Fr Tom’s Corner What would you say?

Christ Is Risen!

That is what the angel told the myrrh bearing woman when they entered the empty tomb and didn’t see Jesus. Christ is Risen! Don’t seek the living among the dead! They were expecting to see a smelly dead lifeless corpse. When they arrived at the empty tomb, I am sure their hearts sunk, they were met with fear and anxiety. What were they to do? They were in shock to find no body!

For a brief moment their world stopped and were met with despair, with hopelessness, and confussion. But this wasn’t the end of the story, it is the starting point for the new narrative. It is the beginning of life for us and all creation. We too are met at the empty tomb with a question and an answer that leads us to Jesus, that leads us to life!

They were asked by the angel, ”Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Why are you looking for the creator of the world in an empty tomb? How could you, in your right mind, fathom that the One who suspended the world could be contained in a tomb? In a way we are asked the same question. Why do we look for life in things that vanish and disappear. Why do we gravitate towards dark, isolated, cold empty tombs void of God’s presence and power?

Many of us are led to empty tombs filled with empty promises of the world. When we run after these promises, after we spend all our energy and time chasing worldly dreams, we too are often met with shock, fear, anxiety and confusion. Like Mary Magdalene, are quick to feel empty and directionless. Life sometimes brings us to dark places! Sometimes we feel backed into a corner, like a dead end without options.

When we find ourselves in empty, cold, isolated empty tombs of life, let’s remember the truth that Jesus is not found in empty tombs, He is not here in the false promises that life will be fulfilled with this vacation, with that business deal, with this new diet plan, with that next ‘new’ best ab exercise machine that promises a six pack within a few weeks.

Someone told me that she falls into this category- of being led into the empty tomb. She said, “But truly, had I not seen that it was empty, I wouldn’t have kept searching. So I’m sure we don’t really plan on stumbling into these dark places but I think it’s so beautiful to know that grace is abundant there also, and can be used to turn us toward our Risen and Living Lord!!”

Whenever we feel lost, confused, and stuck in a dead end, we need to go back to the first words heard by the myrh bearers, Christ is Risen! Don’t seek the living things among the dead! Knowing this with our hearts will lead us back to our Loving and Risen Lord, which in turn sets a path of hope and

direction in life. You and I are commanded not to seek the living among the dead! Just don’t do it! It is useless and will devastate you!

Let’s listen to truth and live by the Authority of our Risen Lord. When we find ourselves in any empty tomb lets remember the proclamation that, He has Risen!” With these simple, yet life changing statements, the myrh bearing woman were electrified with power and ran to spread this fantastic news! He is Risen! They were the first to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they did it with enthusiasm.

Remember, that enhusiasm comes from the Greek word that has its roots of the word, ‘en’ theos’. To be in God. This is what the good news of the Resurrection gives us; the courage to experience, a real presence of a loving God who wants to be by our side during the good times and the hard times. To be in-God means that we do our best to live out the Resurrection being at peace with ourselves and those around us.

To be’ in God’ is to detach ourselves from the occasions and subtle distractions that rob us of the light and joy of the resurrection- those that keep us dumbfounded and mourning at the tomb. To be in-God means to find and create a space to have peace. Jesus constantly reminds us about peace. He says, “peace be with you.” The priest tells us so often in liturgy, the same, peace be with you. So demand of yourself to engage with and seek out the experiences and people that give you peace.

To be in-God is to live life not judging others but to be centered in Christ and focused on good thoughts, seeking the excellent, the things of the heart. When the myrh bearing women ran out and told of what they had seen and the truth they knew, their ‘enthusiasm” was contagious because they were ‘in God’. They were concerned only with the things of God... their hearts and minds were not interested in the things of this world. To be in-God is to nurture thoughts that feed and care for the soul!

Let’s strive to be like these women who weren’t numbered among the doubting. The myrh bearers are remembered as the faithful. The significance didn’t lie in their journey to the tomb, it became life giving when they turned from the tomb and believed wholeheartedly that He was living and ran to spread the good news of our Risen Lord!

Get out of the empty tomb and seek the path leading towards the power of our Risen Lord’s light, hope, compassion and truth!

