On Our Cover
It has been a most unique election season these past several months and soon it will be Election Day – Tues November 8. So much has been said and critiqued; many are confused and displeased and others are thrilled. Some don’t want to vote for either presidential candi-date….so it is said. Probably all of us will be happy when it is all over and done with.
Elsewhere in this issue I have included an article entitled “Do Politics Become the Christian?” We often hear…it is our “civic duty to vote.” This article tells us that it is also (or first) our Christian duty to vote. I have a major concern in this election cycle…..
So much pro/con has been said about the presidential side of this election, that many may not know that there is MORE than just the president being voted on in this election! And if it is true that many don’t want to vote for either presidential candidate, they may not go to the polls at all. Not fair for the other levels of our government and the election process.
The November 8th election also includes the election for the US House of Representatives, as well as our Rhode Island State Senate (in fact all 38 seats). There are also 7 State ballot measures (concerning a casino and various bond issues….new Veterans Home, higher edu-cation, affordable housing projects, to name a few). Many cities will vote for mayor and school boards as well. So there is a lot at stack here…not just voting for the next president of our nation.
Of course we should not go to vote, just to vote…we should study the issues and the various candidates on all levels of government and do so from a Christian perspective. This stand-ard may not always fit, but it should be reviewed and be a reference point, for therein when a candidate does live a life of Christ they can affect society in the most positive manner. This should be our focus, yet granted it won’t always connect to the candidate’s life style or views on all issues. But when it does, it should be a no brainer.
Few however in any election season will totally meet the criteria on all issues of the day. That’s why prayer is key…..for the nation, our state and our cities and yes for those elected who will lead us…for what may be their view at one point might not remain. Praying for civic leaders fervently, can have an effect in improving them!
ON ELECTION DAY WE WILL HAVE MORNING SERVICES AS IT COINCIDES WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF THE ANGELS WHO PROTECT US.
Fr. Andrew +
2016 GREEK FESTIVAL NEWS HOPE YOU CAN MAKE THIS DATE, YOU SO DESERVE A THANK YOU DINNER / REVIEW MEETING FOR VOLUNTEERS
MONDAY October 11 @ 6pm
FESTIVAL RAFFLE WINNER – Kevin Martin…..$5000.00
Imagine he was walking by the table and 3 young girls were promoting the ticket sales, telling everyone “Raffle Tickets, buy your Raffle Tickets”, so he walked by the table then stopped went back and bought the ticket, he said “if it wasn’t for those young girls promoting the sale of the tickets I would of just kept walking.” He also acknowledged the effort of the girls and gave them each a gift.
De-Briefing Meeting for all Booth & Area Chairs
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 @7:30 pm after the thank you dinner
Platytera Installation Ahead in November
Beginning on November 15, work will begin preparing the space within the altar apse to receive the long awaited icon commonly known as the Platytera along with 2 angels supporting her as displayed over these past several months on the big rendering board at our last Parish Assembly and kept since in our narthex, for all to view in anticipation of the beginning of the PHASE 2 Program of our church interior renovations. This pre-liminary work and the actual installation of the icon already written (i.e. painted) is ex-pected to take about 8-10 days. On site will be our iconographer Fr Anthony Salzman and his crew. The altar apse itself will be completely sealed off from the rest of the church. Normal services will be served directly in church, but from the Solea and not from within the altar. Coming your way in the mail soon will be the materials concern-ing the Phase 2, Two-Year Fund Drive (2017-2018) for which we seek everyone’s fi-nancial support to enable us to begin the other aspects of the program in anticipation of the 50th year of the completion of the erection of our church edifice.
Parish Council Nominations Ahead
Next month our parish Board of Elections will be accepting nominations for positions on the parish council for the 2-year term 2017-2018. Those desiring to submit their own name may do so after requesting eligibility requirements from the Parish Office.
REMEMBER 10 Minutes a day for Bible Reading & Prayer at home.
Annunciation Athletics Program (AAP)
2016-2017 Basketball Season
Mission: Our mission is to teach our youth lifelong skills such as respect, responsibility, trust, leadership, team work, and sportsman ship through the sport of basketball.
Vision: “Strength in unity in faith” use team building concepts to grow as players,
Individual friends and family ,creating life long bonds.
Goal: Win on the court and win in life “develop the leaders, shape the future.”
We are excited to start the 2016—2017 Basketball Season Program. The new season is upon us and we are looking forward to seeing returning players and welcoming new players to the pro-gram. Basketball is not only a physical sport but also a mental strategic game. We are pre-pared to provide the teachings and coaching skills needed to see you succeed as a team on the court and as a team in faith.
