Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Saturday, September 11, 1976, page 9 (of 24)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Families worked together to get own church
By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer Seven years ago, four South Dade families got together and talked about starting a Greek Orthodox Church. Eric and Anthey Wanderon, Tom and Becca Zannis, Ted and Sandy Miller and Clis and Mary Lymneos — who had been friends for years — were tired of traveling miles to St. Sophia, at SW 3rd Avenue and Coral Way, to go to Church. They wanted a church of their own and felt there were enough Greek families in South Dade to warrant establishing one. So with Tom Zannis in charge, the families went to work. They got a charter from the state, papers from the IRS and incorporated as the South Dade Hellenic Community Center, Inc., at the beginning of 1970. They had a name but no church. Zannis investigated the area and came up with almost 40 families that wanted to join. The small group began meeting at local churches and homes for parties, fund drives and discussion groups. Sunday nights they "After more than seven years, our dream is almost fulfilled." — Tom Zannis went regularly to a bingo establishment in Cutler Ridge Shopping Center where they had made arrangements to split half the night's earnings with the proprietor. In the meantime, the group was holding Sunday School classes for the children at Vineland Elementary School. After a couple of years, Zannis and his people earned enough money at the bingo hall to buy three and a half acres of land east of the highway on Kendall Drive. But they were unable to get the land rezoned for a church. "A neighbor complained that she didn't want to wake up and see a big dome out her window," Zannis said. "So, after two and a half years of playing bingo, our hearts gave out." With their money tied up in a piece of useless land, plans for the South Dade Hellenic Community Center lay dormant for two years. Finally, the county offered to buy the land on Kendall from them to build a trash station on, and the price was right. They sold it, decided to give the church one more try and found another piece of land — this time on an old chicken farm on five acres at SW 117th Avenue opposite 92nd Street. "With that spiritual uplifting, we contacted the bishop in Charlotte, N.C., and invited him down to give us some spiritual help," Zannis said. Sunday, Sept. 5, the bishop arrived and gave the tiny group the go-ahead. He wished them luck and told them to petition the archdiocese for a priest. Zannis immediately began sending out letters to the Greek families in South Dade that had left the church two years earlier when the first land deal fell through. The group hopes to fix up the existing house on the property as a worship hall or priest's quarters, then build a large community hall for other activities. "After more than seven years, our dream is almost fulfilled," Zannis, the temporary church president, said. Zannis said the church's future goals include establishing a strong youth program and conducting all services in both Greek and English, and building a retirement home on the property. Families in South Dade who want to join the church are urged to call Ted Miller at 238-9498 after 5 p.m.
Public invited to pot-luck supper
The public is invited to attend a pot-luck supper at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Commission of Parish Nurture, the evening will include a slide show and a group singing. Everyone is asked to bring a main dish, salad, or dessert. The church is located at 3010 DeSoto Blvd.
Rally day
Registration for the new school program instituted last year by Plymouth Congregational Church will take place on Sunday, Sept. 12, during Rally Day. Beginning at 10 a.m. with a Worship Service, the program will include a picnic lunch at 11:45 a.m., and a puppet show at 12:15 p.m. The church is located at 3429 Devon Rd.
Graham film
A Billy Graham film, entitled "His Land," will be shown at the Shenandoah Baptist Church, 2225 SW 17th Ave., Sunday, Sept. 12. The film, which is a musical portrayal of the story of Israel, features Cliff Richards, a popular English star. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m.
She's wed Bozek-McFarland
Mrs. Bozek Meredith McFarland and James Mitchell Bozek were married Friday, Aug. 27, at Plymouth Congregational Church. The bride is the daughter of Col. and Mrs. Thomas S. McFarland, Jr., 7265 SW 130th St. She is a graduate of Florida State University and attended the University of Study Center in Florence, Italy. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley M. Bozek, 5700 San Amaro Dr , Coral Gables. He is a graduate of the University of Miami and is a graduate student there.
SCIENCE OF MIND
7800 Miller Road Sunday 11:00 A.M. 274-0571 or 274-0610
HIS LAND the thrilling Story of Israel
HIS LAND the thrilling Story of Israel, from ancient to modern times. Will be shown on September 11th at 7:00 P.M. at the KENDALE LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, located at blocks North of NORTH KENDALL DRIVE on S.W. 142nd Avenue.
ATTENTION GREEK ORTHODOX FAMILIES
INTERESTED IN A NEW GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN SOUTH DADE. CONTACT: South Dade Hellenic Community Center c/o Ted Miller Phone 238-9498 After Five
Church Directory Attend The Church Of Your Choice
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 121 Alhambra Plaza Rev. Carroll L. Shuster, Pastor Church School — 9:30 A.M. Morning Worship — 10:30 A.M. | ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA 9200 S.W. 107 Ave. Fr. Cyril M. Hudak Sunday 8, 9, 10:30, 12 Noon | FLAGAMI BAPTIST CHURCH 860 S.W. 76 Court Phone: 261-1464 Dr. Charles Horton, Pastor SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICES 10:45 Α.Μ. 7:30 Ρ.Μ. | OLYMPIA HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3801 S.W. 97 Ave. Pastor Ross M. Geiger Church School-9:00 Α.Μ. Worship Service-10:00 Α.Μ. & 7:30 Ρ.Μ. | UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH Riviera Drive at Segovia Coral Gables, Florida Sunday Services — 11:00 Α.Μ. & 7:00 Ρ.Μ. PASTOR - DAN YEARY | THE LE JEUNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Le Jeune Rd., at S.W. 4 St. 448-7481 Dr. Robert C. Dohn, Pastor Sunday Services 11:00 Α.Μ. & 7:30 Ρ.Μ. | MAGNETIC ENERGY HEALING Free explanation every Mon. 7 P.M. PEACE CHURCH INC. Rev. Charles Collins | GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT IMMANUEL LUTHERAN 1770 Brickell Ave. Paul Anderson, pastor Worship Services 11 A.M. VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS ALWAYS WELCOME | INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH WESTWOOD LAKE 4301 S.W. 107 Ave. SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:45 Α.Μ. WORSHIP SERVICE 10:55 Α.Μ. TRAINING UNION 6:30 Ρ.Μ. WED. MID WEEK PRAYER SERVICE 7:30 P.M. MARVIN GOCHENOUR, PASTOR | SUNSET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 9025 SUNSET DRIVE SERVICES & CHURCH SCHOOL | JOIN OUR CHURCH DIRECTORY. CALL VICKI — 666-7981