April 2015 - St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church

THE NEWS FROM ST. NEKTARIOS
May 18, 2015
Volume 19, Issue 4&5
C HRIST IS R ISEN ! N OW W HAT ?
A MESSAGE FROM FR. STEVE
E
very year we spend up to two
months in preparation for the
glorious proclamation; “Christ is
Risen!” Every Lenten period we focus
diligently; our lives, our hearts, our
souls and our minds on the goal of
the Pascha, and after all our fasting,
prayers and personal sacrifices have
been fulfilled, after we climb high
spiritual peaks during Holy Week, we
find ourselves as if waking up from a
dream wondering, “Now what?” Many
people describe this time as an
emotional and spiritual drag or slump.
Some find the extreme emotional
contrast from pre-Pascha to postPascha a little frightening. Where has
the Lenten feeling gone? If we were
really making spiritual progress,
IN
THIS ISSUE
Sponsorships Appreciation
2
Focus on our Community
2
Paschal greetings & Metropolitan
Alexios’ Mother’s Day Message
3
Our Church Family Presentation
4-5
Saturday of Lazarus
6
Palm Sunday
7
Holy Unction & Holy Passion Svc
8
Holy Friday Services
9
Holy Friday & Saturday morning
10
Resurrection & Agape Vespers
11
Agape Picnic Celebration
12
Philoptochos
13
Youth Ministry
Saints of our Faith
14-15
16
shouldn’t it last? Is it because we
have changed our diets that we feel
this way? Essentially, we are left with
a “Now what?” feeling. We feel that
there should be something more but
there doesn’t seem to be any more.
. . . Now is the time to
accept the direction of
the Holy Spirit, to
assume Christ’s
ministry . . .
answered. There was an answer and
there was a purpose that they just
hadn’t realized it yet.
Now that we find ourselves in the post
-resurrection “slump”, we must realize
that this is part of the experience of re
-living this wonderful event. We are
allowed to participate, not only in the
joy of the Resurrection, but also in the
period of contemplation where we
wonder, “Now what?”
As we know from scripture and
Church history; it doesn’t end here.
The Pascha and the Ascension may
be seen, by some, as an end to our
Lord’s earthly ministry, but in reality it
is a transformation in His ministry. His
physical presence may have
Lent and Holy Week are not only
ascended to Heaven, but His spiritual
times of remembrance but also reexperience. We attempt to re-live and presence, the Holy Spirit, descended
upon the Church. The purpose of His
re-experience the final days of our
Lord’s earthly ministry. But we focus incarnation and the scope of His
so much on the “goal” of Pascha that ministry have never changed. Rather,
we, just as His disciples did after His they have been assumed by the
Church, that is to say, us, as guided
Resurrection, find ourselves asking
by the Holy Spirit.
“Now what?” We can recall how the
disciples after the Resurrection “went So the question of “Now what?”, that
fishing.”
we are asking ourselves after the
They knew that something very
special was taking place while our
Lord was with them. Their joy was
fulfilled in His Resurrection, but they
really didn’t know what to do next, so
they went back to their ordinary lives,
never expecting or realizing how
powerfully they had been changed by
their relationship with Christ.
Pascha can be answered in the same
way that it was answered to His
Disciples. Now is the time to accept
the direction of the Holy Spirit, to
assume Christ’s ministry; go out into
the entire world, preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and baptize in the name
of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
It wasn’t until the “Great Commission”
to go out into the world teaching the
Gospel and baptizing in the name of
the Holy Trinity and the descent of
the Holy Spirit on Pentecost that the
question of “Now what?” was
May God bless us and strengthen us
for the work that has been prepared
for us. Let us also glorify Him so that
He will glorify us; never forgetting the
true meaning of “Christ is Risen!”
THANK YOU TO
OUR SPONSORS
Focus on our community
C elebrations, Milestones, Comfort & Support
In our prayers
Anita Asimos Pat Baker Sandy Brewer Marie Callahan Nikki Chomakos Kathy Clewell
Flowers for Holy
Week were offered by
Barbara Cook Shannon Elliott Ted Gillis Lisa Jacob Nick Kefalas Helen Keramidas
Peter Mannering Casey Martinez Calliope Milios Christina Nixon Kay Owens Barry Dale Price Jr.
