The Weekly Messenger –September 21, 2014
St. John Chrysostom Albanian Orthodox Church
237 North 17
th
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Father Brooks Ledford Office: 215-563-0979
Website:
http://www.stjohnsphila.org
Email address:
info@stjohnsphila.org
Epistle: St. Paul’s First Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20
Gospel: Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
Message from Father Brooks: On the Sunday after the Feast of the Elevation of the
Cross, we hear - in the Gospel of Mark - about the Kingdom of God (in Greek: basileia
tou theou). Jesus, it could be said, ushered this in by his defeat of that cross and his
resurrection. So, too, in Christ, we have defeated that which was a symbol of torture and
death, and risen above it. We show this power - the power of Christ - through our love
and compassion for others. Let us always keep that at the forefront of our Christian
lives. Peace to all!
Commemorations for the Living: Archbishop Nikon, Father Stephen Siniari, Proto
Deacon Michael Sochka, Reader David Biando, Elizabeth Melnik, Philip Kosta,
Katherine Halkedis, Rosemary Notskas, Kim Burdumy, Larry Kosta, Leslie Sochka,
Andigoni Steffa, Mary Croke, Paula Kosta, Candace Pepenelli, Kristin Snow, Dhimiter
Ndrecka, Francesca Giansante, Flossie Vissar, Pandeli, Jorgaq, Lefteri, and all of the
men and women serving in Armed Forces.
Commemorations for the Departed: Susan Pekarski, William Koutras, Alex Koutras,
Alex Boyce Koutras, Father Deacon Stephen
Stefani and those servicemen who have fallen
asleep in the Lord in the service of their Country.
Coffee Hour Sponsors: Thank you very much!
September 21
st
Jennifer Hunter (in memory of Susan Pekarski)
September 28
th
Margarita & Vangjel Haxhistasa
October 5
th
Greta & Aaron Moy
October 12
th
Eduard & Elena Papa
October 19
th
Sunday school
Open dates: Dec. 14
th
, Dec 28
th
Reader Schedule: 21
st
Mark Klus, 28
th
Adam Coraluzzi, October 5
th
Edward Kokalari,
12
th
David Biando, 19
th
Michelle Dardaris 26
th
Michelle Dardaris
Monthly giving for September: Ream
of white paper
An Invitation from our Sister Parish, Ss.Peter & Paul Albanian Orthodox Church:
We wanted to personally extend an invitation to all of St. John’s parishioners to attend
the Banquet for the Assembly on Friday, September 26th at Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Bensalem. It will start at 6PM. If anyone is interested please contact Jim Schaeffer
at
jschaeffer@myinvestorsbank.com
prior to Monday, September 22nd. Cost is $40 per
person.
We would also like to extend a personal invitation to the parishioners of St. John’s to
attend the Hierarchal Liturgy on September 27th. It will start at 9AM sharp. The Liturgy
will be followed by Autumnal Brunch upstairs. All welcome to attend.
It would be terrific if our parishioners attend the dinner Friday night and show our
support by attending the Hierarchal Liturgy Saturday morning. Hope to see you!
Parishioner News: Elaine Quirias, the person who donated the needlepoint Lord’s
Prayer in Albanian, hanging in the side vestibule, is in need of yarn. Elaine works all day
on crafts and still makes quilts on her sewing machine. The variety of things she makes is
amazing! She does not get out and her hearing prohibits her from really watching
television. Any kind of yarn will work. She is so resourceful and creative - she will make
it into something special. If you have friends who knit, maybe they have extra that they
can share. If you have cotton fabric scraps appropriate for quilting, please donate them.
Please bring these items to church and we will get them to Elaine
.
Saturday, 27 September, baptism Aden, son of Sonja Ponoci and Neil Zebib.
Saturday, 11 October, wedding Ali Shepherd & Richard Brown
Saturday, 18 October, baptism Marisa, daughter of Elena & Eduard Papa
Saturday, 25 October, baptism Elisabeth Suzana, daughter of Fiori & Ilirjan Papa
Congratulations to Eda & Julian Prifti on the birth of their daughter, Gianna, born
Sept 11
th
. Gianna is the little sister of Christian Kosova and the granddaughter of Janaq
& Liljana Petuqi.
Upcoming Events:
Sept. 21
st
Memorial Susanne Pekarski 10 years
Memorial William & Alex Koutras and Alex Boyce Koutras
Sept 23
rd
Charity & Benevolence Committee Meeting 7:00 pm
Sept 26 Albanian Archdiocese Assembly Ss Peter & Paul Albanian Orthodox Church
Sept 27
th
9am Hierarchal Divine Liturgy with His Eminence, Archbishop NIKON and
Archdiocesan Clergy-Ss. Peter & Paul Albanian Orthodox
Church 9230 Old Bustleton Ave
Oct. 12
th
, Semi Annual Parish meeting following the Divine Liturgy
Oct. 15
th
(Wed.) Education series begins 6:30 pm
Nov. 29
th
Albanian Flag Day Dance 7pm – 11pm Contact Nilda Brahollari or Fiori Papa