S T . J OHN
THE
B APTIST G REEK O RTHODOX C HURCH
T HE F ORERUNNER V OLUME XXXIV
N UMBER 05
N OVEMBER -D ECEMBER 2017
S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST :
G IVING G LORY
TO
G OD
FOR
A LL T HINGS
Every year on Thanksgiving Day‚ we give thanks to God for our wonderful life. We rejoice in the fruits of the earth (with or without feathers) gathered around a table of abundance. A good thing indeed! Saint Basil the Great advised us to do this as early as the 4th century: ”When you sit down to eat‚ pray. When you eat bread‚ do so thanking Him for being so generous to you. If you drink wine‚ be mindful of Him who has given it to you for your pleasure and as a relief in sickness. When you dress‚ thank Him for His kindness in providing you with clothes. When you look at the sky and the beauty of the stars‚ throw yourself at God’s feet and adore Him who in His wisdom has arranged things in this way. Similarly‚ when the sun goes down and when it rises‚ when you are asleep or awake‚ give thanks to God‚ who created and arranged all things for your benefit‚ to have you know‚ love and praise their Creator.” To give thanks for all the abundance of God’s gifts is a wonderful thing‚ but the Holy Apostle Paul announces that even
Giving Glory to God for All Things
Parish Council Capsule
Stewardship for 2018
Youth Ministries News
From Faith to Faith
The Knowledge of God
Stories from Mt. Athos
Prayers for the Family
Philoptochos News
November-December Calendar
(Continued on page 2)
I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :
C OUNCIL C APSULE Another successful festival is in the books. We want to thank everyone for all their contributions & participation. We can all take pride in seeing what we have accomplished through prior festivals when we look at the beauty of our church today. This pride grows even greater as we see the continued growth of our parish & the future in our campus development. The planning committee continues to work very hard to put together the plan for our continued growth. We will all see our hard work at each festival pay off when our ministries are able to thrive in an updated parish hall & ministries facility. As a reminder, we will have our next general assembly in November. (Continued on page 2)
C OUNCIL C APSULE
2
C HURCH S CHOOL 8 N EWS Y OUTH M INISTRIES
8
P HILOPTOCHOS
9
MUSIC
M INISTRIES
C ALENDAR
13 14
T HE F ORERUNNER
P AGE 2
C OUNCIL ’ S C APSULE (Continued from page 1)
Please make it a priority to attend. All the efforts through the year by each ministry and every parishioner are important to our community. We welcome you to at-
WE
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
& PARTICIPATION TO THE M IDCITIES G REEK F EST
2017!!
Michael Poriotis Council President
Finally, we wish everyone a blessed, happy & healthy holiday season as we approach the end of this year.
A GELESS W ONDERS Please save these dates and you will be notified of further details. The Ageless Wonders will meet on Monday, November 13, at 11 AM. For a potluck luncheon in the parish hall.
G IVING G LORY
TO
(Continued from page 1)
more than this is necessary. He calls us to give thanks to God at all times for all things! (Ephesians 5:20). It is easy to understand what “at all times” means‚ but what are these “all things” that we should be thankful for?
Holy Martyr and Deacon Lawrence
tend, get updated on the activities of the parish ministries, & contribute to the discussion so our ministries can grow and thrive.
In our Church Library we have a very nice collection of big red books called the Menaia. It is a God inspired compendium containing the services for all the Saints from the Church Calendar‚ for
On Sunday, December 10, we are having our annual Christmas dinner, At the Texas Star Golf and Conference Center in Euless, Texas.
Christmas adoptive family. This has always been a successful project for us.
We will be collecting $10 per person gift cards from our members for our
Margaret
G OD
FOR
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!
A LL T HINGS (C ONT )
every day of the year. One part of these services‚ read during the morning service‚ or Matins‚ is called the Synaxarion. The Synaxarion includes the lives of the saints celebrated in any particular calendar date. Most of the times however‚ this part of the service is read quite fast and falls a little under noticed in the midst of the chanting that usually happens during Matins. Not really paying attention to what we read (after all we celebrate so many saints every day!) we
read mechanically the lives of the saints‚ that sometimes are concentrated in short phrases like these: “On this day Saint Chariton was thrown into a pit of lime and met his end. On the same day Saint Vasilissa‚ having fought with the wild beasts and remained unharmed‚ met her end. The holy Martyr Archontion met his end by starvation. The holy new martyr Poledoros‚ who bore his witness in New Ephesus in 1794‚ met his end by hanging.“ (Continued on page 3)
V OLUME XXXIV
G IVING G LORY
N UMBER 05
TO
(Continued from page 2)
This is only part of the Synaxarion for September the 3rd. In just one day we see a saint being dissolved in lime‚ another one fighting with wild beasts‚another starved to death and another hanged; all for the simple thing of being Christians. Shall we continue? If we would actually pay attention to what we read in the Synaxaria‚ we would cry at every word. Why we don’t do it then? Aren’t the lives of the saints worth more than a simple and unaffected glanceover? Are these trivial things? Is it simple to die by the sword‚ to be burned alive‚ to be eaten by lions? But our hearts have grown cold‚ because we live lives of comfort and plenty and the sufferings of the saints‚ diluted by time and lack of interest‚ are foreign to us. So let us ask again the question what are the “all things”? Are we supposed to give thanks only for those that give us pleasure and comfort‚ which make our life easier‚ what we generally consider to be positive? How about the trials that God allowed these martyrs to go through? Were they to give thanks even for those? Rather than us answering‚ let us hear the saints speak. Here is how the New Martyrs Joseph and Isaac from Georgia prayed before they were beheaded by the emir of Theodosiopolis:
G OD
FOR
P AGE 3
A LL T HINGS (C ONT )
“O Holy King and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ‚ look down upon Thy servants with mercy and receive us as a holy sacrifice. Number us among Thy martyrs and make us worthy of the crown of righteousness‚ for every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from Thee‚ the Father of lights (c.f. James 1:17)!” They actually considered their death “a perfect gift from above”! What else‚ if not this‚ is truly giving thanks for all things? Around Thanksgiving Day‚ my kids always come from school with a nice list of things their class is thankful for. It is an exercise meant to teach them to be thankful‚ to appreciate what they have. Time and again what they come up with are the obvious things: their parents‚ their food‚ their clothing‚ their house‚ family‚ friends‚ school teachers‚ turkey‚ gravy‚ pum pkin pie and the rest of the fixings. Despite the good intent of this exercise‚ I think it is not complete‚ because it gives them a false impression of what truly our relationship of thanksgiving to God should be. Concentrating only on the positive May render God in a Great Provider of things we need and nothing else; a Great Benefactor that is there to respond to our wishes when and how we need them. This is deeply rooted in our consumerist society. I heard an interview on the radio a few years back in which a writer of fortune cookies messages was saying that they