Gus Psomadakis Melissa Renfroe Teziah Stalling James Tekin Mary Thayer
And the persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the non-Christian World
Ron and Maria Wheatley
Gus & Bessie Vrettos
The Chris Miller Family
The Lowen Family
Anita Asimos
William & Roula Hunter
To Linda Hanna & Brandon Baker on the baptism of their daughter, Brielle Marie Baker
Agape Picnic
Sponsors
To Deme & Teddy Poulos on the birth of Vasili & Evanna’s brother, Yanni
and the 40 day blessing of Yanni and mom
To Beatriz Franco & George Anipsitakis on the baptism of Panagiotis’ sister, Ioanna
Andrew Asimos Family
Captain’s Galley Seafood
Pete Couchell Family
Missy Davis
French Quarters
Restaurant
Krassimire Ivanov
John’s Family Restaurant
Nick G. Karres
Peter Keretsis Family
Toula Keretsis
Mayflower Pit Stop
Restaurant
Tom & Laura Nixon
Dean & Stacie Peroulas
Terry & Heidi Sarantou
Theodora Sexstone
Showmars Restaurants
Ted & Harriet Stamatakos
Dimitrios Stefanides
Family
George & Terry
Stephenson
Stratos Restaurant Group
The Greek Isles
Dan & Vickie Wixon
Congratulations
To Maria & Joseph McCourt on the baptism of Joseph’s sister, Evangelia
To Megan & Nick Marinakos on the baptism of Peter’s brother, John Nikolas
To Miranda & Dean Kleto on the baptism of Angel & Jocelyn’s brother, Nicholas Gus
To Lauren & John Allen Richardson on the birth of their son, John Allen Richardson III
To Andrew Bahanovich and Elissa Williams on their engagement
To Peter Maxwell and Andrea Gayle on their engagement
To Bethany & Andy Michael on the birth of Scarlett and Piper’s sister, Theodora Louise
To Noura & Naim Daher on the birth of Mary Joy’s brother, George
and the 40-day blessing of George and mom
To Athena & Bill Kortesis on the birth of Dean’s sister, Mary Ella
To Mary & Ben Dresser on the birth and 40 day blessing of their daughter, Evangeline and mom
Sympathy
To Carol Jelush & Helen Bondurant on the passing of their aunt Pauline Jelush
To John & Aliki Bugg on the passing of his brother, Ronnie Bugg in Chase City, VA
To the family of Theodora Tanner on her passing
To the Munday family on the passing of Lisa’s father, Edson Travis in Venice, FL
To the Chaconas family on the passing of Marina’s grandfather, Richard Clary in Asheville, NC
In Appreciation
To my St. Nektarios family – Thank you for the calls, cards, gifts and visits I received during my recent
convalescence and the passing of our Aunt Pauline. Your
many prayers were most appreciated. I am humbled by
the outpouring of kindness shown to my sister, Helen, and
me. Carol
Thanks to Diane Gilbert and Copycat for printing the
Church Bulletin and Newsletter
Please contact the church office with information we
may share with the community or to add someone to
the prayer list.
Also please contact the office when someone is in
need of a clergy visit.
Thanks to the GOYANS GONE GRAY
fundraiser in 2014, Christina Nixon enjoys
some vertical mobility. Some of the proceeds
were used to purchase this device.
2
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Paschal Greetings from Around the World
Language
Greeting
Response
Albanian:
Krishti U Ngjall!
Vertet U Ngjall!
Arabic:
El Messieh kahm!
Hakken kahm!
Armenian:
Kristos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnial eh harootyunuh kristosee!
Coptic:
Pchristos aftooun!
Alethos aftooun!
Eritrean-Tigre: Christos tensiou!
Bahake tensiou!
Ethiopian:
Christos t'ensah em' muhtan! Exai' ab-her eokala!
Georgian:
Kriste ahzdkhah!
Chezdmaridet!
