Vision
"A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." Proverbs 14:15
A few weeks ago, I attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Durham. It was a wonderful occasion to be present as our sister church of St. Barbara broke ground on a six acre plot for the construction of a new Byzantine-style church and hall. In conversation with the parish council president, I was informed that this effort was the culmination of a vision adopted in 1999. The existing church edifice had been expanded once before. There was nothing wrong with their existing building, but the community felt that they needed to prepare for the future. After much discussion, they embraced a decision to construct a new edifice to serve future generations.
Whether one agrees with their decision to build a new church or not, one cannot help but admire their willingness to embrace a plan for the future. As a former boss of mine once told me, "It's better to have a bad plan than no plan at all." If one does not have a vision, then one is actually blind, stumbling about in the darkness.
We at Dormition of the Theotokos need a vision of where we would like our community to be in five or ten years. At present, we are like a leaf floating on calm waters. We drift along, but we have no particular goal in mind. The only future goal I have ever heard articulated is the hazy hope that we acquire the property adjacent to our church. As a vision, this is inadequate. We cannot simply stand around and do nothing. Complacency promotes apathy and indifference. If we do not embrace some sort of plan for future growth, then we risk spiritual and physical stagnation. What newcomers would choose to be a part of a community that has no vision for its future?
Already warning signs abound. Stewardship languishes in part because there is no sense of urgency. We have no building or renovation project currently going on. Yet our church edifice and hall really do need improvement and upgrade. We could use additional space for a library and additional classrooms. The meeting room/secretary's office is both cluttered and cramped. The foyer of the church hall and the hall itself look tired and need sprucing up. The church itself could be beautified and improved. From the outside the building does not even resemble a traditional Orthodox Church.
We need to embrace a plan for future renovation and improvement. A strategic long term planning committee should be appointed to prayerfully study this and come up with concrete proposals. Perhaps we would like to have an architect and iconographer, familiar with Byzantine-styled churches, to come and look at our facilities to give us an idea of what is possible. During this process we especially need to seek God's guidance.
Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." God obviously expects us to plan for the future. Strategic planning is not only a biblical concept, it is a biblical mandate. It is God's chosen method. He makes it clear that we are not to trust our own plans and strategies while ignoring the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If we go about this in a prayerful manner, seeking the heart of God and His direction we can establish a vision which is pleasing to Him and this vision will succeed.
In Christ,
Fr. Dionysios
SICK AND VISITATION
Eleni Contogiannis would appreciate your prayers for her speedy recovery.
The following parishioners would welcome your calls and/or visits. Please be sure to call before visiting.
Calliope Hatgelis (currently staying with grandson)
James Toompas (Arbor Acres UM Retirement Comm.)
Vonnie Kleanos (Evergreen's)
Maria Vurnakes (Evergreen's)
Margaret Spence (Wesley Long Nursing Center)
We would appreciate your sharing with us the names of any parishioners you know of who are ill, hospitalized, or home-bound sick so that we may pray for them, visit, phone or send a card. Donna at church office (292-8013) or Elly Kotsionis (292-5107).
THANK YOU
The flowers adorning the icon Kimisis tis theotokou located in the Narthex of our church for August 15 were donated by Anne Kazazes in memory of James Kazazes.
CONDOLENCES
(Correction: we apologize for having the wrong date last month.)
To Rose Kontoulos and family, whose brother, Hercules, passed away on July 17, 2006 in Richmond, VA. Internment was at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce, FL on August 9, 2006 at 10:00 am. May his memory be eternal!
NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIP
Joanne Macropoulos is sponsoring the October newsletter in memory of her beloved husband George, who fell asleep in the Lord on November 3, 2003 and in memory of his parents, Father Nicholas & Presbytera Anna Macropoulos. The three-year memorial service for George will be held October 29, 2006.
AHEPA
All parishioners are cordially invited to Order of AHEPA Chapter General Greene event on October 10, 2006 at 7:00 pm (place: social hall of Dormition of Theotokos Church). Dr. Larry Odzak will present his new book titled "Dimitrios Is Now Jimmy": Greek Immigrants in the Southern United States, 1865-1965. This well researched history book deals with Greek immigrants who arrived and settled in the early 1900s in the South. Self-sufficient, independent, mostly self-employed, they established their small businesses in growing urban areas. While adapting to the new life in America, they also maintained their religion, forming Greek Orthodox parishes in a number of southern cities.
GOYA
By Irene Lawrence
GOYA is just getting back together for the year. We went to glean in a tomato field on Saturday, August 12, and after that we went out to lunch at Zack's. A big thank you to Zack Touloupas for giving us that lunch for free! Thank you also to Grady for letting us swim in his pool on September 2! We had a lot of fun.
A few GOYA members also went to the lock-in at the YMCA on Friday, August 11, with youth from a couple other churches. We stayed up most of the night doing things like playing basketball, hanging out, and just having a great time. On September 23 GOYA also plans to meet at church at 10:00 am to make lunches for Habitat for Humanity volunteers.
GREEK SCHOOL NEWS
By Kiki Tarasidis
We are fortunate to have Alexandra Alexiou returning as a teacher again this year. Because of her commitments to the Winston-Salem and High Point communities, we have had to change our Greek School from Tuesday to Friday. We will meet every other Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
On Thursday, October 5, we will have an information/registration meeting at 6:30 p.m. School will start on Friday, October 6 at 4:30 p.m. School will meet again on Friday, October 20, for further information please contact, Kiki Tarasidis 288.2921 or email
kikitarasidis@yahoo.com.
OPA! Dancers
Dear past and present OPA! Dancers,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making our 15th and final year as dance instructors so special!!!
First to the present dancers, thank you for working so hard and dancing beautifully all weekend long. You are our last dance group and you made us very proud. Thank you, seniors, for the flowers that you specially arranged for us. They were gorgeous!! We really want to thank two seniors, Pete and Christina, for all they have had to endure over the years having their mothers as instructors.
To the past dancers, we thank you for taking time from your busy lives to celebrate with us. The flowers, the beautiful hand-painted plates and your heartfelt words meant so much to us. The greatest gift was seeing all of you together laughing, dancing all weekend and having so much fun. You have a very unique bond, and we know you will remain close no matter where your lives take you.
We feel we are so lucky to have had the chance to be a part of your lives. Our hope is that your love of Greek dancing will stay with you always!
Love,
Mrs. Mandaleris and Mrs. Graham
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
By Sheila Touloupas
Philoptochos would like to thank all its members who volunteered their time before, during, and after this year's Greek Festival.
Our first General Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 9 in the church hall. Refreshments will be served at 6:45pm and the meeting will begin promptly at 7pm. The 2006/07 calendar, budget, and committee chairs will be presented. This is an excellent opportunity to sign up for the committees and projects that interest you.
A Board Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 8, immediately following the Liturgy.
Please remember to donate non-perishable food items to our food bank.
Also, if you would like to host the coffee hour or donate flowers for the altar, a sign-up sheet is available in the church hall.
CHURCH SOCIAL
Mark your calendars for an evening of fine food and fellowship!!
Saturday, October 14th at 6:00 p.m.
We will meet at Austin's Restaurant (3011 High Point Road).
For questions, please contact Presbytera Elena (638-4105)
