WHO WILL ROLL THE STONE AWAY

FROM YOUR HEART?

Fr. Tom's Corner Join us:

Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church

I n s i d e :

M A Y - J U N E 2 0 1 7 N E W S L E T T E R

MAY AND JUNE CALENDARS

Holy Apostles'FESTIVAL OF

TABLES SATURDAY, JUNE

3RD

CHRIST IS RISEN!!

Mary Magdalene ran with her companions to Jesus’

tomb to complete the anointing of the body of their dear

and beloved friend Jesus but didn’t know who was going

to roll the stone away from that cave. They hesitated

knowing there was a huge stone that blocked the

entrance to the tomb. “Who will roll away the stone for

us from the door of the tomb?”

So often we hesitate not knowing who or how the huge

stones that block our hearts will be rolled away. We

must learn to want our stones rolled so our heart can be

exposed! Yes, ROLLING STONES is the mission… No,

I’m not talking about the rock-and-roll band. I’m not

referring to boulders falling down the mountainside. I

am not even talking about skipping stones.

This month, as we experience Pascha, we embrace the

extraordinary miracle of our loving Lord Jesus Christ’s

resurrection. He wants to ROLL AWAY THE STONES

from the cave/tomb of our hearts. This Paschal season

Christ wants to transform our lives, enlighten our hearts

so that we can love more deeply and share in the joy of

His resurrection!

T H I S M O N T H , A S W E E X P E R I E N C E P A S C H A , W E E M B R A C E T H E E X T R A O R D I N A R Y M I R A C L E O F O U R L O V I N G L O R D J E S U S C H R I S T ’ S R E S U R R E C T I O N .

Fr. Tom's Corner

WHO WILL ROLL THE STONE AWAY FROM YOUR HEART?

Who ‘will’ roll away the stone? They didn’t know the

answer, and yet their destination was the tomb. They

came in faith. They knew in their hearts that God could

be trusted. And when we come in faith, we can hear the

angel declaring truth, proclaiming the announcements of

all announcements: “Do not be afraid. He has risen!”

Don’t be afraid! He has risen! Jesus cannot be stuck in

any tomb or be held hostage by any stone. The gates of

hell have been destroyed and life in His Kingdom has

been open for us. There is nothing that can keep His

love, grace, compassion and power from His faithful.

“For I am convinced,” says St. Paul, “that neither death

nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present

nor the future, nor any powers neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate

us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

T H E C H U R C H I S N O T J U S T A B R I C K B U I L D I N G . T H E C H U R C H O F G O D I S L I V I N G P E O P L E . E V E R Y B A P T I Z E D O R T H O D O X C H R I S T I A N I S A C H U R C H - A W A L K I N G C H U R C H .

Dont be afraid! Not even hell or Satan, or sickness or

despair, or cancer, or even death can keep us from His

light and life. He loves us so much that He travelled into

the depths of hell to conquer death, to resurrect and

restore His people! He has trampled death upon death

bestowing life on those in the tombs. Have faith that he

wants to turn every stone that has hardened our heart.

He wants to breath life into the stagnant areas of our

path. He wants to illuminate the eyes of our heart so we

can truly comprehend the message of His gospel.

Don’t be afraid! This Pascha, Jesus has come to invite

us to have the courage to roll the stone away from our

cold and hardened hearts, to roll the stone away from

anything that keeps us from being vessels of love. You

see, there is no tomb powerful enough to keep Christ

buried. The Church is not just a brick building. The

Church of God is living people. Every baptized Orthodox

Christian is a church - a walking church.

Don’t be afraid, the stone of doubt and anxiety, fear,

shame and resentment need to be opened so the power,

gift of God’s grace and love can become triumphant.

When the stone is rolled away and our hearts are open

to receive Christ, our senses will be liberated from any

passions that can destroy us. We will allow the eye to

be averted from every evil sight and the ear becomes

deaf and filters idle and useless talk.

So roll the stone away from the tomb and let Christ’s

light engulf our minds so we can allow Jesus to

enlighten any indifference, transform any sin, transfigure

any fear, doubt, or worldly care. Come and see the

power He brings! The Joy! The forgiveness! The peace!

The love!

Like Archbishop Spyridon said in his encyclical in 1999,

when the stone is rolled away we find that “it is in the

empty tomb, where our fears are dissipated, our doubts

are vanquished, our faith is strengthened, and our joy is

fulfilled. Forgiven by Jesus, we find the power to forgive.

