Athens-November
ALEXANDER & ELENI MELIRRYTOS
OMONIA CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWSLETTER
P. O. BOX 70260 ATHENS 166 -10 GREECE
TEL. & FAX 011 (30 – 210) 960 – 7453
Alexander: amelirry@aol.com
Eleni: emelirry@aol.com
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
WEEKLY SERVICES
WORSHIP IN GREEK WORSHIP IN BULGARIAN WORSHIP IN RUSSIAN
SUNDAY 11:00 – 12:00 A.M. SUNDAY 12:30 – 2:15 P.M. SUNDAY 4:00 – 5:30 P.M.
BIBLE STUDY IN GREEK BIBLE STUDY IN BULGARIAN BIBLE STUDY IN RUSSIAN
SUN. 10:00 – 10:50 A.M. SUNDAY 3:00 – 4:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY 7:00 – 8:00 P.M.
& WED. 7:00 – 8:00 P.M.
WORSHIP IN ENGLISH
SUNDAY 6:00 – 7:10 P.M.
Dear Elders, Family in Christ and Friends,
We send you greetings from the Omonia Church in our Savior’s name, Jesus our King. Eleni and I pray His richest blessings upon you and your loved ones every day, that His wisdom and understanding, peace and assurance may shine upon your daily walk. You are close to us in prayers and in thoughts of thanksgiving for your love and support to the mission effort in our Biblical city through the years.
“… AND THE LORD WAS ADDING…
We are now studying with the wife of a Greek brother and two new young Russian visitors. We also work with two young men from Iran. Please pray that Jesus’ unfailing word will strengthen these young souls, help them surrender their life to His cause, to the glory of God our Father.
SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS SERIES
Brother KOSTAS KOUTSIOUMBAS, a long-time member of the Greek congregation who has done his studies in the States, is currently teaching the Gospel of John to the Sunday adult Bible class until the end of March 2007. Following the study of the Gospel of Faith – April 2007 – Alexander will teach the sacrificial system in the Old Testament on Sunday and compare it with Jesus’ sacrifice as seen in the Book of Hebrews. At present Alexander conducts several Bible studies on a weekly basis to help members and friends understand the setting and occasion, main thrust and the writer’s goal in several books and themes of the Bible. Brother SAMMY FLANARY of Sunset Bible Institute was with us for several weeks, sharing the word of God both with the Omonia church and at our home with Greek brothers and sisters.
CHURCH EXCURSION CLOSE TO CENCHREA, CORINTH – WESTERN STYLE!
Church excursions have always been used at Omonia as opportunities for closer Christian fellowship among members. They also serve as an evangelistic outreach method, as one can bring his family and friends and have them exposed to a small Christian society – the Church. Besides the beautiful scenery, members and friends witness the spirit of love through sharing, singing, prayer time and a thirty-minute devotional. This time we visited a unique family “summer” camp – the only one in Europe that features an exact replica of a small town in the old West.
Please also have a look at the photo section of this report!
THANKSGIVING DAY WITH HARDING UNIVERSITY
Although Thanksgiving Day is not included in the Greek calendar, we should never cease to thank God for his Son every day. This last Thanksgiving Day Eleni and I spent with the Harding University students and faculty – a blessed time of Christian fellowship and great food. Jerry Myhan, director of the Harding University study abroad program in Greece and his wife Dianne blessed us once again through their spirit of service and dedication to the Lord’s cause.
We are deeply thankful.
ORESTIS JOINS THE GREEK ARMED FORCES
In fulfillment of the drafting procedure that all young male Greek citizens have to meet, Orestis joined the Armed Forces on November 6. The Artillery Boot Camp is in Thebes, Boeotia, sixty miles NW. of Athens – he will complete his basic training on December 15th. This new page in his life, Orestis enjoys to its full extent, having also been promoted to squad leader. He has also qualified for the corps of Presidential Guards. In case his U.S. permanent residency status will be also established by the Greek authorities (Greek Embassy in Atlanta, GA.), Orestis will serve six months, rather than the regular twelve.
PHILADELPHIA 2006 -FIFTH ANNUAL LADIES’ CONFERENCE
BY ELENI MELIRRYTOS
Athens, October 27, 2006
My Dear Sisters,
I pray my message finds you doing well. By God’s grace this last Sunday the women of the Omonia congregation as well as visitors were found together to be encouraged and uplifted in fellowship with our Father and each other. This was the fifth year that – by His grace – I undertook the organizing of this meeting. It all started five years ago over the occasion of a beloved sister, YVONNE MCKEE OF JACKSONVILLE, FL., who came over with twelve more sisters to visit Greece and the Omonia congregation.
The “Athens Acropole Hotel” conference room hosted us again for the fourth consecutive year. We are deeply thankful and appreciative to everyone who helped this meeting become a reality.
SPECIAL THANKS GO TO THE HILLSBORO CHURCH OF CHRIST, NASHVILLE, TN. WHO SUPPORTED THE EVENT IN EVERY WAY. Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, kind words, support and love you invested in this meeting.
Every sister received a tea cup with a tea bag in it as a visual of physical comfort. In that cup there was also a frame with our theme scripture, John 14:18 – made by LEE BURGESS OF HERMITAGE, TN. – even in the Greek language!
I give thanks to God for all of you, for your continuous encouragement and love that keeps me going with inspiration and energy. By His love and powerful hand the room was full. There were over eighty-five women who came with open hearts to receive what the Father had ready for them. A good number of sisters from the EVROU STREET CONGREGATION honored us with their presence – one more special blessing to me.
