Altar Team: Mark
Parish Council Members on Duty: Jim Gaddis & George Plaster
Congratulations to Dena & Michael DuGan and to Kalistos & Jennifer Turner on the occasion of their recent weddings held on Saturday, July 20th and Sunday, July 21st. We pray that God will bless both of their marriages and grant them many blessed years together!
Best wishes to Richard and Alexandra Hapiuk on the recent baptism of their daughter, Phoibe Michaela, and to Jason Valentine on his chrismation into the Orthodox Church. We wish both of them many blessed years in the Faith!
Ta Pethia (the children) dancers will have Greek dance practice after church in the Sunday school building with Ms. Athena Phillips. Ta Pethia dancers are current first, second, third, and fourth graders. The Ta Pethia dance group will have dance practice on 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25, for the 2019 Greek festival. We will have a dress rehearsal (under the tent) on 9/4 at 6pm. If you have any questions, please contact Athena at phillips.athena@gmail.com. Also, please work on getting your black dress shoes and costume ready for the festival. Thank you!
The Festival Committee is still looking for 2019 Festival Booth Captains in the following areas: Parking & Kitchen. If interested, please contact Andrew Miller at andrewm594@gmail.com. Thanks!
2019 Festival Sponsors – Interested in having your business sponsor the Festival? Please contact Krystyna Barnard at info@nashvillegreekfestival.com for more information.
FOCUS BACKPACK UPDATE: Through July 21, 42 backpacks have been returned to the church with supplies. Thank you! But that means we still have 54 backpacks that need to be returned by the deadline of Sunday, August 4. Please don’t wait until the last minute! And please don’t forget the $10 donation that covers the cost of the backpack if you haven’t already donated.
The Church is in need of volunteers to work on the Maintenance Committee. Helpful skills include basic knowledge of AC, electrical and mechanical. Maintenance committee members coordinate and supervise vendors on behalf of the Parish Council. It is a 2 to 3-year commitment. The current committee is John Miller, Lambert Lamberson & Kareem Jabbour. Please contact the Church office if interested at (615) 333-1047 or htgocoffice@gmail.com.
If you are interested in hosting a coffee hour, please contact the Church office at 615-333-1047 or htgocoffice@gmail.com.
PARISH PRAYER LIST
Anatoliy (Tony); Dimitri; Judson Phillips; Joel Rivera; Malcolm; Evan Parhas; Alyssa; Keith Singley; Evie; Ann; David Ward; Fr. George Vaporis; Eleni Taylor; Isabella Marie Fuller; Bryan; Jeff; Gary; Dorothy Nicklas; Mary Beth; Karen Ingraham; Mick Elias Kuttab; Byron Dwight Wallace; Michael; Nicholas; Patrick; Elli; Eleni; Rhea & Juan Carlos; Lazarus; Subdeacon Victor & Robin Poletajev; Rod Caulkins; Christos Tsiodras; Marie; George Pierides; Christina; George S.; Anastasia; Christoforos; Ekaterina; Emily; Jacob Sotiriadis; Twila; Teresa; George; Basil; Heather Ritscher; Matt, Ali, Lucas & Olivia Ritscher; James & Wesley Austin; Gary Andrew; Andreas; Klitos; Kleo; Erica; Susan; Antonia; Glenda; Maggi; Dorcas; John Timothy; Abigail; Lisa; John; Olivia; Anastasia; Steve Turner; Timothy; Mark Santana; Tyler Dugas; Angelyn; Tillie; Dale; Amanda; Freeman family; Rose, Scott; Ben, Jessica, Addison & Rogan, Siharya Siloman
To add names to the prayer list, please contact the Church office at (615) 333-1047 or htgocoffice@gmail.com.
CHURCH ETIQUETTE FAQs
Who may receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church?
Holy Communion is a Sacrament within the Orthodox Church and therefore is offered to Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome to receive the Blessed Bread (Antidoron) at the end of the Divine Liturgy.
How should I dress in the Orthodox Church?
Wear modest and appropriate attire. Common sense and good judgment should prevail. Avoid wearing lipstick when venerating the icons and receiving Holy Communion. Also, please refrain from chewing gum.
Why do the Ushers/Parish Council ask us to wait before entering at certain times of the service?
There are several parts of the Liturgy where all movement within the Sanctuary should be restricted, including entering the Nave from the Narthex. These parts are:
1) Procession of the Priest and Acolytes with the Gospel
2) The reading of the Epistle and Gospel
3) The priest’s homily (sermon)
4) The Great Procession of the Priest and Altar Boys with the Holy Gifts
5) The recitation of the Nicene Creed
6) The prayers of offering and consecration (From “Thine own of thine own…” until “Especially for our most Holy Lady….”
7) The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer
8) Special services (40-day blessings, memorials, processions…)
My child is being noisy. What should I do?
Children are a great blessing in Church. It is very special to hear our young people begin to participate in the Liturgy, by reciting the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and singing along with our hymns. It is also important that children are present from a very young age to absorb the holy atmosphere of the Divine Liturgy. But sometimes, children have a hard time being quiet or sitting still. Little noises here and there are not worrisome, but in those times when the situation becomes very boisterous, there is a cry room located in the back of the Sanctuary in addition to a foyer with a monitor to watch the Liturgy while the child calms down.
NEW YORK – The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Y2AM) released a new episode of “Be the Bee” featuring His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
NEW YORK – On Friday, July 12, 2019, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh and a delegation from the Metropolis of Pittsburgh to the Archdiocese to discuss plans for the 45th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the 2020 National Philoptochos Biennial Convention, scheduled to convene in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 28-July 3, 2020.
NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros wishing to further promote the value and importance of monasticism in our Οrthodox tradition and the spiritual life of the faithful, decided to convene a Monastic Assembly, on September 21-22, 2019 in the Holy Monastery of Saint Nektarios, in Roscoe, NY.
