My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It has been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic altered our daily lives. In fact, that last day that we were operating freely was the Sunday of Orthodoxy, which was March 14, 2020. Our faithful were not able to come to church during Great and Holy Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. Proclaiming “Christ is Risen” on Great and Holy Pascha to the whole world through a cellphone camera overwhelmed me with joy, with regards to His defeat of death, but felt “hollow” without all of you present. Thank God that the technology allowed for some connection.Through Facebook and Zoom we were able to still be “together.”

This year, we are more greatly prepared technologically, and we also have safety protocols in place, a year of experience, and a vaccine being disseminated. I pray fervently that the world will be safely opened for us to be together as a family this Pascha.

In Genesis 3:15, the Lord says to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." In other words, the devil and humanity will continue to harass each other until the end; corruption in the world is inevitable and our lives will be filled with challenges and torment. 2020 was one of the more difficult years, but every year has its difficulties.In the world we are in constant dissonance—in eternity, His abiding love and peace.

Understanding this reality is crucial to our faith and our constant focus on what is to come. We must be vigilant in our hope, dwell in the faith, and abide in love. The harassment of evil in the world must not be allowed to derail us in our journey towards salvation. For it is nothing but a nuisance when we understand the salvation which has been prepared for us. This reality instills in us true joy; thus diminishing our sorrows.

For this reason, I call on each of us to plan for a Great and Holy Lent filled with spiritual exercise (ascesis) –fasting, meditation and prayer. This is the season to prepare for His Passion and Resurrection –let us not be defrauded by the world. I would encourage each of you to reach out to me for guidance in this journey –for at its end is the Risen Lord!

With love and respect, I remain in Service of our Lord who took on carnal flesh that we may achieve salvation,

Fr. Jon

The SJC Parish Oratorical Festival will be held on Sunday, March 14, at 12 Noon. This event will be completely virtual and all are invited to log in and be inspired by our youth. This is a wonderful event!!! Don’t miss it!

Please visit the Greek Glendi Website at www.glendi.us!!!

Assumption Covid Guidelines

Before Coming to Church

• †  Consider your risk.  Those who are at risk (persons with pre-existing health conditions and those over the age of 65) are strongly encouraged to stay at home.
• †  Assess your health.  Anyone who is currently experiencing any symptoms of illness must stay at home.
• †  Make sure you have a mask. (Masks for children under the age of 7 are not required but preferred. Note: Children 2 and under should not wear masks.)

Upon Arrival at Divine Liturgy

A Parish Council Member will greet you to:

• †  Verify all who enter the church have a mask.
• †  Take your temperature with a touchless thermometer (anyone with a temperature of 100.5° or above will not be permitted to enter).
• †  Provide hand sanitizer.
• †  Ask you the following:  Have you had a fever or other symptoms of Covid-19 in the past 72 hours? Have you been in contact with anyone that tested positive or exhibited symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days?
• †  Open the door and direct you to your seat.

At Divine Liturgy

• †  The Icons will remain on the Solea.  One may bow to show respect.  Please do not kiss any icon.
• †  Seating (social distanced at 6 feet apart) will numbered and assigned.
• †  There will be no choir. (Chanter only)
• †  No paper bulletins will be distributed.  Bulletins will continue to be sent electronically.
• †  No liturgical books will be in the pews.
• †  Procedures for receiving Holy Communion will be announced prior to Holy Communion (procedures, given by the Metropolis of Detroit are listed below). The Eucharist will be distributed to those wishing to partake. Parishioners are reminded not to judge others based on their individual decision in this regard.
• †  No tray will be passed (the tray will be at the candle stand).
• †  Antidoron will be distributed in plastic bags. The hand of the priest is not to be venerated with a kiss.  One may bow to show respect.

General Applicable Guidelines

• †  The Commonwealth of Kentucky allows for upto 50% of capacity (=120 people). Family units must maintain a distance of at least 6 feet.
• †  There will be no gatherings on church premises aside from Divine Liturgy.  Fellowship groups, religious education and any other meetings that are typically held on church grounds will remain virtual (Zoom).
• †  The priest may offer pastoral counsel and provide the sacraments of Communion, Unction, and Confession on an appointment basis. Proper precautions for limiting contact and proximity must be observed.
• †  Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals may also be conducted according to the capacity limitations and rules for each phase.
• †  No one is allowed be in any church facility without the express permission of the priest.

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 Holy Communion Procedures (Metropolis of Detroit)

It is clearly understood that the Holy Communion is the very Body and Blood of Christ which cannot be tainted by any harmful thing, and that those who receive it with proper intent of mind and heart cannot be harmed by it. However, for the pastoral reason that we do not want people to allow their fear of the coronavirus to separate them from the chalice, clergy are to drop the sacrament into the opened mouths of the faithful, being careful that the spoon not come into contact with the person. If accidental contact with the individual is made, the spoon will be immediately sanitized by dipping it in grain alcohol (140 proof or more) for at least 30 seconds,  dipping it in a rinse of water, and wiping it dry prior to the next use.

Bible Study is an opportunity for us to apply the Scriptures to our everyday lives. The Bible is the “Good News” that enriches our faith and deepens our understanding of every issue that we face. This can only be done through obtaining the mind of the Holy Fathers. Let the scripture come alive in your life today!!!

The Wednesday Orthodox Bible Study will meet on Wednesday Evenings via ZOOM Teleconference (check calendar or email for link) from 6:00pm-7:30pm (please check calendar to verify times). Make a commitment to learning His Word!

Come and celebrate the Restoration of the Icons into the Church as a united Orthodox Community of Kentucky on March 21st.Great Vespers will take place at St. Michael at 5 PM on March 21st!!! The congregation will be seated socially distant and there will be no reception to follow...but, we will be together in unity to proclaim the triumph of the faith!!!

• New Email Service and Platform! Done! Our new emails are all @agoclou.org. They are... priest, president, announcements, stewardship, office and Philoptochos.
• Enhancements streaming service! Done! Allows us to stream in HD to Facebook Live without the “buffering” that interrupted service at home.
• New URL www.greekorthodoxlou.org! Done! Allows us to stream in HD to Facebook Live without the “buffering” that interrupted service at home.
• Website appearance updated! In progress! Content has been updated to be more dynamic and simple. We can now accept donations through Paypal at our website! The next step is to create a better appearance with potential for current content upload.
• Livestream will be added to Website and Roku Platform! To be done... Our goal is to have more options for our parishioners and visitors to stream our services.
• A Youtube Channel to be opened! To be done... A place to share our community with the world...

Are you already Kroger shopper?
Your current shopping could be benefitting the Assumption!

Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy...all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!

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TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)

· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions

· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.

· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.

· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.

· Update or confirm your information.

· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.

· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.

· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!

By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!