Dear Faithful and Friends of the Assumption,

Greetings in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

On February 2nd, the Church celebrates the Great Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple - which is in our more common terms, His 40 day blessing.

When each of us was brought to the Church for this blessing, it was so that we might be “introduced” to the Lord.  It is our 1st  act of offering in obedience to the Lord.  Does it make sense that Jesus would need to be presented to the Lord? Is He not the Lord Himself?

This is the great irony of how we understand what is happening around us.  We perceive, thus we believe.  We use our human senses to draw conclusions that are not based on truth but based on our perception.  This is why so many say that perception is more important than reality - which may be true in marketing, but not in the Faith.

Returning to His 40 day blessing - what is really occurring? We know that if the Temple is holy it is because the Lord is present.  Jesus is not sanctified by going to the Temple, it is the Temple that is sanctified by Him, specifically, Simeon who is waiting for His arrival - for it was revealed to Simeon 3 centuries earlier that he would not die until he put his eyes upon the Savior.

Therefore, to the unknowing, it looks as though Christ is being presented to Simeon, when in fact, Simeon is being presented to Christ; it looks as though Christ is presented to be sanctified by the Temple when it is He who is sanctifying the Temple by His presence.

Let us not be like those who think they understand because their eyes have “seen,” when in fact their eyes don’t have the ability to comprehend.  Let us present ourselves that He may be presented to us.

In His Service,

Fr. Jon

NOTICE OF SPECIAL PARISH ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 16, 2025

 An assembly of all the stewards* of the parish will occur on Sunday, February 16, following the DIVINE LITURGY. The draft agenda will be as follows:

1. Call to Order / Opening Prayer
2. Determination of Quorum* requirement of parishioners**
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Appointment of Assembly Chairperson and Assembly Secretary
5. Parish Council Proposed Motion of New Building Path Forward (Motion TBD)
6. Adjournment / Closing Prayer 

 *Quorum

To be legally binding, a quorum must be present before any meeting of the Parish Council or the Parish Assembly.

A majority of the Parish Council shall constitute a quorum. The minimum affirmative vote to pass a motion in a meeting of the Parish Council shall be a majority of a quorum.

For a Parish Assembly, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of current members in good standing shall constitute a quorum, except in matters pertaining to the purchase, sale or encumbering of Parish Property, which require a quorum of the current members in good standing per Part One, Article VI, Section 5 of the UPR. The minimum affirmative vote to pass a motion in a Parish Assembly shall be two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum.

**Parishioners

Parish membership is in accordance with the Part One, Article V of the UPR. An eligible Orthodox Christian may become a member in good standing of this parish by:

1. Submitting a signed yearly Stewardship Pledge card reflecting a contribution that is sacrificial in nature, and;
2. Meeting one’s financial obligation in a timely fashion, including an initial remittance at the time of initial yearly pledging.

To maintain member in good standing status for the purposes of the two annual Parish Assemblies, a parishioner should fulfill at least 25% of their annual Stewardship Pledge prior to the first annual Parish Assembly and at least 75% of their pledge before the second annual Parish Assembly.

To maintain member in good status for any Special Parish Assemblies or ecclesiastical services (such as weddings and baptisms), a parishioner will need to have their pledge current as of the annual quarter in which the Assembly or service takes place.

Sunday, February 16 (5 PM), at the Dimitropoulos Home!!!

“I have run to the fragrance of your myrrh, O Christ God, for I have been wounded by your love; do not part from me, O heavenly Bridegroom.” - Elder Porphyrios

We are reading Wounded by Love: The Life and Wisdom of Saint Porphyrios.

"Bristol Bar and Grill"

300 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville

  12 Noon on Tuesday, February 18

Come and enjoy great fellowship with others you have flexibility during the daytime hours

RSVP to Nancy Anas at

(502) 645-2307 by 2-16-25

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!

______________________________________________________

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!!!