Ουράνια τροφή

Το περιστατικό συνέβη πριν από 2 χρόνια. Το παρουσιάζω χωρίς σχόλια, η εικόνα μιλάει μόνη της.   

 Σήμερα το πρωί πήγαινα στην εκκλησία. Και στο δρόμο σκεφτόμουν πόσο όμορφο είναι να είσαι σπλαχνικός στους άλλους, στους αγνώστους. Να βοηθάς ακόμα και αυτούς που πληρώνονται για την δουλειά στην οποία τους βοηθάς. Αυτό δεν κάνει ο Θεός; Μας ελεεί εκεί που δεν το αξίζουμε, εκεί που δεν υπάρχει λόγος. Αυτά έλεγα μέσα μου όταν πρόσεξα ότι στο υπαίθριο πάρκινγκ που πλησίαζα. έμπαινε ένας πεζός. Κρατούσε στην αγκαλιά του μια χαρτοσακούλα. Και μόλις μπήκε, ξεκίνησε να σκορπάει ψίχουλα στα περιστέρια, τα οποία εν τω μεταξύ άρχισαν να μαζεύονται. Τα τάιζε, τα έδινε το φαγητό τους, χωρίς αυτά να μεριμνήσουν. Hello φώναζε και τα προσκαλούσε τραγουδιστά.  Hello, η φωνή του έμπαινε κατάβαθα στην ψυχή μου. Hello, και στον απόηχό της άκουγες τον Θεό να σε προσκαλεί, να σε ταΐσει, να σε ελεήσει.

 The Heavenly food

The incident happened 2 years ago, on an ordinary Sunday. I present it without comments, the image speaks by itself.

 I was going to church this morning. And on the way I thought about how beautiful it is to be compassionate to others, to strangers. To help even those who are doing a job for which they are getting paid. Isn't that what God does? He has mercy on us where we do not deserve it, where there is no reason to have. This is what I was saying to myself when I noticed that in the outdoor parking lot that I was approaching, a pedestrian came in. He was holding a paper bag in his arms. And as soon as he entered, he began to scatter crumbs to the pigeons, which in the meantime began to gather. He was feeding them, giving them their food, effortlessly. Hello, he shouted and invited them in a singing voice. Hello, his voice went deep into my soul. Hello, and in its echo, you could hear God inviting you, to feed you, to have mercy on you.

______________________

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 - David Kingwell, son-in-law of Jim and Judie Pappas, who is receiving treatment for cancer; prayers for the family and friends of Mikae Gaetanos who fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 1st; Chris Bersu; Michael and Ingrid Fotianos; Ruza Basimamovic; Chresanthe Lemieux; Zoe Kauttu; Maryann Bolt; James Day; Fr. Nikitas and Pres. Mary Theodosion; Margaret, James, Kyriake; Joseph, Alex Aclim; Jane Anderson; Gwen H.; Thanos Nikolopoulos;  prayers for Irene Hastalis who fell asleep in the Lord.  Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania.

 "Our Church, Our Spiritual Home"

The perfect antidote to the chill outside -- engaging in prayer and warm fellowship in our church!

As Stewards of this parish we are connected to one another.  When you make your annual stewardship commitment, you join others in making us stronger and better able to meet the needs of our parish as partners in faith. 

We look forward to seeing you!

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.

The Book of Hebrews - Monday Night Bible Study:

The adult Bible Study occurs each Monday from 8 to 9 PM online through Zoom.  Starting February 7, we are studying the Book of Hebrews, from which are taken the weekday epistle readings for Lent. Hebrews presents Our Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priest in Heaven, in fulfillment of the Jewish law, and encourages us to persevere in our faith in the face of difficulties.

The meeting can be accessed by going to https://mcolburn.us.

 Click on “Online”. There is also a link for the slides and videos of previous classes. The meeting passcode is 030927.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Check for Available Dates

What to bring?

• refreshments for 30-35 persons, pre-wrapped or pre-plated makes clean up easier
• paper goods, coffee, and condiments provided
• help available to make the coffee

How to sign up?

