The
Vol XXI- Issue IV
April 2009
Saying of
a Desert
Father:
Abba Moses
said, “When
someone is occupied with his
own faults, he
does not see
those of his
neighbor.”
Calendar pg 7
Youth pg 11
Philoptochos pg 16
Parish News pages
18-20
Oasis
Newsletter of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
Rev. Andrew Barakos, Presiding Priest & V. Rev. Virgil Suciu, Liturgical Assistant
www. assumptionaz.org [email protected] [email protected]
8202 E. Cactus Road Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone 480.991.3009 Fax 480.991.3717
“How
To Find LIFE!”
by Allan Boyd, Graduating Senior
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Rusty & Me
A little over 20 years ago, during the
1980s, I was attending a little church in
Tempe, where a man came in whom I
had never seen before. Rusty was his
name. Rusty was in his mid 50s and I
was in my mid 20s. He too had been a
redhead,
although
he
had
now
begun to gray
up a bit. He
had
a
gregarious
personality
and I was
drawn to his
warm
friendship.
Rusty told all
of us that he
had long been
a member of
that church,
but
hadn’t
ever attended much. He said that he
had recently, however, gained a new
appreciation for his own need to be
there with the rest of us. Regrettably, I
must admit that I was too distracted to
try to figure out what he meant by that.
Rusty took a liking to me, and spent
time talking to me as a bit of a fatherly
figure.
Since I was young and pretty broke, I
was quite impressed with the fact that
Rusty drove a shiny new Mercedes
380SL roadster-convertible, and had
been a successful businessman for
several years. Rusty was everything I
knew I wanted to be as a young man Rich and Riding in Style (hey it was the
80’s).
I remember, one day when Rusty and I
were talking, I told him how cool his
Mercedes was
and how I
wished
I
could be just
like
him.
Rusty’s
response was
like a kick in
the gut. He
said, “Allan,
the
doctors
tell me I have
cancer. They
say I only
have a few
months left to
live.
Sure
I’ve
made
some pretty good money in life, and I
drive a nice car, but my grown up kids
resent all the time I was out making
money instead of being a dad to them.
Now, as adults, they’ll hardly talk to me
any more.” He poked me in the chest
and said intensely, “You want my life?
I’ll trade you everything right now for
yours! Do you want to trade me?”
With my adoration abruptly disabled, I
stood paralyzed in my own stupidity. I
had no idea what to say. Suddenly
Continued on page 2
PASTORAL
Continued from page 1
Lette r
Rusty’s cool looking car
seemed cheap and disgusting
compared to his LIFE. I just
felt dazed and sick to my
stomach.
That’s when this
beautiful human being gave me
a gift far better than a Mercedes
380 SL convertible. With the
most intensely loving rebuke,
Rusty said, “Allan, it doesn’t
matter how much money you
make, how successful people
think you are, or the kind of car
you drive. What matters is if
you’ve really LIVED.”
He
said, “Allan, I’ve never lived so
much and so well as when that
doctor told me that I only have
6 months left to live.
My
doctor’s words were one of the
greatest gifts anyone could
have ever given me, because I
now began to focus on really
living.” He said, “If you want
to really LIVE, then live your
life as though you knew you
only had 6 months left to live.”
He went on to tell me how hard
he had been working to restore
his relationship with his kids
and to be a better husband to
his wife. He told me about his
renewed interest in coming to
church to be a part of a spiritual
family. He told me how he
tried hard to serve the folks
that were around him and what
a hoot it had been. For the first
time as an adult, Rusty saw
what was MOST important, he
was putting those important
things at the forefront of living,
and now he was finally loving
LIFE.
Since then, Rusty’s loving
rebuke to me has made all the
difference in the world. It has
made me a better father and
husband and friend than I was,
but it is also something that I
Page 2
“How To Find LIFE!”
continue to struggle with. How
can I live my life as though I
knew I only had 6 months left
to live? If I knew that I was
going to die soon, how would I
treat the people around me?
What would become really
important? What would I say
to people that I might have
otherwise left unsaid?
We All Have Death in Common
In truth, all of us are a lot
closer to our own looming
mortality than we would like to
admit. It is something that
every last one of us has in
common. We are all going to
die at some point, and we have
no idea when that might
happen. Some of us might
(God-willing) live to a ripe old
age, and yet we will STILL,
eventually meet our own
demise. Some of us will find
that grave encounter within
some illness, like my friend
Rusty. And even some of the
youngest of us may find, some
day very soon (please Godforbid), that we will end up
meeting our fate in something
quick and surprising like a car
accident. None of us will ever
know for sure when, or
necessarily how it will happen.
However, one thing is certain –
we are ALL somehow dying.
The question is, can we all look
at the sum of our lives and
honestly say that we have been
TRULY LIVING? When you
are gone, how will people
remember you? How will God
remember you? Will it be as
someone who left an abundance
of love and life behind? Or
will it be as someone who has
wasted LIVING in more selfabsorbed pursuits? I suspect
that, like me, many of you
struggle with this as well.
You also want to know (need to
know), “How can I really
LIVE?”
