message from fr. catalin - Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

GOOD NEWS
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION, ROCHESTER, NY
www.annunciationrochester.org
President’s Message
Jim Stathopoulos offers his remarks at
the end of his tenure as President
December 2014
Sunday School Update
Do you know what the Sunday school is
up to? Check it out!
962 East Ave · Rochester, NY 14607
Christmas Celebrations
Make sure to check the back page of
this month’s bulletin for updates
MESSAGE FROM FR. CATALIN
My dear family in The Lord,
O
ne of our many goals in life and the most important
one is the salvation of our souls.
That should be our main focus, main concern, and
main reason for us being here and living on the Earth.
The central point of our spiritual life, should be Christ,
The Savior of the world, The One Who opened for us the
Kingdom of Heaven and gave us this wonderful opportunity
to be saved. That’s the reason because our ancestors built
Churches where Christ will be glorified and worshiped and
where the people will go and seek the salvation of their souls.
Our Church of The Annunciation in Rochester New York,
we Her people, have the same ideal in our life, to come and
worship and glorify Christ, looking forward for the salvation
of our souls and the life everlasting.
Everything what we do here in Church is for Christ, Who is
the Center of our spiritual life, and for the salvation of our
souls. Christ is the Tree and we are the branches as members
of His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and we
should make every effort to move with Him on the path of
His salvation, through His Holy Church.
On November 15th, we just began the Advent of Christmas,
which is the fasting period before the Nativity of Our Lord.
On this period of time, we are called to purify our souls and
bodies, to grow in our spiritual life and to give our entire
beings to Christ Our Lord.
We decorate beautiful our houses, we present our family
members and friends with gifts, we also give to our charities
this time of the year, and these are all wonderful things,
because it is the most wonderful time of the year!
But in the same context lets, not forget the real “Reason for
the season”, that we are in the anticipation of the Nativity
of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and everything what
we give and every single work what we do, should be for His
glory.
This is also a time when we should strive to go to Holy
Confession and prepare to receive Christ in the manger of
our souls.
Wishing you all, a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy and
healthy New Year, I embrace all of you in The Name Of Our
New Born Lord, and remain prayerfully yours, His unworthy
servant,
+Father Catalin
DECEMBER EVENTS
To see an always-up-to-date calendar, visit annunciationrochester.org/calendar
PHOTO SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Sunday, November 30
If you already have a family portrait that you would like to submit for the upcoming Annunciation Photo Directory, please
submit it along with $10 by November 30th. All submissions to the photo directory are due November 30th.
MOVIE NIGHT: CHRISTMAS WITH THE KAROUNTZOSES
Sunday, November 30 at 5:00 pm
Please join us for a social event, Sunday, November 30 at 5:00pm for a private screening of a Greek Comedy film, Christmas
with the Karountzoses by Robert Krantz. He is the owner of Ellinas Multimedia, producer and actor in Do You Wanna
Dance?, author of Falling in Love with Sophia. Lenten Mezedes & wine will be served. We would encourage you to purchase
your tickets in advance for $10 in parish hall or call Eleni 309-1893, Patty 737-7130 or Pres. Felicia 752-7432.
Watch the trailer today at http://youtu.be/ueJFcjYxtQM
AGHIA PARASKEVI CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 pm in the Church Hall
The holidays are approaching, so this year like any other, we need to make all the necessary arrangements for a successful
Christmas Party. Our entertainment will be provided by Mastoras. Please make your reservations by November 30th. The
cost for each person is $25. All proceeds from our Christmas Tree this year will go to the Orphanage in Africa. RSVP to
Tzeni Kostopanagiotou (426-9959), Katina Sekella (301-5220), Athanasia Harisis (594-9644), or Olga Kiriakidis (698-5895).
All are welcome!
PHILOPTOCHOS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Tuesday, December 9 at 5:30 pm in the Church Hall
The Philoptochos will have its annual Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 9 at 5:30 pm in the Church Hall. Please sign
up on the bulletin board in the church hall to bring a dish to pass. For more information, contact Maria (507-5256), Demetra,
Nancy, or Helen Eisenberg (737-9960). The Philoptochos will be collecting funds to donate to Hannah’s Hope. Hannah along
with four beloved friends died together in a tragic automobile crash just days after they graduated from Fairport High
School. Funds collected will go towards helping children in Africa including building classrooms in Africa at St. Hannah’s
School.
PARISH COUNCIL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFICERS
Continuing throughout the month of December, we will hold Saturday evening
Vespers at 5PM weekly except when they conflict with events. Please check
our website at www.annunciationrochester.org/calendar for more information.
Demetrios
Stathopoulos
Eric Vangellow
President
Dorothea Sanchez
Treasurer
Amiel Mokhiber Jr. Secretary
1st Vice President
Dr. Stamatia
Dr. Kathryn
Destounis
Markakis
Asst Secretary
2nd Vice President
Annunciation offices will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and
New Year’s Day. Please submit all donations for 2014 by December 28th at the
latest.
