WHEN THE TIME HAD FULLY COME Wait for the promise of the Father December 2008 Volume 32, Issue 9 THE PROMISE “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5) A noted theologian compares the coming of Jesus to the coming of a surgeon to perform life-giving surgery on a patient. God looks down on the world, he says, just as a doctor sits at the bed of a sick person delirious with fever who is not even aware of the doctor’s presence. The doctor listens carefully to his breathing and takes his pulse. Then at a particular moment he calls the nurse and says, “Now is the time. Get him ready for surgery immediately.” Like a doctor, God stood by the side of suffering humanity for centuries listening carefully to man’s spiritual breathing and taking the pulse of his soul. Suddenly, “when the time had fully come,” He decided to come down from heaven to perform the surgery Himself. Christmas is the moment when God the Father, compelled by His love, sent His only begotten Son into the world to begin the redemption and salvation of His creation. The surgery was a great success! We have life and live because of the Master surgery. We live because of Christ! The Nativity of Christ is one of the greatest Christian celebrations! We are taken aback when we contemplate everything our Saviour did for us. This Feast day reminds us that God is with us. This is precisely the meaning of the name Emmanuel. God is with us through Jesus. And the name Jesus means salvation. So we can say that when Jesus, who is God, is with us we are assured salvation. In recognition of all the blessings you have received in your life, you are invited to show thanksgiving by participating in the Divine Life as you receive Holy Communion during the Christmas Season. As you prepare yourselves to enter into the sanctuary of the Most High, contemplate the familiar Christmas verse, “peace on Earth, good will to man.” Preparation for Holy Communion during Christmas must include confession, prayer and fasting. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 AM December, 21 – Sunday Before Christmas Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM December 24 – Candle Light Christmas Eve Service Divine Liturgy, 9:00 AM December 25 – Christmas Day Divine Liturgy, 10:00 AM December 28 – Fourth Day of Christmas
Transcript
WHEN THE TIME HAD FULLY COME
Wait for the promise of the Father December 2008 Volume 32, Issue 9
THE prOMIsE
“But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5)
A noted theologian compares the coming of Jesus to the coming of a surgeon to perform life-giving surgery on a patient. God looks down on the world, he says, just as a doctor sits at the bed of a sick person delirious with fever who is not even aware of the doctor’s presence. The doctor listens carefully to his breathing and takes his pulse. Then at a particular moment he calls the nurse and says, “Now is the time. Get him ready for surgery immediately.”
Like a doctor, God stood by the side of suffering humanity for centuries listening carefully to man’s spiritual breathing and taking the pulse of his soul. Suddenly, “when the time had fully come,” He decided to come down from heaven to perform the surgery Himself.
Christmas is the moment when God the Father, compelled by His love, sent His only begotten Son into the world to begin the redemption and salvation of His creation. The surgery was a great success! We have life and live because of the Master surgery. We live because of Christ!
The Nativity of Christ is one of the greatest Christian celebrations! We are taken aback when we contemplate everything our Saviour did for us.
This Feast day reminds us that God is with us. This is precisely the meaning of the name Emmanuel. God is with us through Jesus. And the name Jesus means salvation. So we can say that when Jesus, who is God, is with us we are assured salvation.
In recognition of all the blessings you have received in your life, you are invited to show thanksgiving by participating in the Divine Life as you receive Holy Communion during the Christmas Season. As you prepare yourselves to enter into the sanctuary of the Most High, contemplate the familiar Christmas verse, “peace on Earth, good will to man.”
Preparation for Holy Communion during Christmas must include confession, prayer and fasting.
