EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Happy New Year!!

Parish Council, Parish Council Officers Elected

On Sunday, December 16, parishioners elected eight members of the Parish Council, to a two-year term: Thomas Nuris, with 108 (out of 147) votes; Michael Bagatelos, with 104 votes; James P. Dariotes, with 99 votes; Matthew Boosalis, with 86 votes; Justin Kyriacou, with 86 votes; Nikolas Stathopoulos, with 84 votes; Gus Vouchilas, with 79 votes; and Dina Koutoulas, with 76 votes. (Not elected were Chrisula Asimos, with 71 votes, Nick Kontonis, with 61 votes, Brett Williamson, with 34 votes, and Nicholas Svetcoff, with 30 votes).

Following ratification by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony, the newly elected members present were administered the oath of office and together with the seven members elected to a two-year term in 2000 (George Ambus, Patricia Aleck, Michael Misthos, Nick Rally, John Sooklaris, Denise Asimos Yeilding, and James D. Vorrises), elected officers for 2002. The Parish Council officers for 2002 are: James P. Dariotes, President; James D. Vorrises, Vice-President; Dina Koutoulas, Secretary; Nick Rally, Treasurer; and Michael Misthos, Assistant Treasurer. Gus Vouchilas was named Stewardship Committee Chairman for 2002.

Meanwhile, Chrisula Asimos will continue to chair the Outreach/Health Referral Committee; Nick Kontonis will serve on the Board of Auditors; Brett Williamson will teach the What Does the Church Say About...? course; and Nicholas Svetcoff will continue to represent the Cathedral on insurance matters. Congratulations and thanks to all these men and women who generously give of their time, talents, and resources to our Annunciation Cathedral.

STEWARDSHIP 2002: OUR CHURCH...A WISE INVESTMENT

We have always said: Our Church...A Wise Investment. And you, our parishioners, have responded generously. You sense the importance of the church, especially in these times, and our need to support it. Consequently, the Cathedral has ended the 2001 year slightly in the black and began the 2002 Stewardship Campaign on Epiphany Sunday, January 6, with great enthusiasm and promise.

Gus Vouchilas, our new Stewardship Committee Chairman, was on hand to explain Stewardship to new members and to receive 2002 Stwewardship Pledge Cards from renewing members.

The Committee will continue to staff the Stewardship Booth for the next few Sundays both to receive your 2002 Stwewardship Pledges and to answer any questions. Those who were unable to make their 2002 Stewardship Pledge on January 6 will receive their pledge cards in the mail. Please complete and return as soon as possible.

THEA HALO to Visit Annunciation On February 3rd, Speak On Her Book, NOT EVEN MY NAME

On Sunday, February 3rd, the first Sunday of the month, we will have our usual first-Sunday-of-the-month-Brunch. During the brunch we will welcome and hear from our speaker, Thea Halo, author of Not Even My Name, which was hailed by the New York Times as “a story of personal strength and the great triumph of mere survival.” It is a story of Thea’s mother, and the Pontian Greeks, who were expatriated at the beginning of the twentieth century. “In telling her mother’s epic story of survival and ultimate triumph in America,” wites Peter Balakian, author of Black Dog of Fate, Thea Halo has written an important book about a largely unknown history: the genocide of the Pontic Greeks at the hands of the Turkish government in the years following World War I. Halo’s deeply moving portrait of her mother reverberates with large moral issues that affect us all.

Thea Halo is a writer and painter who has won awards for her poetry and essays and has exhibited her paintings in galleries in New York City and e lsewhere. She lives in New York City. Her talk on February 3rd is open to everyone, and is free of charge. The only nominal donation is the optional brunch. Everyone is welcome.

FR. GREGORY TO LEAD BIBLE STUDY

On Epiphany Sunday, January 6, Father Gregory Ofiesh announced his willingness to lead an adult Bible Study. We welcome Father Gregory’s generosity and look forward to benefitting from his knowledge of the Scriptures and his many years as an Orthodox priest. Father Gregory is willing to teach the course either at the Cathedral or at his home in Millbrae. And, so, we would like to hear from you.