had to reinvent the fortune cookies for the American population because we do not like to hear that bad things could happen to us‚ even if most understand that this type of fortune telling is no real! We just don’t like to hear it. God however is not an entrepreneur fortune teller‚ and He provides us with what we actually need‚ not with what the marketing says that we need. We might have a limited material perspective‚ anchored in our short earthly lives‚but He has a heavenly view rooted in the eternity of the human existence. He knows what we need and He gives it abundantly‚ although it might not fit our plans. Growing in this understanding is the only thing that will move us closer to rightly giving thanks for all things.
St. Paraskevi
A RE WE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THANKS ONLY FOR THOSE THAT GIVE US PLEASURE AND COMFORT ?
This is why I choose this year to be thankful for the Holy Martyrs and Confessors of the Faith that teach us an important lesson on properly giving thanks to God. So I am thankful for the Holy Martyr Paraskevi because by her loosing the eyes under torture I am able to see more clearly now the crowns of martyrdom prepared for all those that take the heavy yoke of the true faith. I am thankful to The Holy Martyr Lawrence‚ the Archdeacon‚ for by having his body burnt on a hot iron grill he taught me that by working the virtues and keeping the fast in our bodies they become The Relic of the Right Hand of a whole burnt sacrifice to St. Maximos the Confessor (Mt. Christ. I am thankful to St. (Continued on page 10)
Athos)
T HE F ORERUNNER
P AGE 4
L OOKING F ORWARD : S TEWARDSHIP 2018
WORK WITH ALL YOUR HEART , AS WORKING FOR THE L ORD , NOT FOR MEN ”
(C OL 3:23) S TEWARDSHIP S UNDAY N OVEMBER 19
Many wonderful events have occurred within St. John the Baptist Church in recent years. It is amazing to see how God continues to bless us, as well as challenge us to do more with the resources He has provided. Our Church offers our parishioners wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth and fulfillment through its numerous ministries. St. John’s desire to strengthen our faith, our families and our community is made possible only through a vibrant Stewardship Program, which fosters a personal relationship with Christ of all its members. The call to increase the talents God has placed in our care, is for all to “work with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Col 3:23). As our parish and ministries continue to grow, we thank you for your continuing support and we ask you to prayerfully establish your Stewardship support by completing the 2018 Stewardship Pledge Card in the following manner: The Lord speaks through this Scriptures and encourages us to tithe (which is
the first 10% of what we have received as our treasure) and in exchange He promises us all the heavenly blessings: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” (Malachi 3:10). If you are not there yet, prayerfully consider an increase from year to year, in attempt reach this goal.
of these ministries include:
Feeding, visiting and praying with the poor/homeless
AGAPE Fund (outreach for parishioners in need)
Visitation Ministry (home/facility visits, small gifts, cards/ phone calls, prayer)
Gladsome Light Dialogues and other Adult Faith Enrichment opportunities
GOYA/JOY/HOPE Youth Ministries and Summer Camps
Sunday School and many more
Please reflect and con-
sider your 2018 Stewardship Pledge at 10% of family income. Please consider an in-
crease in your 2018 Stewardship Pledge according to the following measures: Percentage-based
- Please consider a 510% increase over your current year 2017 Stewardship Pledge. Dollar-based -
Please consider a $5 or $10/week over your 2017 Stewardship Pledge. Actively participate in at
least one or two ministries of the Church. Your increased Stewardship support and ministry participation will help us expand existing ministries and develop new one as the needs are identified. Some
With the continued support of the entire St. John the Baptist community, we will strive to fulfill God’s mission and calling to true Christian Stewardship as a reflection of our complete Thanksgiving to God…”for where your treasure is, there will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21). In Christ’s service, Rev. Protopresbyter Vasile Tudora Chrysanthi Andromalos, Stewardship Chairwoman Florentina Constantineanu, Stewardship CoChairwoman
V OLUME XXXIV
N UMBER 05
P AGE 5
2017 C URRENT S TEWARDSHIP — STRIVING FOR MORE As we work to fulfill our 2017 stewardship commitments and begin to think about 2018, let us each take stock of our blessings both as individuals and as a community and trust God. He will never fail or forsake us if we are honest with Him and genuine in the treasures we give. Looking at our current year, the total expenses to cover the Church operating costs in 2017 is $355,337 and the amount pledged is 299,798 (shortfall 55,539). However, we are happy that there are a few more Stewardship commitment cards added over the same period in the previous year, currently at 144. I need to also mention that there are many wonderful people that generously provide funds but do not fill out a commitment card. We want
10% is $50.00 and that is a monthly addition of $4.16. If everyone added 10% to their current annual pledge for next year (current combined pledges total $297,773) this would add $29,777 which would bring us more than 1/2 of the way towards our operating shortfall! AND if it were possible, to add another 10% The Bible strongly encourages the following year that would tithing, which is the first 10% cover all of our annual operatof our treasure; there are ing expenses!! What a Blessing many people in our commuTHAT would be to cover all nity that do tithe, and there parish needs from your comare also many that are not at mitment! this commitment level. It We want to thank ALL who would be very important participate in ALL aspects of therefore to always consider increases from year to year in stewardship and are doing God’s work! an attempt to always strive for this goal. St. John’s is blessed to have all of them to know that by filling out the commitment card, they will have a voice in the decisions made by our Church community and all voices are important! Also, remember that any commitment can be changed if needed; with no questions asked.
