St. Christopher

Hellenic Orthodox Church 313 Dividend Drive, Suite 210

Peachtree City, Georgia 30269

Phone: (770) 347-PRAY (7729) Website: www.saintchristopherhoc.org

Very Rev. Fr. George J. Tsahakis, Pastor

Tammy Soulakos, President, Parish Council

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April 2018

Keep watching… soon, we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we approach Holy and Great Pascha, the theme of resurrection is brought up and emphasized. Just as Christ resurrected Himself, He has promised to resurrect those who believe and choose to be part of His Kingdom. In our Adult Religious Education textbook, Thirty Steps to Heaven, we are encouraged to gaze beyond our earthly life… to consider the consequences of our daily choices. In so doing, we visualize how our earthly life has ultimate fulfilment when we seek God’s will for ourselves and our families. It is then that we anticipate with joy our future resurrection into God’s Kingdom. To guide us to consider the significance of our personal resurrection, I recommend you read a superb spiritual reflection by St. Nikolai of Ochrid and Zica. In his 92nd reflection in Prayers by the Lake, he contemplates

the implications of our Savior resurrecting each of us from the dead:

My Lord is the One Who resurrects. He resurrects the dead from morning until dusk, and from dusk until dawn.1 What the morning buries, the Lord brings to life in the evening; and what the evening buries, the Lord brings to life in the morning. What work is more fitting for the living God than to resurrect the dead into life? Let others believe in the God Who brings men to trial and judges them.

Resurrection… What Does

That Mean to Me?

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I shall cling to the God Who resurrects the dead. Let others believe in the God, Who does not even draw near to the living when they call upon Him. I shall worship the God, Who holds His cupped ear even at cemeteries and listens, to hear whether anyone is crying out for resurrection or for the One Who resurrects. The gravediggers dig graves and are silent. The Lord opens graves and shouts.2 A mother places her daughter in a grave, the Lord takes her out of the grave; the Lord is a better mother than the mother. A father covers his son with soil, the Lord uncovers him. The Lord is a better father than the father. A brother buries his brother, the Lord resurrects him. The Lord is a better brother than the brother. The Lord has neither tears nor smiles for the dead. His whole heart belongs to the living. The world mourns for their kindred in the cemeteries; the Lord seeks His own with a song and awakens them. Resurrect my soul, O Lord, so that my body might also be resurrected. Dwell in my soul, and my body will become Your temple.3

My neighbors ask with anxiety whether this body of ours will be resurrected. If you have denied yourself once and for all, and no longer live for yourself, then your body is already being resurrected.4 If your body is a temple of the Most High God, then the One Who resurrects is within you, and your resurrection is already being accomplished. Our body changes with age, throughout our lifetime we have called many bodies our own. Which of them will be resurrected?

Pastoral Remarks From Fr. George: Resurrection… What Does That Mean to Me?

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Pastoral Remarks From Fr. George: Resurrection… What Does That Mean to Me?

Perhaps none of them. But you can be certain that if you have had a body which expresses the Word of God clearly, it will be resurrected.5

My Lord Who resurrects, does not resurrect death, because death was never alive. You are the One Who resurrects and You are the resurrection, for You are life.6 Only the seed which contains You is resurrected, and that seed which is of You.7 You will only bring to life that soul which now lives by You and not by the world. You will only preserve that body, which has begun to be filled with the Holy Spirit during this time.8

That which is of the Living God in the graves, will be resurrected into life. No one can resurrect the dead except the Lord, and no one can rise from the dead except the Lord. For He is in His holy people. Truly, He is in His living people, both in the grave and out of the grave.

_________________________________________________________ 1. “Jesus said... ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’” (John 11:25). 2. Cf. John 5:24-30 and 1 Thess. 4:13-17. 3. Cf. 1 Cor. 6:19. 4. Cf. Gal. 2:20, Rom 6:3-11, and Col. 2:12. 5. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:35-57. 6. Cf. John 11:25. 7. Cf. John 12:24. 8. Cf. Phil. 3:10-11, 20-21.

Very Rev. Fr. George J. Tsahakis Chancellor, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta Pastor, St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church

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Visit the St. Christopher’s Online Parish Calendar at www.saintchristopherhoc.org/Calendar.php

for up-to-the-minute details about upcoming events and services!

