Ushers: Stamati Polles & T J Hare
Epistle Reader: Monique Polles
Prosphoro: Father Andrew
Orthros starts at 8:45 a.m.
Since we cannot have our traditional Christmas program please
stay and join us for narration of the Christmas story as told by one of young ladies.
December 24th - Orthros at 5:45 Liturgy at 5:30 pm Please Join Us.
It has been a strenge year for all of us - many of us have faced "challenges" we have never had to face before. This year, more than ever before, we need the peace that only our Lord can provide. If we cannot be together to celebrate the Nativity of Lord - our thoughts and prayers are with you. For those who may want come church and light a candle or say a prayer, and may not want to stay, we encourage you do so during the Orthros service during which only a few people are present. Some have taken advantage of this time, all are welcomed to join us. We are grateful to all who have remembered their Church through this difficult year. If you want to make a special Christmas "gift" you can do so by mail, or using the "Light a Candle Say a Prayer" link on our Church web page: www.holytrinitysaintjohnjackson.org May we all have a Blessed Nativity Season.
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 will resume after the holidays
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, Maria Costas, Alexa Zouboukos, DotPavlou, Jean Hare has asked that we pray for her nephew Scot Smith, Presvitera Bonnie Koufopoulos, Sherry Wheat (Theo Mavridoglou's friend's spouse), Charlie Privett (Chris Valsamkis' friend from Aberdeen MS). 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.