Bulletin Η Χάρη του Θεού. / God’s Grace αδιόρθωτο

Η Κυριακή των Αγίων Πάντων θυμίζει σε όλους αυτό που μπορεί και θέλει να κάνει το Άγιο Πνεύμα στην ψυχή μας. Ζητούμε την Χάρη του Θεού και καλά κάνουμε. Οι Άγιοι είναι αστείρευτα δοχεία της Χάριτος. Βλέπετε, ένα δοχείο μπορεί να περιέχει την πιο θρεπτική τροφή, ή την πιο θεραπευτική ουσία. Το περιεχόμενό του τρέφει, δίνει ζωή, θεραπεύει. Αλλά κάποτε τελειώνει. Η Χάρη που δίνει ο Θεός είναι ατελεύτητη. Εκτός αν ο άνθρωπος καταστρέψει το δοχείο της ψυχής του.

Μελετώντας του βίους των Αγίων βλέπουμε ότι αυτοί δεν ανήκουν σε κάποια ξεχωριστή κατηγορία ανθρώπων. Στα Συναξάρια συναντούμε Αγίους πλούσιους, φτωχούς, μορφωμένους, αμόρφωτους με χαμηλή ή υψηλή παιδεία. Συναντούμε βασιλείς, στρατιώτες, τσομπάνους, μίμους δηλαδή ηθοποιούς, ακόμα και πόρνες. Όλα αυτά δεν αποτελούν εμπόδιο για το αγιαστικό έργο του Θεού. Ούτε και ο άνθρωπος μπορεί να επικαλεστεί ιδιαίτερες συνθήκες που τον εμποδίζουν να αγιάσει. Η Χάρη του Θεού βρίσκει τον άνθρωπο οπουδήποτε και αν αυτός βρίσκεται. Στο παλάτι ή στον σταύλο, όπως στην περίπτωση του Αγ. Ιωάννου του Ρώσου, ακόμα και στη φυλακή. Αρκεί ο άνθρωπος να θέλει να την δεχτεί, να ετοιμάζει την ψυχή του για την υποδοχή Της και να έχει διάθεση να ζήσει κατά τη φώτιση του Αγίου Πνεύματος. 

All Saints' Sunday reminds everyone of what the Holy Spirit can and wants to do to our souls. We ask for the Grace of God and we do well. The Saints are inexhaustible vessels of Grace. You see, a pot can contain the most nutritious food, or the most healing substance. Its content nourishes, gives life, heals. But sometimes it finishes. The Grace that God gives is endless. Unless man destroys the vessel of his soul.

Studying the lives of the Saints, we see that they do not belong to any particular category of people. In the books we meet Saints who were rich, poor, educated, uneducated with low or high culture. We meet kings, soldiers, shepherds, mimes, i.e. actors and even prostitutes. All of this is not an obstacle to God's sanctifying work. Nor can man invoke special circumstances that prevent him from being sanctified. The Grace of God finds man wherever he is. In the palace or in the stable, as in the case of St. John the Russian, even in prison. As long as man wants to accept her, to prepare his soul for Her reception and to be in the mood to live in the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Liturgical Services: Welcome parishioners and visitors for on-site services.We continue Live Stream Services on Facebook, please visit our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityGOC/)

• On May 19, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios wrote: "it is important to consider the full text of the CDC's guideline, which reads: “...fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”The Metropolis will continue to ask our parishes to abide by the recommended CDC, as well as federal, state, and local guidelines in a spirit of good  faith."   

Special Prayer Requests: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  (Phil. 4:6-7)

We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing of all parishioners, George Ritsi who is in hospice care, Bill Duddy-ankle surgery, Ruza Basimamovic, Mikae Gaetanos, Faye Peterson, Chresanthe Lemieux, Zoe Kauttu, Maryann Bolt, James Day, Kostas Lantzounis (is at Bayview Rehab Center and  welcomes visitors); Fr. Nikitas and Pres. Mary Theodosion, His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Margaret, James, Kyriake, Joseph, Alex Aclim, Irene Hastalis, Jane Anderson, Gwen H., and Thanos Nikolopoulos. Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania; and Michael, Lisa & Liam Colburn.

Philoptochos and Outreach Committees:  Philoptochos has set aside money to help pay the registration fee for St. Stephen's camp.  Unfortunately, the slots for girls are full.  If you have a middle school or older boy who would like to attend, please contact Irene Pergeorelis.

