Evangelistria Chapter Ladies Philoptochos Society

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Indianapolis, Indiana

APRIL 9

PALM SUNDAY

LUNCHEON

APRIL 13

PHILOPTOCHOS

EGG DYEING & WRAPPING

10:30 A.M.

APRIL 15

PHILOPTOCHOS

SOUP KITCHEN

APRIL 16

ORTHODOX EASTER

APRIL 25

BOARD MEETING

APRIL 27

PHILOPTOCHOS

“WINE & SCRAPBOOKING”

MAY 14

MOTHER’S DAY

MAY 20

VOLUNTEER DAY

Τα Νέα The News

2017

Philoptochos is looking for ladies interested in becoming Board Members

Philoptochos Board Elections will be held in May. If you are interested in serving on the board and meet the following qualifications please send an e-mail to philoptochosindy.com on or before April 15.

(a) be a full member of the Philoptochos Society;

(b) be a member in good standing with the parish and chapter for a period of at least one full year prior to the date of election to the Chapter Board;

(c) have attended a minimum of four meetings of the Chapter in the previous year; and

(d) be present at the election meeting unless reasonable cause for such absence is provided.

For National Philoptochos news, go to http://www.philoptochos.org

Dear Philoptochos Members and Friends,

The calendar shows the much anticipated arrival of Spring! The landscape is slowly coming to life with new growth. Holy Week is fast approaching bringing opportunities to serve and be blessed. We will be having our Philoptochos Palm Sunday Luncheon on April 9. Come join us on Holy Thursday to help prepare the Paschal eggs, and on Holy Friday as we decorate the kouvouklion and prepare the flowers that will be used for the services on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Everyone is invited and we would love to see you there!

Philoptochos held the Grecian Carnivale at Connor Prairie on February 25. Thank so much to the Carnivale committee, attendees and sponsors who made it possible for us to raise money to help fight hunger both in Greece through Apostoli/IOCC and Gleaner’s here in central Indiana, and to assist other charities that Philoptochos supports. The Lenten season began right after the Carnivale and Philoptochos has been busy! Holy Trinity hosted the Sunday of Orthodoxy on March 5 for all the Orthodox Churches in central Indiana. After the service, all attendees were able to eat and fellowship together in the Founder’s Walk. Thanks to Tracy Pappas and Yiota Moe for cooking the main course and coordinating this event.

That was followed closely by our Wednesday Lenten meal which followed the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy on March 8. Once again, Becky Sheckell, Janet Stropes, and Maria Gounaris prepared their popular spaghetti with homemade marinara sauce. Thank you, ladies, and to the others who helped set up, serve, and clean up.

On Saturday, March 18, Philoptochos along with the Ladies of St. George held our annual Lenten Retreat. Holy Trinity was the host this year. Thanks to Sondra Vitsas, Yiota Moe, and Lea Dunbar for leading this effort.

Mark your calendars for April 27, our next General Meeting, and the Metropolis Luncheon on April 29. Look for details inside this issue of the Ta Nea. May you have a meaningful and blessed Pascha as we celebrate the glorious Resurrection of Christ! Love in Christ, Diana Dine

The News/Τα Νέα

President’s Message

We are always in need of flip-top cans of soup (Chicken Noodle preferred), along with paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates and granola bars for use at

our Soup Kitchen. The soup is given to the patrons of the Soup Kitchen as a

takeout item. Also in great need are new or gently-used blankets, t-shirts,

socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Many of these poor souls are homeless

and are forced to live on the streets. Please help us feed the hungry and clothe

the poor by putting items in the blue Philoptochos bin.

A Lenten Meditation on Fasting Orthodox Christians are called to fast in Lent, in part so that they might share more generously with those in need. So here’s a simple way to find more funds for your almsgiving without missing a single meal—Waste less food.

1. Exercise Fridge and Freezer Discipline. A crowded cooler makes it hard to see what’s in there. Sort things that need to go in order to free up visibility for what needs to be used soon.

2. Prepare less food at meals and dish up smaller portions. If people are still hungry,

they can go for a piece of cheese or fruit or a bowl of cereal to round out the meal.

3. Do a waste audit. For a couple of weeks, keep a list of what food gets tossed. From this you will learn how to adjust your shopping habits.

4. Make a list before shopping and stick to it. Impulse purchases often hang around in

the fridge until they are no longer good.