Greek:
Christos anesti!
Alithos anesti!
Indonesian:
Kristus telah bangkit!
Benar dia telah bangkit!
Romanian:
Hristos a inviat!
Adeverat a inviat!
Russian:
Khristos voskrese!
Voistinu voskrese!
Serbian:
Cristos vaskres!
Vaistinu vaskres!
Spanish:
Cristo ha resucitado!
En verdad ha resucitado!
Swahili:
Kristo amefufukka!
Kweli amefufukka!
Ukrainian:
Khristos voskres!
Voistinu voskres!
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS’ MOTHER’S DAY
MESSAGE
“Form the soul of thy son aright, and all the rest will be added hereafter.”
— St. John Chrysostom
This weekend we have the opportunity to celebrate a special day dedicated to
our mothers. Of course, there are many reasons we should honor them — for the
sacrificial, unselfish love they have given us, all the loving care they have given
us throughout our lives, for all the prayers they have prayed for us, and for all the
sleepless nights they have spent worrying about us.
All aspects of our lives – our character, sense of responsibility, good and bad
habits, ability to cope with difficulties, and faith – are formed by our mothers.
From our parents, especially our mothers, we learn our religious beliefs, our morals and ethical principles. And so
mothers have an absolutely vital role in bringing up children and teaching them the Christian faith. We remember that
St. Paul reminded Timothy of the faith he received from his own mother and grandmother; “When I call to
remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and
I am persuaded that in thee also.” The mother’s faith - or lack of it - will affect many, not just her own children and
grandchildren.
In order to educate our children we must be educated in the Faith ourselves. This is the parents’ responsibility: to
involve ourselves in the life of the Church, and strive to be a holy example both at home, and in public, for our children
to follow. We should pray together as a family, and bring our children to the Divine Liturgy often. Making it possible for
our children to receive God’s spiritual grace in prayer and worship, in the Divine Liturgy, is the greatest gift that we can
give to them.
With these thoughts, I wish all our mothers Χρονια πολλα and a blessed and joyous Mother’s Day! What a wonderful
day to honor our mothers, both living and reposed with genuine gratitude and love. May God bless all mothers, and
may He keep in blessed remembrance our mothers who have gone before us.
I pray that the Most Holy Theotokos, the Mother of our Lord and the Mother of us all, intercede for our mothers today
and for us all with Her Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
3
“ Our Church Family ”
From One Faith, One Family – Talk on May 3,
2015 By Dennis Kokenes
T
his is called the Great Commission of Christ
and he gave it to His disciples after His
Resurrection and before His Ascension (in other
words) at this very time in our current worship
cycle. It was His last commandment given on
earth and it applies to all of us. It is our
responsibility for His commandment to be lived
out in His Church until he returns again. He was
speaking to us when He said, “I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”
It was with this commandment in mind, in heart,
and in spirit, that approximately 20 families met in
February 1998, 17 years ago, to begin the family
that would spread the faith that would become the
parish of St. Nektarios.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee
to the mountain where Jesus had told
them to go. When they saw Him, they
worshipped Him, but some doubted. Then
Jesus came to them and said, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to Me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to
I am speaking to you today at the request of the
the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20.
Parish Council. The purpose is to share with all of
you the story of where we have been, how we got
Foundation of our Family
here, where we are headed, and to make sure
that everyone knows the story of our family. By
choosing to worship here, we are choosing this
ekklisia, this church, this family. The Greek word,
ekklisia, which we translate to church originally
referred to an assembly of the people convened
at the public place of the Council for the purpose
of deliberating. In the Christian sense, ekklisia
means an assembly of Christians gathered for
worship. It does not refer to the building, it is “us.”
We are the assembly. We are the family. We are
the church. This land and this structure is our
home, our sanctuary. Which is to say it is our safe
haven from the dangers and madness of the
world and the vessel of our salvation. This is why
we spend so much energy, time, and money
caring for our church home. We want to make
sure our home is a place worthy of her purpose
and a beacon for those searching for sanctuary in
this world and salvation in the world to come.
