Sunday Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Fr. John Hays, Interim Priest
Saint Artemius lived during the years of Saint Constantine the Great, and was appointed by him to be Governor of Alexandria; later, he was honoured with the rank of patrician. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, in the year 361, Artemius appeared before the Emperor and censured him for his apostasy. For this, he endured many torments and was finally beheaded.
Saint Gerasimus was from the Peloponnesus, the son of Demetrius and Kale, of the family of Notaras. He was reared in piety by them and studied the Sacred writings. He left his country and went throughout various lands, and finally came to Cephalonia, where he restored a certain old church and built a convent around it, where it stands to this day at the place called Omala. He finished the course of his life there in asceticism in the year 1570. His sacred relics, which remain incorrupt, are kept there for the sanctification of the faithful.
Prokeimenon. 1st Tone. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11.
Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
6th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39
At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
A Word from Fr. John:
Wisdom from long ago – still fresh today...
“I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into the heart of man, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil – this is God’s gift to man.
“I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it so that men fear before Him.” – Ecclesiastes 3:10-14
For Christians, this refers first and above all to being joyful in Christ’s salvation and grace... doing the good works of the gospel way of life... eating and drinking the Body and Blood of our Lord... and taking pleasure and satisfaction in our spiritual toils of prayer, fasting, and watchfulness – knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. (See I Corinthians 15: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”)
Special Prayer Requests:
We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing of all parishioners, and especially His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos as he recovers from foot surgery, Augustina, Margaret, James, Kyriake, Ingrid (Evangelia) Fotianos, Irene Hastalis, Jim Manos, Chresanthe Lemieux, Jane Anderson, Betty & Fred Day, Despina Xynidis, and Nicola Lykam’s father-in-law and mother-in-law with health issues. Pray for the Sunday School and all efforts of our teachers, students, and families, for the Adult Bible Study, and the continued growth and edification of the parish family ministries, and for the Colburn and Ritsi missionary families.
Hostess Schedule: Carman Gaetanos (904) 540-0367 or carmgaet@gmail.com
Memorial Services:
Koliva for Memorial Services:
Koliva is prepared by the families or by HTGOC volunteers. Due to the labor involved and cost of materials, there is a charge of $100 for preparing the Koliva. Frequent volunteers include Faye Peterson, pete9839@comcast.net and Angela Lekos, angelmou1@att.net.
Post Festival Sale This Sunday, October 20th:
Purchase souvlakia (vacuum packed), dolmathes, moussaka, beer, wine and more, after church this Sunday. Also, pick up a few free commemorative glasses!
Book Store:
We have a couple of Christmas ornaments and a few packs of Christmas cards available. We also have new incense and home size premium charcoal. - Lisa Colburn
Youth Dance Group:
Pizza & Pumpkins: Dancers and families are invited to join us for dinner at Carmelo’s Pizza on Fri, Oct 18, 5:00 - 7:00 pm. After dinner, we will walk to the United Methodist pumpkin patch and each dancer will receive a pumpkin. Please RSVP or Angela Lekos (904.347.4485 or angelmou1@att.net). Opa!
Adult Bible Study:
The adult Bible study on the Gospel of John meets in the classroom opposite the men’s room. The class starts 15 minutes after the start of coffee hour, and is led by Michael Colburn. We are using the epic 2003 movie “The Gospel of John” directed by Philip Seville. This movie uses the text of the Gospel of John from the Good News Bible verbatim—no extra words added and none left out. This week we are studying John 1.29-34. The syllabus and study questions for each week are available at https://thecolburns.us/classes/john. Also check there for any last minute announcements about the class.
Sunday School:
In our youngest class, in addition to introducing the children to the liturgical life of the church, we are introducing and reinforcing some lessons about the Gospel reading we have just heard in church. We have some fun songs and crafts to reinforce the theme. Parents can make preparations to “get ready” for Sunday by reading the Gospel for that day, going to bed early and make Saturday night a “quiet night."
Iconography Program at Holy Trinity Church November 2nd:
We will host a special presentation “An Introduction to Byzantine Iconography” on Saturday, November 2nd at 3 p.m. Following the presentation, there will be refreshments and an opportunity to meet the iconographer Aristidis Kopvaci. Please invite your friends to see our beautiful iconography and enjoy our hospitality. At 5 p.m, Fr. John will serve Vespers.
Diakonia Retreat:
Join St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Daytona Beach at the Diakonia Retreat, February14-17, 2020. Space is very limited. Registration and monies must be submitted timely. For more information or to secure your spot, please contact Irene Katra at 386-290-3208 or email Santorini257@aol.com
Youth Safety Compliance:
All parishioners seeking blessing to participate in Sunday School and Youth events throughout this Ecclesiastical Year are required to complete the registration in order to have access to the needed background check which is facilitated through our Metropolis Youth Office. Please see all details of the new compliance www.goarch.org/safety and www.goarch.org/youth-safety-compliance, and contact our Parish Youth Safety Compliance Officer, Margo Kelley (htgocpresident@gmail.com or (602) 617-2467) for further details.
Stewardship – A Pattern of Caring:
Giving is a habit that begins with a commitment. Becoming an active steward requires a conscious decision to actively support the needs of the Church. The commitment card we offer to Holy Trinity parish each year encourages us to give regularly. There are extra cards in church, or you can call the church office.
Contributions - Tracking Your Giving:
Volunteers:
Volunteers interested in assisting with the development of tools and courses for translators and publishers of Orthodox liturgical texts worldwide are needed. Software developers, annotators and former Wycliffe translators needed. See olw.ocmc.org.
Wednesday Bulletin Submission:
Please submit your articles weekly by Wednesday if possible. Thank you.
Is your email address or your US mail address changing?
Please, notify the church office! holy3goc@gmail.com