Here are the details:
Practice will be on Fridays, starting at 7pm till 9:30pm. A schedule of future Friday night prac-tice dates will be handed out at practice. Starting date and location is still being worked on late October early November, it will be in Cranston.
Elementary Team: Ages 5-8 Practices only “learning how to play” NO OFFICIAL Games.
Junior Team: Ages 8-14, Games will be Saturday mornings at Haven United Methodist Church in East Providence. Junior team is divided into 2 teams A and B…….A team are those who have been playing for years and B team are those new to the sport. Based on practice the coaches will decide your skill level and what team you will be placed on.
Senior Team: Ages 15-18, To Be Determined based on number of participants this season
Should you have any questions, please call or text Stephen Sterpis (Athletics Coordinator) at 401-226-3116 or ssterpis621@gmail.com. Please leave a descriptive email, text or voice mail with the following information……..
Childs name
Age- and birth date
T-Shirt size (****specify youth or adult size)
Shorts size
Parents name, email address and cell phone and or home phone number
The Financial Corner
We have just recently completed our three day summer festival for 2016. We had a tremendous festival and we were blessed with great weather. I hope you all had the opportunity to attend the festival.
I can at this time provide you with very “preliminary” financial numbers. It was a successful festival but remember these numbers are very preliminary.
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY TOTAL
FOOD TENT (CASH) $20,778.00 $46,875.00 $38,347.00 $106,000.00
FOOD TENT (CREDIT) $12,180.52 $26,256.36 $22,404.60 $ 60,841.48
FOOD TENT (GIFT CARD) $ 86.00 $ 000.00 $ 000.00 $ 86.00
FOOD TENT TOTALS $33,044.52 $73,131.36 $60,751.60 $166,927.48
PASTRY (CASH) $11,871.50 $23,383.00 $17,020.00 $ 52,274.50
PASTRY (CREDIT) $ 5,994.01 $ 9,881.01 $ 7,574.52 $ 23,449.54
PASTRY (GIFT CARD) $ 24.00 $ 000.00 $ 000.00 $ 24.00
PASTRY TOTALS $17,889.51 $ 33,264.01 $24,594.52 $ 75,748.04
KAFENIO (CASH) $ 1,172.00 $ 2,979.00 $ 2,396.00 $ 6,547.00
KAFENIO (CREDIT) $ 000.00 $ 000.00 $ 000.00 $ 000.00
KAFENIO (GIFT CARD) $ 000.00 $ 000.00 $ 000.00 $ 000.00
KAFENIO TOTALS $ 1,172.00 $ 2,979.00 $ 2,396.00 $ 6,547.00
LOUKOUMADES (CASH) $ 957.00 $ 2,921.00 $ 2,023.00 $ 5,901.00
LOUKOUMADES TOTALS $ 957.00 $ 2,921.00 $ 2,023.00 $ 5,901.00
DOUGH BOYS (CASH) $ 354.00 $ 762.00 $ 922.00 $ 2,038.00
DOUGH BOYS TOTALS $ 354.00 $ 762.00 $ 922.00 $ 2,038.00
BAR (CASH) $ 5,080.00 $ 10,042.00 $ 6,595.00 $ 21,717.00
BAR (CREDIT) $ 1,173.51 $ 2,316.01 $ 840.00 $ 4,329.52
BAR TOTALS $ 6,253.51 $ 12,358.01 $ 7,435.00 $ 26,046.52
KIDDIE RIDES (CASH) $ 123.00 $ 309.00 $ 291.00 $ 723.00
KIDDIE RIDES TOTALS $ 123.00 $ 309.00 $ 291.00 $ 723.00
RAFFLE (CASH) $ 1,070.00 $ 2,850.00 $ 2,120.00 $ 6,040.00
CAR RAFFLE TOTALS $ 1,070.00 $ 2,850.00 $ 2,120.00 $ 6,040.00
CHURCH TOURS (CASH) $ 258.00 $ 799.00 $ 602.00 $ 1,659.00
CHURCH TOURS TOTALS $ 258.00 $ 799.00 $ 602.00 $ 1,659.00
GRAND TOTALS $ 61,121.54 $ 129,373.38 $ 101,135.12 $ 291,630.04
The following statistics indicate the items sold:
ITEM 3 DAY TOTAL
GYRO SANDWICHES 7207 TYROPITA 628
WATER & SODA 6017 PASTITSIO ONLY 615
SPANAKOPITA 2337 POTATOES 504
DOLMADES 1474 PASTITSIO DINNER 447
LAMB DINNERS 1464 PITA BREAD 366
FRENCH FRIES 1374 HOT DOGS 360
SOUVLAKI DINNER 1070 RICE PILAF 294
TZATZIKI SAUCW 943 CHEESEBURGERS 291
GREEK SALAD 872 SOUVLAKI ONLY 260
CHICKEN DINNER 845 LOUKANICO 221
PASTRY ITEMS SOLD ITEM 3 DAY TOTAL
MELOMAKARONA 5444 MACAROONS 1237
RIZOGALO 2327 GALKTOBOUREKO 746
BAKLAVA 2248 TYROPITA 617
KOURABIEDES 2146 SPANAKOPITA 495
DIPLES 1735 KARIDOPITA 1
KOULOURAKIA 1352
PASTRY ASSORTMENTS 1340
It also should be mentioned that the Festival Sponsor Book this year brought in an additional $17,050.00.
CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL!!!!
GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!!
CORDIALLY SUBMITTED BY: JAMES SILVA
2016 Pledge Program Report
We have to date 357 parishioners with the pledge of $180,362.00
The Actual Amount Received is $161,853.22
Since our last newsletter, the following pledges have been received for 2016:
M/M Vassilios Chrysanthopoulos, Flora Delis, M/M Spiro Haritos, M/M Hrisostomos Tsioplakis, M/M Michael Haveles, Marianthi Mastriano, M/M David Mihailides, M/M Andrew Mitrelis, Haido Titelis, M/M Stavros Valkanos
As Christians, let us understand that we are the managers of God’s property as well as our time, our talents, our possessions, our body, our souls—everything is God’s. Saint Paul writes– “let each one Give as he purposes In his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; God loves a cheerful giver” 2 cor 9:7
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. Mary Despina Lekas Endowment Fund News
Financial Report for the period ending 8/31/16
Endowment Fund Portfolio: $779,464.35
Endowment Fund Checking Account: $5,718.28
In memory of Cynthia Samaras a donation made to the Endowment Fund By, M/M Thomas Drennan Jr., Dorothy Pliakas, M/M Carroll F. Promades, M/M Arthur Pappas, M/M Ernest Pappas
In memory of Mary Marshallis a donation made to the Endowment Fund By, M/M Joseph Cimini, Lena Costentino, Nicoletta Panos
“Phase II Donations”
In Memory of Artemis Frangos donations made to the Phase II Building Fund: By, Philoptochos Society, James Decoulos, Michael Krone
Parishioner News
Alexa Papigiotis, competed in the Miss Rhode Island Teen Pageant 2017 USA and won the pageant competition on Sunday Sept. 11, 2016. She will be representing the State of Rhode Island next summer in the National Competition. September 22, she appeared on the Rhode Show along with her counterpart, Miss Rhode Island 2017 USA. Alexa competed along with 48 young ladies throughout the state and made her first public appearance throwing out the first pitch at a softball game here in Cranston.
Alex Kanelos is the new principal at Hope Highlands Middle School here in Cranston (just converted from elementary to middle school level this year), after having been an assistant principal at Cranston High School West for the previous 3 years. Before coming to the Cranston School District he was in East Providence as a high school teacher, dean of students and head basketball coach..
DO POLITICS BECOME THE CHRISTIAN?
By Rev Dr Stanley S. Harakas
“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God, what is God’s” is a teaching of Christ. From one perspective it means at least that Christ saw the Church as something very different from the State and its methods.
Yet, “Render unto Caesar, that which is Caesar’s” is also a command. It seems to imply that there is a responsibility to be exercised toward the State by the Church, too. How is this to be explained?
While we can think of the church as official, we also know that the church is the body of the believers who have been baptized in the name of the Ho-ly Trinity and who live the sacramental life. When we think of it that way, every Christian helps make up the church and few of us would agree that it is right for the whole body of the faithful to stay out of politics, even parti-san politics. The reason for this is that we do have a duty to “render unto Caesar, that which is Caesar’s.”
Christian Citizenship
Politics isn’t only voting for candidates for public office. The ancient Greeks understood politics as the art of governing. In a democracy that means that the people share in the governing process. And that means that Christians are of necessity involved in politics. That is the point. Should the Christians who make up the church help govern the city and county and state and nation in which they live? Or to put it in other words, is there such a thing as Christian citizenship?
Well, the early Christians acted as if there was. The first thing they did was to make sure that they obeyed the laws. The New Testament makes a point of that. They also took advantage of the protection provided by “due process.” Saint Paul appealed to the Emperor as a Roman citizen when he felt he had an unfair trial. The early Christian writers, known as the Apol-ogists, wrote letters to the Emperor to express their views on what they felt was an unjust law (the persecution of Christians).
