PARISH COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEFATHER LUKE M. MELACKRINOS EconomosJAMES N. GEORGAKIS PresidentWILLIAM J. LEMBO Vice-PresidentGEORGE A. VORKAS SecretaryANTHONY P. VACCARI TreasurerSPYRO GEORGOPALIS Financial SecretaryGEORGE MARINOS Financial SecretaryHARRY RAPTAKIS, Esq Legal AdvisorGEORGE PAPAZICOS, Esq Past PresidentGUS KRATSIOS Past PresidentLOUIS S. PATRICKAKOS Past President

ALTAR BOYS Louis Yeostros 516 358-5373AHEPA C. Dionysios Dionou 516 216-5817BOY/CUB SCOUTS Peter L. Parras 516 694-6448BLOOD BANK Kay Pamas 516 746-3294CHOIR Efstratios Demertzis 516 364-8076JR. CHOIR Virginia Pourakis 516 328-1637DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE Pauline Alexander 516 771-0840GRIEF & BEREAVEMENT Kay Pamas 516 746-3294GIRL SCOUTS Maria Katrakazos 516 775-6406GREEK SCHOOL Frances T. Lutfy 516 746-8741 George Hadjoglou 516 248-8077 GREEK SCHOOL PTA Kay Georgopalis 516 921-0440 GREEK DANCE PROGRAM Dora Themelis 516 354-8960 MOMMY & ME GREEK SCHOOL Paris Zaferiou 516 746-8307HOMEBOUND Joan Prieston 516 825-3420LACONIAN ASSOC. Theodore Lakis 516 483-8261LIACA Soteroulla Constantinou 516 783-9036MENS CLUB Costas Anifantakis 516 248-8778MR. & MRS. CLUB April Mavrovitis 516 626-0511MENS BASKETBALL, Pamas League George Papazicos 516 747-7440NURSERY SCHOOL Anna Possas 516 822-9439OUTREACH Bill Kallinikos 516 536-8954RECIPE CLUB Kathy Boulukos 516 868-4092ST. ANNAS PHILOPTOCHOS Soteroulla Constantinou 516 783-9036ST. PAULS PIONEERS Melanie Donus 516 417-1108ST. PAULS SENIORS Jacquelene Ursini 516 775-0336SOLON SOCIETY C. Dionysios Dionou 516 216-5817SUNDAY BULLETIN George K. Lavas 516 766-7057SUNDAY SCHOOL Andrea Potaris 516 599-4038TUESDAY LADIES Bess Kenary 516 746-5136We Care Cancer Support Group Joanne Vagelatos 516 764-4282YOUTH PROGRAMS George Vorkas 516 354-6007 Little Angels (40 days-4 years) Erika Palmer 516 747-1325

Jenny Polizotto 516 741-5157 HOPE (Ages 4-6) Maria Papachristos 516 294-3931

Tina Vasilakis 516 746-2540 JOY (Ages 7-12) Helene Jorge 516 742-1195

Athena Menoudakos 516 741-3365Andrea Pagonis 516 747-3577

GOYA (Ages 13-18) Nicole Rousakis 516 385-4063Maria Vorkas 516 354-6007Kay Georgopalis 516 921-0440Maria Giannopoulos 516 488-7392

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of

Saint Paul110 Cathedral Avenue

Hempstead, New York 11550Tel: 516-483-5700 Fax: 516-564-8335

Website: www.stpaulhempstead.orgFr. Luke M. Melackrinos Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas Dn. Panagiotis Zougras

November 27, 201113th Sunday of Luke

Greek Orthodox Cathedra l of Saint Pau lVolume 11 , I ssue 46

S U N DAY B U L L E T I NTodays Schedule: Orthros 7:45 a.m. November 27, 2011

Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m.

Epistle: Ephesians 2:14-22 Luke 18:18-27 Page: 114

Memorials: Neculai Dobre (40 day), Zoi V. Grabova (40 day), Stephanie Aimetti (6 month), Loukia Karageorgi (6 months), Maria Lavidas (1 year), Nicholas Tarasis (2 year), Rudolpho Aimetti (7 year) and Evangelia Tarasis (8 year).

