Sunday Schedule:
Orthros: 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study:
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS THIS MONTH
The Sunday School staff has worked diligently to prepare for Sunday School this year. Though the program will look different this year, we are excited to welcome students for class. There will be a 4 week rotation of class groupings that will be held in the Fellowship Hall. We have regrouped the students (grades 1-6) mainly by alphabet. Each week we will have a lower grade lesson and an upper grade lesson. Grades 7-12 (GOYA) will comprise the fourth group. Following the GOYA class they will have their GOYA meeting or activity. Our plan, at least once a month, is also to have a video lesson that students can do on their own time with their parents.
Please understand that the primary reason for creating different groupings is to help maintain appropriate spacing in church for services. This is our plan from October thru December. Like with schools we may have to make modifications as time goes on so stay tuned!
PARISH ASSEMBLY
Mark your calenders for Parish Assembly on November 15th to follow Divine Liturgy. There will be more information to follow.
PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL NOMINATIONS WELCOME – Nominations for the 2021-2022 term of the Parish Council are welcome. Any parishioner in good standing interested in being nominated must contact the Parish office to request an official nomination form and return the completed form to the office by 1:00pm on Friday, November 13, 2020. Elections will be held on December 13, 2020.
WEEKLY WORSHIP
Having carefully prepared to receive her faithful for services, the Transfiguration community welcomes you to participate in person. Based on social distancing protocols, seating is limited and we ask that you follow the direction of the ushers. Everyone must wear a mask. These protocols have been established to help protect and keep safe all who gather for worship. With the start of Sunday School we anticipate that the number of faithful at service on Sundays will increase. We are, however, prepared for this increase. So far, everything has gone smoothly and we thank everyone for their continued cooperation. We caution those who have underlying conditions to exercise caution in making the decision to participate. If you are hesitant to attend in person on Sundays, maybe a weekday service when scheduled would be a good option.
If you would like more information or have any questions about attending services, do not hesitate to contact the parish office or Fr. Tom by phone or email. You can find the reopening protocol and information on our website. Please share this information with those you know who do not use email or are not on our contact list.
PARISH OFFICE IS REMOTE
Our parish office is currently open remotely Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm. If you need to come to the office, please call and set up an appointment. It may take a little longer to provide you with some of the information, but we will strive to do so in a timely fashion.
WATCH ONLINE
We continue to live stream services of our parish. The services can be found on the internet by logging on to www.youtube.com/TransGOC or www.facebook.com/transchurch. A weekly list of services can be found on our website www.transchurch.org and on the calendar below. Recorded services from our parish can be found on www.YouTube.com/transGOC . If you are unable to watch live, you can watch the service at a later time. For those who do not have internet and are Comcast customers, you may be able to watch some services on local cable access television. Please consult your local listings for times.
HELP ONLINE
Many still do not feel comfortable physically attending services, but would still like to light a candle or support the parish. Your continued generosity is greatly appreciated. We encourage your continued use of our secure online giving platform for single or repeating donations, https://transchurch.churchgiving.com. Of course, you are still welcome to mail in a check to make your donation. 1) To light a vigil candle, please contact Pat Mahoney (pmahoney7@comcast.net or 978-436-0998) or the church office (info@transchurch.org or 978-458-4321). Pat will make sure that your vigil candle is lit for you. Donation: $10. As with all donations, you can mail in a check or you can make a donation online.
2) You are able to make your stewardship, offering basket, candle, memorial, special event, or general donations by using our secure website. Your donations help support the ministries of the parish. Although you may not be in the church building, essential ministries of the parish continue.
3) The Parish Council is exploring a more permanent source for live streaming services. We hope to continue this ministry, but to do so will need to invest in some new technology. If you are interested in supporting this ministry financially or participating in the production aspect, please speak with Fr. Tom.
TRANSFIGURATION HOSTS BLOOD DRIVES
Since April, the Transfiguration parish has teamed up with the Red Cross and is hosting blood drives. During the pandemic, the Red Cross has had difficulty finding places to host blood drives because so many facilities are closed, but the need for blood is ongoing. If you are interested in donating go to redcrossblood.org and put in the church’s zip code, 01854, in the search bar. The next blood drives at Transfiguration are Thursdays, November 12th and December 31st. You can sign up online.
STEWARDSHIP PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, accept our offerings as You accepted the gifts of Your people throughout the ages. We offer these gifts to Your glory, for the support of the ministries of Your holy Church, for the alleviation of suffering and hunger, and for the proclamation of Your Gospel to the whole world.
Grant us Your blessing, Lord our Savior, that we may always be faithful stewards, continuing to share the gifts you have given us, by the power of Your grace, mercy and love. May Your name be glorified forever. Amen.
Trinity votive candles (To Sponsor a Candle please call the Church Office.)
†Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): In Loving Memory of Peter E. Katsoulas
†Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ: In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas
†Vigil Light at the Theotokos: In Loving Memory of Ioannis "John" Zaralidis from his family
†Vigil Light at the Icon of the Forerunner: Available
†Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: Available
We will be live streaming services through our YouTube channel whenever possible - www.youtube.com/TransGOC Please see the online calendar for the full schedule.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 SIXTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am
First Day of Sunday School GOYAns
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26
St. Demetrios - Liturgy, 9:30 am
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am
Monthly Trisagion
Sunday School Group 1
Start of Daylight Savings Time :(
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am
Sunday School Group 2
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Patricia Mahoney, Bill Arvanites & Amanda Apostolou
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.
Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
6th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39
At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
When You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, You showed Your disciples Your glory as far as they could bear. So now, for us sinners also, let this same eternal light shine forth through the prayers of the Theotokos. O Giver of Light, glory to You.
These Martyrs were disciples of Saint Paul the Confessor (see Nov. 6). Martyrius was a subdeacon, Marcian a chanter and reader. They were beheaded by the Arians in the year 346. Miracles were wrought at their tomb, and demons were cast out; Saint John Chrysostom began the building of the church in their honour in Constantinople, and it was completed by patriarch Sisinius.
Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, aquaintance of Demetrius', came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrius, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword.
As mentioned in the account concerning Saint Demetrius (October 26), this Saint contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290.
The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ's sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this we keep a yearly feast of gratitude, imploring our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.
In the Greek tradition, this feast is celebrated on October 28, while in the Slavic tradition, this feast is celebrated on October 1.
Saint Anastasia, who was young in age and lived in a convent, was seized by the impious. Confessing Christ openly and with boldness and enduring manifold torments, she was beheaded in the year 256, during the reign of Valerian.
These Saints were from Aegae in Cilicia, brought up in piety by their parents. Zenobius was a physician, and healed many freely by the power of God; because of his virtue he was consecrated Bishop of Aegae. With his sister he was taken by Lysias the Governor, and after many tortures they were beheaded, about the year 290, during the reign of Diocletian.
Of these holy Apostles, Stachys became the first Bishop of Byzantium, consecrated by the Apostle Andrew. Having shepherded his people for sixteen years, he reposed in the Lord. As for the others, each one shone forth in the episcopal see appointed to him: Apelles, Bishop of Heraclea; Amplias, Bishop of Odyssopolis; Urban, Bishop of Macedonia; Narcissus, Bishop of Athens; and Aristobulus, Bishop of Britain.