November 25
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-11-25
Bulletin Contents
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (904)-829-0504
- Fax:
- (904)829-0507
- Email:
- HOLY3GOC@gmail.com
- Street Address:
- 2940 CR-214
- St. Augustine, FL 32084-2718
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Fr. John Hays, Interim Priest
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2018-11-18
- Publish Date:
- 2018-11-11
- Publish Date:
- 2018-11-04
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-28
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-21
- Publish Date:
- 2018-10-14
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Tone
The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your kingdom; glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν· διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι ζωοδότα. Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε φιλάνθρωπε.
Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Entry in the 4th Tone
Today is the prelude of God's good pleasure, and the proclamation of humanity's salvation. In the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, and in herself she announces Christ to all. Let us, then, with a great voice cry aloud to her: "Rejoice, you are the fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation."
Σήμερον τῆς εὐδοκίας Θεοῦ τὸ προοίμιον, καὶ τῆς τῶν ἀνθρώπων σωτηρίας ἡ προκήρυξις. Ἐν Ναῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ τρανῶς ἡ Παρθένος δείκνυται, καὶ τὸν Χριστὸν τοῖς πᾶσι προκαταγγέλλεται. Αὐτῇ καὶ ἡμεῖς μεγαλοφώνως βοήσωμεν· Χαῖρε τῆς οἰκονομίας τοῦ Κτίστου ἡ ἐκπλήρωσις.
Apolytikion for Great Martyr Catherine in the Plagal 1st Tone
Let us praise and extol the all-lauded Bride of Christ, the Protectress of Sinai, divine Saint Catherine, as the one who gives aid and her assistance to us; for she brilliantly suppressed the impious orators, with the sword of the Spirit. And being crowned as a martyr, she asks that all receive the great mercy.
Τὴν πανεύφημον νύμφην Χριστοῦ ὑμνήσωμεν, Αἰκατερῖναν τὴν θείαν καὶ πολιοῦχον Σινᾶ, τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν καὶ ἀντίληψιν, ὅτι ἐφίμωσε λαμπρῶς, τοὺς κομψοὺς τῶν ἀσεβῶν, τοῦ Πνεύματος τῇ μαχαίρᾳ, καὶ νῦν ὡς Μάρτυς στεφθεῖσα, αἰτεῖται πᾶσι τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Apolytikion for the Church in the 1st Tone
8th Tone
Blessed are You, O Christ our God; You made wise men of poor fishermen by sending down upon them Your Holy Spirit, and through them You caught the whole world, O Lover of mankind, glory to You.
Εύλογητός εἶ Χριστὲ ὁ Θεος ἡμῶν ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἁναδείξας καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῶν τῆν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας φιλάνθρωπε δόξα Σοι.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone
The Savior's most pure and immaculate temple, the very precious bridal chamber and Virgin, who is the sacred treasure of the glory of God, on this day is introduced into the House of the Lord, and with herself she brings the grace in the divine Spirit. She is extolled by the Angels of God. A heavenly tabernacle is she.
Ὁ καθαρώτατος ναὸς τοῦ Σωτῆρος, ἡ πολυτίμητος παστὰς καὶ Παρθένος, τὸ ἱερὸν θησαύρισμα τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ, σήμερον εἰσάγεται, ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Κυρίου, τὴν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τὴν ἐν Πνευματι Θείῳ· ἣν ἀνυμνοῦσιν Ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ· Αὕτη ὑπάρχει σκηνὴ ἐπουράνιος.
Saints and Feasts
November 25
Mercurius the Great Martyr of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Saint Mercurius came from Cappadocia, and was the son of Gordian, a Scythian. A young man, and a soldier of high rank, he refused to offer sacrifice to the idols, and after torments was beheaded during the reign of Valerian (253-260).
November 25
Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria
Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.
November 25
Apodosis of the Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5.
Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Gospel Reading
13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27
At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Parish News
A Word from Fr. John:
As we contemplate the Theotokos...
As Orthodox Christians we receive Holy Communion. And then, what? We say our prayers of thanksgiving after Communion – we give thanks to God for this truly amazing blessing and sanctification... and we ask for help in preserving the grace in which we now stand.
This is important: we need God’s help to “hold on to” what we have received in Communion – God’s grace; indeed, God himself. We need our own help to do this – we need to value ourselves enough to want to remain in the grace of God. We need each other’s help – and so we pray that each of us would fulfil our roles as members of Christ’s Body. And we need the help of the saints – those who have reached full maturity as members of Christ’s Body and who can pray most effectively for us.
Above all helpers beyond the Lord himself, then, we need the help of God’s mother to preserve that which we receive in Communion. Which is why we pray the final prayer of thanksgiving – this very direct, personal, and shameless cry for Mary’s aid and help and comfort:
All-holy Lady, Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, my hope, shelter, refuge, comfort, and joy: I thank you, for you have deemed me, the unworthy one, worthy to partake of the most-pure Body and precious Blood of your Son.
You who gave birth to the true Light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart;
You who conceived the Source of immortality, revive me who am dead in sin;
You who are the lovingly-compassionate Mother of the merciful God, have mercy on me and grant me compunction and contrition in my heart, humility in my thoughts, and the recall of my thoughts from captivity.
And grant me, until my last breath, to receive without condemnation the sanctification of the most pure Mysteries for the healing of both soul and body. Grant me tears of repentance and confession that I may hymn and glorify you all the days of my life.
For you are blessed and most-glorified to the ages. Amen.
For you are blessed and most-glorified to the ages. Amen.
For you are blessed and most-glorified to the ages. Amen.
