MARCH
Dear philoptochos sisters & brothers (!),
I hope everyone is staying safe and warm today as the second spring snow of the season has blanketed the earth with its white and silent beauty. We know that in a few days’ time, it will all melt away and that the warmth of spring awaits us. It’s important to absorb the blessings of each day as they are granted to us, and to feel gratitude for our lives and the wonders that each day brings.
In this Holy Lenten Season, we all draw within ourselves to examine our relationship with Christ, renewing our faith and hope for the world and for the well-being of all we hold dear. It is a gift to be an Orthodox Christian, and a joy to be Greek. Let’s embrace our traditions with the respect they deserve as they serve us so well in our lives. As Father Lou says, Holy Lent is the ‘most wonderful time of the year.’
support for greek patients at children’s hospital
Recently, we’ve had the honor of supporting the family of 7 year old Elefteria as they traveled from Greece for Elefteria’s most current surgery at Children’s Hospital. We are so pleased to report that she is doing extremely well and enjoyed her time here despite the reason for her travels. We appreciate being represented by Dianne Sweeney and Liberty Matzakos, as well as Georgia Christopoulos from St. Catherine’s in assuring for the comfort, stress relief and wellbeing of the family. The bonds formed in these times are deep and lasting. Thank you to all who make it so.
40 Day Blessings
We have also had the pleasure of welcoming many newborns to our parish during their 40 Day Blessings by providing baskets of care to their parents. It is joyous to watch these young families come into our lives and grow in our faith. We ask God to keep them with us and to bless them all of their lives.
LUNCH IN THE PARK
And as always, we continue to prepare meals for the homeless through our Lunch in the Park project. Many thanks to Janice Thomas for her continued oversight of this wonderful endeavor, and to her loyal support team of Celeste Lee, Liberty Matzakos and Patrice Dovas-Hudson.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Our social services committee continues to support the members of our community when needs arise. We are always here to help. Please be sure to let others know of our availability to aid when difficult circumstances arise. Every request is kept private, and we employ great respect and compassion throughout the aid process.
LENTEN EVENT SUPPORT
Special thanks to Kiki Brown, Dora Demos, Faith Ioannides, Katina Kapantas, Klea Kappos, Niki Mott, Susan Polycarpou, and Amalia Tataridas for their special Lenten contributions to the Clean Monday Retreat. They were delicious!
Also, many thanks to Yota Anadiotis, Mitsi Andrews, Kiki Brown, Liz Contos, Dora Demos, Andrea Dikeou, Patrice Dovas-Hudson, Angela Johns, Klea Kappos, Celeste Lee, Niki Mott, Voula Moutzouris and Kalomira Pantazopoulos for the wonderful dishes they shared at the Presanctified Liturgy Dinner on Wednesday evening. It was a feast!
PASCHA BAKE SALE
We are busy preparing for our Pascha Bake Sale. Planning is well underway as our bakers are assembling their supplies for the delicious pastries we are famous for. The Pascha bake sale will feature Thiples, (my personal favorite pastry of all time), as well as our red dyed Easter eggs by the dozen or half dozen, along with our beautiful baklava, kourambiethes, melomakarona and koulourakia (regular or gluten free). We will also have those perfect loaves of Tsoureki to grace your Easter tables. Please take advantage of these time saving offerings without guilt. As hostesses, we try to do it all, but sometimes, it’s just better to do it smarter.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT RENEWAL
I hope you will all make a point of renewing your Philoptochos membership commitment before the end of April. Your contributions are our greatest source of revenue and each donation supports the many philanthropic initiatives that we conduct each year. You can renew online on our website denverphiloptochos.com or in person on Sundays at the Philo table during coffee hour, or by sending your check to Philoptochos, 4610 E Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80246.
We thank you for this support!
PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON
The Palm Sunday Luncheon will be hosted by our chapter, providing a traditional plaki meal. We look forward to this time of fellowship and community as we all come together to share the company of our parishioners in anticipation of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Children under 12 will be free and served a savory pasta meal. Please secure your reservations in advance as seating is limited. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at our Philoptochos table, online and by mail. Proceeds from this event will benefit the good works of Philoptochos.
MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION
Please save the date, May 11, 2024, for our annual Mother’s Day Celebration, honoring three beloved mothers in our community. This lovely, heartwarming event is open to all to attend. We will hold our annual raffle during the event featuring lovely items, and we wish everyone luck! More information will follow.
Our next General Meeting will be held in May after Pascha. You will be notified of the date via email and it will appear in the bulletin.
Best to all for a happy, healthy month,
Christine
