Community News December 2006

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

COMMUNITY NEWS

DECEMBER 2006

GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

The date for the fall General Assembly, which had to be postponed has not yet been reset. However, items on the agenda will include approval of a budget for the calendar year 2007 and receiving nominations for the 2007 Parish Council. Parish Council members whose terms expire at the end of 2006 include Ted Andreadis, Andrew Christos, Dr. Nicholas T. Hallick and Harry G. Plomarity. Parish Council members who will continue to serve on the council during 2007 are Bill C. Hartofilax, Rita Lontos, Horacio Ortiz and William Vaseliades. An application for nomination as a candidate for election to the Parish Council may be found elsewhere in this bulletin. The date for the elections will be determined at the General Assembly.

TRAVELERS:

On October 27, 2006, Dr. & Mrs. Mike Karagas and their children, Nick and Ally, flew to New York City to visit their son, Demetri, who is attending New York University. While in New York they toured the city and we understand they had a wonderful time. They returned home on October 30^th

Father Stelios left on Monday, October 30^th, 2006 for Greensboro, North Carolina for his parents 60^th wedding anniversary and to visit his father who is ill. He returned to Corpus Christi on November 3^rd. However on November 17^th Father was notified that his father was in critical condition and his Eminence Isaiah gave Father permission to return to Greensboro to be with his father.

On November 8^th, Father Stelios drove to Kendalia, Texas to participate in the celebration of the feast day of the Holy Archangels Monastery. His Eminence Isaiah officiated at the services.

Harry Plomarity left November 2^nd for Arlington, Virginia, to attend the winter meeting of the Navy League of the United States, where Harry serves as a National Director. While in Washington, D. C. Harry visited and had lunch with Billy Louis Sissamis who is attending Washington University.

On November 21^st, Andy and Lula Christos of Victoria, Texas left for Wichita, Kansas to spend Thanksgiving with their daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Mark Vining. This was a family reunion as their sons, Brad and Drew, came home from their respective Universities to spend the holiday with their parents. Andy and Lula returned to Victoria on November 25^th. We hope their trip was a enjoyable one.

ST. PHOTIOS REPRESENTATIVE:

Harry G. Plomarity has been appointed by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah to serve another two year term as one of the two representatives from the Denver Metropolis on the St. Photios Foundation Board of Trustees.

MUSIC COMPOSITION CONTEST:

Alexis Mays, daughter of Bill and Carol Mays, was a runner-up in a music composition contest sponsored by the MiJam Corporation. She won six hundred dollars and a T-shirt and hat autographed by the band “The All-American Rejects.” In “stage one” of the contest, Alexis, along with forty-nine other entrants, was randomly chosen to win a MiJam guitar. She and the other forty-nine then proceeded to “stage two” of the contest. For that part she composed a one and a half minute song with the guitar. The fifty final entries were judged by the Universal Music Group. There were three runners-up and one grand prize winner. MiJam is a company that produces ipod-compatible accessories and miniature music synthesizers.

CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY PARTY:

On Sunday, December 17^th, 2006, the Annual Community Christmas Party will be held in the Church Hall immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The party will be hosted by the Parish Council, the Delphi Club, and the Ladies Philoptochos Society. We hope everyone will attend the Divine Liturgy on the 17^th and then join their fellow parishioners for our annual Christmas Party.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING:

As we approach the Christmas Season, please do not forget to send your Christmas offering to your Church. Shortly you will be receiving a schedule of the Christmas Services together with an offering envelope. Your financial support is greatly needed, especially at this time of the year. And as always your contribution will be greatly appreciated.

POINSETTIA PLANTS:

Poinsettia plants will again be placed in the Church during the Christmas season. Anyone wishing to donate a plant or to make a donation toward the cost of the plants should contact Father Stelios or a member of the Parish Council.

