UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
ALL THE BLITZ, SAVE THE GLITZ: Things are a little different this year, and so our Annual “Putting on the Glitz” Dinner and Auction will be a virtual event. You can buy your raffle on the church website homepage, at www.stcons.org Raffle tickets are also available after church, from any Parish Council member or Fr. Teodor, or at the church office. Drawing and Zoom event will be held on Sunday, November 8th at 6:30 pm There are still plenty of chances to win money and prizes and to support the important ministries of our Church.
FALL FEST FUN WALK!: On Sunday November 1st, immediately following church, there will be a “Fall Fest Fun Walk”. Parents and Grandparents!! Plan to visit our “enchanted forest” down the church hallway with your children 12 years and under for all kinds of fun surprises, great give-aways and treats! It’s all free, masks are required and social distance will be enforced. (Plan to stay an extra 15 or 20 minutes after the service for the fun!) Middle and High School students are needed as volunteers for the event. Those interested should contact the church office at stcons2@gmail.com
OPERATION GRATITUDE: Say “thank you” to those who serve. When you come to church on the day after Halloween (Nov. 1st), please bring all your extra and left-over Halloween candy to be donated to “Operation Gratitude”, which sends it to our US Military and to First Responders. This is a one-day only opportunity to donate, and
CRITICAL NEED: AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE: During this COVID crisis, blood supplies have been lower than ever, making this a very desperate time for those needing blood. On October 28th, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, we will be hosting a blood drive by the American Red Cross in the Hellenic Cultural Center. YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO DONATE BLOOD. To schedule an appointment, please log onto RedCrossBlood.org (our sponsor code: stcons) or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) today. If they do not have enough donors, the event will be cancelled – more than 70% of scheduled blood drives have been cancelled during the pandemic.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Adult Bible Study group will meet again on the Zoom platform on Tuesday, October 20th at 7:00 pm. All adults are welcome to join the conversation. Zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789 For more information, contact: stcons2@gmail.com
PARENTING DURING A PANDEMIC: Saint Nicholas Church, Ann Arbor invites you to attend a ZOOM presentation on Saturday, October 24th from 10:00 am – 12 noon with Dr. Philip Mamalakis, highly recognized author and Orthodox educator. The pandemic with all the restrictions, adjustments, changes, and struggles has brought unique and additional challenges for parents, on top of the normal challenges of parenting. You may register for this opportunity on the St Nick’s website, https://www.stnickaa.org/
NEWS AND NOTICES:
NAMES FOR PARAKLESIS SERVICE: There will be a Paraklesis service held Friday, October 23rd at 6:30 pm. Please submit the names of the living that you would like remembered in prayer for health, forgiveness, and salvation to the church office at stcons2@gmail.com or complete the prayer sheet available at the Pangari.
GIFT CARDS NEEDED: During our Reverse Raffle event, every 10th number drawn receives a prize! We are in need of gift card donations to area restaurants, stores, services, etc. to be used as those prizes. Please drop gift card donations to Annette’s attention in the church office.
ICONOGRAPHY: We’re getting close! We have reached 83% of our fundraising goal for our Iconography project. Icons still available for sponsorship as of 10/16/20 include:
- EVANGELISTS: Matthew, Luke ($15,000 sponsorship each)
- HIERARCHS: St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Athanasios, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Iakovos (James) ($9,000 sponsorship each)
- APOSTLES: Philip ($4,200 sponsorship)
- GOLD BEAUTIFICATION MOTIF encircling the Pantokrator (Dome): $500/ft.
For those who are interested, please talk to Father Teodor or contact the church office for more information. We are still in need of general donations of any amount to complete our fundraising on Phase One: East and Dome. We are grateful to the parish families that have already made a pledge to sponsor an icon.
FEED THE NEEDY: Due to the pandemic, we are unable to pack and deliver food for the “John Koinis Feed the Needy Program” this year. Instead, the Men’s Club will be providing gift cards to needy Westland and Livonia families so they can purchase groceries for Thanksgiving. Your donations are needed. Donation envelopes for Feed the Needy are available at the Pangari. We are also in need of volunteers to help prepare and deliver the gift cards. If you are interested, contact Mark Chuey at markchuey@aol.com
QUESTIONS FOR FATHER TEODOR: In this unusual year with no regular Sunday School classes, Father Teodor will take a few minutes on Sunday mornings to answer questions from our young people (or adults!) about our faith. Questions can be submitted online using this link: https://forms.gle/7ae8mqd6DNSghbQs6
SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS:
Funeral: ALEXANDER SEBASTIAN
Arrangements: Trisagion, 10/21 7:00 pm Harry Will Funeral Home
Funeral, 10/22 10:30 am, Sts Constantine and Helen
May his memory be eternal!
AND SOME WELL-DESERVED THANKS TO OUR PARISHIONERS:
SAMARITAS
September 29, 2020
… On behalf of the people served by Samaritas, thank you for your in-kind contribution of diapers, food, baby formula, wipes, sanitizer and toilet paper on 9/21/2020. Gifts like yours help Samaritas to empower the people we serve, enabling them to overcome the challenges of trauma, hopelessness, poverty and disability. Together we provide a life line for children who are without a home or without hope. You help us provide affordable choices and a sense of independence for older adults and persons with disabilities.
We are blessed that you share in our mission – Serving people as an expression of the love of Christ. Your partnership in connecting, empowering and transforming lives in our community is priceless.
Sincerely,
Sam Beals, Chief Executive Officer
SOLES-4-SOULS
October 9, 2020
… I didn’t want to let another day go by without acknowledging all the hard work, time, and energy you invested in our work together. Your efforts made a real difference to people in that room – and a lasting difference to people all around the world.
Together with the help of generous, compassionate folks like you, last year we were able to distribute nearly 6.5 million pairs of shoes and articles of clothing to people all across the globe. And now, kids are in school and adults are at work. Families are rebuilding after natural disasters. Entrepreneurs in developing countries are launching meaningful businesses. Communities are protected from injury and disease.
It’s amazing to think it all starts with shoes, isn’t it? Actually, it all starts with you. And I’m so grateful.
With deepest thanks,
Buddy Teaster - CEO, Soles4Souls
MEMORIAL SERVICE INFORMATION
Please call the church office to schedule memorials in a timely manner so we can include the information in the bulletin. On the day of the service, please bring a list of famnames you would like Father to remember in prayer. At this time, due to COVID restrictions, koliva that has been prepared for the memorial service cannot be distributed to parishioners, but will be returned to the family to take home. We are not currently allowed to have coffee hour, or distribute any cookies, paximadia or koulourakia.
Non-Orthodox Visitors Please Note: Holy Communion is offered to Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves. Visitors are welcome to receive the Antidoron (Blessed Bread), which is distributed at the end of the Divine Liturgy.