Η Θεία Οικονομία και η ανθρώπινη στάση 

Όταν ο Θεός έβαλε τους πρωτοπλάστους στον Παράδεισο, τους έδωσε μια εντολή. Μαζί με αυτήν τους προειδοποίησε. «Ἧ δ᾿ ἄν ἡμέρᾳ φάγητε ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖσθε». Ας προσέξουμε εδώ ότι ο Θεός δεν είπε ότι “θα σας σκοτώσω”. Τους μίλησε για τις συνέπειες της παρακοής. Ο αποχωρισμός από τον Θεό φέρνει την φθορά και η φθορά τον θάνατο. Ο Θεός δεν είναι ένας σκληρός νομοθέτης. Είναι Θεός αγάπης. Η απομάκρυνση από τον Παράδεισο ξεκίνησε από τον πειρασμό που δέχτηκαν στην ψυχή τους. Άρχισαν να αμφιβάλλουν για αυτά που τους είπε ο Θεός. Η σκέψη έφερε την πράξη και η πράξη την πτώση και έξωση.

Μακριά από τον Θεό ο άνθρωπος έχασε την αθανασία και μαζί την δυνατότητα της ζωής κοντά στον Θεό. Ο Θεός όμως είναι φιλάνθρωπος και η δικαιοσύνη Του συνοδεύεται πάντα με την αγάπη για το πλάσμα Του. Θέτει σε εφαρμογή το σχέδιο της Θείας Οικονομίας. Γίνεται ο  δεύτερος Αδάμ και με την Σταυρική Του θυσία ανοίγει τις πύλες της σωτηρίας. Αυτό που μένει στον άνθρωπο είναι να κάνει ό,τι δεν έκανε ο πρώτος Αδάμ. Όπως η απομάκρυνση ξεκίνησε με την αμφισβήτηση του Θεού και την παρακοή, έτσι και η επιστροφή γίνεται με την υπακοή στο Θεό. Η υπακοή στο Θεό εκδηλώνεται με τη μετάνοια. Ας ακούσουμε Κύριο που ξεκινάει το την διδασκαλία Του με τοι: “Μετανοείτε, ήγγικε γαρ”, δηλαδή είναι κοντά,  η βασιλεία των Ουρανών”. Αυτό κήρυξε τότε. Αλλά, νομίζω, το ίδιο θα έλεγε και σήμερα: “Μετανοείτε, γιατί έτσι θα έρθετε κοντά στη Βασιλεία των Ουρανών”.

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Divine Providence and repentance.

When God placed the first created man in Paradise, He gave them a command. Along with it He warned them. «In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.». Let us note here that God did not say "I will kill you". He spoke to them about the consequences of disobedience. Separation from God brings decay and decay brings death. God is not a cruel legislator. He is a God of love. The expulsion from Paradise began with the temptation they received in their soul. They began to doubt what God had told them. Thought brought action and action brought fall and expulsion.

Far from God man lost immortality and along with it the possibility of living close to God. But God is a loving one and His justice is always accompanied by love for His creature. So, He implements the plan of the Divine Economy. He becomes the second Adam and with His Sacrifice on the Cross opens the gates of salvation. What remains in man is to do what the first Adam did not do. Just as the departure began with the questioning of God and disobedience, so the return is done with obedience to God. Obedience to God is manifested through repentance. Let us listen to the Lord who begins His teaching with the: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand", which means, it is near. That is what he preached then. But, I think, he would say the same today: "Repent, for in this way you will come closer to the Kingdom of Heaven."

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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 August 19, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta wrote: "it is important to consider that late last week, the CDC published its latest guidelines which reads: “Use masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 in which they state that masks should be worn by those, “including children older than 2, who are not fully vaccinated [and] fully vaccinated people with weakened immune systems.”  Finally, the CDC writes “To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission."

By the direction of our Metropolitan, we strongly encourage all parishioners to resume wearing masks to slow the spread of the Delta variant.

Please see complete letter in ANNOUNCEMENTS section.

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, Michael and Ingrid Fotianos, Bill Duddy-ankle, Susan Stone - surgery, Margo Kelley's mother, Maria, Ruza Basimamovic, Mikae Gaetanos, 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., Thanos Nikolopoulos and prayers for George Ritsi who fell asleep in the Lord,  Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania.

September 5th Memorial:  September 5^th – One Year Memorial for Mary Spanos, mother of Gail Jones.

May We Never Forget:  Twenty years ago, 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights; 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning; 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift; 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol; 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift of saving lives.  None of them saw past 10:00am on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  In one single moment, life would never be the same.  As we remember our own Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church destroyed on that horrific morning, we beseech our Lord to grant eternal rest to both those who perished on that day and to the many rescue workers who have died since trying to help others.  Memory Eternal and...may we never forget.

Vasiliko Donations Needed for the Feast of the Holy Cross:  We need Vasiliko (sweet basil) for the services of the Holy Cross.  Please bring your donation on Sunday, September 12 so that the tray can be prepared for services on September 14.  There will be vases it in the Narthex for your Vasiliko donation.  Ecclesiastical Services will be held on Tuesday, September 14 (Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am)

Fires in Greece Collection:  On August 15, 2021, parishioners generously donated $489 for relief of the catastrophic fires in Greece. The parish council voted to match that amount from our Outreach Reserve funds. The total contribution from our parish sent to the Archdiocese-IOCC combined relief fund was $978.

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:  Classes are in session.  Join us this week.  St. Paul writes: "Fathers [parents], bring them [your children] up with the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) Our goal is that Holy Trinity Sunday School be an encouragement to your child's spiritual life and growth and a supplement to what you as a parent are trying to accomplish at home as you educate your child in the Faith, "bringing them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.”

For parents and students that may prefer a zoom alternative, please contact Presbytera Renee Ritsi at 904 377-2591.

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

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

3          Rehearsal for Eddings/Harwood Destination Wedding 5:30 p.m.

4          Destination Wedding - Ariana Eddings & Katon Harwood 11 a.m. (Fr. Dimitrios Pappas officiating)

5         1 yr. Memorial for Mary Spanos, mother of Gail Jones (Fr. Michael Byars will conduct service

8         Nativity of the Theotokos

14       Exaltation of the Holy Cross - 9 a.m. Orthros/ 10 a.m. Liturgy

20       St. Photios Shrine - Paraklesis -12:30 p.m.

20       Parish Council Meeting (3rd Monday, monthly)

29       Small vespers with newcomers reception - 6 p.m.

Oct:

8-9     Greek Fest To Go

18      Parish Council (3rd Monday, monthly)

26      St. Demetrios

Giving:

• 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.

Parish Announcements:  If you are not receiving your electronic church bulletin or notices ... or you know of someone who has not received theirs ... PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE DIRECTLY via email <holy3goc@gmail.com> with your correct email so it can be corrected on listserv.  Thank you.

Aug. 16 thru Sept. 13, Fr. Maximos is on vacation (Fr. Michael Byars will fill-in as parish priest).  A message of love, prayers and thoughts to everyone was received from Fr. Maximos this week. 

• 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.

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).