5. Learn the lost art of leftover usage. The soups, stews, hashes, and casseroles of yesteryear were creative ways to use leftovers. (And if you’re not boiling up leftover bones for broth, you are missing out on some crucial nutrition that you won’t get elsewhere in your diet!)

Excerpt from an article by Fr. Mark Sietsema of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Lansing, Michigan posted at http://holytrinity-lansing.org/index.php/news/116/109/Send-It-To-Them-Postage-Free/d,betterDetails.htm

Thursday, April 27

6:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars!

Channel your creative spirit and join the Wine & Scrapbooking event hosted by Philoptochos on Thursday, April 27 at 6:30 pm. All materials will be provided with step-by-step instructions from a Scrapbooking consultant. No experience necessary. Just bring 5-6 pictures of a recent event you wish to commemorate and you will go home with a 12 x 12 page you can post on your wall. $20 will cover all materials, hors d’oeuvres and wine.

Reserve your spot and see samples during the Coffee Hour in April! Contact Vickie Sofianopoulos at vsofianos@aol.com or

Mina Potamousis at mapotamo@gmail.com.

Reservations are required!

Please bring your friends!

All profits from this event will be donated to Stopover, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing shelter and housing to homeless youth. If you would like to donate to the shelter, commonly needed items include hygiene supplies, clothing, food, school supplies, linens, and paper goods. For the full wish list, please visit www.stopoverinc.org and you can bring the items to the meeting.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Nearly a quarter century ago, the Autism Society launched a nationwide effort to promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all, and assure that each person with ASD is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life. This year we want to go beyond simply promoting autism awareness to encouraging friends and collaborators to become partners in movement toward acceptance and appreciation.

Let’s embrace a new perspective. For over 50 years we have worked in communities (both large and small) to ensure our actions, through our services and programming, supported all individuals living with autism. Let’s expand this work to focus on the rest of us – ensuring acceptance and inclusion in schools and communities that results in true appreciation of the unique aspects of all people. We want to get one step closer to a society where those with ASDs are truly valued for their unique talents and gifts.

Join us in celebration for 2017 National Autism Awareness Month! National Autism Awareness Month represents an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness, autism acceptance and to draw attention to the tens of thousands facing an autism diagnosis each year.

Put on the Puzzle! The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 68 children in America. Show your support for people with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, a badge on your blog, or even your Facebook profile picture – and educate folks on the potential of people with autism!

Connect with your neighborhood. Many Autism Society local affiliates hold special events in their communities throughout the month of April. But if you can’t find an event that suits you just right, create your own!

Donate to the Autism Society: Help improve the lives of all impacted by autism with a financial gift to the Autism Society. Every dollar raised by the Autism Society allows us to improve the capabilities and services of our over 100 nationwide affiliates, provide the best national resource database and contact center specializing in autism, and increase public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with ASD and their families.

Guest speaker Kh. Stefanie Yazge, Ph.D. from St. Vincent College in Greensburg, Pennsylvania

P h i l o p t o ch o s

Ts o u r e k i

( Pa s c h a B r e a d )

& P h y l l o S a l e !

Pre-Order / Pre-Sale Only!

Order deadline is April 3.

Pickup is Sunday, April 9.

Complete & mail the order form below or call Irene Sarris at 317-823-4826.

Tsoureki Order Form 1 lb. Tsoureki (round) ___with egg, ___ without egg @ 9.00 each x ____ = $ _______ 1 lb. Tsoureki (long) ___with egg, ___ without egg @ 9.00 each x ____ = $ _______ 1 lb. phyllo dough (fresh) ................................................... @ 4.00 each x ____ = $ _______ Tiropites(1 dozen) ................................................................@ 9.00/doz x ____ = $________ Spanakopites (1 dozen) .......................................................@ 9.00/doz x ____ = $________

TOTAL AMOUNT OF ORDER $________ Checks Payable to Philoptochos

Name: _______________________________________________________________ Home Phone: _______________ Cell Phone: ________________

Please mail to: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

3500 W. 106th Street Carmel, IN 46032-5513.

3 Stretches to Do Before Bed to

De-Stress and Reduce Shoulder Pain

If you spend much of your day hunched over a computer, chances are your shoulders are tight. It’s also easy for shoulder tension to build when you’re stressed.