The Foundation of our church family, our ekklisia
is a diagram that everyone in His family needs to
know by heart (as we show it at every assembly)
and continuously challenge ourselves to confirm
that we live within these guiding principles,
Worship, Witness, Fellowship, and Service.
Every family reserves the right to brag a bit and it is important that we know about our family’s good achievements. Like the tree, we will be judged by the
fruit we produce. In our relatively short 17 years we have produced good fruit.
Family Achievements 1999 – 2015 — Producing Good Fruit
You can feel proud of our family. We are living the Great Commission. We are true to our founding principles.
4
May 3, 2015 presentation
This is what our
property on
Kuykendall Rd
looked like in 1998.
. . The ranch home
on the property
was our rectory,
our offices, and
our weekday
sanctuary for a few
years. We worshipped on Sundays at South
Charlotte Middle School.
As recently as last
year we completed
the Reliquary
In 2006, construction began on the Sanctuary we
creating a Chapel
worship in today. For those who weren’t here to see worthy of the
it was a miracle to behold. Watching the building
precious and miraculous relics of our Patron
grow higher and more magnificent each week was
Saint and Protector St. Nektarios. The relics
amazing. The majestic arches and the enormous
are a great gift and responsibility that we
dome took shape and then became the beautiful and accepted and continue to respect and honor.
inspirational Sanctuary we know and love today.
Pilgrims come from around the world to
venerate St. Nektarios at our parish. All
together, we have raised $850,000 for the
inspiring iconography and Iconostasion.
Last year. we purchased the house next door
to us when it came on the market. An
anonymous donor has pledged this gift to the
church for $240,000 which is another great
blessing for us. It is important that you know
that the Parish Council. with the guidance of
church leaders who have years of
experience at other parishes, was making
plans to purchase the house, independent of
the gift, for the future growth and needs of
our family.
January 23,1999 this land was blessed by God in
a ceremony presided over by then Archbishop
Spyridon and Bishop Alexios. From 1999 to 2001
we celebrated Holy Week and Pascha at Elatos
Park.
On April 26, 2001, we began clearing the land on
Kuykendall Rd in preparation for the construction
of our first building, the Spiritual Life Center
(SLC). For the next year we watched the building
come to life. The SLC would be our home for the
next 6 years. We received a certificate of
occupancy for the SLC on April 10, 2002. On
April 14, 2002, we had our first Divine Liturgy in
the SLC. April 28 to May 5, 2002, we celebrated
our first Holy Week and Pascha in the SLC.
So, we clearly still have work to do to retire the debt
on the Sanctuary. I have witnessed each phase of
our growth and each campaign has been a
challenge overcome by prayerful commitment and
sacrifice. We have been blessed along the way.
Nothing good and nothing worthy happens that is not
the will of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit. I
believe with all my heart that it is the will of God
that this Church, this ekklisia, be here.
Our family continues to grow and mature in its
faith and commitment to the Great Commission
here and beyond. Remember Christ said “all
nations”. In 2013, Fr Steve Dalber, Tim Klund
and other dedicated missionaries from
St. Nektarios brought the plight of the poor
children in Kenya Africa to our attention and we
are sending about $8,000 per month to support
the children.
Ours is not a family that lives in fear, that has
doubt, but a family that has faith in God. Our
debt will be retired, so that we can continue to
grow and do God’s will here and everywhere.
5
Our future, like our present and our past, will
be amazing. A Ministry Center will be built
between the SLC and the Sanctuary to
serve the growing needs of the family.
The current plans are for a 32,000 square
foot center housing additional classrooms, a
permanent bookstore, meeting and small
event rooms, administration offices (allowing
for repurposing of SLC space), and a
multipurpose activity space which can serve
as a regulation sized gym.
Plans are being explored for an Active Senior
Living Complex in the corner of the campus.
In closing, it is a great honor to be a part of
this family and I know that everyone here will
answer the call to be stewards of the church
through time, talent, and treasure so that we
can continue to grow and mature and carry on
Christ’s Great Commission and His final
commandment here and everywhere.
From God every family in heaven and on
earth is named. Ephesians 3:15.
And we are Saint Nektarios!