Loved by Christ, we find power to love.

For when the stone has been rolled away from our

hearts, then we find the proof of Christ’s Resurrection, in

the life He lives in us. "The life I now live in the body, I

live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave

himself for me". Galatians 2:20!

"Christ is risen from the dead, by death destroying

death; and to those in the tombs bestowing life!"

Truly the Lord is Risen!

+fr. tom "Do you not know," asks St. Paul, "that your body is a

temple of the Holy Spirit?" Our body is a Temple, a

Church, in which God first came to abide when we were

baptized and comes now to abide when we receive His

precious body and blood in Holy Communion.

Christ cannot be imprisoned in a brick building with a

dome and a cross on top of it. You and I are the Church

- wherever we go. Roll away the stone and let Him be

experienced in our home, our business, our recreation,

our family.

GET INVOLVED!

Looking for a volunteer opportunity?

Hopelink runs a food bank a the new Ronald Commons (17839 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133) and they're looking for small groups of volunteers to help with things like sorting food and getting things ready for the clients.

There is an opportunity for 2-6 people to help out WEEKLY on Monday's from 1-4pm. We have three people who have already started volunteering but Hopelink could use some morepeople.

We can also work something out so that it's every other week if that works better for people.

If you're interested in doing this please email the church office ASAP. You will have to fill out a volunteer app (background check) and attend an orientation.

For more info please contact Linda Smith at holyapostles@comcast.net

VOLUNTEER AT THE HOPELINK FOOD BANK! 

Our men's group meets every other Monday from 7:30pm-9:00pm in the Holy Apostles Teen Room.

We are reading and discussing "Everywhere Present: Christianity in a One-Storey Universe" by Stephen Freeman. There should still be a couple copies at the church bookstore, otherwise you can find it on Amazon.Feel free to come join in the discussion whether you've had a chance to start the book or not.

Contact Scott Ross at scott.ross@mytwu.ca if you have any questions.

“Secularism is the compartmentalization of God and religion, and everything else, into autonomous and unrelated parts of our lives. Secularism does not deny that God exists, but rather states that He hasHis place and does not necessarily affect other areas of our lives. But soon that compartmentalization leads to an exclusion of God altogether, as we create a world in which we live by our own reasonings. Thus is born a kind of Christian atheism, where we operate as if God were absent, perhaps even nonexistent. This kind of functional atheism then degrades into faithlessness."

"The Christian’s task is to integrate our lives and our consciousness by the awareness of God, to overcome the compartmentalization dictated by our culture, and to sanctify all creation by the remembrance of God, awareness of His Presence. In truth, there is nothing that is not permeated by God, and there is nowhere we can flee from the Presence”

From: Fr Stephen Freeman. “Everywhere Present.

MEN'S GROUP UPDATE

WISDOM FROM THE MOTHERS

“No amount of thought will ever result in any greater formulation than the three words, ‘Love one another,’ so long

as it is love to the end and without exceptions.”

 -Mother Maria Skobtsova

If one can live in the world and yet not mix with it – just as the oil and water do not mix in the oil-lamp – then he can

live in God. He is in this world but not of this world.

- Mother Gavrilia

"At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have

made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the

prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked."  

- Mother Maria Skobtsova

Any place may become a place of Resurrection, if the Humility of Christ becomes the way of our life.

- Mother Gavrilia

ARE YOU IN AN APOSTLE GROUP? HELP PROVIDE FOOD FOR COFFEE HOUR!

If you have joined us for coffee

hour then you have already

enjoyed the wonderful food

provided by our Apostle Group

Hospitality Ministry Program. Each

Sunday, on a rotating basis, our

Apostle Groups host our coffee

hour and provide food and

refreshments.

All Holy Apostles members and

visitors are encouraged to help.

People are assigned to groups

based on where they live. This is a

great way to meet people who live

near you and to volunteer to be a

part of this ministry of hospitality.

GET TO KNOW PEOPLE!

If you are not in an Apostle Group,

Father Tom is encouraging you to

to start today. Many hands make

light work and this is a wonderful

way to offer your gifts to our

church.

contact Judy Bethea at judy.bethea@comcast. net or 425 772-3077 for more information.

APOSTLE GROUP SCHEDULE

May 7 St. Peter May 14 Mother's Day Brunch - Men of the Parish May 21 St. Philip May 28 St. Bartholomew

June 4 St. James & St. Thaddaeus

June 11 St. John

June 18 Father's Day Brunch - Women of the Parish

STEWARDSHIP

Investing our resources for the sake of the kingdom is risky. It takes courage. As we sow the seeds of our

time, talent, and treasure, some will fall on deaf ears. Others will fall on ears which are somewhat receptive.