Di vine Liturgy, 10:00 AM December, 21 – Sunday Before Christmas
Di vine Liturgy, 7:00 PM December 24 – Candle Light Christmas Eve Service
Di vine Liturgy, 9:00 AM December 25 – Christmas Day
Di vine Liturgy, 10:00 AM December 28 – Fourth Day of Christmas
DATEs IN THE LIFE OF OUr CHUrCH
Tuesday, December 2, Greek School, 4:00PM; Greek classes for adults; Intermediate, 6-7:30PM; Beginners, 7:30-9:00PM; Jr. Basketball, 7:00PMWednesday, December 3, Philoptochos General meeting and Christmas party, 6:30PMThursday, December 4, Feast Day of st. Barbara, Orthros, 8:30AM; Divine Liturgy, 9:30AM; Greek School, 4:00PM; choir practice, 7:30PMFriday, December 5, Youth Christmas Party, 7:00PMsaturday, December 6, Feast Day of st. Nicholas of Myra, Orthros, 8:30AM; Divine Liturgy, 9:30AM; Philoptochos Bloomingdale Fashion Show; Volleyball prac., AHEPA Christmas Dinnersunday, December 7, Orthros, 8:45AM; Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM; Parish Council Elections; youth athletic games at Piscataway, 2:30PMTuesday, December 9, Trinity Circle Christmas Luncheon, 12Noon; Greek School, 4PM; Jr. Basketball, 7PM, Greek classes for adults, Intermediate, 6-7:30PM; Beginners, 7:30-9PM, Parish Council meeting, 7:30PMWednesday, December 10, TOTS, 10:00AMThursday, December 11, Greek School, 4:00PM; choir practice, 7:30PM; Greek dancing, 7:30PMFriday, December 12, Feast Day of st. spyridon the Wonderworker, Divine Liturgy, 9:30AM; JOY/ HOPE Greek dancing, 7:00PMSaturday, December 13, Parish Oratorical Festivalsunday, December 14, Orthros, 8:45AM; Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM; Religious Education Christmas Program with a visit from Santa ClausTuesday, December 16, Greek School, 4:00PM, Greek classes for adults, Intermediate, 6-7:30PM; Beginners, 7:30-9:00PMThursday, December 18, Greek School Christmas Program, 5:00PM; Choir practice, 7:30PMFriday, December 19, JOY/HOPE Greek dancing, 7:00PMSaturday, December 20, baptism, 11:00AMsunday, December 21, Orthros, 8:45AM; Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM; Christmas Pageant rehearsal in church after Rel. Ed. Classes; baptism, 1:30PMWednesday, December 24, royal Hours, 9:00AM; Great Vespers, 6:00pM; Christmas Eve Candlelight Divine Liturgy and pageant, 7:00pMThursday, December 25, Nativity of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, Orthros, 8:00AM; Divine Liturgy, 9:00AM
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox ChurchA parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
and the Metropolis of New Jersey250 Gallows Hill Road, Westfield, NJ 07090-1109
Tel (908) 233-8533 Fax (908) 233-0623Visit our Website at www.holytrinitywestfield.org
Kathryn Athanasoulas, Adult/Angel Choir Dir.Phyllis Verenes, Organist
Michael Wolff, Head Acolyte
MINIsTrIEsParish Council ................................B. Theodore BozonelisPhiloptochos ................................................. Mary DemirisReligious Education ..........Louis Martin, Eleftheria WolffGreek School ................................................. Rita FitanidisTrinity Circle .................................................. Helen HiotisTAG ......................................................... George SkorinkoYouth (GOYA) ........................................... Panos ChantzisJOY/HOPE ...................Kathy Maglaras, Yiana Leichtling,................................................................Sandy BoutsikarisTOTS .............................................................. Joanne ParasBookstore ............................................Sandy Mouratoglou
COMMITTEEsCultural ...................................................... Barbara ManosGreek School PTO ...........................................Jenny BasisOutreach ..................................................... Robert LoAlbo
FALL, WINTEr AND sprING sCHEDULESundays: Orthros, 8:45am Divine Liturgy, 10:00amWeekdays: Orthros, 8:30am Divine Liturgy, 9:30am
Volume 32 Issue 910 issues published annually
No Subscription Fee
(article deadlines - 10th of the preceding month)
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Friday, December 26, Church office closedsunday, December 28, Orthros, 8:45AM; Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM; no Religious Ed classesMonday, December 29, GOYA Christmas dance at TrentonWednesday, December 31, Divine Liturgy, 6:30pM
Thursday, January 1, Feast Day of st. Basil the Great; New Year’s DayFriday, January 2, Youth Nightsunday, January 4, Forefeast of Theophany, Orthros, 8:45AM; Divine Liturgy, 10:00AMMonday, January 5, paramoni of Theophany, Orthros, 8:30AM; Divine Liturgy with the Blessing of the Waters, 9:30AM Tuesday, January 6, Holy Theophany, Orthros, 8:30AM; Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of the Waters, 9:30AM
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pArIsH COUNCIL BOArD BrIEFsB. Theodore Bozonelis, President
The Parish Assembly was held on November 9, 2008 in the Bouras Center. Father Peter, as our spiritual leader and ably assisted by Father Alexander, spoke on the status of Holy Trinity and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
YOUTH PROGRAMSFather Peter has instituted a “Youth Night” program where our youth members meet at the church the first Friday of each month. Youth involvement in all church activities is a major goal of our parish. Father Peter, Father Alexander, and the Parish Council are committed to enhance our youth programs. We have two new youth advisors—Marigo Chantzis and Michelle Kallinosis. Ellen Conti and Janet O’Sullivan have completed their service as advisors and will continue to assist our youth. We thank them all for their dedication.