PARISH CLERGY
& STAFF
MEMBERS
Maria Aslani-Breit
Tasos Kolokouris
Philip Broikos
Chris Theodorou
Helen Eisenberg
Van Zissis
Julie Eveleigh
The Nativity Fast began on November 15th. The fast is a light fast (fish allowed)
until December 12th. On the 12th, the fast is a strict fast until Christmas.
Rev. Fr. Catalin Mot, Proistamenos
Rev. Fr. Jerry Tasikas, Emeritus Priest
Nicolaos Tzetzis, Youth Director
Sylvia Bauer, Parish Administrator
CONTACT US
Voice: (585) 244-3377
Fax: (585) 244-3388
Email: [email protected]
Web: annunciationrochester.org
Greek Fest on the Web:
rochestergreekfestival.org
2014 CHRISTMAS CARD DEADLINE
Wednesday, December 10
You are invited to participate in our Parish Christmas Card. As you may recall from past years, this beautiful card lists all
the members of our Parish, and it is sent to the 900 members of the Annunciation community. Please help us keep up this
annual tradition by providing a small donation of $20 to help defray the costs of printing and mailing. Please see the back
page for more information.
GOYA MEETING: ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Sunday, December 14 at 12:00 pm
On Sunday, December 14th our GOYA will have its last meeting of the year. GOYA is a program for all Orthodox Christian
teenagers in grades 6-12. We will have pizza and soda at the meeting. Also, our GOYA is in desperate need of a handful of
adult volunteers who will help to advise and guide the GOYA as it goes forward. If you are interested in volunteering as a
GOYA advisor, please contact Youth Director Niko Tzetzis at [email protected] as soon as possible.
FAMILY NIGHT OF FAITH - CHRISTMAS EDITION
Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00 pm
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we want to invite you to our last big potluck dinner and discussion of 2014.
Join us at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, December 16 for an evening of prayer, food, and discussion. Please bring a Lenten dish to
pass. Our topic of discussion will be “I am King.”
SENIOR’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
Thursday, December 18 at 11:30 am
Please try to attend, and bring a friend.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT & FAMILY BRUNCH
Sunday, December 21 immediately following Liturgy
Join us for the annual Sunday School & Greek School Christmas Pageant and Family Brunch sponsored by the Parish
Council. Following our Annual Christmas Pageant, that is so beautifully performed by our Sunday School & Greek School
students, we invite you to join us for a delicious brunch with your families and fellow parishioners. This year the menu will
include scrambled eggs, hash browns, French toast, fruit, juice, and coffee. P.S. Look for a very special guest who will also
be joining us on that day!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: OPEN DOOR MISSION
Monday, December 29 at 6:00 pm
We need 6-8 volunteers for our monthly trip to the Open Door Mission. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve our
neighbors in the city of Rochester. Learn more at http://opendoormissionrocny.org/community-meal-program. There is a
sign-up sheet on the blue bulletin board in the church. Students will earn 2 hours of community service for participating.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
REGISTRY
DECEMBER 4, THURSDAY
BAPTISMS
St. Barbara
Orthros 9:00 | Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
DECEMBER 6, SATURDAY
St. Nicholas
Orthros 9:00 | Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
DECEMBER 12, FRIDAY
St. Spyridon
Orthros 9:00 | Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
DECEMBER 15, MONDAY
St. Eleutherios
Orthros 9:00 | Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
DECEMBER 24, WEDNESDAY
Christmas Eve Vespers
Vespers 5:00 pm
DECEMBER 25, THURSDAY
Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour
Jesus Christ
Orthros 9:00 | Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
SATURDAY SERVICES
Vespers 5:00 pm
SUNDAY SERVICES
Orthros 9:00 am
Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
Sunday School begins after Communion
Sunday School ends at 12:00 pm
Benjamin Thomas Swain, son of Kevin
Swain & Soultana Swain (Strembenis)
was baptized on November 16, 2014
MEMORIAL
NOVEMBER 30
Demetrios Demkou (5 Years)
Memorial Service and Coffee Hour
Damianos Ioannakis (6 Month)
Memorial Service and Coffee Hour
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
from Parish Council President Jim Stathopoulos
My fellow Annunciation Parishioners:
A
s we wind down another
calendar year and my term as
President and as a member of
the Parish Council comes to an end, I
want to reflect on the last three years
I have had the pleasure of serving our
Parish. I believe that the leadership
of our Parish has been in good hands.
As a Parish Council collectively,
we have accomplished a number of
good things; the hiring of a new full
time Proistamenos, the completion
of the Boiler Project, a revival of our
Youth programs and the hiring of a
wonderfully talented Youth Director.
There is a light that is starting to burn
bright in our Church.
Sadly, there are some things that have
not been accomplished. While we have
endeavored to be as transparent as
possible in our running of the Church,
there are those who have questioned
what we have done. Additionally, I
have failed you in at least one area;
getting the message across to you about
Stewardship. It saddens me that many
in our Parish (as you will see below) do
not understand what it truly means to
be a Steward of our great Annunciation
Parish. Our Church cannot continue
to survive on an average pledge of less
than $350/year. If we are to keep the
lights on, the candles lit and the light
burning bright for our Youth, we must
be able to increase our giving.
