NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Saint Sophia

Cathedral Communiqué

Sunday of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

Saint Sophia Cathedral 1324 S. Normandie Ave Los Angeles, CA 90006

FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS George E. Preonas, President; Andrew Evangelatos, Executive Vice President; James A. Demetriou, PhD, Vice President & C.F.O.; Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary; Tina Callas, Treasurer

MEMBERS V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas; Nicholas Bissias; Timi Loomos Freshman; Alek Haidos; Steven C. Hanna; Michael Huffington; Gig Kyriacou; Brent A. Noyes; John T. Pappas; Jim Zaferis

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS Anthony A. Demetriou, Presidential Assistant; John G. Marakas III, Sr. V.P. of Wells Fargo, Advisor to the Board; Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel

PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Brent A. Noyes, President; Irene Andreadis, Recording Secretary; Karen Sarames, Corresponding Secretary/Legal; Michael Kraios, Treasurer & C.F.O. MEMBERS Bertha Angels; Jeanine Hanna; Glenn Lianos; Eleni Constantine Manolelis; Loula Moschonas; Peter Pallas; Dean Peratsakis; Dorothy Spirus; Tom Ward; Anna Yallourakis

BOARD OF AUDITORS: Jim Ananias; Anthony A. Demetriou; Tom Moore

Office: 323.737.2424 Fax: 323.737.7029

www.stsophia.org/bulletin

When you write your will or update it, won’t you please remember Saint

Sophia Cathedral? Such a gift will live forever as our church ministers to

our spiritual needs. It’s an investment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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PHILOPTOHOS NEWS

CHRISTMAS CANDY: SKIP THE LONG LINES AT

SEE’S AND LET PHILOPTOHOS PURCHASE YOUR

CANDY AND DELIVER IT TO CHURCH! WHAT

COULD BE EASIER?? Philoptohos is selling See’s holiday

candy for Christmas. We are selling 1 lb. boxes of Assorted

Chocolates, Nuts and Chews, a snowman Christmas box, plus

large chocolate Santas. The order form is in the Herald and

weekly bulletin. The money we raise will be given to the

Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund. Buy gifts for

family, friends and business associates! Pre-ordered candy will

be available for pickup today at our Thanksgiving luncheon

plus we will have extra boxes available for purchase! We will

be selling candy through December 14th or until it is sold out.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN: We are currently putting together our list of people for our “Angel Tree” to help those who need us for a Merry Christmas. If you know of someone who could help this year, please send their name to Philoptohos in care of Virginia Noyes. All names will be kept confidential. People do not have to be ‘Greek’ in order to receive help.

“For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me” John 12:8.

With love in Christ’s service, Virginia Noyes and The Philoptohos Board of Directors

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PHILOPTOHOS V.I.P

Thursday, December 11, 2014 V.I.P. Christmas Party

Our annual V.I.P. Christmas Luncheon will take place on December 11, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the Huffington Center/Maniatakos Fellowship Hall. Following a delicious luncheon, we will enjoy Christmas Carols sung by a professional quartet dressed in Dickensian/Victorian costumes. We invite you to join us for a festive afternoon! Donation is $25.00.

Co-Chairs for the event are Vivi Demopoulos and Faye Demetriou. For reservations call Stella Morris (818)783-4055 or Mersy Loukaris (323)661-1592. Reservations must be made by December 8, in order to notify the caterer. Please make your check payable to Philoptohos V.I.P., and mail to:

Stella Morris, 12912 Dickens St., Studio City, CA 91604

In His Service Athina Lolonis, VIP

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MINISTRY NEWS

SAVE THE DATE

1. Today: Philoptohos Thanksgiving Luncheon

2. Sunday, November 30: The Box Project for the

Eisener School

THE WHY’S OF ORTHODOXY FR. ALLAN BOYD

This class is for you if you would like to deepen your

understanding and practice of the Orthodox Christian Faith.

All are welcome! Join us every Monday at 7:30 pm.

LIFE IN FAITH STUDIES FR. JOHN BAKAS

Increase your knowledge about our faith at our weekly Bible

study class. You'll have a chance to ask Fr. John questions and

engage in interesting discussions with your fellow

parishioners in a casual setting. Don't miss this wonderful

opportunity to grow in your faith. Classes meet in the

General Assembly Room.

Women’s Faith Studies classes Mondays at 10:30 am.

Men’s Faith Studies classes Wednesdays at 10:30 am.

OLD TESTAMENT WITH FR. ALLAN BOYD

Join us every Thursdays at 7:30 pm upstairs in the Huffington

Center.

ATTENTION SUNDAY SCHOOL FAMILIES

You have special seating reserved for you right up front in the

Cathedral every Sunday. Reserved are the first two pews on

the left side. Do take advantage of this beautiful view of the

Divine Liturgy. Your children will likely be more engaged in

the service.

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MINISTRY NEWS

JOY OF PARENTING CLASS RETURNS!

Join your fellow parishioners in a lively discussion of parenting

of children of all ages, from toddlers to teens and beyond,

every Sunday in November, following Holy Communion. We

conclude at 12:15 p.m. Today's topic: "Mom vs. Dad." Come

with your concerns and questions or just listen; there is no

pressure to speak to the class. It’s a wonderful way to get

acquainted with other parents. There is no fee to attend.