During the next two weeks, please tell him or Father Stephen of your preference. The place, day and time of this Bible Study will be announced in the next issue of the Herald as well as in the church bulletin.

DECEMBER 16 LUNCHEON OF LOVE RAISES $5000 FOR MONASTERY

The Annunciation Cathedral, through the efforts of the Sunday Bible Study, hosted a luncheon on December 16, which raised $5000 (toward our pledge of $25,000) for the completion of the nuns’ living quarters at the Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving Spring. More importantly, we had the opportunity to hear Abbess Markella speak to us about the role and importance of monasticism in the Orthodox Church, and to learn about the central role of prayer in the life of all Orthodox Christians.

Our special thanks for the success of this luncheon go to Marina Taylor and to the members of the Sunday Bible Study, which prepared and served the luncheon, at their own expense. May God bless them for their efforts and for their Christian example.

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH SAY ABOUT...?

What does the Church say about...? Ever wonder what the Church has to say about stem-cell research? Technological advances in reproduction? Cloning? Sexuality? Fighting in wars? And on, and on..... Most of us wonder what the correct answers are to the moral and ethical issues, current events, and other seemingly ambivalent choices each of us is confronted with on a daily basis. As Orthodox Christians we should turn to the Church for the answers. The Church has many resources, including her two thousand years of Tradition, the Holy Scriptures, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit, on which to draw to help her children to find the answers to their questions, problems, dilemmas, and issues.

Beginning this February, specifically, February 6 and continuing through April 17, over a total of eleven sessions, we'll explore this subject on Wednesday evenings, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us in what promises to be a lively spiritual and intellectual pursuit.

For more information, please contact Brett Williamson or the Church Office at 415 864-8000.

TASTE OF THE TOWN BENEFIT TO BE HELD MARCH 3RD

The Cathedral will be the site of the 4th annual Taste of the Town, sponsored by the Diocese Philoptochos Board and its Chapters in honor of His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony’s 67th Birthday. The event will take place on Sunday evening, March 3rd, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature a seven course dining extravaganza, a silent auction, a balloon raffle, and dancing to the music of Kymata. Valet Parking is available. The proceeds will benefit the Philoptochos Library at the Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving Spring.

Those who have attended previous Taste of the Town events know how much hard work goes into making this a wonderful and memorable extravaganza. You won’t want to miss this one either. You may make reservations by calling Mrs. John Cladis, Reservations Chairman. See you at Taste of the Town.

ANNUNCIATION PHILOPTOCHOS ANGEL TREE PROJECT

Nan Cusulos, our Angel Tree Project coordinator, writes:

“The Annunciation Philopto-chos Angel Tree Project was once again a huge success. This year we sponsored a place called City Crossroads Ministry. It is a non profit public benefit corporatio;n with a ministry to multi-ethnic youth and low-income families who live in the area. It is located in the inner city of San Francisco, South of Market, on 6th Street, where overcrowded housing, alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness, gangs and crimes are an everyday problem.

Through various programs, City Crossroads seeks to meet the real physical, social and spiritual needs of the City’s neglected children. Their ages run from 4 to 16 years of age. It is a haven for them to have a place to go after school, away from the dangerous streets. There, they have recretional activities, a quiet area to do their home work, Bible studies, fellowship with one another and a warm meal. On any afternoon of the week, City Crossroads is filled with children looking for love. It is run by a young pastor and his wife, who have their own church, but find time to open their hearts and give of themselves to this worthwhile ministry.

This is our fourth year into the Philoptochos Angel Tree Project. Once again, we wish to thank all the parishioners of the Annunciation Cathedral, who participated, for their generous and enthusiastic response. All the tags were taken off the tree within two Sundays and returned promptly, with beautifully wrapped gifts. As a result, over 50 gifts were taken to the Crossroads. Donations exceeded well over $300 and we are going to buy much-needed kitchen supplies for their kitchen. Tom Papageorge generously donated a microwave oven and that gesture of kindness is truly appreciated by all. Thank you, Tom.