As you will note in the attached
breakdown of giving, fully 55% of
those who have pledged to our Church
have given $350 or less. If not for the
Greek Festival, which by the grace of
God was successful beyond our wildest
dreams, our Parish would not be
able to continue to exist. Our Parish
budget, which is balanced between
Income and Expenses, demands a total
$550,000 to operate. If our Parish is to
survive and thrive, as we all hope and
expect it to, our collective Stewardship
must be increased. As I have stated
in this publication previously, $20/
week for your Church is not, in my
opinion, asking too much for what we
are getting back in return. If each and
every Steward who has pledged in the
attached list increased his giving to
$1000/year ($20/week) our Stewardship
income would jump to $440,000.
As the quick financial report that is
also shown in the Good News tells us,
this year we are running at significant
deficit through the first 10 months
of the year. How can we continue to
operate our Church in this manner?
To complicate matters, as you all know,
our facilities are crumbling. One need
only look around the Church to see
some of the many problems that face
us; roof leakage in the baptistry and
community center, crumbling marble in
the entrance to the narthex, handicap
walkways that are leaking and a parking
lot that is failing. These are only a few
of the issues that you can see with your
eyes. There are also numerous issues
that you cannot see that affect our
church. The point of this is to tell you
what you already know, but might need
to hear again; our Church is over 50
years old and needs help.
The Parish Council has commissioned
a complete building assessment study
that will report to us all the outstanding
issues with our facility. Included with
this will be a list of wants and potential
improvements. With each, we will
have budget information that will
give us approximate costs of the work
that needs to be accomplished. We
anticipate that this will be somewhere
in the range of $300,000 to $500,000 for
the necessary repairs. Our plan is to
present this to the Community at large
sometime after the beginning of the
New Year.
As the year comes to an end and my
term comes to completion, I wish to
leave you with the following thoughts:
Will you consider increasing your
Stewardship?
I hope that you can speak to your
husband/wife, family and friends and
discuss what I have shared with you
here. Can you increase your giving to
$20/week as a minimum? There are
many good things that are happening
in our Parish. There are many things
that we can improve. Our community
is filled with many wonderful people.
Collectively we can accomplish many
things if we find the resolve to do so.
The question is, can you put aside your
differences, whatever they may be, to
do so?
I thank you for giving me the
opportunity to serve as the President
of our Community these last three
years. I wish all of you a wonderful
Thanksgiving and great holiday season
and health for each of you and your
families.
AΠΌ ΤΟΝ ΠΡΌΕΔΡΟ
ΤΟΥ ΔΙΟΙΚΗΤΙΚΟΥ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΊΟΥ
Aπό τον Πρόεδρο του Διοικητικου Συμβουλίου Δημήτριος Σταθόπουλος
Αγαπητοί πάροικοι της Ευαγγελίστριας:
Μ
ε τη λήξη της χρονιάς η θητεία
μου ως Πρόεδρος και ως μέλος του
Ενοριακού Συμβουλίου έρχεται
στο τέλος, καί μία ανασκόπηση σχετικά με
τα τρία τελευταία χρόνια, ηταν ευλογία να
υπηρετώ την Ενορία μας. Πιστεύω ότι η
ηγεσία της Ενορίας μας ήταν σε καλά χέρια.
Ως Ενοριακό Συμβούλιο συλλογικά, έχουμε
καταφέρει μια σειρά από καλά πράγματα,
όπως, η πρόσληψη του νέου Προϊσταμένου,
η ολοκλήρωση της κτηριακής λέβητας
θέρμανσης, η αναβίωση προγραμμάτων
Νεολαίας και η πρόσληψη ενος ταλαντούχου
νεαρού ως υπευθύνου της Νεολαίας. Υπάρχει
φως
καί το μέλλον αρχίζει να λάμπη
φωτεινά στην Εκκλησία μας.
Δυστυχώς, υπάρχουν μερικά πράγματα
που δεν έχουν ολοκληρωθεί. Αν και έχουμε
προσπαθήσει όσο το δυνατόν νάμαστε πιο
διαφανείς στη λειτουργία της Εκκλησίας
μας, υπάρχουν και εκείνοι που έχουν
αμφισβητήσει τα όσα έχουμε κάνει. ‘Αλλά,
έχω αποτύχει τουλάχιστον σε ένα τομέα:
το μήνυμα να γνωρίζητε το καθήκον της
Οικονομικής χρηματικής υποστήριξης καί
συμμετοχής σας. Με λυπεί πού πολλοί στην
Ενορία μας (όπως θα δείτε παρακάτω) δεν
καταλαβαίνουν τι σημαίνει να είσαι το
κατά δύναμη Steward/Υποστηρικτής της
Ευαγγελίστριας. Η Εκκλησία μας δεν
μπορεί να συνεχίσει να υπάρχει με ένα μέσο
χρηματικής προσφοράς λιγότερο των $350
τον χρόνο. Αν θέλουμε να κρατήσουμε τα
φώτα αναμένα, τα κεριά αναμένα, την
νεολαία λαμπροφωτεινή, πρέπει να είμαστε
απόφασισμένοι να αυξήσουμε την εθελοντική
χρηματική προσφοράς/υποστηριξη μας.
