Τα Νέα/The News 2017holytrinityindy.org/assets/files/philoptochos/newsletter/...Obama wrote,...
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Τα Νέα/The News
2017
Evangelistria Chapter Ladies Philoptochos Society
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Indianapolis, Indiana
FEBRUARY 5
SUPER BOWL
FEBRUARY 12
MISSIONS SUNDAY BREAKFAST
FEBRUARY 14
VALENTINE’S DAY
FEBRUARY 18
PHILOPTOCHOS SOUP KITCHEN
FEBRUARY 21
BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 25
GRECIAN CARNIVALE
FEBRUARY 27
GREAT LENT BEGINS
MARCH 5
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
MARCH 8
PHILOPTOCHOS LENTEN MEAL
Philoptochos Board
President Diana Dine
Vice President Lea Dunbar
2nd Vice President (Membership) Cheryl Andros
Recording Secretary Wendy Mudis
Corresponding Secretary Yiota Moe
Treasurer Melinda Emmanoelides
Assistant Treasurer Irene Sarris
Nancy Ajango, Renee Brochhagen, Theone Dickos, Sunday Johnson, Becky Kapsalis, Dawn Nicholos, Tracy Pappas, Mina Potamousis, Sherry Reckas, Vickie Sofianopoulos, Sondra Vitsas, Cindy Woodruff
Saturday
February 25
Conner Prairie
13400 Allisonville Road Fishers, IN
Cocktails at 6pm, dinner at 7pm
followed by dancing with the
Hellenic 5 Band
$50 Adults
$25 Kids (12 and under)
Food Stations Kids activities
Photo Booth Raffle
Silent Auction
Proceeds to benefit Philoptochos community charities, including Apostoli and Gleaner’s Food Bank. Reservation and sponsorship forms available in the Founders' Walk following the Divine Services and also available online
at www.holytrinityindy.org. Sponsorship deadline, February 12 - Reservation deadline, February 19.
PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUMES/MASKS
(Encouraged but not required)
We are always in need of flip-top cans of soup
(Chicken Noodle preferred), along with paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates and granola bars
for use at our Soup Kitchen. Please help us feed the
hungry by putting items in the blue Philoptochos bin. The soup is given to the patrons of the Soup Kitchen
as a takeout item.
Photos of Mina Potamousis, one of our Holy Trinity Philoptochos board members, helping Apostoli to pass out food and toiletry kits (from IOCC in Boston) and helping with daily needs around the refugee camps in Chios, Greece, January 2016
Since 2012, IOCC, in cooperation with Apostoli, the humanitarian arm of the Church of Greece, the Greek national ministries, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has responded to the country’s economic crisis with more than $23 million in medical support, heating fuel, food, agriculture development, and job-assistance programs to Greece.
Groundhog Day is February 2nd. This holiday isn't just about shadows and winter weather predictions, as most of us believe. This observance, also known as Candlemas, goes way back in history to Biblical times.
The Law of Moses stated that parents were obligated to bring their first born child to the Church and make an offering to God on his/her behalf. This took place (usually) after the baby was 40 days old. The Virgin Mary (Theotokos) and Joseph presented Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem following his 40-day period of purification after He was born. So, Jesus was born on December 25, add 40 days and you get February 2nd!
When Jesus was presented, an old, devout Jew named Simeon, held the baby in his arms and said that He would be, "A light to lighten the Gentiles." (Luke 2:32) This is how February 2nd became known as Candlemas (or Candelaria); and, since the 11th Century, with the blessing of candles.
It is called the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple in our Orthodox Church. It's called the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Western Church. Both celebrations honor the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, which our Church still practices when the mother brings her newborn to Holy Trinity Church.
Traditionally, candles and lamps are a symbol of rejoicing. Candlemas in the Middle Ages was the day in which the Church blessed candles for the entire year. (Remember, there was no electricity. Candles were necessary for lighting the home in the dark of winter.) During this blessing, a procession of worshippers would hold candles in their hands. It was believed that wherever these candles were then used, they would chase away the devil. The unused candle stubs were saved because they were believed to be good luck charms.
Today, in many Roman Catholic countries, the candles that are blessed on Candlemas are believed to have special powers, often being lighted during storms, illness, christenings, funerals, etc. In Sicily they are brought out when there is an earthquake or when someone is dying.
So what does all this blessing of candles have to do with groundhogs and shadows you ask?
There was a medieval superstition that all hibernating animals (not just the groundhog) came out of their caves and dens on Candlemas to check on the weather. If they could see their shadow, it meant that winter would go on for another six weeks (and they could go back to sleep.) A cloudy day meant that spring was just around the corner.