Christ’s Struggle – Nurturing
Real LIFE in the Midst of
Dying
In Mark 10:32-45, we see Jesus
approaching the end of His life.
As He walks along the road
toward Jerusalem with His
disciples, He knows that He has
a limited amount of time left
with them. Because of this,
there is the feel of greater
intensity in His ministry with
them. Since time is running
short, Jesus focuses His actions
and words more intently as He
approaches His passion week.
Like every single one of us, He
too is about to have a grave
encounter with death and thus
He wants to make sure that He
leaves His beloved disciples
with an understanding of what
it means to really LIVE.
Yet, as He takes these guys
aside to try to explain to them
the cruel and violent demise
that awaits Him in Jerusalem
before He will arise. James and
John decide that this is a great
time to negotiate their cut in
that deal. ‘Oh, OH! Jesus, we
want THRONES.
Yeah,
because we want to be your
right hand and left hand guys –
because we want to be just like
you. You’re the guy in charge.
You’re the man of glory! And
we want some of that! Yeah! –
Some
matching,
380SL,
convertible, golden thrones is
what we need!’
Now, it’s important to realize
that in the chapter just previous
to this one, the disciples were
just fighting over which one of
The Orthodox Oasis
PASTORAL
Letter
Continued from page 2
“How To Find LIFE!”
them was the greatest – and Jesus had to set
them straight. Now here they are again, still
whistling the same sour, self-serving tune. At
this point, I can just imagine that Jesus wants to
smack both of these guys on the backs of their
heads, and say, ‘You knuckleheads! You still
don’t get it? I’m about to die a horrible death
and I’ve been trying to teach you what LIFE
really is, and you’re asking me about thrones?’
So Jesus, once again pulls all of His 12 disciples
together for a ‘Come to Jesus
meeting.’ He says, “You
guys are pursuing all of
the same stuff that only
feeds death.” Essentially
He is saying, “Look at the
world around you – at the
entertainment industry and
the CEOs. Look at the
folks who have been using
their power and wealth to
consume other people.
Look at the pervasive
sickness of self-absorption.
These are not happy,
LIVING people. They’re
already so dead in their
tracks, they’re starting to
stink. If you want to know
what it means to really
LIVE, then pick up a
bucket & a towel and take up
the role of the servant. When you take up My
WAY of being, in serving all others, that’s when
you get to experience the authentic WAY of
LIFE.”
When we, as disciples of Jesus, become
servants, we see God’s Spirit create the
character of Christ within us and this growing
Christ-likeness always gives us the confidence
and power to face our own mortality with peace
and confidence in the love of God, for even
‘God Himself doesn’t come to be served but to
serve!’ (Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28) So
think about it. If God Himself doesn’t come to
be served but to serve, who are we to think that
we can LIVE doing anything less??? When we
serve others, we enter more fully into the
April 2009
victory of the real LIFE of Jesus as He faces His
own death with faith and confidence in the
faithfulness of the Father.
The Blessing of Servanthood
During this Holy Week, as we quickly approach
Christ’s death let us focus in more clearly on
His Life and Words. Imagine what our parish
will look and feel like when each of us carries
around our own Christ-like means of joyful
servant-hood? Remember my friend Rusty?
Remember how he said life was
such a hoot, once he began to
live
life
this
way?
Remember how he said he
had never really LIVED until
he started living this way?
Rusty’s life found a peaceful
and joyful end in the
servant’s LIFE – a life filled
with both the offering of
Christ’s Love and the
receiving of Christ’s Love.
Can you imagine yourself
filled with such LIFE? Can
you imagine our beloved
Assumption filled with such
LIFE? What a hoot! As
such, we will surely become
a blessing to the city of
Scottsdale and to each other.
Today might be your last
chance to serve. Today might
be your last chance to
experience LIFE. For each of us, with so little
time left, LIFE begins at the moment of
COMPASSION! So, in hopes of Christ’s
resurrection, let’s LIVE!!!
Allan Boyd is a Graduating Senior from the
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
in Brookline, MA.
Page 3
STEWARDSHIP
Report
Dollar Range
20-365
400-960
1000-1900
2000-3640
4000-6000
9360-13000
TOTALS
Count
77
64
57
20
10
4
232
Value
$16,478.00
$32,645.00
$66,650.00
$47,985.00
$46,120.00
$43,360.00
$253,238.00
Total 2009 stewards as of March 10, 2009
Top 2/3rds of pledges average $1,528
Many of us believe that the official Stewardship
campaign “begins” in November and “ends”
with the Blessing of the Commitments on
Stewardship Sunday. Well, that is a myth! In
reality, the Stewardship campaign is a year-long
effort and these periodic articles are a reminder
that stewardship is not just a one-month
program!
We are pleased to announce that as of March 10,
the 2009 campaign is well on its way to
meeting, and hopefully exceeding, our
expectations!
We have 232 stewards
committing $253,238 (see chart).
