dear friends choice as christians is whether to believe or disbelieve, whether to accept or reject a...

Dear Friends

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church • Sterling Heights, Michigan

• Volume 25 Issue 2 • • www.stjohngoc.net • • February 2018 •

PRESANTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE BY CHRISTOS STRUBAKOSThe month of February in the Orthodox Church usually has two distinctive liturgical observances: the Presentation of

Christ in the Temple which is celebrated every year on February 2nd; and, the start of the TRIODION, the period of preparation for Pascha which varies each year depending on the date of Pascha. This year, the Presentation of Christ and the Triodion fall almost on the same day. Both of these observances speak to us Christians about the most important facet of our spiritual lives: faith. Forty days after His birth, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph brought the infant Christ to the Temple, as was the Jewish custom. This was a ceremony of dedication to God that all male babies participated in. St. Luke tells the story of the family bringing Christ to the temple and encountering Simeon who had been promised by God that he would not see death until he saw with his own eyes the Messiah. Simeon was a very old man by the time Christ was presented, and had spent the majority of his life waiting in the Temple, no doubt looking at each child that was brought, with hope that this might be the one that was promised. He was a man of faith: unquestioning faith in God, as well as faith that what had been promised to him would one day be fulfilled. What we learn from St. Simeon is that faith is not an easy thing. Faith is not a simple

intellectual openness to something that might exist. Faith is the willful choice to reject what the world offers as comfortable and secure for something that cannot be proven to exist. And here is where choice comes in: to believe, to be a faithful Christian, means every second of every day to reject the security that we are told by the world to embrace. Did Saint Simeon know that he would see the Messiah? No he did not. But, regardless, he sat day and night in the Temple waiting for the fulfillment of the promise. No doubt his countrymen thought he was a deluded old man, but he chose freely to believe. He had no proof. He had no logical arguments. All he had was the conscious choice to believe what was said to him. Our choice as Christians is whether to believe or disbelieve, whether to accept or reject a moral life based on that belief, and whether that moral life would cause us to pursue good or evil. While we believe that having a choice in matters of faith is a good thing, it also gives us an enormous responsibility because choosing to believe in God opens our lives to uncertainties and hardships. Ours is a faith of paradoxes: the Almighty God is held in the arms of an old man as a baby; and to believe in that child, to worship that child, to allow that child to influence our lives so that we become something more than mere bone and muscle, we must reject the security that the world offers and take up our crosses and follow Him. There will be doubts, there will be hardships, there will be failure, but God asks nothing from us other than a simple choice; a choice that we make and remake every second of our lives. The month of February is truly a blessed month, beginning with St. Simeon who teaches us that faith is hard and brings no immediate rewards. But there is optimism in St. Simeon’s story: he receives from the Panagia herself the infant God. May all of us be worthy of receiving Him because of our faith.

FEBRUARY 4: THE SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

“I have mindlessly squandered your paternal glory, the riches you have given me in evil things. Therefore with the voice of the

Prodigal I cry out: I have sinned before you, merciful Father, accept me in repentance and make me as one of your servants.” –

Kontakion of the Feast The second Sunday of the Triodion tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The Gospel reading is taken from Luke 15:11‐32. This is the great story of God’s mercy and forgiveness. A man has two sons and one day the

Continued on Page 3

DEARFRIENDSOF St. JOHN

Dear Friends is an in-print outreach effort to the Orthodox Christian

community of St. John as well as the community at large. This monthly

publication aims to inform, edify, and serve as a witness to its readers of the Truth of Jesus Chirst as confirmed in

the Holy Gospel.

Dear Friends is a ministry of:

St. John The BaptistGreek Orthodox Church

11455 Metropolitan ParkwaySterling Heights, MI 48312

Phone: (586)977-6080Email: [email protected]

Clergy:Fr. Nicholas Kyritses, Proistamenos

Chanter: Christos Strubakos

Office Staff: Orsalia Kostakis

Church Maintenance:Nicholas Markrides

Parish Council: Dr. Steve Kotsonis, President

Philoptochos: Kim LaForest

Seniors: Nick Prantzalos, President

Choir: John Tangalos & Dr. Andy Kotsis

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES

College Connection: Cathy Kondoleon

Sunday School: Dr. Maria Aretakis, Tara Kosmides & Sophia Papastamatis

Greek School: Elli Patouhas

Altar Boys: Matthew Vasilakis & George Collins

GOYA: Tia Stathakios, PresidentAdvisors: Angela Kotsonis, Angie Stathakios,

Maria Souris & Sky Bastounis

HOPE & JOY ADVISORS: Irene Kourtesis, Dimetra Mansoor,

Julia Thomas & Peggy Marselis

Little Angels Advisors: Sofia Papastamatis, Popi Stavrou, Becky Patouhas

& Erin Papakonstantinou

Hello I hopwoul Our attendate well. As yAmerdesigwearintensincePleasOne year.questWarm

