St. Philip Church 500 West Hollis St. Nashua, NH 03062 www.stphilipnh.org

SEPTEMBER

2013

Table of Contents

Did you know the New Year is coming on September 1? I know it’s months earlier than you’re used to—and before you start worrying about resolutions and party hats, let me put you at ease. The ecclesiastical new year, the cycle of Church feasts, is what we are talking about. The Feast is called “The Beginning of the Indiction,” and in addition to it being connected to the importance of the harvest for the sustenance of God’s people, it speaks to the prayer and hope of the Church for a year of blessings: that His people will be physically sustained, nurtured by the Sacraments, inspired by the Gospel, led by the Holy Spirit, and drawn to worship and thanksgiving. As the image below suggests, it is a kind of spiritual new year of renewal and promise, an autumn harvest of the fruits of faith deep within our hearts. It’s fitting, then, that this is also the time of year when we think of other beginnings, such as school and athletic programs—not to mention the rejoining of our ministries and programs at St. Philip. Sunday School, JOY, GOYA, Choir and all of our ministries will, of course, resume this month. It’s also fitting that we celebrate this event and quite spe-cial time of the year. On September 8, we all look forward to “Welcome Back Sunday,” when we’ll enjoy a beautiful picnic-style reception sponsored by our Stewardship Committee and have a chance to stroll through our Ministry Fair. Here, we can take a moment to talk with representatives of our ministries and programs, learning about what the “new year” has to offer you and your family. For our younger parishioners, a visit from “Rainbow the Clown” is also on the agenda! For those parents who may not have had an opportunity to register their children for Sunday School yet, staff and teachers will be on hand to make this happen. With these things in mind, please save the date and make a special effort to join us on the 8th. We Stewards and supporters of St. Philip have so much to be excited and enthused about. This is another year to engage in our excellent and ever-improving palate of ministries; this is another opportunity to get more involved in what might inspire and move us at St. Philip; this is another chance to open your heart toward

(Cont’d. on Pg. 2)

Fr. Alex’s Message: Welcome Back!

@StPhilipNH

facebook.com/ StPhilipNashua

Liturgical Schedule 2

Stewardship 3

Youth 4, 5

Photos 6

Calendar 7

Social Action/

Outreach 8

Ed., News

& Events 9

Sponsors 10, 11

Come and See 2

and His people, our fellow parishioners. These are all things to be glad about, to be grateful for—things worthy of celebrating. I look to celebrating this new beginning with your family!

I also look forward to another wonderful year with you all, as not only your pastor but your partner, as we will strive to make Christ the center of our lives and to bring every parishioner, from the youngest to the oldest, before Him through our ministries, programs and community life. With much love and respect,

“The Autumn” Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them — The summer flowers depart — Sit still — as all transform’d to stone, Except your musing heart.

—Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Is celebrated each year on Sept 14.

Is the feastday of our beloved semi-

nary in Brookline.

Reveals the extent of Christ ’s suffer-

ing for our sake and the depth of His love.

Reminds us that we are called to

“take up” our own crosses and to follow Him.

Challenges us to view the Cross not

as jewelry or just another symbol—but a way of life and central to our identity.

“Like” our Church on Face Book

If you haven’t already, please visit and “like” or St. Philip Face Book page. In addition to pictures of community events and updates, it offers a wealth

Welcoming the Fall

Sundays Orthros, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am 1: Beginning of the Indiction* 8: Sunday before the Holy Cross 15: Sunday after the Holy Cross 22: 1st Sunday of St. Luke 29: 2nd Sunday of St. Luke

Weekday Liturgies Orthros, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am 14: Elevation of the Holy Cross

*Orthros & Liturgy will begin at 8:30 and 9:30 respectively. This is the last day of “summer hours.”

Welcome Back (continued)

The Elevation of the Holy Cross….

It is a true joy for Fr. Alex and our par-ish to help plan your wedding day. Like any other special event, good planning makes all the difference—and early communication with Fr. Alex is vital When the good news arrives….

