ISSUE

30
JULY 2013

Monthly Newsletter for Stewards of Holy Anargyroi Sts. Kosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church

Box & Spoon

2013 Standing Committees

PARISH COUNCIL Aaron Biedermann-President Halina Woroncow-Vice Pres. Tim Kelly Andru Peters-Secretary Dan JerghiuTreasurer Don Jenkins Tia Maragos Erline Holman Robert Lytle STEWARDSHIP / OUTREACH John Maragos Chair Halina Woroncow Ari Kolas Mark Smith Diana Orbelo ICONOGRAPHY Diana Orbelo Chair Tia Maragos Andru Peters Fr. Mark Muoz BUILDING Tim Kelly- Chair Ari Kolas BUDGET Dan Jerghiu Chair Fr. Mark Muoz AUDIT Jacob Peterson Mark Smith John Maragos PHILOXENIA HOUSE Brad Holman Chair GREEK FESTIVAL Dan Jerghiu Chair Lorenda Jerghiu Silent auction Joe Forrer Set-up/Teardown Tim Kelly Outdoor Cooks Johnny Mangouras Marketing Ari Kolas Marketing Penny Kolas Pastries Maria Thomas Pastries Denise Mangouras Pastries Martha Voytovich Market place Andru Peters Beverages Mike Brekke Beer Garden Ali Ostfeld Children Area

May we think right to do as opportunity to do

of freedom, not as the we please, but as the what is right.

-Peter Marshall

I am an American, and from a young age I recognized the unique blessing and privilege it was to be able to utter those words and call this country home. During this month of July many Americans ponder our history as we celebrate our Independence; how a group of fiercely independent colonists from various walks of life united together under one cause and realized a nearly impossible feat: the defeat of the worlds single most powerful military force to establish an unprecedented democratic republic espousing and cherishing one value over all, FREEDOM. The Fourth of July is celebrated festively with fireworks, parades, family gatherings, and civic events...and rightfully so. Never has the world seen such an experiment of political democracy, equality, and freedom. Lets ponder this good ole American concept of freedom for a moment and place it within a proper Christian context and understanding. Believe it or not, freedom is a double edged sword. Sometimes it seems as if ones freedom is regarded as an outright, autonomous license to do whatever one wants, however one wants, for as long as one wants regardless of outcome or effect on others; a self-exalted sense of ones personal manifest destiny. To put it in more (inflammatory) contemporary political/moral patois: Its my body and Im FREE to chose as I please, Im FREE to marry whomever I chose, Its my money , Im FREE to do whatever I want with it. I would propose, from a Christian

perspective, that Freedom is synonymous with Responsibility as opposed to consummate personal sovereignty. Within Orthodoxy freedom is also omnipresent as a basic understanding and theological starting point of our anthropology, i.e. that humanity is endowed with an operative free-will. God did not create preprogrammed robots to mindlessly obey and love Him. On the contrary, He created us as free beings and after we fell, has re-created us in the freedom that comes in Christ Jesus. St. Paul instructs us, For, brethren, you were called to freedom; only use not the freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but by love be serving as slaves to one another. [Gal. 5:13] Orthodoxy would on the one hand forcefully assert that all of humanity possesses ontological freedom, while on the other hand insisting on an accountable and altruistic exercise of said freedom. The cited exhortation written to the Church in Galatia needs a broader American readership! As Americans who champion freedom at home and abroad (perhaps even in environments where freedom is NOT wanted, hmmm) we need to be reminded that our freedom means we are entrusted to act in accordance for the good and wellbeing of our neighbor; that freedom is our gift of love and service to those who surround us. So, as were hoisting the Red, White, and Blue (long may She wave!), sopping up BBQ sauce, oohing and ahhing at grand finales...remember that our beloved and cherished freedom is a Divine gift, an opportunity to do what is right a happy, safe Fourth of July! +Fr. Mark

O Euphemia, you filled the Orthodox with gladness, when at the 4th Council in Chalcedon you confirmed what the Fathers decreed was right.