AndThesHappwe aanothraisinwe hHieraservePhiloclassget tyear.opporemeextrain micontiWith

o Ladies, pe that everyd touch baseannual Macand. We still hto Monday, Anything yoou may or mrican Heart gnated Sundar red in supponded. At age e then I have se help me tomore thing… Dues are $tions. mest Regards

d don’t forese are the spy New Year! re constantlyher begins. Bng money to hosted the farchal Liturgyed on both dptochos sponroom as wellhe coin. This Don’t forgeortunity to brember that tavagant meal nd and be genually suppo Love In Chris

PHIL

yone is well.. aronatha is Suhave some thFebruary 5th.u can do to hmay not knowAssociation’say, February 4ort of this pro53, my fathetried to be p support this I promise. Ja$30 and you

s, Kimberly La

orget to do sacrifices tIf you are pay busy. No sBut, we wouldGIVE away! ellowship hoy. We thank days. The fonsors this annl as some fors year GOYA t to support ring the whohe idea of thin order to henerous in dort the numerst, Mary Tang

LOPTOCH

. We have a

unday, Februhings to go o. I will makehelp us prepaw, the Nations Go Red fo4th as Go Redogram. This er died suddeproactive in mcause and raanuary is wheu can see me

aForest, St. Jo

o good andthat pleasert of the Ladisooner does dn’t have it aThe best feeour followingall the ladiellowing Sundnually providr the entire preceives theour Macaronle family toghe Macaronahave more to onations and rous charities galos

HOS NEW

a few things

ary 11th. I hoover for it so e sure Father re would be fnal Philoptocor Women Cd Sunday. This somethingenly from a mmy life to keaise awarenesen we start ce or Georgia

ohn Philopto

nd to sharee God. – Heies Philoptochone event/aany other wayling! Januaryg the St. Johes who decorday we had ing a Vasilopparish. It is ae good luck. Mnatha on Febrgether. As watha is for ugive to thoseattendance. and needy fa

WS

coming up s

ope you are aI’m changingannounces itfantastic. chos Society Campaign anhey are asking close to my massive heartep my risk ass. ollecting due Mansell if y

ochos Preside

e with thosebrews 13:1hos Society, yctivity/bake y. This meany began with hn Vespers arated the hathe traditionita for each Salways fun toMay we all hruary 11th. It

we enter Greas deprive oue in need. PleThis is how wamilies.

so I thought

all planning tog our meetingt in church a

promotes thend they haveg all ladies toheart‐no punt attack. Andt a minimum

es for the newyou have any

ent

ose in need16 you know thasale end, andns that we are“Filoxenia” aand Namedayall, baked andnal VasilopitaSunday Schooo see who wiave a blessedt is a beautifuat Lent, let uurselves of anease keep thiwe are able to

I

o g s

e e o n d

m.

w y

d.

t d e s y d a. ol ll d ul s n s o


younger of the two asks for his share of the inheritance and leaves his father and squanders his money on every imaginable pleasure. One day, left penniless and starving among the pigs he remembers that his father’s servants are treated better than he is so he comes to his senses, he awakens, and goes to his father and begs to be taken back. Now while he still a ways off his father, seeing him, ran to him, hugged him, kissed him, put a ring on his finger and killed the fatted calf to celebrate his return. “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who have no need of repentance.” Luke 15:7. The Church is urgently telling us that we must repent and return to God. We must remember our first love, come to our senses and go back to Him without shame and He, seeing us coming, will run to us.