Όπως θα παρατηρήσετε στην συναπταία
έκεθεση κατανομής προσφοράς, πλήρως το
55% των παροίκων έδωσαν $350 ή λιγότερα.
Χωρίς το φεστιβάλ, που με τη ευλογία του
Θεού ήταν επιτυχής πέρα των προσδοκιών
μας, η Ενορία μας δεν θα είναι σε θέση να
βρίσκεαι και υπάρχει. Ο Προυπολογισμός
τηε εκκλησίας, γιά νάναι ισοσκελής εσόδων/
εξόδων, απαιτεί το ποσό των 550,000
δολάρια για να λειτουργήσει. Εάν η Ενορία
μας είναι να επιβιώσει και ευημεί, όπως
όλοι ελπίζουμε και αναμένουμε, η συλλογική
μας οικονομική υποστήριξη θα πρέπει να
αυξηθεί. Όπως έχω αναφέρει προηγουμένως,
$20 την εβδομάδα για την Εκκλησία σας
δεν είναι, κατά τη γνώμη μου, πάρα πολλά
εν συγκρίση απ αυτά που που λαμβάνουμε
πίσω.
Αν κάθενας μας που συμπεριλαμβάνετε στο
συνημμένο κατάλογο έκαμνε την προσφορά
των $1000 το έτος ($20 / Εβδομάδα)
το σύνολο του Προυπολογισμού θάταν
$440.000.
Η σύντομη οικονομική έκθεση που
παρουσιάζεται επίσης στο Good News, μας
λέει οτι θα έχουμε σημαντικό έλλειμμα τους
πρώτους 10 μήνες του τρεχοντος έτους. Πώς
μπορούμε επιστατούμε την εκκλησία μας με
αυτόν τον τρόπο;
Τα πράγματα περιπλέκωνται, όπως όλοι
γνωρίζετε, με τις εγκαταστάσεις μας που
καταρρέουν. Μιά ματιά γύρω από την
Εκκλησία δείχνει μερικά από τα πολλά
προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζουμε, όπως το
ταβάνια του Βαπτιστηρίου καί κοινοτικής
αίθουσα να στάζουν, την καταρρέυση του
μαρμάρου στα σκαλιά της είσοδου του
νάρθηκα, τις διαβάσεις πεζών με ανάκγες
που στάζουν και ένα parking lot σε ανάγκη
αμέσης επισκευής. Αυτά είναι μόνο μερικά
από τα θέματα που μπορείτε να δείτε με τα
μάτια σας. Υπάρχουν όμως πολλά θέματα
που δεν μπορείτε να δείτε πού επηρεάζουν
την εκκλησία μας. Σας λέω αυτό πού το
ξέρετε, αλλά πού πρέπει να το ξανακούσετε:
η Εκκλησία μας είναι πάνω των 50 ετών και
χρειάζεται γενική διόρθωση και ανασκευή.
Το Ενοριακό Συμβούλιο έχει αναθέσει μια
ολοκληρωμένη μελέτη αξιολόγησης των
κτιρίων που θα αναφέρει όλα τα εκκρεμή
ζητήματα με τις κτηριακές εγκαταστάσεις
μας. Μαζί με αυτό θα είναι μια λίστα με
τις επιθυμίες αποφάσεων και τις πιθανές
βελτιώσεις. Γιά κάθε προγραμμα, θα
έχουμε τις πληροφορίες του προϋπολογισμού
εξόδων που θα μας δώσει κατά προσέγγιση
το κόστος των εργασιών που πρέπει να
επιτευχούν. Ελπίζουμε ότι αυτό θα είναι στά
$300.000 με $500.00 γιά τις απαραίτητες
επισκευές. Το θέμα αυτό σκοπεύουμε να το
παρουσιάσουμε στην Ολομέλεια αρχάς του
Νέου Έτους.
Καθώς η χρονιά φτάνει στο τέλος της και η
θητεία μου θα ολοκληρωθεί, θα ήθελα να σας
αφήσω με τις ακόλουθες σκέψεις:
Θάταν στο φιλότιμο σας να αυξησητε την
χρηματική υποστηριξη σας;
Ελπίζω ότι μπορείτε να μιλήσετε με τον/η
σύζυγο σας, την συγένεια και φίλους σας
και να συζητήσετε τις σκέψεις μου που
συμμερίζουμε μαζύ σας. Μπορείτε να
αυξήσετε προσφορά σας $20 εβδομάδα ως
το ελάχιστο ποσό; Πολλά καλά πράγματα
συμβαίνουν στην Ενορία μας. Αλλα, και
πολλά άλλα πράγματα
μπορούμε να
βελτιώσουμε. Η κοινότητά μας είναι γεμάτη
με πολλούς υπέροχους ανθρώπους. Μαζύ
μπορούμε να πετύχουμε πολλά πράγματα, ας
λοιπόν βρούμε τη θέληση να το πράξουμε.