For example, for a current monthly stewardship pledge of $100.00, a 10% increase is $10.00/mo. For an annual pledge of 500.00, an added
such wonderful stewards for God! With Love and Prayers, Chrysanthi Andromalos
H OW TO BECOME A STEWARD IN 2018? FAQ S How do I become a member of the parish? Membership in the Orthodox Church begins at Baptism/ Chrismation and continues throughout our life. We are united with Christ through the sacraments and through our faithful offering of our lives to Christ. In a parish we distinguish between voting members and non-voting members. A voting member is over 18 years old and has turned in a signed pledge card (for time, talent and treasure). The Archdiocese also requires the voting member
to remain current on their commitments. True membership in the Body of Christ, involves living daily according to His word. Why must I commit to give a specific amount? Knowing the amount of your monetary participation helps our parish plan the activities throughout the year. Your monetary stewardship is kept in the strictest of confidence. What if I cannot fulfill my stewardship commitment? During the course of a year,
people’s circumstances change. Your stewardship is valued because it is made out of your love for God and His Church. Please do not be concerned if you are unable to meet your stewardship commitment – we are glad you are a part of this parish. How do I submit a Stewardship Card? You can find the card in the pews in Church or you can fill one on-line and e-mail it to our church office at stjohndfw@gmail.com.
T HE B IBLE STRONGLY ENCOURAGES TITHING WHICH IS THE FIRST 10% OF OUR TREASURE AND PROMISES AN ABUNDANCE OF HEAVENLY BLESSINGS
(M ALACHI 3:10).
N EWSLETTER T ITLE
P AGE 6
F ROM F AITH TO F AITH By Archmmandrite Zacharias Zacharou (Essex)
Archmandrite Zacharias Zacharou
T HIS
IS OUR ONE AND ONLY TRUE CALLING : TO BECOME LIKE UNTO J ESUS C HRIST , THE S ON OF G OD
The deepest desire of each one of us is to have a living relationship with God and to enjoy His holy gifts. Even the slightest touch of the grace of God in our heart is “better than life”[1] as the Psalmist says; it is in fact better than many lives. But we enter solemnly into this serious relationship with God, knowing that we must manifest the stability of the righteous, namely, that we must live by faith. Thus our faith should continually grow in strength until it attains the third degree of faith – the faith of the just, which is the fidelity that enables us to stand upright and without wavering throughout the stage of God-forsakenness. This highest degree of faith is so perfectly stable that is no longer any room for the slightest trace of doubt; no longer is it possible for such faith to diminish or draw back from the source of life. Rather, man lives each day as a new event, a new opportu-
nity granted him by the grace of God. The Holy Spirit, at this more mature stage, shows Himself to be at once very delicate and sensitive, and also very severe. In the beginning, however, God can be very lenient. Man experiences the spiritual comfort and joy that attend the first grace. And although he is still impure, weak and ignorant, grace does not cease to delight his heart and push him onward – precisely of his ignorance. God is merciful, and He wants first of all to teach us the great lesson of how His grace works in the soul. However, if we do not conform to His Holy Spirit, the latter will withdraw. The Epistle to the Hebrews has much to say about those who have received great gifts, who have known the power of the word of God as well as the renewal of their being, only to fall by the way. Above all, we read that it is difficult to “renew them again unto repentance”[2], that is to be restored by God yet again. In other words, the nearer we draw to God, the more demanding the Spirit of God becomes, that we may live the closer to Him and be united with Him eternally. As we have said before, God wants to treat man as His equal, His image, for He has endowed him with great gifts and possibilities so that he can stand before God and embrace the entire wealth of divine life. ”All that I have is thine”[3].
Having passed through the first two degrees of faith (introductory faith and charismatic faith combined with charismatic despair), and having attained the faith wherein our inner stability reflects the fidelity of the just, we will have convinced God that we are His, and He will answer us and His word remains forever. God will speak His word to man and enter into a final covenant of love with him and, as we know from Scripture, His covenant is eternal. God will answer us with the very words He addressed to His only-begotten Son. We will not only hear Him say, “Thou art mine”[4], but also “My son, today have I begotten thee”[5]. This is our one and only true calling: to become like unto Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1. Ps. 63,3 2. Heb. 6, 4-6 3. Luke 15, 31 4. Cf. Isa. 43, 1 5. Cf. Ps. 2,7 *Excerpt from the book “Remember thy First Love”, Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex 2010, pp. 33-35. Archimandrite Zacharias, Ph. D., is a disciple of Elder Sophrony (of blessed memory), who was a disciple of St. Silouan of Mount Athos. Presently, Fr. Zacharias is a monk in the Monastery founded by Elder Sophrony: The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex, England.