FEBRUARY 11: MEATFARE SUNDAY When you, God, come to the earth with glory, and everything trembles, then a river of fire will flow and the books will be opened and the private things will be made public, then, deliver me from the unquenchable fire and make me worthy to stand at your

right hand, o Most Righteous Judge. – Kontakion of the Feast. On the third Sunday of the Triodion we commemorate the Second Coming of our Lord. The Gospel reading comes from Matthew 25:31‐46 and tells us about the last judgment, and, more specifically, the criteria for our judgment. We will not be judged by how many prostrations we do, or how many religious rules we followed (we already learned that lesson the first Sunday of the Triodion with the Pharisee). We will be judged based on how we treat others, especially those whom society has deemed as “undesirable.” Do we feed the hungry? Do we clothe the naked? Do we visit the sick and show compassion to those in prisons? Or do we walk past them on the street, scoffing, turning our heads and saying that it is their own fault that they are in that situation because they are lazy or on drugs or whatever other excuse we can find. Surely when we do this to the least of all people, even if they are in fact lazy or on drugs, then we do it to Christ Himself and we should not be surprised when all of the “undesirables” enter into Paradise before us. We are given a stern warning from Christ today: we will be judged for our actions but we do not despair. There is still time to repent. This Sunday is also alled Meat‐Fare Sunday because it is the last day that we are permitted to eat meat before Pascha.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18: CHEESEFARE SUNDAY

“The time has come, the beginning of spiritual contests victory against the demons, self-control, the comeliness of the Angels, our boldness before God. Through this Moses became conversed with God, and heard an unseen voice: Lord, through fasting make us

worthy to worship your Passion and your Holy Resurrection as a merciful and lover of man.” – Doxastikon of Orthros

The first four pre‐Lenten Sundays of the Triodion have given us lessons and tools with which we should approach our Lenten struggle: humility, repentance, mercy and compassion for our fellow man and remembrance of our judgment. This is the last pre‐Lenten Sunday and is known as forgiveness Sunday because on it we are called to forgive each other before beginning the Fast. But on this Sunday we also commemorate the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. In a sense our passage through Great Lent is our own reliving of our exile from the Garden of Eden, our own reawakening of desire for our first love, a nostalgia for our original homeland, a yearning to return whence we came. Tomorrow Great Lent begins and with is an increase of prayer, some form of fasting, many more services to attend and an increased sensitivity to philanthropy and repentance.

GREAT LENT: CLEAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Your Grace has shone, Lord; the light of our souls has shone. Behold an acceptable time. Behold the time for repentance, let us cast off the works of darkness and dress ourselves with the weapons of light, so that sailing across the great sea of the Fast, we may end up at the Three-Day Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the one who saves our souls.

– Apostoixa of Forgiveness Vespers. FEBRUARY 25: FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT - SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

This is the first Sunday of Great Lent and commemorates the restoration of the Holy Icons in our Churches. There was a time when icons were not allowed to be used because people believed that to kiss an icon is breaking one of the Ten Commandments regarding idolatry. The Church convened a great council to discuss the issue which decided that the veneration of the icons is an integral part of our worship and any affection we show it is not directed to the icon itself but immediately goes to the person depicted in the icon. Furthermore, to depict the Incarnate Christ in an icon is further affirmation in our belief that God did in fact become man. The icons were reinstated in the Churches and the event is commemorated every year at our Church with the procession of the icons.


Little Angels (under 4year), Hope(K-2nd grade) & Joy(3rd-6th grade)

HELLO EVERYONE! On Saturday, February 24th we will be having our annual movie event at EMAGINE MACOMB. We will be going to see Peter Rabbit at 1:30 in the afternoon. We will have the entire theatre to ourselves and popcorn and drinks are included in the cost of each ticket. The children and parents truly enjoy this event every year and this our third year coordinating a movie event with Emagine Macomb! In March we will have our gathering on the Saturday of Lazarus after the pancake breakfast. This year, the Saturday of Lazarus falls on March 31st. We will have a special craft and our annual Easter egg hunt. We look forward to spending this time with you all and we hope to see you all there! Thank you, THE HOPE AND JOY AND LITTLE ANGELS ADVISORS.


ST. JOHN GOYA (6TH-12TH GRADE)

To My Fellow Parishioners,

The month of February is often seen as the time to express your love for one

another due to the celebration of Valentine’s Day. When we think about

Valentine’s Day, we immediately think of the gifts that we need to give:

flowers and chocolates. But do we ever think of the love God has for us, and

the love we have for God? In 1 John 4:8, it says that God not only has love,

God is love. How can we inspire each other to love one another no matter

how impossible it may seem at times? Many of us have doubted the power

of love when facing adversity. In 1 Corinthians 13 it says, “If I speak in the

tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding

gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a

faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my

body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Everyday, we must try to remember our most

important relationship, which is our relationship with God. We must ask ourselves how to create a relationship with God

that is filled with love and is strong enough to carry us through the adversities of life. We often think some things like

giving to charity and doing good deeds will guarantee us salvation. Yes, we are fulfilling God’s word in doing these

things, but ultimately the relationship and love we have for God helps most throughout the journey of life.

