News
Saint Nectarios Newsletter - December 2018
Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Mission Church
627 West Bonneville St, Pasco WA 99301
Email: Tricityorthodox@aol.com
Website: www.stnectariostricites.org
Phone: 509 547-3968
Christmas Message from Father John
The Incarnate Son of God, Jesus, Who Saves Us
An old story I have heard about a beautiful, ornate box will help us get an insight of the Holy Day’s spirit. A lover gave to his beloved a precious diamond gift. To protect it, she put it in an ornate, carved box. The next generation placed the ornate box in another more ornate box to protect it and safeguard it from the ravages of time. The following generation placed it in a more luxurious box, without knowing what was in the original, carved box. The beautiful boxes unknowingly concealed the original gift. They undermined the preciousness of the lover’s original gift. That gift expressed the desire and love of the lover to his beloved, as the Birth of Christ expresses the saving love of God for us.
God, our Father, greatly loved us even when we were sinners, even when we were drowning in our disobedience and sin. He had sent to us many Prophets to tell us what He expected from us, but we ignored them. We were worshiping idols, the unholy fruits of our sinful desires. Even His chosen people ignored Him. Finally, He sent to us His Only-begotten Son to recall and save us. The Logos became incarnate, assumed our human nature.
He cleansed it from the sin, restored it to its original beauty. Without alteration He united our nature to His divine nature. United to Him now, each one of us is invited to live with Him eternally. In our baptism, He washed us, He cleansed us, He forgave us. God bestowed on us His Holy Spirit; He sealed us as His own children. Afterwards He fed us; He invited us to eat and drink in His Eucharistic Supper.
He planted us in His Holy Church, in His spiritual garden.
They are many lights around us. They impress and blind us. But we do not enjoy the heavenly light, like the shepherds. “They were a thousand lights, but they were not the light,” exclaimed the pious poet in deep regret and inner sorrow. Man needs the Light of the Incarnate Logos, Jesus Christ, In order to find his true, Christian orientation in life.
Christ expects now fruits from all of us, to multiply His talents. His Divine Grace will give us whatever we need to grow. But He also expects our cooperation and effort to achieve what is possible. The Holy Theotokos said with humility to Archangel Gabriel, “Here is your servant! Let it be to me according to your word.”
The just Joseph conquered his human suspicions and reservations. He humbly obeyed the divine direction and saved the Holy Family from Herod’s wrath. If we would also obey with humility the message of the angels, we will also enjoy the Divine Light with the simple shepherds. The Divine Star will also guide us to the Mother and Child. In Him we will discover the Precious Treasure, the Divine Son. The Divine Light will shine in our hearts and brings us joy, as it did to the Shepherds, the Magi, righteous Joseph and the Blessed Theotokos.
Blessed Christmas!
With love, Fr. John P. Angelis
Announcements
Parish News - General Assembly Meeting
The Fall General Assembly will be held on Sunday December 9th following the Divine Liturgy. All are encouraged to attend. The Fall General Assembly is a time to review what has taken place in 2018, and prepare for 2019. The Meeting Agenda is attached for your review.
Parish Council Nominations and elections will be held at the end of the General Assembly Meeting. Any member over the age of 18 in “good standing” with the church is eligible to be nominated and serve. Our parish bi-laws require us to have 6 members on the council. This year we will be electing 3 parishioners to serve a two-year term beginning in 2019. If you would like to serve or are willing to serve please contact Fr. John or any council member. If you would like to nominate someone, please verify with the individual prior to the nomination process to insure they are willing to serve. Our current members and their remaining terms are listed below:
John Bekhazi – 1 year remaining
Nancy Manthos – end of term
Nadar Samaan – end of term
Matthew Van Dinter – end of term
Tatiana Van Dinter – 1 year remaining
Maria Touvannas – 1 year remaining
Liturgy and Typica Services
Father John Angelis is assigned to St Nectarios. He normally serves two weekends each month. He conducts several days of services and activities including a Sunday morning Divine Liturgy sevrice. Church School classes for the children are starting after communion. On weekends when there is not a visiting Priest, Typica (Reader) Services start at 10AM on Sunday. All Sunday morning services are followed by a fellowship time. Come and participate!
