Transcription
THE BEACONFEBRUARY 2016ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCHNEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTSS H I N I N GF O R T HA message from the PriestDear Parishioners,We are embarking on our first full calendar year together, and it looks verypromising. We have set a number ofspecific goals that we hope to accomplish by the end of the year.On the financial front, we have two major objectives: tobegin an aggressive mortgage reduction program and toput together a major fundraiser this fall. The council hasestablished two teams that will organize these efforts.On the Festival front, there is quite an enthusiasticgroup of new volunteers that have offered to run aweek long gyro stand downtown for the Homecomingweek. We are hoping to get the GOYA heavily involvedin this project, and use it as another mortgage reductiontool.On the organizations front, the Ladies are undertakingan in-depth rethinking and restructuring of their organization in order to make it more appealing to all thewomen in our church community. New by-laws will bevoted on this Spring. We hope that this process will be amodel for bringing up to date other church organizations as well.I NT H I SI S S U EParish Directories2Prosforo Schedule3Parish Council Update/GLASStewardship Report, Form46-9Parish News & NotesNews FlyersFebruary/March CalendarSponsors10-1415-1617-1819T H EG O O DN E W SStewardship is continuing the Tuesday evening small gatheringsthat prove to be a great success. If you have not yet been included, but would like to host one of these informal one hour gatherings, please let me know. This Spring we hope to complete a fullcycle, so that every parishioner will get a chance to participate.Another Stewardship initiative this year will be to develop ayoung adult outreach that will include reunions with an invitedspeaker that will address a practical topic of interest for youngprofessionals.These are some of our new things that we hope to accomplishthis year. We will continue the efforts that were very successfulthis fall. The GOYA is continuing its regular schedule of events:we participated in a regional retreat in Saco that was a lot of funboth for the kids and the adults, we began our collaboration withthe St. Vasilios GOYA by attending their Dodgeball get-together,and we’re looking forward to Winter Camp (Feb. 12-15), our ownregional GOYA dance (March) and the St. Vasilios Ski Trip(March 18-20).The chant group has begun the systematic study of the eighttones and a few of them chant regularly at our services. I wasamazed at how well they worked together for both Christmas andEpiphany evening services, for which we had true Byzantinechoirs. We’re looking forward to the true baptism of fire: Lentenservices and Holy Week.The choir is diligently rehearsing to prepare its Centennial Concert as well as special services: look forward for the PresanctifiedLiturgy with the choir as well as our Annunciation celebrationwhich will be hosted this year by our sister church in Dover onThursday, March 24th at 6:30pm.In everything that we do, we try to give glory to God, who is theSource of all that is good. We hope that all of you will put yourbest gifts to work and be active participants in our efforts to putthe Word of God in action.Yours in Christ, Fr. CostinFebruary 2016 Page 1
THE BEACONis an official publication of theANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH7 Harris Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 * (978)465-5757Website: http://annunciation.ma.goarch.org/email: agocport@gmail.comREV. DR. COSTIN POPESCU, PROISTAMENOSemail: fr.costin@gmail.com**********Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is under the spiritual and ecclesiastical oversight ofHis Eminence, Metropolitan Methodios, Metropolis of Boston;The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America;and is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.The Beacon is a monthly parish newsletter of theAnnunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Newburyport, MA.PARISH COUNCIL 