Later on in the Church’s history, countless patriarchs, bishops, clergy and laypersons worked in the political system of Byzantium for laws which embodied Christian values. For example, laws regarding the status of women, the protection of infants and children, the improvement of the condition of slaves, and the poor, became concerns of the church.
Involvement Necessary for Christians
In a democracy such as ours, Orthodox Christians are called upon to continue that tradition. Individual Orthodox Christians will study the is-sues, examine the records of candidates and vote regularly. Some will be convinced that they should support the campaigns of some candidates. Others will run for public office themselves.
The important thing is that we participate in the political enterprise as Christians, as members of the church. And lest I be misunderstood, let me add that Christians should not become involved in politics for self-serving purposes, but in order to serve justice, to enhance citizenship, to do good works before all people and on behalf of all people. If, as some say, “politics is a dirty business,” then Christians will seek to clean it up and to help it fulfill its real purpose.
The church is properly involved in politics when her members partici-pate in the electoral process, write letters of Christian opinion to their elected representatives, join a political party, express their Christian opin-ion in public forum and work in groups seeking to improve the condition of public life. Further, they are involved in politics when they pray daily and on Sundays, as we do in the Divine Liturgy, for the civil rulers of our nation, for peace, for the cities in which we live, etc.
In answer to the title question “Do Politics Become the Christian?” The response is plain. In a society such as ours, in order to render unto Caesar that which is his, Orthodox Christians necessarily will be involved in poli-tics. Being involved in politics is part of what it means to be a Christian.
ANNUNCIATOR YOUTH PAGE
Joint Hope (pre-K thru2nd graders) & Joy (3rd – 5th graders)
Sunday Oct 16 at Jaswell’s Farm after Liturgy & Sunday School.
GOYA ELECTS
For the new church year Goyans have elected the following as officers:
Joint Presidents– Sophia Sarkis & Eleni Mihailides
Joint V-Presidents– Noah Spagnolo & Christian Mitrelis
Treasurer—Constantine Coclin
Joint Recording Secretary– Elliana Spagnolo & Katherine Mitrelis
Corresponding Secretary– Anastasia Coclin
Announcements—Announcements-Announcements
Goya will be spreading the word this year of their activities as in the past on Facebook but new this year will be Twitter and Snapshot as well as “Remind”
UP-COMING GOYA ACTIVITIES (6-12 graders)
Saturday October 29th overnight—Sunday October 30th Lock-in (note date change since last issue)
Sunday November 6th Leaf Raking (for parishioner seniors in the greater Cranston area)
Friday November 25th Goya Dance (open to teens in the other Orthodox parishes in our region)
Saturday December 10th Goya Christmas Party (at the Spagnolo Home in Warwick)
MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS TO FOLLOW
TO RSVP TO THE NEXT UPCOMING EVENT CALL OR TEXT CJ MITRELIS AT (401) 632-8752
EVERY THURSDAY
Our teens are reminded to watch “Be The Bee” produced by the Archdiocese Youth Office on You Tube / Y2AM
PHILOPTOCHOS ANNUNCIATOR
OCTOBER, 2016
The Philoptochos Annual Greek Food Fair and Christmas Bazaar
Nov. 12th and 13th
Is fast approaching, and every both chairperson is working diligently to make our biggest fund raiser a success once again this year. As always, we are thankful and grateful for your continued support each year. We remind you, once again, that we rely on YOU, OUR PARISHIONERS, to ensure the success we enjoy year after year which enables us to fulfill our ministry and purpose….to assist those in need.
These are the areas in which we need your help: TAVERNA – Everyone enjoys the delicious food that is prepared in our kitchen. Taverna has the greatest expenses. Please help us defray some of these expens-es with a donation…..be it a food item or a monetary donation. You may call Koula Rougas 944-7572 OR Roula Proyous 781-8567 with any questions you have regarding a donation. As mentioned previous-ly, all our booths are in need of assistance. GRAND RAFFLE AND DAY RAFFLE need donations of prizes. SILENT AUCTION has a great deal of activity and interest if the items are attractive to present an interesting auction. HANDCRAFT is in need of hats, scarves, baby blankets, baby clothes, sweaters, etc. Please get those needles clicking and donate an item or two. AGORA is in need of “anything Greek”. WHITE ELEPHANT items may be brought the week prior to the Bazaar….clean and in working order, please. JEWELRY always needs donations, so please use your contacts and solicit a do-nation. VINTAGE items such as lovely linens, furs, pocketbooks, fine antique chine, pictures, jewelry, brooches, are what we need for this booth. CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE will be announcing workshops to sew some pretty Christmas items. If you would like to sew at home, we have some Christmas fabric you may use to make something. Contact Diane Mitrelis 946-3339 for further information. PASTRY in addition to what our workshops prepare is needed for the Pastry area. Please note the Bazaar dates on your calendars and donate some pastry….Greek or otherwise. We will be having baking workshops on the following dates. Please come and help us. Everyone welcomed.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18TH—BAKLAVA / SPANAKOPITA – 6:00 P.M.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26TH—KOULOURAKIA / KOURAMBIEDES – 6:00 P.M.