The two main goals of a successful Stewardship
campaign are to: (1) attract new stewards to join
the church and (2) have current stewards
increase their giving year after year. We thank
those who have already made their
commitments for 2009 and look forward to
receiving additional commitments from new
stewards of Assumption. As you can see from
the chart, our campaign commitments have been
very successful to date.
in expected “income” puts the church in a very
difficult situation. Due to this shortfall and
higher-than-expected expenses, Assumption
finished 2008 with a $60,000 deficit! It is
critical that as the year progresses, all of our
stewards make every effort possible to meet
their commitments in a timely manner! The
church has monthly obligations to meet and
when our cash flow is squeezed because of
delayed or slow payment of stewardship
obligations, the Parish Council may be faced
with having to make some very difficult
decisions about where and how to “cut”
expenses. Our goal is that we do not have to
reduce any financial support to the many
ministries at Assumption nor do we want to tap
any reserve (“rainy day”) funds. We need your
help and support to meet this goal.
It is reassuring to see that in a year of economic
uncertainty and turmoil that you have made the
choice to commit to your church and support its
various ministries!
If you have not made your Stewardship
commitment yet, this is a good time to
prayerfully consider the investment of your
hard-earned dollars where you will get
rewarding returns. Thank you and God Bless!
Dennis Stell
However, there is another aspect to the
Stewardship campaign that is often overlooked
and that is the fact that during the year, all of us
must do our part in fulfilling the commitments
that we have made! In 2008, our stewardship
commitments totaled $296,000 yet the total
dollars collected at year-end 2008 were
$259,600. This resulted in a $36,400 shortfall
in the expected total commitments to
Assumption for our fiscal year 2008.
As you can imagine, a shortfall of any amount
Page 4
The Orthodox Oasis
AGAPE ALLIANCE
Report
April 2009
Page 5
STEWARDSHIP
Page 6
Form
The Orthodox Oasis
April Assumption Calendar 2009
MONTHLY CALENDAR
April 2009
Page 7
ASSUMPTION STEWARDS 2009
Steve & Zoe Acheson
Kyrieckos & Mary Lou Aleck
Laz & Popy Amanatidis
Kiki Amanatidis
Jerry & Amanda Ameduri
Athena Ames
Nicholas & Athena Anastos
John & Melisa Angelone
Georgia Apostolos
Peter Aravosis
Ann Argyropoulos
Apostolos Argyros
Ennis & Sophia Ashby
Paul & Christine Babey
Louisa Babu
George & Kristine Banis
Rev. & Pres. Andrew Barakos
John & Eva Barakos
Leon & Ann Bartol
Nancy Belisle
Dale & Tammy Belt
James & Hilda Bourdamis
Donald & Elaine Bowman
Oscar Bracamonte & Heidi Contes
Slater & Elaine Browne
Stephen & Lana Bull
Dean & Mary Burton
Peter & Patti Cacos
Margarita Carres
Constantine & Sotera Catsadimas
George & Eva Chandiles
Pete & Bessie Chirbas
Janet Christ
Steve & Sheryl Christenson
Patricia Christopoulos
Charles & Betty Chronis
Adam Clark
Andrew & Irene Clary
Scott & Maggie Cole
Olivia Contos
Pete & Elizabeth Contos
Sam & Kris Costanzo
Michael & Christina Craig
Janet Cummings-Geiser
Nicholas & Angie Daddario
Nickoletta Daddario-Zafirakis
Gus Dandas
Charles David
Jack & Shannon David
Joseph & Paru David
Michael & Sherine David
John & Mary Deffigos
Chris & Mary Demetrulias
Leo & Jesse Diamont
Dorothy Dimtsios
John & Christina Dimtsios
Byron & Elaine Dollas
Nicholas & Kerrie Drakides
Peter & Virginia Economopoulos
Nick & Angie Eliades
George Elias
Chris & Sophie Evangelides
Anthony & Thomasine Flangos
Mary Floor
Timothy & Karla Floor
Theodore & Evangeline Fotias
Andrew & Anne Francis
Edward & Katherine Francis
Greg & Frantzeska Gallo
Effie Garcia
Effie Gardner
Constantine & Irene Gekas
George & Michele Genetos
Ellen George
Jordan & Christyann Geotas
Johnny Giakouminakis
Geoff & Cynthia Godfrey
Dean Goumas/ Snyder Family
Charles & Katherine Gray
Mylan & Joanne Grubor
James & Sophia Guaclides
Page 8
Hoda Hannallah
Diana Harris
Robert & Dawn Harris
Stefan & Lynn Harrison
Michael Hiras & Sophia Fountis
Peter & Mary Houlis
Diane & Steven Hubbard
Peter & Stella Hydrean
Panayiotis & Connie Issichopoulos
David & Alice Jasmer
Dn. Paul & Alexandria Kalina
