Sunday Schedule:
Orthros: 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study:
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
JOIN US FOR COFFEE FELLOWSHIP
Everyone is welcome to join the Fellowship Hour following services for coffee and conversation! We encourage social distancing during coffee fellowship and encourage everyone to continue to act in responsible a manner to ensure the health and safety of all.
DONATIONS FOR HURRICANE IDA and FLOOD RELIEF
This past week Hurricane Ida crashed into the Gulf Coast and caused tremendous damage and left over a million people without electricity. Just prior to that flash floods washed through Tennessee and now this week in the Northeast. These recent natural disasters have caused great hardship on countless people. The IOCC is activating their national emergency team. Your donations to the IOCC will assist in providing emergency assistance. You can make your donation in the narthex and we will send one check from the parish or you can make your donation directly to the IOCC at iocc.org.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TO RESUME SEPTEMBER 19
We are pleased to announce that in-person Sunday School classes will begin on Sunday, September 19. The teachers and staff are excited to begin the new year and to help our young people explore and grow in the faith. Masks will be required in the classroom by staff and students. More information about protocols for the classroom and events for our first day back will be sent soon.
WELCOME BACK SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19
Annually our parish celebrates the start of the new academic year and the resumption of choir with a ‘Welcome Back Sunday’ held on the first day of classes. Unfortunately, last year, due to COVID, we could not hold this annual gathering. In light of the past 18 months, ‘Welcome Back Sunday’ has never had such a significant meaning. Mark your calendar and make plans to join us for worship and special events on the 19th. Please note: we will continue to follow CDC guidelines for the health and safety of our faithful.
CHOIR TO RESUME SEPTEMBER 19TH
The Choir needs you! We thank our wonderful chanters, Patty, Melanie and Mia, for covering for us during these difficult COVID times. Thankfully, with vaccinations in place, we are looking to start up the choir again in the fall. We know there are many faithful who sing along during the Liturgy, join us in the choir even if you have never sung in a choir before, and add your voice to our worship. We are in desperate need of voices!
Please join us, no experience necessary. There is Rehearsal TODAY, SEPTEMBER 12th FOLLOWING LITURGY. Grab a quick cup of coffee and bring friends, family, children, and whoever you think would like to sing! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our director, Stephanie Gulezian, at stephaniegulezian@gmail.com or our organist, Marc Gulezian, at mgulezian22@gmail.com.
NEW WI-FI
Recently new WiFi has been installed in our facility. Additionally, we have upgraded our internet to help accommodate increased use. We thank Derik and Eli Piper for installing the hardware. Log in information is posted throughout the facility.
LOWER PARKING LOT
Recently, the parish entered into an agreement with a management company to lease the lower parking lot for day parking. The parish is able to use the lot as needed for special events. Feel free to park in the lower lot on Sundays for services without charge. We will open the gates at the top on Sundays. You are also able to use the Salem Street entrance which will be open throughout the week.
PHILOPTOCHOS
Please join us for our first scheduled Philoptochos General Meeting this week on September 15, 2021 in the fellowship hall. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30pm. Business meeting will begin at 7:00pm. Our Outreach for this month is children’s chapter books for grades 2, 3 and 4 to benefit our Literacy Program. Your generosity is much appreciated. Hope to see you there!
COVID PROTOCOLS FOR CHURCH CONTINUE
Especially now with the uptick in COVID cases, as we continue to gather for worship we ask that you follow the CDC guidelines. Those who are vaccinated, masks are optional. Those who are not fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to continue mask usage to help protect themselves and others, especially our children. Children 2 years and older are strongly encouraged to wear masks. Through the summer we will continue with pew spacing. You are welcome to seat yourself as you enter the church. As you move around the facility, please keep social distancing in mind.
We are excited to welcome you back for worship as you feel comfortable. We are also excited to begin reinstalling many of our ministries and events. Please offer your assistance as we begin the process of ramping up our calendar.
GRECIAN FOOD FESTIVAL – DRIVE THRU – October 16
After having great success with our ‘Grecian Food Festival – Drive Thru’ event in June, we have scheduled another ‘Drive-Thru Festival’ for October 16. The committee has already begun preparations. Details on volunteering, donating, and purchasing will be coming soon.
CHECK OUT OUR INSERTS AND FLYERS
Weekly, in the section following the announcements you will find inserts and flyers about special events and ministries. Please make sure to check out this section.
WATCH SERVICES ONLINE
Worship services continue to be live streamed through YouTube at www.youtube.com/transgoc. A weekly listing of services can be found on our website www.transchurch.org and listed on the calendar found in this bulletin.
Trinity votive candles (To Sponsor a Candle please call the Church Office.)
†Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): 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 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, September 12 SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
2 Year Memorial for George Bwetwayise
Coffee Fellowship following Liturgy
Choir Rehearsal following Liturgy
Tuesday, September 14 FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
Friday, September 17
St. Sophia and her daughters – Liturgy in Chapel, 9:30 am
Saturday, September 18
11th Annual Golf Tournament
Sunday, September 19 SUNDAY AFTER HOLY CROSS
†Orthros, 8:30 am
†Liturgy, 9:30 am
3 Year Memorial for Angelike Flanagan
First Day of Sunday School
Welcome Back Sunday Cookout following Liturgy
Wednesday, September 22
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Marc Gulezian, Nick Kouloungis & Carl Maib
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 26
Falling Asleep of St. John the Theologian
3 Year Memorial for George Skrekas
28 Year Memorial for Deborah Skrekas
September 29
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
October 3
Second Sunday of Luke
Monthly Trisagion
October 6
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am
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 Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
This saint was a bishop in Italy. Fleeing from the persecution of Diocletian in 298, he came to Bithynia, where he went from place to place converting many from the idols to the true God. Because of this, one day as he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangels, they who worshipped wood and stones fell upon him and beat him to death with staves and stones.
The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.
Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.
These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.
This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and later became Bishop of Gortynia in Crete. He travelled to Rome, and to Thebes in Upper Egypt, where through his prayers he ended a drought; there also, after working many miracles, he reposed in deep old age. His holy relics were returned to Gortynia and buried at the place called Raxos.