Orthodox Sunday School ** New students of all ages are welcome **
Sunday School Students. Two classes are being offered: one for younger and one for older children (6th grade plus). Just come to Church with your children - the classes start after Communion. All are welcome!
Special Nativity Event
A Nativity Orthodox Discussion Meeting will be held on Saturday December 8th at 4pm at the St Nectarios Church. Please come and invite your friends to come with you. This informal event is a good chance to bring folks to St Nectarios that may wish to know more about our church.
This event is the second of a series of informal meetings with Father John for discussions of church-related topics. Please contact Fr. John or Maria Touvannas if you would like to be the host for a future meeting.
Sisterhood News
During the Nativity Season, our Sisterhood Organization has contributed to the Union Gospel Mission, Grace Clinic, and local food banks. In the past, these funds came from our work in yard sales and making and selling baklava. Presvytera Anna said if we decide to do a fundraiser during the Spring (after Pascha) she will be glad to assist us.
In the meantime, a special offering will be collected at our next Divine Liturgy, December 9th, (when Father is here) so we may continue our giving this year. A Sisterhood meeting will be scheduled in the near future so we can discuss possibilities for our next adventure.
Visitations
Father John Angelis is available for daytime visits, consultations, and confessions when he is at the St Nectarios Church. To make an appointment, please call him on his cell phone (2O6.678.636O).
Church Cleanup/Decoration Activities
You (and your family) are invited to help in clean-up and decoration of our church facility:
Monday – 12/ 3 from 9:30 – 11:30: Decorating Church for Christmas & Clean-up.
Sunday – 12/16: Church clean-up in preparation for Christmas services.
Prosphron Schedule:
12/09 – Tammy Droppo; 12/23 & 25 – Maria Touvannas
Fellowship Meal Schedule:
12/9 – Lorraine and Marguerite; 12/23 – Tammy and Tatiana
Schedule of Services
Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Mission Church
627 West Bonneville St, Pasco WA 99301
Sunday, December 2 14th Sunday of Luke
10:00AM Typica Service, Sunday School
11:00AM Fellowship Time
Friday, December 7 Afternoon / Evening visitations
Saturday, December 8
8:30AM Visitations by Priest - call Fr John to schedule
4:00PM Discussions on our Orthodox Faith:
"The Meaning of the Christmas Message
(The Incarnation of the Son of God) for us today."
5:00PM Great Vespers
Sunday, December 9 10th Sunday of Luke
9:00AM Orthros (Matins)
10:00AM Liturgy, Sunday School
11:00AM General Assembly Meeting
11:30AM Fellowship Time
Sunday, December 16 11th Sunday of Luke
10:00AM Typica Service, Sunday School
11:00AM Fellowship Time
Friday, December 21 Afternoon / Evening visitations
Saturday, December 22
8:30AM Visitations by Priest - call Fr John to schedule
4:00PM Bible Study -- Study our Faith in depth
5:00PM Great Vespers
Sunday, December 23 Sunday before Nativity
9:00AM Orthros (Matins)
10:00AM Liturgy, Children’s Program
11:00AM Fellowship Time
Monday, December 24
10:00AM Royal Hours
6:00PM Christmas Eve - Vesperal Divine Liturgy
Sunday, December 30 Sunday after Nativity
10:00AM Typica Service, Sunday School
11:00AM Fellowship Time
Email: To be added or removed, please send a note to tricityorthodox@aol.com.
---------Special Attachment----------
St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Mission Church
Fall General Assembly
December 9, 2018
Agenda
1. Opening Prayer
2. Minutes from previous meetings
3. Words from the President
4. Old Business
a. Financial Report
b. Stewardship
c. Strategic Planning Committee Report
d. Auditor’s Report - 2017
5. New Business
a. 2019 Proposed Budget
b. Election of Auditor
c. Nominations for next year’s Parish Council
d. Parish Council Elections
6. Questions and comments
Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 12/16/2018
11th Sunday of Luke
Visit the Online Chapel for more daily readings, hymns, a monthly calendar of saints and feasts, and more.
Please see 'Announcements' (under the 'About Us' Tab) for additional information about St. Nectarios activities.
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