MAY 14, 2017

Saint Sophia

Axiologa

“worth mentioning”

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

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

FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE OFFICERS George E. Preonas, President; Dr. James A. Demetriou, Vice President & C.F.O.; Gig Kyriacou, 2nd Vice-President; Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary; Tina Callas, Treasurer MEMBERS V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Timi Loomos Freshman, Alek Haidos, Steve Hanna, Diane Sakellaris Lapa, Tony Natsis, Brent Noyes, John Peterson, Jean Paul Wardy, Jim Zaferis PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel John G. Marakas III, Sr. Advisor to the Board ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT Anthony A. Demetriou TRUSTEES EMERITUS Andrew Evangelatos, Nicholas Bissias and John T. Pappas PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Brent A. Noyes, President; Anna Yallourakis, Vice President; Jeanine Hanna, Co-Treasurer; Peter Cosfol, Co-Treasurer; Dinah Wellington, Recording Secretary MEMBERS Angela Ananias; Bertha Angels; Bill Striglos; Costa Bargeliotes; Glenn Lianos; Jonas Metin; Karen Sarames; Maria Baltazzi; Mauro Metini; Paris Yatskar. BOARD OF AUDITORS: James Boltinghouse, Anthony Demetriou

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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MINISTRY NEWS

1. Tuesday, May 16: Prayer of the Heart Meditation Workshop

2. Saturday, May 20: "Frank-ly Speaking!"

3. Sunday, May 21: Philoptochos Board Elections

4. Tuesday. May 23: V.I.P. Senior Citizen Luncheon

LIFE IN FAITH STUDIES FR. JOHN S. 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.

Co-Ed Bible Studies classes are every Tuesday at 11:00 am.

SEEKING A FEMALE ROOMATE

To share a 2 bedroom apartment next to the church; will have own bedroom and balcony. Preferably Greek speaking. Please call Jessica at 323-737-2424

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PRAYER OF THE HEART MEDITATION WORKSHOPS

You are invited to join Parish Council Member and Meditation Teacher, Maria Baltazzi, as she continues to lead group sessions on an inward journey, using the Prayer of the Heart. Discover how contemplative prayer meditation can benefit both you and the world around you. The Prayer of the Heart is based on the Jesus Prayer. Each week begins with a short discussion on how to cultivate happier, more spiritual lives. Then followed by a guided meditation. These sessions are for anyone interested in meditation; all levels are

welcomed. You are encouraged to bring friends and family members.

Next Session’s Topic: Living A Life On Purpose, Tuesday, May 16

Upcoming dates: May 30

Location: Huffington Center Saint Sophia Cathedral, Maria Maniatakos Room

Time: 7:30 pm – 9 pm

Cost: None, this is Maria’s Community Gift

Recap May 2nd Session: Opening Your Heart

Thoughts and Suggestions

One. An open heart is about acceptance, non-judgment, and forgiveness. This means seeing ‘what is’ and accepting it, no matter the circumstance nor the person. You do this without judgment to race, creed or color. And you forgive as a gift to yourself so you can move on.

Two. Having a closed heart, holding onto resentments, anger, or hostility all negatively impacts your health. Developmental Biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton explains that how your mind views the world directly affects the chemistry that controls the fate and genetics of the cells in your body. So toxic thoughts = toxic body chemistry > disease. Every health issue has an emotional cause. Unresolved hurts play a role in your overall health.

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Three. Open your heart by inviting in love, joy, health, and peace

into your life.

Four. The more your thoughts, words, and actions are about love,

compassion, kindness and gratitude to all things and all beings,

including yourself, the more your heart will open.

Five. The more you open your heart, the more you become a

beacon of love, which is your natural state of being. The more you

tap into this state, the more you realize the presence of God

within you.

Six. Your true self, your spirit is love and knows only love. It is

your ego that wants to judge and to be unforgiving. When you

realize this, you can now choose to let go of judgment as well as

forgive. Being able to do this opens your heart.

Seven. Consciously look to see where your heart is closed and

chose to open it. Forgiveness will be a key to giving you the

capability to express love, compassion, kindness, and gratitude.

Each of these can open your heart further. Without forgiveness,

you may be unable to move forward. Each time you hold back

forgiveness, you are the one carrying around the burden of

suffering. What is happening with the other person is their

business and part of their journey, not yours.

Eight. The more you understand, expand your awareness to

accept, the more you can forgive. “When we understand

everything, we forgive everything.” ~ Neale Donald Walsch,

author of Conversations with God

Bible Quote

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within

me. ~ Psalm 51:10

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PHILOPTOCHOS V.I.P. Xristos Anesti :

The following are coming up events:

Tuesday May 23, 2017, is our Senior Citizen of the Year

event. At 11:30 am at the Maniatakos Hall. Everyone is

welcome.

We are honoring Fotine O’Connor as our Senior Citizen of

the Year. Donation $25.00. Chair person is Mary Kezios, Co-

chair person is Angela Ananias and Reservations is Vivi

Demopoulos. 310-215-3130. Please make checks payable to

Philoptochos VIP and mail them to Vivi Demopoulos at

7485 McConnell Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045. Please make

your reservations early.

Thursday June 22, 20107 we will Have Prizes and

Surprises. Whoever brings a gift for exchange will enter free

if not the charge will be $10.00. Again time is 11:30 at the

Maria Maniatakos Pavilion.

Thank you all for supporting us on all our events. Again

don’t forget that the VIP board is working for you. Any

suggestions are welcome.

In His service

Mersy Loukaris

VIP President.

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Monday, June 5

Feast of the Holy Spirit

Please join us for Divine Liturgy

and Coffee Hour sponsored by the

Philoptochos VIP’s.

Celebrate with us our beloved and

beautiful Saint Sophia Feast Day.

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"Frank-ly Speaking!"

The songs and studio stories of Frank Sinatra. Presented by and performed by Perry Lambert.

A fascinating evening of the behind the scene stories, the trivia, the studios, the musicians, the arrangers...just a tiny glimpse of what it might have been like to be an invited guest sitting in on a recording session with Sinatra!

Featuring song arraignments by Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, video presentation, special interviews and more!

Presented at the Huffington Center at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. 1324 North Normandie Ave, Los

Angeles, CA 90006

Showtime: MAY 20TH at 7:00 pm!

Admission: Free Will Donation!

A coffee reception will following the program.

Please RSVP at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1672792669689144/

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PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

PHILOPTOCHOS BOARD ELECTIONS ~ Sunday,

May 21st

If you are interested in getting involved in Philoptochos by

joining the board, please note the following: In order to be

eligible to run for the board one must be a member in good

standing with the Philoptochos chapter and the church. Also,

one must have attended at least 4 meetings during the year.

Please contact President Judith Christopoulos at

judie.christopoulos@gmail.com for more information.

Please join us at our May General Assembly & Board

Elections on May 21st. We need your help and involvement!

This will be our last meeting of the year until fall.

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN TO PAY YOUR 2017

PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP?

We will have membership packets at our Philoptochos table

on Sundays or you may contact Jan Pastras at

janpastras@gmail.com for more information. IN ORDER

TO VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS IN MAY, YOU MUST

HAVE PAID YOUR MEMBERSHIP and be in good

standing with the church. However, associate members are

not eligible to vote.

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The Mission of Saint Sophia Cathedral

1. Proclaim and teach the Gospel according to the Orthodox Christian Faith

2. Sanctify and enhance the spiritual life of the faithful through Orthodox Christian worship.

3. Receive persons into the Church through instruction, baptism and/or chrismation.

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