July 11th

Calendar for July 2013

Thurs-Fri Monday Monday Thursday July 4-5th July 8th July 8th July 11th Independence Day-Office Closed AC/DC Adult Religious Ed Building Committee Meeting St. Euphemia the Great Martyr Orthros/Divine Liturgy AC/DC Adult Religious Ed St. Marina the Great Martyr Orthros/Divine Liturgy Parish Council St. Philothei Project Outreach Meeting after Liturgy AC/DC Adult Religious Ed Fr. Mark/GOYA away on Mission Trip Philoxenia Meeting Dormition Fast Begins (8/1-8/15) Paraklesis to the Holy Theotokos Paraklesis to the Holy Theotokos 6pm 7pm 8:30am 6pm 8:30am 6:30pm 6pm 6pm 6pm 6pm 6pm

Monday July 15th Wednesday July 17th Wednesday July 17th Thursday July 18th Sunday July 21st Monday July 22nd July 23rd-July 31st Wednesday July 24th Thursday Aug. 1st Thursday Aug. 1st Friday Aug. 2nd

SAVE THE DATES!!!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
August 5th - 9th at 9am

RECLAIM OUR CHURCH (Hall Cleanup)

August 3rd at 10am PARISH BBQ September 9th at Slatterly Park after Liturgy

O Glorious Marina, once betrothed to the Logos, you relinquished all worldly concerns and brilliantly gave struggle as a virginal beauty.

July 17th

Parish Council
July 2013 Parish Council There are many situations in our day to day lives in which we measure the quality of our day, our self -worth, and our overall satisfaction. The foundation of these criteria may genuinely be based on what we have accomplished. If we are fortunate, we have enjoyed the process as well. A vocation is a calling. It is an activity or a role that you are drawn to in your life. Although your vocation may be your day job, it is often met through volunteering. It should be something you choose to do and not feel like an obligation. Although there are times when you may be asked to volunteer, the reward may be greater if you define what time and talents you have to offer. However routine or novel the task, it all has a cumulative impact. Quite simply, actions speak louder than words. Dont just think about what you have to share, decide and act on your ambition. There are many examples I can think of this past year that may often go unnoticed. There are the countless hours of many individuals baking for this years festival. We have volunteers that continue to clean and maintain the Philoxenia homes for our guests. There are dedicated individuals that prepare the choir materials each week. The church is blessed with a newly formed cleaning and mowing crew. Our children are fortunate to have the guidance of many dedicated Church School Teachers. Other individuals share their professional talents in finance and accounting. Similar to our financial stewardship, there are needs in time and talents that are necessary throughout the year. Yes, this is about being fiscally responsible in our current times of cutting unnecessary expenses. But it is also an opportunity to get involved, network, and grow with your fellow parishioners. Some of my strongest bonds with other parishioners have been formed through church activities and volunteering beyond Sunday morning. To those who currently volunteer, I thank you. If there are talents and time that you feel called to share, speak up and ask. Your time and talents are yours to share, and the reward is yours to seek. Aaron Biedermann Parish Council President

Treasurers Report
Jan - May 2013 Jan - May 2012 2013 vs 2012 Jan - May 2013 Actual vs. Budget Actual Actual Difference Budget Difference Income Expenses Net $90,676.19 $108,831.44 ($18,155.25) $82,778.71 $98,619.82 ($15,841.11) $7,897.48 $10,211.62 ($2,314.14) $86,500.00 $103,588.00 ($17,088.00) $4,176.19 $5,243.44 ($1,067.25)

O Euphemia, you filled the Orthodox with gladness, when at the 4th Council in Chalcedon you confirmed what the Fathers decreed was right.