My heart is full and grateful for the way in which God made Himself present on this event. All women who were invited responded lovingly and honored us with her presence. There were ladies from RUSSIA, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES. OUR MAIN SPEAKER WAS ONCE AGAIN KATERINA LENHERT OF ABILENE, TX. who shared with us thoughts and events according to our theme: “The Power of God’s Love Through the Comforter”. JUNE PEEPLES OF DOUBLE OAK, TX. made a drama presentation – “Mary’s Reflections At The Cross”, joined by two HARDING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, SAMANTHA STRATTON AND KATYLYN KERSEY. June was also our house guest – we enjoyed her stay very much. Six young students of the Harding University acted in silence two nameless women stories from the New Testament.
DEBBIE POSS OF DALLAS, TX. led our singing and praise with some very special presentations that touched everyone’s heart. In her trip from Texas, Debbie was accompanied by her mother Margaret, her aunt Dorothy and her sister Peggy. Their
group arrived a few days before the meeting and they all worked very hard to help us put the final touches.
DEBBIE ROUSSOS decorated the tables very tastefully with compositions of pomegranates and matching colors. MARY GIAGIA and I presented a theme, called “Nameless Women of the New Testament” referring to the way God fills our emotional gap when we seek Him. Groups from the Russian, Bulgarian and Greek assemblies sang hymns in their native language.
All these excellent visuals allowed us to draw closer to our Father and bond closer to each other. We enjoyed coffee and cake as we arrived at 11:00 a.m. and a wonderful lunch at 2:00 pm. Our meeting came to an end at about 5:00 pm and then we all joined the worship services at the nearby OMONIA congregation building.
Upon return to the Church that evening one of the Russian sisters confessed: “…Let us close our eyes and live again today’s event…” This is exactly what happens when we are in His presence and we can feel it – we want to live it again! In meetings such as this women get the opportunity to encourage and uplift each other and hold it as their sweetest memory of a blessed spiritual fellowship.
We look forward to our next year’s meeting. We are already praying and ask God to bless us with wisdom and directions as to the theme and all the other necessary details. It is never too easy to be responsible especially “in the eye of the cyclone”, since the Adversary fights such occasions.
I am asking you to cover me with your prayers and encouragement as I find the most unique and fulfilling joy in serving my Father through events such as this. I commit myself to His service once more. I want you to know that despite the distance that separates us, you are in my heart and mind all the time. We invite you to join us next year in any way God will allow to you. We will also love to have you present in thoughts and prayer. I pray that His presence may be visible in your lives and that you may always find joy and peace in His arms. Let us continue to serve Him, being assured that He finds pleasure in His committed children.
With a grateful heart
Eleni Melirrytos
Athens, Greece
GRANNY WHITE CHURCH DONATE TEACHING MATERIAL
TO OMONIA CONGREGATION
Following our request to the Elders and Missions Committee of the Granny White Church for visual teaching material of use by the English-speaking assembly, we were happy to receive last month. A very helpful hang-up satellite map of Israel, the NIV study Bible in C.D. and the hymnal “Songs of Faith and Praise in electronic form – C.D. Brethren, we are very thankful for your gifts of love to the family of saints in Athens.
May our Father continue His great blessings upon your ministry in His wonderful ways.
2007 PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY ANNUAL BIBLE LECTURES
Speaking of themes, Alexander and Eleni have been invited for the sixth year by Dr. Rushford, Director Church Relations, Pepperdine University to participate at the 2007 Annual Bible Lectures as speakers, the main theme being “Hear the Word of the Lord” (Jeremiah’s Call to Renewal). 2007, May 1-4
“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message: “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.” (Jeremiah 7:1-3).
We pray the Lord will help us make this trip possible. Eleni’s lesson is: “Human culture vs. supra culture”. (Reflecting on our ways of life vs. His absolute truth), while Alexander’s theme is: “The Light, the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Why these four go together? (The Biblical significance of light and darkness as contrasted to ancient Greek literature).
For information on the upcoming event please visit:
http://www.pepperdine.edu/churchrelations/lectures/
On October 22nd we received the blessing of having Dr. Darryl Tippens, the Pepperdine University Provost and his wife Anne worship at Omonia, having also enjoyed fellowship time with them at home.
ELENI INVITED IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA
An invitation has been recently extended to Eleni by the women’s committee of the Twickenham Church of Christ, Huntsville, Alabama – www.twickenham.org. As you may have guessed, she accepted. She will be sharing cultural issues of concern to Christian women today. The title of her class will be “Human culture vs. His absolute truth”.
The retreat will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of March 2007.
2007 GREEK COOKING CALENDAR BY ELENI
In her reply to Eric Tryggestad who just published an article at the Christian Chronicle newspaper, Eleni writes: “I hope that the pictures of beautiful Greece will transport you to the Aegean Sea and the delightful Greek recipes will bring joy around your dinner table. My purpose and desire is to influence as many women to go back to their kitchens and reconsider the gift and blessing of table fellowship. It is a “tested” recipe and it is very delicious!!”
http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=1
[2006 – 12 December issue, page 12].
Now we can rest assured that Eleni sneaked her recipes into kitchens in the U.S., being delighted to know that olive oil and garlic will be staples of your dinner table!
We are very grateful and appreciative of the loving response with which you embraced her efforts.
Angie and David Thomas of Nolensville, TN. have tirelessly supported Eleni to put her love of cooking and Christian table fellowship into print.
May the love of Jesus fill your heart and spirit with joy and thanksgiving every single day!
In His loving name
Alexander and Eleni Melirrytos
servants of Jesus