Fellowship Hour: Donated to the greater glory of God in honor of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the Patron Saint of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Fellowship Hour is immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral Center. All are welcome.

Services for this Week: Wednesday, November 30th, The Holy Apostle, St. AndrewOrthros & Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 1stParaklesis 7:00 p.m.

Welcome to the Cathedral of St. PaulWe welcome all our visitors this morning to our beloved Cathedral and we thank you for praying with us during the Divine Liturgy. While Holy Communion may only be received by prepared Orthodox Christians, our non-Orthodox guests are welcome to join us in receiving bread at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. We extend an invitation to you to join us for the Fellowship Hour in the Cathedral Center following the Divine Liturgy.

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Todays Events:Farewell Reception for Father AndreasAll are invited to attend a farewell reception for Father Andreas today following the Divine Liturgy. Light refreshments will be offered in the Cathedral Center.

The Association LakononThe Association Lakonon will celebrate the memory of Osios Nikon, the Patron Saint of Lakonia. The Cathedral will honor him with an Artoclasia. Osios Nikon gained the title of Metanoeite because he was a preacher of repentence. He is the Patron Saint and Enlightener of Spartans, Maniates, Lakonians and Epidavros Limirotes. Please join in prayer with the Lakonon Association during the Artoclasia service.

Parish Council ElectionsPlease stop by the Parish Council Office and cast your vote in our Parish Council Elections.

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Volume 11 Issue 46

Stewardship Is...Biblical over 1500 references exist in Holy Scripture about giving to God, beginning from the handing down of the law in the Old Testament to Moses. The biblical precept of giving of the first fruits of our labors, that is, of the first and best part of our wages and livelihoods which belongs to God. Holy Scripture tells us that to withhold this portion from God is to rob Him of what rightly belongs only to Him. Consider the following passages:Malachi 3:8,10 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.Acts 20:35It is more blessed to give than to receive.2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everythingin faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for ussee that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Ecclesial planned giving to the temple is and always has been in integral part of Orthodox Church life, it is as Orthodox as the liturgy itself. In fact, without the simple of act of bringing our gifts of bread and wine to the Church there could be no celebration of the mystical supper. In the early years of the Church the deacons would select from the food brought by the faithful for the Agape Meal which followed the service those loaves of bread and flasks of wine to be used for the consecration. We remember this today when the celebrant raises the gifts up to God in the epiclesis and intones; We offer to You these gifts from Your own gifts in all and for all.

Necessary the ministries and operations, the payroll, maintenance, utilities, supplies, grounds-keeping, youth programs, (in short) the very life of the Cathedral depends upon the generous free-will gifts of her faithful members. Unlike in Greece where the Churches are supported by the government parishes in the U.S. rely upon the parishioners to support, sustain, and to grow the life and ministries of the parish. Sadly, we have come to rely upon other methods of funding to cover the core operational expenses of parish life, rentals, festivals, fund-raisers, etc. But in a healthy stewardship parish the faithful contributions of the parishioners more than cover the annual budget. The benefit of this (aside from the obvious material one) is that these parishes need not secure rentals which deprive them of the use of their own building. These parishes need not nickel and dime their parishioners with an endless stream of bake sales, raffles, and other fund-raisers. And these parishes need not pray for fair weather during their festivals (if they choose to have one) so that the annual budget might be met.

Joyful it is our joyous response of gratitude to a loving God who gives us all things richly to enjoy. When we begin to truly understand Orthodox Christian Stewardship we begin to realize that every aspect of our lives come to us as a gift from God, material and immaterial alike. An Orthodox Christian Steward is one who withholds no part of him or her self from God and who sees his or her life as belonging entirely to God. An Orthodox Christian Steward is then one who has great confidence in Gods provision for his or her family

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St. Pauls Greek SchoolGreek School Christmas Pageant-Time Correction The Greek School Christmas Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 18th at 1:00p.m. and not 3:00p.m. Also, parents are urged to check email and their childrens backpacks for important notices regarding other December events in which our children are involved! Please call Principal Fran Lutfy 516 746-8741 with any questions.