James & Linda Kalivas
Marika Kallonas
Paul & Kathy Karagiannis
Jeannie Karamigios
John Karamouzis
John & Julia Kastran
John Katerelos
Nicole Katerinos
Sylvia Katsuleas
Leslie Kenney
Don & Andrea Kenworthy
Bill & Amy Kircos
Spiro & Christine Kircos
Louis & Maura Kireopoulos
Artin Knadjian & Maria Apostolatos
Ken & Sophia Kobs
Nicholas & Vickie Koines
Kyle & Melissa Koistinen
Richard & Mary Ann Koss
George & Lia Kossaras
John & Maria Kostaras
Spiros & Krista Kotsovos
Phil & Angela Koufidakis
The Kouvelas Family
Nitsa Kovas
Nick & Marina Kretsedemas
Bill & Evie Kypreos
Steven & Constance Lemere
Craig & Joanne Lewandowski
Nicholas & Katherine Liakas
Stacy & Ginger Logan
Charleen Lucia
Frank & Susan Luksik
Chloe Magouliotis
Takis & Vanessa Makridis
Maria Maniatis
Anna T. Manos
Michael & Deborah Markakis
Gregory & Susan Marmas
Peter & Karen Mavrikos
Michael & Stacie McKenzie
Edward & Andrea McNamara
Neal & Crista Meinke
Nicholas A. & Georgia Mellas
Nicholas N. & Roxana Mellas
Stephen Mellas
Andrew & Joanne Metanias
Nick & Irene Mihailidis
Delores Mitchell
Jeffrey Mittendorf & Jennifer Triant
Constantine & Debbie Moschonas
Marc & Terah Nassos
Nick & Bettie Neckopulos
Donald & Lorraine Nemer
Toula New
William & Sonia New
Alaxandra Nicholson
Nicholas & Rennie Nicholson
Christopher & Robyn Nickle
Joanne Nickolas
Chris & Kanella Nicolopoulos
Paula Nicols
John Nixon
Catherine Noplos
Mary Noplos
Philip & Helen Noplos
Diana Ozee
George & Enty Palivos
Theofana Pantazopulos
Anthony & Sandra Papadopoulos
Effie Pappas
John & DeLaine Pappas
Chris & Nitsa Parides
George & Dorothy Parides
Brian & Penelope Parkinson
George & Vicky Pasisis
Theodoros & Fotini Pasisis
George & Kirsten Paterakis
Angelo & Joyce Pateras
John & Jan Patrou
Myron & Gerry Patten
John & Stella Paul
Elenitsa Pena
Anthony Perdik
Pantelis Petroulakis
Ken & Penelope Plache
Mariellena Politis
Andrew & Angela Poulos
Amy Priftakis
Christina Pullos
Leslie Gail Quinn
Michael & Antonia Ristagno
Robert & Laura Robertson
Bradley & Nikoletta Roosma
Mary Ann Rossi
Star Rothenbucher
Konstance Rutzakis
Marwan & Ida Crocker Sabbagh
John Sampanes
Valentino & Eleftheria Scalise
Helen Serelis
George & Traci Sgouros
Douglass & Juliet Shewmaker
Hanadi Shraiky
Michele Siapkaris
Robert & Donna Sioles
Rocky & Connie Sisson
Sophia Sisson
Konstantinos Skandalis & Rosmarie Von Topfer
Sally Solomon
Scott & Elaine Sommerschield
George & Effe Sourvanos
Elaine Spelius
Eugenia Speropoulos
Jim & Kim Speros
James & Laurie Stamas
Kimberly Stamatelos
Andrew & Christine Stamatis
Carol Stamos
Dennis & Estelle Stell
Sean & Stephanie Stephenson
Roy & Maria Stuck
Alice Tangalos
Alexxa Tavlarides
Dean & Nickolette Tavlarides
Anna Theodorou
Evangelia Theodoru
Constantino & Karen Theoharatos
William & Carole Tobey
Georgia Towery
Gust & Barbara Tsikalas
Marvin & Eleni Tucker
Walter & Helen Tuman
Maria Tutelman
Constantine & Katherine Tzavaras
Thomas & Bessie Tzavaras
Ray & Dee Unks
Hector Villela-Caleti & SandyKotrotsios
Helen Vouniozos
Karen Wallerich
Ed Weiss & Stephanie Demogenes
Steven West & Jennifer Hadd
Rick Wolfe & Victoria Keegan
Athena Wright
George & Helen Yannakopoulos
Jimmy Yannakopoulos
Harry & J.B. Zarvos
Nestor & Angela Zavras
Sotery & Anna Zulia
The Orthodox Oasis
PHOTO
Gallery
April 2009
Page 9
LENTEN STUDY
Classes
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The Orthodox Oasis
YOUTH
Ministries
GOYA.......MOMS ‘N’ TOTS.......JOY.......GREEK DANCE.......
ALTAR SERVERS.......MYRRHBEARERS.......SUNDAY SCHOOL
Please contact Father Andrew or
the church office if your child’s
school requests a formal letter for
excusal from classes on Great
and Holy Friday, April 17.
M o m s ‘ N ’ To t s
Although March was a great
month filled with fun crafts, the
highlight of our Moms 'N' Tots
group had to be the beautiful
day we spent at the Train Park!
We played at the playground,
rode the train and carousel, and
enjoyed a relaxing picnic on a
blanket under a tree. The kids
shared cookies and Cheetos
while the moms told funny
stories, took lots of pictures,
and talked about lenten foods.
The group will NOT meet on
Holy Wednesday, April 15. On
Bright
Wednesday,
(the
Wednesday following Easter),
we will meet at Cactus Park for
our annual Easter Egg Hunt!
Bring your hats and sunscreen!