Classes are held in the Work/Study Room, upstairs near the

left-hand side staircase, in the Huffington Center. The Joy of

Parenting Ministry is facilitated by Barbara Kappos, LCSW

and Nikolaos Stefanidis, Ph.D. To be added to the Joy of

Parenting email list or to suggest a topic, send an email to:

L.A.GreekChurchLady@gmail.com. Upcoming: Nov. 23,

"Gratitude," Nov. 30, "Keeping the Peace."

Planning Ahead:

Jan. 18, 2015: St. Sophia Philoptochos Debutante Presentation

Ball

Jan. 31, 2015: Greek Dance Groups Annual Glendi

Feb. 1, 2015: Super Bowl Party

Feb. 21, 2015: Apokries (Greek Mardi Gras), presented by our

Parish Council

SANTA CHEF NEEDS HELP!

Thursday, December 4th beginning at 9 am we will be baking

cookies for the upcoming Christmas Concert. Bring your

aprons and help in the kitchen. For questions please see

Ourania at coffee hour.

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MINISTRY NEWS

ATTENTION MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

The first Sunday of each month has been officially named Youth Sunday. In addition to a Sunday School student reading the Epistle, the Parish Council of St. Sophia Cathedral invites middle and high school students to volunteer in the Narthex during Divine Liturgy. Besides helping out with the candles and ushering, you may also assist in passing the baskets to the parishioners to collect their monetary donations. You'll be paired with a seasoned Parish Council member to train you. If you'd like to volunteer in the Narthex and/or pass the baskets, please sign up by contacting L.A.GreekChurchLady@gmail.com. Send your name, phone number, age and what day you'd like to volunteer. Please arrive at church at 9:45 a.m. so you may be trained. Upcoming dates: December 7.

Get involved! We look forward to seeing you!

The Parish Council

ATTENTION BAKERS We are currently in need of "Prosforo" for the Altar. If you have any questions, please see Jimmy Karatsikis in the Narthex.

BASKETBALL IN OUR GYM

Every Monday night 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., drop by to pick-up basketball games in our gym. Boys and girls, men and women, ages 13 to 40 are welcome. Shoot the hoops or shoot the breeze, either way, it's a good time. Hope to see you.

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PHILOPTOHOS THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON

TODAY FOLLOWING LITURGY

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ANTIQUE PRAYERS FILM

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CASH FOR CHRISTMAS 2014 RAFFLE

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SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL 17TH ANNUAL

CHRISTMAS MUSICFEST

Saint Sophia Cathedral 17th Annual Christmas Musicfest

under the Byzantine Dome

Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

The program will include Orthodox Christmas hymns and

chants, including Enite ton Kyrion in the plagal 1st mode

by Frank Desby, traditional carols of the holiday season

and several selections from Navidad Nuestra by Ariel

Ramirez. The concert will feature Michele Patzakis

Prappas, Katherine Spilos and Nicole French as soloists

along with the Saint Sophia Cathedral Choir and Chamber

Ensemble under the direction of Jim H. Kollias, and the

Harmonies of Saint Thomas all Girls Choir, under the

direction of Antonio Espinal and Dalia Rodriguez. Free

will offering. Reception immediately following the concert

in the Maniatakos Fellowship Hall and the Maria

Maniatakos Pavilion.

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LIGHT THE CATHEDRAL WITH LOVE (LUMINARIES)

For the second year in a row at our Christmas Concert (December 7th), the Cathedral will be surrounded with a beautiful arrangement of candlelit luminaries. For $10 per luminary you can honor a living loved one or remember your departed ones. Each luminary will have the name of your loved one on it. Beginning November 16th, you can give your luminary requests to Presvytera Danita in the Maniatokos Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour. Make checks payable to Saint Sophia Cathedral. Please print clearly the names of your loved ones below for your Luminary labels. This year, let your love show just how brightly Saint Sophia Cathedral can shine in our community.

In Honor Of: In Memory Of:

_________________________ _________________________

_________________________ _________________________

_________________________ _________________________

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PHILOPTOHOS NEWS

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COLLEGE CONFERENCE WEST Orthodox Christian Fellowship Camp Ministry – Register at:

www.ocf.net/college-conference/

Transportation Available: For more info contact Alyssa Hoffberg at

CCWESTSTUDENT@OCF.NET

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FOOD BOX PROJECT

FOR THE EISNER SCHOOL

On Sunday, November 30th after church, we - the community and Philoptohos - will be making food boxes for some 20 families at the Eisner School on 15th Street. These families are unable to purchase food for Christmas dinner and are in desperate circumstances.

If you would like to join in this project, Philoptohos will be bringing boxes to fill up with food. We’re also bringing some gift wrap and tape and we’d love to have you bring along some inexpensive wrap or bows to decorate your box with. You will be able to fill a box and decorate it yourselves. Maybe your children would like to help decorate the box!

Items that we suggest to donate and put into the box are: (just ideas, you decide)

1. Canned fruit (peaches, applesauce, pears)

2. Canned vegetables (green beans, corn, carrots, yams

3. Rice or spaghetti, canned pastas like Chef Boyardee

4. Granulated sugar or brown sugar

5. Evaporated milk

6. Canned meat or tuna, canned ham, etc.

7. Cereal

8. Anything else you’d like - maybe a box of Christmas cookies

9. Packaged single servings of ‘milk’ cartons (no refrigeration needed)

Be creative - you choose whatever you’d like to put in the box!

We know this is short notice but after speaking with the principal of the school, we know there are a number of families that do not have the resources to purchase food for the holidays. Most of the parents are unemployed or are single parent families.

Please join us right after church upstairs in the general assembly meeting room - again, that is Sunday, November 30!

Thank you!