THE TREASURER'S NOTE
         By Carl Colozzi (644-0615)
For March:
Income  -  $ 13,170.05
Expenses - $ 17,563.77
Difference -   - $   4,393.72

1st Quarter - 
Income -   $ 47,260.47
Expenses -  $ 57,710.90
Difference -   - $ 10,450.43

Message from the Treasurer:
      Fellow Parishioners, if writing a check to the church, please make sure that the memo line is filled out as to how you would like the money to be applied: ie Pledge, candles, tray, memorial, etc. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. It not only ensures that the money from you is applied correctly, but also helps in determining expected income for the next years budget.
     Thank you for your help.
 
Our God has degreed that a share of our abundance should be set aside for His Church.
 
It is right for us to give of our abundance to sustain God's house, you help those in need and to support our priest.  Yet the church's pledges and gifts have not increased for years.  We all know everything keeps costing more, but some continue to give the same each year or don't commit at all.

Please search your hearts and realize that you are the church.  It is what you make it.  Give of yourself, give of your abundance.

Thank you,
Your Stewardship Committee

2007 Pledges:
Alexiou, Marina; Amprazis, James & Mary; Andrews, Ted; Anghelescu, Anton George; Antahades, Cecelia; Anton, Bill & Mary; Bailey, Sarah; Barteris, Eleni; Bishara, Essa & Najwah; Blavos, Sylvia; Boukas, Nick & Athena; Bouras, Johnny & Peggy; Brown, Harvey & Nabila; Bulugaris, Tony & Raegan; Bundros, Tony & Thalia; Chamis, Nick G.; Chininis, Frank & Toula; Clark, Penny Kappas; Colozzi, Carl & Maria; Constantinou, Athena; Contogiannis, Elizabeth A.; Contogiannis, Ellen; Contogiannis, Mary Ann; Cooper, Christine; Corey, Craig & Amanda; Corey, Samantha; Corey, Victoria; Crist, Alex & Pam; Cropper, James & Maria; Culler, Hamp & Lula; Cvijanovich, Thea; Dermatas, Alexis; Efstathiou, Dimitrios and Konstantia; Fenger, Rasmus & Susie; Freeman, Ron & Sondra; Fox, Art & Cynthia; Galloway, Ed & Georgette; Gradinaru, Adrian; Graham, Erin; Graham, Scott & Christa; Hanna, Aziz & Violet; Hanna, Maher; Harrison, Eleni; Havraniak, Luba; Hedrick, Nina; Hudak, Marie; Karas, Angelo; Katsikas, Mary; Kattan, Nihad & Sana; Kattan, Niveen; Kazazes, Anne; Kazazes, Barbara; Kontoulas, Angelo N; Kontoulas, Cleo & Dena; Kontoulas, Dimitrios & Karen; Kontoulas, Mary B; Koronis, Bill & Ava; Kotsikorou, Evangelia; Kotsionis, Harry & Elly; Lawrence, Kevin & Barbara; Listermann-Verling, Fr. Dionysios & Elena; Lundberg, David & Vasso;  Macropoulos, JoAnne; Mandaleris, Chris & Maria; Matsakides, Vickie;  Megremis, Lampros & Theodora; Merrell, Eddie & Maria; Michaels, Michael & Carolyn; Miller, Donald & Brenda; Moraru, Christian & Camelia; Oncea, William & Jennie; Ofanedes, George & Susan;  Palamaris, George & Irene; Pappas, Edna; Pappas, Matthew & Stacy; Pasick, Michael; Patterson, Charles; Patterson, Vasiliki; Poulos, Karen; Poulos, Peter and Phyllis; Pradetto, Tom & Maria; Rodete, John & Sophie; Ross, Lawrence & Minerva; Rueppell, Olav & Matina Kalcounis; Sagos, JoAnne; Sakellaris, Chris & Ardele; Schermerhorn, Thomas & Theodora, Schermerhorn Sophia; Seawell, Evalin & Tracy; Silos, Estelle; Sims, Roger & Celia; Sipsis, George & Bessie; Sipsis, James & Linda; Sonntag, Frances; Soufia, Michael & Ginah; Tarasidis, Kirk & Kiki;  Thanos, Alex; Thanos, Bobby & Carol; Thevaos, Jim & Hedy; Toompas, Arthur & June; Touloupas, John & Kaki; Touloupas, Mary Alyson; Touloupas, Zack & Sheila; Triantis, Ted; Tripp, Matthew & Sotiria; Tsaros, Lula; Tsintzos, Nafsika; Tzavaras, Aspasia; Tzouvelekas, Nick & Debra; Vandoros, George & Effie; Varitimidis, Ioannis & Effie; Varsamis, Betty; Varsamis, Kimmon & Gwen; Varsamis, Megan; Vaughn, Edgar & Vicki; Vavalides, Phillip & Teresa; West, Victoria; White, Edward & Elizabeth; Woods, Terry; Xixis, Eleftherios; Xixis, Othonas & Debbie; Zaharias, Doris.        

