SUMMER PASTORAL MESSAGE
Beloved,
What a glorious time of year! As we begin the month of July, we are blessed with beautiful summer days and the opportunity to celebrate the 250th birthday of our great nation on the Fourth of July. At the same time, the good work of our Church on a national level continues as delegates from our Parish and Philoptochos represent us at the National Clergy-Laity Congress and Philoptochos Convention in Cleveland from June 30 through July 2.
Preparations for our 49th Annual Greek Affair are already well underway. The rigorous schedule of baking and food preparation has been filled with enthusiasm and love. This year’s Greek Affair, however, will certainly feel different. For nearly fifty years, John Solomon was the maestro and master chef who orchestrated every aspect of the delicious food that graced your plate. Having returned to our Lord, his presence will be deeply missed. Yet we know that nothing can keep his Cypriot passion away, and his spirit will surely grace this year’s event. May his memory be eternal.
Our tireless Greek Affair Chair, Alexi Sioutis, and his dedicated team are diligently coordinating the many committees that make this wonderful ministry possible. If you can help with preparations or wish to offer your time, talent, or treasure in another capacity, please reach out to Alexi at alexander.sioutis@gmail.com. I have been deeply moved by the many men and women who have come together over these past months, especially in assisting our Philoptochos in preparing sweets. Their love and sacrifice are a beautiful witness to the spirit of our parish family.
Following a busy July, we are given a blessed pause with the fifteen-day Fast of the Dormition as we prepare to commemorate the Koimisis (Falling Asleep) of the Most Holy Theotokos. During these sacred days of August, we are invited to pray, listen, and worship through the beautiful Supplication Services (Paraklesis), offered for our spiritual edification. I encourage you to follow the ecclesiastical calendar and join us for these most beautiful services. Though only about forty-five minutes in length, they are among the most melodic, uplifting, and heartfelt worship experiences of our Orthodox faith, allowing us to feel the loving protection and blessings of the Panagia.
As I wish each of you a blessed and restful summer, I also encourage you to remember God on Sundays. Wherever your travels may take you, seek out a local Orthodox church and give thanks to God for His many blessings.
Happy Birthday, America!
With brotherly love and paternal blessings,
Rev. Father Christ Kontos, Protopresbyter
A SUMMER PARABLE
Now it came to pass that, as the time of vacation drew near, a certain
member of the church bethought him of cool streams where fish were
found, and his children thought of sandy beaches by the sea, and his wife
thought of the mountains. And this church member spoke and said: "Lo the
hot days come and my work lieth heavy upon me. Come let us depart and
go where fishes do bite, and where the cool winds bring refreshment and
the land is beautiful about us."
"Thou speakest words of wisdom," said his wife. 'Yet three, nay, even
four, things we do ere we go."
"Three things think I of, but not a fourth," said her husband, -- "That
we ask our neighbor to minister unto our flowers, that we arrange for our
grass to be mowed and watered, that we have our mail forwarded; but no
other thing cometh to my mind."
"The fourth is like unto the other three, but greater than all," said his
spouse, "Even this that thou dig into thy purse and pay our church stewardship,
in order that the good name of the church may be preserved, that the heart
of the treasurer be made glad, and that it may be well with thee. For verily
I say unto thee, thou hast more money now than thou wilt have when thou
dost return."
And the husband replied, "Verily, thou art noble and wise among
women." And he did pay his stewardship for the summer, and the treasurer
rejoiced greatly, saying, "Of a truth, there are those who care for the good
of the church." And it was so.
