Announcements

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT

Out of an abundance of concern for the health and safety of our children the Sunday School staff decided not to hold Sunday School classes during the months of January and February. There will be lessons available online. When the lessons are posted we will let the Sunday School families know they are available.

2021 PARISH COUNCIL

This morning the 2021 Parish Council will be administered the Affirmation of Office. We welcome the newly elected members of the Council, John Dristiliaris, Marc Gulezian, Patricia Mahoney, Carl Maib, Constantine Tsioulis and Christian Zouzas. These six will join the remaining six members, Bill Arvanitis, James Demetri, Stephanie Dubay, Michael Fokas, Nick Kouloungis, and Chuck Nestor. We wish them our Lord’s guidance as they work with Father Tom to lead our parish in the new year.

SERVICES FOR EPIPHANY

This coming week we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Please check the calendar for services on January 5 and 6 and times. Agiasmos services, Blessing of the Waters, will be celebrated both days. You are welcome to take Holy Water home following the services. Holy Water will be available on Sundays as well. Due to the pandemic Fr. Tom will not be making pastoral visits to bless you homes this year.

OUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS THANKS

A special thanks to all who made special donations during the Christmas season. Your generous financial and lily donations continue to support the ministries of the parish and allow our community to thrive.

WE HAVE ADDED A NEW SECTION TO THE BULLETIN

Please make sure to check out the new section of our weekly e-bulletin, Weekly Inserts, following the announcements of and from time to time we will attach flyers in this section. Please take time to check out this week’s insert from the CrossRoads Program.

MAINTENANCE HELP WANTED

Please contact Marc Gulezian (978-649-3387) if you have interest in helping the church with its maintenance needs. We are looking to organize a group of people to be on the Maintenance Crew to coordinate service with vendors and would appreciate hearing from you! Thanks in advance!

WEEKLY WORSHIP

Starting December 26 the Governor has established limits for new limits for group gatherings. Churches are limited to 25% of occupancy. The Parish Council while establishing reopening protocols had determined that the safe number of parishioners in the church based on social distancing is around 100. This is our 25% limit. Generally we have welcomed between 50 and 75 on Sundays so our numbers have always been below this new threshold.

The Transfiguration parish has carefully prepared to receive her faithful for services and continues to welcome you to participate in person. Even with the increase in cases we believe we are well prepared and have put into place protocols that will help keep all healthy. We continue to use social distancing protocols that keep seating limited. 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. But please, if you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID or you have underlying health conditions, please stay home and stay safe.

If you are hesitant to attend in person on Sundays, maybe a weekday service when scheduled would be a good option.

PARISH OFFICE IS REMOTE

Our parish office is currently open but is primarily remote 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, Christmas offering, weekly basket offering, 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.

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 Florence Betses on the 10th Anniversary

†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: In Memory of those who have died during the pandemic and for the health of those recovering. - Chuck and Amelia Karayianis

†Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: For the Good Health of family and friends

Weekly Inserts

CROSSROAD SUMMER INSTITUTE

Weekly Calendar

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.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1
St Basil & Circumcision of Our Lord – Liturgy, 10:00 am
New Year’s Day

SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPANY
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am
Monthly Trisagion
Parish Council Oath of Office

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5
Epiphany Eve - Vesperal Liturgy, 6:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6
Epiphany – Liturgy & Agiasmos, 9:30 am

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7
St John – Liturgy, 9:30 am

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPANY
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
Parish Council Meeting (online), 6:30 pm

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 TWELFTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am

MONDAY, JANUARY 18
St. Athanasios - Liturgy, 9:30 am

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am
40 Day Memorial for Irene Manelas

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
The Three Hierarchs – Liturgy, 9:30 am

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS
Orthros, 8:30 am
Liturgy, 9:30 am

TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Marc Gulezian, Nick Kouloungis & Carl Maib

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

To the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, let us, the faithful, give praise and worship. For he willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to endure death and raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Theophany in the Fourth Mode

Make ready, Zebulon; prepare, O Nephthali. O Jordan, stop your flow, and with rejoicing receive the Master as he comes to be baptized. You too, O Adam, exalt with our mother Eve. Do not hide yourselves as you did, of old, in paradise. At the sight of your nakedness Christ has come forth, clothing you in innocence and renewing all creation.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Today the Lord has appeared in the waters of the Jordan River. * He cried out to John, saying: * "Do not be afraid to baptize me, * for I have indeed come to save Adam, the first to be created."

Wisdom of the Fathers

It is the sole and peculiar property of the Substance that transcends all, to be able to bestow on men the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and make those that draw near unto It partakers of the divine nature.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century

But this exists in Christ, not as a thing received, nor by communication from another, but as His own, and as belonging to His substance, for He baptizes in the Holy Spirit.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

January 03

Gordios the Martyr of Caesarea

The Martyr Gordios who was from Caesarea of Cappadocia, was a centurion by rank. Unable to bear the impiety of the heathen, he withdrew to the wilderness to purify himself through prayer and fasting. After he perceived that his ascetical training had prepared him sufficiently, he came down from the mountains when a certain pagan festival was held in Caesarea, attended by all, and presented himself before the multitude. Although the spectacles of the festival continued, no one paid them any heed, but all eyes were turned upon him. From his sojourn in the mountains, his look was wild, his beard was long, his raiment squalid, his body like a skeleton; yet a certain grace shone round about him. He was recognized, and a loud shout and tumult was made as his fellow Christians rejoiced, and the enemies of the truth cried out for his death. He boldly professed his faith before the Governor, and after torments was beheaded, in the reign of Licinius in the year 314. Saint Basil the Great delivered a homily on Saint Gordios, mentioning that some of those in his audience had been present at the saint's martyrdom (PG 31:497).

January 04

Synaxis of the 70 Holy Apostles

The Seventy Disciples and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ are those Whom our Saviour chose in addition to the Twelve and sent forth unto the work of preaching. With the passage of time, others were added to their number by the Holy Apostles, who, with the accompaniment and assistance of the Seventy, were preaching the Gospel of Christ in various lands. Although their number eventually exceeded seventy, they were all nonetheless referred to as "of the Seventy" out of reverence for the number of Apostles which the Lord chose.

The divine Apostle and Evangelist Luke describes the calling and the sending forth of the Seventy as follows in his Holy Gospel (Luke 10:1-16): "After these things the Lord appointed another seventy disciples, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come. Therefore said He unto them, the harvest is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth labourers into His harvest. Go then: behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry neither purse, nor bag, nor sandals: and greet no man on the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter first say, Peace be on this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it; if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you; And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveeth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding know ye this, that the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hades. He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me."

After the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord, and after Pentecost, on which all the Apostles and men and women disciples of Christ, together with the Most Holy Theotokos (some 120 in number), were gathered in the upper chamber, they received the grace of the All-holy Spirit and went forth throughout the ends of the world, everywhere preaching and teaching the Gospel of Christ, and leading to the true Faith the peoples who were sunk in the darkness of impiety and idolatry.

January 05

The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas

When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

January 07

Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

Today we celebrate the Synaxis in honour of the most sacred Forerunner, since he ministered at the Mystery of the Divine Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rest from labour. Fish allowed.

January 08

George of Hozeva

Saint George lived about the beginning of the ninth century in Palestine, in a certain monastery called Hozeva, which lies in a great ravine between Jerusalem and Jericho.

January 09

Polyeuctus the Martyr of Melitene in Armenia

Saint Polyeuctus, a soldier in rank, contested during the reign of Valerian, in the year 255. He was from Melitene, a city in Armenia.

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