PARISH NEWS
In the near future we will be providing information about our Sunday school schedule.
The Ocean City Fall Block Party has been canceled.
Our annual Greek Festival has been postponed till June 2021. We will not be having our festival in September.
Our Philoptochos Bid-n-Buy has been postponed till next year.
SEPTEMBER WEEKDAY SERVICES
Please call or email Ginny Kramvis for registering for weekday services. Seating is limited to 20 people. (609-513-2357 or ekramvis@comcast.net)
† Monday morning, September 14, Divine Liturgy 9:00/10:00 am., Elevation of the Holy Cross
† Wednesday morning, September 16, Divine Liturgy 9:00/10:00 am., St. Euphemia
† Thursday morning, September 17, Divine Liturgy 9:00/10:00 am., St. Sophia and her three daughters
† Wednesday morning, September 23, Divine Liturgy 9:00/10:00 am., Conception of John the Baptist
† Saturday morning, September 26, Divine Liturgy 9:00/10:00 am., Falling Asleep of John the Evangelist
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 13: Holy Trinity Youth Blessing Service
September 14: Greek School Begins - Virtually
September 20: Philoptochos Memorial
September 22: OCMC Virtual Event
September 27: CVS Flu Clinic
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.
YOUTH BLESSING SERVICE
Once again this year we will have our blessing service for all of our children, teachers, coaches, and advisors. The Blessing Service will take place on Sunday, September 13 at the end of the Divine Liturgy. This year the children will not gather around the table as they usually do, but instead will stay in their seats and then come forward after the prayers to be sprinkled with the Holy Water. Our teachers will ensure that our students are safely distanced as they approach for their blessing.
May we all enjoy a blessed New Ecclesiastical and School Year!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Please email Sunday School Registrations to Sarai Taraborrelli at sarai1southrey@gmail.com or send via mail to the Church Office.
Sunday School will be taught virtually to begin the school year. We are working on developing a virtual class schedule so that all children may participate.
Information regarding the class schedule will be sent out next week. Please contact Sarai Taraborrelli if you have any questions.
The Sunday School blessing will be held in church Sunday September 13, 2020 for all who are able to attend.
CVS FLU CLINIC
CVS is offering Free Flu shots (with most insurances) on Sunday, September 27 from the hours of 11:30 am til 4 pm at Holy Trinity. Bring your family and friends to get your shots before the flu season begins. CDC Covid-19 safety guidelines will be followed to insure you stay safe. Other vaccinations will be available as well. We look forward to helping you to better health. Please RSVP to Ria Pierelli at Rpierelli@gmail.com
PARISH REOPENING INFORMATION
We are happy to announce that we have received permission to reopen our Church. It will be great to see you all in person after many weeks of physical separation.
We are urging all of us to refrain from being judgmental towards those who are not yet ready or able to attend services. Oftentimes, we do not know the personal situations experienced by our sisters and brothers.
Here are many of the guidelines that we all need to follow during this first phase of reopening.
- Sunday morning Divine Liturgies will take place in the gymnasium and we will only be able to enter through the front door outside of the gym foyer.
- We will not be permitted to go to other parts of the facility, except to use the restroom nearby (one person at a time).
- Only 75 people can register for attendance each Sunday on a first come first served basis. Overflow registrants will be first in line for the following Sunday.
- Each of us will receive an email from “Sign Up Genius” each week. Please be sure to provide all the contact information that is requested.
- While consecutive Sundays will appear on the “Sign Up Genius”, please only register for one Sunday at a time so that we can give everyone a chance to attend.
- Chairs in the gymnasium will be spaced in a safe manner. Please do not move the chairs, nor move around inside the gym to converse with other people.
- Masks must be worn at all times. Please bring a mask from home.
- Upon arrival, each of us will be asked a few general health questions. If we are sick or have been near a sick person, we will not be permitted to attend the Divine Liturgy.
- If someone experience symptoms sometime after the Divine Liturgy, THEY MUST NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
- Everyone must sanitize their hands upon arrival.
- We are not lighting individual candles. Two large candles will be lit in front of the altar on behalf of all of us.
- A collection tray will be placed at the pangari, but will not be passed around in Church. Please bring exact change as no change will be handled.
- All cell phones must be turned off completely in order to preserve our wifi connection.
- A few chairs will be set up in the back of the gym for parents with young children.
- For those who do not use email or the internet, I am encouraging them to seek out a family member or fellow parishioner who can register for them. A separate letter in the Greek language will explain this to our seniors.
- We are not permitted to have a coffee hour, nor to socialize with one another after the Services.
WEEK DAY LITURGIES
Week Day Liturgies will be celebrated in the Church and participants can only enter through the front door of the Church.
- We are limited to 20 people at a time for these services. Seating spots will be marked with a blue dot on the pews.
- We are giving preferential consideration to our senior citizens (who may be uneasy about larger crowds) and to those who are celebrating their name days on a given day.
- Attendees must contact Ginny Kramvis two days in advance of the Week Day Liturgy so that we do not go over the 20 person limit (609-513-2357). In addition, a relative or friend can email Ginny at ekramvis@comcast.net.
- All of the other guidelines as described above for Sunday Liturgies, also apply to the Week Day Liturgies.
MEMORIALS
If you are planning a family memorial, please contact the church office far in advance of the date, so that we can properly register your family for church attendance.
REMINDER FOR YOUTH WORKERS AND PARISH COUNCIL
Please complete your background check and two online trainings as soon as possible. Contact Lisa Mitoulis with any questions.
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS
Father George and Lisa will be reaching out to you in the near future in order to plan the upcoming church calendar year.
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!