In England, France and Canada, the farmers used to watch for the stirring of the "Candlemas Bear" as a sign that springtime was coming. In Ireland, it was the hedgehog. In Germany, it was the badger. The return of hibernating animals meant nature was giving them a sign. A change in seasons was being announced! And, anyone whose livelihood or survival depended on the changing of seasons paid very close attention to all signs.
The early German settlers, known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought this custom to the United States. They chose the groundhog as their hibernating animal to watch as a sign of spring. Another name for the groundhog is woodchuck. It's a member of the squirrel family. Groundhogs that live in the wild eat succulent green plants, such as dandelion, clover, and grasses. Those that are pampered, like Punxsutanwney Phil, eat goodies like dog food and ice cream.
So why February 2? No one really knows how that day got chosen as the one for weather predictions.
But, good weather meant a prolonged winter and a cloudy day meant an early spring. The tradition rooted in America and gave rise to the legend of Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog in Pennsylvania believed to be a century old.
February is American Heart Month
American Heart Month/Wear Red Day President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the first American Heart Month in 1964. Ever since then, the month of February has been dedicated to cardiovascular health. In his declaration to kick off the annual awareness campaign last year, President Obama wrote, “My Administration is committed to leading a new era of medicine - one that delivers the right treatment at the right time - and to ensuring Americans live longer, healthier, more productive lives.” Cardiovascular disease is the nation’s No. 1 killer of both men and women, but steps can be taken to reduce risk and improve outcome. American Heart Association is constantly conducting research and raising awareness to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans.
This February 3, help the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women celebrate American Heart Month and raise heart disease awareness by participating in National Wear Red Day. Every 80 seconds, one woman is killed by heart disease and stroke. That’s 1 in 3 deaths among women each year. These statistics can be shocking, but building awareness is one of the best ways to fight this horrible disease. Did you know that 80% of these deaths can be prevented with education and action? By wearing red and using #GoRedWearRed you are helping raise women’s awareness and support education on cardiovascular health.
You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk:
Nearly 90% of women have made at least one healthy behavior change. Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke. Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. More than one-third of women have lost weight. More than 50% of women have increased their exercise. 6 out of 10 women have changed their diets. More than 40% of women have checked their cholesterol levels. Today, nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day. Death in women has decreased by more than 30 percent over the past 10 years. But despite our progress, more work is crucial. 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke each year. But what’s more powerful? Millions of mothers, sisters, daughters and friends making a change!
For National Philoptochos news, go to http://www.philoptochos.org
Philoptochos Green Tips
for February
The following are some household tips shared at our January 31 Philoptochos and Green Team dinner:
1. Insulate your hot water heater. 2. Apple apps can help regulate energy use in your house. 3. Eliminate use of plastic water bottles. Drink from the tap. 4. Subscribe to online newspapers and magazines to eliminate paper waste. 5. Add a miser, low energy control to your dryer if it is not energy efficient.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND!! WE LEARNED A LOT!
Prosforo Baking Class
Saturday, February 4 at 10 a.m. A prosforo baking class will be offered to all. If you are new to making Prosforo or would like a refresher course, please join us! Recipes and ingredients will be provided. Any questions or to RSVP, please contact Cindy
Freudenberg at (317) 989-3387, or [email protected]
RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS January 2017
Academy of Saint Basil $2,000
Social Services $ 400
Cancer Fund $ 400
Autism Assistance Fund $ 100
Saint Photios Shrine $ 250
Metropolis Partners in Philanthropy $ 500
Friends of the Metropolis $ 400
Gleaners $ 500
February 5 - Sondra Vitsas,Virginia Linville, Vanessa
Vitsas, Vicki Andrews, Sunday Johnson, Beth Eleftheri, Liberty Pasyanos
February 12- Missions Sunday Breakfast
February 19 - Tracy Pappas, (HELP NEEDED)
February 26 - Nancy Ajango, (HELP NEEDED)
March 5 - Becky Kapsalis, Labrine Lucas ALWAYS A BOARD MEMBER PRESENT TO ASSIST!
Coffee Hour is a time of fellowship and everyone is encouraged to volunteer. We have created an online sign up form to make it even easier. Sign up as a family and enjoy volunteering together. Simply click the link and sign up!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c4aaaaf2fa6ff2-holy.
SignUpGenius will send a confirmation and a reminder email of your volunteer times. Sign up by Tuesday 11:59pm for names to be included in the Koinonia.