***Make sure the desired date does not fall during a fast time.

***Contact the Church to see if the wedding date is available. Start with the Church, not the reception hall.

***Make an appointment with Fr. Alex to plan your amazing wedding day!

Planning for Weddings

Youth Blessing Sept. 15 Elevation of the Holy Cross

While the Feast of the Cross is celebrated on Sept. 14, on the following Sunday, Fr. Alex will briefly reprise the service for our congregation and offer our Sunday School students a special blessing before they leave the sanctuary for their first day of class. We wish our children a life-changing year of learning, faith, fun and spir-itual growth at St. Philip!

September Schedule

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Come and See 3

The Thus far for 2013, 80 pledged stewards have completed Commitment Cards and pledged a total of $26,670 to our parish. We have also received funds from 74 non-pledged Stewards totaling $15,874.50. We are grateful to all of our current Stewards for their support of St. Philip. For those who have not acted yet, we hope that you will consider the worship experience, ministries, programs, and fellowship we enjoy and decide that our parish is worthy of your loving commitment. Especially during this holy season of Pascha, let us stand behind our beloved Church, recognizing it as a true beacon of spirituality in our lives. Our 2013 Commitment Cards are available in the office and the Nar-thex, and simply con-tact the office to have yours emailed, faxed

You have heard the following from the Stewardship Committee many times: Time, Talent and Treasure. At this busy time for our St. Philip community it is your time and talents that are especially needed as we prepare for our annual Greek Food Festival. If you open the door and look into the walk-in freezer it is full of Greek specialties waiting to be served on May 17 & 18. Many volunteers have spent their Fridays and Saturdays in our kitchen giving their time and using their talents to make our festival the most successful in the area. Prior to arriving on a Saturday, to give of your time, think of the time it took Jaime to calculate, order and prepare all the ingredients necessary to make today's specialty. Whether it's spinach, philo dough, eggs, butter, walnuts, hamburg or onions, everything is there waiting for when you arrive to grab your apron and gloves and get down to work. It's not just the work but the fellowship and sense of community that bring us together for this preparation. These things are also what bring the citizens of Nashua and surrounding communities to St. Philip every year. Yes, they may wait in line for an hour to enjoy the food that took months to prepare but they wait knowing the lamb, chicken, grape leaves, meatballs, pita, and pastries are all homemade by mem-bers of the St. Philip Community, giving of their time and talents to make this event possible.

Thanks to all the Stewards who have volunteered, but remember, we are not done yet. Please join us the week prior and weekend of the festival. To confirm your participation, contact Doug, Jamie or me anytime. Thanks to all!

St. Philip

Greek Orthodox Church

We are delighted, in this installment, to present the impressions of our beloved Sunday School children. If you would like to participate, please contact Jamie Pappas: 603.566.6615; thitsi@aol.com.

Glen - “After we listen to Fr. Alex we go to school.” Alexander - “Coloring, pictures and seeing my cousins.” Miss Sherrie - “Seeing the gold domes.” Elaina - “Going to Sunday School.” Emma - “Bringing my special blanket to church but I leave it the car.”

Miss Denise - “I love my Sunday School friends.”

“Welcome Back” Sunday: George Eftimiou

What St. Philip Means to Me Pre-K/K Sunday School Class

500 West Hollis St.

Nashua, NH 03062

P (603)889.4000; F (603)889.3763

Rev. Fr. Alex Chetsas: fralex@stphilipnh.org

Office Staff

Cheryl Petren & Sophie Theoharis:

office@stphilipnh.org

Office Hours: M - F, 10 am - 3 pm

Help Us Reach You Are you receiving weekly emails and other elec-tronic communications from St. Philip? If not, we may not have an updated email for you and/or your family. Please help us stay close to you by contacting the office with your email. Thanks!

2013 Stewardship Report How Are We Doing?

STEWARDSHIP

Come and See 4

Church School News April Calendar May 12: Classes/Mother’s Day 19: No Classes/Family Worship (Festival Weekend) 26: No Classes/Family Worship (Memorial Day Weekend) June 2: Classes 9: Classes and Sunday School Commencement immedi-ately following Divine Liturgy.

