Ushers: Constantine Zouboukos & Dr. Lambros Papademetriou
Epistle Reader: Miles Alex Graham
Prosphoro: Soula Nikolis (She made enough prosphoro last week for this week too) Thank You Soula
Orthros starts at 8:45 a.m.
Trisagion Prayers for Gus Mavridoglou (Theo Mavridoglou's brother who fell asleep in the Lord a year ago on December 16th). May his Memory Be Eternal.
A special prayer requst from Christina Childers and our Parish family members in Aberdeen, Please pray for a family friend, Charlie Privett, an add his name to the church prayer list. He has been friends with my Dad (Chris Valsamakis) for many years. He fell from a hunting stand in October and is paralyzed from the neck down. He is one of the nicest people I know and some extra prayers would be great!
Fr Andrew announced a few weeks back that our church food pantry is a bit bare these days and not much to offer when someone in need comes to the doors of our church looking for food. Sarah and I thought it would be a great idea if our Sunday school students in our church could each donate canned goods or non-perishable items for our church food pantry.
This is a simple way for our students and families in our church to help others who are less fortunate. We will have a box or container where the kids can place their donations. Please have your children bring the items by Sunday, December 20th.
Some suggestions for non-perishable food items are canned beans, canned meat, canned fruit and peanut butter. Honestly, canned goods with pop-top lids are better than canned goods that require a can opener. A metal container, think Chef Boyardee (microwavable pasta dishes) soups, ready to eat foods work better for homeless. The easy prepackaged stuff you can just pop in microwave. Snack packs of cheese and crackers and sealed fruit cups are great ideas..
Sunday School: "In Person" Classes have begun after the distribution of Holy Communion. Students are are asled to stay in church, sit in the first row and Father Andrew will speak to them and then send them to their class. PLEASE note - all classes will meet in the church hall for the time being.The two small classrooms off the main hallway are too small for proper social distancing and remain closed and "off limits". We ask that parents be respectful of the Sunday School students time in class and perhaps wait outside for their children since at this time no coffee hours or "fellowship" activities are allowed. We realize the importance of teaching our children about their faith and the Orthodox Church and we are trying to start up this ministry without using virtual learning rather "in person" learning.
Please Note - Our guidelines for "worshiping in person"
Please join us on Sundays for the celebration of the Orthros 8:45 am (for those who may feel uncomfortable in a "group setting" the hour between 9 and 10 may be a good time to come to church, light a candle, pray, or leave your offfering) and Divine Liturgy 10 am as we are now "open" following the guidelines of our Metropolis and of our State of Mississippi.See the guideline details below. If you cannot join us the Liturgy will be streamed "live and in color", (streaming at 10:00 am). If you cannot attend and still want to light a candle, or make an offering and watch. Please use any of the links below
Our Facebook page click on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/269685419794311/ or go to our church web page
or go to
www.holytrinitysaintjohnjackson.org and click on the link
We are grateful to those who have contributed and continue to contribute their donations through the mail or by the two secure on-line options both of which can be found on our web page.
The light a candle say a prayer link below or the Donate Button on the bottom of the home page
https://holy-trinity-st-john-the-theologian-greek-orthodox-church-jac.square.site
There will be limited access to the church proper - the door by the Church offices will be unlocked please use this one, please note that one or both of the double doors to the Church proper will remain open, so please enter quietly. We ask that when you enter or leave please wash your hands in the appropriate rest rooms or use the hand sanitizer provided by the door as you enter the Church proper. A limited number of disposable masks will be available.
Per the guidelines - all persons are asked to wear a mask or face covering in church.
The offering tray will be on the bench as you enter the nave - you may leave your offerings as you enter the Church proper.
You may proceed to the back of the church to light a candle - for now we ask that you refrain from kissing icons, priest's hand, etc. Bowing is another way to show our reverence to icons etc. etc.
Pews have been marked with a green cross so that the proper social distancing of 6 feet between people. There are 40 seats marked so there is plenty of room that allows for social distancing. Members of the same family may sit together.
Distribution of Holy Communion - row by row and stand six feet apart in line. You may remove your mask to receive Holy Communion - allow the servers to hold the Communion cloth under your chin. But please refrain from "touching the cloth" to your lips. Please understand that our Metropolis guidelines have insisted that all priests and their adult servers that help with the distribution of Holy Communion wear face masks while doing so.
Antidoron will not be offered after Holy Communion but will be available when you leave Church and will be offered in plastic zip lock baggies. As we leave the Church please follow the directions of the ushers so that we leave in an orderly fashion and still observe the six feet rule of social distancing.
Since we are asked to avoid "gatherings" of people we ask that you avoid, at least for the time being, "the temptation" to socialize as you enter or leave the Church proper and building.
We of course will continue to live stream We hope that this will unite us as we pray, will calm our souls and bring us closer to Christ. Stay well. Thoughts and prayers for all of you
Our December Birthday List: Chris Grillis-December 1st, Panayiotis (Pat) Zouboukos-December 2nd, Hutson Hontzas-December 3rd, Heather Hontzas-December 5th, Alexis Valsamakis Hood-December 9th, George Pinchuk-December 11th, Nicholas Nelson-December14th, Sammie Baggett-December 26th, Chris Zeppos-December 30th, Christina Valsamakis Childers-December 30th,Anthony Panos December 30th. PLEASE LET FATHER ANDREW KNOW OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS
Our Holy Trinity-St. John the Theologian Prayer List:
"Remember Lord, those whom each of us calls prayerfully to mind" Chuck Odom, Nicholas & Dianna Psaris, John Botes, Christ Castanis, George V. Pinchuk, Chris Grillis, Lambryne Angelo, Callie McDole, Malissa and Pat Zouboukos have asked that we pray for their friend Bill Hardin and their friend and neighbor Bill Spence, Paula Fowler, Victoria Lepsa (Cristina Nica's mother in Romania), Tatianna Koufopoulos Quick of Phoenix Arizona, please keep Costa Glennis's daughter Wanda Parker in your prayers, Miles "Alex" Graham has asked us to pray for his friend Alena Nasianceno, Maria Costas, Alexa Zouboukos, DotPavlou, Jean Hare has asked that we pray for her nephew Scot Smith, Presvitera Bonnie Koufopoulos after her shoulder surgery, Sherry Wheat (Theo Mavridoglou's friend's spouse). Please remember to pray for our Doctors, Nurses, and all those on the frontlines during these times and for all those who may be suffering or in hardships during this pandemic.