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Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2021-04-11
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
PARISH NEWS
Climicus
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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 Third Mode

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

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


Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

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


Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

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


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Saints and Feasts

Climicus
April 11

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

Allsaint
April 11

Guthlac the Hermit of Crowland

Allsaint
April 11

Pharmuthios the Anchorite

Antipas
April 11

Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Saint Antipas was a contemporary of the holy Apostles, by whom he was made Bishop of Pergamum. He contested during the reign of Domitian, when he was cast, as it is said, into a bronze bull that had been heated exceedingly. The Evangelist John writes of him in the Book of Revelation, and says (as it were from the mouth of Christ, Who says to the Angel [that is, the Bishop] of the Church of Pergamum): "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:13). The faithful pray to this Saint for ailments of the teeth.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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PARISH NEWS

PARISH NEWS

Pangari Schedule: George Booskos, Haitham Dib and Mary Kent.

A 40 day memorial will be held today for George Karathanasis, brother of Nick Karathanasis. May his memory be eternal.

A 40 day memorial will be held today for Anastasia (Esther) Panageas, wife of Sotirios Panageas. May her memory be eternal.

Mission Sunday: After the Divine Liturgy, Elaine Piniat, Missionary to Sweden, will offer us a presentation in the fellowship hall. Seating is limited to 25 people per state guidelines.

A second tray will be offered today for Holy Week flowers.

PASCHAL CARD: Please call Maria Marinakis (609-741-6237) or Faten Dib (609-226-2691)  to include your family name in the community paschal card. (minimum donation of $20) Forms are located at the pangari. 

 Philoptochos will continue to sell Shop Rite Gift Cards. Please see attached flyer with information on how to purchase. 

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

APRIL 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, April 12, Compline service 5:00 pm  (In Church)

†Wednesday evening, April 14, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm (In Church)

†Friday evening, April 16, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 5:30 pm and Akathyst Hymn 7:00 pm. (In Church)

Please see attached for remaining April services and Holy Week services (changes to schedule in red).

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 24: Saturday of Lazarus

April 25: Palm Sunday

May 2: Resurrection of Our Lord

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.
 
OCMC Lenten Coin Boxes will be mailed to the Sunday school children Please return to the church at the Agape Vespers on Sunday, May 2nd.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

We will have a Parish Council meeting on Monday, April 12th at 7:00 pm.

BIBLE STUDY

We will have Bible Study on Tuesday, April 20th, via Zoom at 7:00 pm. A link will be sent prior to Bible Study.

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR STOP THE HEROIN HALFWAY HOUSE

Items needed: single beds, lamps, toasters, cookware, chairs, tables, couches, dressers and linens. Please call Gary Kurtz at 609-233-0045 in you can donate. They will pick up.
 
ADULT CONFESSIONS

The Lenten period is an important time of spiritual preparation for all Orthodox Christians. For this reason, everyone is encouraged to contact Father George, or any other spiritual father, in order to partake of the Sacrament of Confession.

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.
  • 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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