Accomplishing this may seem difficult, but living your life with God first and taking steps to get closer to God, while also

showing compassion in all your deeds, will help you experience His love and immeasurable grace. In our doubt of the

power of love when facing adversity, we must remember to love and trust God because we experience His abundant

love in the relationship that we create with Him.

With Love in Christ, Nicolette Patsarikas

Metropolitan Nicholas addresses the Goyans during their meeting


ST. JOHN COLLEGE CONNECTION Dear Friends, Greetings from the University of Detroit Mercy! Happy New Year! When trying to select a college it is hard to ensure that it will be the right one for you. When I was in my selection process, there were many variables to consider. These variables ranged from finding the right academic and athletic

atmosphere, to how far away from home and Γιαγιά's Spanakopita will I be able to go and survive. It is hard to find that perfect fit, the place where you have that, "This is it!" feeling. I want to help our soon to be college kids at the Church find that "This is it!" feeling, with a couple characteristics I looked for in a college. As I transition into the next chapter of my life, the Adult one, I have done a lot of reflecting on my time at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). After looking back, I believe I made the right choice, even though I did not know at the time. There are two main qualities I believe a college has to possess to be the right fit for a student. First, you should be able to surround yourself with peers that have the same values and drive as yourself. Secondly, the college has to embody a similar belief system as your own. By choosing a college that has these

two traits, your chances of enjoying your college experience are higher. You will find many types of people in college and "to each their own". Some might be at a certain college to party, while others might not know what they want to do yet in life. It is important to seek the college setting where you are able to find similar peers who are on the same track as you are. They should have similar values and drive as yourself. For me, I did not have the usual Greek contingent at UDM that other colleges have in the state. To find my similar peers, I looked towards my soccer teammates. Many of them came from similar family backgrounds and had the same vision of what they wanted out of their college experience. Peers who have similar motivation and values as your own, will serve as constant reminders to perform your best day in and day out. The next area of importance is finding a similar belief system at a college. With UDM being located in Detroit and having a Jesuit foundation, the school places a big importance on being involved in the surrounding community. Growing up in St. John's parish and participating in Joy/GOYA and Sunday School, I had always been involved in community service activities. At UDM, regardless of your major, you will be required to take many service‐learning courses. These service learning courses have both an academic and community service element to them. In order to pass the class, some form of community service has to be completed during the semester. This is an aspect of the University that aligned not only with my personal belief system 100% of the way, but aligned with my Greek Orthodox Christian values. My service learning has ranged from helping at soup kitchens and food banks, to teaching high‐schoolers about personal finances and advising people from local communities on filing their tax returns. These experiences have further enhanced my view of the benefits of getting involved to help your surrounding communities. The University of Detroit Mercy has pushed me athletically, academically and spiritually, while allowing me to continue and strengthen my Orthodox faith. I realize now how important of a role St. John's played when it came to picking the right college for me, and the important role it will play for those who are currently or will be in the college selection process in the near future.


GREEK SCHOOL NEWS February is already here and it is time for more events for our Greek School. In February our school offers parent/teacher conferences. The parents are invited to come to school, meet the teachers, discuss the progress of the students and receive the report card. The parents are always welcome to stop by and ask the teachers any question they may have. March is always a special time in our school because we are getting ready for the Greek Independence Day celebration. This great event will be celebrated by the St. John Greek School on Thursday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. Our students are rehearsing songs, poems, and Greek dancing. Everybody is invited to see the beautiful show and celebrate with us our history and heritage. Dates to remember for the year 2018 February: Tuesday 13 & Thursday 15– Parent/teacher conferences and report cards

Tuesday 20 & Thursday 22 – No school/Midwinter break March: Thursday 22 – Celebration for the 25th of March April: Tuesday 3 & Thursday 5 – Holy Week/No school (Happy Easter) May: Thursday 17 – Graduation!