2009 BUDGET AND STEWARDSHIPThe Parish Assembly also approved the 2009 financial budget presented by James C. Fountas, the treasurer. Jim also presented our stewardship report showing a projection for 2009 of approximately 630 stewardship commitment pledges averaging $1,000 a year per steward. The 2009 approved budget has total operating receipts of $797,500, of which $650,000 is projected to be received from stewardship. The remaining balance will be achieved by our Ways and Means programs and donations, income from candles, Greek language school, and facility rentals. Stewardship Sunday will be held on November 23rd. This year, Father Alexander spoke on November 9; Parish Council member, Dean Constantine, spoke on November 16 and Father Peter spoke to us on Stewardship Sunday regarding our stewardship
commitment. Their words were and will be reminders to all of us of our need to support our church and the joy of giving in embracing our faith. We thank them for their remarks and support of our stewardship program. In addition, Father Alexander has been instrumental in developing stewardship materials for our entire Archdiocese.
METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEYWe also recognized the major support that Holy Trinity contributes to the Metropolis of New Jersey. James C. Fountas is the lay chairperson of the Metropolis Council. Peter T. Arbes chairs the Finance Committee and is a Metropolis representative on the Archdiocesan Council. Notis Kotsolios is a Metropolis Council member and is coordinating renovations on the Metropolis headquarters. Metropolitan Evangelos has frequently expressed his appreciation to Holy Trinity and recognizes that all our 54 parishes throughout the Metropolis are committed to the growth of our faith.
COMMITTEE REPORTSCommittee reports at the Parish Assembly focused on upcoming plans for the renovation of the Narthex and Ways and Means events including the Dinner/Dance held on November 22nd. Notis Kotsolios works daily and tirelessly on behalf of the Building and Maintenance Committee as co-chair with Nicholas J. Bouras. Kassandra Romas, chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee, also has made significant contributions on behalf of the parish. Kassandra coordinated the Dinner/Dance along with co-chairs, A. J. and Lauren Karanikolas, to present a successful Dinner/Dance that encouraged parish family and youth participation. Thanks to Agapios Kyritsis for catering and our gratitude to the entire committee.
AUDITORSEach year at the fall Parish Assembly, we select three auditors to examine the financial records of the church. William Dackis, George Skorinko, and Paul Stappas were elected to perform the audit for the parish. We are grateful for their work and dedication.
NEW BOARD MEMBERSNominations were also made and closed at the Parish Assembly for the election of eleven parish council members. The election will be held on December 7th. followed by the installation of the Parish Council and election of officers on January 4, 2009. We thank all the candidates who stood for election and are willing to dedicate their time and service to the community.
THANK YOUSThis year concludes my second term as President of the Parish Council. It has been an honor to serve and work with Father Peter, Father Alexander, the entire Parish Council and the community. I could not have served without their support and the help and dedication of all our parishioners. I will continue
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to serve on the Parish Council and assist our Metropolis and Archdiocese with your support. Thank you all. My special thanks to Nicholas J. Bouras, James C. Fountas, and Notis Kotsolios for their wise counsel and to Elise Savnik, Jo-Ann Jayson, A.J. Karanikolas and Kassandra Romas who were always willing to assist in any Parish Council project.
2008 pArIsH COUNCIL
Twenty dedicated men and women serve Holy Trinity as volunteers and make it possible for the Church to function effectively on a parish level. They are our Parish Council and we offer them our heartfelt thanks for assuming the great responsibilities before God, our Orthodox Church, our Holy Archdiocese and, you, our faithful parishioners.
As your pastor, I would like to personally thank them for their dedication and, on behalf of our entire parish, express my gratitude to all of them. As 2008 comes to a close, we thank B. Theodore “Ted” Bozonelis for his fine leadership these past two years as the Parish Council President. Holy Trinity continues t0o be an outstanding Christ-centered parish.
Listed below is the Parish Council for 2008 that deserves our appreciation and thanks. May the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—bless you always.
Rev. Fr. Peter Delvizis, Presiding PriestB. Theodore Bozonelis, PresidentPeter T. Arbes, Vice PresidentGeorge Colonias, SecretaryJames C. Fountas, TreasurerNicholas J. Bouras, Asst. Treasurerand Andrew Anastasiou, Thomas Castorina, Theodore Demetriou, Richard Frigerio, James P. Gianakis, Jo-Ann Jayson, Notis Kotsolios, Agapios Kyritsis, Robert V. LoAlbo, Peter S. Markos, Kassandra Romas, Elise Savnik, Nicholas Sofianopoulos, Bill Theofanous, and George Youlios.
pHILOpTOCHOs(Friends of the Poor)
Mary Demiris, President
On Wednesday, October 8, 2008 – we held our first General Meeting in the Bouras Center and what an informative and fun filled evening it was! I would like to thank Avi Kiriakatis for the great presentation on this year’s Biennial Clergy Laity Conference, and for having Mr. J come and give us all some fun dancing exercises. I can honestly say we had a great time and a lot of laughs. He got mostly everyone up and hip hopping to the beat of some really cool music. I think with a few more sessions we may be ready for Broadway! In all
honesty, we had a great turnout and we appreciate the time everyone took to attend this meeting. Thank you to all who generously contributed to the SHOES FOR ORPHAN SOULS a charity adopted by the National Philoptochos to help provide new shoes for orphans worldwide, who are estimated to be 143 million souls. We collected 85 pair of sneakers which will be sent to this program.
