Message from Father Anthony

An Opportunity for Change

That is what each New Year brings. It is a moment of opportunity to change direction, and not only direction but essence. Spiritual growth is not a trend, it is forging a new identity in Christ. Bill Marianes tells his High school seniors that as they are about to go off to college, they need to think about who they are. Where they are going, no one knows them; they do not have to carry with them all the baggage of identity that they have accumulated over the last 12 years of school. They don’t have to stay in the box that people have put them in, or they have accepted being put in. They can reinvent themselves. We have a similar rite of passage in the Orthodox Church when we receive an adult convert, or a person takes monastic vows. They get a new name. There is identity and essence in a name, and when you get a new name you get new possibilities and new potentialities. It is not like changing an outfit, that would be schizophrenia to so easily change identity; that is not a sign of growth or a sign of spiritual health. But transformation is a core principle of our life as Orthodox Christians. Transformation is not temporary change, it is essential qualitative change measured in “being”, over a long period of time. So rather than making New Year’s resolutions to lose 30 pounds by bathing suit time, we want to open our hearts to “new possibilities” of encountering Christ and His Church by putting ourselves in the position to have that encounter. For example if we struggle with gluttony or our relationship to food is not healthy, maybe it is a spiritual problem rather than just a lack of diet and exercise. If we have financial problems maybe it is not just over spending or needing a better job that is the problem, maybe at its core it is a spiritual problem that once addressed and worked on will make the other problems go away. Orthodoxy is not so much a destination as a journey. All along the way we are encouraged “to commit one another and our whole life to Christ our God.” This inherently involves change, growth, movement toward Christ. When will it end you ask? When will we have “arrived” so we don’t have to change anymore? We cannot ask a finite question of an infinite process. Because God is infinite, we will “never” arrive, we will always be moving “further up and further in” as C.S. Lewis puts it. When we decide that growth is too painful and too hard and we are not going to do it anymore is when we die-spiritually speaking. We may not be buried for another 30 years but we are essentially dead when we decide we do not want to grow any more. So as we begin a New Year, embrace change with an open heart and pray and ask God to direct your path, to teach you to pray, to pray within you, and He will.

Blessed New Year.

Fr. Anthony

Parish News

Worship Services

January 1

8:45am Orthros/Matins - Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

10:00am Divine Liturgy

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL TODAY

January 4

6:00pm Vespers or Paraklesis

January 5

8:30am Royal Hours - Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ

January 6

9:00am Theophany Liturgy and Blessing of the Waters

January 7

8:00am Liturgy for St. John the Baptist followed by House Blessings

January 8

8:45am Orthros/Matins

10:00am Divine Liturgy

11:00am Cutting of the Vasilopita & Swearing-in of Parish Council

January 11

6:00pm Vespers or Paraklesis

7:00pm Inquirer's Class

January 15

8:45am Orthros/Matins

10:00am Divine Liturgy

12:00pm Greeters Training Seminar

January 17

9:00am Liturgy for Anthony the Great

January 18

9:00am Liturgy for St. Athanasios

6:00pm Vespers or Paraklesis

7:00pm Inquirer's Class

January 21

9:00am Liturgy for St. Maximos the Confessor

January 22

8:45am Orthros/Matins

10:00am Divine Liturgy

11:30am Coffee Hour

January 24

5:45pm Liturgy for St. Gregory the Theologian

January 25

6:00pm Vespers or Paraklesis

7:00pm Inquirer's Class

January 29

8:45am Orthros/Matins

10:00am Divine Liturgy

11:30am Coffee Hour

January 30

9:00am Liturgy for Three Hierarchs

Spaghetti Dinners

All spaghetti suppers are from 6 pm - 7:30 pm. Dinner is $8.00 and includes spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, dessert and drink. Help is appreciative to serve this ministry. If you can donate your time once a month or maybe both times a month. Please speak to Barbara or Kurt.

Thursday, January 19th at 6pm entertainment by Dixie Land Dawgs

Thursday, February 2nd at 6pm entertainment by German Polka Band

Parish Council

The Parish Council will be sworn-in on January 8 followed by a meeting to elect officers for 2017.

Our first meeting will be Wednesday, January 18th at 7pm.

Vasilopita Bakers Needed

01/08/2017

Vasilopita
We are still in need of bakers. If you would like to make a Vasilopita, please contact Stephanie Gavrielides at (706) 817-0087 or slgavrielides@gmail.com to volunteer your time.