I would like to thank all of our teachers for their preparation, commitment and dedication to the students of our parish community. The teaching of our youth is a ministry in the likeness to that of our Lord. This year’s teachers are: Pre-K & Kindergarten: Sherrie Juris and Denise Coulombe; 1st Grade: Heather Cloutier and Assistant Christina Katsioulis; 2nd Grade: Tippy Johnston; 3rd Grade: Heidi Danas and Assistant Greg Danas; 4th Grade: Dina & Adelle Pitsas and Assistant Lori Pitsas; 5th & 6th Grade: Bill Chouramanis; 7th, 8th & 9th Grade : Cathy Reed. My heartfelt gratitude goes to all the teachers over the last twenty years who have served our St. Philip youth.

Hello everyone! Christos Anesti!

GOYA has had a successful year so far and before we know it, it will be ending for the summer and picking back up in September, but first there are more events and activities to look forward to that will keep our GOYAns busy! GOYAns that attended had a fun-filled night at the Lock-In Sleepo-

ver on April 5. This was led by members of the fabulous MBC (Metropolis of Boston Camp) Staff. We began our time together with Family Night and then the Lock-In began right after. We learned more about our faith as we got ready for Lent. We had a great time! Upcoming GOYA events: Our church’s annual Food Fest is quickly approaching on May 17 and 18. GOYA will again be in charge of the drinks booth both Friday and Saturday and new this year for Saturday—an outdoor bounce house! I will be in touch regarding time slots to work. We also tenta-tively have an End-of-Year BBQ planned for Sunday, June 23 after Divine Liturgy. Watch your emails! And of course “like” us on Facebook: St. Philip GOYA.

And last, but most definitely not least, I would like to thank our GOYAns this year that stepped up to the plate with their officer positions:

President: Alexia jkj Vice President: Athena LaJeunesse

Sept. 7 & Sept. 23 This new ministry is for children 4 and under, moms and dads. Please join us 9:30 – 11:30 am in our newly renovated playroom; refreshments will be provided. Come play with us! Contact Tina Alexopoulos:

603.595.1595; tina_alexopoulos@hotmail.com.

YOUTH

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young…”

GOYA: Marisa Donati, Advisor

Reading this Fall

Parents often look for ways to involve their children in our services in a deeper, hands-on way. One great way to achieve this is by setting up an Epistle reading. Contact Fr. Alex for details.

Sep. 1: Iris Houdyshel Sep. 8: Sep. 15: Sep. 22: Sep. 29:

Voices of Faith

Have you seen our renovated nursery?

The children of our parish, grades 3 - 12, are invited

to come discover the learning and fun offered by our Greek Language School program. We meet on Wednesdays throughout the year—Beginners, 3:30 pm; Advanced, 5 pm. Important dates: Sept. 8 (during Ministry Fair) & 18 (3 – 6:30 pm), registration. Sept. 25: classes begin/Agiasmo . Contact George Kitsas: bettyb214@aol.com.

Greek Language School

Come and See 5

For a Child’s First Day of School

Dear God, here is (name), ready for her first day at school. She has been counting the days. She is so thrilled. Be with her today when she goes into un-familiar rooms, when she sees new faces (make them kind faces!), when she stands in the lunch line, when she is on the playground. Keep her close to You as she learns and grows and makes friends. Protect her from harm. Watch over her on the way to and from school. And as she becomes part of a larger world, help me to let her go and gain experience that she will need to become a responsible part of Your creation. Amen.