I received a letter from Georgia Skeadas, National Philoptochos President about another program they are asking us to take donations for and that is to assist the people suffering in Texas as a result of by Hurricane Ike. The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is offering special assistance to the disaster areas with health kits and emergency clean-up buckets. In support of this effort all the Philoptochos Chapters are being asked to participate in this worthwhile endeavor through donations of Health Kits and Emergency Clean Up Buckets. We will have a list of the items to be included in the two packages and how to prepare them at the Philoptochos Table during Fellowship Hour so please stop by and pick one up. Knowing your love of humankind and your boundless generosity, we feel confident that we will be successful in this philanthropic effort.
On Sunday, October 19, we had the drawing for our annual 50/50 Raffle Fundraiser and we would like to congratulate the following winners:
1st Prize - Mr. & Mrs. John Logus $814.002nd Prize - Mrs. Kassandra Romas $488.003rd Prize - Mr. George Moutis $325.00
We thank everyone who participated and supported this fund raiser.
please save the dates for the following philoptochos Events:
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 – Annual Christmas Dinner/General Meeting in the Bouras Center 6:30 pm. We will again be collecting items for the Elizabeth Battered Women’s Shelter. The cost will be $17 per person. Please stop by the Philoptochos Table during Fellowship Hour to sign up.
saturday, December 6, 2008, Bloomingdale’s Fashion show, Bloomingdale’s at the Short Hills Mall, 9 am – 11 am. More information and sign up is available at the Fashion Show table set up in the Bouras Center during Fellowship Hour.
Sunday, December 14, 2008 - Holiday Pastries for Shut-Ins We will be baking and preparing holiday goodies for the shut-
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ins in our community. Avi Kiriakatis is the Chairperson for the activity. Please see Avi during Fellowship Hour to sign up. The pastries should be brought in on Sunday, December 14th and dropped off in the kitchen.
sunday, January 11, 2008 – Vasilopita Luncheon will be held in the Bouras Center. More information to follow.
On behalf of the Philoptochos Board and all the Philoptochos Members, we extend our wishes to everyone for a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
19TH ANNUAL ANGEL AND MITTEN TrEEs
by Debbie Martin
The 19th annual Angel and Mitten Tree programs are well underway for 2008. Both trees are located outside the Bouras center. Each Sunday there will be parishioners available by the trees to assist with questions. Additional flyers will be available as well. Please participate in these worthwhile programs which provide the happiness and excitement we all enjoy with our families, to many children in need, in the Union County area, and bring a little Christmas to them.
Both programs will be running through sunday, December 14th, so if you haven’t had the opportunity to participate yet, it isn’t too late. Stop by our trees on Sunday and select a tag or two. Shop for a boy or shop for a girl. Drop off some mittens or a hat or two. Help add some joy to the lives of families in need. You will feel the warmth in your heart, as you make others warm with your contributions and gifts. May we all have blessed holidays and thank you for your participation.
CHOIrKathryn Athanasoulas, Director
SOME THANK YOUS:
…To Mary Coutros for requesting that the memorial donations sent to the church in memory of her beloved husband, Tony, be used to purchase new robes. May Tony’s memory be eternal.
…To the Delfinopoulos Family for “quietly” cleaning our choir robes for over 20 years. We wish them well in their new venture.
…To those who generously contributed to the National Forums’ plea on Church Music Sunday.
…To the Angel Choir and Byzan “teens” who sing with the adult choir every Sunday with their beautiful voices.
….To all choir members who attended the 33rd Annual Conference in Richmond, VA of the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians Oct. 16-19. Kathryn Athanasoulas, Connie Baboukis, Stacy Carumpalos, Kay Demos, Susan Karcanes, Miriam Kotsonis, and Mary Vasilow. We sang the beautiful Liturgy written by Dr. Spyros Spathis in 1898 for the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Paris, France.
…To the Parish Council for sponsoring the choirs’ pictures in the Conference Journal, thus supporting the conference.
…To those who attended the Vocal Master Class workshop. It was a smash hit with 70 people attending and learning how to save their voices.
spECIAL CHrIsTMAs GIFTs
At Christmastime, many of our parishioners desire to express their love for Christ by making a special gift to His Church. For this reason, we provide a list for your convenience. Please call the Church Office for more information.
Altar Fund [any amount]; Incense [$50.]; Charcoal [$25]; Pew Torch candles [$200]; Daily Bible Guides [$250]; Holy water bottles [$300]; 1 large wreath for exterior of the church [$95]; 3 medium wreaths for interior of the Church [$65]; 5 small wreaths for exterior of the Church [$45]; Poinsettia plant to decorate the Altar and the Church [large, $50; medium, $45].