2018 Holy Week Schedule

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Saturday of Lazarus, March 31st

7:45 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am Breakfast and Tying of Palm Crosses Palm Sunday, April 1st

7:45 am Orthros

9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:15 am Distribution of Palms 10:30 am Palm Sunday Lunch

(Sponsored by Philoptochos) 5:30 pm Service of Bridegroom of Christ

Holy Monday, April 2nd

5:30 pm Service of the Bridegroom Christ

Holy Tuesday, April 3rd

5:30 pm Service of the

Bridegroom Christ & Hymn of Kassiani

Holy Wednesday, April 4th 5:00 pm Service of the

Bridegroom Christ & Sacrament of Holy Unction

Holy Thursday, April 5th

7:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 5:30 pm The Holy Passion Service & Procession of the Cross Holy Friday, April 6th

9:00 am Service of the Royal

Hours 10:00 am Decoration of

Kouvouklion 3:30 pm Vespers (Unnailing of Christ from the Cross 7:00 pm Lamentations at Tomb

of our Savior

Holy Saturday, April 7th 9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil/Sacrament of Chrismation 11:00 pm Preparatory Service- The Canon of Crucifixion The Great and Holy Pascha,

Sunday, April 8th

12:00 am Proclamation of the Resurrection of our Lord 12:30 am Resurrection Divine Liturgy 2:00 am Traditional Mayiritsa (lamb soup) and BBQ Sandwiches 10:30 am Great Vespers of Agape 11:30 am Parish Glendi at St. Christopher Church (see p. 6)

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St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church

Pascha Glendi

Sunday, April 8, 2018 Agape Service – 10:30 am

Picnic in the Yard – 11:30 am Food will be served at 12:00 noon

Click on the link below to RSVP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/187bMlrru_-2B0OtH_k8ncD-zK7jLMOYZbXhqChYneIo/edit

LOCATION: St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church

313 Dividend Dr., Peachtree City

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Hands of Love: April “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore, I command you to do this word which says, You shall surely open your hands to your

brother, to your poor and needy in your land.“ (Deut. 15:11)

All Sundays in April: Holy Cross School of Theology

Hands of Love, a ministry of our Philoptochos Society, will be accepting

monetary donations to benefit the School.

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts offers graduate programs leading to advanced degrees in Divinity and Theology. At Holy Cross, the only Greek Orthodox School of Theology in the United States, education is an integration of learning and faith. Its programs reflect the religious and cultural values of the Hellenic Orthodox tradition.

Holy Cross strives to fulfill the need to educate the next generation of leaders, clergy, and laypersons who will exemplify the values and spirit of Orthodox Christianity in their chosen professions. Learning, teaching, service, and worship activities develop the intellectual and spiritual potential of students. The School affords the faculty the academic freedom to pursue teaching and scholarship.

Yours in Christ, Anna Andreeva-Naydenova, Hands of Love Chair

Don’t want to cook? Let’s EAT™

Tired of doing the dishes? Let’s EAT™

Been meaning to eat out with your Family? Let’s EAT™

Have you been putting off catching up with old friends? Let’s EAT™

Wishing you had the opportunity to meet new friends? Let’s EAT™

Join Us at Broadway Diner, 535 S Glynn St., Ste. 1009, Fayetteville

Sunday, April 29th, 12:00 pm

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Schedule for Sunday Greet and Close Teams – April

If you would like to help but are unable to commit on a regular basis, please feel free to help clean up after services at your convenience. The more the merrier. We greatly appreciate everyone's help and are always looking to add more team members to this ministry!

Please call or e-mail Claudia Sliwinski (678) 633-9916, claudia.sliwinski@yahoo.com or Tammy Soulakos (404) 625-4663, tammy@soulakos.org .

Date Volunteers

04/01

Gail Ericsson

Julie Skouteris

Dina Tagalos Kearns

04/08

Pat Zenais Bassett Georgia Lungaro

Tammy Soulakos

04/15

Tom Farmakis

Susan Kleto

Paulette Malloy

04/22

Cynthia Cromartie

Emilia Moraitis

Stephen Sarantis

04/29

Stephen Butler

Claudia Sliwinski Julie and Victor Torres

A big Thank You to all our volunteers who help keep our Church

clean and tidy!

The following families are scheduled to prepare Prosfora this month:

PROSFORA BAKERS: PLEASE BE SURE TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Presbytera Marinda appreciates everyone’s help and if needs arise, please contact her at mtsahakis@comcast.net or (770) 381-1842.

Sunday, April 1 (due Sat, March 31 by 9:00 am) Evangelos & Emilia Moraitis/Milena Taylor

Thursday, April 5 (due Wed., April 4 by 5:30 pm) Effie Sakkas/Susan Kleto

Saturday, April 7 (due Fri., April 6 by 7:00 pm) Georgia Lungaro/Claudia Sliwinski

Sunday, April 8 (due Sat., April 7 by 9:00 am) *** For Midnight Liturgy, Sat. April 7 *** Costa & Tammy Soulakos/Lydia McGee

Thursday, April 12 (due Wed., April 11 by 4:00 pm) Becky Butler/Presbytera Marinda Tsahakis

Sunday, April 15 (due Fri., April 13 by 4:00 pm) Helen Psihountas/Julie Skouteris

Sunday, April 22 (due Fri., April 20 by 4:00 pm) Dedee Panayis/Presbytera Marinda Tsahakis

Sunday, April 29 (due Fri., April 27 by 4:00 pm) Pat MacDougall/Stella Christodoulopoulos

April Prosfora Baking Schedule

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"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and

glorify your Father in Heaven."