July 11th

CHURCH NEEDS LIST

Please Donate
Two vacuum cleaners for our new Cleaning Team Coffee and coffee filters Candles Two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) Dyson, $500 each $110 per case 5 cases per year $4,200 per year $1300 each

BUDGET CUTS
Please Donate
Church School texts/supplies Parish youth activities Outreach efforts Repairs OCMC support (Divided between Hoppe and GOYA missions) $750 per year $1,000 per year $500 per year $1,300 per year $500 per month

GREAT MINDS
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." -Eleanor Roosevelt

O Glorious Marina, once betrothed to the Logos, you relinquished all worldly concerns and brilliantly gave struggle as a virginal beauty.

July 17th

Philoxenia House News

I begin this months Philoxenia House News by reporting on the 5K Family Walk and Run that was held in Westchester, IL by our friends at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. All of the proceeds from this event go to the Philoxenia House and has been one of our largest donors over the years. This would not be possible if it wasnt for the faithful parish of Holy Apostles who put in the effort every year to hold this event, our faithful partners here at Holy Anargyroi who have spread the word of the Philoxenia House Ministry throughout the Archdiocese and of course the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Father Mark, his family and I made the trip to the Chicago area for the event. Father Mark gave a nice speech before the race and I attempted to run the 5K distance without walking; that did not happen. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Father Mark and Gabriel motivate us as our leader warms us up before the race.

On your mark, get set and go!

What do you know; I made it.

June has been busy at the houses also. The remodeling was completed, all apartments were made available and now they are all occupied. It appears that we are up and running smoothly again. Job well done everyone and thank you again Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. In Christ, Bradley Holman President Philoxenia House Saint Olympias the Deaconess honored on July 25th. I cannot cease to call thee blessed. The patience and dignity with which thou has borne thy sorrows, the prudence and wisdom with which thou has managed delicate affairs, and the charity which has made thee throw a veil over the malice of thy persecutors have won a glory and reward which hereafter will make all thy suffering seem light and in passing in the presence of eternal joy. - Saint John Chrysostom in a letter to his dear friend, Saint Olympias the Deaconess.

O Euphemia, you filled the Orthodox with gladness, when at the 4th Council in Chalcedon you confirmed what the Fathers decreed was right.

July 11th

Saint Philothei Ministry

Hi Everyone! Despite the weather outside, Im happy to report it has been sunny with The St. Philothei Project.! We have made some changes in the menu based on popular requests, like mac-n-cheese. The kids love it. We have had some delicious home made items contributed like Maria Thomas desserts and Jackie Barbes lentil soup! We are still getting together once a month to cook up the best kind of storm in the kitchen. We usually need just three/four volunteers on the third Thursday of each month. We are pleased to have gotten the expense down to under $150/month. Id like to say a special thank you to Jackie Barbes, without her, we wouldnt exist, and Brad and Erline Holmen, one or both have been there every month since the beginning! Thank you to all of those who have taken part in this important outreach program! Please support our work when you can by volunteering or donating. You can give monetary donations for St. Philothei to me or Jackie Barbes. Please see Trevor Hamlen or me to sign up to for Thursday nights. Thanks, Laura Hamlen

Featured Library Item of the Month

With school out, now's a great time to check out some children's books. And you don't have to be a child to enjoy these books - children's books are also a great way for grown ups to quickly learn about a topic. Our children's section includes books about saints & prophets, aspects of church life, and prayers. Instead of featuring just one book this month, here's a sampling of a few books from the children's section: - Christina's Favorite Saints, by Maria Khoury - Whether you are 8 or 80, this is a good book to learn about the lives of some of the saints of the church. Included in this book are St. Herman of Alaska, St. Kosmas the Melodos, St. Gerasimos of Jordan, St. Anthony the Great, St. Constantine the Great, St. Helen, St. Katherine, St. George the Great Martyr, St Sophia & her daughters, St. Peter & St. Paul, Christ is born in Bethlehem, The Virgin Mary lives in Nazareth, St. Symeon prays to see the Savior, Prophet Elijah teaches about the One True God. - The Bible For Young People, by Zoe Kanavas - Written for young readers, this book contains beautifully illustrated Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments. - And Then Nicholas Sang, by Elizabeth Johnson - During liturgy, we sing "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us." Do you know the origin of this hymn? This children's book shares the story behind the Trisagion Hymn.