V OLUME XXXIV
N UMBER 05
P AGE 7
L IFE AND M IRACLES OF S T . M ENAS (N OV . 11) Menas was an Egyptian by birth and a soldier by profession. As a true Christian, he was not able to witness the abominable sacrificial offerings to the idols and left the army, the town, the people and everything else, and went to a deserted mountain, for it was easier for him to live among the wild beasts than with pagans. One day Menas clairvoyantly discerned a pagan celebration in the town of Cotyaeus. He descended into the town and openly declared his faith in Christ the Living God. He denounced idolatry and paganism as falsehood and darkness. Pyrrhus, eparch of that town, asked Menas who he was and where he was from. The saint replied: ``My fatherland is Egypt, my name is Menas. I was an officer, but witnessing the worship of idols, I renounced your honors. I now come before you all to proclaim my Christ as the true God, that He may proclaim me as His servant in the Heavenly Kingdom.'' Hearing this, Pyrrhus subjected St. Menas to severe tortures. They flogged him, scraped him with iron claws, burned him with torches, and tortured him by various other means, and finally beheaded him with the sword. They threw his body into a fire so that Christians would not be able to retrieve it, but Christians recovered several parts of his body from the fire nevertheless. They reverently
buried those remains, which were later transferred to Alexandria and buried there, where a church was built over them. St. Menas suffered in about the year 304 and went to the Kingdom of Christ. He was and remains a great miracleworker, both on earth and in heaven. Whoever glorifies St. Menas and invokes his help with faith, receives his help. The saint has often appeared as a warrior on horseback, arriving to help the faithful or punish the unfaithful. A Modern Miracle of St. Menas This miracle of Saint Menas took place in 1826 in Herakleion, Crete. Five years prior was the beginning of the Greek Revolution and the Turks had slaughtered a great number of Greeks in Crete, most noteworthy being the Metropolitan of Crete together with many of his bishops of various districts on June 24, 1821 in the Cathedral of Saint Menas, together with the officiating priest who was slaughtered on the very altar during the Divine Liturgy. Five years later the Turks were devising another slaughter of the Christians on April 18, 1826, which was the Feast of Pascha when all Christians of the city would gather to celebrate the Feast of Feasts. To distract them they set fires on Pascha in
various areas of the city and many gathered towards the church to celebrate the feast and sing "Christ is risen!" As the gospel was being read proclaiming the Resurrection Feast suddenly a gray haired man appeared and began running around the church holding a sword, and the faithful saw him chase away the Turks who were devising the slaughter. The Turks thought the man was a fellow Muslim who was sent by the governor of the city to call off the slaughter. However the governor assured them he had sent no one and in fact had not left his home that night. It was then that the Turks realized that this was a miracle of Saint Menas to save the Greeks. It is for this reason that Muslims began honoring Saint Menas and bringing gifts to the church.
St. Menas of Egypt
T HIS
IS OUR ONE AND ONLY TRUE CALLING : TO BECOME LIKE UNTO J ESUS C HRIST , THE S ON OF G OD
This miracle is celebrated every year on Bright Tuesday following Pascha in the city of Herakleion. It is also during the Vespers Service of the feast that the relic of Saint Menas is displayed for veneration by the faithful. More about St. Menas here
A an ancient flask used to carry oil from St. Menas Relics
T HE F ORERUNNER
P AGE 8
Y OUTH M INISTRIES R EPORT
T HE 2018 J OHN C HRYSOSTOM O RATORICAL F ESTIVAL TOPICS HAVE B EEN P UBLISHED
First and foremost, a big shout-out to all our students who participated in the 2017 Mid-Cities Greek FoodFest. They were everywhere serving and supporting the food line, making gyros, helping at the grill, working at the Children’s Center and Market-Place, videotaping and of course, dancing! Our youth are an important part of our festival, sharing the Greek culture with the DFW community. Kudos also go to Allison Medvic-Reimer and Gina Poulakos - the dance troupe is the best in the Metroplex, thanks to all the hours you put in. It was great to see so many of our former students on hand, especially joining the current troupe in what has become a tradition the St. John’s Alumni Dance. Also - bravo to Nick Ruppel, the newest member of our men’s dance group, Souma. The Celebration of All Saints (aka Halloween Hideaway) has taken place planned on Oct. 31 - many thanks to Betsy Hayes and Cristina Korzun for helping organize. The Thanksgiving basket donations are underway. On Nov. 5, please bring canned pie filling and on Nov. 12, drinks or cranberry sauce. The baskets will be delivered on Nov. 19. The GOYA Southern Fall Retreat takes place Nov. 1719 at the Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose. All youth, ages, 11-18, are invited. Registration ($125) is due by Oct. 29. See the Metropolis website for details.
