Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption,

Each Summer, our parish “travels” from festival to Festival!

The small “f” festival is one of our primary fundraisers of the year.  It is an event that we so eagerly anticipate with excitement, yet also dread due to the amount of work it requires.  We as creatures of the uncreated Lord extend our “Grecian” hospitality to all who present themselves.  As the spiritual father representing His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas at your parish, I was proud to see how well our parishioners worked together to accomplish this massive undertaking—especially our chairpersons who put in many tireless hours in preparation.  I was also excited to not only see your stewardship of time and talent, but also that even fellowship and happiness was present during those long hot days. It is through our love for one another and through our hospitality that we are recognized  as Christian and witness to all His existence within each of us.

The capital “F” Festival is the Church Nameday Festival, the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th.  This Festival is not built around our love being extended, but His love being extended to us.  It is our receiving of His love that empowers us to love others—maybe even those we don’t necessarily like.  It is through our worship,  thanksgiving and love of our whole being towards God that we reveal ourselves not only as Christian, but as Orthodox.

My call to each of you is that we travel together.  Let us make this journey of love to our Parish’s feast that we may worship Him while honoring her (the Theotokos).  Let this Parish feast be a true celebration of worship and community.  We have celebrated our love of our fellow man, let us now celebrate our love for Him as we receive His love for us!

In His Service,

Fr. Jon

Are you already Kroger shopper?
Your current shopping could be benefitting the Assumption!

Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy...all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!

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TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)

· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions

· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.

· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.

· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.

· Update or confirm your information.

· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.

· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.

· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!

By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!

As we approach the end of our year, Philoptochos would like to thank the Assumption community for supporting our philanthropic mission to “help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, those with disabilities and the victims of disasters.” With your help we have done a lot of good work and have made a difference in the local community. We have collected:

• Used shoes for WaterStep that funds clean water projects throughout the world
• Pants for the Clothing Assistance Program (CAP) of Jefferson County Public Schools that serves 10,000 students and their families
• PJs and books for homeless kids and teens living at Wayside Christian Mission Shelters
• Winter coats and accessories for Kentucky Refugee Ministries
• Kid and adult diapers for St. Bernadette Diaper Bank Ministry
• Personal hygiene items for the homeless living at Wayside Christian Mission shelters
• Surplus medical supplies and equipment for Supplies Over Seas
• Food items for kids participating in Blessings in a Backpack to take home over the weekend so they will not go hungry

Philoptochos has also made sizable financial donations to Blessings in a Backpack and Dare to Care.

In addition to our charitable work, we sponsor the Vasilopita Auction every January which supports our church’s ministries, such as Sunday School, Altar Boys and Greek School.  We also sponsor the Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon, we dye the red eggs for the Resurrection and Agape services, and we offer a meal after vespers on August 14, the eve of our church’s feast day.

Philoptochos is open to all Orthodox women over the age of 18 (stewardship is not required). We meet once a month from September (the start of the ecclesiastical calendar) to May. Dues are $35. If you would like more information, or to join, please see one of the officers: Nancy Anas, Hadley Dimitropoulos, Laura Dorman, Angeliki Kourelis, or email Angeliki at: [email protected].  

Our last meeting, until we resume in September, will be on Sunday May 19 after church.

Happy Easter! Καλό Πάσχα!