MARCH CHURCH SERVICES
† March 17, Sunday Evening, Katanyktikos Vespers 6:00 pm.
† March 18, Clean Monday, Compline & Lenten Meal 6:00 pm.
LENT BEGINS
† March 20, Wednesday Evening, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm.
† March 22, Friday Evening, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 5:30 pm., First Salutations 7:00 pm.
† March 23, Saturday, Divine Liturgy 9:00 / 10:00 am., 3rd Saturday of the Souls
† March 24, Sunday Evening, Great Vespers of the Annunciation 6:00 pm.
Evangelismos or Annunciation Church
† March 25, Monday, Divine Liturgy 9:00 / 10:00 am.,
ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS
† March 25, Monday Evening, Compline 5:00 pm.
† March 27, Wednesday Evening, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm.
† March 29, Friday Evening, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 5:30 pm., Second Salutations 7:00 pm
† March 31, Sunday Evening, Katanyktikos Vespers 6:00 pm.
PARISH NEWS
● Pangari Schedule: Stephanie Farrell, Carol Kafkalas, Anthony Panetta & Nick Yiannos.
● Greeter Schedule: Donna Efstatos.
● Today is Forgiveness Sunday.
● Old Coffee Room: Parents, classroom materials, supplies and toys in the old coffee room are being destroyed. Please stay with your children during/after church and do not let them wander into classrooms. Thank you.
● PASCHAL CARD: Please contact Georgia Psilopoulos @ 609-287-3179 (minimum donation of $20) to include your family name in the community paschal card.
● Today's coffee hour will be hosted by the Bulgarian School in the Fellowship Hall. If you are hosting the coffee hour please make sure that all products are nut free. We have children with severe nut allergies. Thank you! Please call or email Faten Dib 609-226-2691 or fattouneh@hotmail.com today and offer to sign up for a Sunday to host the coffee hour!
● Upon arrival at the church we should all open our red liturgy books and sing and read along with our chanters. The ancient tradition of our church is for all of us to fully participate in the Divine Liturgy.
● Attention all Parish Council Members and Youth Workers: You should be receiving new email notifications from Sterling for training and/or screening. Please keep an eye out for those emails.
CHURCH REMINDERS
Wearing masks is now optional in the church and throughout the community center. Those who are feeling sick should stay at home. We will continue to live-stream our church services.
UPCOMING EVENTS (see attached flyers)
March 18: Lent Begins
March 23: Philoptochos Lenten Retreat
March 25: Annunciation of the Theotokos
April 5-7: Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Celebrations
April 14: Philoptochos Membership Drive - See Attached Flyer
May 5: Resurrection
May 9: Friends of Hellenic Studies: The American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia presents Dr. Kitromolidis. (more information to follow)
June 6-9: Greek Festival
June 23-29: Camp Good Shepherd
RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion is offered to those baptized Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves for the reception of the Sacrament by prayer and fasting. Blessed Bread is available for all our visitors at the very end of the Divine Liturgy. Our Sunday School students receive Holy Communion first and then we will approach from the center aisles, starting with the front pews, one pew at a time.
PHILOPTOCOS - ANNOUNCEMENTS
Philoptochos meeting today in Father's Reception Room after Sunday School.
Visitations at Pascha: The Philoptochos Sisters are visiting all our stay-at-home parishioners on Wednesday, March 27. We will meet in the church parking lot at 12 noon. All Parishioners are welcome to join us as we bring our Paschal greetings. Please confirm with Ginny Kramvis email ekramvis@comcast.net, text or call 609 513 2357 or Maria Marinakis email mariathesurfer@outlook.com text or call 609 741 6237. Thank you.
The 2024 Philoptochos Membership Drive is under way. We hope you will renew (for the calendar year 2024) or if it is your first time, consider joining!
Attached: Membership Form. Please complete and submit (along with your donation) to the church office or to the membership committee*
This is a wonderful opportunity to be a member by joining the sisterhood of love and friendship while working together to make a difference in our local and worldwide communities ! https://www.philoptochos.org/
Membership Committee: Dorrie Papademetriou dpapadem@comcast.net , Donna Efstatos d.efstatos@gmail.com , Faten Dib fattouneh@hotmail.com , and Ginny Kramvis ekramvis@comcast.net.
Holy Trinity Philoptochos announces the 2024 Father George Liacopulos Scholarship for all high school seniors. Deadline for submission of application materials is May 1, 2024. Applications will be available at the church office, Sunday School, or from Philoptochos. Please contact Dorrie Papademetriou at dpapadem@comcast.net for details.
Philoptochos will continue to sell Shop Rite Gift Cards. Please see attached flyer with information on how to purchase.
FESTIVAL ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY
This year for our June Festival (June 6-9), we are planning to have place mats for the trays advertising various businesses. Approximately over 10,000 people attend the festival. The cost is $350 for four days. If you are interested in advertising your business please call: Maria Lianidis at 609-335-7942.
YOUTH AND ADULT CONFESSIONS
The Lenten period is an important time of spiritual preparation for all Orthodox Christians. For this reason, everyone is encouraged to contact Father George, or any other spiritual father, in order to partake of the Sacrament of Confession.
LENTEN YOUTH PROCESSIONS
The youth of our community will be participating in the following events:
March 24: Icon Procession
April 7 - Cross Procession
April 27– Saturday of Lazarus
April 28 - Palm Procession
April 28- Evening - Girl’s Candle Procession
May 1- GOYAn’s Reading
May 3 - Afternoon & Evening Procession & Retreat
May 5- Agape Service at noon
BIBLE STUDY
Our bible study group will meet on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 via zoom
GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
Please join us for The Greek Independence Day Parade, in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 7th. Come show your pride not only for our Greek heritage,
but for our church as well! THIS PARADE IS FOR ADULTS AND FOR CHILDREN.
* Please rsvp to George Plamantouras
(geepee16@hotmail.com) by April 1st
* The cost is $10 per person
* Please bring a bagged lunch and beverage
* Check the weather and be dressed appropriately
* The bus will depart at 12:00 noon from the front of the church
ELEFTHERIA DINNER TICKETS
Please contact Father George if you are interested in attending the Eleftheria Banquet on Saturday, April 6th at the Adelphia Restaurant. Ticket cost is $100.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE MEETING
There is a capital campaign meeting on Thursday, March 21st, 5:00 pm., via Zoom.
BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING
There is a building committee meeting on Thursday, March 21st, via Zoom.
YOUTH SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT
After Sunday School and/or the Divine Liturgy, all of the children are to stay in the Fellowship Hall with their parents. The gym, classrooms and church areas will be off limits to the children.
SPECIAL TLC ANNOUNCEMENT
In order to ensure the safety of all our TLC children, the following procedures are being implemented effective immediately. During TLC school hours (Monday-Friday, 6:45 a. to 5:30 pm) all parishioners must be either buzzed in through the front door of the community center or must be checked in through the TLC main entrance. Any parishioner who has a key or fob to our facility must follow the same procedures.
MEMORIALS
If you are planning a family memorial, please contact the church office far in advance of the date.
PARKING
Due to safety regulations, please do not park cars along the curb in front of the church and the community center during church services and other events. Thank you!