Message from Father Demetri

Transcript

1 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Norwich The Trinity Tribune May 2017 Christ is Risen! Message from Father Demetri Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! My beloved brothers, sisters, and children, Αγαπητά μου αδέρφια και παιδια, Our Lord and God is truly Risen! Let us contemplate the meaning of Christ s Resurrection. Just as winter comes and freezes the earth, we hope for spring to come and thaw the earth. Thus allowing for life to blossom. We too have an encounter with similar events as the seasons. Sin leads to corruption thus leading to death. But through Christ and His Resurrection, we are given a new spring, an eternal one. We are given hope in life everlasting. We are renewed, just as the earth renews itself. However, our renewal through Christ and His Resurrection is not merely temporal...it is completely transformational. It is an opportunity to share in the Resurrection. It is our opportunity to live as Christ calls us without fear. We can overcome the darkness that afflicts us, because Christ already has done so for us. I would like to share a prayer recited every Sunday entitled: Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ. Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We venerate your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify your holy Resurrection. For you are our God, we know no other, it is Your name we invoke. O come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christ s holy Resurrection. For behold, through the cross joy has come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we praise his Resurrection: for by enduring the cross for us, He has destroyed death by death. With love in the Risen Christ, Fr Demetrios Ο Κύριος και Θεός μας αληθώς Ανέστη! Ας σκεφτούμε ποια ειναι η έννοια της Ανάστασης του Χριστού. Όπως όταν έρχεται ο χειμώνας και η γη παγώνει, εμεις προσμένουμε την άνοιξη για να την ξεπαγώσει. Έτσι επιτρέπει στην ζωή να ανθίσει. Έτσι και εμεις έχουμε παρομοιώσεις με τις εποχές. Η αμαρτία οδηγεί στην διαφθορα η οποία οδηγεί στον θάνατο. Όμως, μέσω του Χριστού και την Ανάσταση Του, μας δίνετε μια νέα άνοιξη που ειναι αιώνια. Μας δίνεται η ελπίδα για παντοτινή ζωή. Ανανεωνομαστε όπως και αυτοανανεώνεται η γη. Η ανανέωση μέσω του Χριστού και της Αναστάσης Του δεν ειναι απλά χρονική αλλα... ειναι εντελώς μετασχηματιστικη. Ειναι μια ευκαιρία να μοιραστούμε την Ανάσταση Του. Ειναι μια ευκαιρία να ζήσουμε όπως μας καλεί να ζήσουμε ο Χριστός χωρίς φόβο. Μπορούμε να καταβάλλουμε το σκοτάδι που μας βασανίζει γιατι ήδη ο Χριστός το κατάφερε για εμάς. Θα ήθελα να μοιραστώ μαζι σας μια προσευχή που λέγετε κάθε Κυριακή: Ἀνάστασιν Χριστοῦ θεασάµενοι Ἀνάστασιν Χριστοῦ θεασάµενοι, προσκυνήσωµεν Ἅγιον Κύριον Ἰησοῦν, τὸν µόνον ἀναµάρτητον. Τὸν Σταυρόν σου, Χριστέ, προσκυνοῦµεν καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν σου ἀνάστασιν ὑµνοῦµεν καὶ δοξάζοµεν σὺ γὰρ εἶ Θεὸς ἡµῶν, ἐκτός σου ἄλλον οὐκ οἴδαµεν, τὸ ὄνοµά σου ὀνοµάζοµεν. Δεῦτε πάντες οἱ πιστοί, προσκυνήσωµεν τὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἁγίαν ἀνάστασιν ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἦλθε διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ χαρὰ ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσµῳ. Διὰ παντὸς εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Κύριον, ὑµνοῦµεν τὴν ἀνάστασιν αὐτοῦ Σταυρὸν γὰρ ὑποµείνας δι' ἡµᾶς, θανάτῳ θάνατον ὤλεσεν. Πάτερ Δημήτριος Graduation Day is Sunday, June 18th, Please Fr. Demetri at frdemetriosp@gmail.com by June 1st, 2017 to notify him of all those graduating High School and College this year. 1

2 7, Μάιος, Κυριακή Δ τοῦ Παραλύτου Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:45πμ 8, Μάιος, Δευτέρα, Πρωί, Ἰωάννης ὁ Θεολόγος Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:30πμ 10, Μάιος,Τετάρτη Πρωί,Μεσοπεντηκοστής Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:30πμ 13, Μάιος, Σάββατο Βράδυ Ανοίξτε εξομολόγηση 4:00 μμ Μέγα Εσπέρινος 6:00 μμ 14, Μάιος, Κυριακή Ε τῆς Σαμαρείτιδος Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:45πμ 20, Μάιος, Σάββατο Βράδυ Ανοίξτε εξομολόγηση 4:00 μμ Μέγα Εσπέρινος 6:00 μμ 21, Μάιος, Κυριακή ΣΤ' τοῦ Τυφλού & Κωνσταντῖνος καὶ Ἑλένη Ἰσαπόστολοι Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:45πμ 24, Μάιος, Τετάρτη Πρωί Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:30πμ 25, Μάιος, Πέμπτη Πρωί, Αναλήψεως Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:30πμ 28, Μάιος, Κυριακή, Ζ' τῶν 318 Ἀγίων Πατέρων τῆς Α' Οἱκομ. Συνόδου Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:30πμ Church Services May 7, Sunday of the Paralytic Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am May 8, Monday, Apostolos & Evangelist John Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am May 10, Wednesday, Mid - Pentecost Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 am May 13, Saturday Evening Open Confession (1st come basis) 4-6 pm Great Vespers - 6:00 P.M. May 14, Sunday of the Samaritan Women Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am May 20, Saturday Evening Open Confession (1st come basis) 4-6 pm Great Vespers - 6:00 P.M. May 21 Sunday of the Blind Man & St. Constantine & Helen Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am May 24, Wednesday, Apodosis of Pascha Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 am May 25, Thursday, ASCENSION Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 am May 28, Sunday of the Holy Fathers First Council Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am Holy Trinity Choir - Youth & Adult If you are interested in our newest ministry, a combined children s and adult choir conducted by Mr. Tasos Dionisopoulos. Please come to practice after liturgy throughout the month of May or contact the church office. 2 Nothing so arouses the soul, gives it wing, sets it free from the earth, releases it from the prison of the body, teaches it to love wisdom and to despise all the things of this life, as concordant melody and sacred song composed in rhythm. St. John Chrysostom (On Psalm 41)

3 Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Dairy, Eggs, and Fish Allowed Fish Allowed Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sunday of the Paralytic Liturgy 8:45AM 14 Sunday of Samaritan Woman Mother s Day Liturgy 8:45AM 21 Sunday of the Blind Man St. Constantine & Helen Liturgy 8:45AM AHEPA SUNDAY Luncheon & Presentation Daughters of Penelope Paint Escape 28 8 Apostle & Evangelist John Liturgy 8:30 AM GOYA Toiletry Drive 6:30 pm Ahepa & Daughters Meeting 7 pm Mid-Pentecost Liturgy 8:30 AM Bible Study 7 pm Apodosis of Pascha Liturgy 8:30 AM Bible Study 7 pm Bible Study 7 pm 25 ASCENSION Liturgy 8:30 AM Bible Study 7 pm 12 Young Adult Dinner 6 pm JOY/HOPE/GOYA Bowling 3 pm. Meet at Church Open Confession 4:00 P.M. Great Vespers 6:00 P.M. JOY /HOPE 2 pm Open Confession 4:00 P.M. Great Vespers 6:00 P.M. Graveside Memorials Westerly: 11 am to 12 pm Norwich: 3 pm to 5 pm Great Vespers 6:00 P.M. Holy Fathers 1st Council Liturgy 8:45AM followed by Memorial Day Free Luncheon GOYA Meeting after Luncheon 3

4 Presiding Priest Fr. Demetrios Panteloukas (609) Parish Council President: Maria Valkanos (860) Vice President: Peter Argiros Secretary: George Grossomanides Treasurer: John Grossomanides Anna-Helene Grossomanides Amy Constantinou Eleftherios Mastorakis Stacy Bellas Violette Kostas Zarboutis Hon. Assistant Treasurer Joe Hominski Church Office Volunteers: Managing Volunteer: Anna-Helene Grossomanides Priscilla Lamons Cantors Steve Patsouris John Mastorakis Costas Zarboutis Philoptochos President: Geri Grossomanides St. Nicholas Ministry Gayle Selvidio Connie Farrah Stewardship Committee Chair: Peter Argiros Outreach Committee: Priscilla Lamons Grecian Festival Committee Chair: Maria Valkanos AHEPA President: Peter Argiros Daughters of Penelope President: Anna-Helene Grossomanides Youth Ministries Director: Stacy Violette Co-Director: Kristine Huber GOYA Advisors: Michael Lamons Christos Stravroravdis GOYA Officers: President: Jesse Huber Vice-Pres: Noah Violette Secretary: Jamie Violette Treasurer: Joshua Huber Sgt at Arms: Ethan Grabil JOY Advisors: Virginia Argiros Stacy Violette HOPE Advisors: Marianne Ghattas Sunday School: Stacy Violette Kristine Huber Anna-Helene Grossomanides Niki Provatas Altar Group Advisors: Larry Wyland John Grossomanides Anthony Neigel Choir Director: Taso Dionisopoulos Library / Bookstore Ministry: Nellie Rodriguez Kay Booth Web Master Deena Patsouris Heely Paul Heely Please contact us on our new HTGOCNorwich@gmail.com Please share all your photos of our events with us. Please all photos to: trinitynorwichphotos@yahoo.com 4

5 Christos Anesti, I would like to thank everyone that volunteered their time and talent for Holy Week. It was very nice to have all, young and old, participate in the many activities. Holy Week services have many components, from flower wreaths for each icon, to Ephitaphio decorating, coloring red eggs, and Palm Sunday luncheon. We would like to thank our kitchen crew and servers for a delicious Palm Sunday lunch. Also the ladies of Philoptochos for their tsourekia, koulourakia, and red eggs, the Library ladies for the Pascha Kids Baskets, and the Daughters of Penelope for the Pascha Candles. Thank you also to all our cantors and alter boys. I for one loved to see all our families together at Anastasi, it was with great joy that we were all gathered to sing "Christos Anesti." Also thank you to all that donated towards all the needs of our parish. The attendance for Sunday Liturgy has been on a rise, we see so many children and their families coming more regularly. Please keep Holy Trinity in your prayers. With Love in Christ, Maria Parish Council News Χριστός Ανέστη! Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω ολους εσας που εθελοντικά δώσατε τον χρόνο και το ταλέντο σας την Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα. Ήταν τόσο ωραια που είχαμε μικρούς και μεγάλους να συμμετάσχουν σε όλες τις δραστηριότητες. Η Μεγαλοβδομαδιατικες υπηρεσίες ειναι διάφορες απο το να ετοιμάσουμε λουλουδοστεφανα για τις εικονες, την διακόσμηση του Επιταφιου, το βάψιμο των κόκκινων αυγων και το μεσημεριανό φαγητό της Κυριακής των Βαΐων. Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσουμε την ομάδα στην κουζίνα που μας ετοίμασε ένα τόσο νόστιμο μεσημεριανό. Ευχαριστούμε τις κύριες του Φιλόπτωχου για τα τσουρέκια, τα κουλουράκια και τα κόκκινα αυγά. Ευχαριστούμε τις κύριες της Βιβλιοθήκης για τα υπέροχα Πασχαλινά καλάθια των παιδιών. Ευχαριστούμε τις Θυγατέρες της Πηνελοπης για τα Πασχαλινά κεριά. Ευχαριστούμε τους ψάλτες και τα παπαδοπαιδια. Μου άρεσε τόσο πολυ που είδα όλες τις οικογένειες μας μαζι στην Ανάσταση, και που όλοι μαζι ψάλαμε το Χριστός Ανέστη. Τέλος, θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω ολους σας που κάνατε δωρεές προς τις ανάγκες της ενορία μας. Η συμμετοχή για την Θεία Λειτουργία της Κυριακής αυξάνει συνεχόμενα και βλέπουμε οικογένειες που έρχονται τακτικά. Σας κάνω παράκληση να κρατάτε την Αγία Τριάδα στις προσευχές σας. Χρειαζόμαστε προσφορές για τα βιτρώ παράθυρα που έχουν ανάγκη απο συντήρηση. Αν κάποιος απο εσάς έχει γνωριμίες με εργολάβους που μπορούν να αναλάβουν την δουλειά, σας παρακαλώ να επικοινωνήσετε με την Μαρία Βαλκανου. Με αγάπη εν Κυρίω, Μαρία Βαλκανου. **Maintenance News** Maintenance news: Stain glass windows need contractor bids. If you have anyone who would like to do the work please get in touch with Maria Valkanos. General Assembly Meeting Announcement On Sunday, June 11th, 2017, we will have our Spring General Assembly in the Church Fellowship Hall immediately following Divine Liturgy. Please join us Memorial Day Weekend as we honor and salute our veterans. Memorial Day weekend Events include: Saturday, May 27th, 2017: Graveside Memorial Prayers. River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI from 11 am- 12 noon. Maple Grove Cemetery in Norwich, CT from 3 pm- 5 pm Sunday, May 28th, 2017: Memorial Service following Sunday Liturgy in honor of all of the fallen veterans and a blessing of the 5 loaves praying for the health of all our veterans. Immediately followed by a Free luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. 5

