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DIVINE LITURGY SUNDAYS 10 A.M.
OFFICE HOURS 10 A.M.- 3 P.M. MONDAY-WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY (CLOSED THURSDAY)
BONNIE SITARAS: OFFICE COORDINATOR
Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Today we celebrate the Synaxis in honour of the most sacred Forerunner, since he ministered at the Mystery of the Divine Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rest from labour. Fish allowed.
Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honor of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God.
Gregory became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After the death of Valens in 378, Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him 'Father of Fathers."
Saint Tatiana was the daughter of a most distinguished consul of Rome. She became a deaconess of the Church, and for her confession of the Faith of Christ, she endured many torments. As she was suffering, angels punished her tormentors with the same torments they inflicted on her, until they cried out that they could no longer endure the scourges invisibly brought upon them. She was beheaded during the reign of Alexander Severus (111-135).
submit to church office (telephone call/ email) by January 15
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Election Results:
Adam Angelas
Julie Hiotaky
Chris Hountalas
Parish Council Swearing In- January 12
JOINT (Incoming/Outgoing) Parish Council Meeting- January 15
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save the date
02-02-2020 (retirement Luncheon)
formal invite following
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Need extras or to purchase one for a friend?
Send an email to Mary Lucas and Gina Angelas @ hcgoc50th@gmail.com
Additional Yearbooks = $20.00/each
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SHOP AT ACE HARDWARE? 5% minus tax = (!)
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church or #214538. 5% line discount off everyday pricing in the store Ace Rewards as well as 6% Tax Exempt will come off automatically. 2% Ace Rewards
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SHOP AT KROGER?
Register your card in a few steps. Each May the registration needs to be renewed,
so if you were part of the program last year and haven't renewed, please do so. Go to:
http://www.krogercommunityrewards.com
Holy Cross' ID # 83567
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HOLY CROSS ALTAR BOYS 2019 - 2020
Captains: Sam Zervos, Yianni Giannakis, Alex Matthews
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TEAM 1 TEAM 2
Nicholas Barnaby
Benjamin Barnaby Cristo Stilianos
Mateo Pesaros Pano Stilianos
Stavros Fekaris Dino Thanos
Dimitri Sitaras Niko Thanos
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Team 1 Team 2
December 1,15,29 December 8, 22
January 12, 26 January 5, 19
February 9, 23 February 2, 16
March 8, 22 March 1, 15, 29
April 5, Holy Week 12-19 April 26
May 3, 17, 31 May 10, 24
June 14, 28 June 7, 21
July - August (Open)
September 13, 27 September 6,20
On Holy Days, if you come on Time you can serve :
for robes on holy days it’s first come-first serve.
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PLEASE NOTE ALTAR BOYS & PARENTS-
This is a great commitment to the Lord and it is an important RESPONSIBILTY to be on Time for the Divine Liturgy!
Liturgy begins at 10 a.m. SO please be on time !
DO NOT come into the Holy Altar after 10:05 a.m.
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Help us help others. We are accepting donations to support Goodfellows.
OUR THANKS
To those who in lieu of flowers gave monetary
contributions to the Church in memory of :
HARRY SITARAS
M/M James Heller
Mr. George Matheos
M/M Peter Zervos
M/M George Stefanakis
M/M Edward Power
M/M Steve Fekaris
M/M John George
M/M Tom Casoglos
M/M Evans Lucas
Mrs. Irene Zervos
Mr. Paul Taros
M/M John Floros
Athena Zisopoulos
Alexandra Lambropoulos
M/M Dean Evans
M/M Tony Manolias
M/M George Mortis
Ioanna, Bill & Harry Kafoulis
M/M Stelios Sinanis
M/M John Sinanis
Mr. Costas Koutouras
M/M Van Kyriakopoulos
Dr/Mrs. Marcus Zervos
M/M Gus Mackris
M/M Nick Feles
M/M Alex Kargilis
M/M Gus Spanos
Dr/Mrs. James Stewart
Mrs. Elaine Ioanou
Mrs. Ann Kargilis
FRANK BALDWIN
M/M Alex Kargilis
JEFF HIOTAKY
Mrs. Helen Hiotaky
Mrs. Elaine Ioanou
M/M James Grove
ALIA DEMOPOULOS
M/M John Alexander & Family
MICHAEL E. ZERVOS
M/M Bill Theodorakis
M/M Gus Mackris
Ms. Susan Armstrong
Mrs. Elaine Ioanou
Dr/M Marcus Zervos
M/M George Katsias
MARIA KOUTOURAS
Mr. Costas Koutouras
JOHN IOANOU
M/M Peter Morris
Mrs. Elaine Ioanou
GEORGIA MORRIS
M/M Peter Morris
GENEVIEVE HARABADIAN
Mrs. Elaine Ioanou
ANGELLO & VENA THANOS
Mrs. Elaine Ioanou
MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL