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Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-14
Bulletin Contents
Benedict
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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




Services Schedule

Sunday Services: Orthros 8:15 am.

                         Divine Liturgy 9:30 am.


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
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Saints and Feasts

Benedict
March 14

Benedict the Righteous of Nursia

This Saint, whose name means "blessed," was born in 480 in Nursia, a small town about seventy miles northeast of Rome. He struggled in asceticism from his youth in deserted regions, where his example drew many who desired to emulate him. Hence, he ascended Mount Cassino in Campania and built a monastery there. The Rule that he gave his monks, which was inspired by the writings of Saint John Cassian, Saint Basil the Great, and other Fathers, became a pattern for monasticism in the West; because of this, he is often called the first teacher of monks in the West. He reposed in 547.


Allsaint
March 14

Euschemon the Confessor, Bishop of Lampasakos


Eden
March 14

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.


Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Here it were well to sigh aloud, and to wail bitterly: for not only do we imitate the hypocrites, but we have even surpassed them.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

For I know, yea I know many, not merely fasting and making a display of it, but neglecting to fast, and yet wearing the masks of them that fast, and cloaking themselves with an excuse worse than their sin.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

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PARISH NEWS

PARISH NEWS

Pangari Schedule: Ria Pierelli, Nick Yiannos and Donna Efstatos.

Today is Forgiveness Sunday.

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, Clothing Donation Drive and Lenten Retreat.

There will be a Philoptochos Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00 pm. Zoom link was sent to Philoptochos members. If you need the link please contact the church office or Maria Marinakis.

GOYA Discussion: There will be an in person Goya Discussion on Thursday, March 18th, 5:00 pm., in the gym.

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

MARCH 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 evening, March 15th, First Day of Lent, Compline service 6:00 pm (In Church)

Wednesday evening, March 17th, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm (In Church)

Friday evening, March 19th, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 5:30 pm and 1st Salutations 7:00 pm. (In Church)

Saturday, March 20th, DL 9:00/10:00 am., 3rd Saturday of the Souls  (In Church)

Monday evening, March 22nd, Compline service 5:00 pm (In Church)

Thursday, March 25th DL 9:00/10:00 am., Annunciation of the Theotokos (In Church)

Friday evening, March 26th, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 5:30 pm and 2nd Salutations 7:00 pm. (In Church)

Monday evening, March 29th, Compline service 5:00 pm  (In Church)

Wednesday evening, March 31st, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm (In Church)

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 15: First Day of Lent

March 20: Philoptochos Virtual Lenten Retreat

March 21: Parish Oratorical Festival

March 28: March 25th Celebration

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, March 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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