St. Euphrosyne (408 – 450) was a person of great faith, even from her early childhood. Her Father, Paphnutius, was wealthy and offered her a luxurious, comfortable life. But this did not sit well with Euphrosyne; she felt as if she were being calling to a more hum-ble life. So she made a promise to God to live quietly in prayer and be married only to His Church. But Paphnutius wanted what he thought was “best” for his daughter, so he began pressuring her to marry a wealthy young man. To avoid breaking her sacred

vow, she had to act. So she renamed herself “Smaragdus,” dis-guised herself as a man, and entered a monastery. In later years, her father, who was bereaved at losing his precious daughter, came to the monastery in search of advice and comfort. Though he didn’t recognize her, he received consul from his very own daugh-ter, who had been living as a monk all this time. Shortly before her passing, she revealed the long-kept secret to her father, assuring him that she had indeed lived the “best” life possible, one lived close to God. Getting Practical: So often in life, we know that God is guiding us in a certain direction. Oftentimes, this direction is not the easiest one, and it is very easy to instead follow “paths” that are not good for us. The life of St. Euphrosyne inspires us to follow our “holy instincts. Share this story with your children and grandchildren: teach them that children, too, are capable of great spiritual wisdom!

Our JOY and GOYA families are asked to save two very special dates:

GOYA Hike, Sept. 29 Following Liturgy, our GOYAns will head to Pack-Mondadnock Mt. for a beautiful hike. Contact Marisa for de-tails: mdonati@rivier.edu

JOY/GOYA Bruins Game, Nov. 9 Parents welcome! 30 tickets are avail-able at the discounted rate of $30. NY Rangers are on the menu! First come, first served. Contact Fr. Alex for reser-vations: fralex@stphilipnh.org.

Family Night is Back Oct. 18 JOY, GOYA, Parents & Families

Last year our Family Nights brought us to-gether for friendship, learning and faith. We look to continue this new tradition in 2013-14 with more fun and some excellent pro-gramming for our children and parents. On the 18th we will welcome a guest speaker from Nashua Soup Kitchen and staff from MBC for an outreach-themed event: “Reaching Within, Reaching Out.” Our younger children will enjoy a thoughtful painting project (bring old clothes!) and our GOYAns will be engaged by our MBC staff. A pizza dinner will be served (free-will offering). Contact Stephanie Liakos with your side, drink or dessert: smliakos@comcast.net.

Schedule: 6 pm, Welcome/Dinner; 6:45, Ice-Breaker; 7 - 7:45 Program; 7:50 - 8, Final Reflection/Prayer

Saintly Lives: St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria (9.25)

A Parent’s

Prayer

2 Awesome Youth Events! —Fall Hike & Bruins Game

“...but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in faith and in purity.” ~ Timothy 4:12

YOUTH

Boys of our parish (10 - 18) are invited to join us.

Through service and learning, our boys grow closer to the faith and build their rela-tionship with God. A training day is in the works for Sept. 15. Details to follow.

Altar Servers

Come and See 6

Family Time

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednes- Thursday Friday Saturday

Come and See 7

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

September 2013 Overview

5 4 3 1

11 12 10 9 8

7 6

18 19 17 16 15

14 13

25 24 23 22

21 20

26 28

29

27

Sunday before the Holy Cross Orthros, 9 am Liturgy, 10 am - “Welcome Back” Picnic & Celebration - Ministry Fair/S. School Registration

Sunday after the Holy Cross Orthros, 9 am Liturgy, 10 am - Sunday School be-gins/blessing for our children) - Altar Training Mtg.

1st Sunday of St. Luke Orthros, 9 am Liturgy, 10 am - Sunday School

2nd Sunday of St. Luke Orthros, 9 am Liturgy, 10 am - Sunday School - Health/Wellness Ministry - GOYA Hike

Oct. Come & See

submissions due

Elevation of the Holy Cross Orthros, 9 am Liturgy, 10 am

Health/Wellness Ministry, 11 am

G. School Registra-tion, 3 - 6:30 pm

St. Euphrosyne celebrated (see pg. 5)

Health/Wellness Ministry, 11 am

G. School begins, 3:30 & 5 pm (Agiasmo blessing)

Mommy & Me Play-Date, 9:30 am

Mommy & Me Play-Date, 9:30 am

Health/Wellness Ministry, 9 am

Stewardship, 6:30 pm

Health/Wellness Ministry, 11 am

Women’s Prayer/ Bible Study, 6:30 pm

Women’s Prayer/ Bible Study, 6:30 pm

Mommy & Me Play-Date, 9:30 am Sunday School Ice-Cream Social @Greeley Park, 2 pm

Compassionate Friends, 6:30 pm

P. Council, 6:30 pm

Taverna Sept. 28, 7 - 11 pm It’s been some time since our community has gathered for an evening of music, dancing and fun, and we look forward to renew-ing this tradition on the 28th. Messethakia, Dessert & Wine; live music from Ta Pethia. Cash bar. Tickets will not be sold at the door. See our enclosed flyer. For tickets, contact Raina Metivier: 603.930.2422; raina@rocketmail.com.