• go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44aeac2ba0fec25-coffee 
• click the blue box that says SIGN UP, then the brown box at the bottom of the page that says SUBMIT AND SIGN UP
• it will take you to the next screen, click on SIGN UP NOW

Questions? Don’t want to sign up online? Contact Stefanie Burke <sburke0211@yahoo.com>  or 904 671-4566.

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

February

20        Memorial offered by  Dianna Christakos for her  family members - George Christakos, Mathew & Demetra Yalouris, James Yalouris and Anastasia Predaris.  May their memory be eternal.

21        Parish Council (3rd Monday) 6:30 p.m.

            St. Photios Shrine - Paraklesis - 12:30pm

26        1st Saturday of Souls - 9am Orthros/10am Liturgy

26        Herera/Varley Wedding Rehearsal 4pm

27        Meatfare Sunday

27        4 year memorial offered by Angeliki Lekos for her father, Anastasios Kladis.  May his memory be eternal.

27        Herera/Varley Wedding 3pm

March

5          2nd Saturday of Souls - 9am Orthros/10am Liturgy

6          Cheesefare Sunday; Missions Sunday

6          Spring General Assembly

7          Great Lent begins

9          Presanctified begins - 6pm

11        Salutations begins - 6pm

12        3rd Saturday of Souls - 9am Orthros/10am Liturgy

13        Daylight Savings Time begins

13        Sunday of Orthodoxy

16        Presanctified - 6pm

18        Salutations - 6pm

21        St. Photios Shrine - Great Compline - 12:30pm

21        Parish Council 

23        Presanctified - 6pm

24        Vespers - 6pm

25       Annunciation, Greek Independence Day - 9am Orthros/10am Liturgy

25        Salutations - 6pm

27        Philoptochos luncheon

30        Presanctified - 6pm

April

1          Salutations - 6pm

6          Presanctified - 6pm

8          Salutations & Akathist - 6pm

10        Pascha card deadline 

16        Saturday of Lazarus - 9am Orthros/10am Liturgy

• Palm cross making

17        Palm Sunday - 9am Orthros/10am Liturgy  

• Palm Sunday Luncheon
• Nymphios (Bridegroom) Orthros, 6:00 pm

18-23         Holy Week

18        Parish Council

18        Holy Monday - Nymphios (Bridegroom) Orthros, 6:00 pm

19        Holy Tuesday -Nymphios (Bridegroom) Orthros, 6:00 pm

20        Holy Wednesday - Holy Unction Service, 6:00 pm

21        Holy Thursday - Liturgy for the Mystical Supper – Vesperal Liturgy, 9:00 am

• Orthros with Reading of the 12 Passion Gospels, 6:00 pm

22        Holy Friday

• Royal Hours, 9:00 am
• Holy Friday Sunday School Retreat, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Removal of Christ’s Body from the Cross – Vespers, 2:00 pm
• Epitaphios Service (The Lamentations) – Orthros, 6:00 pm

23        Holy Saturday

• Vespers with Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, 9:00 am
• Midnight Office, 11:30 pm

24        PASCHA

            Agape Picnic

• Paschal Candle and First Resurrectional Reading, 12:00 am
• Divine Liturgy at Midnight, ~12:20 am
• Agape Vespers, 12:00 pm

25-30  Bright Week

• 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.).

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:

• NOTE:  If you would like Faye Peterson or Angela Lekos to prepare the Koliva for a memorial, remember there is a fee, usually $100 for time, supplies, etc. for the preparation.

• 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.

AGES Initiatives: is now a part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America!

The GOA Digital Chant Stand provides resources intended to enhance the worship experience of the Orthodox faithful with easily accessible service texts and musical scores. The web address has changed to https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/dcs.html. Use this site to access texts and music for Orthros, Divine Liturgy, and other services on your electronic device.

Weekly Photo:
Πάντα εν σοφία εποίησας/In wisdom you have made them all. (Psalms 104:24)