News
Webmaster November 13th, 2008
Brethren:
I’ll begin with prayerful thanks to all those who have served (as well as those currently serving) as we gratefully asked for God’s blessing on our Veterans this week. To all who’ve served us so well - Chronia Pola!
Sunday morning, Nov. 16th, Fr. John returns to Columbus for this weekend’s Divine Liturgy (in veneration of Apostle/Evangelist Matthew) at 10am; Orthros 9am [ET]. Peter Byrd is the Epistle reader [1 Cor 4:9-16].
The calendar [EST] for the rest of November is as follows:
Sun. Nov 16th - 9am Orthros; 10am Liturgy, Fr. Stefero
Wed. Nov 19th - 5:30pm Bible Study
Sun. Nov 23rd - 9am Orthros; 10am Liturgy, Fr. Vastakis
(No Bible Study 11/26 - day before Thanksgiving)
Sun. Nov 30th - 9am Orthros; 10am Liturgy, Fr. Stefero.
Paper copies of the calendar may be found on the candle stand in the back of the church and on the bookstore counter.
Keep Father Stefero and Denise in your prayers for continued sound health and safe travels to us - a special thanks to Fr. John coming to us on short notice as it appears Fr. Mike and Presvyterra have not yet returned from Greece… please keep them in prayer that all is well and they return to us safely.
The Nov. 9th General Assembly voted in favour of the 2009 budget proposed by the Parish Council. The four Parish Council members elected for the next cycle of 2 year terms which expired this year are:
Tom Kubik
Stephen Muse
Peter Byrd
Sophia Mann.
We are blessed to have so many good people serving on our Parish Council, please keep them in your prayers. Fr. John & Tom are working on a date to guide our Council through the training/orientation material Fr Michael furnished and completed with our Parish Council Members in the past. A final thanks to Donna and Andy Hesterman for taking on the task of the nomination/election process for us. Thanks also to all those who helped with the pot luck dinner after the liturgy - I hope Claudia will forgive my not knowing who to include given my absence.
The prosphora rotation is as follows:
Nov. 2008 Christine Johnson
Dec. 2008 Donna Hesterman
Jan. 2009 Tom Kubik
Feb. 2009 Jessica ‘Katherine’ Kitchens
Mar. 2009 Claudia Muse
Apr. 2009 Barbara Vogus.
With Presvyterra Vastakis away so long, we’ve finally whittled down our comfortable store of prosphora - anyone wanting to volunteer some additional loaves this month would be very welcomed.
I also prayed our “Second Saturday” food bank distribution went well Saturday. Many thanks again to the Hestermans for working it to give the Byrds a break this month and thanks to all who continue to participate and donate to this blessed endeavour to reach out and share God’s gifts with the local community. Contact Peter/Maureen at pnmbyrd@charter.net if you can help.
Congratulations to our Archangel Michael Award winners - it was good to see Randy and Jessica ‘Katherine’ Kitchens at this huge and impressive event. Thanks to Nick and Hazeline Davis of Raliegh, NC for their donation to Holy Transfiguration in honour of my receiving the Award.
I’ll once again ask y’all to forgive my not including all the remaining thanks and recognition folks have earned in my absence, save a HUGE thank-you to Fr. John and Bob Poydasheff for following up with Base Chaplin Davis at Ft. Benning. Things continue to move along for getting a list of Orthodox personnel, and a packet to offer those on post and future newcomers.
Keep the Mann & Morris Families, Mike Pappafotis, Yiayia Sophia and George Saad in your prayers. Please also keep all those (esp. Jason Falcone) in our Armed Forces in your prayers, may they continue to serve us well and return home safely in God’s speed.
Your fellow servant of the Holy Spirit,
John Sophocleus.
PS: I thought some may want to read the text below from Fr. Michael - how wonderful for us to have him continue to pray for us as the wonderful spirit he amplified and nurtured at Holy Transfiguration continues:
> From: champaignpriest@aol.com
> Subject: Re: Holy Transfiguration Nov. 8th Food Bank Distribution, etc..
> To: sophocls@yahoo.com
> Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 12:42 PM
>
> Dear John,
>
> Christ is in our midst! So glad to hear things are
> happening in relation to the military personnel at Ft.
> Benning. I extend congratulations to you and Jessica
> (Katherine) as you prepare to receive the Archangel Michael
> award this coming weekend.
>
> All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
>
> In Christ,
>
> +Fr. Michael