Easter Blessings,
Presvytera Andrea
Akathist Prayer to the
Theotokos, Nurturer of
Children
You are invited to pray for the
children of Assumption the
“Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos,
Nurturer of
Children.” This
prayer booklet is available to our
parish in the bookstore for a
modest fee. We gather Thursday
evenings, from 6-7 PM at the
church. Before April 23, Bright
Thursday, we will pray privately.
For more information on The
Akathist Prayer Ministry for
Assumption children, contact Fran
Gallo (602) 463-1407.
April 2009
Sunday School
Thank you, parents, who are
making the effort to arrive at
church on time. We’re making
progress; but we still have a
way to go. Keep up the good
work! We want to see “The
Priest’s List” continue to grow!
It was wonderful to see so many
Godparents sitting with their
Godchildren on March 8.
Hopefully, many of you spent
the day together after church. It
was nice that so many of the
students remembered to bring
their icon for the Sunday of
Orthodoxy procession, too.
Your child came home with a
coin box from the Orthodox
Christian Mission Center. Each
class
is
discussing
the
importance of “doing for
others” during the Lenten
Season. We are encouraging
the students to “earn” the coins
that are placed in the box. The
boxes will be collected on the
Sunday following Pascha.
A few dates to keep in mind:
-March 29 following the
liturgy, Assumption will host
the parish youth speeches for
the St. John Oratorical Festival.
-Sunday, April 5, Assumption
will host the Southwest District
Oratorical Festival at 3:00.
-Friday, April 17, the Sunday
School will host the annual
Holy Friday Retreat from 9:003:00. Please sign-up with your
child’s teacher so that we may
plan for crafts and lunch.
Priest’s List
Chris Anastos, Evan Barakos,
Cara & Callie Belt, Erika
David, Andrew Dimtsios,
James & Jason New, Michael
Lewandowski,
Michael
Ristagno, Nick Barakos, Perry
& Katerina Nicolopoulos,
Justin Gray, Amy Geiser,
Anastasia Deffigos, Angelica
Sisson,
Christian
David,
Cassandra, Victor, Charlie &
Luke Quinn, Niko Siapkaris,
Gabriela Genetos, Connor
Garrison, Nicholas Babey,
Nicholas Spelius, Bella, Vasili
Anagnostopoulos,
Sam
Acheson,
Dimitri
Anagnostopoulos,
Joshua
Babu,
Cole
Daddario,
Nicholas
Demogenes,
Katherine Hubbard, Teddy
Lewandowski, Cole & Grant
Roosma, Maria Tangalos. The
4th-5th grade class is not listed
for this month. The preschool
is exempt from the priest’s list.
Kali Anastasi,
Presvytera Andrea
Page 11
PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON
Page 12
Invitation
The Orthodox Oasis
AGAPE
April 2009
Picnic
Page 13
REST ON CHRIST
Juvenile Prison Ministry
Lent always calls to mind our feeble, finite, and
insufficient human nature, as our sins come up--front
and center --to be acknowledged and expunged. The
glory of the Paschal season crowns our struggles, of
course, as we embrace and transcend our human
limitations in communion with the Risen Lord on
Pascha. And so too, for the “Rest On Christ” juvenile
prison ministry here at Assumption. The enemy
continues to taunt the ROC team with whisps of
smokey accusations like: “There aren’t enough of you!
You have no special training! The need is too great
for anyone to make a difference! You are too busy!
There aren’t enough resources! It’s no use! Ad
nauseum.” Our observations are that juvenile
populations in the state secured schools appear to be
dropping, while offenders are being directed to other
programs and county/local placements for treatment
and care. There are restructurings, personnel shortages
and budget cuts (school is in session only Monday
through Thursday, for instance). How to proceed?
Contemplating the future of the ministry, my eyes are
drawn to the church dome. Invariably, my gaze
ascends to the center of the church. I don’t know why.
Maybe it’s comforting to see the white expanse—like
a blank sheet of paper ripe with potential to be written
on? Maybe it’s the stillness and absence of color in
the midst of our richly adorned, melodic and fragrant
worship? Have you noticed that no matter where you
stand inside the church as you gaze at the dome, you
usually see only one perfect window? It’s symmetrical
and boasts a full view of the sky. All the other
windows are less perfect, curved, and askew. They
appear partially there (from a ground level view) or
not visible at all! But there are 24 perfect windows
encircling the space for the Pantocrator’s icon. I’ve
never personally seen 24 perfect windows at the same
time, but the construction plan says they are there.
Then a flood of images greet me of past programs the
ROC has done at the secured schools. Like how Mary
Lou Aleck got the girls at Black Canyon School
singing and moving with worship songs last May. And
Father Andrew visited the boys at Adobe Mountain
School one Saturday when he might have been with
his own family, and spoke about spiritual fatherhood.
David Jasmer taught about the Theotokos, because the
girls insisted on wanting to know more about her.
Allan Boyd was able to speak with the boys on two
moving occasions. Athena Anastos, Elaine Bowman,
and Connie Sisson graciously tape recorded the hymn
of Kassiani to be played for the girls at a later date. Or
how about when Lydia Vlachos was inspired to tell
ROC about the girls needing a program on their
guardian angels? It just so happened that that morning,
Tammy Belt, Mindy Spelius, and Stephanie
Demogenes were headed to St. Paisius monastery for
Page 14
a day trip. Tammy was driving, and meanwhile,
Mindy’s phone had signal so we could relay the
request for Akathist booklets praying to the angels.
