Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00am V. Rev. Father Maximos Politis, Priest
Η κλήση των Αποστόλων και η δική μας κλήση
Με μεγάλη τιμή εορτάζουμε τη μνήμη όλων των Αγίων Αποστόλων και του καθενός ξεχωριστά. Σύμφωνα με την παλαιά παράδοση, η οποία ακολουθείται μέχρι σήμερα στα Μοναστήρια, την ημέρα της μνήμης των Αγίων αναγινώσκεται ο βίος τους. Γιατί; Μια φορά δεν είναι αρκετή; Όχι. Είναι κάτι που συμβαίνει και στις οπτικές παραστάσεις. Αν και βλέπουμε την ίδια εικόνα πολλές φορές υπάρχουν στιγμές που παρατηρούμε κάτι καινούργιο. Ή, ένας φίλος, μας βοηθάει να δούμε κάτι που μέχρι εκείνη τη στιγμή δεν το είχαμε δει. Ο φίλος της καρδιάς μας είναι ο Χριστός και η Εκκλησίας Του.
Ας δούμε λοιπόν πάλι κάποιες πτυχές της ζωής των Αποστόλων. Ο Χριστός τους καλεί να αφήσουν τα σχέδιά τους, και όλα όσα καλά πράγματα σκεφτόντουσαν να κάνουν. Τους προσκαλεί πρώτα να τον ακολουθήσουν στην επίγεια ζωή Του. Στη συνέχεια τους στέλνει στα πέρατα της γης και να κάνουν τα έθνη μαθητές τους και μαθητές Του.
Με την ευκαιρία της εορτής των Αποστόλων ας αναρωτηθούμε. Είμαστε έτοιμοι, ο καθένας ξεχωριστά, να βαδίσουμε τον δρόμο που Εκείνος θα μας δείξει; Ίσως εμείς να προγραμματίζουμε τη ζωή μας όπως εμείς το σκεφτόμαστε. Είμαστε έτοιμοι να ακολουθήσουμε τον δρόμο που θα μας ανοίξει; Και ας μην αφήσουμε τις αμφιβολίες και την ανησυχία να καταλάβουν occupy την ψυχή μας. Γιατί, όπως ο Κύριος μας διαβεβαιώνει, Εκείνος είναι η οδός, και η οδός αυτή δεν οδηγεί πουθενά αλλού παρά στη σωτηρία.
The call of the Apostles and our call
With great honor we celebrate the memory of all the Holy Apostles and of each one individually. According to the old tradition, which is followed until today in the Monasteries, on the day of the memory of the Saints, in the church their life is read. Why; One time is not enough? No. It's something that happens in visual images as well. Although we see the same picture many times there are times when we notice something new. Or, a friend, helps us see something we had not seen before. The friend of our heart is Christ and His Church.
So let us look again at some aspects of the life of the Apostles. Christ calls them to give up their plans, and all the good things they were thinking of doing. He first invites them to follow Him into His earthly life. He then sends them to the ends of the earth to make the nations their disciples and His disciples.
On the occasion of the feast of the Apostles let us ask ourselves. Are we ready to walk the path that He will show us individually? Maybe we plan our lives the way we think. Are we ready to follow the path that will be opened for us? And let us not let doubts and worries occupy our souls. For, as the Lord assures us, He is the way, and this way leads nowhere but to salvation.
Special Prayer Requests:
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing of all parishioners -prayers for the family and friends of Mikae Gaetanos. Prayers for Gary Peterson; Michael Colburn; Chris Bersu; Michael and Ingrid Fotianos; Ruza Basimamovic; Chresanthe Lemieux; Zoe Kauttu; Maryann Bolt; James Day; Margaret, James, Kyriake; Joseph, Alex Aclim; Jane Anderson; Gwen H.; and Thanos Nikolopoulos. Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania. Congrats to Nick & Toni Lekas on their new grandson, Nathaniel Andreas Lekas born to Andreas and Elizabeth Lekas on March 9. God grant him many years! Thank you for your prayers …. We would like to thank you for your prayers, love, and support during Gary’s recent health issues. We can’t put into words how much we appreciate all of you! Our family and we have been given a tremendous blessing with Gods help, and the love and support of our family, friends, and all of our church community. God bless you all and thank you so much for everything! Your brother and sister in Christ, Gary and Fotini Peterson
"Our Church, Our Spiritual Home"
Summer plans may take us away from our day-to-day activities - especially if we plan to travel.
Remember, you don't have to be in church to be "in" church! Holy Trinity offers online services, continues with worship and hospitality, and welcomes summer guests.
Please remember how important your financial support is to the care of our parish and make arrangements to continue monthly stewardship donations during the summer months.
Thank you. Toula
OUTREACH UPDATE: ST. FRANCIS HOUSE
1. JULY 11 DINNER NEEDED: Due to covid, St. Francis House is still doing drop-off meals, which we drop off, always at 70 Washington Street front door at 5 p.m. If you would like to help prepare a meal, they accept anything and are very grateful for all donations.Please prepare for about 40 servings. If you're able to help, please let Richard know at church, 904-347-9189 or dickbilleter@gmail.com. I can let the kitchen manager know, thanks.
