Monthly Newsletter for Stewards of

Holy Anargyroi Sts. Kosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church Box & SpoonBox & Spoon

2015 Standing Committees PARISH COUNCIL Aaron Biedermann-President Halina Woroncow-Vice Pres. Tim Kelly Angie Rustad Don Jenkins Erline Holman Robert Lytle Jacob Petersen Treasurer Ben Johnson STEWARDSHIP /OUTREACH John Maragos Chair Halina Woroncow Ari Kolas Andy Franquiera ICONOGRAPHY Fr. Mark Muoz BUILDING Tim Kelly- Chair Ari Kolas BUDGET Jacob Petersen Fr. Mark Muoz AUDIT Jacob Peterson Amy Franquiera John Maragos PHILOXENIA HOUSE Brad Holman Chair ST, PHILOTHEI Trevor Hamlen Chaiir GREEK FESTIVAL Erline Holman John Mangouras Denise Mangouras

I S SUE

APR IL 20 15

48

I am afraid to speak and touch with my

tongue this fearful narrative concerning the

Saviour. For truly it is fearful to narrate all

this. Our Lord was given up today into the

hands of sinners! For what reason then was

one who is holy and without sin given up?

For having done no sin He was given up

today. Come, let us examine closely why

Christ our Saviour was given up. For us, the

ungodly, the Master was given up. Who

would not marvel? Who would not give

glory? When the slaves had sinned the

Master was given up. The sons of perdition

and the children of darkness went out in the

darkness to arrest the sun who had the

power to consume them in an instant. But

the Master, knowing their effrontery and

the force of their anger, with gentleness, by

His own authority, gave himself up into the

hands of the ungodly. And lawless men,

having bound the most pure Master,

mocked the One who had bound the strong

one with unbreakable bonds, and set us free

from the bonds of sins. They plaited a

crown of their own thorns, the fruit borne

by the vine of the Jews. In mockery

He Was Given Up Today they called Him King. The lawless spat in

the face of the Most Pure, at Whose glance

all the Powers of heaven and the ranks of

Angels quake with fear. See, once again

grief and tears grip hold of my heart, as I

contemplate the Master enduring outrage

and insults, scourgings, spitting from slaves,

and blows. Come, observe well the

abundance of compassion, the forbearance

and mercy of our sweet Master. He had a

useful slave in the Paradise of delight, and

when he sinned he was given to the

torturers. But when the Good One saw his

weakness of soul he took compassion on the

slave and had mercy on him and presented

Himself to be scourged by him. I wished to

remain silent because my mind was utterly

amazed; but then again I was afraid lest I

reject by my silence my Saviours grace. For

my bones tremble when I think of it. The

fashioner of all things, our Lord Himself,

was today arraigned before Caiaphas, like

one of the condemned; and one of the

servants struck Him a blow. My heart

trembles as I think on these things: the slave

is seated, the Master stands, and one full of

iniquities passes sentence on the One who is sinless. The heavens

trembled, earths foundations shuddered; Angels and Archangels all

quailed with terror. Gabriel and Michael covered their faces with their

wings. The Cherubim at the throne were hidden beneath the wheels; The

Seraphim struck their wings one with the other at that moment, when a

servant gave a blow to the Master. How did earths foundations endure

the earthquake and the tremor at that moment, when the Master was

outraged? I observe and I tremble and again I am stunned, when I see the

long-suffering of the loving Master. For see my inward parts tremble as I

speak, because the Creator, who by grace fashioned humanity from dust, He the Fashioner is struck. Let us fear, my

brethren and not simply listen. The Saviour endured all these things for us Wretched servant, tell us why you struck

the Master? All servants, when they are set free, receive a blow, that they may obtain freedom that perishes; but you,

miserable wretch, unjustly gave a blow to the Liberator of all. Did you perhaps expect to receive from Caiaphas a

reward for your blow? Had you perhaps not heard, had you perhaps not learned that Jesus is the heavenly Master?

You gave a blow to the Master of all things, but became slave of slaves to age on age, a disgrace and abomination,

and condemned for ever in unquenchable fire. A great marvel, brethren, it is to see the gentleness of Christ the King!