Here is some history: Vasilopita is a New Year's s bread or cake in Greece and many other areas in eastern Europe and the Balkans which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver, like the Western European King Cake. It is associated with Saint Basil's Day January 1.

Grief Support

01/09/2017

Grief Support will meet Monday, January 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 6:30 pm. All are welcome to come learn how to process grief in a healthy fashion.

Greeters Training Seminar

01/15/2017

Sunday, January 15th at 12:00pm

AHEPA Meeting

01/16/2017

AHEPA will meet on Monday, January 16th at 6:00 pm.

Women's Bible Study

02/07/2017

Will resume in February and will continue to meet the first Tuesday of each month at the home of Nina Lamson.

England, Scotland, Ireland Tour

05/13/2017

The Tour will take place May 13 - 26, 2017 and is hosted by Nina Lamson and Presvytera Christine. For further information on this beautiful tour, please go to http://ninalamson.grouptoursite.com

Nursery Room Schedule

We thank all our nursery room volunteers. Please see PR Christine if you like to be added. Our Nursery Room is constantly growing!

Available from 10:30 to end of Liturgy

January 1, 2017 Anna Salzman & Maximos Salzman

January 8, 2017 Ruth Fuzum & Zachary Chromiak

January 15, 2017 Stephanie Knisely & David Hancock

January 22, 2017 Pam Demos & Stacey Cramer

January 29, 2017 Harriette Gavriliedis & Tina Paninos

February 5, 2017 Charlotte Chromiak & Nina Lamson

February 12, 2017 Ruth Fuzum & Christina White

House Blessings

Please sign up to have your house blessed in the weeks following the Blessing of the Waters on January 6.

Furniture for the Diakonia Center Chapel

01/02/2016

As I had presented on November 6, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios is looking for donors for furniture for the beautiful new church at the DRC that is nearing completion. As a community it is suggested that we may be able to provide stasidia (ecclesiastical chairs) at $850 each. Pleas see Fr. Anthony if you would like to sponsor a whole one or a partial one in memory of a loved one.

Saints and Feasts

January 01

Theodotos the Martyr

January 01

Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Since the Mosaic Law commands that if a woman give birth to a male child, he should be circumcised in the foreskin of his flesh on the eighth day (Lev. 12:2-3), on this, the eighth day from His Nativity, our Saviour accepted the circumcision commanded by the Law. According to the command of the Angel, He received the Name which is above every name: JESUS, which means "Saviour" (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31 and 2:21).

January 01

Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Saint Basil the Great was born about the end of the year 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and holiness. His parents' names were Basil and Emily. His mother Emily (commemorated July 19) and his grandmother Macrina (Jan. 14) are Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (Jan. to), Peter of Sebastia (Jan. 9), and Naucratius. Basil studied in Constantnople under the sophist Libanius, then in Athens, where also he formed a friendship with the young Gregory, a fellow Cappadocian, later called "the Theologian." Through the good influence of his sister Macrina (see July 19), he chose to embrace the ascetical life, abandoning his worldly career. He visited the monks in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria, and in Mesopotamia, and upon returning to Caesarea, he departed to a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where his mother and his sister Macrina were already treading the path of the ascetical life; here he also wrote his ascetical homilies.

About the year 370, when the bishop of his country reposed, he was elected to succeed to his throne and was entrusted with the Church of Christ, which he tended for eight years, living in voluntary poverty and strict asceticism, having no other care than to defend holy Orthodoxy as a worthy successor of the Apostles. The Emperor Valens, and Modestus, the Eparch of the East, who were of one mind with the Arians, tried with threats of exile and of torments to bend the Saint to their own confession, because he was the bastion of Orthodoxy in all Cappadocia, and preserved it from heresy when Arianism was at its strongest. But he set all their malice at nought, and in his willingness to give himself up to every suffering for the sake of the Faith, showed himself to be a martyr by volition. Modestus, amazed at Basil's fearlessness in his presence, said that no one had ever so spoken to him. "Perhaps," answered the Saint, "you have never met a bishop before." The Emperor Valens himself was almost won over by Basil's dignity and wisdom. When Valens' son fell gravely sick, he asked Saint Basil to pray for him. The Saint promised that his son would be restated if Valens agreed to have him baptized by the Orthodox; Valens agreed, Basil prayed, and the son was restored. But afterwards the Emperor had him baptized by Arians, and the child died soon after. Later, Valens, persuaded by his counsellors, decided to send the Saint into exile because he would not accept the Arians into communion; but his pen broke when he was signing the edict of banishment. He tried a second time and a third, but the same thing happened, so that the Emperor was filled with dread, and tore up the document, and Basil was not banished. The truly great Basil, spent with extreme ascetical practices and continual labours, at the helm of the church, departed to the Lord on the 1st of January, in 379. at the age of forty-nine.

