February 16
Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-16
Bulletin Contents
Holy Trinity Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (609) 653-8092
- Fax:
- (609) 653-0375
- Street Address:
- 7004 Ridge Ave
- Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
- Mailing Address:
- 7004 Ridge Ave
- Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Services: Orthros 8:15 am.
Divine Liturgy 9:30 am.
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-02-09
- Publish Date:
- 2020-02-02
- Publish Date:
- 2020-01-26
- Publish Date:
- 2020-01-12
- Publish Date:
- 2020-01-05
- Publish Date:
- 2019-12-29
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode
When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode
O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Saints and Feasts
February 16
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.
Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.
February 16
Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions
This Martyr contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290, in Caesarea of Palestine, and was put to death by command of Firmilian, the Governor of Palestine. His fellow contestants' names are Valens, Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, and five others from Egypt: Elias, Jeremias, Esaias, Samuel, and Daniel. Their martyrdom is recorded in Book VIII, ch. 11 of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, called The Martyrs of Palestine.
February 16
Flavianos, Patriarch of Constantinople
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.
Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32
The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
Wisdom of the Fathers
But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century
... but since he repented, and did not despair, he was restored, even after such great corruption, to the same splendour as before, and was arrayed in the most beautiful robe, and enjoyed greater honours than his brother who had not fallen.
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century
PARISH NEWS
Pangari Schedule: Haitham Dib, George Efstatos & Rami Nassar.
Memorial Services will be held today for Eleni (12 years) & Vasilios Simelis (43 years) and Dimitrios (15 years) & Gertrude (3 years) Vanikiotis and Thomas Timmons (4 years), family of Thomas and Helen Vanikiotis. May their memories be eternal.
Please join us in the gym for "Breakfast at Holy Trinity's" hosted by our Capital Campaign Committee, following the Divine Liturgy.
UPCOMING EVENTS
See attached flyers for more information on these upcoming events.
February 16: "Breakfast at Holy Trinity's"
February 18 & 20: Festival Baking Begins!
February 21: JOY Movie Night
February 23: Council of Ministries Meeting
February 29: Philoptochos Retreat
March 1: Spring General Assembly
March 2: Great Lent Begins
March 5: Save the Date - Hellenic Studies
March 27 & 28: Philoptochos Yard Sale
RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion is offered to those baptized Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves for the reception of the Sacrament by prayer and fasting. Blessed Bread is available for all our visitors at the very end of the Divine Liturgy. Our Sunday School students receive Holy Communion first and then we will approach from the center aisles, starting with the front pews, one pew at a time.
CHURCH SERVICES
† February 17, Monday, Divine Liturgy 9:00 / 10:00 am Theodore the Tyro.
† February 22, Saturday, Divine Liturgy 9:00 / 10:00 am 1st Saturday of the Souls.
HOLY TRINITY COFFEE HOURS
Please call or email Faten Dib 609-226-2691 or fattouneh@hotmail.com today and offer to sign up for a Sunday to host the coffee hour! There are many Sunday’s available and it is a great way for your family, or a few families together, to offer fellowship and refreshments to our community. We will post any available Sundays in the weekly newsletter and the monthly Herald. In the event that no one signs up for a Sunday to host a coffee hour, only coffee will be available at the Fellowship Hall. So come one, come all and sign up today to host “Holy Trinity Coffee Hour”. Available Sundays for March: March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th.
PHILOPTOCHOS
In an effort to create awareness and encourage participation of Philoptochos philanthropic initiatives and projects please like/follow our new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Holy-TrinitysPhiloptochos-St-Elpida-Chapter-119236026143902/
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
There will be a parish council meeting on Monday, February 17th at 6:00 pm.
BIBLE STUDY
Our next Bible Study will be on Tuesday, February 18th., at 7:00 pm.
PB&J CLUB
Help us make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Salvation Army. Come to the church’s commercial kitchen on Thursday, February 20th., 5:30 to 7:00 pm. RSVP to Donna Efstatos at d.efstatos@gmail.com Donations of peanut butter and jam are appreciated. Pizza will be served!
CHURCH REBUILDING MEETING
There will be a church rebuilding meeting on Thursday, February 20th at 7:00 pm.
SCHEDULING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
In order to avoid scheduling conflicts all parish ministries and organizations must call the church office to schedule all meetings, practices and events (even if they are not scheduled at the church).
COUNCIL OF MINISTRIES - GOALS
--Promote communication and coordination between Ministries
--Highlight each ministry’s role in promoting our Mission and Vision
--Encourage ministry leaders to prioritize growing the inner circle of active members
REQUEST FOR GREETERS
Dear Parishioners,
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7
Please join us as we continue this meaningful ministry, creating more wonderful, first, and continuing impressions. The Great Commission of our Lord begins with us, as greeters, as we welcome everyone, sharing the love of Christ.
If anyone would like to join our wonderful Greeter Ministry, please speak to Ginny Kramvis or email ekramvis@comcast.net
ECCLESIASTICAL DIVORCES
All parishioners who are in the process of, or who have gotten a civil divorce, should contact Father George about obtaining a church divorce.
SHORE DINER'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVE
Shore Diner is partnering with our church for an outreach opportunity. Please see attached vouchers for more information.
PARKING
Due to safety regulations, please do not park cars along the curb in front of the church and the community center during church services and other events. Thank you!
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
We are excited to announce a new way to give your Business or Service a face in our church community. We are opening up the opportunity to advertise your place of business in our church bulletins. The most important aspect of this opportunity is that not only will it enhance and promote your business but ALL of the money collected for advertising will go to the church. We are confident that this advertising opportunity will improve the exposure and revenues of your business. If you have an interest in obtaining more details we encourage you to speak to Athena Sacco (athenasacco@gmail.com or 609-653-6775) or any other parish council member. We thank you in advance for your participation and support.
SHOPRITE GIFT CARDS
The Philoptochos is selling Shoprite Gift Cards and would appreciate your support. For every $100.00 dollars we sell, we get $5.00. Cards are available in $50 increments. Demi Zalman is our chairperson and she will be at church on Sundays after the service with the cards for anyone to buy. Write your check to "Holy Trinity Philoptochos" or use cash. If you do not see Demi in church any Philoptochos sister will be able to help you find out who has the cards that day.
As the needs of our community are rising, the Philoptochos is hoping that this initiative will provide added funds to help meet our ever-growing charitable requests. Please consider buying these cards and help us raise money to help others.
NAR-ANON FAMILY GROUP MEETING
The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by friend or family member’s drug addiction. As a Twelve-Step Program, they offer help by sharing experience, strength, and hope in a safe and anonymous forum. If you are or know someone who is impacted by someone else’s drug addition, please let them know about this meeting. Meetings are held every Thursday at 6:00pm.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
Gamblers Anonymous will be meeting on Tuesdays, from 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm at the church.
PARISH WEB SITE
Please visit our parish web site often for updated information. Group leaders should submit their groups' information to the church office ASAP so that all the tabs can be updated. www.holytrinityeggharbor.com
ANCIENT FAITH RADIO
Ancient Faith Radio can now be found at www.ancientfaith.com Bringing the Ancient Christian Faith to the modern world. By going on this site you can access some uplifting music, informative & educational Podcasts, and you can even get the App for your phone.
TRINITY LEARNING CENTER
Our TLC is now enrolling children from 3 months! Please continue to publicize and promote our child care facility. Let your family, friends, and neighbors know to call Trinity Learning Center at 653-9001 to register their children. TLC is collecting General Mills Box Tops for Education off the labels and boxes. Drop off your books, box tops and labels in the narthex.