Το ερώτημα μου είναι, μπορείτε να βάλετε
κατά μέρος τις διαφορές σας, όποιες και
νάναι αυτέ: κάντετο!
Σας ευχαριστώ που μου δώσατε την τιμή να
υπηρετήσω ως Πρόεδρος την Κοινότητας μας
αυτά τα τρία τελευταία χρόνια. Εύχομαι σε
όλους μια υπέροχη ημέρα των Ευχαριστιών
και την περίοδο των εορτών την υγεία για
τον καθένα και τις οικογένειές σας.
STEWARDSHIP LETTER
by Fr. Catalin Mot
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I
t is that time of the year again,
when we are ready to close another
fruitful year, here at Our Church of
The Annunciation.
This time we’ve decided to do something
different, and to publicize the whole list
of our parishioners with all the names
and giving range to the Church, for
each family.
We are not doing that to embarrass
people, because we love you equally and
want to serve you, regardless of what is
your giving to Our Church.
The real reason, because we made this
format of our stewardship campaign, is
to show everybody what they have been
giving and to respectfully ask all of you,
if you please consider giving more to
your Church in the future.
I’m asking this, because Our Church is
growing, in numbers, in personnel, in
expenses and needs too.
If 30 years ago, the Church needs
were costing an X amount of money
according to the needs of that moment,
now in 2014, it’s a big difference in
the amount of dollars that we need to
operate Our Church. It is not the same
exact picture, the structure of The
Church maybe the same, but not the
financial picture of it!
30 years ago, $300, was a lot of money,
nowadays it is not!
at the end of the day it will be up to us,
if this will be possible of not!
I made a reference to $300, because
believe it or not, this is the average
giving to Our Church at this present
time.
It all depends in our understanding and
will in how to support Our Church. It’s
Our Church and we need to support it,
the people from the outside will never
help us on that respect!
If I have to give you some ideas of what’s
the average giving of other Churches,
in our Metropolis, I only can tell you
that the other two large parishes in The
Upstate New York, are ahead of us in
giving to their Churches.
Syracuse’s average giving is about $600,
and Buffalo is about $500. Yet, out of
the three parishes, we are the largest
and more financially potentiate than
the other two.
In The Metropolis of Detroit at large,
in Detroit Metro Area, the highest
average giving is probably Saints
Constantine and Helen Parish in
Westland Michigan, which averages
about $800 annually, and the parishes
in the South, which have an average
giving of $2000 annually per family.
Therefore looking at these numbers, we
all have to admit that we are far behind
them and we have to recognize the need
to increase our giving.
Nothing will be possible to make Our
Church a better environment, if we
don’t understand to give more, because
It is our responsibility and we have to
decide what do we want to do? To stay
the same and struggle every year like
this, or we want to move forward, to
the 21st and to support Our Church
according to the needs and the
requirements of the 21st century.
Everything goes up all the time, our
electric and gas bill, our cable TV bill,
the food prices go up all the time and
all other things and we don’t do much
to stop that, but rather we readjust our
budgets, to be able to accommodate it!
On this respect I would like to bring
this up to your attention now and to
respectfully ask all of you, let’s unite
ourselves in the Spirit of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, and let’s try to give to
Our Church according to our best
capability!
With love in Jesus Christ Our Lord, I
remain prayerfully yours,
+Father Catalin
CHURCH FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OMITTED FOR ONLINE BULLETIN
PLEASE SEE CHURCH OFFICE OR PRINT BULLETIN
FOR MORE INFORMATION
A PERSONAL REFLECTION
an O&E submission by Sylvia Bauer
I
recently attended a General
Assembly meeting for our
church on November 2nd.
There was nothing unusual about the
Agenda, just typical routine stuff.
Pass a budget. Nominate PC members
for our upcoming elections. Present
a Festival Report. Vote in Board of
Auditors….. Business as usual.
What was equally usual was the
message from our parishioners that they
feel out of touch and uninformed with
the state of our parish. We have ceilings
and roofs that need repairs. Marble
steps breaking. Lack of transparency.
Parking lot repairs. An unprecedented
dependency on our Festival to pay for
our day to day operating expenses.
And finally a decline and stagnant
stewardship program.
All very valid and true points.
Unfortunately while true, a few very
hard working individuals had to take
the brunt of these concerns as if it
was up to them entirely to fix all our
concerns and problems ...but I will get
back to that.
It is true we NEED so many things.
And at the same time we WANT so
much more. And the most glaring truth
is we have the capability and have been
blessed with the means to accomplish
all of it.
The Parish Council has instructed
me to break our Stewardship Giving
into smaller categories in an effort to
illustrate how our giving can make
a difference between keeping things
business as usual or truly MAKING
A DIFFERENCE in our present
and future existence of our beloved
Annunciation Church and Parish.