LENT AND EASTER FLOWER AND SPECIAL DONATIONS
Betty Varsamis gave the flowers for the Annunciation Icon on March 25.
Joanne Macropoulos, Dena Kontoulas, Barbara Vaughan, Evangelia Kalogiros and Maria Thanos gave the flowers for the icons for the Friday Salutations and Akathist.
Toula Chininis gave the flowers for the Nymphios Icon.
Anne Kazazes gave the flowers in the narthex for the Theotokos.
Soteria Dascalakis gave the wreath for the Holy Week Cross.
Mary Hoffler in memory of her parents Theophilos and Chrissoula Colones, and her brother John Colones.
In memory of Mary Vurnakes from her family.

Bill & Mary Anton, Demetra Bakas, Dr. & Mrs. Nick Bartis, Nick & Athina Boukas, Johnny Bouras, Harvey & Nabila Brown, Tony & Thalia Bundros, Olga Clagaris, Eleni Contogiannis & family, Mary Ann Contogiannis & Ralph & Ivey Huey, Hamp & Lula Culler, Minas & Soteria Dascalakis, Alex & Titsa Dermatas, Michael Dolianitis, Dimitrios & Konstantia Efstathiou, Eleni, Hannah & Anthony Harrison, Patrick and Anastasia Hartigan, Erin Graham, Scott & Crista Graham, Mary Katsikas, Anne Kazazes, Cleo & Dena Kontoulas, Mary Kontoulas, David & Vasso Lundberg, Lampros & Dorothy Megremis, Eddie & Maria Merrell, Don & Brenda Miller, George & Irene Palamaris, Matthew & Stacy Pappas, Helen Peterson, Su Peterson, Peter & Phyllis Poulos, Chris & Ardele Sakellaris, Ellen Scaturdio, Tom Schermerhorn & Theodora Vaporis, Mikhail & Ginah Soufia, Roger & Celia Sims, George & Bessie Sipsis, Kirk & Kiki Tarasidis & family, Zack & Shelia Touloupas, Nafsika Tsintzos, Nick, Debra & Mark Tzouvelekas, Mary Vaporis, Betty Varsamis, Kimmon & Gwen Varsamis, Bill & Barbara Vaughan.
Our Fellowship Hall
 
The Dormition of the Theotokos Fellowship Hall may be rented by any Parishioner in Good Standing (as defined in the Dormition of the Theotokos Parish Bylaws/Regulations), upon the discretion and approval of the Parish Council. Non-profit groups that wish to rent the Hall must be sponsored by a Parishioner in Good Standing. The rates for renting the hall are $200, $300 and a negotiable fee for larger events. Fees may be waived by the joint decision of the Priest and the Parish Council President in special circumstances based on financial need for Parishioners in Good Standing. Fees may be waived by the Priest for the purpose of community good-will with the approval of the Executive Board and the head of the Hall Rental Committee. GOYA, JOY, Philoptochos, Sunday School, Greek School, Ahepa, Daughter's of Penelope, and the Choir are exempt from this Rental Fee but are subject to a Cleaning Fee for the use of the Hall. The Cleaning Fee for ordinary use shall include a service fee of $15.00 plus $10.00 per hour for each member of the cleaning crew.

Father's Challenge

A man who remained contented and cheerful through several years of financial and family troubles and trials, was asked how he could be so calm and bright-spirited throughout such misfortunes.
     "I used my eyes in the right way," he replied.
     "What do you mean?" asked his questioner.
     "Well," he explained, "I first look up to heaven and remember that my main job in life is to get there. Then I look down on the ground and try to realize what a small piece of earth I will occupy after I am dead and buried. Lastly, I look at the countless men and women in my neighborhood and around the world that are much worse off than I am. These three looks, as you might call them, make me happy and contented. They root out every desire to complain."