And our resources will be sown in places were some will accept them and use them and benefit from them

until the worldly attitudes of society creep up around them. We will be disappointed, frustrated, even

ridiculed at times.

But thanks to God, sometimes our resources will be accepted by deep, receptive, productive people. Some

will receive our investment of time, talent, and treasure and happily accept them and use them and benefit

from them- and produce fruit for the kingdom because of our investments. And because of our willingness to

seek out the best investments of our resources, the kingdom of God will have an unbelievable harvest.

How would you like to get a 30, 60, or 100 fold return on the seed you plant in your garden in the spring?

Better yet, how would you like to get a 30, 60, or 100 fold return on the investment you put in the bank? Yes

that's a 3000, 6000, or 10,000 percent interest rate! It's not possible to get such interest rates at the bank.

But it is possible when it comes to the kingdom of God! Think about how God is calling you to sow seeds for

the kingdom. Are you sowing with an attitude of defeatism or with resilience? Are you sowing haphazardly

or with purpose?

FEARLESS SOWING

by Marcia Shetler

PRAYER LISTLaurie Accito Stevie Adamek Alison Angelia Angeliki Sidonia Anthony Helen Anton Pres. Maria Armatas Artemis Midge Conner Stephen Auer Gene Auer Aaron Barlas Jamie Baudin Elaine Barlas Margaret Baumgartel Ben Tom Belesiotis Bouzinekis Family Jeanne Boss The family of Parker Brown Linda Busse Carol Carina Katelyn Carlsen Chad Chris Chriest Christina and Tedor Christina Christine Dana Darla David Barbara Deligan Chaleen DeStephano Tammie Duskin Costa Eugenia Renee Feria Efthalia Geanous Evangelia Gabriella Gementzopoulou Family Merrill Gilchrist Geoffrey Gilmore Janell Gilmore Anthony Giovannetti Mark Giovannetti Alan Herr Stephanie & Athena Hineline Howard Fr. Isidore Jaclyn Jessica Judy Michael Karsiotis Kelly Candace Kerwin Kimberly Judy Knittle

O Holy Father, heavenly Physician

of our souls and bodies, who has

sent Your Only-begotten Son

our Lord Jesus Christ to heal all our ailments and deliver us from

death: please visit and heal Your

servant (Name), granting him/her release from pain and restoration to health and vigor, that she/he may

give thanks to You and bless Your Holy

Name, of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now

and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Kurt Kristen Betty Kouldoukis Beau LarsonLaura LaurieAndrew and Ciara Leckie Blair Leckie Georgia Leckie Fotini Leviton Sophia Lott Martha Mason Michelle Michael Michaila Marie Moffitt Mary Moffitt Hayley and Ashley Montgomery Jim and June Morrison John Mastor Jr. Natalia Natasha Nathan Nia Nikiphora Oliver Paul Alexandra Stephanie Pappas George Paris Nancy Paris Christy Pessemier Alana Petrie Sarah Powell Philip & Barbara Patricia Rey Rachael RJ Ronald Rose Sarah Sasha Marsha Sherwood Kurt and Kathy Simons Navaeh Smith Greg Spyridis Stephanie Stephen Karen Stevenson Vasili Stumpus Sallie Squires Tanya Teodor Teresa Terry Olson Ed Talerico Joyce Talerico Joseph Taylor Gus Themelis

Tina Trae Tinglestadt Michael Tsagalakis Marianna Turko Steve Voss & family Sarah Webb Johnnie Whitby Yvonne

For many who struggle with addictions of any sort, the voice of

shame most certainly will dominate their narrative. Shame for

many has been the uninvited guest that has taken over life! We

have seen how shame makes people feel they are wrong, bad,

or simply unworthy of love.

According to Brene Brown, shame is basically the fear of being

unlovable—it’s the total opposite of owning our story and feeling

worthy of being God’s beloved child. In fact, the definition of

shame that she developed from her research is that shame is

“the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we

are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.”

I’ve found that when shame shows up in a person’s life, it keeps

them from facing reality and disconnects the mind and heart.

The dominant silent conversation in one’s mind when shame

shows up is, “I’m not good enough”, I am inherently bad or

flawed, wrong, stupid, unworthy, unfaithful…” This uninvited

guest creates negative thought after judgmental thought in one’s

mind chasing one another about in ways that demean and

disrespect the person.