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

My name is Anna Nezeritis, I teach Senior Forum. Senior Forum is an extension of our Sunday School program. It is for students from 9th to 12th grade and any returning college students who would like to sit in. In class we discuss contemporary issues that affect us every day and look to the Bible for answers. We must build a strong foundation of our Greek Orthodox faith for our children so that when they are faced with decisions, opposition or leave for college they are equipped with your love and God’s word and can stand against the world when the world says something is right and they know it’s wrong. On the first day of class I read to the students Mark : 4.

Mark:4 Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. 2 Jesus taught them many things, using stories. He said, 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. 4 While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. 6 But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not produce a crop. 8 Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow. It got taller and produced a crop. Some plants made thirty times more, some made sixty times more, and some made a hundred times more.”9 Then Jesus said, “Let those with ears use them and listen!” Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories 10 Later, when Jesus was alone, the twelve apostles and others around him asked him about the stories. 11 Jesus said, “You can know the secret about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories 12 so that:

‘They will look and look, but they will not learn. They will listen and listen, but they will not understand. If they did learn and understand, they would come back to me and be forgiven.’ Isaiah 6:9–10

Jesus Explains the Seed Story 13 Then Jesus said to his followers, “Don’t you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story? 14 The farmer is like a person who plants God’s message in people. 15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them. 16 Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy. 17 But since they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives, they keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they quickly give up. 18 Others are like the seed planted among the thorny


weeds. They hear the teaching, 19 but the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit[a] in their lives. 20 Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more.”

I asked them to think about what seed they would like to be. I know, like our children, we want to be the seed planted in the good ground, which grows and produces fruits. For this to happen, we must come to church and bring our children. The Church/Sunday School plants the seed, but the seed needs water to grow. That is why it is important for our children to come every Sunday. They need to be watered with the word of God. Mathew 18:20 says “For where two, or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Can you think of a better place you would rather be? The bible is our instruction book for life. It teaches us how live, behave, treat others. It tells us the story of Jesus and who God is. It tells us God’s promise to us is that we are not alone. He will never leave us or forsake us. And God, never goes back on his word. I share scripture, bible stories and the saints in class. The saint we have and will continue to discuss is Saint Paul. He’s life was truly amazing. He wrote several books in the New testament. Some scholars say 13, some say 8 books, either way Paul dedicated his life to Christ. He went to spread the word of Christianity to Greece. His family disowned him, he lost his fortune, he was imprisoned and tortured. His choice to follow Jesus was not an easy road. His words in 1 Tim 4:7 sums it all up: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I

have kept the faith.” I pray that the short time I am with the students that I inspire them to want to read the Bible, pray more and through their journey encounter Jesus. I am so honored to have his great responsibility of teaching our children. So together, lets finish the race and keep the faith. See you Sunday, Anna

ΚΑΛΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! BEST WISHES TO ALL

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS,

TEACHERS, DIRECTORS & PARENTS!


ST. JOHN ALTAR BOYS Beloved parents of St. John, many of your boys would like to attend and participate as Altar Boys and they are very interested in arriving on time for service. Please help them and demonstrate your good example by bringing them each Sunday to service on time and prepared. All boys grade 3 – 12 are welcome to serve in the Holy Altar each and every Sunday. Please come prepared for Church and arrive no later than 9:50AM.

ST. JOHN CHOIR All are welcome! If you love to sing come and join us in the Choir. All voices are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please be in church no later than 9:50AM and come up to the choir loft!


ST. JOHN SENIOR CITIZENS Our meetings are on the first Thursday of each month at the Royalty House in Warren. Please join us for lunch and fellowship!


Sund

ay

Mon

day

Tues

day

Wed

nesd

ay

Thur

sday

F

rida

y Sa

turd

ay

1 Seni

or C

itize

ns M

eetin

g an

d L

unch

eon

- Roy

alty

H

ouse

12

noon

G

reek

Sch

ool 4

:30

pm

Adu

lt G

reek

Sch

ool 6

:30

pm

2 Pres

enta

tion

of th

e L

ord

D

ivin

e L

iturg

y 9:

30 a

m

3

4

Sun

day

of th

e

Pr

odig

al S

on

Ort

hros

9:0

0 am

D

ivin

e L

iturg

y 10

:00

am

5 Bas

ketb

all

Prac

tice

at

Joe

Dum

ars

6:30

pm

Ph

ilopt

ocho

s Mtg

. 7:3

0pm

6 Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

7 Supp

licat

ion

Serv

ice

- Pa

rakl

isis

6:3

0pm

(f

ollo

w b

y le

ctur

e)

8 Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

9 10

Sa

turd

ay o

f Sou

ls

Div

ine

Litu

rgy

9:30

am

St.