Christ is Risen!+fr. tom

May/June 2016Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church Offering Orthodox Christianity to all people

Men’s GroupRestarting May 9th

Change of Location!

When: Start date: Monday, May 9th

7:30pm-9:00pm (and every other Monday at the

same time from then on).

Where: Holy Apostles Teen Room

We will be reading "An Introduction to God" By

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

For the first meeting we will be reading the

Prologue and Chapter One.

There are a few copies of the book in the

church bookstore. Otherwise it can be found at

Ancientfaithradio and Amazon.com. Check out our Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/familywellnessministry/

All Saints Camp

Raft Island, Washington

Upcoming Teen Events:

Sunday, May 22nd Kayaking Outing more info to come

Friday, June 10thDinner and Movie

7pm

Saturday, June 25thCooking Challenge

7pm

Questions? contact: Martha Andro at: 425-985-2584

martha.andro@gmail.com

New Church Security System

Christ is Risen!!We want to thank you, Katherine and Rob Watson, for donating the security system for our Church!

Rob Watson is the owner of Watson Security and has graciously donated the labor and material for our security system at Holy Apostles.

We at Holy Apostles are humbled by their expression of love. If anyone ever wants a security system, Watson Security had the most delightful people to work with and experience was so pleasant. They were a very professional team and have been very helpful in the initial set up process!

Having said this, we will be changing the locks and issuing new keys in the near future. I also wanted to let you know that they have caught the two men who robbed us. The police said, they confessed to at least 40 church burgleries!

Blessings to you all,

+Fr. Tom Tsagalakis

Check out the Watson Security Website:

http://www.watsonsecurity.com/

Christ Is Risen!!Reflections from Pascha

I wanted to thank all of you faithful who made this journey to

Pascha such a blessed one. We need to continue to walk together in

faith focused on prayer and fasting as we walked during Holy Lent

focused on living a life in Christ.

May we remember and live the prayer of St. Ephraim: Lord and

Master of my life Grant me the spirit of chastity, humility, patience,

and love and help me to see my own sins and not judge my brother

or sister. The invitation is to stop complaining, stop judging and

stop being angry, and to respond with love in all circumstances.

It was a blessed Holy Week and I appreciated all who journeyed

with Jesus into Jerusalem. May we have the courage to be like the

donkey and carry Christ into the world bringing His message, His

hope, his love, power and light! May we be Christophoroi, Christ

bearers!

It was a blessed Pascha accepting the call from the priest to "Come

receive the light, from the Light, that is ‘never’ overtaken by night".

And proclaiming to the world the truth of His glorious Resurrection

by chanting "Christ is Risen!!" Like Father Michael said, "this funeral

on Holy Friday changed the world and Jesus is committed to taking

us into His Kingdom so we don’t need to fear death.

The agape service was beautiful and the picnic afterwards was a

true testament of our community coming together offering the

love of our Resurrected Lord. We had over 250 people share the

meal and festivities with us.

Charlie DeJong often said, "many hands make light work". I want to

thank ‘all’ the hands that made this Holy season blessed! Thank you

to our Parish Council, our wonderful Ladies of the Philoptochos,

the chanters, the altar servers, the myrrh bearers, the hands that

decorated the kouvouklion, all of you who helped with the many

meals, the crew who provided an amazing Agape picnic and party

for all to enjoy, the OASIS staff and all the hands who are always

ready to pray asking God for all good things.

Remember that the angel told the myrrh bearers why they were

seeking the living among the dead. They told them that He is not

here. He is Risen!! Let us be committed to not run to empty tombs

filled with false promises but to open our hearts to experience the

light, love and blessings of our Risen Lord! Christ is Risen!!

Truly He is Risen!!

+fr. tom

Christ Is Risen!!

Seven years ago we embarked on a crazy yet holy journey with our Give Back Group. This has been a group of mighty men and women who dared to be real and vulnerable with one another, while either fighting an addiction themselves or having a family member struggle with addiction.

The Group took form at a meeting in our fireside chat room, where I invited a recovering addict who was a football player, and his wife; an addicted gambler; a mother who lost her child to a drug overdose; a heroin addict and her parents; an Oxycontin addict who was ready to end her life, and her parents; and my wife.