Special Prayer Requests: We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing for Jim Manos (please visit at Moultrie Creek Nursing & Rehab Center), Chresanthe Lemieux, Jane Anderson, Betty & Fred Day, Despina Xynidis, George P. Nichols, our parish, those we serve, and our two missionary families: Dn. Stephanos, Dka. Alexandria & Moses Ritsi serving Albania; and Michael Lisa & Liam Colburn serving translators worldwide.
Hostess Schedule:Carman Gaetanos (904) 540-0367 or carmgaet@gmail.com
- Today, November 25th Monthly Potluck (Thanksgiving Leftovers)
- December 2nd Ellen Kelbert; Mellisa Kauttu-Strange
- December 9th Eugenia Charoni; Toula Zotos
- December 16th Parish Christmas Program/Potluck
Parish Council Announcements:
- Sunday, November 18th: Weekly Offering - Candles $257; Tray $64; Stewardship $6162
Offer as generously as you are able in support of Church ministries. Your gift ensures that our church is open and accessible to all who seek her comfort. These donations are very important to the vitality of our parish. Your weekly offerings can be made at the collection basket as you exit the service.
- Thursday, November Nov 15th: Nativity Fast began until the Nativity on December 25th,
- Sunday, December 2nd: Fall General Assembly after Divine Services
- Monday, December 24th: Nativity Services: Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil @ 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 25th: The Nativity of Christ – Christmas: Orthros and Divine Liturgy @ 9 a.m.
Our current Mortgage Balance is UNDER a Million! Specifically, it's $988,892.28. This really is a moment to celebrate, cherish, & reflect on in the history of this beautiful Parish. God Bless Our Hands! Nicola Lykam, Parish Treasurer
64th Annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade – December 1st: Is your family planning to assist in preparing the float and being a beautiful witness in the Annual Christmas Parade this year? The float typically carries adults and children seated & staged as Joseph, Mary, angels, 3 wise men, shepherds, sheep & animals of all kinds, a star, and carolers of ALL AGES! Banner-bearing, Greek-dancing, culturally costumed, hearkening carolers on foot & float have been refreshingly welcomed throughout the downtown parade route.
All participant families are invited to plan and decorate the float in advance and meet the on the day of the parade by 8:30 AM on San Marco Ave between Ballard & Ocean (near/across from the Ace Hardware), for the 9:00 AM parade start. Costumes for the Nativity are available but we gladly welcome families to create their own. Donations of Christmas decorations and candy canes are requested from the entire parish. Float construction/work days will take be announced to the community via e-mail. Call or e-mail the Church office to be on this year’s committee!
Stewardship:
2019 Stewardship theme: "Stewards of the Faith"
"All things are possible to the one who believes in Christ"
- Help Wanted
- Each year, the stewardship commitment card lists possible areas of interest in which members might engage: youth, building and grounds, liturgical, ministries, fellowship, and more. Each person’s gift is unique and important, and the combination of everyone’s talents helps us reach our full potential.
- As we focus on our future goals, ensuring that communities in our area know about our welcoming parish requires publicity. The first step was creating brochures for festival attendees and parish guests. We are now focusing on both print ads and expanded social media.
- We are currently looking for someone to manually enhance a black and white vector image of our church for publicity use. If you are able to assist, or know someone who can, please contact Toula Zotos at zotost@gmail.com.
- We do have a Facebook and Google presence, but no one assigned to enhance its impact and provide data on its effectiveness. If you are talented in the area of social media management or know of someone who is, please contact Toula.
- You will soon be receiving a 2019 Stewardship brochure and a Holy Trinity 2019 commitment card in the mail. If you have moved and not yet notified the church office, please do so as soon as possible (holy3goc@gmail.com)
- Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is grateful to all who contribute -- in any way!
Christmas Card:
Until December 9th, the Philoptochos is taking orders for the 2018 parish Christmas card. The cost is still $15. A sample of the card is available at the order table. Please print your name and address on the order form and make out checks to Holy Trinity (memo Christmas card). You may also pick up an order form and return it by mail, but your order must be received by December 6th.
Sunday, December 16th Philoptochos Christmas Brunch:
Following the Nativity Pageant, the Philoptochos will host a special Christmas brunch (Lenten) and present gifts to the children. New this year will be a Christmas cookie table (recipes are promised), and a silent auction of Christmas gift baskets. A donation of $5 is suggested, free for children under 5 years of age. Proceeds will go to Outreach for support of its Christmas ministry.
Sunday School News:
- Carman Gaetanos is teaching a newly formed middle school class this year. They are using the text, Our Life in the Church, published through the Orthodox Christian Education Commission. The first unit focuses on baptism and chrismation and has fit in nicely with our church readings. The students have been very inquisitive and have been motivated to learn more about their own baptisms, Godparents and why and how we're baptized. The students are looking forward to working on our Christmas projects and Christmas pageant.
- The Sunday School’s Christmas pageant will be Sunday Dec. 16th. We ask that all Sunday School students please plan on attending Sunday School from Nov. 11th until the pageant so we can practice for a few (10 -15 minutes) minutes at the end of our abbreviated lessons. The teachers are graciously giving up a little class time so that the families will have minimal inconvenience. No classes or rehearsal Thanksgiving weekend. This pageant uses narration with the children acting out the parts. We will need some volunteers to read for the various sections of the story (Innkeeper, shepherd, etc.). Teens and adults of any age are welcome to participate.
Outreach Update: Visit us anytime at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/holytrinityoutreach.
Bulletin Submission:Please submit your articles weekly by Wednesday, or at the latest, Thursday. Please note that all submissions will be reviewed and edited by Father John.