Stewardship: We invite you to join us in person for Sunday services!  Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of our faith -- incense, iconography, hymns, and prayers.  Stay after liturgy to meet new parishioners and to greet those you already know and have missed!  

Thank you to all who have continued to be active stewards in 2021.  For those that have not already done so, please go to our website (http://holytrinitygoc.com) and make a Stewardship contribution (under 'Make a Donation") to ensure that this place of faith, its priest and its ministries will be adequately supported.  Thank you!

Sunday School News:  Our parish honored the Sunday School students and all our children on Sunday May 30th following services.  It has been a challenging year and we are heartened by the number of children who participated in the Easter Services. An activity will be provided for children following services on August 15, 2021!  We will resume classes in September.

Adult Bible Study:  Bible study will resume in the fall.

Greek Fest To Go:  The Holy Trinity Church Greek Fest To Go was a success!  Thank you to the kitchen crew, runners and all the volunteers for your hard work.  You helped make our 2^nd Greek Fest To Go a successful event!   Preliminary figures show that we netted ~$8700.  This event also allowed many visitors to come and see our beloved church.  We look forward to planning the next event not only to include our delicious food, but Greek music, dancing, culture and more.  Opa!

Now that we are gathering after Liturgy, we invite everyone to offer snacks or refreshments after Liturgy.

What is needed?

• bring snacks or refreshments for 40-50 persons,  pre-wrapped or pre-plated is not essential, but makes distribution and clean up easier
• help will be available to wrap or set out what you offer
• paper goods, coffee, and sugar will be provided
• help will be available to make the coffee

How to sign up? it’s easy no need to enter any personal information

• go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44aeac2ba0fec25-coffee 
• click on the blue box that says SIGN UP, then on the brown box at the bottom of the screen that says SUBMIT AND SIGN UP
• it will take you to the next screen, that says SIGN ME UP, and click on SIGN UP NOW
• any questions or need help, contact Carmela ctardo@gmail.com

Thank you from the Parish Council

SERVICE/EVENT SCHEDULE  (Sunday Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am)

JUNE

26^th………St. Photios Shrine Greek Landing Day

27^th………All Saints

29^th………Apostles Peter & Paul

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On-Line Giving:  Click “Donate Now” on our Church’s web page www.HolyTrinityGOC.com to make a gift. Giving categories – stewardship, memorials, etc. – have been set up to allow giving to specific funds.

Our “Light a Candle & Say a Prayer” ministry lets you to light a candle during divine services on-line.  Your request will be forwarded to a Council member in the Narthex to light your candle.  Also, if you wish to provide names of loved ones to be prayed for, those will be provided to Fr. Maximos. Give via credit card, PayPal, or set up recurrent giving through your bank.  Please be sure a specific notation (ex: stewardship) is included for each transaction. 

Giving by Check:  When contributing by check, the notation on the memo line allows us to identify your intentions (i.e. stewardship, candles, trays, memorials, etc.).

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Ministry Needed - Parish Webmaster and FaceBook:  We are searching for someone who may have the talent and desire to post news onto the church website and Facebook pages.  This may be a once or twice a week activity.  If you have the talent and wish to give of your time in this way, please let the church office know.  This is a very important and needful ministry for the life of our Parish.

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Contact Information:  Please call (904 829-0504) or email (holy3goc@gmail.com) Nelda to update your contact information.  Also, if you know of anyone who doesn’t receive parish emails but would like to, please encourage them to contact the parish office with their contact information.

Announcements:

• If you have a request for a special service such as a memorial, please email the church office at holy3goc@gmail.com or call 904 829-0504 (if you do not have access to email) in advance of requested date with details.

• If you would like any of the following, please contact Fr. Maximos via email at fathermaximusa7@gmail.com  or text him at 347 500-8176: 
• To receive a phone message from Father Maximos about services, special events or other subjects.
• To arrange an appointment for a House Blessing.
• To offer Holy Communion to someone in need at a hospital, nursing home, in hospice care, or at home.       

•  The normal deadline for the Church bulletin e-mail articles is before 12pm on Wednesday weekly.
• Office administrator will be out of the office on July 1 & 2 (daughter's wedding).

If you want your announcements on the master calendar, please remember to e-mail them to the office at holy3goc@gmail.com (please note if the article/announcement is recurring or one time).