His writings are replete with wisdom and erudition, and rich are these gifts he set forth the doctrines concerning the mysteries both of the creation (see his Hexaemeron) and of the Holy Trinity (see On the Holy Spirit). Because of the majesty and keenness of his eloquence, he is honoured as "the revealer of heavenly things" and "the Great."

Saint Basil is also celebrated on January 30th with Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom.

Rest from labour.

January 05

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

January 07

Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

Today we celebrate the Synaxis in honour of the most sacred Forerunner, since he ministered at the Mystery of the Divine Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rest from labour. Fish allowed.

January 07

Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

January 08

Sunday after Epiphany

Assembly of Bishops News

Nativity Message from the Assembly Chairman

12/21/2016

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2016/nativity-message

On this most blessed day of Christ’s Nativity, we are encouraged to direct our hearts and minds not only to the spectacle of lights, the sounds of carols, and the tastes of savory food, but to the horror of darkness, the chaos of war, and the sound of grumbling stomachs of our brothers and sisters. This occurs overseas but also in our own backyard.

New Map of Bishops and Parishes Available on the Assembly Website

12/07/2016

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2016/new-map-of-bishops-and-parishes-available-on-the-assembly-website

An updated map of Orthodox bishops and parishes in the US is now available on the Assembly's website.

Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year

12/29/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/newyearencyclical2017

He sends us as His voice into a world that continues to change. At the beginning of each calendar year we are reminded of this rapid change as we survey the events of the last twelve months. We are called as Orthodox Christians to meet this change with grace and truth. We do this as we commit to the timeless mission of the people of God to live and proclaim the Gospel. We also do this as seen in the breadth and substance of our ministries and through expanding and adapting our work to meet contemporary needs. We are sent by Christ with a message of hope and life and with the wisdom to navigate a changing and challenging world while sharing His grace in effective ways.

Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2016

12/19/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016

We praise and glorify the God in Trinity, who deemed us worthy once again this year to reach the great feast of the Nativity in the flesh of the Son and Word of God the Father in “little Bethlehem.”

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Nativity 2016

12/19/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/encyclicalnativity2016

Today, we know Him as the Christ child, the hope for all humanity, and the fulfillment of divine promises. He is the dayspring from on high (Luke 1:78), the Anointed One, who has come to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to give sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18).

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 48.3,1.
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
Verse: Hear this all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 2:8-12.

BRETHREN, see to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Gospel Reading

Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
The Reading is from Luke 2:20-21, 40-52

At that time, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

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 Circumcision of Jesus Christ in the First Mode

Our human form hast Thou taken on Thyself without change, O greatly-compassionate Master, though being God by nature; fulfilling the Law, Thou willingly receivest circumcision in the flesh, that Thou mightest end the shadow and roll away the veil of our sinful passions. Glory be to Thy goodness unto us. Glory be to Thy compassion. Glory, O Word, to Thine inexpressible condescension.

Apolytikion for Basil the Great in the First Mode

Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy word. Thereby thou hast divinely taught the Faith; thou hast made manifest the nature of all things that be; thou hast adorned the ways of man. O namesake of the royal priesthood, our righteous Father Basil, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

Now the Lord of all that is doth undergo circumcision, in His goodness cutting off the sins and failings of mortals. He this day doth give salvation unto the whole world; and the hierarch and bright daystar of the Creator now rejoiceth in the highest, Basil the wise and divine initiate of Christ.

Wisdom of the Fathers

The Ancient of Days, who in times past gave Moses the Law on Sinai, appears this day as a babe. As Maker of the Law He fulfills the Law, and according to the Law He is brought into the temple and given over to the Elder.

Anatolios

Festal Menaion. Great Vespers.