Struck by a slave He answered patiently, with gentleness and all reverence. A servant is indignant, the Master

endures; a servant is enraged, the Master is kind. At a time of anger, who could endure rage and disturbance? But our

Lord submitted to all this by His goodness. Who can express your long-suffering, Master? You that are longed for

and loved by Christ, draw near, with compunction and longing for the Saviour. Come, let us learn what took place

today in Sion, Davids city. The longed-for and chosen offspring of Abraham, what did they do today? They gave up

to death the most pure Master on this day. Christ our Saviour was unjustly hanged on the tree of the Cross through

lawless hands. Come, let us all wash our bodies with tears and groans, because our Lord, the King of glory, for us

ungodly people was given up to death. If someone suddenly hears of one truly beloved having died, or again,

suddenly sees the beloved himself lying a dead corpse before their eyes, their appearance is altered, and the brightness

of their sight is darkened. So, in heavens height, when it saw the outrage to the Master on the tree of the Cross, the

bright suns appearance was altered; it withdrew the rays of its own brightness, and unable to look on the outrage to

the Master, clothed itself in grief and darkness. Likewise the Holy Spirit, who is in the Father, when he saw the

beloved Son on the tree of the Cross, rending the veil, the Temples adornment, suddenly came forth in the form of a

dove. Draw near all of you, children of the Church, bought with the precious and holy blood of the most pure Master.

Come, let us meditate on His sufferings with tears, thinking

on fear, meditating with trembling, saying to ourselves,

Christ our Saviour for us the impious was given over to

death. Learn well, brother, what it is you hear:

God who is without sin, Son of the Most High, for you was

given up. Open your heart, learn in detail his sufferings

and say to yourself: God who is without sin today was given

up, today was mocked, today was abused, today was struck,

today was scourged, today wore a crown of thorns, today

was crucified, He, the heavenly Lamb. Your heart will

tremble, your soul will shudder.

St. Ephraim the Syrian

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8

Calendar for April 2015

He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Wednesday April 1st Presanctified Liturgy 6:00pm

Lenten Potluck after Liturgy

Friday April 3rd Presanctified Liturgy 9:00am

Saturday April 4th Saturday of Lazarus 8:30am

Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Church Cleaning after Liturgy, volunteers needed!

Sunday April 5th PALM SUNDAY 8:30am

Plaki Lunchoen after Liturgy

Decorating for Holy Week after Luncheon

1st Bridegroom Service 7:00pm

Holy Monday April 6th Bridegroom Service 7:00pm

Holy Tuesday April 7th Bridegroom Service 7:00pm

Holy Wednesday April 8th Holy Unction Service 3:30pm

Orthros for Holy Thursday 7:00pm

** those who cannot be present at 3:30pm Unction Service may be

annointed after the 7pm Service **

Holy Thursday April 9th Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil w/ His Grace Bishop DEMETRIOS

8:30am

Holy Passion Service/12 Gospels 7:00pm

Reading of the entire Psalter after service

Holy Friday April 10th Royal Hours 9:00am

GOYA Holy Friday Retreat after Royal Hours

Apokathilosis/Taking down from Cross 3:00pm

Lamentations 7:00pm

Holy Saturday April 11th Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 8:30am

**Decorating for Pascha after Liturgy**

ANASTASIS/RESURRECTION 11:00pm

Parish-wide Paschal Dinner and celebration after Liturgy

Pascha Sunday April 12th Agape Vespers 11:00am

Bright Tuesday April 14th Philoptochos Meeting 6pm

Bright Wednesday April 15th Parish Council Meeting 6:30pm

Bright Thursday April 16th St. Philothei Project sponsored by Philoptochos (in Church kitchen)

6:00pm

Bright Friday April 17th Theotokos the Life-Giving Fount 8:30am

Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Sunday of Thomas April 19th Spring General Assembly

Wednesday April 22nd Philoxenia Meeting 6:00pm

Thursday April 23rd St. George the Great Martyr 8:30am

Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Sunday April 26th LYRA Concert 7:30pm

Mon-Thurs April 27-30 Metropolis Clergy Syndesmos Retreat, Fr Mark Away

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8

Urgent Announcements

Holy Friday Names of Departed (ASAP) It is our tradition to commemorate those Orthodox Christians who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection immediately following the procession with the Epitaphio on Holy Friday evening. Please email or give the names of the departed you would like to have remembered during the appropriate petitions as soon as possible to Father Mark. (Please list non-Orthodox separately).

Cleaning for Holy Week (April 4th) Please join us after the Saturday of Lazarus Divine Liturgy (April 4th) to spruce up the church in time for Holy Week and Pascha! We'll have cleaning supplies and a "to do list", you supply the elbow grease and solidarity! On behalf of Erline Holman, we thank you in advance.

Choir Rehearsal for Holy Week (Monday, April 6th) TO ALL CHOIR MEMBERS: Choir practice will be held on Monday, April 6th after the Bridegroom service (~8:00 pm). Our choir will sing for the Friday night, Saturday morning, and Saturday evening services, and for the first time on Thursday morning for the Vesperal liturgy with Bishop Demetrios. Please plan to attend Monday night's very important rehearsal, and an early 'Thank you' for your continued dedication to the services of our church.