6 St Nicholas Ministry The Saint Nicholas Ministry has already started to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please contact Gayle Selvidio at (860) and Connie Farrah at (860) for them to assist or to assist them. If they run into a situation they cannot accommodate, it will be referred to Fr. D St. Basil the Great Hardship We have now helped out our families with this wonderful fund. Please consider this if you are running into small financial difficulties. Examples include: Heat Oil Gas Car insurance Groceries To apply, please contact Fr. Demetrios. To donate to it and to keep helping our brothers and sisters in need (as this will have its own standing balance that can be increased with donations) please specify on the form of payment and contact either Fr. Demetri, Amy Constantinou, or Peter Argiros. **Please note: This fund will not be given in cash. Every attempt will be to pay directly to the source of the bill, then appropriately distributed from there** Please Donate to the GOYA Toiletry Drive. Last month we were able to make 180 Angel Bags of Toiletries to aid the needy of Norwich. Please donate items such as: Toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, and bar soap. Our goal is to fulfill the monthly need of the community which is 320 Angel Bags. Please drop off donations at the table by the Church office. A Message for Ladies Philoptochos Society The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc., is the duly accredited women's philanthropic society of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Our Mission To help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the Church through fund raising efforts; and To promote the charitable, benevolent, and philanthropic purposes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, through instructional programs, presentations, lectures, seminars and other educational resources; To preserve and perpetuate Orthodox Christian concepts and the Orthodox Christian Family, and through them, to promote the Greek Orthodox Faith and traditions, in accordance with its doctrines, canons, discipline, divine worship, usages and customs; To promote participation in the activities of the Greek Orthodox community, with the cooperation of the Parish Priest and the Parish Council. The charitable work of the Society shall be performed with discretion, courtesy and kindness. Seeking New MEMBERS Please consider joining the Holy Trinity Ladies Philoptochos Society More information to follow in a Special Mailing A Special Thank You to all that volunteered and supported! Easter Bake Sale & Easter Egg Dying 6

7 We have had a wonderful year of Sunday School. We would like to announce that the Sunday School Graduation will be held on Sunday, June 18, Please, come and congratulate our kids on a great year and encourage them for next year. Our Dynamic G.O.Y.A continues to serve! On April 10, 2017, Holy Monday, our GOYANS with the help of several volunteers organized another Angel Bag Drive. With our help and our neighbors at Holy New Martyrs Orthodox Church, they were able to supply the Norwich Soup Kitchen with 180 Angel Bags. By performing this service they provide the needy with much needed hygiene products. Please donate to this beautiful outreach. A table next to the church office has been set up as the designated drop off station. (above photo) GOYAns and other volunteers who came on Holy Monday, April 10, 2017 to assemble Angel Bags. Next Meeting will be held on May 28th after the Memorial Day Luncheon. Bowling Outing: May 6, 2017 at 3 PM we will all meet at the Church. Laser Tag: TBD Angel Bag Program: May 16, Tuesday at 6:30 pm (above photo) Fr Demetrios leading the Holy Friday Children s retreat. March and April focused on the Resurrection of Jesus and forgiveness. We began the season discussing Confession, a much neglected sacrament in our Orthodox faith. We went over all ten commandments and how we break each one. To emphasize how it feels, one child held a very large leather bag on their back with a handle on each side. As we discussed each commandment, another child placed a can into the back signifying the weight of that sin and how sick this makes us feel. By commandment number ten you can imagine how heavy the bag became! We discussed how Jesus gave us medicine to take away that sickness and it is call confession. Once the bag was taken off the child s shoulders (symbolizing confession) they felt very light. Each child had an opportunity to see how heavy the bag was and how light it felt once it was taken off. Moving on to Jesus entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the children used finger paints whereby they placed their foot into the finger paints to make the body of the donkey Jesus rode on. Please take the time to check out the pictures in the hall. They had a lot of fun doing this - messy, but fun! They had snacks made with small pretzels and chocolate that was shaped into a crown of thorns. On Holy Friday, Father Demetri set up areas of the hall for the Stations of the Cross. When it came to the Resurrection of Christ, each child made a Resurrection Garden that they were able to take home. It was made up of a clear plastic plant container, the bottom covered with moss, a small plastic plant pot laid on it s side signifying the tomb of Christ, a stone rolled away to show Christ has risen, stones for a pathway, and various artificial plants. Please take a moment while in the hall to see pictures of the various activities on the J.O.Y. bulletin board. It is still not too late to join J.O.Y. Our next meetings are on Saturday, May 6 at 3 pm for a bowling outing and on Saturday, May 20 from 2-3:30 pm. We meet at the Fellowship Hall. Don t let your child miss out on all the fun and friendship!! 7

