coincidental that God called Paradise, beforethe Fall, the Garden of Eden. “And the Lord God planted agarden in Eden, in the east, and there He put the man whomHe had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God madeto grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good forfood.” (Gen.2:8-9) Notice that God cared that the things Hecreated and planted were both pleasant to look at and alsogood for food. God has revealed Himself to us in part throughHis creation. “The entire world contains seeds and traces ofthe living God. Moreover, the material and natural creationwas granted by God to humanity as a gift, with the commandBy taking something ordinary and with creativity and thesweat of the brow transforming it into a “piece of paradise,”we become co-creators with God. We imitate Him andthereby take another small step toward God-likeness. On theGardens continued on Page 31
Many Years! XPONIA POLLA! MANY YEARS!.to those celebratingtheir nameday in August &September:Aug. 6 – Holy TransfigurationPatti (Sotiria) RossAug. 15 – Dormition of the TheotokosColleen (Maria)VanSickleDiane (Despina) CherryMaria DanielsMaria HafezRachel Mariam DanielsMaria SouzaAthena GonzalesMaria GonzalesAugust 20 – Prophet SamuelSamuel Duchow-PressleyAugust 26 - St. AdrianAdrian GonzalesAugust 28 - Apostle TitusTitus CrosbyAugust 30 – St. Alexander, Pat of C/nopleAlexander DavisAlexander HafezAugust 31 – St. Aidan of LindisfarneAiden ChiproutSept. 1 – 40 Virgin MartyrsAthena GonzalesMargaret MaletisPres. Stacey (Aspasia)Theonie GilmoreSept. 3 – St. Edward of WalesFr. Edward HillhouseSept. 5 – Sts. Zacharias & ElizabethLisa (Elisabeth) CorazzaSept 7 - St. KassianiKassiani CrosbySept. 8 – Nativity of the TheotokosAnne Marie Powell & everyone named MariaMiriam JungwirthSept. 9 - Sts. Joachim and AnnaJennifer (Anna) RichJill Ann HudanishPascale (Anna) RichSept. 11 - St. EvantheaEvanthea PavlatosSept. 14 – Exaltation of the CrossLyndy (Stavroula) MartushevSteven (Stavros) TatumSept. 17 – Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope & AgapeAgape KetrenosLinda (Faith) WeickSophie BeckerTiffany (Hope) MorganSept. 20 – St. EfstathiosErica (Evstathia) WilsonStathi DavisSept. 24 – St. Silouan of Mt. Athos, St.TheklaJaaron (Silouan) SmithKaren (Thekla) KeeseSept. 25 – St. Euphrosyne, St. Sergius ofRadonezhEvphrosyne McKenzieFran (Evphrosyne) WilliamsSergius McKenzieSept. 26 – St. John the TheologianJon CorazzaNicolai (John) MartushevTheodore (John) Duchow-PressleySister Theologia Whitton.to those celebrating WeddingAnniversaries:Brian & Shannon Rush - 13 yearsCharles & Helen Stinman - 32 yearsChuck & Adrienne Trumpower - 4 yearsCory & Tiffany Morgan - 13 yearsFr. Edward & Judy Hillhouse - 47 yearsNiko & Athanasia Poulos - 2 yearsPaul & Arielle Jungwirth - 7 yearsPhilip & Jill Hudanish - 18 yearsRichard & Paraskevi Whitton - 37 yearsSeraphim & Rachel Daniels - 12 yearsSteven & Janet Roth - 42 yearsDaniel & Christy Sumerfield - 8 yearsMichael & Christiana Hillier - 3 yearsMichael & JoAnne Finicle - 28 yearsMichael & Jodi Hailey - 15 yearsNeal & Deme Perlmutter - 43 yearsPeter & Kathryne Psihogios - 5 yearsPetros & Susan Bournelis - 44 yearsRobert & Jessie Crosby - 8 yearsRon & Jennifer Rich - 26 yearsJeff and Patice Jones - 1 yearMemory Eternal:John Wehlitz Sr. - 4 yearsGeorge Mouskondis - 21 yearsMary Mouskondis - 10 yearsAnn Davis - 8 yearsIoanna Miller - 14 yearsNikitas Sardis - 11 years*Please notify the church office if your feast oranniversary was not listed.2St. John The BaptistGreek OrthodoxChurchRev. Fr. Theodore L. Dorrance, PriestRev. Fr. Timothy Pavlatos, PriestFr. Innocent Duchow-Pressley, DeaconArgero Hall, Parish AdministratorParish CouncilTreas. Brent BradenPres. John DavisArthur “Ted” DemingRobert CrosbyV. Pres. Paul JungwirthMark LindgrenDemetri MirrasJohn PoulosNiko PoulosKent TaylorColleen Van SickleSec. Gregary WalshSunday SchoolJessie CrosbyLogos BookstoreAgape Ketrenos - DirectorParaskevi Whitton - Co-DirectorHospitalityDiaper Drive in Support of Pregnancy Resource CenterOne of the most prominent joys of being at St. John the Baptist is the abundance of children weavingin and out of the rows every Sunday morning. Many babies have been added to their number evenover the past six months and there are still more expected before the year is out. Inside our walls, ourcommitment to life is heard in the loud and clear crying and laughing of our children. However, outside of our community, we could be more proactive in sharing the gift of life with others.Three miles away from St. John’s is the Beaverton branch of Portland’s Pregnancy Resource Centers.The Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) offers a variety of services to expecting mothers unsure ofwhat to do after an unplanned pregnancy. Although many of their services focus on women who arealready pregnant, they also present “The Reality