(St. Matthew 5:16)

Membership March was membership month for our Philoptochos chapter. We welcomed returning members and new members. It’s not too late to join us. We encourage you to pick up a form and join us in our endeavors of philanthropy and outreach.

Graduates If you have a high school or college graduate in your family, please contact Mary Ramsaier. Graduate Sunday is June 3rd.

Calendar Dates April 1 Palm Sunday Luncheon April 6 Decoration of Kouvouklion, morning April 22 Prayer Shawl Blessing, please include wool yarn May 13 Mother’s Day and Name Day Parish Luncheon May 20 Baby Shower for Danielle and Lloyd Moulton (Dawkins), Mini General Meeting June 3 Graduate Sunday June 17 Father’s Day Luncheon

Outreach Opportunity Our Philoptochos Chapter will be participating in an outreach day with Midwest Food Bank. Our National Philoptochos’ initiative is for ladies across the nation to make 1,000,000 meals before the national conference in July. Our efforts will contribute to this goal! Be on the lookout for more information!

Thank you for your continued support!

Your Sister in Christ, Helen Psihountas Philoptochos President

Philoptochos News

and Updates

Shawls to Assist OCMC Sunday April 22nd will be our next Prayer Shawl Blessing. These shawls will be donated to the OCMC Mission Team comprised of Orthodox clergy wives going to Tirana, Albania in September. Albanian Orthodox women are looking to Orthodox clergy wives from North America to learn about how clergy wives support the ministries of the Church, their husbands, and families. The Church in Albania and with the blessings of Archbishop ANASTASIOS of Tirana and All Albania, alongside OCMC missionaries to Albania, will sponsor this Women’s Retreat for women in the Church. Orthodox Christians in Albania only make up about 30% of the population and their efforts to rebuild, both physically and spiritually, receive very little support from or protection by their government. Please contact Susan Kleto at (770) 253-8469 or sbkleto@gmail.com if you have any questions, would like to receive a Prayer Guide, or have any suggestions for improving the program.

Parish Financial Update

We are showing a deficit below, but this is due to making a 6-month prepayment on our Archdiocese allocation. This prepayment assisted the Archdiocese, while providing us with a slight discount. The deficit from this item will be reduced over the next six months. Ignoring this item, income over expense is ~$500, down slightly from January. Income for February was slightly below budget but tracking close to budget (blue dots in graph). Thank you for your continued support of our Operations. Please contact George Psihountas, Treasurer, or Steve Sarantis, Assistant Treasurer, if you have any questions. Faithfully, George Psihountas Parish Council Treasurer

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$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

$140,000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

($6,000)

($4,000)

($2,000)

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

St. Christopher 2018 Operating Balance

Net Income Op Income (Actual) Op Income (Budget)

Net Income

Op Income

Total Budget Total Budget Op. Income Op. Income Op. Expenses Op. Expenses Op. Net

Jan $12,519 $11,464 $11,863 11464.34 $656 Feb $22,522 $22,929 $25,298 $22,929 ($2,776)

Pascha Donations

As your Lenten Journey has guided you to increase your spiritual readings, time in prayer, and abstention of many foods, please consider also increasing your Lenten alms-giving or making an

additional Pascha donation.

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PARISH PRIEST: Fr. George Tsahakis, Protopresbyter (770) 381-1842

PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Fr. George Tsahakis, Protopresbyter (770) 381-1842 Tammy Soulakos, President (404) 625-4663 Julie Skouteris, Vice President (770) 253-2722 Jeanie McGee, Secretary (404) 405-5370 George Psihountas, Treasurer (770) 298-4496 Stephen Sarantis, Assistant Treasurer (770) 719-1133 Stephen Butler (770) 461-1800 Maria Cahill (770) 830-5527 Tom Farmakis (404) 428-7006 Steve Theodorakis (404) 717-5887 MINISTRY LEADERS: Altar Boys and Myrrh Bearers: Fr. George Tsahakis (770) 381-1842 Building Committee Chairman: George Zavlanos (770) 253-6767 Building Fundraising Committee: Tom Farmakis (404) 428-7006 Chantors: George Skouteris (770) 253-2722 Choir: Jeanie Ellinas (770) 487-5740 Church Maintenance/Facilities: Stephen Sarantis (770) 719-1133 Church Supplies Ordering: Pat MacDougall (770) 486-0580 Education, Culture, & Youth Diakonia Committee: Tammy Soulakos (404) 625-4663 Facebook: Katie Wilson (404) 434-0877 Finance Committee: Steve Wilson (770) 597-0263 Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA): Sheryl Vasiliadis (770) 252-7881 Greet and Close Teams: Claudia Sliwinski (678) 633-9916 Hellenic Dance: Katie Wilson (404) 434-0877 Hellenic Language: (No teacher available at this time) H.O.P.E./J.O.Y.: Katie Wilson (404) 434-0877 Emilia Moraitis (678) 423-7951 Inventory and Assets: Steve Theodorakis (404) 717-5887 Newsletter: Susan Kleto (678) 877-9115 Outreach Committee: Jeanie McGee (404) 405-5370 Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF): Helen Psihountas (770) 298-4493 Peachtree City GreekFest 2018: Tammy Soulakos (404) 625-4663 Julie Skouteris (770) 253-2722 Dina Tagalos Kearns (470) 277-2126 Helen Psihountas (770) 298-4493 Personnel: Tammy Soulakos (404) 625-4663 Philoptochos: Helen Psihountas (770) 298-4493 Prosfora/Kolyva/Artoklasia: Presbytera Marinda Tsahakis (770) 381-1842 Publicity Committee: Cynthia Cromartie (678) 570-5083 Real Estate Committee: Cynthia Cromartie (678) 570-5083 Religious Education Program: Katie Wilson (404) 434-0877 St. Christopher Bookstore: Becky Butler (770) 461-1800 and Emilia Moraitis (678) 423-7951 St. Christopher Library: Presbytera Marinda Tsahakis (770) 381-1842 Stewardship Committee: Julie Skouteris (770) 253-2722

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Palm Sunday (Western Easter) 7:45 am Orthros followed by Blessing of Palms 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:15 am Distribution of Palms 10:30 am Palm Sunday Luncheon (Sponsored by Philoptochos) 5:30 pm Service of the Bridegroom Christ Strict Fast

2 Holy Monday 5:30 pm Service of the Bridegroom Christ Strict Fast

3 Holy Tuesday 5:30 pm Service of the Bridegroom Christ Strict Fast

4 Holy Wednesday 5:00 pm Service of the Bridegroom Christ & Sacrament of Holy Unction Strict Fast

5 Holy Thursday 7:00 am The Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 5:30 pm The Holy Passion Service & Procession of Cross Strict Fast

6 Holy Friday 9:00 am The Royal Hours Service 10:00 am Decoration of Kouvloukion (Tomb of Christ) 3:30 pm Vespers (The Unnailing of Christ from the Cross) 7:00 pm Lamentations at tomb of Our Savior (Epitaphios Thrinos) Strict Fast

7 Holy Saturday 9:00 am The Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil/Sacrament of Chrismation 11:00 pm Preparatory Service, The Canon of Crucifixion Strict Fast

8 Great & Holy Pascha 12:00 am (Midnight) Proclamation of the Resurrection 12:30 am Resurrection Divine Liturgy 2:00 am Traditional Mayiritsa Lamb Soup 10:30 am Great Vespers of Agape at St. Christopher’s (Gospel Proclaimed in many languages) 11:30 am Parish Glendi (details on p.6) Bright Week Begins

9 Bright Week - Fast Free

10 Bright Week - Fast Free

11 8:00 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy Fr. George will offer services at Archangel Michael Chapel, Atlanta Bright Week - Fast Free

12 Eve of Feast of the Life-Giving Fountain 5:00 pm Great Vespers 5:45 pm Divine Liturgy 7:00 pm Community Dinner (non-fasting foods) Bright Week - Fast Free

13 Feast of the Life-Giving Fountain (celebrated on the Eve of Feast, 4/12/18) Bright Week - Fast Free

14 11:00 am Metropolis Picnic at DRC, Salem, SC Everyone Invited Bright Week - Fast Free

15 Sunday of St. Thomas 7:45 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:45 am Religious Ed. Classes 11:45 am Parish Council Meeting

16 ) 17 18 19 6:30 pm Choir Practice

20 21

22 Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women 7:45 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:15 am Blessing of the Prayer Shawls 10:45 am Religious Ed. 11:30 am Philoptochos Board Meeting

23

24 25 26 6:30 pm Choir Practice

27 Parish Council Planning Retreat

28 Parish Council Planning Retreat

29 Sunday of the Paralytic 7:45 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:45 am Religious Ed. 12:00 pm Let’s Eat, Broadway Diner, Fayetteville

30

Community Calendar April 2018