Thank you for your donation and support.
TrINITY CIrCLEMary Vasilow, Vice President
During this season of giving thanks, we give thanks to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for blessing our beloved parish of Holy Trinity and all our parishioners. We give thanks that each month, the members of Trinity Circle can gather together to meet and break bread and enjoy each other’s company. We pray especially for our President, Helen Hiotis, who has not been feeling well. A get-well card will do wonders in lifting her spirits. Helen, we all wish you peravstika [get well].
OCTOBER MEETINGDuring the October meeting, we were pleased to welcome our guest speaker, Maureen Cassidy [the sister of Jean O’Dowd, Holy Trinity’s Accounting Manager] from Brighton Gardens Assisted Living in Mountainside. Maureen
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spoke informatively about assisted living. Following the presentation, we had a delicious lunch and celebrated the October birthdays with a beautiful birthday cake. NOVEMBER MEETINGThe November meeting was held on Tuesday, November 18, 11:00am in room 101. Lunch was served and we celebrated the November birthdays. Please note that the meetings are now being held on the third Tuesday of the month. Upcoming meetings are always published in the Sunday Bulletin.
CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONThis year’s Christmas Luncheon, for paid members only, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 12Noon, at the Cavalier-Regency in Roselle [formerly the Cavalier Diner.] The Andrianos Family, long-time parishioners of Holy Trinity, are the proprietors. Once again, we extend our warmest thanks and gratitude to the Ladies Philoptochos for hosting this luncheon. You may make reservations during the Fellowship Hour or call Mary Papadeas, 732/564-5208. Please RSVP on or before December 1st.
To our clergy, Father Peter and Father Alexander and the Holy Trinity family, we extend to everyone a blessed Christmas filled with love and joy as we celebrate our Lord’s Nativity and a new year that brings with it great hope, good health, peace, and prosperity to all!
FIGHT WINTEr’s CHILL WITH
THE BOOk sTOrE’s DECEMBEr FEATUrEs: LET YOUR KITCHEN’S
WARMTH AND WONDERFUL AROMAS FILL YOUR HOME!
by Sandy Mouratoglou Oltmann, Dana Banu, and Andrea Blasi
THE BEST OF GREEK CUISINE: COOKING WITH GEORGIA SARIANIDES has recipes from traditional favorites like spanakopita and baklava to over 100 delectable health conscious foods!
POPULAR GREEK RECIPES by the Philoptochos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Charleston, South Carolina boasts of chapters on: salads/appetizers, soups, seafoods, meats, sauces, puddings, cakes/cookies, syrup pastries, candies/fruit preserves, breads/pita, Greek Lenten foods, fasting, equivalent and metric charts, a Greek-English glossary, hints, and an index. Many purchasers of this book have returned to say how much they like it!
TASTE AND SEE: AMERICAN ORTHODOX COOKING by The St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church, Franklin, Tennessee, includes recipes for fasting foods, and a chapter
on “Our Best Feasting Foods”! The reverse of each gold chapter title page boasts multiple helpful hints!
…..The Book Store also has many other religious and cultural items that might interest you.
If you don’t see what you want, we can order it for you! Please support the Book Store: all profits are donated to the Church.
In addition, we are looking for Book Store Stewards to act as cashiers, whenever it is convenient for you. If you are interested, please stop by our table some Sunday.
A LETTEr OF THANksHoly Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Westfield, New Jersey
Dear Friends:
Thank you for your recent gift to our Shoes for Orphan Souls program. Through contributions like yours Buckner was able to distribute more than 165,000 pairs of shoes and socks to boys and girls in 29 countries during 2007 and 2008.
Shoes for Orphan Souls is just one of the many ministries of Buckner. Since 1879 Buckner has been working to improve the lives of children and families by providing humanitarian aid, transitional living and foster care services and domestic and international adoption and support programs for children living in orphanages in the United States and around the world.
While this program has made a difference in many lives, there are still millions of children whose lives we can influence – all through a pair of shoes. We thank you again for your contribution and the difference it will make in the life of a child.
Sincerely,
David M. Slover (signed)Executive Vice PresidentBuckner FoundationDallas, Texas
NEWs AND UpDATEs
It has been rumored that this is one of the favorite columns in The Promise. And why shouldn’t it be. This is where we get to share happy news with each other. Past columns have reported about new births, graduations, job promotions, special awards, outstanding athletic performances, and so
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forth. But this column can only be written if we have news and this is where YOU, our parishioners can help.
Please send your news to Cynthia Ladas at [email protected] or [email protected] by the 10th of the month preceding the next issue. For example: December 10 deadline for the January Promise, etc.
