Dear Parish Family Members, and Friends,
This week, I’m thinking about gratitude and how it is a blessing to always strive to keep an “attitude of gratitude.”
During this past week, I and a number of our parish council and attendees had the chance to join a large dinner, hosted by our New York Ahepa organization in honour of the Pandelidis brothers who not only contributed generously to other Churches, but also donated greatly-needed funds to our own church for our renovations project. It was a good thing for us to show our support and gratitude. Moreso, it was also great for us to be together in a social setting, outside of church.
This got me thinking of what else I can be grateful for, and this is a great idea for all of us to do: stop for a bit, look around our lives, and take account of what we value and appreciate.
I, for one, am grateful for all the people who provide prosfora and wine for us to celebrate our Divine Liturgies. I am grateful for our church chanter and all the people who join our service in attendance. You have no idea how good it feels to turn around to bless the people and be able to see a lot of people with us. We are all stronger in prayer with the presence of people together. This is why it’s called “corporate prayer” and “the body of Christ.” We strengthen each other.
I’m grateful to see how much people have volunteered their time and talents to renovate our Church, to brighten it, make it new—the floors, the carpeting, the whole atmosphere. Going to the dinner this week was, for me, more about sharing the evening with our people, spending a bit of quality time with them. Totally worth it.
I hope you, reading this, may be inspired to think about your own gratitude, to appreciate what has helped you and what you have valued this week. Please do come and join us this Sunday for services. Prepare to receive Holy Communion, and let’s sit down during our Fellowship Hour for some quality time in sharing. I’ll be grateful for that, too.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
Sunday, November 6, 2022
9:00am Orthros/10:00am Divine Liturgy
7TH Sunday of Luke
Sunday, November 13, 2022
9:00am Orthros/10:00am Divine Liturgy
8TH Sunday of Luke
Sunday, November 20, 2022
9:00am Orthros/10:00am Divine Liturgy
9TH Sunday of Luke
Sunday, November 27, 2022
9:00am Orthros/10:00am Divine Liturgy
13TH Sunday of Luke
Sunday, December 4, 2022
9:00am Orthros/10:00am Divine Liturgy
10TH Sunday of Luke
Sunday, December 11, 2022
9:00am Orthros/10:00am Divine Liturgy
11TH Sunday of Luke
2022 PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS
President - Theo Christ
Vice President - Yvonne Anastasiou
Treasurer - Evdokia Sofos
Secretary - Dina Mastoras
Parish Council Member - Anastassios Mentis
Parish Council Member - Dialecti Voudouris