O Glorious Marina, once betrothed to the Logos, you relinquished all worldly concerns and brilliantly gave struggle as a virginal beauty.

July 17th

Youth Team Report

Ahsummer vacation! A time to relax from school work and deadlines, to sleep in, to enjoy more family time. Lets not forget that our church community is our family, too!
While there are no formal classes through the summer, the spiritual education of our children continues. Every Sunday, we hear a new hymn, a new reading from scripture, a new sermon. Our altar boys faithfully assist Father Mark in the service each Sunday. Encourage your singer to join our teens in the choir as they raise their voices to God. GOYAns will once again lead Vacation Church School in August, deepening their knowledge of our faith and demonstrating an active, faithful commitment to the Church. (Oh, and they have a lot of fun besides!) Our youth will also practice stewardship by helping with preparations for the Festival and spending long days and nights at their stations throughout that weekend. Hard work shared in fellowship seems to leave some of the best memories. Our teens will have a chance this summer to see how some children of God live in an impoverished part of the world, and they will work hard to make a positive impact there. Our education in the faith is never on vacation. Our dedicated group of Church School teachers has already met to consider class structure and curriculum ideas for next year. Our group is motivated to provide a meaningful, challenging learning environment for our children. Stay tuned for more to come. And be sure to thank our teachers for the energy they expend year round! If there are any among you who might be interested in joining this vibrant ministry, please talk to Father Mark or any member of the Youth Team. We welcome your help and ideas! As parents, we are called to remain faithful and active as well. Make a point of finding time to attend church services regularly. Read the beautiful Bible each student received last December with your family. We know that parental values and behavior have a monumental impact on our childrens spiritual lives, now and for the long term. Lets work together and help each other to show our children how to live a life in Christ.every day.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 In Christ, Your Youth Team Coordinators: JOY: Loredana Jerghiuta GOYA: Halina Woroncow & Mike Brekke

O Euphemia, you filled the Orthodox with gladness, when at the 4th Council in Chalcedon you confirmed what the Fathers decreed was right.

July 11th

Philoptochos Society
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In June we voted on our Philoptochos Board for the next term, 2013-2015. Our new board members are President: Calli Kelly, Vice President: Kristine Brekke, Treasurer: Loredana Jerghiuta, Secretary (shared position): Effie Psimos and Angie Rustad, Board Members: Penny Kolas and Anna Ryabova, Spiritual Advisor: Father Mark Munoz. We have been working together in planning the mission work for our Philoptochos Society and are excited to lead and work along side our sisters in the parish to continue to develop a vibrant and active Philoptochos Society here at Holy Anargyroi. In the past two years, our Society has increased in fundraising by several thousand dollars which has been distributed to those in need. In the next two years, our goal is to continue with the fundraising for our many philanthropic charities and also to increase in our face to face mission work in helping others. It is my hope that our Philoptochos Society, as a group of Orthodox Christian women, will become all that God calls us to be. Please pray for us as we continue to work together for the Lord in helping others. On July 25th, Orthodox Christians honor Saint Olympias the Deaconess. Centuries ago, Deaconesses were common in maintaining proper order within the Church. The word deaconess comes from the Greek word diakonos which means helper or servant. Their primary role is to minister to women and girls and to assist, but never replace, the Priest within the Church. The Deaconess position in the Orthodox Church has not been eliminated by a Canon or Council...it simply fell into misuse for many reasons; with the main reason being the significant increase of infant Baptisms. Although in our current times in Bulgarian, Greek, Romanian, and Russian monasteries the order of Deaconess is or may be present. Saint Olympias lived during the years 361-407 AD. Her ministry work included distributing her inherited wealth to the poor, the needy, the orphaned and the widows. She offered financial and personal assistance to the Hierarchs of Constantinople. She was friends with many of the Holy Fathers of the Church including Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian however she was especially close to Saint John Chrysostom. The spiritual friendship between Saint Olynpias and Saint John Chrysostom is endearing at its best. They worked together for many years offering spiritual care to the multitudes and at the same time being a source of inspiration to each other. Many theologians credit Olympias, who was a married widow, for teaching the Bishop John Chrysostom, who was a ardent supporter of celibacy, in her discussions with him, the value of a married Christian union between a man and a woman. Over the course of their friendship, Saint John increased his writings of amazing spirit filled sermons on the importance of an Orthodox Christian marriage. These sermons, even though they are nearly 1,700 hundred years old, still apply to our modern times in regards to the definition of marriage and family life. In the later years of their friendship and while in exile; St. John wrote letters to St. Olympias (there are 17 known letters in all) filled with spiritual love and encouragement to her. Many of the letters are addressed To my lady, the most reverend and divinely favored Deaconess Olympias There was a period where she fell into depression due to her struggles over his being in exile and the difficulties within the Church that she had to face alone. It was his letters, along with her strong faith, that gave her the strength to rise about her challenges and persevere for Orthodoxy and ultimately for the Lord. One of his famous treatises was written for her to share with others, it is called That No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure Himself. In this treatise; he educates that sin is the only thing in life to fear and God will protect those who refrain from sin and put their trust in Him. Often times, in our present day, we sometimes fail to understand that the Saints of centuries ago were real human beings just like ourselves. They had some of the same passions, ambitions, and goals as well as their own sins to overcome, crosses to bear, and difficult paths to walk. Let us be encouraged by the Saints stories with our own experiences and more importantly let us uplift and encourage others by setting the best possible Orthodox Christian example ourselves, all for Gods glory. With love in CHRIST, Calli Kelly Philoptochos President

