Sunday Services -- Kuriakh:
Orthros, 8:45 a.m.
Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.
OrqroV, 0845 pm.
Q. Leitourgia, 1000 pm.
Weekday Holy Days (as scheduled):
Orthros, 8:45 a.m.
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.
KaqhmerineV EorteV:
OrqroV, 0845 pm.
Q. Leitourgia, 0930 pm.
Now, there was an important job to be done, and Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Now, Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could have done it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.
So, it ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
In our parish, like so many other Greek Orthodox Churches across the country, the Greek Festival is the primary fund raiser for the year. This year the Festival won't be as entertaining and fun, because of the way we are doing it due to the Coronavirus. It is a drive through, food pick up only. Nonetheless, it is crucially important for our parish.
It is a real blessing to have faithful parishioners who dedicate time and talent to working for the good of the Church. And to do so without complaining and criticizing others is better still, as St. Paul writes, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Cor. 9:7) This is true stewardship and we thank you!
This year, most likely because of the Coronavirus, the work is being done by far too few people. While we appreciate their efforts for the good of St. Demetrios, we also recognize that this is not fair. We have just one more day until the Festival. Won't you please consider coming out to help tomorrow, Friday or Saturday. See below in the announcements section for details.
We have been open for in person worship services, while maintaining safe protocols during this difficult time. We hope you feel comfortable enough to join us. Absence from the Body of Christ for such a long time is not good, but we also want you to feel safe. For this reason, we are following the following guidlines. We look forward to your attendence if you are comfortable doing so. Your Parish Council will be on hand to assist you in doing your part in maintaining the protocols listed below.
The Church will be open between 6 and 7 p.m. every Wednesday for personal prayer and meditation. All are welcome.
Greek Festival
We are just one day from the Festival. Please consider helping. Help is needed today and through the Festival. Please contact Lisa Jones at marigoldlisa@cox.net or 757-634-1449 to sign up for a shift. Also, if you can help in the kitchen, please contact Bobby Marakos at 757-570-4076.
Specifically, we really need people to carry out the following tasks Friday October 9th and Saturday October 10th.
We will work in two shifts each day – 10:30 am to 3:30 pm and 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm to help with these:
* Cooking and Packaging in the Kitchen
* Packing Orders
* Packing Pastries
* Taking Orders from Customers Outside
* Online Order Support
* Directing Traffic
Please consider all of these categories and if you have an interest in volunteering or funding please see Tom Coghill or Michael Thompson. You can also sign up on the bulletin board outside of the narthex of the church. Just write your name and preferred contact method phone and or email to the right of the line(s) you are interested in and you will be contacted. Thank you for your consideration of these items which will benefit our Church, just another way to express your stewardship for St. Demetrios.
1. Council Action:
* 2021 Annual Budget
* Draft business plans for Church and Williamsburg Hellenic Center
* Establish a Capital Maintenance & Replacement Budget
* Establish a maintence committee:
* 2021 Stewardship Plan
* Form a committee to reduce our capital debt of $1,990,000
* Form an audit committee
* Create Greek Festival budget spreadsheet with account codes
* Computer equipment for office
* Renegotiate Cox phone and internet expenses
2. Capital Maintenance & Replacement Plan:
* Contribute to roof repair - replacement fund
* Contribute to HVAC replacement/repair fund
* Contribute to lawn maintenance equipment fund
* Contribute to kitchen range hood fire suppression system repair fund
* Make drywall repairs and paint as needed
* Clean black mold from ceilings in Sanctuary after roof leaks are repaired
* Contribute to termite - wasp control fund
* Change HVAC filters
* Apply sealant to balcony door threshold
* Remove and replace termite damaged baseboard in hallway between ballroom and kitchen doors
* Repair lights at street sign
* Parking lot repair - resurfacing fund
* Replacing interior light fixtures with LEDs
* Window replacement fund
* Repair or replace non-working exterior light fixtures
* Clean out gutters and repair leaks
* Remove fallen pine tree at left side of parking lot
3. Volunteers:
* Serve on the Parish Council
* Person to pay bills in the Church office
* Clean the Sanctuary and other areas of the building
* Lawn maintenance team
* Fill kitchen and restroom floor drain traps with water monthly
* Donate postage stamps
* Tighten loose lock cylinders on doors
* Bring non-perishable food items to church for Williamsburg Food Bank
* Contribute to replacement sound system fund
* Hellenic Center event set-up and take down
Orthodox Study Group will meet THURSDAY evenings via Zoom at 7 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85443892141?pwd=U283M1VRcUhCTXFRM0d5WXJIeGxuUT09
Meeting ID: 854 4389 2141
Passcode: 315679
We will not have in-person Sunday School classes at this time. However, parents, you are encouraged to "home school" your children in matters of the faith. In reality, this is a great opportunity to spend time with your children and learn more about the Faith together. Below is an excellent resource: https://tending-the-garden.com/virtualsundayschool/
Join the Men's Fellowship. The next meeting is on Friday Oct. 16th at Brass Cannon Brewery at 6:30 pm. I would like at this meeting we talk about picking one of the items on the Parish to do list and see if we can't complete it. If you cannot attend in person, you can still participate via Zoom.