The God of all goodness Did not disdain to be circumcised. He offered Himself as a saving sign And exmple for us all. He fulfilled the words of the prophets concerning Himself. He holds the world in His hands, Yet is bound in swaddling clothes. Let us glorify Him.

Vespers of the feast of the Lord's Circumcision

Translation found in "The Winter Pascha" by Fr. Thomas Hopko SVS Press

He who without separation and corruption Was born ineffably as the Word of the Father, Who is God from God in the changeless Godhead, Undergoes circumcision in the flesh. He who is above the law Delivers all from the curse of the law By becoming Himself under the law And giving us blessings from on high. Therefore we praise His infinitely gracious condescension, We sing His praises, And we glorify Him with thanksgiving, Entreating Him that our souls may be saved.

Orthros of the Feast of Our Lord's Circumcision

Translation from "The Winter Pascha" by Fr. Thomas Hopko SVS Press

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

2017 Archdiocesan Yearbook Dedicated to Archbishop Demetrios for 50 Years of Episcopal Ministry Now Available Online

12/30/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/2017yearbookonline

This year’s edition is highlighted by the dedication to Archbishop Demetrios, who was elected to the Episcopacy on June 20, 1967 and consecrated as Bishop a few months later on September 17. The Yearbook includes several pages in a full-color photo section which offer highlights of his five decades of episcopal ministry, especially his leadership of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year

12/29/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/newyearencyclical2017

Leadership 100 Approves $250,000 Gift for Ionian Village Rebuilding

12/21/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/leadership100-to-ivillage-12212016

At a special meeting on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, the Leadership 100 Executive Committee unanimously approved a $250,000 gift for the rebuilding of the Ionian Village campgrounds. Ionian Village, the summer camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, was struck by a devastating tornado in early September, rendering the campsite paralyzed due to massive infrastructural damages.

Public Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Dec. 21 – Jan. 6, 2017

12/21/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/adschedule-12-21-2016

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Nativity 2016

12/19/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/encyclicalnativity2016

Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2016

12/19/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016

The 9th century Greek Manuscript of the Complete New Testament (Codex 1424) is returned during Magnificent Ceremony and Vespers Service

12/04/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/codex1424-Drama-12042016

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America returned yesterday, Saturday Dec. 3, 2016, a rare ninth century Greek manuscript of the complete New Testament known as Codex 1424, to its rightful owners: the Holy Metropolis of Drama and its Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of Drama; and the Monastery of Panagia Eikosifoinissa from which the manuscript had been stolen by the Bulgarians in 1917.

Public Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Dec. 2-11, 2016

12/02/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/adschedule-12-2-2016

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine Holds "Topping Out Ceremony"

11/28/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/stnicholastoppingceremony

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine held a “topping out ceremony" this morning at its construction site at Greenwich and Liberty Streets in New York City. This traditional construction ceremony, marking the raising of the highest structural element, was led by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and attended by representatives of the Port Authority and SKANSKA, as well as the Consul General of Greece, major donors and contributors to the project and members of the original Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church community.

Archbishop Demetrios Receives 9th Century Codex 1424 from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

11/17/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/codex1424-11172016

A rare ninth century Greek manuscript of the complete New Testament (Codex 1424) was handed over by the Rev. Dr. James Nieman, President of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America during a dignified and well attended ceremony that took place at LSTC’s Augustana Chapel, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. Archbishop Demetrios received the manuscript on behalf of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Ninth Century Manuscript of the New Testament to be Taken Back to its Place of Origin by Archbishop Demetrios

11/03/2016

http://www.goarch.org/news/codex1424-11032016

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, with the blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, will receive during a special ceremony on November 15 in Chicago, Ill., a rare 9th century Greek manuscript (Codex 1424) of the complete New Testament which is being returned by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) to the Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolis of Drama, Greece.