Greek School Comes to Your Home This Christmas SeasonOur children are busy learning Greek Christmas Carols to sing to the entire Community. Our kids (approximately 10-12 per team) will travel to your home to sing on December 20th between 5:00p.m. and 7:00p.m. If you we can brighten your holidays by song, please call Maria Papachristos at 516 8294-3931. Appointments are very limited, so please call early if interested! We are limiting our travels to Garden City, Franklin Square and Rockville Centre areas.

Little AngelsIf your child is between the ages 40 days and 4 years old, come join us at Little Angels. We meet on Tuesday mornings in the Cathedral Center at 10:00am-11:30am to enjoy free play, crafts, books, and snacks. For additional information, please contact Mary Ellen Kakalos at 516 868-6803 or Jenny Tzakas-Polizotto at 516 741-5157.

We commonly refer to the three Ts of Stewardship, but one T may be missing or perhaps taken for granted: Truth. Truth in Stewardship means that we make an honest effort to focus on the call of Christ to commit ourselves to prayer, to work, and to give so that the body of Christ, the Church, may live and meet Her mission. St. Paul writes: It is required in stewards, that a person be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). We must be willing to meet the challenge to strengthen the sacred work of our Church in America.Stewardship is an important part of our Orthodox faith and is part of a total commitment to Christ. Stewardship is part of a Christian lifestyle that is expected by God as a loving way to give back to God for thanks of what He has given us in life.Stewardship in the Orthodox Faith is to live and practice the teachings of Jesus Christ and the actions in our daily lives confirm our beliefs in our faith. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese refers to the three T's of stewardship being Time, Talents and Treasures to the glory of God.

Life as StewardshipBecause God is love (1 John 4:8) He created us in His image and likeness. God did not have to create the world and us, but He freely chose to because He desired that we experience the Divine Love of the Holy Trinity as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. It is God's Plan that we understand and joyfully accept that all we have, all we are asked to steward, our whole life, is a free gift from God. Knowing this and in grateful thanksgiving for the free gift of life, we can live each day as wise and faithful stewards of God, offering back to Him the first and best part of our life in a personal relationship of love and trust.

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Resurrectional Apolytikion By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. To the robber You opened Paradise. The lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women You transformed, and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all that You had risen, O Christ our God, and granted the world Your great mercy.

Apolytikion of the Apostle Paul We joyfully praise you, the Herald of the Nations, thrice great illuminary, teacher of the Athenians and ornament of the world. We honor the struggles, tortures for Christ and your august martyrdom. O Holy Apostle Paul, intercede to Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion The All-pure Temple of the Savior, the precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of the glory of God, is led today into the house of the Lord, and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit. Of her Gods angels sing in praise: She is indeed the heavenly Tabernacle.

Dates to Remember:Tomorrow, November 28th: Mary Brennan InnSunday, December 4th: Annual Community Christmas DanceWednesday, December 14th: St. Annas Christmas Luncheon at Westbury ManorWednesday, December 14th: Memorial Christmas TreeSaturday, December 17th: Cancer Care for Kids Christmas Party, Hosted by GOYA

Ultimately, God makes no distinction; in death, there is no distinction, and all stand equal before the throne of God to make account for whether they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave drink to the thirsty, ministered to the infim and imprisonedand discerned the image of God in the least of the brethren. The person who thinks that by accumulating untold wealth in this life, or who hoards his or her earthly treasures like the man who pulled down his barn to build a bigger one, only to die that very evening, is truly deluded, precisely by his or her failure to realize that one should not store up treasures on earth while failing to store up treasures in heaven.

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Stewardship CornerThere are so many wonderful spiritual and social activities available to virtually every age group at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. These ministries are dependent on the generosity of our faithful Stewards to provide the necessary funding to support them. We welcome everyone to Come and See what our Cathedral has to offer. Come and See God work through you! With all of the organizations getting back into the routine of a new Ecclesiastical year, It is now that we should put particular emphasis on our Stewardship commitment to our Cathedral. If you have already completed your 2011 Stewardship Commitment, you may want to consider adding to it. If you have yet to complete a Stewardship Commitment Card, please make it a priority to stop by the office today and pick one up.

Grief & BereavementOur evening meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:30p.m. The afternoon meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2:00p.m. The next afternoon meeting is December 21st. The next evening meeting will be on Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00p.m. for the Memorial Christmas Tree Service.