Nativity of the Theotokos, Sept. 8 “Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteous-ness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.” —Apolytikion Hymn

30

Agape Baking, Time TBA

Agape @Nashua Soup Kitchen, 4 pm

Orthodox Life, 7 pm

2

The Indiction Orthros, 8:30 am Liturgy, 9:30 am (Last day of “summer” hours)

Come and See 8

Stay Connected

MINISTRIES/PROGRAMS

Adult & General Chanting Theodore Persakis 978.256.4351

Choir George Karakantas 603.889.6484

Food Festival Jamie Pappas 603.883.8770

Health/Wellness Katherine Richo 603.689.5044

Orthodox Life Frank Edelblut 603.661.7730

Parish Council Lou Juris 617.293.2083

Social Action/Outreach Stephanie Norris 603.882.8022

Welcome Committee Matthew Matsis 603.424.2219

Women’s Prayer/Bible Iris Houdyshel 603.864.8130

Youth

Altar Service Daniel Gioffre 617.429.9132

Basketball Thanassi Liakos 603.320.3399

Family Night Stephanie Liakos 603.897.1155

GOYA Marisa Donati 603.801.9026

Greek School George Kitsis 603.669.9041

Hellenic Dance Troupe Maria Donati 603.672.1914

JOY Sherrie Juris 603.595.7111

Junior Choir Kathy Cooney 603.889.4144

Mommy & Me Tina Alexopoulos 603.595.1595

Sunday School Heather Cloutier 603.889.5501

GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS

Agape Ladies Society Sia Juris 603.888.4681

AHEPA Cosmos Marandos 603.888.1010

Elpis Ladies Society Maria Donati 603.672.1914

Pan-Macedonians Charles Paskaley 603.889.1368

This summer, Agape members were special guest instructors during MBC, teaching campers how to make wonderful pastries. Thanks to them for sharing!

A great calling of our Orthodox Faith is to take ac-tion on behalf of those in need. During Fellowship

Hour come see the special box in the hall, inviting us to offer books and canned/non-perishable goods for the Nashua Soup Kitchen and local fami-lies . In addition to books, current needs at NSK include: peanut butter; cereal;

macaroni and cheese; pasta; rice; books; diapers; soap; toothpaste; and shampoo. To get involved and help with NSK drop-offs, contact Fr. Alex.

Over the summer, interest was expressed about forming a unique minis-try for our seniors. Ideas ranged from occasional luncheons and road

trips to cultural events and philanthropic endeavors. Of course, for every new ministry there is a need for solid, prayerful leadership. If you might be interested in leading—or co-leading—such a ministry, please contact Fr. Alex. please consider this as a way to “plug-in” at St. Philp. Details to follow.

Creating a Ministry for Seniors

Outreach Snapshot:

Sharing Wisdom

“Maker of the universe, O Lord who alone have power over seasons and times: bless this year with your bounty….” —Hymn of “the Indiction.”

The hymn above is taken from celebration of “The Indic-tion,” the start of the new ecclesiastical year which hap-pen every year on Sept. 1. It is deeply connected to agrarian concerns of our spiritual descendants, and re-

minds us that God not only made all of us but also the en-tire Creation. In fact, our Church has a rich tradi-tion of recogniz-ing, blessing

and protecting the environment. There are many saints, for example, who were well-known for drawing animals close to them through their peaceful spirits and their ra-diant love for all God made. We are all, for sure, called to be “stewards” of Creation!