[http://youth.denver.goarch.org/ regional-retreats] GOYA will be holding its Thanksgiving Turkey/Fish raffle this month; and will be taking reservations for homes to visit for their annual Christmas Caroling on place Dec. 10 (look for signup poster in the parish hall). The 2018 GOYA Basketball Tournament will be held Martin Luther King weekend, Jan. 12-15, in Dallas. Final registration is due Nov. 8. The Church School Advent retreat will be Saturday, Dec. 16; and the Christmas Pageant Dec. 17. We look forward to seeing our kids perform in the outstanding new costumes made and donated by Tera Bogdos. The 2018 Oratorical topics have been provided to our middle school and high school students see the topics below. St. John’s will hold our Oratorical Festival on Feb. 4; the Metropolis Festival takes place March 9-11 at St. Anna Parish in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Junior Division (Grades 7–9) 1. In John 15:13–15, Jesus teaches about friendship to His disciples. Discuss the importance of friendship in your life. 2. Choose a parable from the Gospel of Luke and discuss how it speaks to our contemporary life. 3. Talk about a time and circumstance when you were in awe and wonder – where you sensed the majesty of God. 4. Discuss how prayer, fasting, serving others, or study of Orthodoxy assists you with your relationship with Christ and the Church.
5. In Mark 2:1–12, four men remove a roof in order to bring a paralytic to Jesus to be healed. How inventive are we in bringing people to Jesus for healing? Sen Senior Division (Grades 10–12) 1. People often say, “It felt right” in order to explain their decisions. How many of our decisions factor in not only our feelings but also the will and commandments of God? 2. Christ’s disciples made the commitment to follow Him without knowing what the outcome might be. What does it mean to follow Christ today? 3. How can we have religious conversations on social media in an age of trolling? 4. Christ said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9). The Lord said this with reference to the way we hear the word of God. What is our response? 5. Our lives are saturated with violence, not only in terms of the proliferation of war and terrorism but even as entertainment through movies and video games. In such an environment, how can a Christian cultivate virtues that lead to empathy, peacemaking, and self -sacrifice? Harriet Blake Youth Ministries Coordinator
V OLUME XXXIV
N UMBER 05
P AGE 9
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS The Holiday Season is just around the corner. We will be continuing our Feeding the Hungry project. We make and pack lunches the 1st Wednesday night of each month, following Paraklesis. Our next Sandwich Making night is Wednesday, November 1st at 6:00. Taverna Night was lovely. Our charitable donation once again went to the Texas Health HEB NICU. We look forward to supporting them in the future as we work together to serve our community. We will soon be taking orders for both our Christmas Bake Sale and our Poinsettia Sale.
Here are some upcoming days of interest:
Sat. Dec. 16 - Baking Day--Christmas Bake Sale
Sun., Nov. 5 - -Sts. Cosmas & Damianos Nameday – Collection
Sun., Dec. 17 Deadline for Adopt-A-Family Gifts-Bake Sale Pick Up
Sat. Nov. 11 - Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon, The Venetian, Garfield, New Jersey
Sun., Jan. 7 - Vasilopita Auction/Parish Name Day Luncheon
Sun. Nov. 19 - Monthly Meeting
Veronica Fisher President, St. Irene Philoptochos
Sun., Nov. 26 - Poinsettia Order Deadline WE
WILL SOON BE TAKING ORDERS FOR BOTH OUR C HRISTMAS B AKE S ALE AND OUR P OINSETTIA S ALE .
Sun., Dec 10 - Deadline for Orders--- Christmas Bake Sale Sun., Dec. 10 - Annual Christmas Dinner (this is our Monthly Meeting)
C HURCH S CHOOL Our Church School year is off to a great start and we are getting ready for November and December. Here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind; we are getting ready four our Bread Basket Food Drive. We donate these items to our local food bank. In December we will have our Advent Retreat and Christmas Pageant.
10/22 --Thanksgiving Baskets kick-off; Please bring a canned vegetable 10/29—Thanksgiving Baskets; Please bring a canned fruit or stuffing mix 11/5 –Thanksgiving Baskets; Please bring pie filling in a can 11/12 –Thanksgiving Baskets; Please bring cranberry sauce or soft drinks 11/19 --Deliver Thanksgiving Baskets 11/26 --No Class due to Thanksgiving Break 12/16 --Advent Retreat 12/17 --Christmas Pageant
12/24 --No Class, Christmas Break 12/31-- No Class, Christmas Break 2/4 -- Godparents Day Veronica Fisher Church School Coordinator
T HE F ORERUNNER
P AGE 10
G IVING G LORY
TO
(Continued from page 3)
Holy 40 martyrs of Sevastia
I THANK YOU ‚ A LL H OLY M ARTYRS ‚ FOR BEING AT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR C HURCH , FEEDING H ER ROOTS W ITH Y OUR P RECIOUS B LOOD .
Fr. Dumitru Staniloae
Maximus the Confessor because by loosing his tongue he showed us that our mouths should never stop praising the Lord and confessing the Incarnate Truth. I am thankful to the Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalie of Nicomedia for by having their legs broken on an anvil they showed me the way I should walk to God. I am thankful to St. John of Damascus for by loosing‚and then regaining‚ his right hand he directed us to always do
T HE A POPHATIC
G OD
According to patristic tradition, there is a rational or cataphatic knowledge of God, and an apophatic or ineffable knowledge. The latter is superior to the former because it completes it. God is not known in his essence, however, through either of these. We know God through cataphatic knowledge only as creating and sustaining cause of the world, while through apophatic knowledge we gain a kind of direct experience of his mystical presence which surpasses the simple knowledge of him as cause who is invested with certain attributes similar to those of the world. This latter knowledge is termed apophatic because the mystical presence of God experienced through it transcends the possibility of being defined in words. This knowledge is
A LL T HINGS (CONT)
what’s right for the glory of God! I thank the Holy Unmercenary Doctors and Martyrs Cosmas‚Damianos and Panteleimonos for they have healed our souls from the scourge of selfishness and showed us the way of love thorough our neighbor.