Letters for requests for donations are available by calling Georgia Pappas 529-6826. Thank you.
HELP FOR THE HOMELESS – A continuing project for Philoptochos is the collection of travel-size healthy and beauty aids items…shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, body wash, deodorant, etc. There is a bin in the Church Center….Demetrakas Hall Entrance….to place your donation. Eyeglasses of any type are also collected and distributed to the appropriate agency.
MEMBERSHIP AND SISTERHOOD OF ST. BASIL—As we approach the end of the calendar year, we remind you to submit your Philoptochos Stewardship. Please send to the Church Office, attention Philoptochos, Mary Samaras. When doing so, please keep in mind that $15 per capita is sent to the Na-tional Philoptochos, and $5 to the Metropolis Philoptochos. At the same time, please remember St. Basil’s Academy with your $5 donation to the Sisterhood of St. Basil’s, also sent to the Church Office, attention Philoptochos, Carol Rothemich.
Our next Philoptochos Meeting will be held on Monday, October 17th, 6:15 p.m. Board Meeting and 7:00 p.m. General Meeting. We invite all women to come and join us as we continue our Philoptochos work….helping those less fortunate.
GEORGIA PAPPAS, PRESIDENT
KAREN DRAGER, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Recent Deaths
Mary Marshallis, age 93, of Providence, RI passed away on 8/27/16, her funeral and burial was held on 8/31/16. Paul DiNoble at age 66 on Sept 6. Funeral and burial was held on Sept 13. Katherine Samos, age 95, of Warwick, RI passed away on 9/10/16, her funeral and burial was held on 9/15/16. Liselotte F. “Lilo” Topouzis, age 86, of Cranston, RI passed away on 9/21/16, her funeral and burial was held on 9/24/16. ~May their Memory be Eternal~
Adult Class Seminar at Assumption Parish – Pawtucket
From Monday October 31 to December 12 an adult class will be offered every Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Community Center of the Assumption Parish on the sub-ject “The Spiritual Message of Socrates: What he believed in and how he lived his life”.
We will read and reflect on Plato’s classical masterpiece,” The Apology,” which is Soc-rates’ defense before the Athenian court that condemned him to death for his unwill-ingness to compromise his moral convictions. Socrates, the father of moral philosophy, had such an impact upon Christianity that the great Danish theologian Sore Kierke-gaard called him ” The Christ before Christ”!. Even today one can see the icon of Socra-tes in many churches in the Balkans and Norther Greece honored as a saint. While reading the Apology we will also reflect on Socrates’ classical statement ” Life unex-amined is not worth living.” For further questions, please call John Lyssikatos at 401 728-4452.
AS VETERAN’S DAY APPROACHES NEXT MONTH:
The Norwich, CT AHEPA Chapter Announces the kick-off of Advance Sales
of it’s Greek History Book – “A Story That Should Be Told” by Tony Petros After two years of researching and accumulating material from the descendants of Greek-American Veterans, from all over the United States – the text is finished and at the printers. These veterans risked their lives – some did not return – and we were not able to find all their names in one place. The Norwich AHEPA 110 took up the task of telling the story of the veterans of our community . . .
SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
Our chapter donated $10,000 to fund and publish this book out of respect for all our veterans. In the process of researching our book we found that Norwich had 97 Greek-American veterans from the WW II era, 27 Greek veterans of WW I and one Greek veteran of the Civil war. We were able to obtain pictures of 88 WW II veterans, most of them in uniform from the 1940’s. Of the 27 WW I veterans, we also have 8 pictures of them – some taken in 1918 – in uniform.
Greek Communities, throughout the country, had similar stories as ours. It was reported that there were approximately 71,900 Greek-American Veterans of WW II.
Our book, tells how we were able to gather the names, photos and military infor-mation of all our Norwich veterans and the many places that we searched. Book Cost – $24.95 plus shipping 6.25 total of $31.20
Make Check to: AHEPA 110 > send to: c/o Tony Petros > 132 Apache St. > Norwich, CT 06360 ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE HOLY TRINITY PARISH.