Fortunately, Stephanie had her checkbook. So
virtually that same day the booklets were purchased
and then handed-off to Janet Cummings-Geiser who
removed the staples and machine-stitched the bindings
so ROC could present the booklets at Black Canyon
School later that week! Then there was the
coincidence of George Genetos securing a kitchen cart
that has been borrowed by the ROC more than once to
trek across hot parking lots at the schools with all the
provisions at the same time. At Christmas, the boys
enjoyed a sing-along (a special treat since the unit isn’t
invited to participate in choir activity on campus).
And so many other examples.
A new member, Bonnie Karraz, recently joined
Barbara Tsikalas, Rennie Nicholson and Victoria
Keegan. The Assumption Prayer Ministry, directed
by Janet Cummings-Geiser, has been a call-to-arms to
answer the enemy’s insinuations. Likewise, the
Akathist Prayer Ministry, headed by Fran Gallo, has
also implored Theotoko’s mantle of protection around
our Assumption youth, Camp Agape, and both of the
secured schools visited by ROC. Philoptochos has
sponsored ROC’s financial needs faithfully. For 2009,
only one group has stepped forward to adopt one unit
(of the dozen available) at Adobe Mountain School.
ROC adopted Kachina unit again. The facility
chaplain wants every unit on campus adopted, since
it’s had a significant impact on the boys. To that end,
he has requested that ROC mentor a new group
forming that plans to adopt one more of the cottages.
He wants ROC to assist in prototyping the “adoption”
program. Even a partnership opportunity is being
explored for juveniles upon release. Last year, ROC
(on behalf of Assumption) received the “Outstanding
Community Partner Award” from the Arizona
Department of Juvenile Corrections for their efforts.
Suddenly, the answer is revealed. The wisdom is
conveyed through the dome as it patiently awaits the
icon of our Lord to be written. Another perfect
window! And yet another! Not simply one, but a
community of perfect windows! They are all there,
they are all perfect, and they are all revolving around
Christ’s calling to serve Him. He alone sees all the
perfect windows at once. Perhaps by grace, He allows
us to perceive them too. Our collective offering from
Assumption as the body of Christ-- to follow His will,
in service to youth-- is enough, in and of itself. He
does the rest. May we all continue to Rest On Christ
as we follow the living Lord, our Pantocrator, this
Lenten Season.
V. Keegan
The Orthodox Oasis
ICON CAMPAIGN UPDATE
St. John the Evangelist Icon is sponsored!
Thank you to the many donors who gave
miscellaneous donations. Together, you One full sized Angel remains. Sponsorship of this angel is $4,100
have sponsored this beautiful St. John the The full size angels are depicted around the Pantocrator, vested
as deacons and priests, celebrating the liturgy.
Theologian icon.
The icon installation is scheduled to begin on June 22! If you have an outstanding balance on a
sponsorship, or still want to contribute to the campaign, please submit your check to Fr. Andrew or
the Accounting Office. Please write “Icon campaign” in the memo. Donations in any amount are
welcome! Expect to see workmen and scaffolding in the future as we prepare to receive the icons.
GOYA: Assumption's
Youth Ministry
An Orthodox Christian community of high school and middle school students whose purpose is to honor
and glorify God through worship, fellowship, witnessing, and service
Even if we have thousands of acts of great virtue
to our credit, our confidence in being heard must
be based on God's mercy and His love for men.
Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it
is by mercy that we shall be saved.
--St. John Chrysostom
Many thanks to our friends at St. George
Antiochian Orthodox Church, who graciously
invited us to join them for Lenten studies,
vespers, and hockey at the Teen SOYO Retreat!
This month, we will meet outdoors to enjoy
sports and BBQ for our annual JOY-GOYA
picnic on Sunday, April 26. Look for e-mail
updates as the date approaches. We hope to see
you there!
Spring 2009 Upcoming Events
* 04/26 at TBA JOY-GOYA Picnic (4th
Sunday of April)
* 05/06 at 6:30 p.m. GOYA Forum (1st
Wednesday of May)
April 2009
WANTED!
GOYA Volunteers
Please watch your email for information about the
Good Friday Food Drive for Vista Del Camino! This
will occur on April 17, all day.
It is the 7th annual drive, and the GOYA youth are
instrumental in assisting Assumption AGAPE
Alliance with this outreach. Parishioners bring
foodstuffs and drop off their offering to the hands of
a GOYA volunteer who loads it into a waiting trailer
for transport. You are the backbone who make certain
that our offerings get to Vista Del Camino in good
condition. Our community appreciates your efforts!
Page
15
PHILOPTOCHOS
Crab Feast
Our annual Crab Feast is
scheduled for Saturday, March
28. We are anticipating another
successful
event
as
the
committee is working hard,
completing final plans. Thank
you to those who have donated
items for the raffle, silent and
live auctions as well as a food
and beverage items plus to those
who will be helping with the
food preparations, set up and
clean up. A big thank you to the
co-chairs: Estelle and Dennis
Stell and Nia and Mike
Ristagno.
