UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
GOYA ZOOM DISCUSSION: GOYA members and young people, ages 12 – 18 are invited to join the discussion on December 20th at 4:00 pm, “WILL YOU RECOGNIZE CHRIST THIS CHRISTMAS?” Join us as we discuss how we can get ready and recognize Christ this Christmas. The discussion will be run by Fr. Larry Legakis (Holy Trinity, Toledo), Fr. Nick Kotsis (St. Nick’s Ann Arbor), Fr. Anthony Cook (St. George Southgate), and Fr. Teodor Petrutiu. Join Zoom Meeting: https://goarch.zoom.us/j/94748505993?pwd=TkU4b3hnUXBGOUlNa28xZDZNeFZPUT09 Meeting ID: 947 4850 5993 Passcode: 397812
CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Archdiocesa Cathedral Choir will present "God Is With Us" - An Archdiocesan Virtual Christmas Concert to be held virtually, premiering online beginning Sunday, December 20, 8 PM EST- Saturday, December 26, 12 AM EST.. The annual Christmas Concert at Holy Trinity Cathedral has become a staple in the New York holiday concert scene. Featuring musicians from the renowned Archdiocesan Cathedral Choir and the Archdiocesan District, the concert will feature popular carols and songs of the holiday season. The concert selections will be performed at various churches throughout the Archdiocesan District, and at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Tickets $25-100. More information is available online: www.thecathedralnyc.org.
NEW YEAR’S COMEDY EVENT: The AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope District 10 will present a live, virtual comedy event on Friday, January 1st at 7:00 pm. Comics Angelo Tsarouchas and Ellen Karis should bring some much-needed laughs while raising money to create an endowed fund at the University of Michigan to benefit students studying Modern Greek language; and other AHEPA charitable efforts. Donation is $30 per household. For more information, contact: AHEPAD10events@gmail.com
PARISH VASILOPITA/FAMILY SUNDAY: We will cut our parish Vasilopita on Sunday, January 10th. Let’s welcome the New Year together and please bring your family to services on this day, as we cut and distribute the Vasilopita and see who receives special blessings for 2021!
NEWS AND NOTICES:
CHRISTMAS MATCH: We are half-way to our goal! So far, we have received approx. $10,000 in Christmas donations to our goal! Once again, this Christmas season we have the opportunity to support the vibrant ministries of our parish by using the designated Christmas offering envelope for a Christmas donation. Pre-stamped envelopes were sent to parishioners’ homes, and envelopes are also available at the Pangari. Through God’s grace, a group of donors from our parish will match all your donations up to $20,000.
STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE CARDS AND CALENDARS: Next week we will be mailing out our 2021 Stewardship Pledge Forms (also available at the Pangari) and the 2021 Archdiocese Calendars. If you have moved in the past year, be sure the church office has your current address. You must complete a Stewardship Pledge form each year to be considered a “member in good standing” at an Orthodox church.
SHARING OUR WARMTH: We are still accepting donations of new, warm, adult Men’s or Women’s socks to be donated to the Community Housing Network “Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness” (PATH) program. There are also bins in the Narthex to collect donations of new gloves, hats and scarves for all ages to be distributed to area families in need. Collections will be accepted through Christmas.
ICONOGRAPHY: We have received delivery on the first 4 icons for our Iconostasis!
Icons that are still available for sponsorship:
- EVANGELISTS: Matthew ($15,000 sponsorship)
- HIERARCHS: St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Iakovos (James) ($9,000 sponsorship each)
- GOLD BEAUTIFICATION MOTIF encircling the Pantokrator (Dome): $500/ft.
For those who are interested in sponsoring an icon, please talk to Father Teodor or contact the church office for more information. We are also still in need of general donations of any amount to complete our fundraising on Phase One: East and Dome. We are about 90% to completion of our fundraising goal!
HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER REOPENING: At the current time, the State of Michigan is allowing banquet facilities to open for events with reduced capacity. Masks and social distance restrictions are still in place, along with increased precautions in the preparation and serving of food and drink. Although they are not yet keeping regular office hours, if would like to discuss future bookings or other issues with the HCC staff, please contact Victoria at 734.525.3550 or Kathy at 313.303.6350 or helleniccc@gmail.com
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Adult Bible Study group will not meet during the month of December, but will restart after the first of the year.
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
PARKING COURTESY: During these months of cold, snow and ice it can be tempting to park close to the church entrance. Please do not park along the curb or in any fire lanes. Only use handicapped parking spaces if you have a need. We suggest you drop people off at the church entrance, and then go and park your car. If you cannot do that, or if you come to church alone and need help with parking, ask an usher to assist you.
SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS
Funeral: 12/18/20 – HENRY KAYAL
May his memory be eternal!
DID YOU KNOW? DODECAMERON: The Greek Orthodox combine the holidays of Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany into a period called the Dodecameron (meaning twelve days – pronounced, tho-the-CAM-e-ron). The period starts with Christmas on December 25th and ends January 6th with Epiphany. Once Christmas starts, the season is one of continuous celebration to commemorate some of the year’s most important holidays. Christmas trees are traditionally left up through this period, and are taken down after Epiphany, on January 6th. According to Christian tradition, the “12th Day of Christmas”, or January 6th is the Day the Three Kings made it to Bethlehem.
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 family names 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.