Weekly Sunday Bulletin – December 9th 2018
10th Sunday of Luke – December 9, 2018
Saint of the Day
The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God’s promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord.
Parish Council on Duty:
George Georgakakis, Karyl Zitis, Katherine Ziegler, Basil Economou, John Clidas
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια…
Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion for Conception of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode
Σήμερον τής ατεκνίας δεσμά διαλύονται…
Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee.
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios in the Third Mode
Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις …
Greatness has been found in danger. You are champion of the world. A victor who could turn the nations back. You boldly encouraged Nestor to defeat Lyaeus in the arena. Therefore, holy great martyr Demetrios, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode
Εορτάζει σήμερον…
Today the world rejoices in the conception of Anna, wrought by God. For she bore the One who beyond comprehension conceived the Logos.
Epistle Reading ~ The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27.
Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married.”
Gospel Reading ~The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17
At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
Memorial
Dimitrios Pappas (40 days) survived by his wife Maria, his daughter Anna Maria and his son
Anastasios.
Kalliope Politis (40 days) survived by her husband Chris, brothers Theophilus Economos (Connie) and Andrew Economos (Judith), children James Politis (Tina), Maria Dragon (Scott), grandchildren Marco Zeno (Lacey), Christopher Zeno (Maria), Nicholas Zeno and Taylor Politis, great grandchildren Noah, Jade, Nico and Theo.
Trisagion
Dr. Helene Tzitsikas (6 years) survived by friends Lola, Delia, Betty and many more.
Kathryn Solos (6 years) Mother to Stephen and Emily Solos, grandmother to Nicole (Marino) and great grandmother to Elias.
Athena Owens (8 years) Sister to Kathryn Solos. Mother and grandmother.
Baby Blessing
Today we welcome Christopher and Katerina Jones as they present Dylan Mark for the traditional 40 day blessing.
Parish Council President’s Message
The Winter 2018 General Assembly was held this past Sunday, December 2nd, and many important updates regarding our community were discussed.
Saint Demetrios continues to improve and grow stronger. The most obvious example of this success is our newly renovated hall. However, the renovations are not stopping here. In the next few weeks we will see the replacement of the south narthex doors and the renovation of the south narthex itself. This $17,000 project will be entirely paid for with donated funds. Up next for renovation will be the Sunday School classrooms. Built in 1977, they have fallen into a state of disrepair and are in urgent need of attention. A presentation was made at the General Assembly regarding the potential scope of this project. A preliminary estimate of the cost of this comprehensive renovation has been placed at $130,000. To that end, a parishioner has already made a donation of $20,000. However, before we can get to this, we have another more pressing problem. One of our two main air conditioners in the church has completely failed and the other is in need of serious repair. The replacement cost of our 2002 York unit will be approximately $48,000. We are still waiting to receive 2-3 additional bids before moving forward with this. We have approximately $35,000 in a reserve fund for this specific project but will likely need additional funds to fully pay for the replacement. Furthermore, the 2008 Trane unit needs to have one of its two compressors replaced with an estimated repair bill of $6,500. These repairs must be completed before the arrival of summer.
We are grateful to announce that the combined estates of Jerome and Euphrosyne Hager have bequeathed $250,000 to our community. This money will be distributed to our parish upon the passing of the current living beneficiary of this estate.
A 2019 balanced budget was ratified by the General Assembly. This budget reflects many weeks of painstaking analysis by our Treasurer Garry Paxinos and Assistant Treasurer Bill Ypsilantis as well Lea Planakis and our Parish Council. It represents an honest and realistic appraisal of our community’s finances. Copies of the budget are available upon request.
The 2019 budget is predicated on a stewardship target of $295,000. This is a very reasonable goal as our community collected $294,000 in 2017 and is on target to come close to this again this year with almost $285,000 pledged. However, it must be pointed out that the number of stewards in 2017 was 346 and is currently only 304. The generosity of our parishioners who have increased their average stewardship pledge has helped make up the difference. However, we must continue to encourage our family and friends to become active stewards in our community.
Lastly, our annual festival is rapidly approaching. It is scheduled for February 7, 8, 9, and 10th. Please make every possible effort to volunteer in some meaningful capacity at the festival. Our community very much depends on a successful festival every year and this can only happen with everyone’s strong participation.
In spite of many challenges, Saint Demetrios remains a very vibrant community. Countless volunteers in our parish work very hard on a daily basis to make certain that our church remains a bastion of faith, hope and love. It is because of you and your love for Saint Demetrios that we continue to have the programs and services that touch so many people’s lives.
Thank you and Merry Christmas,
George Georgakakis, MD
St. Demetrios Parish Council President
Announcements
Fellowship Hour The coffee hour, in memory of Kalliope Politis, is sponsored by her three long time friends Mary Carratt, Tonie Hyland and Betty Athanasakos.
Thank you The Pap Corps Chapter would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for everyone’s generous support during out recent fundraisers, Cancer Fighting Sunday and the November Garage Sale. Your generous donations will support important research for cancer at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. We want to wish you and your families a wonderful Holiday Season!
Christmas PoinsettiasDonations towards the purchase of poinsettias would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Bookstore NewsNow available at the bookstore, 2019 wall calendars featuring angels and angelic visitations. Also come and see the newest books in stock.
Home Care If anyone is looking for a bilingual home health aid, please call Father Andrew.
St. Demetrios Parish Family Christmas Celebration
Philoptochos member drive Consider joining Philoptochos.
Calendar of Events for the Week
Sunday 12/09
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:15am Sunday School
12:30pm Greek dance
Monday 12/10
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’, B’, G’, D’ & Adult Beginner
6:00pm-8:00pm Advanced Greek class
Wednesday 12/12
7:00pm Daughters of Penelope meeting
Friday 12/14
7:00pm Parish Family Christmas Celebration and Pageant
Sunday 12/16
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:15am Sunday School
12:30pm Greek dance