The unbearable pain and suffering in that room was met with the power of Christ’s love and hope! That evening, the journey towards healing began and the two women were directed to Betty Ford. We decided we needed a place to support each other and tell stories of our own healing process and allowing the Grace of God to strengthen us. We’ve met every other week since then!

The Give Back group shattered my magical thinking about addiction and what it takes to heal. You can’t wave a wand and have the pain go away. Can’t say I have a problem and old behavior vanishes. Cant leave rehab without constant support thinking everything is fixed! A group member said once, “Healing hurts.”

Indeed, healing is never an overnight miracle—as we are often led to believe it is in simplistic stories of conversion. It takes a long time, with dedicated clear thinking, and loving people to hold the pain while the addicted persons and their family members feel supported as each goes through their own unique healing process.

Years later, the dad of the heroin addict, when asked why he still attended the Give Back Group, responded, “I love it and find incredible life in the struggle! We do our best to pray, we ask a lot of questions and are curious, we cry a lot, we try not to give advice, we definitely are not interested in judgment, and every once in a while God reveals an answer, a new way to think, a new road to travel.”

What guides our meetings and work can be beautifully captured in a quote the grieving mother of a son who died of an overdose discovered underlined in one of her son’s books, Shattered Dreams by Larry Crab.

“I envision a revolution that creates a community of broken people united not by their problems or diagnoses but by their hunger for God. I envision a revolution that frees people to fully participate in that community because they feel the safety of the gospel that embraces people rather than judges them, that joins hurting folks more than advises them on how to feel better, that supernaturally equips people to pour life into one another.

I envision a revolution that creates true community and transforms lives, a revolution that centers on an encounter with God that fills the soul with sheer delight.

Congratulations Give Back Group!!! Seven Year Celebration

That’s my vision, an encounter with God that creates community and transforms lives.”

Our commitment is to Give Back to those interested in the gifts of wisdom and experience that we’ve received. Our prayer is to face the messy, ugly face of addiction as we are united with Christ in supporting others transform lives!

In Christ’s service,+fr. tom

Please “LIKE” our new Give Back Group Facebook Page!

Give Back Group Seven Year Celebration

BBQ

Thursday, June 9th6:30pm to 9pm

Please join us as we celebrate seven years!! We are inviting all those who have participated in any way with our give back group over the past seven years. It has been a journey filled with powerful life changing experiences. Like someone said, “healing hurts”. Thank God!

We will provide the meat. Please bring your favorite side dish!

Philptochos News!

THANK YOU to everyone who helped with the Mardi Gras event and those who helped take care of things for Holy Week and Pascha! Upcoming Activities:

Father’s Day Luncheon: Sunday, June 19th. please join us in honoring the wonderful men of our parish! Watch for an online sign up in the email updates or contact Linda Smith to help: lmsmith33@gmail.com

Holy Apostles Name Day Luncheon: Thursday, June 30th. We need your help to provide food and clean up help for our Name Day. Please contact Linda Smith if you can help:

lmsmith333@gmail.com or watch for the email sign up.

Board games, card games, etc. (sorry, no lawn darts) - for grownups, kids, and mixed groups Puzzles – for those who want a slightly less structured activity but slightly more aggravation Refreshments – for those who want to eat and/or drink Music - not too loud, mind the neighbors Prizes – Guess the amount of thingies in the jars, etc... YOU - Yes you, the one with the beautiful smile!

(encouraged, even)

PLEASE RSVP so we can plan the best evening possible for you all! (call, text or email) to LISA GALVIN:

lisagal23@hotmail.com, 206-295-2488

HAK’ers (Holy Apostles Knitters)

About HAK’ers:

HAK’ers is a group of volunteers from Holy Apostles Church members who come together and knit on the first and third Sundays of each month from 12:00pm. To 2:00pm. Holy Apostle Knitters (HAK’ers) are meeting at the church right after Oasis for two hours.

We welcome all – beginners through experienced; calling all who knit, crochet, embroider (counted, crewel, etc.), hand quilt in a hoop, candlewick, huck weave, tat, or darn (mend holes in knitted items), machine sewing, quilting, and we would love to teach those who want to learn.