2015PARISH MINISTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONSJim Sperelakis - presidentjim.sperelakis@dsm.com (978) 479-6372or spereone@gmail.comChoir DirectorDon Argyrople donargyrople@verizon.net (978) 363-5377Eric Hansen– vice-presidentericpratthansen@yahoo.comLadies Aid SocietyLisa Housianitis om (978) 914-1270Gina Dussi - treasurergdussi@aol.comAndrea Jones - secretaryAndreaJones1@Comcast.netLouis Andriotakis (978) 465-0038Maria Andriotakis Connormariaconnor@comcast.net (978) 270-9121Peter Davisp.s.dmate@comcast.net (978) 463–0024Taso Haraktsistasoshar@hotmail.comJohn HousiantisJCHdagreek@aol.comCharlie Neoszahc13@icloud.com (617) 240-8313Men’s ClubArthur Housianitis houville3@gmail.comJohn Housianitis JCHdagreek@aol.comNicholson HallSandy Gearhart (617) 974-1580Sunday SchoolJill Argyrople jillargyrople@verizon.net (978) 363-5377JOY Program (Junior Orthodox Youth)Maria Connor mariaconnor@comcast.net (978) 465–2554GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America)Angela Patriakeas patriakeas.angela@gmail.comSt. Basil’s MinistriesDon Argyrople donargyrople@verizon.net (978) 363-5377StewardshipJennifer Cooper cooper.jennifer@comcast.net Susan George e george1@verizon.net John PatriakeasJPatri@netzero.com (978) 853-5802Melinda PatrickMelrosepat@verizon.netFebruary 2016 Page 2
Prosforo: An Offering of FaithOf the many ways of supporting our Church, there are few which stand out asuniquely personal offerings of faith. The offering of Prosforo bread for the DivineLiturgy is one of them. We are thankful to all who have faithfully fulfilled thisresponsibility and invite more of our faithful to make this a part of their lives as well.Prosforo ScheduleFeb 7FreezerMar 6 Andrea JonesApril 3 Kathy TsiantasFeb 14 Kathy TsiantasMar 13 Tina KlidarasApril 10 Anna ChetsasFeb 21 Anna ChetsasMar 20 Stella AndriotakisApril 17 Lisa Housiani(sFeb 28 Lisa Housiani(sMar 27 FreezerApril 24 Andrea JonesJoanna Tsiantas is responsible for the Prosforo Schedule. If you have any scheduling conflicts or requests,need to have the Prosforo brought to the church Saturday evening or wish to add your name to the schedule,please contact Joanna at (978) 465–1405 or at connor5@comcast.net.Dear Parishioners,The 2016 Parish Council, working in close cooperation with Father Costin and our Ministry Leaders, look forward toambitiously moving our beloved Parish forward into the future.It is with humble appreciation and great pride that we announce the 2016 Parish Council, along with our officers:Louis AndriotakisMaria ConnorPeter DavisGina Dussi – treasurerEric Hansen – vice-presidentTasos HaraktsisJohn HousianitisAndrea Jones – secretaryCharlie NeosJohn PatriakeasMelinda PatrickJim Sperelakis - presidentEach Parish Council (PC) member will also be working in close cooperation with a Parish Ministry – acting as a liaison,with the goal of enhancing communication between the Ministries and the PC. We will discuss this initiative in greater detail in the next Beacon. We also plan to hold a meeting involving the Ministry leaders, Greek Food Festival chairs, Nicholson Hall manager and the PC, to assist in prioritizing and coordinating our efforts/events.I watch the activities of so many in our Parish with awe and admiration – doing the quiet work necessary to keep our Parishfunctioning well. A couple recent examples are the upgrading of our office computer and communication tools by AngelaTsopelas; the recent spotless cleaning of our Nicholson Hall convection ovens by Tasos and Katerina Haraktsis; RuthRiley and Diane Hansen, working with Father Costin to put together a well-organized Bulletin every week; and the consistently wonderful “Lessons and Carols” and talent show, organized by our Stewardship Committee leaders, our Choirand a host of others.Along with my fellow Parish Council members, we look forward to continuing to serve you - our Parishioners, Father Costin, the Boston Metropolis, and the Archdiocese of America. My personal thanks to all of you for making the AnnunciationGreek Orthodox Church a wonderful place to worship.Respectfully submitted,Jim Sperelakis – Parish Council President