CONGRATULATIONSFormer Holy Trinity parishioner, kary Antholis, the son of the late John Antholis and Eva Antholis of Washington, DC, recently received a wonderful promotion. Colin Callender, the president of HBO Films recently left his post as head of the pay-TV network’s original film and miniseries department. Mr. Callender’s responsibilities will be split between two of his deputies – one of whom is Kary. Kary, who is 45 years old, will head the mini-series department of HBO. The Holy Trinity family wishes Kary continued success and God’s blessings upon him and his family.
Kary began is career with HBO in 1992 as a director of documentary programming where he acted as program executive on many award-winning documentaries. In 1994, Kary left HBO to produce and direct the documentary, “One Survivor Remembers” which debuted on HBO and won him an Oscar and a prime-time Emmy. On October 6, 2005, the Cultural Committee, under the chairmanship of Harry Panagos, invited Kary to speak at Holy Trinity. Those of us who attended that evening were treated to one of the most stirring and beautiful evenings as we watched the film, “One Survivor Remembers” the story of a Holocaust survivor.
Fr. Peter and Tony Bosco are photographed with the Goyans who attended Youth Night.
Anthony Bosco, the 8th grade Religious Education teacher, was the guest speaker at the November Youth Night.
His talk was very well received.
Tony Bosco continued his talk as the young people listened attentively.
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Kary resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Karen [formerly of Cranford, NJ] and his children, Evanthia and John.
YOUTH COrNEr
“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 10 – 11
The Youth would like to wish the Holy Trinity Family a Christmas filled with joy and happiness.
Fellowship
saturday, Nov. 1st – Bowling Tournament and Danceby Valentina Quesada
On Saturday November 1st, the youth of Holy Trinity went to their annual bowling tournament in Fairview. It was a fun-filled day with all the churches competing in bowling, followed by an awards dinner and dance at the Fairview Church Hall. Everyone got to see their friends from all the different GOYAs and had a chance to meet new friends as well. We encourage all the youth to please sign up and experience all the excitement of GOYA and join us in our next event.
From panos Chantzis – Youth president sunday, Nov. 2nd – Youth sunday & Brunch We want to thank the many people who made our Brunch a success: donations from Snuffy’s, Rustic Mill, Jim Kallinosis and the Zourzoukis Family; our parents for their support and time, the kitchen/snack bar parents, the advisors, Fr. Peter, Fr. Alexander, the youth and all those who attended.
Friday, Nov. 7th - The second Youth Night of the year was held on Nov. 7th and it was another great evening. It began with our business meeting followed with a presentation by Mr. Tony Bosco, an 8th grade Religious Education teacher. He gave us a wonderful talk about his personal experience and relationship with God. We thank him for sharing his journey in Orthodoxy with us.
AthleticsThe YHT teams –are undefeated with victories over Asbury Park and Trenton. Our girl’s volleyball team was also victorious over Flemington.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND COACHES. WE ARE ON A WINNING STREAK!
GO WESTFIELD!
Upcoming games:
Dec. 7th – Westfield at at home with PiscatawayJan. 24th - Jr. play-offs at WestfieldJan. 31st – Sr. play-offs at HolmdelPractices are as follows unless contacted by the coach.There will be a long holiday break announced by the coaches.Jr. Basketball - Wed. December 2nd at 7:00Sr. Basketball – Wed. December 2nd at 8:00 Girls Volleyball – Sat. at 9:30Greek Dancing – Thurs. at 7:30
Upcoming Events – mark your calendarsSunday Nov. 30th – YHT meeting & fellowshipFri. Dec. 5th – YHT Christmas PartyMon. Dec. 29th – State Christmas DanceFr i, Jan 2nd – Family and Alumna Night Meeting, dinner &
Alumna/Parent vs. Youth Volleyball Game
JOY/HOpE
is the ministry to children between the ages of 5 and 11 years of age. JOY/HOPE promotes bonding between the children and faith, promotes Greek Orthodox Christianity and develops Greek Orthodox Fellowship. JOY/HOPE will be participating in activities throughout the year to enhance this mission. It is through these activities that we build our JOY/HOPE group as a community. We encourage all children to attend and parents to assist in our activities.
Our first JOY/HOPE gathering was on October 19, 2008 at the Williams Nursery in Westfield and it was a success! There were a total of 37 children and parents who came to enjoy a Halloween afternoon together. The children enjoyed the hay ride, pumpkin picking and the hay maze. Many thanks to all the families who came to support our first event!