Intercede to God abundantly‚ we pray to you‚ that His will be done in our lives‚ every day‚ and that we learn to properly give thanks for all things He so generously provides for us unceasingly! Fr. Vasile
I thank you‚ All Holy Martyrs‚ for being at the foundation of our Church, feeding Her roots from the bountiful ground fertilized with your precious relics.
AND
By Fr. Dumitru Staniloae
FOR
C ATAPHATIC K NOWLEDGE
more adequate to God than is cataphatic knowledge. Rational knowledge, however, cannot simply be renounced. Even though what it says about God may not be entirely adequate, it says nothing which is opposed to God. It is just that what it does say must be deepened through apophatic knowledge. Moreover, even apophatic knowledge, when it seeks to give any account of itself at all, must resort to the terms of the knowledge of the intellect, though it does fill these terms continuously with a deeper meaning than the mind’s notions can provide. … In our opinion these two kinds of knowledge are neither contradictory nor mutually exclusive, rather they complete each other. Strictly speaking, apophatic knowl-
OF
G OD
edge is completed by rational knowledge of two kinds, that which proceeds by way of affirmation and that which proceeds by way of negation. … One who has a rational knowledge of God often completes this with apophatic knowledge, while the one whose apophatic experience is more pronounced will have recourse to the terms of rational knowledge when giving expression to this experience. (Excerpt from The Dogmatics, by Fr. Dumitru Staniloae)
V OLUME XXXIV
S TORIES
WITH
N UMBER 05
P AGE 11
M T . A THOS E LDERS
The hermit father Philaretos from Karoulia was taken to Thessaloniki to appear in court, where he was unjustly accused of taking an ancient book which had been stolen by a tourist. He had no money to pay the fine "Either you pay, Father, or you go to jail," the judge said to him. "I prefer to go to prison. I have no money. Besides this way, I will remember the eternal prison," he replied. When finally some of the faithful paid the
fine, he said: "I have been freed from the earthly prison. I wonder if I will be set free from the eternal one ?" Some asked him, "How was it in Thessaloniki, Elder Philaretos, how were the people?" He had not been there for fifty years, and he replied, "What can I say, Fathers? They were all rushing about for their salvation. I am the only negligent and lazy one. *** In one of Xeropotamou's cells lived another simple but meek monk, elderly An-
tonios Tskoukas. A brother who was passing by one time met him and asked: "What are you doing, old man?""What else can I do but wait for Pascha?" he said."Pascha? It has past! We are now in Pentecost!"Pentecost? When did it pass? I am still fasting. I haven't broken my fast yet," the elderly man said wondering, and with an unusually simple manner. courtyard of the Protaton.
P RAYERS FOR THE C HRISTIAN FA MILY Prayer for Children, Relatives and Friends O God, our heavenly Father, who loves mankind and are a most merciful and compassionate God, have mercy upon Your servants (Name those whom you wish to remember) for whom I humbly pray to You to care for and protect. O God, be their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of Your truth, and draw them nearer to You, so that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Your love as they do Your will in all things. Give them Your grace, and mercy so that they may be patient, hard working, tireless, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant
them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption, and direct them in the way of Salvation, through the goodness of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the prayers of His Holy Mother and the blessed saints. Amen. Prayer for Your Parents Lord and Savior, You have taught us to honor our fathers and mothers, and to show love and obedience toward them. From the depth of my heart I fervently pray to You, Jesus, my God: hear my prayer. Bless my parents who have raised me up with the help of Your grace. Protect them from evil, harm and sickness. Grant them faith, health and joy. Bless all their works that they may give You
honor and glory all the days of their lives. Amen Child's Prayer Heavenly Father, bless my parents and all those who love and care for me. Help me in all ways to be respectful and obedient to them according to Your will. Send down upon me Your grace to perform all my duties carefully and faithfully, to avoid unacceptable company and influence and to resist all temptation that may come my way. Help me Lord to live a serious, good and godly life, praising You constantly and glorifying Your holy Name. Amen.
Athonite Elder
A ND PRAY IN THE S PIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS . W ITH THIS IN MIND , BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE L ORD ’ S PEOPLE .
Home Icon Corner
T HE F ORERUNNER
P AGE 12 G LADSOME L IGHT D IALOGUES
On November 15 we will start a new Series of Gladsome Light Dialogues that will go throughout the Nativity Lent. The New series is entitled. “Heavenly Liturgy” and will focus on the explanation of the Divine Liturgy, the core of the worship life of the Orthodox Church.
PARISH W EBSITE AND S OCIAL MEDIA
Please join us at http:// stjohndfw.info for the latest news and information about your parish. We are also present on Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/ stjohndfw/ and Tweeter https://twitter.com/stjohndfw. If you like something share it on your favorite social media, send it to your friends and family, get the word out!
Join us after Paraklesis, every Wednesday in the Bridal Room of the Church.
N EW C ATECHISM 20172018 H AS S TARTED !
Our Catechism / Faith Enrichment has started on September 10 and takes place every Sunday after Divine Liturgy. You can join at any time, everyone is welcome, Orthodox or not! Don't forget our Parish Library is now open. Also check-out our New Bookstore in the hall
A COLYTE S CHEDULE
G LADSOME L IGHT D IALOGUES N EW S ERIES ON D IVINE L ITURGY S TARTING N OV 15!