The Parish Council held its last meeting of 2015 withDon Argyrople, Brendon Cooper, Bruce Beck, Elizabeth Keefe, and Arthur Housianitis sitting on theCouncil. Many thanks for their years of dedicationand service to the Church in this capacity. Electionswere held and the 2016 Parish Council had its organizational meeting and its first meeting of the 2016 calendar year with the following officers and members:President, Jim Sperelakis Vice President, Eric Hansen,Treasurer Gina Dussi, Secretary Andrea Jones, LouisAndriatakos, Maria Andriatakos Connor, Tasos Haraktsis, John Housianitis, Melinda Partick, JohnPatriakeas, Charlie Neos and Peter Davis.Each member of the Council will be part of Churchministry or group and a liaison and to the ChurchCouncil or will serve as an officer of the ChurchCouncil. Suggested groups are: Stewardship/Membership, Finance/Mortgage Reduction, LadiesAid (and Men’s Club), Education (youth andadult), GOYA, Greek Food Festival, Nicholson Halland Inter-parish.Physical repairs to the roof are completed and as weget through the winter and spring rains without incident we will be painting the interior of theChurch using the insurance settlement.We continue to explore Mortgage reduction opportunities.Planning is in in progress for the 100th Anniversaryyear of celebration revolving around a December 1918date.The Greek Ladies Aid Society2016 MembersMaria ConnorAnna Chetsas*Julie Christo*Mary Dollas*Gina DussiIrene FaliteStella Gigis*Diane HansenJoanne HightLisa HousianitisGail Irish*Laura KlidarisTina KlidarisChrysanthe Machiros*Anna Mamakos*Kara MamakosConnie Mathieu*Rose McGrath*Rena MonoxelosJoanna Panas*Melinda PatrickAna PeraltaMary Rallis*Mary Spaneas*Cleo StickneyJoanne VaroudakisBunny Wescott* Complimentary membership if over 80 years ofage.Respectfully submitted,Andrea Jones - on behalf of the Parish Council membersIf your name is not listed, please consider joiningand/or renewing your membership. 100% of the 15.00 dues goes towards helping those less fortunate. Please see Lisa Housianitis or Diane Hansento sign up.
February 2016 Page 5
STEWARDSHIP UPDATEDear Fellow Stewards in Christ,Thank you for your continued support to our beloved Annunciation Church as you complete yourStewardship Commitment for 2015. Without your help, love, and support the mission of our beautiful churchcannot be sustained.We are grateful to those who have already returned their 2016 Stewardship pledge cards. Recently, a mailingwent out to those who have not yet completed a pledge card or made a commitment for 2016. It isencouraged to please return these cards as soon as possible. Having an idea of what to expect through yourStewardship offerings of treasure provides us with much needed information to plan for the year ahead.Please also complete the information requested about your family and areas you may wish to offer your timeand talent as well. Thank you!Let us all look forward to 2016 with an attitude of gratitude for all that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ hasdone and continues to do for us each and every moment of our lives. Consider how your expenditures onpersonal entertainment compare with your Stewardship pledge. Is your Stewardship simply a token donationor is your Stewardship pledge a personal manifestation of "Giving Thanks to the Lord" for all your blessingsfrom Him?“Christ is born - let peace and good will exist among all peoples.” This is God’s message and our mission tofulfill as we welcome the New Year. May God continue to bless each and every one of you; and may each ofus find comfort, redemption, and life in His blessing and love.With best wishes from our hearts to yours.The Stewardship CommitteeFebruary 2016 Page 6