Read a letter from our Patriarch about the Indiction feast:

SOCIAL ACTION & Outreach

Giving Box Update

The Church & The Environment

A New Website for St. Philip

Our existing website has served us well for years, as have those dedicated parishioners who have worked so hard and thoughtfully to maintain it. With parish needs changing and growing, though, our parish has decided to move forward toward a new website that will offer us improved features, such as a “quick” calendar, picture galleries, video and more.

Look for updates and a launch date in our October Come & See.

Come and See 9

A happy Easter to all! A warm thank you to our St. Philip community and the Agape members who supported our Palm Sunday Bake Sale. We are truly grateful for your par-ticipation. Looking ahead, please note the following:

Volunteers are needed for the festi-val food service line. Please Sia Juris: 603.888.4681.

The annual General Membership Dinner will on June 10 at the Lilac Blossom in Amherst, NH. 6 pm; $25 per

Agape News

Each September, we dedicate a Sunday to welcoming back our parishioners to our youth and adult ministries. Following Liturgy on the 8th, we’ll enjoy a beautiful picnic and

ministry fair, during which our ministry and program leaders will be ready with flyers, calendars and infor-mation on their 2013-14 programs Please make the time during the fair to learn more about our parish and to become more deeply involved at St. Philip.

Contact Iris Houdyshel: 603.864.8130; iris57clasic@gmail.com.

EDUCATION, NEWS & EVENTS

Ministry Fair Sept. 8

Women’s Prayer Group & Bible Study

The Pan-Macedonian Association, AGAPE Ladies’ So-ciety, Elpis Society and AHEPA

organizations are pleased to announce that George Powell will receive the "campership" to the Metropolis of Boston Summer Camp this year. He will be attending the third session (July 15 – 21). George is the fourth recipi-ent that the joint organizations have sponsored. Our previ-ous recipients were Christina Katsioulis, Jennifer Powell and Thomas Johnston. We hope to continue sponsoring deserv-ing young men and women in the future. Remember, the

Pan-Macedonians

5, 19; Oct. 3, 17

Orthodox Life

Resumes Sept. 5

Having emerged from your cold weather “hibernation,” instead of walking aimlessly, you may want to check with your doctor and consider a purposeful Step-by-Step Walking Program suggested by St. Joseph Hospital Z Cardiovascular Center. The Program consists of stretching/warm up exercises before walking slowly for 5 min., then briskly for 5 min., then slowly for 5 min. Strive for at least 3 such walks weekly. Gradually increase the walking briskly part of your walk by 2 min. more each week until you have walked about 40 min. A flyer about this program is posted in Church hall. And as you walk, remember to thank God for the beauty that surrounds you.

Health & Wellness Ministry: To Your Health!

Now that the weather is warmer, the incentive to walk outdoors becomes stronger and offers us a good way to shed those extra winter pounds.

Orthodox Christian radio programming every Satur-day at 3:30 pm. WDER: 92.1 FM; 3120 AM. Listen online: www.wder.com/.

Come and See 10

Stellos Family

Investment Properties of

Nashua, New Hampshire

Proud Stewards of

St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church

We thank our sponsors for their support!

Come and See 11

Wedding News

Derek Perry and Harriet Gianoulis were united in the Sacrament of Marriage on July 20. The Koumbari were John and Natalie Yanoulis. We wish them many years of happiness!

Save the Date

Sept. 15 : Sunday School begins

Sept. 28: Taverna Night

Sept. 29: GOYA Hike

June 13: Women’s Prayer Group

Oct. 18: Family Night

Nov. 9: JOY/GOYA Bruins Game

Baptism

“You are baptized; you are illu-minated; you are anointed with

the Holy Myrrh; you are hallowed … in the name of the

Father, Son & Holy Spirit.”

George Lucas Logiotatos, June 22

Martial David Simonis August 4

Presentation Sept. 15

Following Liturgy, our Parish Coun-cil will make a special presentation to Ms. Katherine Kiratsos, in thanksgiving for her remarkable generosity to our parish and exem-plary stewardship. Please join us.