Instead of going to bed with this pain and stiffness, get rid of it by stretching. Stretching is an easy way to ease your pain, de-stress and increase mobility. Regular stretching is essential for building flexibility, which helps muscles perform better.

Jessica Matthews, professor of kinesiology and yoga studies, and a registered yoga teacher, certified health coach, and senior adviser with the American Council on Exercise, is author of the new book, “Stretching to Stay Young.”

She shared the three best stretches to do before bed to reduce shoulder pain.

Before you stretch, here are her tips to maximize the benefits of each stretch:

• Muscles are best stretched when they are warm, so create an evening ritual for yourself by enjoying a relaxing hot bath or shower before performing these stretches.

• Proper breathing plays an important role while stretching. Slow, rhythmic, mindful breathing in and out through the nose allows for enhanced relaxation. Your breath can also serve as a guide for how intensely you should be stretching. If you are restricting or holding your breath when performing a stretch, let that serve as a cue to reduce the intensity of the stretch to where you can once again breathe naturally and freely.

• This focused and refined attention to the breath offers another practical benefit with regard to properly performing and maximizing the benefits of each stretch. By counting the breaths you complete, you can help ensure you are holding each stretch for the appropriate time without needing to keep your eyes on the clock. Given that the average adult takes about 12 to 20 breaths per minute, try taking a total of at least 6 to 10 deep, controlled breaths while holding each stretch. This may be easier and more accurate than counting continuously to 30 or 60 seconds.

3 Stretches to De-Stress and Reduce Shoulder Stiffness:

1. Thread the needle

Good For: This stretch for the posterior deltoid (back of the shoulder) and rhomboids (upper back) can help relieve pain associated with rotator cuff tendinitis and shoulder bursitis.

Instructions: 1. From a hands-and-knees position, turn your head to the left and slide your right arm underneath your left arm, positioning your palm to face the ceiling.

2. Keeping knees stacked over hips, extend your left arm fully in front of your body and press your right forearm and upper arm (if accessible) firmly into the floor. Hold this stretch, then switch sides and repeat.

Bonus Form Tip:

• Use the ground as leverage when performing this stretch, keeping the forearm firmly pressed into the floor.

2. Kneeling Lat Stretch

Good For: This stretch for the latissimus dorsi, the large muscle of the back, can help prevent shoulder pain and discomfort, including minimizing the risk of rotator cuff injuries.

Instructions: 1. Kneel facing the seat of a chair or couch, resting knees hip-width distance apart on a folded blanket or towel for comfort. 2. Keeping your spine extended, hinge at the hips, creating a 90-degree angle with the body as you place your forearms atop the seat with palms facing one another. Hold this stretch.

Bonus Form Tip:

• As you hinge forward, keep your hips stacked over your knees and place elbows close to the edge of the seat while actively outstretching the arms.

3. Bear Hug

Good For: This stretch for the upper back (rhomboids and trapezius) is helpful if you experience discomfort in the shoulder blades from poor posture. It can also help minimize pain associated with shoulder issues like bursitis or frozen shoulder.

Instructions: 1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and arms open wide. 2. Cross one arm over the other at the elbows, reaching hands over opposite shoulders as if giving yourself a hug. 3. Gently draw the shoulders forward. Hold this stretch.

Bonus Form Tip:

• Each time you repeat this stretch, try alternating the cross of the arms and notice if one side feels more comfortable than the other.

Source: Jessica Matthews, MS, E-RYT500, kinesiology professor, yoga teacher, wellness expert and author of “Stretching to Stay Young”.

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS March 2017

Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) $100 Support A Mission Priest (SAMP) $200 Metropolis Scholarship Fund $500

April 2 - Theone Dickos, Helen Malandrakis,

Gail Zeheralis

April 23 - Lea Dunbar, Barbara Filipovich

April 30 - Melinda Emmanoelides, Ellen Antoniades

May 7 - Cindy Woodruff,

May 28 - Becky Kapsalis, Labrine Lucas ALWAYS A BOARD MEMBER PRESENT TO ASSIST!

Coffee Hour is a time of fellowship and everyone is encouraged to volunteer. We have created an online sign up form to make it even easier. Sign up as a family and enjoy volunteering together. Simply click the link and sign up!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c4aaaaf2fa6ff2-holy.

SignUpGenius will send a confirmation and a reminder email of your volunteer times. Sign up by Tuesday 11:59pm for names to be included in the Koinonia.