Saturday of lazarus ~ April 4, 2015
Kabee Kokenes teaching the children during the Youth Retreat
Fr. Steve explaining “what happens in the altar”
during the Teaching Divine Liturgy
Making of the Palm Crosses
Decorating the tables for Palm Sunday luncheon
6
Palm Sunday ~ April 11, 2015
The palms were blessed during the Matins service
and given to parishioners as they arrived.
On Palm Sunday the palm crosses were blessed
after the Gospel reading during Matins so that
everyone could hold their palms during the entire
service. At the end of the Divine Liturgy and
during the procession of the icon of the Entry of
our Lord into Jerusalem, our youth lined the
center aisle waving their palms.
The palms are the “symbols of victory” as it says
in the hymn for the feast day (see below), which
is sung repeatedly throughout the service. This
victory is not only our Lord’s victory over death, but also a personal victory over
one’s sinful passions, which was the hope and purpose of Lent.
“Before Your passion, You confirmed the resurrection of all, by raising Lazarus from
the dead, O Christ our God. Therefore, like the children of old, we also carry
symbols of victory, and to You, the Victor over death, do we cry out: Hosanna in the
highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
7
Holy Unction & Holy Passion Services
(Above) Prayers for the blessing of the oil; Acolytes preparing anointing
kits from the Holy Unction service and parishioners being anointed.
(Below and Right) Lighting our candles and venerating the cross of our
Lord on Holy Thursday Passion Service.
Holy Thursday Passion Service
“Today, He who suspended the earth in
the waters is suspended on a cross.”
8
Holy Friday Services
Steve Mantekas, Peter Tatsis, Ron Drobonick and Michael Neary receive
the Icon of the body of Christ.
All Creation was altered in
awe, as it saw You
hanging on a cross, O
Christ. The sun went dark,
and the foundations of the
earth shook. All things
suffered with You who
created all things. O Lord,
who willingly endured it
for us, glory to You!
“Myrrh-bearers came and
sprinkled sweet myrrh upon
your tomb, Lord; at early
dawn they come now.”
The Myrrh-bearing women by some of
our young ladies in the fourth and fifth
grade Catechism Classes
Kouvouklion Bearers: Left side: Aka Vashakidze, Theo Karavokiros, Jacob Neff, George Manousos, Spiro Galanis, Tommy Kleto, John Dalber, Tarras
Onischenko, John Andromides, Patrick Taylor, Dimitri Gamvrellis ~ Right side front: George Bacogeorge, Chris Mortis, Tom Clewell, Dan Medvid, Andrew
Bahanovich ~ Back row: Alex Neary, Constantine Kaloudis, Peter Maxwell, Philip Robertson, John Tsefrikas, Warren Stone, Chris Levantis, Mike Clewell
~ Not pictured: Simon Tekin, Yuhan Tekin
9
Holy Friday night and Holy Saturday morning
Holy Friday Lamentations Service
(Below) Our Dedicated Chanters:
Women — Ritsa Neary, Dianna Thomas, Joanna
Dendrolivanos, Laurel Bacogeorge, Merrigrace
Clewell, Dina Marinakos-Oara, Varvara Pasiali,
Presb. Tara Georgiou, Maria Kleto, Elaine Miller,
Eva Clewell, Joanna Azar, Nicole Azar.
Men — John Holevas, Nicholas Georgiou,
Vladimir Antonov, John Peroulas, Andrew Asimos,
Gus Gianakopoulos, Gerry Clonaris, Dennis
Kokenes, Fr. Seraphim Dedes, Jeff Clewell
Saturday
Morning Service
~ Tossing of the
petals and
blessing of the
food baskets
10
midnight resurrection Service &Agape Vespers
Christ is Risen!
Father Steve distributing the blessed
eggs after the Resurrection service
St. Nektarios has parishioners from many different cultures.
On Pascha we proclaim the gospel in many of our different languages.
