PHILOPTOCHOS St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 3109 Scio Church Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 CORNER May 2017 Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Χριστός Ἀνέστη! This month we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Then the angel spoke to the women. Do not be afraid! he said. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn t here! He is risen from the dead just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. --Matthew 28:56 DATES TO REMEMBER MOTHER S DAY MAY 14 Saturday, May 6 Women s Expo and Spring Plant Pickup * * * Both the hymn and the expression Christos Anesti remind us that all believers will one day be raised to eternal life. This is the joy-filled promise of our Easter celebration. Wednesday, May 10 Philoptochos Birthday Dinner Meeting and Election Night 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 Annual Dinner Meeting Information to follow
FROM VANGIE... Dear Ladies Many blessings this Easter season. And now a huge thank you to... Vicky Masters and Katerina Roumanis who once again planned the Palm Sunday Luncheon along with help from our ladies Gus Boutsikakis, Thano Masters, Avraam Piniatoglou, and John Roumanis for preparing our delicious Palm Sunday luncheon Dena Petropoulos and her committee for boiling and dyeing the eggs on Thursday, and thanks to everyone who came and wrapped the Easter eggs on Friday Looking forward to seeing you at the Philoptochos Birthday dinner meeting on May 10! A great evening is planned so save the date! REMINDER! Remind your friends and neighbors about our Women s Expo on May 6 Remember to pick up your flower order on the same day May 6 BRAIN TEASER Can you name three consecutive days without using Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday? (Answer on p. 4) EASTER AROUND THE WORLD Have you ever wondered about different customs and traditions at Easter? Let s take a look... SPAIN Processions continue for almost 24 hours culminating in the jubilation of the Resurrection observed by floats covered in flowers, dancing in the streets, and traditional sweet cakes HUNGARY Easter is celebrated with the baking of delicious pastries and painting of hardboiled eggs GREECE Eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ. The game (Τσούγκρισμα/tsougrisma) symbolizes the breaking open of the tomb and Christ s Resurrection from the dead. Each person has an egg and takes turns tapping the ends of each other s eggs. The person whose end doesn t crack wins. SCOTLAND While it may seem like playtime for the children, the egg roll is very symbolic as it is carried out to represent the rolling away of stones on Jesus tomb thereby assisting in His Resurrection ROMANIA The ritual of painting eggs is turned into an art form in Romania. Eggs are painted with very intricate designs such as the fir or oak leaf, the cross, and various plants and animals using red, green, blue, yellow, and black coloring which many times is derived from natural plant life such as onion skin leaves that leave a deep, non-staining crimson-colored egg. Pascha baskets filled with reddyed eggs, cheese, onion, Romanian sausages, and Cozonac (sweet bread) are decorated and offered to be blessed following the Resurrection Liturgy and then shared with friends and family. (Thank you, Ioana Nadra!) USA The White House Easter Egg Roll is an annual event where children roll Easter eggs down the White House lawn. This was a European tradition brought by settlers to the New World SWEDEN Eggs are the main attraction. They are exchanged and later used in a game where participants roll them down roofing tiles to see which egg can go the farthest without breaking
MOTHER S DAY A MOTHER S LOVE A Mother s Love is like an island In life s ocean vast and wide A peaceful, quiet shelter From the restless, rising tide A Mother s Love is like a fortress And we seek protection there When the waves of tribulation Seem to drown us in despair TO MY MOTHER by Robert Louis Stevenson You, too, my mother, read my rhymes For love of unforgotten times And you may chance to hear once more My little feet along the floor A Mother s Love is a sanctuary Where our souls can find sweet rest From the struggle and the tension Of life s fast and futile quest A Mother s Love is like a tower Rising far above the crowd And her smile is like the sunshine Breaking through a threatening cloud DO YOU REMEMBER GETTING ALL DRESSED UP FOR EASTER? A Mother s Love is like a beacon Burning bright with FAITH and PRAYER And through the changing scenes of life We can find a haven there For a Mother s Love is fashioned After God s enduring love It is endless and unfailing Like the love of Him above For God knew in His great wisdom That He could not be everywhere So He put his little children In a Loving Mother s care --Anonymous Author A mother s arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them Victor Hugo
THE BOOK NOOK THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ: 100 th Anniversary Edition by L. Frank Baum One of the classics of American literature originally published in 1900. It was the first truly American fairy tale out of such familiar items as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old-fashioned hokum to express that universal theme, "There's no place like home" THE BROKEN ROAD by Richard Paul Evans The Broken Road is the first book in a muchanticipated new trilogy by storyteller Richard Paul Evans. It is an engrossing, contemplative story of redemption and grace and the power of second chances. It is an epic journey you won't soon forget BLANKETS FOR MOTT Vangie Kolokithas and Tula Prokos delivered 85 blankets to Mott Children s hospital. This was a joint effort between our GOYA and Philoptochos to brighten the children s stay in the hospital. Vangie, Tula, and the blankets were warmly welcomed by the staff at Mott. Many thanks to all of the ladies and to the GOYA members who took the time to make blankets for the children. A LONG WAY FROM HOME: Growing Up in the American Heartland by Tom Brokaw Tom Brokaw writes about growing up and coming of age in the heartland and of the family, the people, the culture and the values that shaped him then and still do today THE DIANA I KNEW by Mary Robertson She was Lady Diana Spencer a shy young nanny employed with the Robertsons, an American family living in London who would forge a lifelong friendship with her. The Diana I Knew is filled with Mary Robertson s unique, personal memories of Lady Diana who would become Princess Diana If you would like us to include a book that you have enjoyed reading, please email to philopcorner@gmail ANSWER TO BRAIN TEASER Yesterday, today, and tomorrow DID YOU KNOW... The smallest bones in your body are found in your ear Koala bears sleep on average 18 hours per day Australia was originally known as New Holland Sponges hold more cold water than hot Lemons have more sugar than strawberries
RECIPE OF THE MONTH COOKING SUBSTITUTIONS Have you ever decided to use a recipe only to find out that you are missing an item or two from your pantry or refrigerator? Some common substitutions are shown below: Cheesy Zucchini Muffins 3 cups flour 4 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. dried dill 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup shredded zucchini 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar 1/4 cup grated parmesan 2 eggs beaten 1/2 stick melted butter, slightly cooled Preheat oven to 350 Grease 15 muffin cups In large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, dill, salt, baking soda, and garlic powder Add zucchini, cheddar cheese, Parmesan; toss to coat Stir in eggs, buttermilk, melted butter and mix until just combined Spoon batter into muffin cups Bake for 16-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean Cool in pan for 5 minutes before running a knife around the edge of each muffin and popping it out of the pan onto a cooling rack. Serve warm and ENJOY! 1 clove garlic = 1/8 tsp. garlic powder 1 tbsp. corn starch = 2 tbsp. flour 1 cup oil = 1/2 lb. butter 1 cup sugar = 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 square chocolate = 3 tbsp. cocoa + 1 tsp. butter 1 cup cake flour = 1 cup minus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 cup buttermilk = 1 tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar plus milk (let stand for 5 minutes) 1 tsp. dried mustard = 1 tbsp. prepared mustard HOW MUCH AND HOW MANY? 1 stick butter (1/4 lb.) = 1/2 cup 22 vanilla wafers = 1 cup fine crumbs 14 squares graham crackers = 1 cup crumbs Juice of 1 orange = 1/3 cup (depending on size of orange) 1 medium chopped apple = 1 cup 7 oz. spaghetti = 4 cups cooked Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons. It is a rebirth of the spirit