The 50th Greek Festival is quickly approaching! Please double-check your calendars to make sure you are available to help the last weekend in August (Friday 8/23 to Sunday 8/25). If possible also plan to be available Wednesday 8/21 and Thursday 8/22 to help with setup and food preparation. Tim Kelly will coordinating the volunteers, please let him know your availability for the festival weekend. The baklava, our best-selling pastry, is done! Thank you to all that helped purchasing, preparing, melting, layering, cutting, baking, pouring syrup, cleaning, and wrapping for storage! Special thanks to Penny Kolas who once again had to stay until late in the evening when all the pans were out of the oven! The turnout was better than last year but we did not finish much faster it would have been great to have a few more helpers. There are still opportunities to help see the upcoming baking dates below. Dont forget everybody can help, no prior experience is needed!
Saturday, July 27 Wednesday, August 21 Thursday, August 22 10:00 Cookies 9:30 Dipping Diples and Melomakarona 9:30 Karidopita and Kopenhi

Pre-sale tickets are available. They have a $12 value and we sell them for $10. Linda and George Margellos are distributing the tickets. You can get some for yourselves to use at the festival, or get some to sell. Keep in mind that the discount is offered for pre-sale. The payment is expected prior to the festival. Please deposit the money from sales or for your own tickets as early as possible. Our bank account runs very low in July and August and the pre-sale income will help us pay the bills. Preparation for the silent auction is well under way. Loredana Jerghiuta has been contacting local businesses for donations. Several parishioners already made generous donations in items and baskets for the auction Thank you! Please contact Loredana (loredanaj@yahoo.com, 507-271-5928) if you can help in any way donating (items, whole baskets, or money), or contacting local businesses (they are more responsive if approached by friends or frequent customers). The Festival Committee will meet again on 7/24. Well validate with area leaders the supplies needed and finalize the rental and food orders. Dan Jerghiuta (festival@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org, 507-271-7688)

O Euphemia, you filled the Orthodox with gladness, when at the 4th Council in Chalcedon you confirmed what the Fathers decreed was right.