Memorial Christmas TreeThe Memorial Christmas Tree Trisagion Service will take place on December 14th at 7:00p.m. in front of the Shrine of Panagia. You are cordially invited to bring an ornament in memory of your loved one(s) and place it on the Christmas Tree.

St. Annas PhiloptochosSt. Annas Philoptochos would like to extend an invitation to all the women of our community to join our chapter, the largest in the United States. Your membership dues supports our mission of philanthropic endeavors. We offer various open programs throughout the year.

Our Annual Christmas Wreath Sale will take place on December 4th and December 11th after both Divine Liturgies. We encourage you to Pre-order your wreaths or grave blankets so that you will have first priority to buy on the days of the sale. Call Irene Ginis at 516 358-9855 or Barbara Stevens at 516 551-4675 for pre-orders. Please support our philanthropic endeavors while adorning your home with a beautiful wreath. !

On Wednesday, December 14th we will be hosting our Annual Christmas Luncheon Merry Berry Christmas at the Westbury Manor. For reservations, please contact Connie Germanakos at 516 328-0777 or Stella Thymius at 516 883-5479. Also, reservations will be taken during Fellow-ship Hours starting Sunday, November 20th after both Divine Liturgies.

The Weekly Food Run Everyone is welcome to join us every Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. to prepare the food run and each Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. to distribute the food run Sponsors are also welcome. Each run costs $120 but feeds over 120 people lunch.

GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America)We would like to wish Fr Andreas a heartfelt farewell and lots of luck in his new parish. We would also like to welcome Dn. Panagiotis and Diakonisa Alexa to our St Pauls family.

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National Philoptochos Society-Childrens Medical FundA very special fundraiser is being held by the National Philoptochos Society for the Childrens Medical Fund. This event raises money to support medical institutions that help critically ill children around the country. It will be held on Saturday, December 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich Hotel, in Old Greenwich, Connecticut at 11:00a.m,. Tickets are $125 per person. Raffles for great prizes are 3 for $25. For information, please contact Kathy Boulukos at 516 868-4092 or Soteroula Constantinou at 516 783-9036. In addition, they are holding a childrens toy drive at the event to give new items to the children. If you would like to donate a toy valued under $20, please see Kathy or Soteroula! Help bring joy to a child!

Little AngelsIf your child is between the ages 40 days and 4 years old, come join us at Little Angels. We meet on Tuesday mornings in the Cathedral Center at 10:00am-11:30am to enjoy free play, crafts, books, and snacks. For additional information, please contact Mary Ellen Kakalos at 516 868-6803 or Jenny Tzakas-Polizotto at 516 741-5157.

Sunday Church School Christmas PageantAs December approaches we have begun to plan for another Nativity Icon presentation by our Sunday Church School youth. While all Sunday Church School children will join in the singing of the carols and hymns, a group of children is also needed to portray each of the icons elements. If you are interested in your child taking part in the icon portion, please notify Virginia Pourakis via phone at 516 507-0460 or through the Sunday Church School office, after Youth Liturgy, or during Fellowship Hour. Please provide your childs name, age and contact information. The icon parts are: shepherds, sheep, angels, old man *(Satan in disguise), Panagia Theotokos, ox, donkey, star, midwives, Joseph, etc.

November is Stewardship MonthThe Cathedral of St. Paul needs you and your support! This month will feature special messages from our clergy and the bulletin will encourage all of us to contribute our time, talent and treasure to our beautiful Cathedral.

Annual Santas HelpersThis year the Cathedral of St. Paul has once again adopted the needs and wish list of Jose, one of the young boys at St. Innocents Orthodox Orphanage in Mexico. Please contact Virginia Pourakis at 516 507-4060 to sign up to buy one of his needed items. Monetary donations are accepted to cover postage costs.

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Spotlight on Ministries

Throughout the year we will be acknowledging different clubs, organizations and ministries that have made a difference in our community at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul. Without our Stewardship, these ministries, clubs and organizations would not be possible. We want our parishioners to become familiar with these different clubs, organizations and ministries that have had a positive impact on our community.