INTERNATIONAL BAKE FEST:

St. George Orthodox Church, serving the Rio Grande, at 704 West Sam Houston, Street, Pharr, Texas 78577, will hold their Annual Open House and International Bake Fest on Saturday, December 9, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday, December 10^th from 12 Noon to 2:00 p.m. St. George provides for over 100 families each year by aiding the neighborhood’s hungry. All are welcome to support the Food Pantry and St. George’s Parish during the Annual International Bake Fest and Open House. All who attend will enjoy international ethnic foods and baked goods, fine handicrafts, education activities and fun with the family. For more information call (956) 781-2388 or (956) 781-6114 or E-mail: padreantoniop@aol,com

IN APPRECIATION:

As we approach the end of the year we would like to give special recognition to one of our dedicated parishioners, Mrs. Mary Bournias Sherman of Victoria, Texas for her financial support of our monthly bulletin. Mrs. Sherman has been a Bulletin Sponsor every month this year (and even in past years) and her contribution is greatly appreciated. If more of our parishioners (or their businesses ) would become bulletin sponsors we could easily offset the cost of publishing and mailing our monthly bulletin.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION:

On Sunday, November 12th, Anthony Pollakis celebrated his fourteenth birthday and his parents served delicious refreshments during the coffee hour in his honor. Congratulations!

MEMORIAL SERVICES:

On Sunday, November 12, 2006, a Memorial Service was held for Anthony Brenna who fell asleep in the Lord on November 19, 1996 in Yardley, Pennsylvania. He was the husband of Mrs. Betty Brenna and the father of Mrs. Lisa Pollakis. The coffee hour following the Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service was hosted by Mrs. Brenna and the Pollakis family. May his memory be eternal!

On Sunday, December 10^th, a forty-day Memorial Service will be held for Mrs. Alicia Hamauei who fell asleep in the Lord on November 9^th. May her memory be eternal!

On Sunday, December 10^th, a two year Trisagion Service will be held for Achillea G. Kirkikis of Minden, Louisiana who fell asleep in the Lord on December 11, 2004 after a long illness. He was the brother of Mrs. Thalia K. Plomarity. May his memory be eternal!

DIVERS FOR EPIPHANY SERVICES:

Any young man or woman who is interested in diving for the Cross during the Epiphany Seashore Services on January 7^th, 2007, should notify Father Stelios. We would like to see as many of our youth as possible participate in this beautiful service.

ANNIVERSARIES:

We extend our best wishes to everyone who is celebrating a wedding anniversary in December:

Louis and Maria Sissamis (21 years) . . . . . . . . . . . . December 1, 1985

John and Angie Chriss . (55 years) . . . . . . . . . . . . December 2 , 1951

James and Georgia Davis (31 years) . . . . . . . . . . . . .December 31, 1975

COFFEE HOUR:

Parishioners wishing to host the “coffee hour” after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday during the month of December should sign up on the poster in the Church Hall. Volunteers would be greatly appreciated:

Open December 3

St. Nicholas Luncheon, hosted by the Parish Council December 10

Community Christmas Party December 17

Open December 24

Open December 31

BIRTHDAYS:

We would like to wish everyone who has a birthday in December a very Happy Birthday.

Mrs. Frances Sissamis........................................................December 1^st

Madelyn Georgia Guerra (5 years old)..............................December 1^s

Mrs. JoAnn Santikos.......................................................... December 4^th

Emily Nicole Sabbagh......................................................... December 5^th

Alexander Cofas.................................................................. December 6^th

Mrs. Betty Trakis................................................................ December 9^th

George Zannaras................................................................. December 10^th

John Spentzos....................................................................... December 11^th

Mrs. Thea Aldridge.............................................................. December 11^th

George John Spentzos.......................................................... December 12^th

Leon Paul Sissamis................................................................ December 14^th

Tom Spentzos..........................................................................December 15^th

Sophia and Emmanuel Papakostas (6 years old)................... December 16^th

Mrs. Linda Gialouris............................................................... December 17^th

Mrs. Georgia Davis................................................................ December 18^th

Nick Paul Sissamis.................................................................. December 20^th

Mrs. Anna Sissamis................................................................. December 22^nd

Dr. Mel Eliades........................................................................ December 26^th

Ms. Diana Zampikos................................................................. December 28^th

Catherine Gialouris.................................................................... December 31^sr

IN LOVING MEMORY:

During the month of December, it is fitting that we remember our loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord. If I have omitted anyone, plese let me know so I c an include them in the future. (The Editor)

Mrs. Pearl Rozakis December 1, 1989

Billy N. Bournias December 1, 1991

Abid Nicholas December 2, 1989

Elias Kuroparkin Taweel December 3, 1977

Iakovos Melemendijian December 4, 1984

Pete Dareos December 4, 1994

Reverend Kostas Poulakidas December 6, 1996

Basilios A. Lambropoulos December 7, 1955

Mrs. Georgia Platis Decemb er 8, 2003

Paul S. Pavlides December 9, 1966

Martha Kandis Melot December 9, 1995

Jim Bournias December 10, 1939