IONIAN VILLAGE
- Applications being accepted for Summer 2009- A pplicants must be active Orthodox Christians
and at least 21 years of age by 6/20/09- A pplicants will travel to Greece for the camping
program. Camp staff and campers will travel to Zakynthos, Aegina, Kefalonia, Meteora, Ancient Olympia, the Acropolis
- V ariety of camp programs included- R ound trip airfare New York/Athens and full room
and board provided- A pplications must be completed and postmarked
by January 21, 2009- D ownload the application from the website:
www.ionianvillage.org
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Joy/Hope was very excited about working together with our GOYA on the Bridges Outreach program in a community outreach project. The Bridges Outreach Program is a non-profit organization which strives to bring the housed and homeless together. Our JOY/HOPE group was responsible for collecting and packaging 100 toiletry bags. We collected bars of soap, shampoos, and washcloths during October and November. Toothbrushes and toothpaste was generously donated by a parishioner. A drop-off was placed in the Bouras Center. On Friday November 21, 2008, we met at Church to assemble the bags. We thank all the children who came to the church to help and, of course, to the parents who brought them. We extend special thanks and gratitude to the Holy Trinity parishioners for all their donations.
Please come by our table during the Fellowship hour for further information or e-mail us any suggestions at [email protected].
T.O.T.s.TrINITY OrTHODOx
TODDLEr sOCIAL
“Let the little children come unto me”Matthew 19:13
Happenings:In November, the T.O.T.S were “thankful” to see all of their friends again. Our friends made fall and Thanksgiving themed crafts. The T.O.T.S. always look so precious lighting their candles and venerating the icons. Father Peter met them and shared a short story and meaningful prayer.
After the quietness of the Church, the T.O.T.S. moved to the Bouras Center for free play and the all-important snack!
Join Us:T.O.T.S. is open to all Holy Trinity families with children 18 months to four years of age with a mom, dad, grandparent or other caregiver. T.O.T.S meets the second and fourth, Wednesdays of the month in the preschool room at 10AM –11:30AM. Please dress for play and bring your own drinks. Snacks will be provided.
Upcoming Dates:December 10 (Christmas Party) April 8, 22January 14, 28 May 13, 27February 11, 25 June 10March 11, 25
sACrAMENTs AND rITEs
ChurchingsSun day, September 28, Georgea V., the daughter of Zenovia
and Victor StellakisSund ay, November 2, Konstandinos, the son of Eirene and
Alexander Kalafatides
ChrismationsSund ay, October 5, Anthony Paul, the son of Leoni and
Sunday, November 30, the Chrismation for Erin [Elizabeth] Frigerio was celebrated
BaptismsSund ay, October 5, Anthony Paul, the son of Leoni and
Gerald DiAndreaFrid ay, October 24, John West, the son of Melissa and Dylan
Baker.Satu rday, October 25, Ariadne, the daughter of Daphne and
John Pappas.Sund ay, November 2, Edgar Michael Miranda, the son of
Sandra and Michael PaisisSatur day, November 8, Emanuel Alexis, the son of Jacqueline
and Alexis ManolakisSunday, November 30, the baptism for Margery Frances [Efrosini], the daughter of Jill and John Turpin was celebrated
WeddingsSund ay, October 26, between Faith Candelaria and Pascalis
Kuvalakis.Satur day, November 1, between Dawn Wright and Nicholas
Clessuras
FuneralsMond ay, October 6, Demetrios Garofallou.+ Eternal be his
memory.
COMMUNITY CORNER
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HOLY TrINITY GrEEk OrTHODOx CHUrCH
NEW MEMBErs
Ms. Victoria DiFrancesco23 Oakwood Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039-4120973-533-9251
Mr./Mrs. Thomas & Parthena Rosahl67 Pleasant Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023-1126(908) 889-1661
Mr./Mrs. Richard & Mary Stevens46 Winchip Road, Summit, NJ 07901-4141(908) 790-0174
Mr./Mrs. Charles & Demetra Tsetsekas11 Lisa Drive, Chatham, NJ 07928-1009(973) 701-8031
Mr. Stefanos Papathanasiou63 South Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, NJ 07936-1804(201) 993-8882
Ms. Melissa Baker317 Palisades Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109-1945(805) 448-9652
Be an angel! Come and join us to crochet and/or knit for little babies in need beginning January 1, 2009. The items we complete will be donated to the TLC for Angels charity who
then donates them to local area hospitals. If you’re interested, please contact Lia Lewis at [email protected] or 908-240-6005 (after 6pm) to set up a meeting time and day that’s
convenient for all those interested.
THE JOUrNEY
The Greek American DreamThis documentary tells the fascinating history of Greek Immigrants to the United States. The Cultural Committee of Holy Trinity cordially
invites you to an evening you will long remember as you recall your own personal stories of your parents and grandparents. please join us on Friday, February 27,
2009 7:30pM in the Bouras Center.Free Admission Refreshments
Mr./Mrs. Michael & Alexia Lialios415 Tremont Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080-3932(908) 222-7549
Mr./Mrs. Michael & Sandra Paisis64 Paint Island Spring Road, Millstone Twp., NJ 08510-7946(732) 845-4824
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FEAsT DAYs CELEBrATED IN JANUArY
CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRSIT – January 1stThe circumcision of Christ on the eighth day after His birth showed that He had put on our nature. “He suffered and cried from pain,” says St. Ephraim the Syrian. He was circumcised because the Old Testament Law commanded it as a prelude of Holy Baptism and as a punishment of ancestral sins. This was the beginning of Christ’s suffering for us.