U SHER S CHEDULE 1st Sunday: Monty Truitt/ Margo Yiantsou 2nd Sunday: Steven Killfoil/ Connie 3rd Sunday: Michael Poriotis / Florentina Constantineanu 4th Sunday: Chrisanti Andromalou / Mike Strong 5th Sunday: Michael Poriotis/ Larry Leeders
C OFFEE H OUR D UTIES SETUP Arrange pastries/food in a desirable manner on the appropriate tables in the parish hall. You are responsible for making the coffee. Make two pots: one regular, one decaf. Plug in be-
1st Sunday: Alex Genovezos, Caleb Ellis, Luca Tudora, Matei Tudora 2nd Sunday: Dimitri Rodgers, Alex Shah, Chris Eftimie, Joseph Berca, Noah Ellis 3rd Sunday: Alex Genovezos, Caleb Ellis, Luca Tudora, Matei Tudora 4th Sunday: Noah Ellis, Alex Shah, Chris Eftimie, Dimitri Rodgers 5th Sunday: Matei Tudora, Alex Genovezos, Alex Shah, Luca Tudora fore going into church. The instructions are in the kitchen. Prepare a tray with sugar, creamer, sugar substitute, mixing straws, a few spoons. Set with trash bucket. Put donation basket out with appropriate sign.
C OFFEE H OUR H OST
As you probably know already , we have recently switched to a new Coffee hour system where every family will host a coffee hour per year. Please see Connie Rafailedes or Michael Strong to schedule Your Sunday.
CLEAN UP Wash all dishes soiled, including coffee pots. Return sugar tray to kitchen and replenish it. Wash off hall tables and kitchen counters. Thank-You
V OLUME XXXIV
N UMBER 05
P AGE 13
C HOIR N EWS The Choir sings the responses and hymns of liturgy and the Apolytikion of the day during the latter three Sundays of each month. We sing from the “Green Book”, which is in the pews, with the entire liturgy in English, Greek and Greek phonetics so that all congregants who desire to, may sing along with the choir and follow the liturgy.
T HE E VE
OF
Hymnal music is in Western notation and easily followed by even the newest of readers… . Alternatively, the Choir invites any and all parishioners who enjoy singing the hymns of the church to join it on Sundays at 9:30 AM, or at any time, in the choir loft.
Unless the Feast of the Nativity of of Theophany falls on a Sunday or Monday, Matins, the Imperial Hours, and the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great are celebrated without interruption as a vigil service on the morning of December 24th or January 5th, respectively. At the Imperial (Royal) Hours some of the hymns are similar to those of Great and Holy Friday, thus tying the symbolism of Christ’s Nativity and of Theophany to His death on the Cross. Following Matins and the Imperial Hours, the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is celebrated. A hierarch may extend oikono-
It really is very simple, if you sing at home when the feeling moves you, you certainly have what it takes to sing with the Choir on Sunday mornings… Anonymous
N ATIVITY — THE
The day before the Feasts of the Nativity “Christmas Eve” and of Theophany are properly called the “Paramony of the Feast,” a strict fasting day that immediately precedes the Feast.
You will be warmly welcomed by our Choir Director, Kirsten Shah and the choir members and made to feel right at home...
PARAMONY OF
mia to certain of his parishes to delay the Vesperal Liturgy from the morning until the evening for the spiritual benefit of the faithful. On Nativity Day we celebrate the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The First part of the Vesperal Liturgy starts as a regular Vespers service with the reading of the Psalm 103 (104) and Lord I have cried with the verses and the stichera. The entrance is different however, the procession being done with the Gospel and not just with the censer. After the entrance and the chanting of the Gladsome Light Hymn we Read the Old Testament selections interspersed with special Nativity Prokeimena and Troparia. After the Readings We start the Chanting of the Trisagion Hymn followed by the rest of the Liturgy of St. Basil.
C HRISTMAS
The Liturgy of St. basil has the same structure as the Liturgy of St. john Chrysostom, only the prayers read silently by the priest are more elaborate. Also the Megalynarion after the Anaphora is different, instead of Axion Estin we chant “In the O full of grace rejoices all creation…”. In the years when Nativity falls on a Sunday or Monday the Paramony is moved on the Friday before Nativity and the Liturgy of St. Basil is translated on the actual Feast day. 2017 is such a year, so we will celebrate The Royal Hours of nativity on the morning of December 22 with no Liturgy being prescribed on that day by the Typikon. St. Basil’s Liturgy will be celebrated on the Aactual nativity Day. Dec. 25th. The same celebration is prescribed also for the feast of Theophany, of course with different hymnology appropriate to the Feast.
T HE
DAY BEFORE THE F EASTS OF THE N ATIVITY IS CALLED THE “P ARAMONY OF THE F EAST ,” A STRICT FASTING DAY THAT IMMEDIATELY PRECEDES THE F EAST .
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church November 2017 SUN
MON
TUE
Strict Fast
WED
THU
1
2
Cosmas & Damianos, Theodota David of Evia
Wine/Oil Allowed
Akindynos & Companions Domnina, Domna & Kyriaki
FRI
SAT
3
4
Church of St. George in Lydda Acepsimas of Persia
Ioannikos the Great Nikandros, Bishop of Myra
Paraklesis (Pantanassa) 6 pm
Fish Allowed
Vespers 5pm UMG Sandwich Making
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Paul the Confessor
33 Martyrs of Melitene Lazarus the Wonderworker
Synaxis of the Archangels
Nektarios the Wonderworker Onesiphoros and Porphyrios
Olympas of the 70 Arsenius of Cappadocia
Menas of Egypt Victor & Stephanie
5th. Sunday of Luke Galaktion & Episteme of Emesa Hermas of the 70
Divine Liturgy 6 am
8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Chant) 12 pm Catechism
12
13
14
15
16
John Chrysostom Damaskinos of Mount Athos
Philip the Apostle Gregory Palamas of Thessaloniki
Gurias & Confessors of Edessa Thomas, Abp. of Constan.
