My Parish Family,

 We have all been sick before. We sometimes drink enough fluids or have bowl after bowl of yiayia's avgolemeno soup, and then there are those times when we have to go to... yes, the doctor. We tell our doctor our symptoms, and he or she decides what we have and what will cure us of that sickness.

Everyone is infected with the deadly disease of sin. However, we can all be cured from this disease! What is the remedy? What is the cure? The medicine is the Mystery of Holy Confession. Yet we still do not reach for this medicine.

Repentance is given to each and every one of us at any time. There are earthly diseases and earthly doctors.  But there is a Great Heavenly Doctor our Lord Jesus Christ who can heal this terrible sickness of our soul.  Jesus can wipe out our sins, but there is one thing, one requirement for us to do ... we must truly repent!

God has given His power of forgiving the sins of men to the Apostles and their successors in the persons of the bishops and priests. Why? To make repentance and therefore the forgiveness of sin even close, more accessible, and more certain. "Receive the Holy Spirit, whosoever sins

you forgive, they are forgiven, and whosoever sin you retain, they are retained" (John 20:22-23)

But how does the forgiveness of sins happen?... through the Mystery of Confession. An Orthodox Christian burdened with troubles or sins goes to the priest or the bishop, with deep repentance in his/her soul and with a sincere desire to change, and reveals to him the hidden secrets of their heart or conscience.  Through this, a beautiful and genuine relationship is made through the penitent and his/her spiritual father.

If we choose to ignore such a great mercy from God, how many more punishments will we deserve?  We must immerse ourselves in the waves of deep repentance and the Grace of God will cleanse us from every sin. It was the darkness of sin that brought God's great angel to fall into greed. It was sin that drove Adam and Eve out of Paradise. It was sin that caused the flood of the world. 

Finally, it is sin that divides us from each other and separates us from God.  There are no new sins that are in the world that God has not seen. Only the faces of the sinners change. But we have a chance for the final outcome. We know what the medicine is. We have the cure waiting for us. The answer... it is up to us to decide not if, but when we are going to go to confession.

God Bless,

Thanks to Penelope Tzougros who organized the first stewardship event of the year. She turned 12 remaining Vasilopita loaves into 15 pans of scrumptious French toast on January 25, providing a delicious surprise for all. It truly felt like a party! And as usual, many came together to help and clean up.

The Triodion started last Sunday and we were reminded of the lessons in the Publican and the Pharisee. John Sanidopoulos provides an introduction to this time of year with Triodion: The Most Forbidden Book and there's more here. 

Stewardship Report for January 30, 2015.

2015 Stewardship Pledge Form

Thank you,

On Sunday, January 25, Themis Splagunias recited the poem "Doxastikos to the Three Hierarchs".  He did a wonderful job.

On February 1st , Rena and Sofi Khoury will also recite a poem at the Maliotis Center at 3:00 P.M.  Nicolas Digenis Bury, Irini Pantekidis and Iraklis Pagounis who had taken the Greek Proficiency exam last May, will receive their certificates at the Maliotis Center on this day. Congratulations to all the children.

The Apokriatiko Glendi will take place on Saturday, February 7. The parents have been very busy planning this event. Come and enjoy delicious Greek food and music with our DJ Arthur Theophilopoulos. Our two children's dance groups will perform with their instructor Haralampos Stathopoulos. It will be an unforgettable night. Tickets will be sold on Sunday or at the door. This is a fundraiser and we appreciate your support.