This week, the Spotlight is on: Sunday Church School

The Sunday Church School is an integral part of our students religious education and it provides classes for students from Nursery through eleventh grade. Our curriculum is well known nation-ally and many churches have requested it for their own Sunday Church School.

Our curriculum was written by qualified individuals, with clergy approval and it is revised and upgraded periodically. Grades kindergarten through fifth grade use the Archdiocesan curriculum in conjunction with our own curriculum while six through eleven use only our own curriculum. Every year each fourth grade students receives a Bible from our clergy in church which they use in their classes. Students graduate at the end of the eleventh grade. Every Sunday our entire Sunday Church School is able to receive Holy Communion with their classmates. Also, each month they attend the Youth Liturgy in the Hellenic Room where they can intimately relate and learn about the Divine Liturgy.

In December, all of our students participate in the Christmas Pageant, some as actors in the play, while the rest participate as a choir singing the traditional Christmas Carols. Of course, there is always a Christmas Party! During Lent, the teachers dedicate their lessons to the important events of this most Holy Season. Many of our students sing in the Junior Choir while our boys serve as Altar Boys. At the Good Friday service, many of the younger girl students serve as Myrophores.

We are very proud that we can provide a comprehensive religious program, one with lessons which emphasize the principles which will enable them to be good Christians and which will influence them in their future. For further information, please contact Andrea Potaris or Father Luke.

Greek Dance For Children and TeensThose interested should contact the dance instructor, Dora Themelis at (516)354-8960 or dolmada@aol.com. You can complete a registration form and leave it in the Cathedral Office. Forms can be found online by visiting www.stpaulhempstead.org. Please go to Parish Info, go to Parish Ministries, then Greek School and then to More Information.

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Bible Study: The Gospel of LukeThe next Bible Study sessions are scheduled for December 5th and December 19th at 7pm in the Parish Council Office. All are welcome, even if you have not previously attended.

Community Christmas CardMake sure you are included in the 25th Anniversary Community Christmas Card of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul. This beautiful religious Christmas Card of Byzantine design will list parishioners, organizations and other friends of the St. Paul Community and will be sent to over 1100 members and friends on our mailing list. To be included, please complete the form available in the Cathedral Office and return it today. No exception.

Mary Brennan Inn Soup KitchenTomorrow, November 28th, we will sponsor the meal at the Mary Brennan Inn Soup Kitchen. The cost of the meal is $1,500. We are once again asking for donations to offset the cost of the sponsorship and for twenty volunteers to help serve on that day. Please see Cathy Pantelides during Fellowship Hours or contact her at 516 220-8710.

Preparing for Birth of Christ: The Fast of the NativityThe fast of the Nativity (November 15th through December 24th) is first mentioned historically in the 7th Century. The only universal fasting rules (canons) of the Church that exist refer to Great Lent (40 days before Pascha or Easter); which is the most severe fast of the year. The fast of the Nativity on the other hand, varied in duration and degree of severity throughout the Church. The Nativity fast is less severe than Great Lent. The following is presented as a guide to fasting during the 40 days leading to the birth of Christ.

Meat is not to be eaten for the duration (exceptions as explained below). Wine, fish and oil are allowed except on Wednesdays and Fridays. The last 12 days (December 12th - 24th) are to be kept as strict as possible. A strict fast consists of no meat, fish, dairy products, wine and oil.

Part of training our children to be Good Christians is to instruct them in the ways of being Good Stewards of what has been given to them. The following may be found in materials on Stewardship published by the Orthodox Church in America. At about two years old, children realize as they participate in the Divine Liturgy that an offering is taken. When they notice the offering basket or plate passing in front of them, when they become aware that mommy and daddy are putting something in it, they are ready to participate as well. Without a doubt, their first experience of offering will simply be the act of placing in the offering basket money supplied by a parent. The act itself, however, will be that of the child. As children get older, other means of instruction can be enacted related to time, talents, monetary gifts, and monthly allowances, with an eye toward training our youth in proper stewardship, and to becoming responsible adult leaders in our Church communities.

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Todays Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22

BRETHREN, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy tem-ple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Todays Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of LukeThe Reading is from Luke 18:18-27

At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."