Cyber Security in our Parish: Cybercriminals are targeting Churches and parishioners across the United States with a sophisticated scheme through SMS texts and emails pretending to be from the parish priest. Please note that I would never reach out to you via a personal email or text message to request purchasing a gift card or any other immediate financial assistance. If you happen to receive a text or email claiming to be from me—or anyone—asking for a gift card or financial assistance DO NOT: i) reply to the message; ii) click on any links; iii) download any attachments; iv) use the contact information provided by that individual (either by text or email); and/or, v) share personal or financial information via email or phone. Vigilance requires that we question every single email that comes into our in-box and every single text message that hits our phones. If something appears general, suspicious, or urges immediate response or action, it is typically an indication of a scam. Likewise ensure that your computer is running active anti-virus and anti-malware and that you always confirm the validity and identity of any individuals sending you social media requests. Some of these scammers are impersonating profiles of fellow-parishioners and using that network of people to develop their sophisticated scams. Education and communication are our most powerful weapons. Please read this blog post by our Archdiocesan Department of Internet Ministries that provides more details on this gift card scam: http://bit.ly/church-gift-card-insert as well as the US Government’s FTC’s Consumer Alert bulletin: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2019/07/worshipers-targeted-gift-card-scam. Security is our collective responsibility. Let us work together to ensure the safety and security of our parish community. +Father Andreas
Sunday School: will be held this morning. Children should receive Holy Communion first, and proceed to the community center with Miss Chantal.
Memorial Service: this morning's 6-month Memorial Service is offered for the handmaiden-of-God Konstantina Kontogianni, sister of Vasilios. The Contis family invites you to join them afterwards in the community center for refreshment. May her memory be eternal!
House Blessings: during the days following the Feast of the Theophany (Jan. 6), it is customary for the Priest to visit the homes of his parishioners, bringing with him the “Jordan Water” for the traditional Theophany House Blessing. The First Great Sanctification of Water is performed at the end of the Divine Liturgy on the Eve of Theophany (Jan. 5). While that water may be given to the faithful to drink on that day and throughout the coming year, traditionally it is only the water from the Second Great Sanctification of Water, which is performed on the day of the Feast of Theophany (Jan. 6), that is called "Jordan Water" and used for the Theophany House Blessing. All who reside in the household should make every effort to be present for the Blessing. In anticipation of the arrival of the Priest to the house, the kandili (or candle), hand-censer and incense in the family’s icon corner should be prepared. If there is no icon corner, a small table should be placed on the eastern wall of the main room of the dwelling; the table, covered with a white cloth, should be set with one or more icons standing upright, a candle in a holder, a hand-censer and incense. A bowl along with several sprigs of basil (or evergreen) bound together with a string or ribbon should also be placed in the icon corner (or on the table), along with a clearly printed list of the Baptismal names of the members of the household. Upon the arrival of the Priest, he is to be greeted by all of the family members, each of whom asks the Priest’s blessing and reverences his right hand. Then a family member lights the kandili and hand-censer and turns off all televisions, radios, phones, etc. in the home. Lights should be turned on in all the rooms of the house that are to be blessed. Then the entire family gathers with the Priest before the icon corner (or table) to begin the Theophany House Blessing. Please contact Father directly (priest@gocvt.org) or at the church office (802.862.2155, ext. 1) to schedule your family's 2024 Blessing.
For information about current events and calendar, please go here on the parish website.