8 Bible Study News Throughout the Month of May we will continue to meet on Thursday Nights in the Library at 7PM. We will pick up where we left off on Chapters Our 2016/2017 Bible Study will conclude with 1 and 2 Corinthians and hopefully have a recap of the year. Young Adult Dinner On Friday, May 12, 2017 we will meet again for another young adult dinner in the Fellowship Hall at 6 pm. The target age group is very diverse, it ranges from 40 to 18. Please feel free to come join us for a free dinner. Please contact Fr Demetrios via , frdemetriosp@gmail.com to RSVP. Babysitting will be available! Now Announcing: The Fr. Matthew Baker Memorial Lecture Series Please mark your calendars and join us on: Friday, June 2, 2017 at 6:00 pm, for a lecture on Shattered Images, the dangers of Pornography, preceded by a Free community meal. Lecture by Dr. Albert Rossi of St Vladimir s Theological School begins at 7 pm. Held at: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Norwich Fellowship Hall. 247 Washington Street Norwich, CT, Norwich Chapter #110 AHEPA News AHEPA Sunday May 21, 2017 Please Join us for Lunch and A Presentation following services in Fellowship Hall AHEPA Sunday is a National Day in which every church in the USA and Canada will celebrate. In Norwich, we will do an Artoklasia for our living members and a Memorial Service for our deceased Brothers. This year marks the 95th Anniversary of the organization which was founded in Atlanta, GA in 1922 by eight Greek- Americans. We continue to look for any new and interested members please contact Peter Argiros if you would like an application. Daughters of Penelope Lysandros Chapter #181 Cordially Invites you to join us for a PAINT ESCAPE Sunday, May pm Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Fellowship Hall 247 Washington Street Norwich, CT $30ADULTS $25 Teens (ages 13-17) (Includes all Supplies) Checks Payable to: Daughters of Penelope: Lysandros Chapter # 181 Reservations must be made no later than Wednesday, May 17 th. Anna-Helene Grossomanides anna-helene@cox.net Nina Barclay - barclayns@yahoo.com 8

9 Irene s Family Restaurant and Café 58 Town Street Norwich, CT (860) Irenesfamilyrestaurant.com Kostas and Irene Marasiotis and Family Great Oak Pizza 704 West Thames Street Norwich, CT (860) Kilimos Family Sunset Pizza 425 Laurel Hill Avenue Norwich, CT (860) Christos, Maria, Dimitri & Yianni Valkanos Dimas Family Dr. John & Anna-Helene Grossomanides Town Pizza II A Family Restaurant 18 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI (401) Dafoulas Family AHEPA Rose of New England Chapter #110 Norwich, CT Daughters of Penelope Lysandros Chapter #181 Norwich, CT 9

10 Fotios Anastasiou Account Executive WB-Mason ( ) Ext Manny s Pizza and Family Restaurant 724 Boswell Ave Norwich, Connecticut, CT (860) Come to Manny's and enjoy a great meal..can't stay in? order take out..open 7 days a week! Hours 11:00AM - 10:00PM Holy Trinity Bookstore Our Bookstore now has special orders available beyond what is available in store. Please contact the office or Fr. Demetri to order. Librarians: Kay Booth Nellie Rodriguez Come Receive the Light! Our home has now received the Holy Fire from Jerusalem. Anyone wishing to receive the light for their home vigil may contact Fr. Demetri. The ceremony, which awes the souls of Christians, takes place in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem on Pascha. The Holy Fire is the most renowned miracle in the world of Eastern Orthodoxy. It has taken place at the same time, in the same manner, in the same place every single year for centuries. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. It happens in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth, where Christ was crucified, entombed, and where He finally rose from the dead. Stewardship News To date we have received 60 pledge sheets. Thank you all who have submitted their forms already. We have also received over 100 stewardship financial donations so far this year. However, there are many who have financially donated to stewardship who have not filled out the Stewardship Pledge Sheet. Please, fill out the Stewardship Pledge Sheet. Even if you have already donated towards stewardship. It is critical that the office receives Stewardship Pledge Sheets from Every Family. Stewardship Pledge Sheets are available in the office, at the candle stand in the Narthex and online on the website. Please contact Fr. Demetrios at frdemetriosp@gmail.com if you have any questions. 10