Altar Team: Mark
Parish Council Members on Duty: Helen Bellos, Jim Gaddis, Helen Rogers & Elena Rollins
REMINDER: The deadline is this Sunday, August 18th, to RSVP for the appreciation dinner in honor of Father Gregory on Saturday, August 24th, 2019 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the FiftyForward Martin Center at 960 Heritage Way in Brentwood, TN. The cost for the dinner is $10 for adults and children over six years of age. Stroud's BBQ will be catering the event and we will have entertainment provided by Jeff Wood and the Bluegrass Band. We hope that you will all join us for an evening of celebration and thanks to Father Gregory for all the love, support and guidance he has given to the Holy Trinity family over the years. We kindly request that you RSVP to the Church office at (615) 333-1047 or htgocoffice@gmail.com. The dress code for the event is casual, however, we ask, please no shorts. Thank you!
Church Photo on August 25th! While we encourage you to be in Church every opportunity, please make plans to attend on Sunday, August 25th. After Liturgy, we will take a congregational photo with Father Gregory, Presvytera Sofia and family. Don’t miss this important moment in our Church’s history.
SAVE THE DATE!!! Mark your calendars for the 32nd Annual Greek Festival on September 6th, 7th, and 8th, 2019! We are going to need lots of volunteers before, during and after the festival. Sign-up sheets are now available after Church on Sundays in the hall. Please consider giving of your time and talent to help us make this festival the best one yet!
Festival Baking is continuing this coming week starting on Monday, August 19th. We will be making kourabiedes on Monday at 9:30 am and will continue on Tuesday at 9:30 am, if needed. We will be making cinnamon bread Wednesday-Friday, August 21st–23rd starting at 9:30 am. Whether you can come and help all day or just for one hour, any and all help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Ta Pethia (the children) dancers are having 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. 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!
All children entering 5th - 8th grade who want to dance at this year’s Greek Festival will have practice every Sunday until September 1st with Nickolette Kennedy immediately following Sunday School in the Sunday School building. Practice will last approximately 1 hr. Please contact Nickolette at kennedydn@gmail.com if you have any additional questions.
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!
This year, the Toddler Room in the Church School building will be a parent & child class with lessons led by a teacher. The room will be available after communion like the rest of the church school classes, and parents are asked to remain with their child(ren) for the lesson. For more information, see Sara Spanos.
The Church is still in need of volunteers to work on the Maintenance Committee. Ronnie Richard and Pete Shack have signed up to volunteer but the committee is still hoping to find one other individual to join the current committee which includes John Miller, Lambert Lamberson and Kareem Jabbour. Helpful skills include basic knowledge of AC, electrical, technical and plumbing. Maintenance committee members coordinate and supervise vendors on behalf of the Parish Council. It is a 2 to 3-year commitment. Please contact the Church office if interested at (615) 333-1047 or htgocoffice@gmail.com.
Church School Registration – Parents are asked to please follow the link below to register your children for church school. Please fill out a form for each child you wish to enroll. https://forms.gle/SU6A8nMVtrRi4F7RA Thank you! Bethany Darsinos, Director of Church School
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; Kyriaki; 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; Chryssoula; David; Charlie
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 – Archbishop Elpidophoros received today Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) for their first official visit. The two hierarchs discussed the developing relationship between the Archdiocese and the OCA in recent years, committing to deepening cooperation.
NEW YORK – On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met with a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC), including The Rt. Rev. W. Darin Moore (Chair), Jim Winkler (General Secretary and President), and Dr. Tony Kireopoulos (Associate Secretary General).
NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met today, Monday, August 12, 2019, with a delegation from the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches
