Altar Team: Lawrence
Parish Council Members on Duty: Mike Delvizis, Jim Gaddis & Elena Rollins
Fr. Michael will be away at the Metropolis Clergy-Laity next week from Wednesday, September 25th – Saturday, September 28th. Should any serious issues arise during this time, please feel free to contact the Church office at (615) 333-1047.
Coffee Hour today is being hosted by the Darsinos family in memory of Tony Darsinos. We thank the family and pray his memory will be eternal!
The first GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America) meeting of the Ecclesiastical New Year is today, September 22nd after Liturgy. All children in grades 6th through 12th are invited to attend and participate in GOYA. We try and meet monthly with organized activities like serving dinners at local shelters, walk/hike fundraisers for charities, fun fellowship outings including: bowling, Escape games, skating, canoeing and meetings where we nurture and discuss our Greek Orthodox faith. If you have not participated in GOYA this past year or if your contact information has changed, please email the Church office @ htgocoffice@gmail.com with parent contact information, child name, grade and email, if available, and we will add you to the GOYA email list. Father Michael is very much looking forward to meeting with everyone. He asks that parents and GOYANS be prepared to bring ideas and suggestions to the meeting so that we can plan the best first year together possible!
Upcoming Fall AHEPA Service Project! Men and women who sacrifice to serve our country deserve the best after their time of service is over. But did you know that 1 out of 10 homeless persons in the U.S. are veterans? This is a national tragedy! This fall, the men of AHEPA have teamed up with a local non-profit, Operation Stand Down TN, to help veterans in need. From October 6th – November 3rd, you can donate lightly used clothes (preference winter clothes) or gift cards for basic needs. AHEPA will have a table in the fellowship hall to accept your donations. Here is a giving guideline: Gasoline cards (Fuel only @ Mapco, Kroger, Exxon, Shell) - $25 increments, Walmart Cards in increments of $25 & $50, Kroger Cards in increments of $25 & $50, Men and women’s gently used clothing including shoes and boots, Reader eyeglasses (Dollar Stores) 1.25, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 strengths, and Men’s 2X and 3X t-shirts. All donations will be delivered to Operation Stand Down TN the week before Veteran’s Day. Thank you for your support for this project! http://osdtn.org/
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; Anna; Antonia; Glenda; Maggi; Dorcas; John Timothy; Abigail; Lisa; John; Olivia; Anastasia; Steve Turner; Timothy; Mark Santana; Tyler Dugas; Kalliopi; Angelyn; Tillie; Dale; Amanda; Freeman family; Rose, Scott; Ben, Jessica, Addison & Rogan; Siharya Siloman; Chrysoula; David; Charlie; Balsa
To add names to the Parish 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 Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America met today, under the chairmanship of Archbishop Elpidophoros, to discuss the state of Orthodox Christian unity in the USA. Recognizing the challenges in global Orthodoxy, the jurisdictional representatives reiterated their commitment to the local faithful of America and rededicated themselves to fulfilling the call for canonical normalcy and pastoral unity on contemporary issues.
NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met with the Direct Archdiocesan District Executive Board of the Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians on Monday, September 16, in his office at the Archdiocese. Members of the Executive Board are Mrs. Anna Dounelis, President; Mr. Theodore Brakatselos, Vice-President; Mrs. Irini Kapareliotis, Treasurer; Mrs. Fay Pavlidis, Mrs. Peggy Stilianos, Public Relations Office, and V. Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert, Spiritual Advisor.
On Friday, September 13, 2019, ten Pan-Orthodox organizations concluded a vibrant and productive meeting on the crisis of homelessness. The twenty experts arrived at the following common multi-faceted understanding
