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Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2021-02-21
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
PARISH NEWS
Publphar
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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

Parish Administrator Lisa Mitoulis

lisa@cmmcw.com | 609-653-8092

Services Schedule

Sunday Services: Orthros 8:15 am.

                         Divine Liturgy 9:30 am.

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery


Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Let us flee from the boasting of the Pharisee and learn through our own sighs of sorrow the humility of the Publican. Let us cry out to the Savior, "Have mercy on us, for through You alone are we reconciled."

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press


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Saints and Feasts

Publphar
February 21

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Allsaint
February 21

Timothy the Righteous

Saint Timothy took up the monastic life from his youth, became a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and reposed in deep old age.

Allsaint
February 21

John III, Patriarch of Constantinople

Allsaint
February 21

Eustathius, Bishop of Antioch

Saint Eustathius, the great defender of piety and illustrious opponent of Arianism, was from Side in Pamphylia. He became Bishop of Beroea (the present-day Aleppo), and in 325 was present at the First Ecumenical Council. From thence he was transferred to the throne of Antioch. But Saint Constantine the Great, led astray by the slanders directed against the Saint by the Arians, banished him to Trajanopolis in Thrace, where he reposed in 337, according to some. Others say he lived until 360.

Allsaint
February 21

Zachariah, Patriarch of Jerusalem

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much lustre, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

When lately we made mention of the Pharisee and the publican, and hypothetically yoked two chariots out of virtue and vice; we pointed out each truth, how great is the gain of humbleness of mind, and how great the damage of pride.
St. John Chrysostom
CONCERNING LOWLINESS OF MIND., 4th Century

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PARISH NEWS

PARISH NEWS

Pangari Schedule: Rami Nassar, George Efstatos, Stephanie Farrell and Peter Liacopulos.

A 1 year memorial will be held today for Agoria Siozopoulos and a 3 year memorial for Costas Siozopoulos, parents of Lisa Mitoulis, Sue Papadeas and Achilleas Siozopoulos. May their memories be eternal.

Triodion begins today.

Philoptochos will continue to sell Shop Rite Gift Cards. Please see attached flyer with information on how to purchase. There is also flyers attached for the Philoptochos Membership Drive and a Clothing Donation Drive.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Please do not socialize and congregate in the foyer of the gym after the Divine Liturgy.

FEBRUARY 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) 

Next Sunday, we will have March weekday services posted.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 21: OCMC NJ Virtual Missions Benefit

March 7: Spring General Assembly

March 21: Parish Oratorical Festival

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.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Virtual Sunday School continues this week!  ZOOM links will be sent out via email on Saturdays. Please contact Sarai Taraborrelli if you have any questions. The Sunday School email address is Holytrinitysundayschool2020@gmail.com.

BIBLE STUDY

We will have Bible Study on Tuesday, February 23rd, via Zoom at 7:00 pm. A link will be sent prior to Bible Study.

STEWARDSHIP 2021

Stewardship packets for the year 2021 have been sent. Please fill out and return to the church office as soon as possible. If you have not received a packet, and would like one please contact the office (609-653-8092 X5). For those who are able, let us strive to give more generously than last year, so that we may continue to strengthen our Holy Trinity Church during these difficult times.
 
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.

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!

 

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