However, the New Testament teaches that we must cut off the passions of the soul instead. On the day that Jesus was circumcised, He was formally given the name Jesus, which means “salvation,” to announce the coming of our salvation. St. John of the Ladder says, “Flog the adversaries incessantly with the name of Jesus; there is no weapon more powerful in heaven or on earth.”
THE THREE HIERARCHS – January 30thST. BASIL THE GREATMany men is history have had the superlative ‘great’ added to their names primarily because they were monarchs such as Alexander the Great whose exploits spanned large land masses. St. Basil, however, earned this title for reaching the masses with the word of Christ. He was not a king, but he won the hearts of his fellowman for service to the King of Kings. The title ‘Great’ was no more richly deserved by any man in history, for he possessed the humility of Moses, the zeal of Elijah, the faith of Peter, the eloquence of John the Theologian, and the dedication of Paul. St. Basil’s brothers and sisters, priests, bishops, and nuns served under his leadership as true workers in the vineyard of Christ.
St. Basil became one of Christianity’s most eloquent spokesmen, earning world renown for both his oratory and his writings. On June 14, 370, he was ordained Bishop of Caesarea. A man of considerable talent, St. Basil applied himself to establishing and setting down the rules of monasticism. Then he turned to the formalization of the Divine Liturgy which bears his name. The Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated on more solemn Church observances including Christmas and his feast day on January 1, as well as during the Lenten period. St. Basil’s Liturgy is used a total of 10 times during the Church year. St. Basil fell asleep in the Lord on January 1, 379.
ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIANSt. Gregory was born in Nazianzos in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, in 329. He was educated in Caesaria and then in Athens where he met Basil and became close friends linked in a common resolve to serve Christ. At the suggestion of Basil, the two friends became monastics at a retreat in Pontios where each embarked on a spiritual journey that was to lead them both to greatness. St. Gregory was ordained into the priesthood to serve as an assistant to his father, the Bishop of Nazianzos. Gregory was made bishop of a relatively unimportant town of Sasima but preferred to remain with his father. He took over the church of Nazianzos after the death of his father in 374.
After the death of Arian Emperor Valens, followed closely by the death of his friend, Basil, St. Gregory was called to Constantinople. He was to head the reorganization of the Orthodox Church which had been torn asunder by the heresy of Arianism from within and by the harassment of pagans without. In the course of this holy work, he achieved distinction as orator, traditionalist, and crusader that earned him the title of “theologos” despite the opposition of Maximos the Cynic. When the Orthodox Emperor Theodosios came to power in 380, Gregory assumed the direction of the magnificent Church of Haghia Sophia. While director of the Church, he took part in a council held in Constantinople in 381 to settle the differences among the prelates of the Church. Known as the 2nd Ecumenical Council, it resolved the issues and voted to accept Gregory as Patriarch of Constantinople. It further added its official support to the Nicene doctrine which was championed at the First Council. As Patriarch, he grew weary of the personal attacks that are the occupational hazard of a patriarch and after a moving farewell address, he retired to live out his days in meditation, writing, and prayer and died on January 25, 288. ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOMEndeared as one of the four great doctors of the Church, St. John Chrysostom was born in 347 in Antioch, Syria and was prepared for a career in law under the renowned Libanius, who marveled at his pupil’s eloquence and foresaw a brilliant career for his pupil as statesman and lawgiver. But John decided, after he had been baptized at the age of 23, to abandon the law in favor of service to the Saviour. He entered a monastery which served to school him in preparation for his ordination as a priest in 386. His oratorical excellence gained him a reputation throughout the Christian world and he found favor with everyone except Empress Eudoxia, whom he saw fit to criticize in some of his sermons.
St. John was exiled by the puppets of the state but there arose such a clamor of protest, promising a real threat of civil disobedience, that not even the royal court dared to confront the angry multitudes and St. John was restored to his post as Patriarch of Constantinople. St. John delivered a sermon in which he deplored the adulation of a frenzied crowd at the unveiling of a public statue of the Empress. His sermon was grossly exaggerated by his enemies, and by the time it reached the ears of the Empress, it resulted in his permanent exile from his beloved city of Constantinople. There, he continued to write until his death in 407. The treasure of treatises and letters which St. John left behind include the moving sermon that is heard at Easter Sunday services. His liturgy which we respectfully chant on Sundays, is a living testimony of his greatness. Of all the great speakers of the church, only St. John has the title of “Chrysostom” or “golden-mouthed.”