Articles Worth Reading

Knowing Oneself

12/06/2016

We must know who we really are We are all surrounded by fictional characters, persons who are the invention of filmmakers, promoters, and even self-inventors. The original meaning of the word "hypocrite" was "actor", and it is ignorance of our true nature as children of God that keeps us living as fictional characters, unaware of […]

http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2016/12/knowing-oneself/

Conciliarity

12/20/2016

The authentic identity of the Church In the Church's attempt to live an authentic New Testament identity, she knows that she is neither papal or protestant. The Orthodox Church does not have a vertical structure of authority, as does the Roman Catholic Church. Orthodoxy has resisted becoming an authoritarian and juridical institution, while still maintaining […]

http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2016/12/conciliarity/

Theosis

12/23/2016

Christ's resurrection paves the way for transformation The fact that we Orthodox do not accept the doctrine of original sin as espoused in the West, does in no way suggest that we do not need to be born again (born anew). We believe, as did the Early Church Fathers, that we inherit only the results […]

http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2016/12/theosis-7/

3 Ways Those Who Lead Serve You

01/18/2017

3 Ways Those Who Lead Serve You!

“I’m their leader; which way did they go?” I feel like that a lot as a parish priest. Truth is sometimes it’s like herding cats to be the leader of a parish community. It seems everyone has their own agenda or vision of “how things ought to go.” And, rarely, is this motivated by bad intentions or evil motivations. Most folks want what is best, but we so ... Keep Reading ›

The post 3 Ways Those Who Lead Serve You! appeared first on Faith Encouraged.

Read the complete devotional »

Family Life Ministry

Merry Christmas from Family Life Ministry

Dear Metropolis Family,

As Family Life Ministry prepares for the Blessed Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we would like to thank you for all your help.

Thank you…

For supporting the work of our talented writers and artists
For nurturing our longtime “Journey of Marriage” Pre-Marital Seminar
For sharing FLM with your congregations, from the pulpit or the bulletin
For distributing materials, like our emails.

We look back on the progress made in 2016 with fondness, and can’t wait to share what we have in store for 2017.

Thanking you once again for your love and support, we wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Paula Marchman

Managing Director

Nick Kostopoulos

Blog Director

Fr. Paul Kaplanis

Spiritual Advisor

Fr. Gregory Georgiou

Director of Pre-Marital

Family Life Ministry | http://www.familylifeministry.atlanta.goarch.org | atlfamilylifeminstry@gmail.com

STAY CONNECTED

Metropolis of Atlanta - Family Life Ministry | 2480 Clairmont Road NE , Atlanta, GA 30329

Family Life Ministry

Available Information

Check out the latest weekly offerings from the Metropolis' blog: http://www.familylifeministry.atlanta.goarch.org/

From Pres. Kelley Lawrence's moving entries on "Mothering in the Womb"
To Fr. George Tsahakis' beautiful reflections for your family "Sunday Lunch",
And Pres. Roxanne Louh's inventive series on how we can strengthen "Healthy Minds, Healthy Souls"

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Message from Father Anthony

Parish News

Worship Services

Spaghetti Dinners

Parish Council

Vasilopita Bakers Needed

01/08/2017

Grief Support

01/09/2017

Greeters Training Seminar

01/15/2017

AHEPA Meeting

01/16/2017

Women's Bible Study

02/07/2017

England, Scotland, Ireland Tour

05/13/2017

Nursery Room Schedule

House Blessings

Furniture for the Diakonia Center Chapel

01/02/2016

Saints and Feasts

Theodotos the Martyr

Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Sunday after Epiphany

Assembly of Bishops News

Nativity Message from the Assembly Chairman

12/21/2016

New Map of Bishops and Parishes Available on the Assembly Website

12/07/2016

Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year

12/29/2016

Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2016

12/19/2016

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Nativity 2016

12/19/2016

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Apolytikion for Circumcision of Jesus Christ in the First Mode

Apolytikion for Basil the Great in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

Wisdom of the Fathers

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

2017 Archdiocesan Yearbook Dedicated to Archbishop Demetrios for 50 Years of Episcopal Ministry Now Available Online

12/30/2016

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year

12/29/2016

Leadership 100 Approves $250,000 Gift for Ionian Village Rebuilding

12/21/2016

Public Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Dec. 21 – Jan. 6, 2017

12/21/2016

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Nativity 2016

12/19/2016

Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2016

12/19/2016

The 9th century Greek Manuscript of the Complete New Testament (Codex 1424) is returned during Magnificent Ceremony and Vespers Service

12/04/2016

Public Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Dec. 2-11, 2016

12/02/2016

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine Holds "Topping Out Ceremony"

11/28/2016

Archbishop Demetrios Receives 9th Century Codex 1424 from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

11/17/2016

Ninth Century Manuscript of the New Testament to be Taken Back to its Place of Origin by Archbishop Demetrios

11/03/2016

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