Sunday, September 12, 2021  - Sunday Before Holy Cross

WELCOME BACK TO OUR CHOIR!

DURING TODAY’S SERVICE, FATHER TEODOR WILL TAKE THE HOLY CROSS AROUND THE CHURCH IN PROCESSION IN RECOGNITION OF THE UPCOMING FEAST DAY OF THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS.

Services This Week

We strongly encourage those who will not be attending church to participate in services through our website at https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming

Sunday, September 12^th   - SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS –  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am   If you wish to follow along with the text, please use the link listed below: https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/p/s/2021/09/12/li/gr-en/se.m08.d30.li.pdf

Monday, September 13^th, VESPERS, ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS, 7:00 pm

Tuesday, September 14^th, FEAST DAY, ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS,

Orthros 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Both services at Holy Cross Church, Farmington Hills

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Effective September 1, 2021: As we began the Ecclesiastical Year and with the rise in COVID infections due to the Delta variant increasing throughout the Metropolis, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND:
1. Parishioners wear masks indoors

2. All church school students wear masks during church and church-related events when indoors

LIGHT A CANDLE AND SAY A PRAYER:  When you are not able to attend church, you can purchase a candle from our church website (home page or video-streaming page), which be lit before the following service or a service that you specify.  Please give specific names, living or deceased, that you would like Father to remember in prayer.  Father will light candles one hour before each service.  For Sunday services, please place candle orders prior to 8:00 am Sunday morning.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Bill, Georgene, Janet, Annette, Ryan, Patricia, Juliana, John, Lou, Paul, Zacharias, Connie, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Michael, Barbara, Lisa, Pat, Christopher, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Lazarus, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Stella, Ann Marie, Vasilios, Carol, George, Demetri, Steve, Molly, Maria, Elizabeth, Evans, Katherine, Mike, Mary, Margaret, Angela, Connie, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Jacob, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria.

Names may be added to the prayer list by request. If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, or if someone should be removed from the list, please contact the church office at stcons2@gmail.com

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

PARISH FAMILY “HAPPY TO SEE YOU!” BRUNCH:   FOLLOWING TODAY’S DIVINE LITURGY! Join us in the Hellenic Cultural after the Divine Liturgy for a fun, family Brunch with Breakfast items, Chicken and Waffles, Tater-tot Bar, and Ice Cream Sundaes!!!  No reserved seating, Donations for St. Cons’ Children’s Ministries are welcome.

FIRST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL! Our Sunday School program will kick off TODAY, on September 12^th! Registration table will be set up outside the church office.  Children attend church with their family, and are then dismissed to go to their Sunday School classes.  Students should then get picked up after the service, as families go the Hellenic Cultural Center for brunch (or coffee hour, in future weeks.) As we began the Ecclesiastical Year and with the rise in COVID infections due to the Delta variant increasing throughout the Metropolis, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND all church school students wear masks during church and church related events when indoors.

You may also continue to register your children through the month of September , ages 4 – 18, online at: https://forms.gle/4KzidE8L32BoPFGJ9   Classes will be in person at the church for the first time since March 2020, and our Sunday School team all excited to be getting back together. Please plan to involve your children in our Sunday School program. We are also in need of parent or other adult volunteers – if you are interested in helping out, please contact Frances at fmarinos@comcast.net

PHILOPTOCHOS GENERAL MEETING and MEAL!  St. Helen Philoptochos members are encouraged to attend the first Philoptochos General Meeting of the year on Monday, September 13^th, at 3:00 pm in the Library/Multi-purpose room.  Following the meeting, a meal will be offered.  Please join us for an afternoon of information and fellowship! We have many activities planned for the coming year. If you have any questions, contact Carol Bozadzis at 248.921.5421. 

Note:  For those who are still interested in purchasing raffle tickets for the National Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund, this will be the last week – Carol will be available after church with tickets.

FAMILY TALENT SHOW: Take your turn in the spotlight on Sunday, October 3^rd! Our Choir will be hosting a family talent show in the Hellenic Cultural Center that evening, with pizza, salad, and a lot of fun!  The Choir, our VCS Children’s Choir, and individual parishioners, Young and old, will perform music and a variety of acts.  If you would like to participate, contact Maritsa Kalasz at 734.516.8548 or madiaskalasz@gmail.com..

ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Adult Bible Study will begin meeting on Tuesday evenings, starting Tuesday, September 21^st.  We are planning to continue meeting virtually on the ZOOM platform. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789  All adults are welcome to join!  If you would like to stay informed about Bible Study activity, contact the church office at 734.525.6789.

TLC - SAVE THE DATE!  Our first TLC luncheon of the year will be held at noon on Thursday, October 14^th   at the Hellenic Cultural Center.  More information and full TLC schedule to come soon!

FALL FESTIVAL COMING SOON! Plans are underway for our annual Fall Festival, to be held on Friday, October 29^th.  This is a fantastic, fun event for kids and adults, with costumes, lots of games, and surprises!  If you’d like to volunteer to help, contact Tracy Monolidis at TracyM522@gmail.com

HOLY UNCTION SERVICES:  Our sister churches will join with Sts. Constantine and Helen to offer Holy Unction services on a rotating schedule once a month. Adults and children will be anointed with Holy oil for physical health, well-being and forgiveness. Scheduled Holy Unction service dates are:

• HOLY CROSS, FARMINGTON:  October 20^th, 2021 and January 19^th, 2022
• STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN, WESTLAND: November 17^th, 2021 and February 16^th, 2022
• NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY, PLYMOUTH: December 15^th, 2021 and March 2^nd, 2022

NEWS AND NOTICES

ICONOGRAPHY – WE CAN MEET THE CHALLENGE! Saints Constantine and Helen has received a $25,000 Challenge Match grant from the AHEPA Omega Detroit Chapter 371!  At this time, all icons for Phase One of our Iconography project have received sponsorship commitments, but we are still in need of general donations of any amount to complete our project fundraising. All donations the church receives, up to $25,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by AHEPA. These donations provide support for Icon installation, travel, and other associated project fees. Help us meet the AHEPA Iconography challenge with a donation of any amount, today.  Please put “Iconography Match” on the memo line of your contribution check.

ST CONS GREEK FESTIVAL COMMITTEE:  Our indoor Greek Festival will be back in February of 2022 – better than ever!  We are putting together the event planning committee now, and we need you! If you are interested in helping to plan and organize the Saints Constantine and Helen GREEKFEST 2022, please contact Mark Chuey at  markchuey@aol.com

MEMORIAL SERVICES:  Koliva that has been prepared for memorial services can now be distributed to parishioners at the end of service.  We are also again able to accept Coffee Hour Sponsors, for those having a memorial or other special day in church.  Requested sponsorship donation is $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family. Paximadia and koulourakia may also be distributed at the coffee hour. Please call the church office to schedule memorials and coffee hour sponsorships 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.

REMEMBER THE CHURCH IN YOUR WILL: You’ve supported the church your whole life, remembering us in your estate plan will help the church when you’re gone.  Consult your estate planner or contact the Church office for information.  We are grateful to our parishioners who have left bequests to the church in the last few years: Thomas Goffas, Irene Barbas, Anthony Keros, Kris Merikas, John and Alice Koinis, Joan Keker, Katherine Socol, Ted and Demetra Monolidis, Zoe Kokenakes, Peter and Eileen Lekas. Their loving legacy made a big difference!  May their memory be eternal.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: During this time with reduced church office hours, if you need to get into the building or visit the office, please call first to be sure that the building is open.  Phone messages and emails will be monitored, so please leave a message, and we will get back with you as soon as possible. As always, if there is an urgent need or emergency, please call Fr. Teodor on his cell at 248.330.3177.

GREECE WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND:   As you are most likely aware, Greece is currently being ravaged by wildfires.  The Archdiocese has set up a fund to provide aid.  If you would like to make a donation, there is a link below. To date, our church has raised over $2,000 thanks to our parishioners’ generosity.
GOARCH donation page:
https://www.goarch.org/greecefiresdonate
Youtube video:
https://youtu.be/MlN-5lmFJK0
GoFundMe donation page:
https://gofund.me/291b0813

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.