Our Gospel Readers:
Matthew Winter-Mandarin, Leena Azar-Finnish, Aka Vashakidze—Georgian, Tatiana Mukhammad-Russian, Emile Khuri-Arabic,
Fr. Steve Dalber-Greek, Patricia Kaloudis– Spanish, Iliana Strawn-Bulgarian, Konstantinos Kaloudis-English,
Naguib Farah-French, Fr. Halefom Zighta-Eritrean, Azad Khuri-Armenian, Suat Pamukci-Turkish, Presbytera Maria Dalber-Latin,
Madeleine Tekin-German (not pictured here but pictured in photo above on right)
11
Agape Picnic celebration
Hunting for eggs
Breaking 1 of 3 Piñatas!
Traditional Egg-Cracking Contest
Thanks to hundreds of volunteer hours, over 700 people joined the celebration to make it a success.
12
Philoptochos — A Legacy of Philanthropy
Ladies, you have done it again
(with the helping hands of our
guys). Thank you to all who
made up the hundreds of manhours behind the scenes preparing for Holy Week
~ Palm cross making, Palm Sunday Luncheon,
egg dyeing, Easter bags for our shut-ins,
Kouvouklion decorating, and baking.
The Board could not do it without you!
Your Grateful Board Members
Adorning Christ’s tomb, the kouvouklion
Enjoying Palm Sunday Luncheon inside, under the tent,
and on a “sidewalk picnic”
13
Each year the 4th grade Catechism class undertakes an
awesome project: dioramas of the lives of a chosen saint.
Led by teacher Mia Beleos-Ouzts, with help from Danielle
Clewell and Carol Jelush, the children research their
saints’ lives then create a diorama depicting the
important points. When the projects are finished, they
are displayed in the hall outside their classroom and presented by the
children to the 1st grade class across the hall. Well done, 4th GRADE!
Bright and early on Saturday morning, April 25, a crowd of Youth Catechism teachers arrived 24 hours earlier than
their usual Sunday time to spend a few hours with a fabulous speaker and review their own fabulous work over this
past year. After a lovely brunch, Fr. Eugen Pentiuc (who holds with multiple doctorates including one from Harvard)
spoke with great passion, wit and authority on teaching the Old Testament, and the importance of offering our
children the “big picture,” giving them a context in which to work out their salvation. We were all inspired. Next,
Kabee Kokenes led a workshop (developed by Helen Giles) which helped us look at those things we had done this
year, which we want to do again, and those we hope to change for the better. We were all enthusiastic about the
year past and the year to come. THANKS, TEACHERS!!
14
The final days of O-Life for this season, following Palm Sunday and Pascha,
were low key and fun—including Service Night, A Night Out and Trivia
Night. Service Night activities included: moving tons of boxes from the porch at the House
into the attic and breaking down tons of recycling. We also counted and wrapped all the
change we had collected for THE LUNCH PROJECT. For A Night Out, we piled on the bus
and headed out to SMASHBURGER for a post-Lenten feast. On our final night—Trivia
Night, we answered questions in the usual categories, plus ones only
O-Lifers would know.
Have a great summer O-Life Families. See you in the fall.
15
SAINTS OF OUR FAITH
Patrick the Hieromartyr &
Bishop of Prusa and His Fellow
Martyrs Acacius, Menander,
and Polyaenus
May 19
S
aint Patrick was Bishop of Prusa, a city in
Bithynia (the present-day Brusa or Bursa).
Because of his Christian Faith, he was brought
before Julius (or Julian) the Consul, who in his
attempts to persuade Patrick to worship as he
himself did, declared that thanks was owed to the
gods for providing the hot springs welling up from the
earth for the benefit of men. Saint Patrick answered
that thanks for this was owed to our Lord Jesus
Christ, and explained that when He, Who is God,
created the earth, He made it with both fire and
water, and the fire under the earth heats the water
which wells up, producing hot springs; he then
explained that there is another fire, which awaits the
ungodly. Because of this, he was cast into the hot
springs, but it was the soldiers who cast him in, and
not he, who were harmed by the hot water. After this
Saint Patrick was beheaded with the presbyters
Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus. Most likely, this
was during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).
S
The Holy Hieromartyr
Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre
June 5
aint Dorotheus became Bishop of Tyre in
Phoenicia about the end of the third century.
