Στην σημερινή εποχή προβάλλεται πολύ το μοντέλο του επιτυχημένου ανθρώπου. Προβάλλεται το μοντέλο του υγιούς, ευπαρουσίαστου, δυνατού και κατά προτίμηση νέου ανθρώπου. Η αγωνιώδης προσπάθεια για την απόκτηση αυτών των χαρακτηριστικών αποπροσανατολίζει τον άνθρωπο και καταστρέφει τη σχέση του με τον Θεό. Ίσως αντανακλά την συνείδηση της χαμένης αθανασίας και ευτυχίας πριν την Πτώση. Συχνά όμως η πραγματικότητα είναι διαφορετική, γκρεμίζει αυτό το ψεύτικο είδωλο και φέρνει τον άνθρωπο προ ενός χάους.

Πολλές φορές πλησιάζουμε τους Αγίους με ένα τέτοιο πνεύμα. Τιμούμε, δοξάζουμε τους Μάρτυρες, τους Ομολογητές και τους Οσίους, και προσκυνούμε τις εικόνες τους. Εντυπωσιαζόμαστε από τα κατορθώματά τους, ίσως τους βλέπουμε ως ήρωες ή και παλαιούς πολεμιστές. Οι Άγιοι δεν ήταν τίποτα από όλα αυτά. Αντίθετα, ήταν άνθρωποι σαν και εμάς, με την ίδια σάρκα και αίμα. Είχαν τον ίδιο πόνο και συναισθήματα στην ψυχή τους. Γνωρίζουμε πόσα ο Παύλος υπέφερε κατά τη διάρκεια του Αποστολικού του έργου. Παρόλα’ αυτά στην προς Φιλιππησίους επιστολή λέει: Πάντα ισχύω εν τω ενδυναμούντι με Χριστώ. Με άλλα λόγια, όλα τα κατορθώνω, σε όλα φαίνομαι δυνατός, με τη δύναμη που μου δίνει ο Χριστός.

Ο άνθρωπος του Θεού γνωρίζει την αδυναμία του γνωρίζει όμως και την δύναμή του. Ο Θεός θέλει να δει αυτή τη συναίσθηση και τότε στέλνει πλούσια την Χάρη Του.

Divine and Human Power

Nowadays, the model of a successful person is very popular. The model of a healthy, good looking, strong and preferably young person is projected. The anxious effort to acquire these characteristics disorients man and destroys his relationship with God. Perhaps it reflects the consciousness of lost immortality and happiness before the Fall. But often the reality is different, it shatters this false image and brings man to chaos.

Many times we approach the Saints with such a spirit. We honor, glorify the Martyrs, the Confessors, and the Saints, and worship their images. We are impressed by their achievements, we may see them as heroes or even old warriors. The Saints were none of these. On the contrary, they were people like us, with the same flesh and blood. They had the same pain and feelings in their soul.

We know how much Paul suffered during his Apostolic work. Nevertheless, in the letter to the Philippians he says: I have all the strength with Christ. In other words, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..

The man of God knows his weakness but he also knows his strength. God wants to see this consciousness and then sends His abundant Grace.

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 who will have surgery on Aug. 2nd; 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. 

We enter our spiritual home not to be entertained, but to be a part of a community of believers. We receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. As we pray, worship and serve together, we become His Body. To be truly a member of the Church as Body of Christ requires our presence and our engagement with one another -- in worship, study and service to others. We grow spiritually as a family. We give sacrificially as we acknowledge that all we have comes from God.

"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.

Summary of Grand Totals for 2022 Stewardship (Fund 1) for Aug. 1, 2022

Number of Stewards: 87     Amount of Pledges: $102,192.00     Paid to date:  $76,533.00

Update St. Francis House:
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.
Future Meals: Not able to help right now? 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

Calling All Men and Boys (6 years and Older):  Have you noticed your head chanter, Nick Lekas, hustling between the chanters stand and the altar to help Father Maximos during a service? On occasion, it has been others in the congregation who saw the need and were moved to help. This happens because we lack altar help on a consistent basis.

• Large parishes and cathedrals have paid sextant positions or deacons to manage the help needed for the altar and a larger youth population to draw from, but that is not our situation.
• It is time we fixed this problem with our parish stewardship – that is to apply our individual time and talents to consistently being altar help during services. It is a blessing and an honor to actually be part of the liturgy in an intimate way by helping Father Maximos with the tasks necessary to prepare himself and the gifts for our collective communion – receiving the body and blood of Christ.
• The tasks themselves, cutting the “ANDITHERON” (bread), pouring wine and warm water into the flasks for the altar in preparation, censing, leading processions (one in Orthros and two in the liturgy) carrying the light and/or a censor are simple but vital to supporting our priest.
• I’m calling for volunteers to commit to being at church in time for Orthros on a set schedule. With enough volunteers, we can create a schedule that will not be a burden to anyone and will instead be a blessing to all of us. Once we have a list of volunteers (hopefully 8-10 at least), we will work with Father Maximos to schedule training day(s) as needed for the group, so that we can all learn how to do these tasks comfortably, consistently, and enthusiastically. To put this in perspective, with 10 volunteers, each volunteer will be committed to being trained and then “on-duty” about eight times during a normal year.

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.  https://www.staugustinegreekfestival.com/

Sunday School:

• We will have the Blessing of the Backpacks on August 7th after church. Please have your child bring their backpack to the service and we will have the Blessing of the backpack prayers after liturgy.

 [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]

Holy Services and Events Schedule - Orthros 9.m. & Divine Liturgy 10a.m

August

1-14    Dormition Fast

6         Transfiguration of Our Lord

7         Blessing of the Backpacks

10       Paraklesis - 6pm

12       Paraklesis - 6pm

14       Philoptochos Dormition Luncheon (after liturgy) Orthros 9.m. & Divine Liturgy 10a.m.

15       Dormition of the Theotokos - Orthros 9.m. & Divine Liturgy 10a.m.

           Parish Council - 6:30pm

27       Great-martyr Phanourios commemorated

28       Offer a Phanouropita in honor of St. Phanourios

29       Beheading of St. John the Baptist (strict fast)

29       DEADLNE for Newsletter articles submission is by or before Monday, August 29th to church office Holy3goc@gmail.com

• Our “Light a Candle & Say a Prayer” ministry lets you to light a candle during divine services.  Your request will be forwarded to a Council member in the Narthex to light your candle.  If  you wish to provide names of loved ones to be prayed for, those will be provided to Fr. Maximos.

• Celebrations:  Are you celebrating a special day? Birthday, Anniversary, Seasonal House Cleaning?   Whatever the event, please consider celebrating it with others and making it a fundraiser for our church. People have raised $6 billion USD on Facebook and Instagram for causes they care about. Create a fundraiser and Facebook will take care of the donation processing with no fees.  You can also place the PayPal giving link for the church in your on-line message for donations to be made directly to our account. This can be a fun way to share your happy day with your friends and community and an effective fundraiser for our church. Please reach out to Fr. Maximos or Nick Lekas for details.

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.

• 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.
• PLEASE NOTE:  The deadline for article submission for the SEPT/OCT 2022 Newsletter will be by, or before, Monday, August 29^th to church office Holy3goc@gmail.com

• Note:  Fr. Maximos will be in Greece August 17 to September 13.  Fr. Michael Byars will officiate at holy services on August 21, 28 and September 4. Fr. Martin Ritz will officiate on September 11.
  

Weekly Photo:   https://www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityGOC/photos/a.214784738566511/5673107552734175

Πάντα εν σοφία εποίησας. In wisdom you have made them all. Pictures from St. Augustine.