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

     What is contentment? The dictionary defines it as "the experience of being satisfied, of not desiring more than you have."
     As simple as it sounds, contentment can be elusive to most of us. We know that it exists but it feels fleeting and just beyond our reach. Some think, "Just as soon as I get that job, I'll be happy," or "Just as soon as I'm in a relationship, I'll be content," or "Just as soon as I go on vacation, I can relax."
     Others who once experienced contentment, feel that they have lost it. They sorrowfully lament, "If only I had invested my money more wisely, I'd be better off," or "If only I were young and healthy again, I could enjoy life more," or "If only my friends and family lived closer I wouldn't be so lonely and unhappy."
     It goes on and on. We end up chasing things or pining away for lost moments that never bring us contentment. We need to let go of this "just as soon as" and this "if only" mentalities which keep us in a perpetual state of desire and regret.
     True contentment grows and thrives out of a willingness to accept what is. It is a state of grace which lives, not in the future nor in the past, but in the here and now. St. Paul wrote, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." Philippians 4:11-12     
     We too need to be satisfied with the conditions and challenges God places before us now. Contentment is measured partly by what we can do without and not by the number of things we have. Recall the words of Our Lord,
     "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink? or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:28-34)
     Let us stop grumbling about what we lack and instead give humble thanks to God for the many blessings we already have. When we do so, we will know peace and harmony. Our lives will be blessed by the joy and tranquility which contentment brings.

In Christ,

Fr. Dionysios

President's Message

When we were building our house I remember sitting with the architect and discussing the construction of the house.  Everything always came down to the foundation.  All our decisions concerning the structure of the house were dependent on the foundation.  We as parishioners of our church are also like the foundation.  Each and every one of us is required and necessary to support this church.  On Sunday we came together to celebrate the founding members of our church.  We had a wonderful program and went back in time through old photographs.  We saw a church family taking part in weddings, baptism, programs and celebrations.  We heard the words of parishioners who fought to preserve their culture, religion and heritage.  We were asked through their words to carry this tradition forward.  We are doing just that today.  As they established the original foundation, we continue to add to that foundation to make it stronger and to keep it alive for future generations.  I envision what our children and grandchildren will be saying about us one day in the future as they celebrate years gone by.

I pray that we will all have a beautiful month of May, as we celebrate mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and all women on this the month of Mother's Day.  May God continue to protect us, bless us and encourage us to be the best we can be.

Kiki Tarasidis

  
Parish News and Notes

 A charity started by high school student Demetra Schermerhorn was featured on the teen web site of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Demetra started this charity in 2007 to benefit under-privileged girls in Alamance County. The link is: 
http://www.mary-kateandashley.com/advice/index.php?id=2&section=real_girls

We are pleased to announce that Dina Teka-Efstathiou is publishing an online magazine called Goneis (Parents). This is a new and exciting publication for Greek-Americans and admirers of Hellenism. The articles in the magazine deal with interesting and diverse family-oriented subjects ranging from Culture, Language and Travel to Health, Spirituality, Book Reviews and Food. The website is www.goneis.net. Dina has worked very heard on putting together a quality publication and we wish her every success! 

Congratulations

John & Sophie Rodete celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary on April 28, 2007.

Larry and Minerva Ross, who on Wednesday, May 23 celebrate 16 years of marriage.  Xprona Polla!

To Jimmy Contogiannis and Viktoriya Saltzman; their daughter Katerina was baptized on April 15, 2007.

Georgios Tarasidis who once again made the Academic Honor Roll at Canterbury School.

Martin Ross for achieving academic distinction honor roll for the first quarter and second quarter at Page High.  Also Martin celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, April 11.
    
Maria Ross for achieving academic distinction honor roll for the third quarter and chosen to represent Mendenhall Middle on All- State Chorus.  Also for her birthday on Monday, May 7. 

Happy Birthday Martin and Maria!!!!

Thank you to Father Dionysios for the beautiful Holy Week and Resurrection Services.  May God always bless you.
 
Thank you to the following for their help with the Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon:
 
Eleni Harrison, Carl Colozzi, Theodora Vaporis, Lula Culler, Eula Mott, Sotiria Tripp, Demetra Schermerhorm, Paul Mott and the GOYAns for their help in the kitchen and with serving.  To David Valavanis for preparing the delicious meal.  To Polly Anton for all her hard work on the photo wall, to Koula Remoundos for wrapping all those place settings and the photo set up and to Eddie Merrell, Hamp Culler and Kirk Tarasidis for setting up the tables.
 
Thank you to Stephen Anton for his hard work on the program, it was a beautiful way to remember our founding members and to Maher Hanna and Hamp Culler our Stewardship partners for their dedication and hard work.
 
Thank you Mr. George Sipsis for your most generous offer to purchase the round tables for our fellowship hall.  May God always keep you well.
 
Matina Kalcounis for all of her hard work on the photo dvd.

Most importantly, thank you to each person who attended the luncheon and provided wonderful memories.  Kai tou xronou!  Looking forward to next year!

AHEPA

 His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios designated May 20th as "AHEPA Sunday" in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Archbishop Demetrios has asked the Orthodox faithful to offer prayers and support for the local AHEPA chapters and the national organization.  There will be a Trisagion for departed brothers and sisters of AHEPA family  (General Greene Chapter 257 and Daughters of Penelope Ktimene Chapter 70).

This year AHEPA will give two scholarships at Philoptochos Scholarship Luncheon. A first one is the annual AHEPA scholarship and a second one of in memory of deceased Ahepan Konstantinos Kappas.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday May 8 at 7:00 pm.  We will meet at the Church Hall. Please make every effort to attend!

Daughters of Penelope

The Daughters will meet at Austin's Restaurant, 3011 High Point Road (across from Olive Garden), at 6:30pm on Monday, May 21, 2007.

JOY
Thank you to Koula Remoundos, who has offered to direct the JOY Group (all K-5th graders)!  She has already planned the first event for Sunday, April 29th, to celebrate the "first of May."  JOY will get together at Triad Park at 4:00 p.m. for fun, games & snacks.  Please call Koula @336-549-0583 with any questions, or email her:  koular@yahoo.com.

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

The Ladies Philoptochos would like to thank all it's members who volunteered during our Spring/Luncheon and Bake Sale.  Our chairpersons-Lula Culler, Titsa Dermatas, and Soteria Dascalakis did an outstanding job.  We would also like to recognize the following who gave of their time before and during the luncheon:
          

Maher Hanna, Stephen Anton, Frank Chininis, Bill Oncea, David Valavanis, and Tony Bundros.
 
Our next General Meeting will be on May 14th.  All members are encouraged to attend this very important meeting as we will be electing members to serve on the board. We will also be discussing final plans for our Scholarship Luncheon and our end of year plans. Refreshments will be served at 6:45 and the meeting
will begin promptly at 7pm.
 
Our Annual Scholarship Luncheon will be held on Sunday, May 20th immediately following the Divine Liturgy.  The Philoptochos, Pete Harris, and AHEPA Scholarships will be presented during this time. Also, all graduating high school, college and graduate students will be recognized and honored.  Tickets for the luncheon are $10 per meal and $5 for children 12 and under.  Look for more information in the Sunday bulletin.
 
Please continue to donate non-perishable food items to our Year Round Food Bank. 
 
If you would like to host the coffee hour or donate flowers for the altar, please check the sign-up sheets located in the church hall. 

Sunday School (May '07)

A heartfelt thank you to all of our students who helped make Holy Week and Easter special.  The students helped with Palm Cross making, serving in the altar, reading in the Church, serving as "myrrh-bearers," and participating in the choir.

Sunday School will end on May 13th.  Thank you to Grady Barbee, Maria Colozzi, Mary Ann Contogiannis, Hamp Culler, Alexis Dermatas, Elaine and Brier Gay, Barbara Vaughan, Hedy Thevaos and Doris Zahairas for giving their heart and soul to teaching our youth this year.  God bless you all.
                                   
50 plus Club

The first meeting of the 50+ Club was a great success.  We will be meeting on Monday, May 7 at 11:45am. 

MAY NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIP
The May 2007 Orthodox Oracle is sponsored by Barbara Kazazes in memory of her father, James Kazazes, on the month of his passing, May 21, 2004.  And in memory of her grandparents, Gregory and Ariadne Kazazes.

