Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36.

IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Gospel Reading

Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from John 17:1-13

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

Saints and Feasts

May 28

Fathers of the 1st Council

The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar.

Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council). Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful.

Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honour, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith.

Weekly Bulletin

Memorial Service: Today’s Memorial Service is offered in loving memory of Anastasia Gkanatsios 2 years. Eternal be her memory.

Agape Coffee Fellowship: Todays Agape Coffee Fellowship is sponsored by our Ladies Philoptochos Society. Thank you to our volunteer coffee hostess.

Church Services: June 3rd, 2017 - Saturday of Souls - Psychosabatofor the day before Pentecost. Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. Please bring kolyva and list of names to be commemorated, remembering our loved ones, and as a Church Family we remember those who have sacrificed, fought and even died(martyred) to give us the foundation of our Orthodox Christian Faith.

Ladies Philoptochos Society News: Please join us for our End of Year dinner on Monday, June 19, 2017, 6:30 pm at THE IRON RAIL - 10 Rail Road Street. New Milford, CT - $35 per person. RSVP to: Nitsa 203.470.6839, Caryn 203.512.5698 or Fevri 203.778.9196 by June 16^th. Payment and dinner selection in advance. Hope to see you all there!

Ladies Philoptochos Stewardship: We are delighted to say that as of today we have 110 ladies that submitted their Philoptochos' stewardships. Thank you for supporting all the wonderful things National Philoptochos does, most of all thank you for supporting our chapter and the many things we accomplish throughout the year. We will be collecting stewardships throughout the year, it is not too late! See any Philoptochos board member for a membership form or pick one up at church.

The Greek Experience Festival: KEEP DATES OPEN – JUNE 9th -10^th -11^th - Get to know your fellow parishioners by working together for the benefit of our Church. We need each and every one of you to VOLUNTEER. Everyone’s HELP is needed at Festival time. This is our Community’s big fundraiser. Come be a part of it all. There is work (and fun) for all. Please do your best to sell and / or buy as many raffle tickets as possible. To volunteer, please see any Parish Council member, or contact one of the Chairpersons below:

Advertising	Allison Arvanitis 203.748.2992
Boutique	Valerie Rountos 203.664.1302
Children’s Food/Activities	Philip Herzegovitch 203.746.8940 - Nick Chryssikos 914.248.5293
Greek Dancing	Presvytera Maria Karloutsos 203.797.0685
Kafenio	Anastasia Osdranus 203.792.3268 - Ioanna Biniaris 203.743.7188 Kristalla Christou 203.770.4645
Loukoumades	Rose Koulouris 860.350.4338
Parking	Harry Manesis 203.982.9615 - Mark Vendetti 860.318.6433
Pastry	Nitsa Carino 203.470.6839 - Caryn Flannery 203.512.5698 (scheduling) Dina Athanasiou 574-329-1616 - Fevri Gkanatsios 203-512-9789
Raffle	Elena Koutoumbas 203.788.6047 - Peter Soumakis 845.878.6028
Set-up/breakdown	Jim Rountos 203.744.0756 - Greg Kallas 203.733.1983
Soda/Bar	Nick Kaplanis 203.788-1986 - Tony Kaplanis 203.312.8165
Souvlakia	Konstantine & Erin Karloutsos 203.244.5912
Taverna	John & Valerie Rountos 203.664.1302
Youth Folk Singers	Dino Kolitsas 203.263.5410
50/50 Raffle	Patrick Pyers - 860.355.3566 - Chrysse Terrill 203.948.9674 - Shannon Kaplanis 203.312.8165
Clean-up/Tables/Trash	EVERYONE!!!

Festival Pastry Baking: The Pastry Committee is very thankful for the many parishioners who have volunteered and donated towards the baking of our delicious pastries. We have been baking all the pastries here at Church to have uniformity in size and quality. We need your support. Please come for as many hours as you can - the more hands, the sooner we will finish! Lunch will be provided on all baking days!

Baking days are:

Thursday, June 1^st at 10 am till we finish / 6:00 PM (baking melomakarono, revani, kourambeithes)
Tuesday, June 6^th at 10:00 am till finished, (baking Baklava, kadaifi, karidopita, revani)
Thursday, June 8^th, Packaging the pastries: 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

The baking at the Church has been very successful. Your help is welcome and needed. Come to help and learn to make these delicious pastries. We have a wonderful time & fun as we work together for our Church. Also, monetary donations are greatly appreciated; please make checks out to AGOC - noting that it's for "baking supplies" checks can be mailed to Church or to Pastry Chairpersons - or leave your check at the candle stand.

We Need your Help : Please sign-up to work at the Festival - see any Parish Council Member, Festival Chairperson or Philoptochos member. We need help at the soda/water booth, please contact Nitsa Carino 203.470.6839. High Schoolers Welcome!

Upcoming Events: Dates to Remember: Sunday June 18^th– Graduate Recognition Sunday Our High School and College Graduates are honored and also a special Agape Coffee Fellowship will be offered by their proud parents. Parents please email Fr. Nickolas with your graduates name and to participate in this annual event.

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