Cha

rala

mbo

s

11

Judg

men

t Sun

day

(M

eatf

are)

O

rthr

os 9

:00

am

Div

ine

Litu

rgy

10:0

0 am

M

AC

AR

ON

AT

HA

Do

ors o

pen 5:00

pm

Dinn

er 6:00 pm

12

Bas

ketb

all

Prac

tice

at

Joe

Dum

ars

6:30

pm

13

Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

Cou

ncil

Mee

ting

7:00

pm

14

Supp

licat

ion

Serv

ice

- Pa

rakl

isis

6:3

0pm

(f

ollo

w b

y le

ctur

e)

15

Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

16

17

Satu

rday

of S

ouls

D

ivin

e L

iturg

y 9:

30 a

m

18

For

give

ness

Sun

day

(C

hees

efar

e)

Ort

hros

9:0

0 am

D

ivin

e L

iturg

y 10

:00

am

19

Len

t Beg

ins

Gre

at C

anon

I

Bas

ketb

all

Prac

tice

at

Joe

Dum

ars

6:30

pm

20

Gre

at C

anon

II

Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

21

Gre

at C

anon

III

Pr

esan

ctifi

ed L

iturg

y

6:

30pm

(f

ollo

w b

y le

ctur

e)

22

Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

23

Salu

tatio

ns to

the

The

otok

os

Pres

anct

ified

Litu

rgy

6:30

pm

24

Satu

rday

of S

ouls

D

ivin

e L

iturg

y 9:

30 a

m

H

ope

and

Joy

& L

ittle

A

ngel

s 1:

30pm

at

Em

agin

e T

heat

re

25

Sund

ay o

f O

rtho

doxy

Pr

oces

sion

of t

he I

cons

O

rthr

os 9

:00

am

Div

ine

Litu

rgy

10:0

0 am

Pa

nort

hodo

x V

espe

r Se

rvic

e 6:

00pm

26

Bas

ketb

all

Prac

tice

at

Joe

Dum

ars

6:30

pm

27

Gre

ek S

choo

l 4:3

0 pm

A

dult

Gre

ek S

choo

l 6:3

0 pm

28

Pres

anct

ified

Litu

rgy

6:30

pm

(f

ollo

w b

y le

ctur

e)

Febru

ary

2018

John

Gre

ek O

rtho

dox

Chu

rch

F

athe

r Nic

hola

s K

yrits

es

1145

5 M

etro

Par

kway

Ste

rling

Hei

ghts

, Mic

higa

n 48

312

Offi

ce:

586-

977-

6080

F

ax: 5

86-9

77-6

081

E

mer

genc

y: 5

86-5

30-2

747

E

-mai

l: p

aris

h@st

john

goc.

net

To hang this page on fridge, tear at the perforated edge.


To hang this page on fridge, tear at the perforated edge.

Meetings

ADULT GREEK SCHOOL Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30pm -7:30pm Call the church office if interested

GOYA (7 - 12 grade)Every Monday Basketball Practice at 6:30pm Joe Dumars Fieldhouse

HOPE and JOY & LITTLE ANGELS Emagine Theatre Saturday, February 24, 1:30pm

GREEK SCHOOL Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30pm-6:30pm

PARISH COUNCIL Meeting Tuesday, February 13, 7:00pm

PHILOPTOCHOSMeeting Monday, February 5, Macaronatha Sunday, February 11, 5:00pm

SENIOR CITIZENS Meeting & Luncheon at Royalty House Thursday, February 1, 12:00pm

SUNDAY SCHOOL Every Sunday

These are your opportunities

to get involved in your parish!

