EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
HOPE AND JOY EASTER BASKET BRUNCH: TODAY, our HOPE and JOY children, ages 4 – 12 and their families are invited to join us on April 3rd for an “Easter Basket Brunch”! We will put together Easter baskets to be given to low-income children, have fun craft activities, and learn about Holy Week and Easter from Fr. Teodor!
GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE: The Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade will be held on Sunday, April 10th, starting at 3:00 pm on Monroe Street in Detroit’s Greektown Historic District. His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will be in attendance. Please plan to walk the parade route with your family in the Saints Constantine and Helen Church group!
PALM SUNDAY LUNCH: After church on April 17th, we will have our annual Palm Sunday Lunch. Let’s begin Holy Week together with our parish family! The menu includes baked White Fish, Fried Calamari, Shrimp and Rice, Pasta, Roasted Potatoes, Peas, Salad Fries, and Sorbet. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $15 for children. There will be open seating, ONLY FULL TABLES SOLD IN ADVANCE WILL BE RESERVED. Buy your tickets in advance and skip the line! Tickets will be available for sale at coffee hour and in the church office.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY/ICONOGRAPHY/POT LUCK SUPPER: This week, Wednesday April 6th will be the final Presanctified Liturgy service at 5:30 pm. There will be a presentation by Fr. Teodor on our new iconography – Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, Decent of the Holy Spirit (Both the services and the lectures will be available via live video-feed on the parish website, www.stcons.org, if you are unable to attend in person. The Lenten Pot-Luck Supper in the HCC will be hosted by the Sunday School and HOPE and JOY. Bring a Lenten dish to pass if you can!
PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the St. Helen Philoptochos on Monday, April 11th at 6:00 pm. The group will meet in the library.
SEAFOOD BUFFET: THERE WILL BE NO LENTEN SEAFOOD BUFFET THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 8TH. THE FINAL SEAFOOD BUFFET WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY APRIL 15TH.
COMMUNION VISITS: Fr. Teodor will continue making visits to our home-bound parishioners to offer communion from April 4th – April 15th. If you, or someone you know is unable to attend church and would like to receive communion before Holy Week, please call the church office to schedule a visit.
GUS CONSTANTELLIS COMEDY EVENT: Tickets for the Gus Constantellis Comedy event on Saturday, June 18th will go on sale online on Palm Sunday, April 17th. Invite your friends and family to come (but don’t tell Toula!) and buy a table together!
SAVE THE DATE! Our Name Day Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, May 14th at the Hellenic Cultural Center. We are so excited to bring back this annual event, hosted by our Moms’ Group with a big “Greek Feast”, Dancing, Basket Raffle, Photo Booth, and more!
NEWS AND NOTICES:
PITA AND TARAMOSALATA SALE: After church today, and for the next 3 Sundays, our GOYA will be selling taramosalata and packages of pita bread. All proceeds will be used to buy new clothes and shoes to be donated to the Michigan Foster Care Closet for area teens in foster care.
MANY THANKS! We thank and His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, Fr. John Artemas, and Fr. Mark Sietsema, for serving in our parish this week, as Fr. Teodor and his family spent a few days out of town.
ICON DONATIONS: Our Sunday School will continue accepting donations through the Saturday of Lazarus (April 16th) of used icons to be sent to the Orthodox Public Action Project, to distribute to Orthodox Christians facing religious persecution in the Middle East and South Africa. Please leave your icons in the basket in the Narthex when you come to church.
FAITH ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIPS – Awards ranging up to $12,000 will be given to graduating high school seniors entering an undergraduate degree program in the fall of 2022 at a 4-year accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must be of Greek Orthodox faith and member of a parish. For questions, please call (212) 803-9363 or email info@thefaithendowment.org.
“SENSE-SATIONAL” VCS - SAVE THE DATES! Our Vacation Church School will be held the week of August 8th – 12th. This year we will focus on the 5 Senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell – as we help our kids connect with our unseen, untouchable God through their physical senses. If you have a young person between the ages of 4 and 12, save this week for learning about our faith, making new friends, and big fun! Teens ages 13 – 18 are needed to work as volunteers, teacher’s aids, etc. We also need adult help that week with teaching, crafts, and outside play. If you can help, contact Frances Marinos at fmarinos @comcast.net or the church office.
MEMORIAL SERVICES: Koliva that has been prepared for memorial services can now be distributed to parishioners at the end of service. Requested Coffee Hour 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.
WE’RE HIRING! We are looking for staff to fill several positions at the Hellenic Cultural Center, including servers, event managers, bartenders, office staff, and maintenance. If you are interested, or know somebody who might be a good fit, please talk to Nicki at helleniccc@gmail.com or 734.525.3550; or the church office.
STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE: If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to submit your 2022 Stewardship Pledge card today. You ae not considered a member in good standing at the parish, unless this card is completed each year. Stewardship Pledge cards are available at the Pangari or the church office. Parishioners can also complete the 2022 Stewardship Pledge Card online from our website, or at this direct link: https://form.jotform.com/220062911610138
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.