2015 Stewards as of 12/31/15Anderson, George and SharonAndriotakis, Louis and StellaArgyrople, Anita (Dido)Argyrople, Don and JillBeck, Bruce & Kimberley PattonBoucher, Al and BonnieBrown, HannahBruno, Mark and RoseanneChadwick, CathleenChetsas, Leon and AnnaChmiel, David and AndreaChristo, JuliaCirinna, Aaron and NicoleConnor, Edmund &Joanna TsiantasConnor, Kevin and MariaCooper, Brendon and JenniferCostas, KevinCoughenour, James and KristinaCusack, MichaelDavis, Peter and DorothyDollas, Christopher and MaryDollas, MaryDriscoll, Dan and CarlaDubus, Andre and FontaineDussi, John and GinaFalite, IreneFaskianos, Mrs. JamesFiasconaro, George and ElaineGentile, AmyGeorge, BarbaraGeorge, Emery and SusanGigis, StellaGinieres, PeterGogolos, John and PatriciaGravel, ElaineGravelle, Nathan and JenniferGLASGreene, HelenaHalkiotis, PenelopeHansen, Eric and DianeHaraktsis, Anastasios &AikateriniHealy, ThomasHeath, Warren and Patricia DeceasedHight, Stephen andJoanna Decoulas-HightHill, Richard and AnneHousianitis, Arthur and LisaHousianitis, JohnIrish, GayleJanos, Mark and MaryAnnJansen, Ryan and JenniferKacher, Bill and Andrea JonesKacher, EleniKacoyanis, Geoff andCatherineKeefe, Zachary and ElizabethKevorkian, Jeff and StaceyKipe, EllieKlidaras, Steven and LauraKlidaras, TinaKoukkos, GabrielLagasse, NikiLagoulis, JamesLam, MarieMachiros, ChrysantheMalonis, Chris and MaryMamakos, CathyMamakos, Michael and KaraMamakos, Peter and AnnaMansour, Louis and EugeniaMansour, StephanieMarkos, Frank and SuzanneMarkos, T. SammyMathieu, ConnieMatthews, Byron and HelenMatthews, John and ChristinaMatthews, Paul and ChristineMatthews, Peter and TeriPapanickolas-McGrath, RoseMicu, Marius and IleanaMihailescu, Alexandru andLuciaMonoxelos, Milton and RenaMountzuris, Ted and AnnaNabhan, Amin and SarahNeos, Charles &Patricia YanakakisStewardship 3 T’s Time, Talent & TreasureNewman, Fr. Constantine& Pres. AnnaPanas, AnnPanas, JoannaPanas, PeterPantelakis, Theodosiosand GaylePapoulias, CharlesPatriakeas, John & JoanPatrick, Jim and MelindaPatrinos, ChristosPattullo, Donald andBarbaraPeralta, John and AnnPetrakis, NicolePied, William andAnastasiaPopescu, Corneliu andVeronicaPopescu, Fr. Costin &Pres. IrinaPreftes, Katherine andChris FieldRiley, Peter and RuthRobertson, Stephen andFayeSawyer, TepsieSchaeffer, Frank andGenieSchaeffer, John and BeckySmith, Don and GladysSpaneas, MarySpangler, Robert andStellaSperelakis, JamesStickney, Raymond andCleoSullivan, EugeneTsakirgis, John and NancyTsiantas, KathyTsiplakis, Ioannis andRhondaTsopelas, AngelaUttley, Diana and WilliamVaroudakis, JoanneFebruary 2016 Page 7
Dona0ons Report"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, notreluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"We wish to thank those who made recent dona0ons to the Annuncia0on Church:Mr. & Mrs. Christo MalonisConnor FamilyMr. & Mrs. Milton MonoxelosStrem Chemicals, Inc.AnonymousJane KacoyanisPeter & Dorothy DavisRuth RileyAnn & John PeraltaConnie MathieuC. Chigas FamilyCharles Neos & Patricia YanakakisHansen FamilyGeorge FamilyTsiantas / Connor FamilyIrene Frangos FaliteElaine GravelHousianitis FamilyAnita ArgyropleStacey KevorkianDon & Jill ArgyropleChris G. NahatisMary SpaneasJames & Melinda PatrickEstate of Mr. Spyridon C. PapademetriouThe Cooper FamilyGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – Leadership 100 GrantsWe wish to thank those who made dona0ons to the Annuncia0on Nabhan Scholarship Fundin memory of Mrs. Miriam Nabhan:AnonymousThe Robertson FamilyGreek Ladies Aid SocietyWe wish to thank those who made dona0ons to St. Basil’s Ministries:Community Service of NewburyportInstitution for Savings Charitable FoundationPatrons of St. Basil’s KitchenMrs. Tina KlidarasMr. James LagoulisWe wish to thank those who made dona0ons towards our Altar Fund in honor ofAnastasios Haraktsis’ 50th Birthday:Anastasios & Aikaterini HaraktsisCharles Neos & Patricia YanakakisEd Connor & Joanna TsiantasFr. Costin & Psv. Irina PopescuAlex & Annette SotirisIrene Frangos FaliteAngela TsopelasStamatia PapadopouloWe wish to thank those who made dona0ons towards ourTechnology Fund:In Memory of Nicholas ArgyropleJim SperelakisDon & Jill ArgyropleMary SpaneasArthur & Lisa HousianitisKathy TsiantasJohn & Ann PeraltaJim & Melinda PatrickEd Connor & Joanna TsiantasBrendon & Jen CooperAnastasios & Aikaterini HaraktsisFr. Costin & Psv. Irina PopescuWe wish to thank those whomade dona0ons in memory ofSteve Costas:Pauline RallisIrene Frangos FaliteJohn & Gina DussiAngels TsopelasPauline RallisRyan & Jen JansenEric & Diane Hansen"But this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly;and he who reaps boun0fully will also reap boun0fully"February 2016 Page 8