During the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian,
about the year 303, he fled to Odyssopolis in Thrace
to preserve his life, and after the death of the tyrants
he returned to Tyre. He lived until the reign of Julian
the Apostate (361-363), from whose persecution he
again fled to Odyssopolis (or, according to
Theophylact of Bulgaria, Edessa), but was found by
Julian's men and slain in great torments, at the age
of 107, in 361. He was very learned, and has left
behind writings in both Latin and Greek relating the
lives of the holy Prophets, Apostles, and other
Saints.
DIRECTORY
Church Office: 704-708-4669
Church Fax: 704-846-6094
Email: office@stnektarios.org
Website: www.stnektarios.org
5108 Kuykendall Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28270
Father Steve Dalber, Protopresbyter
Home: 704-708-4638
Cell Phone: 704-451-6524
Email: frdalber@stnektarios.org
Father John Wallace
Home: 704-905-2558
Cell Phone: 704-905-2558
Email: frwallace@stnektarios.org
Father Seraphim Dedes
Music Ministry
Phone: 704-719-3074
Email: frdedes@stnektarios.org
Father Stephanos Potter, Deacon
Father Paul Tsahakis, Deacon
Parish Council
President: Deidre Lepkowski
Vice President: Sam Kleto
Secretary: Maria Mortis
Treasurer: Theodora Sexstone
Ass’t Treasurer: Peter Keretsis
Ass’t Secretary: Patrick Taylor
Members: Andrew Bahanovich,
Mike Diamantis, Chris Levantis
Leo Maganares, and John Nichols
Parish Administrator
Evelyn Klund
Administration Staff
Madalina Lowen
Kim Clewell
Carol Jelush
Dir. Youth Ministries, Elaine Miller
Property Mgr, Dena Kondilis
Philoptochos Board
President: Maria Wheatley
1st V P: Bessie Vrettos
Rec. Secretary: Renee Tsefrikas
Corr. Secretary: Thalia Fergione
Treasurer: Dee Drobonick
Ass’t Treas./Memb.: Melisa Galasso
Board Members: Mary Alexis,
Helen Clonaris, Maria Kleto
Evelyn Klund, and Ritsa Neary
Advisor - Bessie Vrettos
SUNDAYS AT
SAINT NEKTARIOS
Worship
Matins: 8:15 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: about 9:15 a.m.
Youth Catechism:
Following Holy Communion.
Fellowship Coffee:
Following the Divine Liturgy.
Prosfora
Please contact the church office or Christie
Asimos at 704-542-6729 if you would like
to provide Prosfora.
Coffee Hour
Please contact the church office if you
would like to host or co-host a Coffee Hour
on Sunday. Your Stewardship pays for the
coffee hour refreshments provided by the
Hospitality Ministry Team.
Flowers
You may donate flowers in honor of a
family member’s feast day, in memory
of a loved one or friend, on the occasion
of a holiday, or simply as a gift to the
community of St. Nektarios. To donate
flower arrangements to be placed at the
Iconostasis or in the Narthex for Sunday
Services, please contact the church office
to reserve a Sunday.
Sacramental Wine
& Pure Olive Oil
You may make a financial gift to help
defray the cost of the sacramental wine
that is used for Holy Communion. Please
note on the memo line of your check or on
the envelope “Communion Wine”. You
may also donate a bottle or can of pure
olive oil which is then blessed at the Shrine
of St. Nektarios and is offered in the
anointing kits. Please feel free to bring this
with you to any of our services and give to
an usher on duty.
For additional information contact the
church office.
UPCOMING DEADLINE
Newsletter & Bulletin:
Information Due: June 9, 2015
Published: June 19, 2015
OUR MISSION:
St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church is dedicated to the continuation
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s ministry of salvation
through the proclamation and teaching of the Gospel;
through Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
and through loving service to God and to mankind.
http//www.goarch.org ~
OUR VISION:
The community will provide a loving, caring and welcoming
environment where all belong and grow in the faith through
worship, service, witness, and fellowship.
"Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline,
MA, used by permission. All rights reserved."
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