Mathew the Apostle & Evangelist
Divine Liturgy 6 am Vespers 6pm
Divine Liturgy 6 am
Vespers 6pm Gladsome Light Dialogues
Orthros 7am Divine Litirgy 8am Vespers 5pm
17
18
8th. Sunday of Luke John the Merciful of Alexandria Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 12 pm Catechism 6pm Vigil
19 9t. Sunday of Luke
20
21
22
Divine Liturgy 6 am
23
Obadiah the Prophet Barlaam of Caesarea
Entrance of the Theotokos
8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Vigil 6pm
Divine Liturgy 6 am
13th. Sunday of Luke Alypios of Adrianopolis, Nicon Metanoete, Stylianos of Paphlagonia 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 12 pm Catechism
James of Persia Nathaniel & Pinouphrios
Vespers 5pm
24
25 Katherine the Great Martyr Mercurios the Great Martyr
Philemon of the 70 Cecilia and Companions
Amphilochios, Bishop of Iconium
Clement, Pope of Rome Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria
Akathist of Thanskgiving
Divine Liturgy 7 am
Vespers 6pm
Stewardship Sunday 12 pm Fall General Assembly
27
Plato of Ancyra Martyr Romanus
Thanksgiving Day
Forefeast of the Entrance Gregory of Decapolis
26
Gregory The Wonderworker Gennadios I, Patriarch of Constan.
28 Stephen the New Irenarchos & Martyrs of Sebaste
29
30
Paramonus & 370 Martyrs Nicholas, Abp. Of Thessolonica
Andrew the First-Called Apostle Froumentios, Abp. Of Abyssina
Vigil 6 pm
Divine Liturgy 6 am
Gladsome Light Dialogues
Orthros 8am Divine Liturgy 9am Vespers 5pm
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church December 2017 SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
Strict Fast Wine/oil allowed
FRI
SAT
1
2
Nahum the Prophet Philaret the Merciful of Amnia
Habakkuk the Prophet Cyril of Phileus
Fish Allowed
Vespers 5:00 pm
Fast Free
3 14th. Sunday of Luke Zephania the Prophet John, Bishop ad Hesychast 8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Chant) 6pm Vespers
4
5
Barbara the Great Martyr John the Righteous of Damascus Divine Liturgy 6 am
10
11
10th Sunday of Luke Menas, Hermogenes, Eugraphos Thomas of Bithynia 8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
17 11th. Sunday of Luke Daniel and the Three Holy Youths Dionysios of Zakynthos
Daniel the Stylite Luke, Stylite of Chalcedon Vespers 6 pm
18
Savas the Sanctified Martyr Diogenes Vigil 6 pm
Sunday before Nativity
25 Holy Nativity
Eugenia the Nunmartyr of Rome 8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 6 pm Vespers and Lity
Orthros 8am Divine Liturgy 9am
Sunday before Theophany Apodosis of the Nativity Melania, Nun of Rome
9
Nicholas the Wonderworker Nicholas the New Martyr
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan Athenodoros of Mesopotamia
Forefeast Conception Theotokos Patapios of Thebes
Conception of Theotokos Hanna the Prophetess
Divine Liturgy 6am 6pm UGM Sandwich Making Gladsome Light Dialogues
Vespers 6 pm
Orthros 8am Divine Liturgy 9am Vespers 5pm
14
15
16
Spyridon the Wonderworker Peter the Aleut
Auxentios & Martyrs of Sebaste Lucia the Virgin Martyr Herman of Alaska
Thyrsos, Leucius & Callinicos
Eleutherios, Bishop Illyria Susannah, the Deaconess
Haggai the Prophet Modestos, Abp. Of Jerusalem
Divine Liturgy 6 am
Boniface of Tarsus Gregentius, Bishop of Ethiopia
Paraklesis 6pm Gladsome Light Dialogues
20 Forefeast of the Nativity Ignatius the God-Bearer
Vespers 5:00 pm
21
22
23
Forefeast of the Nativity Juliana & 630 Companions
Anastasia, the Great Martyr Chrysogonos The Martyr
Ten Martyrs of Crete Consecration of Hagia Sophia
Paraklesis 6pm Gladsome Light Dialogues
Nativity of Jesus Christ Adoration of the Maggi: Melchor, Gaspar, & Balthasar
31
8
13
8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
24
7
12
19
Sebastian & his Companions Michael Synkellos the Confessor
6
26
27
Synaxis of the Theotokos Euthemios, Bishop of Sardis Vespers 6 pm
Stephen, First Martyr Theodore The Confessor
Royal Hours 6am
Orthros 8am Divine Liturgy 9am Vespers 5pm
28
29
30
20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia Martyr Glykerios
14,000 infants (Holy Innocents) Righteous Marcellus
Anysia of Thessaloniki Gideon of Mount Athos Vespers 5:00 pm
NONPROFIT S T . J OHN THE B APTIST G REEK O RTHODOX C HURCH
303 Cullum Dr. Euless, TX 76040 Tel 817 283-2291 Return Service Requested
Sponsorship for This Month’s Forerunner
W E ’ R E O N T H E W E B AT HTTP:/ / STJOHNDFW. INFO
THE FORERUNNER
Vol. XXXIV No. 05 November-December 2017
Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan December 7