2. Toiletry Items, Towels and Rags Needed:
St. Francis residents need the following, toiletry items, towels and rags. You can drop them off at 70 Washington Street, or bring and drop off at the church marked for St. Francis House.
3. May and June Dinners: Thank You! Thank you Michael Lekos for leading your “Feed the Homeless” project in May, which was part of his community outreach for his school! You are truly serving the work of the Lord!
From Michael:
"On Monday May 9, my family and I prepared, packaged, and distributed 48 meals to St. Francis House. The meals included spaghetti, meatballs, bread, and a fruit cup. I appreciate the support to help make this possible and I am looking forward to continuing serving “my neighbor” as Jesus instructed us to do."
- For June, pulled pork with buns was the dinner of the day at St Francis, many thanks to my mom, Paulexania Billeter for making this happen!
4. Future Meals: Not able to help in July? Please look to help us another day -- we help deliver dinners the 2nd Monday of every month.
- Online: Please visit us online at http://www.facebook.com/holytrinityoutreach Blessings in Christ, Richard
Greek Festival:
The annual Holy Trinity Greek Festival is October 7-9, 2022. Our popular festival will begin with "Friday to go" with pre-orders only. Saturday and Sunday will include music, dance and on-site dining.
We need volunteers to host coffee hour. You can do it solo or share the responsibility with someone else. Please sign up at: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CA5AB2AA0FFC34-sunday, email Stefanie Burke at holy3goc.hostess@gmail.com; call 904/671-4566; or speak to Stefanie after church and she can sign you up. Thank you in advance for considering offering this hospitality to our parish family and guests.
[Using the SignUpGenius link: click the blue box that says SIGN UP; then the brown box at the bottom of the page that says SUBMIT AND SIGN UP - this will take you to the next screen; and click on SIGN UP NOW]
July
3-7 GOA Clergy-Laity Congress
18 Parish Council - 6:30pm
19 Festival meeting - 7:00pm
August
1-14 Dormition Fast
3 Paraklesis - 6pm
5 Paraklesis - 6pm
6 Transfiguration of Our Lord
10 Paraklesis - 6pm
12 Paraklesis - 6pm
15 Dormition of the Theotokos
Parish Council - 6:30pm
29 Beheading of St. John the Baptist (strict fast)
Giving by Check: Please be sure to include a notation on the memo line to allows us to identify your intentions (i.e. stewardship, candles, trays, memorials, etc.).
Weekly Offering: The Lord's day is to be the time for a weekly offering for the support of His cause. Make your offering today and enable our Church to continue to enhance the spiritual growth of the Orthodox Christians entrusted to our care. Your offering can be made at the collection basket as you exit the service.
Parish Office:
Please call (904 829-0504) or email (holy3goc@gmail.com) the parish office 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.
Weekly Photo: https://www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityGOC/photos/a.214784738566511/5576486299062968
Πάντα εν σοφία εποίησας. In wisdom you have made them all. Pictures from St. Augustine.
Philanthropy – Fellowship – Faith in Action We invite you to join Philoptochos & help us achieve our mission!
Honorees are Parish Members who exemplify the true Orthodox Christian way of life by their deep faith, commitment, dedication and service to the Church and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on their respective Parish level.
2022 Stewardship Pledge from
The Martyr Hyacinth, who was from Caesarea of Cappadocia, was the chamberlain of the Emperor Trajan. On being constrained by the Emperor to partake of the sacrifices offered to idols and not wishing to do so, he was shut up in prison without food, where he gave up his spirit to God in the year 108.
Saint Anatolius was a priest from Alexandria, who had been ordained deacon and perhaps also priest by Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria. In 449, at the Robber Council of Ephesus, Saint Cyril's infamous successor, the violent Dioscorus, unlawfully deposed Flavian, the Patriarch of Constantinople and opponent of the Monophysite Eutyches; Flavian, from the beatings which he received, died soon after. Dioscorus, thinking that the priest Anatolius would support him, consecrated him Patriarch of Constantinople in Saint Flavian's stead. After he had been consecrated by Dioscorus-who at that time had not yet been deposed-Anatolius united with the Orthodox; before the Council of Chalcedon in 451, he held a council of the Bishops in Constantinople, at which the Orthodox "Tome" of Pope Leo (see Feb. 18), which Dioscorus had not allowed to be read at the Robber Council, was read and approved; and at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, he condemned Nestorius, Eutyches, and, for his unlawful actions, Dioscorus. Saint Anatolius reposed in the year 458. Some ascribe to this Anatolius the hymns of Vespers and the Praises in the Octoechos that are labeled Anatolian Stichera; but others (which may be more correct), to another with the same name, who was from the Monastery of Studium, and a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite, whose epistle to this Anatolius is still extant.
Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 5:1-10.
Brethren, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
3rd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33
The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."