Altar Team: Stephen
Parish Council Members on Duty: Helen Bellos, Jim Gaddis, George Plaster & Elena Rollins
The 2020 Parish Calendars have arrived from the Archdiocese and are available for pickup in the Narthex. We ask that you please only take one calendar per family so that we will have enough for all of the families in our parish to have a calendar for 2020. Thank you!
An Opportunity to Bring Some Christmas Joy!!! Mary Pasayan is a longtime member of Holy Trinity who resides in an assisted living here in Nashville. She is 97 years old and her daughters, Leslie Richard and Jackie Phillips, have said how much she loves getting mail. She is in a wheelchair and wheels herself to the mailbox each day, in hopes that she will get some mail. If any of you would like to send Mary a Christmas card and bring one of the oldest members of our Church family some Christmas joy, her information is as follows: Morningside of Belmont, 1710 Magnolia Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37212, ATTN: Mary Pasayan #212.
A Message from Philoptochos:
Get vasilopita (Frozen) now for the New Year and start the family tradition! It would also make a one-of-a-kind hostess gift for Christmas and will keep in the refrigerator until the New Year. There are 35 available for $10/each.
Also available in limited quantities in the Church hall: 2 large ½ pans of Moussaka (Feeds 9-12), 5 small ¼ pans of Moussaka (Feeds 4), 3 small ¼ pans of Pastitsio (Feeds 4), 5 large pans (48 pieces) of Spanakopita, 5 large pans (48 pieces) of Tiropita, 5 small pans (12 pieces) of Spanakopita, 7 small pans (12 pieces) of Tiropita. Various pastries are also available for sale after Liturgy in the Church hall.
IOCC Volunteer Opportunities! Over the past two years, the US IOCC Program has been strongly invested in helping with the recovery of those that have been affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. Since the hurricanes in 2017, IOCC volunteers have been able to complete over 8,700 hours of volunteer labor, worth over $237,000. There are currently volunteer opportunities to help with building in Houston, TX and various locations across Florida. The cost of attendance is $100, which covers three meals a day, housing, and ground transportation while in the build city. This is a great opportunity for parishioners to practice service and grow in fellowship with one another. This is also a great opportunity for parish youth as well! If any of you are interested in participating in an IOCC Homebuild, please feel free to contact the Church office at htgocoffice@gmail.com or visit the IOCC website at www.iocc.org for more information.
We are very grateful to all those who have hosted coffee hour on Sundays after Liturgy and we encourage and invite people to sign up to host so that we can continue to offer hospitality to others. 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; 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; Anastasia; Noah Evans and family; Alexandra; Eleni; Kiki
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.