The March Parish Council Meeting was held on March 26th and the following issues were presented and/or discussed:
 
1.                  A letter from a parishioner with many fiscal suggestions;
2.                  The various feelings about substitute priests in our parish during the few Sundays every year when Fr. Dionysios cannot be here due to other Metropolis commitments or vacation. Discussed were both the feelings of the parishioners who were uncomfortable with a priest from a different Orthodox tradition as well as those that enjoyed the new experience. Fr. explained that there are very few available substitute priests and that we need flexibility or we may not be able to have any services on those Sundays when he is unavailable.
3.                  Fr. Dionysios led the GOYA retreat at the Diakonia Center in March. He was the only priest with 52 teenagers participating. Hamp Culler, Kirk Tarasidis and Basil Agapion assisted and it was a successful event;
4.                  A status was given on the new Parish Hall Entry project donated by the Ragsdale Family and although it is moving along, completion is not expected prior to the Festival;
5.                  We discussed the need for a Philanthropy Fund that Fr. Dionysios and the Parish Council can use to help our own Church families in need;
6.                  A greater need for Stewardship participation was discussed;
7.                  The Financial Report was presented and approved;
8.                  Two new families have recently joined our Church, one from Allentown, Pennsylvania and one from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We should all look for them and welcome them warmly;
9.                  The 50+ Young Club will be starting on April 17th with the congratulations and support of the Parish Council;
10.              We discussed the need to finalize permanent GOYA leaders imminently;
11.              We voted to eliminate the advertising expenditure from our budget on the recommendation of several parishioners.
12.              The Parish Council would like to encourage parishioners with concerns to call the appropriate member of the Parish Council, including Fr. Dionysios, with their concerns. All of the committee heads are listed on the front of the Oracle and if you have a concern, please call the member who most likely is responsible for that particular issue. Any member, of course, can present their concerns to the entire Parish Council;
13.              We discussed the Evrytanian Society convention coming to Greensboro on June 22, 23 and 24.
 
The April Parish Council Meeting was held on April 16th and the following was presented and/or discussed:
 
1.                  Final votes were taken on the sexual misconduct insurance rider required by our insurance company;
2.                  Carl presented the financial report and reiterated the need for parishioners to always note in the memo portion of their check if the donation is for candles, stewardship, a memorial, combination, or other purpose;
3.                  Plans for the Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon were finalized. The Parish Council hopes that all of our faithful stewards as well as any new families and individuals that wish to sign stewardship cards will join us for a lunch in their honor on April 22nd. We will have card available that day to sign. We will make a special dedication to our founding stewards as well. Maher gave a stewardship report that indicates we are still down from last year. It is our hope to turn this around;
4.                  Fr. announced that Craig and Amanda Corey would be taking over the leadership of GOYA along with Basil Agapion. Fr. further announced that Amanda Corey will be leading the high school dance group and Mary Ann Contogiannis would be leading the Middle School Dance Group. We expect that practices will get underway soon;
5.                  We mentioned the new parishioners, both individual and families, that have come to our Church. Please look around after Church on Sundays and make sure to welcome any new faces you see. Let's let our new parishioners know that we are glad they are here and that we welcome their participation and involvement;
6.                  It was agreed that we would order 256 new chairs chosen by the Daughter's of Penelope for the parish hall as soon as the funds were complete. The Daughter's have so generously donated $2500 towards this cause and we are attempting to secure the remaining $2000 needed from other willing organizations;
7.                  We finalized a Hall Rental Agreement so that our parishioners and limited charitable organizations can rent our parish hall for a fee. We will publish or post the regulations that accompany this contract soon. The contact person for renting the hall is either Fr. Dionysios or Matthew Pappas;
8.                  Stephen Anton, Mathew Pappas and Eddie Merrill explained that festival plans are underway and that they are extremely encouraged and excited;
9.                  A box will soon be placed in the church hall where parishioners can offer their praise and their suggestions to be considered by the Parish Council;
10.              Fr. announced that the Burlington Church, St. Katherine's is having their Consecration on April 27th and 28th and would like our support. Please attend any of the various events if you are able;
11.              St. George in High Point will be having their Name Day service on April 23rd for those that would like to join them in worship on that day;
12.              We discussed the Orthodox Oracle and ways to cut costs and improve delivery;
13.              The Parish Council again expressed their pleasure at the generosity of parishioners on Palm Sunday in donating to the Philanthropy fund that will allow Fr. Dionysios to offer emergency assistance to persons in our community in immediate need.