Most of the time everyone works on their own project. But we also knit, crochet or quilt baby blankets for babies’ 40 day blessings. We make a field trip once a year to a yarn shop and pass some quality time together (usually in summer). We sometimes make some items for the holidays for donations to benefit of Holy Apostles Church.

We do not have a budget; and there are no membership dues. The members spend their time and efforts by knitting, crocheting and/or sewing. There are some material expenses when making items for the church (such as baby blankets or holiday items). We gladly purchase our materials, and spend our time using our craft to benefit our church!

Selma Nadir is putting together a list of those who are interested, and is sending out a reminder e-mail before each month’s meetings. If you would like to be on that list, please email Selma at: selma_nadir@yahoo.com or call her at: 425-947-5606

Thank YouSelma

Dear Father and Presbytera bless,

I cannot find words to thank you enough for the blessing that Holy Week was to me. I remain so half-hearted and did not participate in nearly enough of lent or Holy Week, yet the services I did attend were still all so enriching to my soul.

On Holy Wednesday, you anointed me to shine like the Saints! “O Lord, Grant that this oil becomes the oil of gladness, the oil of sanctification, a royal robe, an armor of might, the deflecting of every satanic assault, the seal of immunity from snares, the gladness of heart, everlasting joy; that also in this, they who shall be anointed with this oil of rebirth may be strong against their adversaries, and may shine in the radiance of Your Saints, having neither spot nor wrinkle, and that they may be admitted into Your eternal rest, and receive the award of the calling from above. “ I heard that at church and thought, ‘What’s different between me and St. Stylianos over there? The amount of time we spend with Jesus, but we are both created to shine!!!’

On Holy Friday, you guided me into and out of the tomb of Christ and led me in the path of joyful sorrow.

On Saturday morning, the chains of hades were broken and the power of death is no more, yet we join together to continue to fight the residual power of our passions and the demons.

And Saturday night we celebrated the Resurrection! Fr. Tom once told me that Saint Moses was told as he was waiting with his elder on a mountain waiting, during the darkness of the early morning, for the sun to rise, “See how long it takes for the light to drive out the darkness.” And I am so slow to enter in and grasp the fullness of the Church. Yet you invite me to come receive the light and find my true self, “the most important person I never knew.” My true self, “hidden with Christ,” the only garment worthy of wearing to Christ’s wedding banquet. I wanted you both to know how much you encourage me and I’m sure countless others. I am so thankful to have found Holy Apostles!

Thank you so much,Luke

Paschal Musings

Laurie AccitoStevie AdamekAlisonAngeliaAngelikiSidonia AnthonyHelen AntonPres. Maria ArmatasArtemisMidge ConnerStephen AuerGene AuerAaron BarlasJamie BaudinElaine BarlasMargaret BaumgartelBenTom BelesiotisBouzinekis FamilyJeanne BossThe family of Parker BrownLinda BusseCarolCarinaKatelyn CarlsenChadChris ChriestChristina and TedorChristinaChristineDanaDarla

Apostle Group LeadersSt. Bartholomew – Aleka Brown – 206-781-8328St. James, Son of Alphaeus – Michelle Economou – 425-398-2308St. John – Karen & John Serkland - 425-640-2530St. Matthew – Pete Anthony – 425-745-1546St. Peter – Selma Nadir – 425-947-5606St. Philip – Antigone Tsircou – 360-668-5321St. Thaddaeus – Janice Palm – 206-325-0245

Apostle Group Schedule

DavidBarbara DeliganChaleen DeStephanoCostaEugeniaRenee FeriaEfthalia GeanousEvangeliaGabriellaGementzopoulou FamilyGeorgeMerrill GilchristGeoffrey GilmoreJanell GilmoreAnthony GiovannettiMark GiovannettiAlan HerrStephanie & Athena HinelineHowardFr. IsidoreJaclynJessicaJudyMichael Karsiotis KellyCandace KerwinKimberlyJudy KnittleKurtKristenBetty KouldoukisBeau Larson

Laura LaurieAndrew and Ciara LeckieBlair LeckieGeorgia LeckieFotini LevitonSophia LottMarthaMasonMichelleMichaelMichailaMarie MoffittMary MoffittMichael MoffittHayley and Ashley MontgomeryJim and June MorrisonJohn Mastor Jr.NataliaNatashaNathanNiaNikiphoraOliverPaulAlexandra Stephanie PappasGeorge ParisNancy ParisChristy PessemierAlana PetrieSarah Powell