I also want to thank Kathy Dermitzakis and Pat Destein for their help in making the project a success. And thank you again, parishioners. For your participation in our Annual Angel Tree Project and showing to the children that we are people who care.

Thanks to all from Nan

HELLENIC AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY TO HOLD ARTOCLASIA, HONOR HIS EMINENCE, METROPOLITAN ANTHONY

The Hellenic American Professional Society of California (HAPS) will honor His Eminence, Metropolitan Anthony and Anna Konstantopoulos with the prestigious Axion Award at its annual Greek Letters Day Celebration, Sunday, February 10, at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, San Francisco. The celebration luncheon will follow the Liturgy and Artoclasia in honor of scholars. Three outstanding students will each receive $750 scholarships. The Liturgy starts at 10:30 a.m. For reservations for the luncheon, please call Patricia Aleck, Reservations Chairman. The luncheon is $35 per person.

2002: THE ARCHDIOCESE BIENNIAL CLERGY-LAITY

As previously announced in the Herald, the Diocese of San Francisco will host the 2002 Clergy-Laity Congress in Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, June 30-July 4. Since this will officially be the first Clergy-Laity Congress of the new millennium, His Eminence Metropoli- tan Anthony states, “we will attempt to set the tone for future Congresses in the 21st century. Our hope is to create a new paradigm for the Clergy-Laity Congress, seeking to recapture something of the freshness and vitality of earlier Congresses, while at the same time remaining faithful to the innovative and pioneering spirit which has always characterized the western frontier of this great nation.

The theme selected for the 2002 Clergy-Laity Congress is “Offering our Orthodox Faith to Contemporary America.” His Eminence urges all of us to strive towards full participation in this Congress, and invites us to visit the official Clergy-Laity website.

Annunciation Cathedral delegates to the Congress will be elected at our spring, 2002 Parish Assembly.

NEXT ORTHODOX MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Need a gift for your spouse for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthday or anniversary? Treat your marriage to an Orthodox Marriage Encounter Weekend. This special Weekend is February 1, 2 and 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Milpitas. An OME Weekend is designed to make a good marriage better. A Weekend consists of short presentations given by an Orthodox clergy and lay presenting team. Time to discuss the information is then scheduled for the privacy of your room. If you wish further information, please contact Fr. Jim and Presbytera Pappas at 559 454-1243 or Tim and Krisi Gong at tandkgong@prodigy.net. For registration information, call Bud and Marcia Taylor at 559 439-8605.

CRAB FEED 2002: AN ENDURING TRADITION

The Cathedral’s 2002 Crab Feed, our 20th, always a sell-out event, will take place on Friday, January 25. No-host refreshments will be served, beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner will follow, at 7:30 p.m. Co-chairs for the event are Charlotte Derdevanis and Teia Nuris. The admission is $35. Because of space limitations and the constraints of on-site parking, the Crab Feed is limited to 600, on a first-come, first served basis. Valet parking is be available.

As of this printing, the event is sold out - however, cancellations do occur, so please call Anna Dricos or Ackie Argyres to place your name on a reserve list. The event is sponsored by the Cathedral Philoptochos and checks should be made payable to: Annunciation Philoptochos. For additional information, please call the Cathedral office at 415 864-8000.

SACRAMENTS AND SERVICES AT THE CATHEDRAL

MARRIAGE

The marriage of Stephen Christopher Kyriacou and Irene Magdalene Fousekis was blessed on December 29. Their sponsors were Tom Papageorge and Annamarie Balian.

Na mas zisoun!

FUNERALS

• Emil P. Kazavis, who died November 29, was buried on December 5. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Kazavis.
• Georgia Karas, who died December 27, was buried on January 3. She is survived by seven sons and daughters.
• Harry J. Raffios, who died on January 1, was buried on January 4. He is survived by friends, John and Helen Panomitros. Aionia auton i mnimi!

January/February 2002 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.