Project,” an abstinence only education in the localhigh schools, and HEART, a support group for those suffering after an abortion.One of the key goals of the PRC is to provide women with a free ultrasound from a licensed medicalprofessional. Around 95% of women who see their babies decide against abortion. Once that life-affirming step is made, the PRCoffers free counseling, free parenting classes, free maternity clothes, and free baby supplies to the mothers in need. The PRC alsooffers referrals for housing, medical care, education, legal consultation, adoption, and spiritual care in our local churches.Throughout the month of August, the St. John Community will be collecting diapers and wipes forthe Beaverton PRC. They are currently in need of size 2 diapers, but will gladly accept any size fromnewborn to size 2. Larger size diapers are not necessary since the PRC serves pregnant mothers andassists with early infant care. In the parish hall, you will find a sign-up sheet to deliver diapers andwipes each week. Please prayerfully consider signing up and, while you are at the PRC, schedule atour of the facility and observe first-hand the life preserving and life changing work this organizationis doing in our community.Our goal is to collect 2,000 diapers. Packages of diapers and wipes can be brought to church, orchecks can be made out to St. John’s with “diaper drive” in the memo. For more information, contactJillian Walsh at jilliankehr3@gmail.com.Parish Directory PhotosStephanie MakarounisMyrrh BearersPhoto times are1:30 PM to 8:30 PM on:Moms & TotsMonday, August 10thTuesday, August 11thTuesday, September 8thWednesday, September 9thDiane CherryColleen Van SickleAthena GonzalesKendall MuzikChurch MusicPresvytera Stacey DorranceAltar BoysTobias ArmstrongDemetrius Van SickleBarry KetrenosDn. Innocent Duchow-PressleyBookkeepingKathleen KetrenosNEWSLETTERDEADLINESArticles & AnnouncementsTuesday, September 1stFor the October Newsletterby Jillian WalshWOMEN’S FALL RETREATSeptember 25th, 26th & 27thFather Theodore Dorrance, SpeakerTopic: Marriage & Salvation Tilikum Retreat Center Cost: 140 if you register by August 31stor 150 until September 18th1. Sign up online on our Parish website under MajorUpcoming Events. Click the link Sign up for yourPicture Time and follow instructions.For the fourth time, we are excited to offer an overnight retreat.We will be returning to the peaceful Tilikum Retreat Center inNewberg, OR, which is nestled among hazelnut orchards andhillside vineyards and includes 92 acres of meadows, quiet lakewaters, and miles of hiking trails to enjoy a leisurely stroll. Besidesthe evening campfire, we will also have access to Tilikum’s hot tub.Registration will include two nights lodging, four full meals(and a snack Friday night), good fellowship, and our wonderful,insightful speaker. Not included in the registration is an optionalcharge of 7 for linens (or you can bring your own sleeping bagor sheets from home). Also, there is a nominal charge of 4 perperson if you have specific dietary requests. More informationcan be found at Tilikum’s web site: /We hope that this year’s Fall Retreat will truly be a ‘retreat’and spiritual blessing for everyone involved. If you have anyquestions, please feel free to speak to Bethany Downs or ColleenVan Sickle We look forward to seeing you in September!2. Volunteers will be available to assist with sign-upsafter church on Sundays if you have any questions.Each family receives a complimentary 8 x 10 photoand a free Parish directory for participating!Donate 25 to the Building Fund andget 5 off a portrait purchaseHave a business?Consider purchasing a page in the directory to support our Building Fund**Contact Demetri Mirras at 503-646-5955 with any questions**11
Chad Marine’s Journey to OrthodoxyI have been asked many times to describe my journey toOrthodoxy, and every time I answer it seems to come outwith a slightly different emphasis. I know many people whohave had a “road to Damascus” moment, but I was (and am)too stubborn for that. I’m stillworking to understand mypast and the ways, both greatand small, that Christ wascalling me through it all. Sohere is the latest version.history and was first exposed to the writings of the Fathers. Itwas around this time that, somehow, I decided that I wouldtry to be Christian—I would try to figure out how to acquirethis “faith” thing. I read St. Athanasius’ Life of St. Antony andthe Desert Fathers, as well assome Protestant theologiansand sch
01.08.2015 · to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” (Gen.2:8-9) Notice that God cared that the things He created and planted were both pleasant to look at and also good for food. God has revealed Himself to us in part through His creation. “The entire world contains seeds and traces of the living God. Moreover, the material and natural creation was granted by God to .