Philip & BarbaraRachaelRJRonaldRoseSarahSashaMarsha SherwoodKurt and Kathy SimonsNavaeh SmithGreg SpyridisStephanieStephenKaren StevensonVasili StumpusSallie SquiresTanyaTeodorTeresaTerry OlsonEd TalericoJoyce TalericoJoseph Taylor Gus ThemelisTinaTrae TinglestadtMichael TsagalakisMarianna TurkoSteve Voss & familySarah WebbJohnnie WhitbyYvonne

Are you in an Apostle Group? If you have joined us for coffee hour then you have already enjoyed the wonderful food provided by our Apostle Group Hospitality Ministry Program. Each Sunday, on a rotating basis, our Apostle Groups host our coffee hour and provide food and refreshments.

All Holy Apostles members and visitors are encouraged to help. People are assigned to groups based on where they live. This is a great way to meet people who live near you and to volunteer to be a part of this ministry of hospitality.

If you are not in an Apostle Group, Father Tom is encouraging you to contact Judy Bethea at judy.bethea@comcast.net or 425 772-3077 to start today. Many hands make light work and this is a wonderful way to offer your gifts to our church.

May 15 St. PeterMay 22 St. PhilipMay 29 All-Church Oasis Celebration/Graduation/BBQ/PotluckJune 5 St. Bartholomew June 12 St. James & St. Thaddaeus June 19 Father’s Day Brunch - Women of the ParishJune 26 St. John

Prayer List O Holy Father, heavenly Physician of our souls and bodies, who has sent Your Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to heal all our ailments and deliver us from death: please visit and heal Your servant (Name), granting him/her release from pain and restoration to health and vigor, that she/he may give thanks to You and bless Your Holy Name,

of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

7:30PM - 9:00PM 7PM

12PM

7:00PM

12:00PM

4PM

7:30PM - 9:00PM 7PM

11:00AM

Holy Apostles Calendar

May 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1· Pascha

1pm Agape Service

followed by a community celebration/potluck

2 3 4· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

5 6· Teens: Big Fat

GreekWedding 2

7

8· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

9·

Mens Group at Holy Apostles

10 11· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

12· Give

Back GroupAddiction Support Group ~ this group is for people struggling with addictions and their families. We meet every other week for prayer and support.

13 14· Festival of

Tables

15· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

16 17·

Parish Council Meeting

18· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

19 20 21

22· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· Kost Baptism

· Teens: Kayak Outing

23·

Mens Group at Holy Apostles

24 25· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

26· Give

Back GroupAddiction Support Group ~ this group is for people struggling with addictions and their families. We meet every other week for prayer and support.

27 28

29· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· OASISBBQ

30 31

Reminder exists

7PM - 9PM

12PM

7:30PM - 9:00PM

6:30PM

3PM - 7PM

11AM

12PM

7:30PM - 9:00PM 7:00PM 7PM 7PM

6PM

Holy Apostles Calendar

June 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

2 3· Game

Night

4

5· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

6·

Mens Group at Holy Apostles

7 8· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

9· 8am Orthros

9am Divine LiturgyAscension

· Give Back Group7 year Celebration BBQ

10 11

12· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

13 14 15· EPIC 34567

5:30pm to 7:00pm

16 17 18· 8am Orthros

9am Divine LiturgySaturday of Souls

· EPIC Event

19· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy Pentecost

· Father'sDay Luncheon

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

20·

Mens Group at Holy Apostles

21· Parish

Council Meeting

22 23· Give

Back GroupAddiction Support Group ~ this group is for people struggling with addictions and their families. We meet every other week for prayer and support.

24 25· Teens:

Cooking Challenge

26· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

27 28 29· Vespers for

Holy Apostles

30· 8am Orthros

9am Divine Liturgy Holy ApostlesFeast Day

Followed by a Luncheon

Reminder exists

Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church19421 Ashworth Avenue NorthShoreline, WA 98133

“Let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God”

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE WA PERMIT NO. 532