Becoming a choir member brings you many benefits – being an active participant in our services two Sundays a month, gaining more knowledge about the Liturgy and its hymns, connecting with a “family” engaged in a vital ministry, and becoming part of an active and forward-thinking group of people! Please consider the Choir as one of your stewardship contributions (time and talents) for this year! Now is a very good time to make the decision to join our Choir! Choir members are beginning preparation of all the special hymns that will be singing during Lenten services. We would love to have you as a new choir member! You don’t need to know how to read music or Greek – we take care of that at our Wednesday evening practices. If you’re interested, please come and talk to any choir member during coffee hour.

Today, we set aside church time where our young people take on leadership roles during the Divine Liturgy. Our Church School Youth Choir will be singing most of the hymns and responses of the Divine Liturgy – students should come to the front right pews as soon as they arrive, please by 10:00. Other young people will be reading the verses that precede the early hymns and the Epistle; others will serve as greeters in the Narthex.

Youth Sundays 2019-2020

02/9/20

03/8/20

04/12/20

05/10/20

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) with global headquarters in Washington, DC was founded on July 26, 1922 in Atlanta, GA for the purpose of assisting immigrants of Greek descent to achieve American citizen­ship, fluency in the English language, and to facilitate their assimilation into the American community. From humble roots, the Order of AHEPA has grown to become a respected, world-wide organization whose mission is to promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence. AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Join the longest standing Hellenic-American organization!

We are an organization that focuses on promoting awareness of Hellenic issues, supporting our fellow members, and sponsoring charitable causes at every opportunity and pleased to announce the reactivation of William McKinley AHEPA Chapter 91 on Saturday, April 25 at 4 pm. Our historic chapter was established on January 15, 1926. We will be joined by District 6 Governor Lou Katsos, Supreme Governor Tom Dushas, Director of Membership Argyris Argitakos, and Syracuse 37 President and Director of Veterans Mike Labatos.  

All those interested in joining and becoming a member please contact Steve Eoannou at (716) 432-3071 or seoannou@hotmail.com. Please complete the application and mail it with a dues check of $65 payable to AHEPA District 6 to Steve Eoannou, 676 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222.

The book selection for Lent this year is The Arena, a spiritual classic that is sure to enrich the Lenten journey. Join us each Wednesday during Lent after the 6:00 P.M. Liturgy of Presantified gifts for a Lenten pot-luck dinner at the Family Life Center (7:00 P.M.). Following dinner, Father Christos will lead a discussion of a few chapters of The Arena. We will be meeting March 4, March 11, March 18, March 25, and April 1. The book is available in the church bookstore and library. Copies of The Arena are available in the the church bookstore and library.  For more  information, visit: www.hocalibrary.blogspot.com. 

ONLY 1 ECCLESIASTICAL ITEM LEFT TO BE DONATED for the Holy Cross Chapel at the Family Life Center:

31a) 4 Side Chairs – Hand-carved Side Chairs for the Altar in Byzantine style, from dry basswood and varnished in natural chestnut wood color. Price: $880 each chair or $3,520 for 4 chairs {Consider donating an individual chair as part of a group family donation.} If you are interested in making a donation, please Call or Email Mary Danakas  at danakasmary@yahoo.com or (716) 912-8300 (please note: she does not text). Mary will be in the Coffee Hour to accept your order forms and/or donations.

We thank the 48 parishioners who have donated $5000 and become the founders of the Family Life Center. The Capital Campaign Committee would like to conclude this opportunity as soon as possible. There are 2 spots left!!

Greek School is held every Saturday at the 10:30AM at the FLC

5992 Genesee Street 

Lancaster , NY 14086

Stop in the library to peruse our table of books for Lent: cookbooks, devotionals, commentaries, and St. John the Ladders adaptation by Father John Mack, Ascending the Heights (we have many copies). Reading is a great way to prepare and observe Great Lent.

Today’s Coffee Hour & Bulletin is sponsored in loving memory of Evangelos George Zotos from his loving parents & family. May his memory be eternal.

CompassCare Presentation  Today, immediately after Liturgy, Dr. Dean Condon from CompassCare Pregnancy Services will speak about their initiative, as well as the services they offer. (Parlors)

LAST CHANCE BAKE SALE  Next Sunday, Philoptochos will host the annual Last Chance Bake Sale. This is your last chance to indulge in some yummy desserts and pastries before Lent begins on March 2. Please support our Philoptochos fundraisers, so we can help those in need in our communtiy, as well as through our Metropolis and National commitments.

For today’s Liturgy has been offered by: Irene Revelas and Megan Marcil. 

Let’s do a Pastichio Luncheon before Lent begins! Our monthly luncheon will be held at the Utica location on February 18^th at 12:30PM the 3^rd Tuesday of the month before Meatfare. Please bring a dish to pass and offer a ride if someone is in need. You may contact Marge Manos for more information at (716) 649-8478.

Tickets are available for purchase. Incluides dinner for 2! Please contact the Chairwoman Nina Krestos at (716) 839-5540 or Co-Chairman Tracy Krestos (716) 923-3726. 

The Stewardship and Outreach Committee will be instituting our Greeters Program starting the first Sunday in February. We’ve been pleased with the number of parishioners who have volunteered, but there’s still room for you to be a Greeter, too! Greeters will be assigned about one Sunday every two months to welcome those entering the Narthex, provide them with a Bulletin, invite newcomers and visitors to sign the Guest Book, and provide whatever guidance is necessary. In addition, Greeters will “shepherd” newcomers and visitors during the Coffee Hour, speaking with them, introducing them to others, and/or otherwise making them feel welcome. If you’re interested, please see Program Coordinator Pat Papafagos (134pap@gmail.com or call 716-634-0908), or contact Father Christos, Teddy Annas (T787@verizon.net), or Vicki Pappas (pappas@indiana.edu).

Parish family, the Stewardship and Outreach Committee would like to update our Church’s photo directory. We want to get new pictures of as many of our Church family as possible. But instead of scheduling appointments with a professional photographer, we would like to take the pictures ourselves, during Coffee Hour after the Divine Liturgy, or at other Church events. And you can submit your own pictures as well, at your convenience. We hope to have a finished photo directory in the late fall of this year. At Coffee Hour after each Sunday’s Liturgy, simply ask one of our three photographers to take your picture — Nick Malamas, Angeline Pappas, or John Melithoniotes. It can be an individual portrait, a couple, or a family portrait, however you wish. Be sure we get your names correctly. If you would like to submit your own individual or family photos, send them by email to John Melithoniotes at jmelithoniotes@gmail.com. You can also give printed current photos to John as well, or mail them in an envelope to the Church office.

We are pleased to announce the introduction of an electronic option for making regular offerings. Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account or processed using your credit or debit card. Our new electronic giving program offers convenience for you and provides much-needed donation consistency for our parish.

Your online gift is completely secure through the external monitoring and protection of Vanco Payment Solutions. Also, as with all offerings given through traditional means, your online gift is kept completely confidential.

Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Simply follow these easy steps:

1) Visit the church website at www.greekorthodoxchurchbuffalo.org
2) Click on the “Support our Ministries” button which is located on the right side of the homepage
3) Click on the Create Profile button, then
4) Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring contributions for items such as stewardship and the Capital Campaign.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate in contacting the Church Office.