Loukoumathes Sale
We
are
planning
a
Loukoumathes sale on April 5,
immediately following Liturgy.
The proceeds from the sale will
benefit our St. Barbara Icon
Fund.
Pascha Plant Sale
Our Pascha Plant Sale is
scheduled for March 8-April 5,
Remember beloved family and
friends; beautify the Church
with plants this Pascha. To
order plants, please use the
order form in this issue of the
Oasis on page 17.
Tsourekia/Koulouria Sale
Once again, Philoptochos is
planning our annual Tsourekia
and Koulouria Sale, scheduled
for Palm Sunday, April 12,
following
Divine
Liturgy.
Please contact Helen Serelis to
let her know you will be baking
Tsourekia and/or Koulouria.
General Membership Meeting
The
next
scheduled
Philoptochos meeting will be on
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at
6:30 PM in the Community
Center. This is our annual
potluck dinner. Please bring a
dish to pass. If you have not
attended our meetings in the
past, new faces are always
Page 16
News
welcome. Come and join our
dynamic group. Please mark
your calendar.
Coffee Hour
Philoptochos is looking for
Coffee Hour hosts. If you
would like to volunteer for an
upcoming Sunday, please call
Sotera Catsadimas at (480) 6615700 to check for available
dates. You may choose any
Sunday that works for you and
you may co-host with one or
two other persons.
May
05-03-09
05-10-09
05-17-09
05-24-09
05-31-09
Available
Parish Council
Available
Available
Available
~~Sotera Catsadimas, President
Coffee Hour Responsibilities
Arranging coffee and juice cups
along with napkins, plates and
forks (all items are located in
the kitchen on shelves),
bringing in simple food items
like cookies, cake and donuts as
well as juice for the children. It
is not necessary for you to
make or plug in the coffee in
the morning, as it is done by
volunteer George Genetos
every Sunday. You need to
arrange your food items on the
tables provided in time to
accommodate people as soon as
they come out of church. IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT
THE HOSTS CLEAN UP
EVERYTHING
AFTER
COFFEE HOUR (remove all
unused food, clean any dishes
used, place trash and garbage in
the proper containers). The
coffeepots are to be left to cool,
make sure they have been
unplugged.
Coffee Hour hosts for the
following upcoming dates:
April
04-05-09 Loukoumathes Sale
04-12-09 PalmSunday
Luncheon
04-19-09 Pascha
04-26-09 Choir Brunch
Fundraiser
The Orthodox Oasis
PASCHA MEMORIAL
Plants
April 2009
Page 17
PARISH NEWS
& Information
Baptisms
On February 28, 2009,
Benjamin Nash Polynin was
baptised. His Godmother is
Angela Polynin.
On February 28, 2009, Jake
Iakovos Demogenes was
baptised. His Godparents are
Steven Demogenes and Stephanie
Demogenes.
On February 28, 2009,
Alexander Alexios Dafnis was
baptised. his Godmother is Diane
Demos.
Assumption Women’s Book
Club
The Women's Book Club met last
month to discuss Left to Tell, by
Imaculee Ilibagiza. The book is
the true story of a young survivor
of the 1995 Rwandan Holocaust.
Although difficult to read at times,
all of the book club members felt
that it was a book that they would
highly recommend to others. Our
high school Sunday School class,
under the guidance of Dr. John
Nixon and Mrs. Shannon David,
will be reading Left to Tell with
their students during the next few
months.
The Book Club will meet to
discuss Bread & Water, Wine &
Oil:
An Orthodox Christian
Experience
of
God,
by
Archimandrite Meletios Webber.
Our April book will be Having a
Mary Heart in a Martha World, by
Joanna Weaver. All are welcome
to join us April 23 at 9:30AM.
Presvytera Andrea
Page 18
Holy Week Transportation
Assumption Parishioners
Easter is not too far away. If
you are having difficulty getting to church during the
evening of Holy Week and
need a ride please contact
Mariellena Politis at 480-7670868. Arrangements can me
made for transportation April
13-17th, Monday through Friday of Holy Week. Please let
Mariellena know as soon as
possible.
2009 Festival
Our dates for the 2009 Festival
of Greece in Downtown
Scottsdale will be Friday
through Sunday, November 6th
- 8th. The popularity of the
Festival has grown, but to
ensure the financial success
going forward it will be
imperative to increase our
sponsorship dollars coming
into this year's event. It looks
like we have secured someone
to lead our Sponsorship
Committee that will be in
charge of soliciting funds from
businesses to advertise with us.
However, we are asking for
additional volunteers to be a
part of this process now so that
a
maximum
amount
of
sponsorship can be reached.
Anyone interested in becoming
a part of this committee should
contact Dennis Stell (480) 5635358 or John Dimtsios (480)
661-7623 as soon as possible.
Bookstore
Open Sundays after Liturgy until
11:45AM; & Tues 9:30AM1:30PM For information or
special orders, please contact
Diana Ozee at (480) 734-5307.