February 2016 Page 9
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWSSUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS cont.The Pre K and Kindergarten class prepared for the ChristmasPageant during the month of December. Some of the children were animals and some were shepherds. All the childrendid a wonderful job. In January we have discussed andlearned all about St. Basil, Vasilopita, St. Basil's soup kitchen,Theophany and St. John the Baptist. We looked and learnedabout the icon of St. John the Baptist. How the white dovesignifies the holy spirit and what the Holy Trinity is; Father,Son and Holy Spirit. We also discussed the meaning of holywater and what we can do with it. Including having ourhomes blessed by Fr. Costin.6th, 7th and 8th grade classes have enjoyed participating inthe updated pageant. We are working on our wall muralIcon of the ladder which we will all climb with out "Acts ofKindness". Next month we would love the share a pictureof it with you all. We are continuing to support St Basil'sKitchen participating in Monday Holiday meals. In January we will be making Vasilopita Cake to take home for ourfamilies and talking about St Basil." The class hosted coffeehour on December 6th. We made biscuits, corn muffins,and a friendship fruit salad.The children were also blessed with holy water by Fr. Costinat the end of liturgy.The high school class continued their studies on the DivineLiturgy and Scripture. They are nearing completion oftheir icons with Chris Gosey and Arthur. All of the students are working on their acts of kindness projects. InDec. we shopped and wrapped gifts for the needy familiesat Lazarus House. Their beautiful voices enhanced thisyear’s pageant.—Joanne Decoulos-HightWe spent our Sunday's reviewing the liturgy and practicingfor the pageant.We are going to begin our icons soon and currently we areworking with tissue paper to make faux stained glass windowhanging.—Andrea Jones—Jill Argyrople and John Patreakeas—MelindaThe fifth grade class has been continuing to examine Fr.Costin's lessons on liturgy, beginning each class with prayerand concentrating on Saints and Feast days of the month.This month the class also fulfilled an act of kindness by making cards for soldiers and filling them with good wishes anduplifting thoughts. These cards were given to Joan Patriakeaswho was collecting them for a co worker who was sendingthem out. Thank you to Joan for heading up this effort:) Finally with regard to the Christmas Pageant, a shout out goesto three students from the class: Olivia Riley who played therole of the Virgin Mary, Kiley Cusack who played the role ofthe Archangel Gabriel, and Efraim Haraktsis who was one ofthe three Kings.—Maria Connor and Ruth RileyFebruary 2016 Page 10
GOYA Saco Retreatby Alexander ConnorA few Sundays ago some of the GOYA members--Myself, Anastasia, and Christopher-- along with Anna traveledup through the snow to Saco, Maine. We visited the beautiful St. Demetrios for a day long retreat with some familiar faces from the Metropolis of Camp where many of us attend in the summer. When we arrived, we were metby the Mike Sintros, a director at the camp, and some of our past councilors. After a few introductory “icebreakers” to get to know each other we began our discussion of a few Saints and the Monastic life. To follow thisup we took a short hike through the woods behind the church, we were in after all. Trekking through the snow,Mike ta
Church using the insurance settlement. We continue to explore Mortgage reduction opportu-nities. Planning is in in progress for the 100th Anniversary year of celebration revolving around a December 1918 date. Respectfully submitted, Andrea Jones - on behalf of the Parish Council mem-bers