Wedding Saturday, February 17

Christopher O’Brien &

Christina Zotos

O Lord our God, Crown them with glory and with honor”

Baptisms Saturday, February 17

Vasilios George Boulos son of George and Dimitra Boulos

Sunday, February 18 Anastasia Marselis daughter of Panayiotis and SaraMarselis

Babies are a gift from God

Prayers and Condolences to the family and friends of

Katherine Cavis mother of Nick and Demos Cavis Denny Lucci’s Father

Gertrude( Trudie) Elizabeth Matheodakis William Thomas

All is vanity in human affairs; all that cannot be enjoyed after death. No wealth is kept; no glory can follow. For once death has come, all of these are lost. Let us say, therefore, to Christ the Immortal King: Give rest to one depart where

the blessed live. ( Funeral Service)

May their memory be eternal

WINTER 2018 ORTHODOX LECTURE SERIES BY CHRISTOS STRUBAKOS

The goal of this series is to gather at St. �ohn the Bap�st �reek Orthodox Church on Wednesday evenings throughout the period of the TRIODION, and following a service, to have a talk followed by a discussion on various aspects of our faith. The schedule and topics are listed below. All are welcome to a�end and to par�cipate with �ues�ons and insights. We look forward to seeing everybody. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31: The Triodion: How �me is made holy in the Church WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7: Death and Dying in the Orthodox Tradi�on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14: Orthodox Worship – The daily cycle of prayers and services and what they mean WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21: The Orthodox Spiritual Life WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28: The Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7: How we live our faith not just on Sundays WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14: The Bible in Orthodoxy WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21: Holy Tradi�on in Orthodoxy


®

PROUDLY SERVING METRO DETROIT AREA FAMILIESFOR OVER A CENTURY

www.WujekCalcaterra.com

f a i r . t r u s t e d . k i n d .

Your ad here.

Compliments ofDianamic Abrasive Products, Inc. C O R N E R S T O N E

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

Faith E. Makris, MC, LLPC, NCC Adults • Adolescents • Children • Couples • Families • Groups

31600 Telegraph Rd. Suite 250 Phone: 480-907-9324 Bingham Farms, MI 48025 Email: [email protected]

•Greek Orthodox•Greek Speaking

Please visit my website for more information: www.cornerstonecounselinglife.com

Rated Among the Top Schools in Macomb County and Michigan

Free Kindergarten through Fifth Grade Competitively Priced Preschool Before and After School Care Available Individualized Instruction

Low Teacher to Student Ratio Hands on Materials Numerous Enrichment Opportunities Themed Based Summer Camp Available

Please join us for our New Family Open House on Saturday, February 10th from 10:00 am to 12:00pm.

“Within the child lies the fate of the future.” ― Maria Montessori

To schedule a tour or for more information call Ms. Genie P’sachoulias at (586)-465-5545 or

visit our website at mtclemensmontessori.com

Enroll Now for the 2018-2019 School Year

Available Advertising

Space.


Check out our Party Room!PARTIES • GRADUATIONS • BIRTHDAYS • BANQUETS

AND CATERING EVENTSWe can also set up Family style Greek food for our party room

CHECK OUT OUR PARTY ROOMFOR UP TO 50 GUESTS

PARTIES • BIRTHDAYS • BANQUETS • EVENTS

586-978-0080Delivery options available through Grub Hub

Catering for all events! High School Graduations or any kind of party! We also offer family style setups for our in house banquet room!


Dear FriendsSt. John Greek Orthodox Church

11455 Metropolitan ParkwaySterling Heights, MI 48312

Non-profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSterling Heights, MI

Permit No. 4

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

SATURDAY OF SOULS- FEBRUARY 10TH, 17TH AND 24TH

DIVINE LITURGY AND MEMORIAL SERVICE AT 9:30AM Soul Saturdays are a series of Saturdays set aside in the liturgical calendar of Eastern and Greek Orthodox Churches for the remembrance of those who have died. These days occur on designated Saturdays before and during the seasons of LENT and EASTER: the first two are observed on the two Saturdays before Lent begins, the third Saturday of Souls coincides with the first Saturday of Lent, and the forth Soul Saturday takes place on the Saturday before PENTECOST, the close of the Easter season. Saturday holds special significance in the religious calendar as the day on which the crucified Jesus lay dead in the tomb before his resurrection. On each Soul Saturday a special service is held where prayers are offered in memory of those who have died and a list of the names of the dead is recited. Participants attending the services prepare KOLLYVA, a dish made of sweetened, boiled wheat kernels, raisins, almonds, and pomegranate seeds that is traditionally associated with funerals and memorial services in Greece and Eastern Europe. In addition to attending religious services, participants often visit the graves of departed family members on Soul Saturdays, to clean and decorate the burial sites. SEE YOU ALL IN CHURCH TO PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED ONES WHO HAVE LEFT THIS TEMPORAL WORLD.

dear friends choice as christians is whether to believe or disbelieve, whether to accept or reject a...

Documents