MAY 8, 2022 – SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!    Christ is Risen!  Truly He Is Risen!

Hristos a Inviat!    Adevarat a Inviat!

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  If you wish to follow along with the text, please use the link listed below: https://dcs.goarch.org/

Sunday, May 8  – SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

No additional services this week.

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.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR:  

Thomas, Jim, Panagioti, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Christina, Cynthia, Marti, Marty, Janet, John, Paul, Zacharias, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Lazarus, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Ann Marie, Vasilios, Carol, George, Demetri, Steve, Molly, Maria, Elizabeth, Katherine, Mary, Margaret, Angela, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria. 

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

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH:  There is still space available for those who want to treat Mom to a special Brunch TODAY, Sunday, May 8^th, at the Hellenic Cultural Center, from after church until 3:00 pm.  They will be offering a full Dinner buffet menu of Prime Rib, Pork Cutlet, Baked Ham, Roasted Chicken w/stuffing, Pasta Alfredo or Marinara, Whipped and Sweet Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Salad Bar; and a full Breakfast buffet menu including eggs, sausage links, bacon, waffles, hash brown; along with an amazing sweets table. Buffet is $35 for adults, $15 for children at the door.

NAME DAY DINNER DANCE: Celebrate old traditions and make new memories at our annual Name Day Dinner Dance, Saturday May 14^th! Hosted by our Moms’ Group, this fun parish family event will feature a “Greek Feast”, Greek Dancing, Loukoumades, Photo Booth, Basket Raffle, Cash Bar and more! Tickets are available for sale after church, from the church office at 734.525.6789, or by contacting Corrin Stamatakos, 312.961.8615.

TUESDAY LUNCH CLUB: Our next TLC luncheon will be held this Tuesday, May 10^th at 12:00 noon. All ages are welcome to join us and celebrate Spring together! RSVP to Caryl Lowes at cvlowes@gmail.com or 734.751.3683, or the church office.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Adult Bible Study group will begin meeting again on Tuesday evening, May 10^th on the Zoom platform. We will continue our discussion of the book of Matthew  ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789. All adults are welcome to join, no pre-registration or previous Bible Study is required.

STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN FEAST DAY: The Great Vespers service for our parish Feast Day will be held on Friday, May 20^th at 6:30 pm. Our St. Helen Philoptochos will provide loukoumades following the Thursday evening Vespers service. Feast Day Divine Liturgy will be held on Saturday, May 21^st at 10:00 am, followed by lunch in the Hellenic Cultural Center. Please make an effort to attend both services as we come together as a community in celebration of our parish patron saints. We expect to have priests from area churches join us, and an Artoclasia will be offered for each service. 

GUS CONSTANTELLIS LIVE AT ST CONS! Tables are filling quickly for the Gus Constantellis Comedy Event, to be held on June 18^th.  You can buy tickets online at www.stcons.org, after services, or from the church office. Early-bird tickets are $35, after June 4^th, tickets are $40, and include appetizers and performance.  Only full table sales are reserved, all other seats are open admission.

GOYA MEETING: There will be a GOYA meeting after church next Sunday, May 15^th in the Board Room.  All young people, ages 12 – 18 are invited to join us, to discuss upcoming activities.

PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the Philoptochos membership after church on Sunday, May 22^nd. Philoptochos members, please make every effort to attend.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING:  The Spring General Assembly Meeting for our parish will be held after church on June 5^th.  Light lunch will be provided to those who stay for the meeting.

ST CONS PICNIC/SS GRADUATION: We are excited that June 12^th will be our first St. Cons Parish Picnic since 2019! Plan to come to church for Sunday School graduation in your casual clothes, and stay for the great food, big games, and family fun!

NEWS AND NOTICES

MYSTICAL SUPPER ICON: Anyone who is interested in making a monetary offer for the mosaic icon of the “Mystical Supper” that has been replaced over the Royal Doors to the Altar, please talk to Fr. Teodor or a Parish Council member. The parish is hoping to use this icon as a way to raise needed funds for future iconography installation in our church sanctuary. 

COLLEGE and HIGH SCHOOL Graduates. Please help us to honor our graduates! Submit the following to the church office by June 5th: a photo (headshot) of your graduate, the name of school they are graduating from, the school they will attend (HS grads) or the degree they have achieved (College grads) and their course of study, and the parents’/grandparents’ names. Please forward as a digital file if possible to: stcons2@gmail.com or drop off photo and information to the church office.

“SENSE-SATIONAL” VCS - SAVE THE DATES!  Our Vacation Church School will be held the week of August 8^th – 12^th. 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 entering Kindergarten through 6^th grade this fall, save this week for learning about our faith, making new friends, and big fun! Parent and Teen volunteers are needed to work as teacher’s aids, and to help with crafts, snacks, and outside play.  If you can help, contact Frances Marinos at fmarinos@comcast.net  or the church office.

YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS: Thanks to the generous donations of parishioners, our parish contributed $2,000 to the Ukraine Relief Fund, sponsored by the IOCC and Archdiocese.  Your purchases of taramosalata and pita from GOYA members, along with generous anonymous donations, provided more than $1.200 worth of clothes and personal items purchased for the Foster Care Closet. Your gifts make an impact in our extended community!  Thank you!

WE THANK YOU!!!  What a beautiful and Blessed Holy Week and Pascha we experienced at Saints Constantine and Helen Church! Many thanks to our parish family members who gave their time and talents to serve!
•       Our dedicated Parish Council Members who attended all the services to usher, carry the Epitaphio, help with communion and Holy Unction, pass collection trays, take photographs, etc.;
•       Our gifted Church Musicians:  George Smyrnis, Strat Calagias, and the other Chanters; Maritsa Madias-Kalasz, Ann Lyke, and our Choir Members;
•       Pete Simakas, Steve Makas, Dustin Plungis, and other Altar servers and Altar boys, who assisted Fr. Teodor in all of the services of Holy Week;
•       Those responsible for the flowers decorating our church and icons:  Helene Petcou, who was responsible for the beautiful floral arrangements, Bill and Fay Skotanis, who donated the lovely lilly plants on the solea and flowers in front of the church; the volunteers who helped to decorate the Epitaphio, our Philoptochos, My Lady’s Florist, and members of our parish community who made donations for flowers;
•       The St. Helen Philoptochos, who also provided red eggs, and loaded gift bags with Easter breads and treats to be distributed to our homebound parishioners;
•       Joy Kisabeth and Christy Theodorou for organizing our Myrrophores for Good Friday, and all the young girls in white who acted as myrrophores;
•       Peter and Fevronia Pappas, Peter Kour, and Lou Frango who prepared our delicious Anastasi Supper; and Paul, Angie, and Mariana Stavropoulos, Caryl and David Lowes, Stavros Cardassis, and Nick Chuey for helping to serve and clear our Palm Sunday and Anastasi meals;
•       The Corden Family for donating chocolate crosses for the children;
•       The Kokalis Families who sponsored and organized our fun Easter Egg Hunt (and the Easter Bunny for making a special appearance!);
•       The Hellenic Cultural Center staff;
•       And all of those Parents who made the extra effort to bring their children to church; and those parishioners and guests who attended the meaningful services and events of Holy Week…THANK YOU!!!

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.  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. 

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.