We have as if this date used $150,000
in Festival funds to pay for our daily
operating expenses. The truth is that
the funds are being used for a good
cause. Our festival has allowed us to
hire a Youth Director who has done a
wonderful job addressing the needs of our
youth ministries and more importantly
getting to know and connecting with
our kids. I would say that truthfully,
our youth ministry is important enough
to our parish that I would NOT place
its existence in the hands or taste buds
of our greater Rochester Patrons to buy
gyros and moussaka dinners from us
once a year. Our Festival patrons can
help us in other ways but not in our
day to day existence. I personally would
never place the security and care of my
children and home in my neighbor’s
hands.
So let’s go back to who is responsible ...
Is it the PC President, the Treasurer,
the Festival Chairman? The Priests?
The Staff? The Numerous Volunteers?
The answer to that question is that the
responsibility belongs to ALL of us. We
are a spiritual family. It was by free
will we chose to build this church on
East Avenue. It was by free will that we
have all supported it these many years.
And it is by free will that we will decide
collectively if we want to continue with
our mission or if it is time to lock it up
and go home.
As you look at the Stewardship Giving
below we offer you a few facts to reflect
upon:
1. The vast majority, 70%, have been
giving the same amount for the past 30
years. While $400 or $300 had a greater
buying power 30 years ago it certainly
does not have the same today.
2. Our Annual Stewardship Budget
should be at least $550,000 and more in
order for us to self sustain and not place
our existence on our Festival Patrons.
3. Our giving should not reflect our
personal feelings about each other but
instead should reflect our desire to
sustain and preserve our faith and our
church. It should reflect our love and
free will.
4. Our $300 or less bracket, while 30
years ago was able to sustain us and was
considered our highest giving bracket,
should be reserved for our seniors on
fixed social security incomes, widows,
young members just starting their
careers, students, and families without
a steady income. In fact we should, as
the loving spiritual family that we are,
be offering assistance to those members
who need it most.
Finally, and this final truth is our
reality and the one thing each of us
needs to be aware of; that while our
Stewardship Program may not have
been as aggressive as perhaps it should
have been; while Priests and Councils
left it to our own desire to increase our
giving because it’s a sensitive subject
and a personal decision; while all of
the above has created a false sense of
security; the truth is that we need all
our members, aside from those who
fall under the category in #4 above,
to make at least a 50% to a 100% or
more increase to their Stewardship. To
think outside the “giving as usual” that
we have all become accustomed to. Ask
yourself am I in the right bracket? Ask
yourself if you can give $1000 or more?
And if you have already paid it in full
for this year then consider making an
additional contribution. And if your
name is not yet listed, please send your
Stewardship in today.
You will see as you read the President’s
and Treasurer’s Messages that they
took your words to heart and they
have made it their mission to give you
transparency and the reality of our
current state of affairs.
The time is NOW, collectively, to decide
the fate and future of our beloved
Annunciation Church and Parish and
all it has to offer us. How the next
chapter in our history unfolds belongs
to all of us...
I thank God each day for His many
blessings and wish each of you a Blessed
Thanksgiving
SUNDAY SCHOOL UPDATE
by Sunday School Co-Director Rhonda Stamatis
One Hundred and Fifty children filled the Sunday School
halls on September 7th to begin another year of religious
education. Parents were invited into classrooms to meet
teachers, share in welcome refreshments and participate in
making a project with their child. After twenty minutes
parents moved into the Chapel for our annual informational
meeting while teachers were able to get to know their students
and give the first lessons of the year. We have a vibrant
church school education program with dedicated parishioners
who volunteer their time as teachers. Our program includes
children from 3 years old to Seniors in high school. Each year
we ask that students are re-registered into the Sunday church
school program. Students that have not been registered in
2014 will be taken off the registration list. Please contact the
Sunday School office if you did not register your child this
year.
Our typical Sunday School day begins with students being
called to the Solea for a childrens sermon. At the conclusion
of the sermon students in Pre-K 3/4 and Teen class go
directly to classrooms for instruction. Kindergarten through
8th grade gather in the Chapel for 10 minutes to be lead in
hymnology by one of our three choir directors, Peggy Basile,
Julie Eveleigh, or Zoi Varahidis , after wards students are
released to classrooms for their church school lesson with
Sunday School being dismissed at 12:00 pm.
I would like to welcome three new teachers this year into the
Sunday School program. Mary Beth Kolokouris who is team
teaching 1st grade and Kristen Savage and Julianne Gitsis
who are team teaching 5th grade. We are thankful for your
service to the Annunciation Church and the youth of our
parish through the ministry of Sunday School.
The Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk in Rochester was
held on October 19th. Each year our 6/7/8th grade students
participates in this walk as their classroom philanthropy
project. Students, teachers and chaperones left the church
parking lot at 9:00 am to attend the walk. Thank you to the
Annunciation congregation for supporting this effort with
donations of $279.50. The students themselves contributed
another $175.00 which brought the total donation to $454.50.