Myrrh Bearers (Friday, April 10th) Dear Parents, We invite our young ladies (ages 7-13) again this year to participate in one of the most beautiful traditions in our Church, that of being a Myrrh Bearer. Like last year, the young ladies will participate in our Holy Friday service and process with the Epitaphion as it is carried outside the Church.

PRACTICE Friday, April 10th After the morning services & decorating the Kouvouklion

DRESS FOR HOLY FRIDAY SERVICE All white Please have your daughters wear white dresses/hosiery. Shoes may be white, brown, or black

ARRIVAL ON FRIDAY EVENING 6:30 PM

Please contact Tia Maragos at church or via email by Wednesday, April 8th to let us know if your daughter will be participating this year. Thank you! Tias email: tia.maragos@gmail.com

Philoxenia House News Dear brothers and sisters,

I want to start this short article by sharing the news of perhaps the youngest, continued supporters of the Philoxenia House Ministry. The group Together We Care to Make a Difference held their 4th annual Grab Bag fundraiser for the Philoxenia House Ministry and I am so pleased to announce that they were able to raise $1420.

You may remember that this fundraiser was inspired by the late Father Jim Tsoulos of Chicago. What an awesome image of our Lord Jesus Christ displayed by these young, kind and caring children. Thank you so very much from everyone in the Philoxenia House Ministry! I am told by our friend and one of the parents of the children, Patricia Eliopoulos, that it is the dream of the group to come to Rochester to visit the houses. We gladly extend to them the invitation and look forward to that day.

Children of Together We Care to Make a Difference Patricia Eliopoulos discusses Philoxenia House newsletter with children

One other bit of Philoxenia House news. In March we purchased 2 new twin beds. We are in the process of converting the small upstairs living area in the St. Iakovos house into another bedroom. The living area was not being utilized much and we thought that it would be better use of the space as another bedroom. If anyone can help, we are looking for bedroom furniture to complete the room. Right now we only have the beds and no furniture.

Sincerely in Christ, Bradley Holman President Philoxenia House Ministry

He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Youth Team Report

Our youth greeted the month of March celebrating the feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Icons were lifted high in procession around the church, in commemoration of the return of iconography to Orthodox worship as visible witness of the Incarnation and the fullness of Christs nature as both God and man.

After Liturgy, our youth participated in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. All ages had something to contribute! Multiple essays and speeches provided an opportunity for our youth to consider and express their thoughts on various topics relating to our faith. Many thanks to Amy Franqueira for organizing this years superb effort!

Later in the month, we enjoyed an all-youth afternoon of ice skating at the Rec Center! All ages and their families were invited. We discovered some brave souls as well as new talents emerging on the ice. Best of all was the family fellowship!

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8

He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

~ continued ~

GOYA gathered for their traditional Lenten Night with lock-in at the fellowship hall this was the last time we will share those cold, hard floors together! The group served as readers for the Akathist Service, then enjoyed a Lenten potluck, group discussion, and participated in the Sacrament of Confession. We built a book case for Habitat for Humanity before everyone crawled into their sleeping bags. Thank you, our dear parishioners, for your donation of childrens books to fill those shelves before we present it to a family moving into their new Habitat for Humanity home later this spring! We will be collecting books through Palm Sunday. The book shelf is in the hall; you are welcome to continue to add to the shelves if you run across some more books to add before we deliver the fruits of our labor.

It has been wonderful seeing our families at the various Lenten services the Church offers to help prepare us in our journey to Pascha. Ahead, of course, is Holy Week! Please keep track of the liturgical schedule on our Church website. GOYA will serve as readers at the Holy Unction service on Holy Wednesday, April 8th, at 3:30 pm. We would also love to see as many GOYAns as possible on Holy Friday, April 10th, for a retreat in-between the morning Royal Hours and the Descent From the Cross.

May we await His glorious Resurrection in peace, prayer, and love.

In Christ, Your Youth Team, Loredana Jerghiuta, Mike Brekke, Halina Woroncow

Philoptochos Society

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Our next Fundraiser is the Palm Sunday Fish Plaki dinner after Divine Liturgy on April 5th. This is a fundraiser in which all the proceeds go directly to into our account for us to give away to our many philanthropic charities. The dinner is $12 for adults and $6 for children. Please join us and support our Society. Thank you. Society members, please come to prep cook in the church kitchen on April 4th after the Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of Lazarus. Thank you.

Our next Society meeting is on Tuesday, April 14th at 6pm in the church library.

On Thursday, April 16th; Philoptochos will host the St Philothei Project by volunteering our time to make the weekend meals for the women and children at the Womens Shelter. We will meet in the church kitchen at 6pm. With the leadership of Trevor Hamlen, in one and a half hours; we will have made the 450 meals. Philoptochos will also give $200 from our budget for the cost of the food we are preparing. Please let me know if you are volunteering on April 16th. Thank you.