At the center of every addiction is the voice of shame that

corrodes the part of us that believes we can change and do

better. Shame is like the bad cholesterol that plugs up the

arteries restricting blood flow limiting the supply of oxygen.

Shame will slowly kill a person’s heart by restricting the flow of

love and gratitude!

When something shaming happens and we keep it locked up, it

is like adding that cholesterol to the arteries of our soul! It

festers and grows. It consumes us. Shame wants to keep our

experiences and stories we are not proud of silent! Like I’ve

said, the only thing that grows in darkness, besides mushrooms,

are secrets! And only when we offer our secrets to Christ, place

our secrets in the light, and offer those stories to one another,

can we begin the road to healing.

I’ve learned this lesson in the Give Back Group that we need to

share our experience with truth and honesty no matter how

embarrassing and awful the story might be. Shame happens

between people, and it heals between people.

The Give Back Group is a support group for people and family members struggling with any type of addiction; food, drug, porn, alcohol, depression, anxiety, anger.

The group meets every other Thursday at 7pm.

THOUGHTS FROM THE GIVE BACK GROUP

SHAME:   THE UNINVITED GUEST

The Give Back Group continues to do its best to cultivate a safe

place where embarrassing, shameful stories can be offered in a

loving, non-judgmental, Christ centered environment so God

can meet us in our pain and give us clarity to walk out of the

darkness and into the light of truth and healing!

My prayer is that we find someone who has earned the right to

hear our story, and to tell it with boldness. Shame loses power

when it is exposed, spoken of, and brought into the light. As we

offer the story of shame to God and others, the power and grip it

has on deceiving us becomes lessened and we can look for new

solutions to these old habits that allow for a new way of living!

St. Paul tells us that the peace of Christ is to rule our heart, not

fear, shame, embarrassment or self doubt. Therefore as God’s

beloved let us cloth ourselves with compassion, kindness,

humility gentleness and patience. And may we learn to bear

each other’s burdens and to focus on the love of God that will

certainly bind us all in perfect unity!

It’s time to kick out the uninvited guest and to welcome the

humble guest who patiently is knocking on our door. Our Lord

Jesus Christ wants to be welcomed as your guest so he may sit

at the seat of your heart guiding you to truth, love and healing!

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my

voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that

person, and they with me.

Welcome the Guest of life into your heart!

+fr. tom

7:30PM - 9:00PM 5:30PM - 7:00PM

12PM

5:30PM - 7:00PM

5:30PM - 7:00PM 9:00AM - 12:00PM

12PM

5:30PM - 7:00PM

7PM

5:30PM - 7:00PM

Holy Apostles Calendar

May 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1·

Mens Group at Holy Apostles

2 3·

EPIC Youth

4 5 6

7· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

8 9 10·

EPIC Youth

11 12 13

14· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

15 16 17·

EPIC Youth

18 19 20·

Volunteer Job Fair

21· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

22 23 24·

EPIC Youth

25· 8am Orthros

9am Divine LiturgyAscension

· Give Back GroupAddiction Support Group ~ this group is for people struggling with addictions and their families. We meet every other week for prayer and support.

26 27

28· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

29 30 31·

EPIC Youth

Reminder exists

11:30AM - 1:30PM

12PM

5:30PM - 7:00PM 7PM

10:00AM

6:30PM - 9:00PM

5:30PM - 7:00PM

12PM

7PM

6PM

Holy Apostles Calendar

June 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3· 8am Orthros

9am Divine LiturgySaturday of Souls

·Festival of Tables

4· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

5 6 7·

EPIC Youth

8· Give

Back GroupAddiction Support Group ~ this group is for people struggling with addictions and their families. We meet every other week for prayer and support.

9 10· Hall Reserved

11· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

12 13·

WOCA Meeting

·Prison Fellowship Meeting

14·

EPIC Youth

15 16 17

18· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

· HAK'ers Knitting Group

19 20 21 22· Give

Back GroupAddiction Support Group ~ this group is for people struggling with addictions and their families. We meet every other week for prayer and support.

23 24

25· 8am-Orthros

9am-Divine Liturgy

26 27 28 29· Vespers

for Holy Apostles

30· 8am Orthros

9am Divine Liturgy Holy ApostlesFeast Day

Followed by a Luncheon

Reminder exists

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Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church 19421 Ashworth Avenue North

Shoreline, WA  98133

“Let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God”