I would also like to thank Mary Anagnostopoulos for her
continued efforts each year in planning and organizing this
classroom philanthropy.
On Sunday November 23 our hymnology class participated
in the Liturgy by joining the choir to sing “Praise the Lord/
Enite Ton Kyrion and “O Son of God/Tou Dipnou Sou”.
The students worked on these hymns during the fall session
of hymnology. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to
experience the Liturgy as an active participant. Our goal is
to expose our youth to serving in various ministries of the
church so as they grow into adulthood service to their parish
becomes a regular part of their orthodox christian life.
All communications from the Sunday School office are done
through email. If you have not received an email this year
please contact the office at [email protected].
SUNDAY SCHOOL PHILANTHROPY PROJECT
Sunday School Children and Families,
The Constellation Sands Visitation Center serves Monroe
County’s most vulnerable children, those in foster care.
Often victims of abuse and neglect, these children, their
foster families, and biological parents utilize the center for
their primary healthcare, case management, counseling,
and supervised visits among other activities. It is located in
front of Monroe Community Hospital on
East Henrietta Road.
It has come to our attention through the foster parent
network that the Center is desperately in need of toys and
basic supplies.
We invite you to join us in a drive to collect new and
gently used toys, books, and cleaning supplies for these
very deserving kids and the foster families that have taken
them in. We especially encourage you to get your children
involved in picking out donations.
We will run this drive for the following 4 Sundays 11/23,
11/30, 12/7, and 12/14. There will be boxes outside the
Sunday School office.
They are in need of toys for all ages. The only toys they
cannot accept are stuffed animals due to hygiene concerns.
They are also in need of basic tools and cleaning supplies (
hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, Lysol wipes, brooms, dustpans, etc).
Thank you in advance for your generosity, let’s make this
our most successful project ever!
NOVEMBER
IN PHOTOS
Above: GOYAns at the GOYA 60th Anniversary
Banquet on November 8th
Left: HOPE/JOYans at an event at
Annunciation on November 15th. The kids made
beautiful Advent wreaths!
Below: Our GOYAns joined the GOYAns from
Buffalo and Syracuse to compete at the annual
Holiday Hoops basketball tournament in Sterling
Heights, MI. The teenagers represented their
communities very well!
WHAT IS THE REASON
FOR THIS SEASON?
by Youth Director Niko Tzetzis
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust consume and
where thieves break in and steal; but store
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust consumes and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
E
- Matthew 6:19-21 (NRSV)
very year around Thanksgiving, my parents start to
ask me what I think I’d want under the tree
on Christmas morning. Around Thanksgiving,
every year, I begin the conversation by telling them
that I am happy with what I have, and that I want
this Christmas to be less about presents than in years
past.
combined Upstate NY basketball team.
We went to Detroit as SyrBuffChester.
We traveled, played, and hung out together as one community.
It was pretty awesome to watch SyrBuffChester in action.
The kids were the first to jump in and participate at the
retreat on Friday, and they were a formidable force on the
cour... err... on the dance floor!
Not only that, but they immediately got to know and became
friends with the kids from St. John’s in Sterling Heights.
As I think about their question more and more, my
list grows. It goes from “Mom, dad, I think I’ve got
everything I need this year,” to “really all I need is a
new iPhone... oh and my iPad is a few years old. OH
and what about one of those FitBit things? They look
really cool!”
If you ask me once, it’s easy to be strong. As the
temptations for more things keep coming, though, I
lose that strength. Eventually, the prospect of tons of
new stuff under the tree is just too much to resist. I’ve
gotta have it all!
If you ask someone who’s studied marketing, I’m sure they’d
tell you that the advertisements at this time of year (and
throughout the year) aren’t just selling us products, they’re
selling us a lifestyle. Advertisers know how to convince us
that our lives would be better if we only had their product.
Advertisers convince us that their products will bring us
peace, joy, and happiness.
As Orthodox Christians, though, we know that our joy,
peace, and happiness won’t come from these things.
Just last week I joined a group of teenagers from our
church as well as from Holy Spirit, St. Sophia (Syracuse),
and Annunciation Buffalo in a trip to Detroit. We went out
to Detroit to compete in a basketball tournament as one,
So do you want to know what the “reason for the season” is?
It’s Orthodox Christians-people who know that Christ was
born in a cave in Bethlehem-coming together to prepare and
celebrate the birth of God in the Flesh.
This Christmas, do all you can to remember that this
community is the center of all Christmas celebrations. Let’s
all prepare for Christmas together with prayer and fasting,
and come Christmas Day, let’s all celebrate the birth of God
together.
The only way to truly celebrate Christ’s birth is to celebrate
it together. In the ancient Orthodox Church there was a
saying, “One Christian is no Christian.” As a community, we
can make the joy of Christmas last forever.
God bless, and Merry Christmas!
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
DATE:
TIME:
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Polls open immediately after Divine Liturgy till 1:30pm.
CORRECTION TO NOMINATIONS: The five (5) members whose term of office ends this year are: Demetrios
Stathopoulos, Dorothea Sanchez, Chris Theodorou and two (2) vacant seats.
