Congratulations to our Laity Award Nominee The Parish Council has chosen Anita McMahon as our parish nominee for the Metropolis Laity Award. Anita, of course, is best known for her dedicated ministry to St. Basil`s Kitchen. If anyone would like to help celebrate this honor please sign-up at the Pangari. The dinner will take place at Lombardo`s Restaurant in Randolph, MA on Sunday, June 14 at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $75 per person.

Thanks to our Prosphora Baker Thanks to Kathy Tsiantas who is offering the prosphora this week.

May their Memory be Eternal Please pray at the Memorial Service this morning for the souls of Maria Zerveles (40 days) and Asimina Markos.

May Her Memory be Eternal Asimina Markos fell asleep in the Lord Friday, May 15. The wake will be held on Monday, May 18, from 5-9pm at: Twomey-Leblanc Funeral Home, 193 High Street, Newburyport, MA. The funeral will be at our church on Tuesday, May 19 at 11:00 am.


Fellowship Hour Because of the Fashion Show, there is no Fellowship Hour in Nicholson Hall. Coffee and Cookies, however, will be available in the small Church Hall.

Get Tickets for the Fashion Show Our Spring Fashion Show and Luncheon will take place TODAY at 2:00 pm in Nicholson Hall. The Show features fashion trends from Newburyport`s Hottest Boutiques: Aurora, Clothes Encounters, Native Sun, The Ruby Slipper, Pure Bliss, Amy Williams, and Tina`s European Fashions. Only 250 tickets are available and they are going fast; Tickets are $25. For tickets and to reserve tables, see one of the committee members today, or contact Jennifer Gravelle for tickets (978-388-7369 or jenss.jewels@verizon.net.

"Mountain of Silence" Our Book selection for this month is "The Mountain of Silence" by Prof. Kyriacos Markides, from the University of Maine at Orono. If you do not have a copy, we are asking you to order your own, either from Barnes and Noble (barnesandnoble.com), Amazon (amazon.com), or from the Seminary Book Store.

Our next Book Club will be on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 pm, following the Paraklesis to St. Nektarios.

Come to the Metropolis Camp It`s time to apply for the Metropolis of Boston Summer Camp in Contoocook NH! Father and Presbytera and Don and Jill Argyrople will be going during the 3rd week of camp (July 13-19); it would be nice if all the kids from Newburyport could come that week! If your children have not yet been to the camp, why not try it? It is an amazing experience--just ask any of the children who have gone and go back every year. Not only is it fun; the children learn lots about their faith, make close friendships with other Orthodox children, and begin to deepen their own spiritual life. You can get an application at http://www.boston.goarch.org/youth_ministries/mbc/metropolis_of_boston_summer_camp_2009.html

2009 Greek Food Festival – July 24, 25, 26 The kickoff meeting for this year’s festival was held on April 2 and attended by 14 interested parishioners . . . a great start! Charlie Neos has volunteered to chair the festival. In addition, others have come forward to lead many of the key venues of our festival. If you are interested in leading, or joining with someone to lead, one of the food preparation workshops . . . there are plenty of opportunities.

We need our entire church community to help make this year’s festival successful!

Please plan to attend our next meeting on Monday, May 18 at 7PM in Nicholson Hall.


Cemetery Visits The end of this month brings us to Memorial Day and our annual visits to the local cemeteries. Please sign up at the Pangari if you would like to have your loved ones included in the services at the cemeteries. We will be visiting cemeteries in Newburyport, Salisbury, and Amesbury. If you would like another cemetery visited, please speak with Father.

All Military Invited On Sunday, May 31, we invite all our military, both active and veterans, for prayer and special recognition at the end of Liturgy. We will also celebrate a Trisagion in memory of all the members of our Parish Family who have been members of the military. Active military members are invited to wear their dress uniforms.

Please fill out the sign-up sheet at the Pangari with names and addresses of Parish Family members who are in the military, and please include the names of the deceased who are to be remembered at the Trisagion.

Summer Hours and Sunday School Graduation Summer hours will begin on Sunday, June 14. There will be a short Orthros beginning at 9:00 am and Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:30 am.

Sunday School graduation will be taking place at the end of Liturgy on Sunday, June 14. Please be here to support our children as they learn to love our Faith!

Hear Some Good Sunday Sermons Our own Fr. Kerry Saravelas is the host of the weekly Metropolis Radio Program which airs on Sunday mornings between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. The Program is heard on WNTN 1550AM. But, in order to guarantee good and clear reception in the Greater Newburyport/ Southern New Hampshire area, it is strongly recommend that our faithful listen directly on the internet at www.grecianechoes.com Once on the website, just click-on "LISTEN" for the audio streaming. The program always consists of homilies in both Greek and English usually focusing on the Gospel Reading of the day.

What a great way to prepare for Liturgy, to spend 15 minutes meditating on the day`s Gospel reading and hearing an inspiring and cogent message to help with out spiritual struggles! Thanks to Fr. Kerry for this important and invaluable ministry.

Enjoy a Week of Summer Church Camp All the children of our parish are invited to our own Vacation Church Camp from Monday, August 10 to Saturday, August 15. The theme of the camp is "Feasts of the Theotokos". The children will learn about these feasts and about the most holy Theotokos through games, songs, crafts and activities. There will be a sleep-over for those who want from Friday to Saturday. The children will help chant the Liturgy for the Dormition of the Theotokos Saturday morning at 9:30 am. Applications for the camp will be available soon!

Get Church Updates on Facebook Our Parish Family now has a group on the social networking site Facebook (www.facebook. com). If you have a Facebook account, find the site among groups. You need to ask for membership. If you do not yet have a Facebook account, you should make one. It is a good way of keeping in touch with your fellow Parish Family members and seeing what`s going on in our church! There is also a link to our Youth Groups page.

Saravelas Memorial Scholarship Once again this year, the Venis and Anna Saravelas Memorial Scholarship is being offered to graduating High School seniors. There are several criteria in order to qualify for this scholarship. Application forms may be obtained in the narthex or by contacting Diane Hansen at dvhansen@verizon.net. Application deadline is Friday, May 29 and scholarships will be awarded following liturgy on Sunday, June 7, 2009.

Notice the Beautiful New Rugs The Parish Council took a step closer in its Narthex Beautification project by voting to purchase five Oriental rugs at a cost of two thousand sixty three ($2063) dollars. Even though this project was not in the 2009 budget, through Connie Nakis, the Church was able to purchase the rugs approximately 33% less than their normal price. The Parish Council felt that this was too good a "deal"to pass up. In addition, Paul and Connie, as well as an anonymous donor, have each donated five hundred ($500) dollars leaving a balance of one thousand sixty three ($1063) yet to be raised. Anyone wishing to donate to the Narthex Beautification project can contact either Father Constantine or a Parish Council member.


Used Sports Equipment Needed A small group of dedicated volunteers is trying to start a Soccer program (and other sports programs) for kids in Lawrence. They are in great need of sports equipment. They can make good use of any serviceable equipment. Please contact Don Argyrople, or drop of items at church. Your donations will be delivered to Youth Development Organization, a non-profit agency serving the academic and physical needs of Lawrence children. (Please no winter sports equipment).


Help for St. Basil`s Pantry As the difficult economy and the winter weather continues, please keep our less fortunate brothers and sisters in mind! St. Basil`s Pantry is in need of food for our Monday lunch guests. Please bring the following: Peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti sauce, green vegetables, low sodium soups, canned fruit, tuna, spam (low sodium) and toiletries. Please remember to bring small cans of vegetables, as many of our guests live alone. Also, please do not bring pasta (we already have tons!). Thank you for your generosity.