The bookstore carries 14-karat &
sterling silver crosses, birthday or
nameday cards, CD’s, and other
items.
Please browse the
selection of books for adults and
children.
Also available is
communion wine for parishioners
wishing to offer it for the Divine
Liturgy. The Bookstore is not
authorized to sell this wine for
personal consumption; it can only
be donated to the Church.
AHEPA NEWS
Chapter 219 of AHEPA will
be meeting on Thursday, April
23 at the Community Center.
AHEPA is an International
philanthropic
and
social
organization open to all adult
men that has been a leader in
a wide variety of civicminded causes since it's
inception in 1922. Dinner
will be served at 6PM
followed by a formal meeting.
For more details on AHEPA
please contact Paul Koines at
(480) 244-1524.
The Orthodox Oasis
PARISH COUNCIL
Report
This year’s Lenten Journey is well underway
and it is a busy time at Assumption. In addition
to the regular Liturgy service on Sundays, there
are many additional services held weekly
throughout the Lenten season. Please review
the monthly calendar for April, included in this
newsletter, for details on when these services
are scheduled.
Plans are currently underway for several dinners
to be held at Assumption Church during the
upcoming Lenten season: The Annual Palm
Sunday Luncheon is scheduled for Sunday, April
12; the Parish Council will be serving a meal
following the Pascha midnight service; and an
Agape Picnic Dinner will be held on Sunday,
April 19, following the 4PM Agape Vesper
Service. Please look for details about these
events in this issue of the Oasis as well as in the
Community Center and weekly bulletins.
Our annual Saturday of Lazarus pancake
breakfast and palm-making event will be held
on Saturday, April 11, in the Community Center
following the morning service. This is a great
family event and all are welcome so please
make plans to join us.
The 2009 Metropolis of San Francisco Clergy
Laity Assembly meeting will be held on May 45, 2009, at St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat
Center in Dunlap, California. Father Andrew
and Dennis Stell, Parish Council President, will
be representing Assumption. In addition to the
priest and Parish Council president, Assumption
has traditionally provided funding in the budget
for two parishioners to attend. If you are
interested in representing Assumption at this
meeting, please let Father Andrew or Dennis
Stell know.
opportunity to be heard and to provide input on
the direction of Assumption. We hope that you
will set aside a few hours of your time on May
3 to participate in this all important meeting.
Details of the meeting will be mailed to your
homes in the next few weeks.
Estelle Stell, Parish Council Secretary
Saturday of Lazarus, April 11
Come join us at the Saturday of Lazarus
Service, Matins at 8:30AM and Liturgy at
9:30AM.
Afterwards there is a pancake
breakfast, and palm cross making event.
Every year during Lent we ask our families
with children (JOY) and teens (GOYA) to join
us for the Saturday of Lazarus services
followed by a pancake breakfast. After
breakfast we will demonstrate how to fold
crosses out of palm branches for Palm Sunday.
It's a great way to gather for services and
fellowship. We invite everyone of all ages to
participate on that morning. Father Andrew
will hear confessions from children after the
pancake breakfast, for those wanting to confess.
Please mark your calendars and make plans to
attend the Spring Parish Assembly meeting
which will be held on Sunday, May 3,
immediately following Liturgy. Attending the
Parish Assembly meeting is an important part of
your life in the Church. This event, held semiannually, is a general meeting of the
Parishioners in good standing of the Parish and
is the general policymaking and appropriating
body of the Parish. This meeting is your
April 2009
Page 19
PARISH NEWS
& Information
HOLY FRIDAY FOOD DRIVE
for
Vista del Camino Food Bank
A Food Bank truck will be at Assumption
Friday April 17, 2009 from 9 am to 5 pm
Please bring donations only during this time
The following are the most needed items:
Peanut butter, tuna, canned meats, pasta,
spaghetti sauce, rice, dried pinto beans, cereal,
jelly, boxes of macaroni & cheese, canned fruit
and vegetables, soup
No perishable food can be accepted
Sponsored by Assumption Agape Alliance
assisted by G.O.Y.A.
The Assumption Greek Dancers
performed for a multicultural event sponsored
by the McKemy Middle School in Tempe. The
dancers who particpated (pictured page 9 from
left to right) were Malee Kenworthy, Charlie
Quinn, Callie Belt, Victor Quinn, Sasha Pasic,
Luke Quinn, Angelica Sisson and Perry
Nicolopoulos.
A few days prior to the
performance,
dance
director
Joanne
Lewandowski, along with her teachers Michelle
Siapkaris and Georgia Towery (and beautiful
little Epiphany Towery) were asked to speak to
the middle schoolers about Greek culture and
teach the students some basic Greek dances.
Georgia and Epiphany dressed-up in our dance
costumes, despite the hot weather, and helped
promote our dance group. Epiphany was a real
trooper, and we are very proud of her for
supporting her church and showing off her
dancing skills. Joanne would like to thank all
the dancers who performed, the teachers who
helped during the daytime presentation and
Leslie Quinn and Connie Sisson who helped
drive the dancers to the event. They all did an
amazing job. OPA!!!
PULL OUT QUOTE
Page 20
The Orthodox Oasis
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The Orthodox Oasis