July 11th

We are Called to Bear Fruit

At the Last Supper, as we read in Chapter 15 of the Gospel of John, Jesus instructed His disciples, I Am the Vine; you are the branches. He was telling us that the purpose of our abiding in Him is that we may bear fruit for God in the world. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit (John 15:8). Just as the vine bears fruit only through its branches, so Jesus has chosen to work in the world through us. We are the members of His body the branches through which the Vine must bear fruit. We bear fruit when we serve and support God and His Church.

What is Christian Stewardship?

Christian Stewardship is learning how to be a responsible and concerned caretaker of Christs Church; it is learning how to enjoy Church life and be happy in Church work., for in Her dwells the fullness of the Spirit of God. our active commitment to use all our time, talent and treasure for the benefit of humankind in grateful acknowledgment of Christs redeeming love. caring for the needs of others. offering ones self to God as He offered Himself to us. what a person does after saying I believe, as proof of that belief. devotion and service to God and His Church as persons, as families, as diocese/ metropolis, as national Church and as Church universal.
Williams & McKibben in Oriented Leadership

O Glorious Marina, once betrothed to the Logos, you relinquished all worldly concerns and brilliantly gave struggle as a virginal beauty.

July 17th

In the News

O Euphemia, you filled the Orthodox with gladness, when at the 4th Council in Chalcedon you confirmed what the Fathers decreed was right.

July 11th

ARAB SPRING OR TORNADO? - Editorial by Metropolitan PHILIP

Since the so-called Arab Spring began in Libya in 2011, we have seen the devastation and destruction of that Arab country by Libyan and NATO forces. This Arab Spring has since spread to Tunisia and Egypt, the most populated Arab country. This fire has burned relentlessly in Gaza and all of Palestine since 1948. It is spreading into Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq and has caused the most devastation in Syria, where many of us have ancestral roots. Unfortunately, the American and European news outlets are not reporting such stories to the world, neither through the written word nor graphic photographs like the ones you see in this sad issue of The WORD magazine. The WORD has been able to obtain these pictures and information from reliable sources. Syria has been most victimized and experienced the most devastation by this seemGlorious Marina , once betrothed to the Logos, you relinquished all worldly concerns and brilliantly gave struggle as a virginal beauty. You soundly trounced the invisible enemy who appeared to you, O Champion, and you are now the world's wellspring of healing grace.
Orthros/Liturgy July 17th, 8:30

ingly endless war. The WORD believes that the only country that can bring peace to this most explosive region of the world is the United States of America, because America has leverage over Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Europe. For more than two years, a savage war has been raging in Syria. It has consumed more than 100,000 Syrians and left thousands of refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Canada, and Australia, to name a few. Billions of dollars have been lost in the properties of cities like Damascus and its suburbs, Dara'a, al-Kousyr, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Deir al-Zoor and others in Northern Syria. Our distinguished President, Barack Obama, and our Secretary of State, John Kerry, have been calling the world to arm the rebels (the Free Syrian Army) to continue the fight and topple the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. We do believe that there must be a peaceful solution to this war in Syria; if it continues,

however, it may burn the whole Middle East, including our American interests in the region. Therefore, one might ask what the solution is. Surely it is not more arms for Syrians to kill each other. What Syria needs is a peace conference between the Syrian regime and the opposition, supervised by the United Nations. Syria does not need more arms. Syria needs more financial aid, more relief to millions of Syrians who have lost everything and more relief to thousands of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and other countries. The war in Syria is also shaking the political situation in Lebanon. This is precisely why the Lebanese have not been able to form a government or agree on a new parliamentary law. No, Mr. President, and no, Mr. Secretary of State, arming Syrians against Syrians will not bring peace to Syria; instead, more war and bloodshed. What Syria needs most of all is peace , "for blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Lastly, it pains us beyond measure that two of our venerable Orthodox archbishops have been kidnapped while on a humanitarian mission in the suburbs of Allepo and have yet to be found. We ask all peace -loving people to pray for their release from captivity, because in our liturgy we always pray for captives and for their salvation. May Christ, who is our Peace, grant our leaders wisdom and understanding, and to all our victims and martyrs of this so-called Arab-Spring, rest and eternal life.