Sunday, November 20th, 2022
Dear Parish Family, and Friends,
Sometimes, we get used to what is right in front of us that our very “habit” of seeing the object always tends to make that object essentially “invisible”: out of habit, we don’t pay attention to the object anymore. We don’t notice it as much as we used to.
This Sunday, we recognize and commemorate Saint John Chrysostom, who wrote our Divine Liturgy as we know and celebrate it today. True, Saint Iakovos wrote the longer, first Divine Liturgy service and Saint Basil shortened that a bit more, and then Saint John Chrysostom shortened it further to its recognizable form today. For years, I have long felt that our Saint John Chrysostom Divine Liturgy is the greatest epic poem I have ever found.
This is why I recently shared in our Sunday sermon (you had to be there!) that the most valuable word, to me, in our Divine Liturgy is “Proskomen”: let us be attentive (or, more emphatically, “Pay Attention!” Count how many good times this word is exhorted to all in attendance: look at what is going on in our Divine Liturgy at this moment: the Scriptures are being read to help us; the descent of the Holy Spirit is transfiguring bread and wine into the essence of Christ. Proskomen is a wonderful word to help us shake of our “habit” of taking anything for granted. This is the good way to experience the Divine Liturgy—as if we’ve never seen it before in our lives, so that the wonder of the Liturgy can inspire us. I really want to see everything in the rest of my life as if it’s brand new and amazing.
The next time you follow our Divine Liturgy, I encourage you to follow along in a Divine Liturgy book and count how many times the Priest calls out the word “Proskomen,” and see what exactly is happening at that moment [There are nine times Proskomen is said in our Divine Liturgy. Can you find all of them?] You’ll be so enriched. So, let me say for this Sunday: thank you, Saint John Chrysostom and Happiest Nameday. I have really come to love that word “Proskomen.” I hope you do, too.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
STEWARDSHIP
Your Stewardship allows our church to grow and continue to be an important part of our Greek community.
Christian stewardship means that I own nothing. Everything I have belongs to God. He has loaned it to me. I am committed to use it responsibly, and one day, I will have to answer to Him for my use or misuse of His gifts.
I am the manager of God’s gifts: my time, my talents, my possessions, my body, my soul – everything belongs to God. Money, for example, becomes a sacrament when it is offered to God. It becomes a visible expression of our commitment, faith, and love for Jesus. Once given to God, our gifts are consecrated by the Holy Spirit, who then translates them into works of mercy that bring glory to God.
Father Anthony M. Coniaris (1926-2020)
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