On Saturday May 16th, there will be a walkathon fundraiser, weather permitting, at Silver Lake with registration in the East Silver Lake Shelter, beginning at 9:30 am and the walk (once around the lake, a little under 2 miles) beginning at 10am. This is another fundraiser to raise funds for our many charities which includes Father Marks Discretion Fund. This event is open to all parishioners and friends. Its a great activity for families. Please come and join us!

Wishing you spiritual love, joy and peace in the celebration of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ!

With sisterly love in CHRIST+ Calli Kelly, Philoptochos President

Palm Sunday Dinner

Sunday April 5th

Palm Sunday dinner in the church hall following Divine Liturgy.

A fish plaki dinner with salad and dessert will be served.

$12 adults and $6 children.

All proceeds go toward the philanthropic charities of our Philoptochos Society.

God bless you in your generosity to others. Thank you.

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8

He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

SAVE THE DATE! Holy Land Pilgrimage

August 15th - 25th, 2016

It is with great joy and enthusiasm that I announce to you an extraordinary and unforgettable opportunity.

I will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands in August of 2016, and I would like to cordially invite you to be a part of this life changing spiritual journey! Our 10 day Pilgrimage will take in all the major sites in and around the holy city of Jerusalem, Judea and Galilee.

Imagine standing on the summit of the Mount of Olives where our Saviour ascended to His Father, wading the waters of the Jordan River where Christ was baptized, sailing on the Sea of Galilee where the Apostles fished, and finally worshipping in the sepulcher where Christ crushed death through His holy Resurrection. This, and more, awaits us all!

I have contracted an Israeli travel agency, Ami Travel, which has offices in Chicago as our trip coordinator. We have used the same agency twice before and had an incredible experience without any problems or concerns. I am again completely confident in their abilities to make our Pilgrimage safe, personal, and accommodating. I look forward to sharing this unique and treasured experience with all of you! More detailed information to follow.

Sincerely, Fr. Mark

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8

Phyllo, nuts, and honey...oh my! Our parish will be participating in a

fundraiser over the summer featuring our famously delicious baklava!

Many volunteers showed up on Saturday, March 21st to prepare the

pans of baklava!

THANK YOU to all of volunteers for giving their time and talents to make this fundraiser possible!

AHEPA SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE! An AHEPA Scholarship is available for undergraduate college students!!!

Hurry!! The form needs to be postmarked by April 18th, 2015

To download the form, either click here, or go to our website www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org, and navigate to RESOURCES, TEXTS AND

ARTICLES. Here you will also find a link to the form.

Good Luck!!!

He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

A Meditation On Almsgiving Christ commanded his disciples to give alms. To give alms means literally to do or to make merciful deeds or acts of mercy. According to the Scriptures, the Lord is compassionate and merciful, long suffering, full of mercy, faithful and true. He is the one who does merciful deeds (see Psalm 103). Acts of mercy are an imitation of God who ceaselessly executes mercy for all, without exception, condition or qualification. He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Mercy is a sign of love. God is Love. A deed of merciful love is the most God-like act a human being can do. Being perfect in Matthews Gospel corresponds to being merciful in Lukes Gospel. Perfection and being merciful are the same thing.

To love as Christ loves, with the love of God who is Love, is the chief commandment for human beings according to Christianity. It can only be accomplished by Gods grace, by faith. It is not humanly possible. It is done by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Acts of mercy must be concrete, physical actions. They cannot be in word and speech, but in deed and truth (First letter of John and letter of James).

Acts of mercy are acts done to Christ himself who was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, in prison and sick in the form of being wounded for our transgressions on the cross, taking up our wounds, and dying our death.

Christian acts of mercy must be sacrificial. By this, we understand that we must not simply give to others what is left over. We have to be sharing our possessions with others in ways that limit ourselves in some way (The Widows Mite). And, acts of mercy should be done without qualification or condition to everyone, no matter who, what or how they are (Parable of the Good Samaritan).

Article by Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary

This Great Lent, we invite you to an intentional practice of the connection between fasting and almsgiving.

We get it: turning fasting into greater almsgiving is not easy. But that is what the Almsgiving Challenge is all about: taking seriously the call that our Church makes to use fasting in this way.

When you fast and are nourished with abstinence, do not store the leftovers for tomorrow, but, as the Lord became poor and enriched us, feed someone who does not want to be hungry, you who hungers willingly. Then your fast will be like the dove who brings and joyfully proclaims salvation to your soul from the flood (St. Gregory Palamas).

Read More At: http://everygoodandperfectgift.org/almsgiving-challenge/

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7-8