Van Zissis term ends in 2016 and was erroneously reported as ending this year in the October Good News.
ELIGIBILITY: Parishioners in good standing are eligible to participate at the General Assembly on Sunday, November
2, 2014 and vote on Election Day, Sunday, December 14, 2014. Parishioners are considered to be in Good Standing if they
have paid their Stewardship in full for 2013 and submitted a pledge or made payments for 2014. If you have any questions
regarding eligibility, please call the Church Office, or contact any Member of the Parish Council.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS: The last day to request Absentee Ballots is Monday, December 1, 2014. Absentee ballot you
receive must be mailed back in the envelopes provided to the Board of Elections Post Office Box by Friday, December 12,
2014.
Please direct any questions to a member of the Board Elections:
Vickie Makovsky, Chairman (585.967.8931)
Angie Laloggia (585.217.8863)
Nitsa Hristodoulou (585.309.1893)
Patricia Linares (585.789.0176)
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
Above: Letter from the Federation of Social Workers
Right: Honorable Mention award given to Annunciation Rochester
Greek Festival for 2014 Human Service Worker of the Year
In recognition of our Greek Festival’s support of 15 local women & children’s charities.
As of this Festival, $167,500 has been donated over the past 13 years.
THANK YOU
This month I have a really long list of
people to thank for their tireless work
for the community.
GOYA 60th Anniversary
Thank you to Presvytera and Father
Catalin for thinking of this event. If
not for them, we might have missed
a great milestone in the life of our
GOYA.
Also, thank you to Peter Kokorotsis
and Van Zissis who put together an
incredible meal for us all, and who
donated their time. Thank you to
A&G Meats and to Rochester Meats
for their generous food donations.
Thank you to all of the men who
served back in the bar. Special thanks
to Al Petro, Louie Gitsis, and to Bill
Stathopoulos for helping to organize
and serve.
Thank you to Omonia Flambouro
and to the Drosopigi Society for your
donations, too.
Holiday Hoops Trip
Thank you to all of the parents who
donated their time to chaperoning
our recent GOYA trip to Sterling
Heights, MI. Specifically, thanks to
Patty Gitsis, Betty Petro, Vickie
Hristodoulou, Billy and Sofy Anthis,
and to Ivey.
Finally, thanks to all of our incredible
volunteer youth coordinators. Our
HOPE/JOY, GOYA, Sunday School,
Greek School, Greek Dance, and
any other programs would not exist
without your hard work!
With love in Christ for all you do,
Niko Tzetzis
Philoptochos Christmas Party
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 5:30, Church Hall
Please sign up on the bulletin board in the church hall to bring a dish to pass
Contact Maria, 507-5256 , Demetra, Nancy, Helen Eisenberg 737-9960
We will be collecting funds to donate to Hannah’s Hope. Hannah along with four beloved friends: died together in a tragic
automobile crash just days after they graduated from Fairport High School. Funds collected will go towards helping
children in Africa including building classrooms in Africa at St. Hannah’s School
Why Join Philoptochos?
Help someone in need
Get involved in your community
Make an impact
Change someone’s life
Meet new people
Share your skills and expertise
Gain knowledge
Network
Be part of a philanthropic movement
Below is a list of organizations that our Philoptochos has contributed to: Patrick House Hospice, Alternatives for
Battered Women, UNICEF, along with helping those in our community who have needed assistance with medical and
burial expenses.
We would also like to thank those who have contributed toward the coffee hour in memory of their loved ones..May their
memory be eternal.
Greek Orthodox Church
of the Annunciation
962 East Avenue
Rochester, NY14607
Address Service Requested
2014 PARISH
CHRISTMAS CARD
You are invited to participate in our
Parish Christmas Card. As you may
recall from past years, this beautiful
card with a famous Byzantine icon of
the Nativity on the cover, lists all the
members of our Parish; and it is sent to the 900
families of the Annunciation community. It saves you
time, expense and effort of mailing numerous
individual cards to all your friends in our Parish.
Please help us keep up this annual tradition by
providing a small donation of $20.00 to help defray the
cost of printing and mailing. If you would like your
family name to appear in a special way, write it on
the line below or call the church office.
Deadline to submit changes and additions is
Wednesday, December 10th.
Please list my name/family in the Parish Christmas
Card, as I have indicated below:
Thank you for your support!
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Rochester, N.Y.
Permit No 900
Join Us for the Annual
Sunday School & Greek School
Christmas Pageant & Family Brunch
Sponsored by
The Parish Council
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE
DIVINE LITURGY IN THE
COMMUNITY CENTER
Following our Annual Christmas Pageant, that is
so beautifully performed by our Sunday School &
Greek School students, we invite you to join us
for a Delicious Brunch, with your families &
fellow parishioners!
BRUNCH MENU
SCRAMBLED EGGS, HASH BROWNS
FRENCH TOAST, FRUIT BOWLS
JUICE & COFFEE
PS: Look for a very special guest who will
also be joining us that day!

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