Charlie
Charlie Stayton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: St. Demetrios Fellowship Meeting
Time: Oct 16, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82293151081?pwd=ZXZCRC9TRHA1bVhNdzR3aiszZklzdz09
Meeting ID: 822 9315 1081
Passcode: 978066
Although Church services are available now, we are still in need of your weekly stewardship offerings, perhaps more now that ever. With limited attendance, our collections are way down. In addition, please complete a stewardship card so we can plan for remainder of 2020.
You can continue to give through our web page www.stdemva.com or send your weekly offering checks by mail. We have PayPal for your convenience.
If you or a loved one needs help with grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, or other needs that do not involve personal contact please call Tom Coghill at 757-784-6410. Also, volunteers are needed to help.
Now that we have returned to our beloved Church to worship together. Many of you are again well aware that our sound system is not the best. The parish Council has investigated and have a reasonable bid to upgrade and improve the system. As this is "off budget" we would like to raise the money from donations. $2005.00 has already been donated. About $ 3,000 more is needed. If you are among those who cannot hear Father's sermons, or want to help others who have a hard time hearing, you might wish to contribute to this cause. Please send your donation earmarked for SOUND SYSTEM to the Church Office. And thank you.
...to the family and friends of Catherine Hoosier who fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, October 7th. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
May her memory be eternal.
During this pandemic, more people are shopping on line. You can help St. Demetrios by doing so. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Same products, same prices, same service, but we get a donation. Click the link below to learn more.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-4454773
Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on Facebook:
We now have a Go Fund Me page for St. Demetrios. Help spread the word on it, share it with friends and boost it if you can. That can be on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.
Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Seventh Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:1-10
Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἔρχεται πρωῒ σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ βλέπει τὸν λίθον ἠρμένον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου. τρέχει οὖν καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς Σίμωνα Πέτρον καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄλλον μαθητὴν ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἦραν τὸν Κύριον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς καὶ ἤρχοντο εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον. ἔτρεχον δὲ οἱ δύο ὁμοῦ· καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς προέδραμε τάχιον τοῦ Πέτρου καὶ ἦλθε πρῶτος εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει κείμενα τὰ ὀθόνια, οὐ μέντοι εἰσῆλθεν. ἔρχεται οὖν Σίμων Πέτρος ἀκολουθῶν αὐτῷ, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον καὶ θεωρεῖ τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα, καὶ τὸ σουδάριον, ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ μετὰ τῶν ὀθονίων κείμενον, ἀλλὰ χωρὶς ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον. τότε οὖν εἰσῆλθε καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς ὁ ἐλθὼν πρῶτος εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ εἶδε καὶ ἐπίστευσεν· οὐδέπω γὰρ ᾔδεισαν τὴν γραφὴν ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῆναι. ἀπῆλθον οὖν πάλιν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς οἱ μαθηταί.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.
Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Προκείμενον. Fourth Tone. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τίτον 3:8-15.
Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ᾽ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15
The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:5-15
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι τὸν σπόρον αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσε παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ κατεπατήθη, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατέφαγεν αὐτό· καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν, καὶ φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἰκμάδα· καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν, καὶ συμφυεῖσαι αἱ ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτό. καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, καὶ φυὲν ἐποίησε καρπὸν κατονταπλασίονα. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. ᾿Επηρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· τίς εἴη ἡ παραβολὴ αὕτη; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς, ἵνα βλέποντες μὴ βλέπωσι καὶ ἀκούοντες μὴ συνιῶσιν. ἔστι δὲ αὕτη ἡ παραβολή· ὁ σπόρος ἐστὶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ· οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ διάβολος καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες σωθῶσιν. οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσι, μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται τὸν λόγον, καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν, οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν πιστεύουσι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται. τὸ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας πεσόν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, καὶ ὑπὸ μεριμνῶν καὶ πλούτου καὶ ἡδονῶν τοῦ βίου πορευόμενοι συμπνίγονται καὶ οὐ τελεσφοροῦσι. τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσι καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.
Saint Philip, who had four daughters that prophesied, was from Caesarea of Palestine. He preached throughout Samaria; it was he also who met the eunuch of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, as the eunuch was reading the Prophet Esaias, and he instructed and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). He reposed in Tralles of Asia Minor while preaching the Gospel.
On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.
Saint Theophanes, the brother of Saint Theodore the Branded, was a Palestinian by race. Both were monks at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas. They were called "the Branded" because Theophilus, the last of the Iconoclast emperors, had twelve iambic verses branded by hot irons on their foreheads and then sent them into exile, where Theodore died in the year 838. After the death of Theophilus in 842, Theophanes was elected Bishop of Nicaea. Both brothers composed many canons and hymns, thereby adorning the services of the Church.
The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:
The event will be October 19 at 7pm on Zoom. Registration for the event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/9-little-indians-race-and-education-tickets-123738387849. (On the PDFs, this should be a clickable link.) Once registered, participants will receive an email confirmation with a link to the online event page, which will have a link to the Zoom meeting. We want this to be as safe as we can make an online gathering. So please, only share the eventbrite link above. It is one way we can increase the security of the event.
Fall 2020 Newsletter from Deacon Thomas and Elizabeth Manuel