A Word from Fr. John:   (Actually, from Fr. Thomas Hopko again… these wise words are a good follow-up to the sermon series on “Financial Freedom in Christ’s Kingdom,” especially as we consider the talents, treasure, and time that God has given us.)

On true humility…

“In the Orthodox tradition, humility has often been called ‘the mother of all virtues’….

“Humility does not mean degradation or remorse. It does not mean effecting some sort of demeaning external behavior. It does not mean considering oneself as the most vile and loathsome of creatures. Christ Himself was humble and He did not do this.

Genuine humility means to see reality as it actually is in God. It means to know oneself and others as known by God – a power, according to Saint Isaac, greater than that of raising the dead!

God is humble because He cares about the least: the birds in the air, the grass in the fields, the worst of sinners. Christ is humble because He associates with the lowly, becoming the slave of all....

The humble lay aside all vanity and conceit in the service of the least of God’s creatures, and to consider no good act as beneath one’s dignity and honor.”  -- from The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 4: Spirituality

New Church Hours for Fr. John:

Here is the new schedule for Fr. John’s Church/”In St. Augustine” hours for the remainder of the summer:  

• Monday: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.       Pastoral office hours from 11:00 – 2:00 are available for drop-ins or appointments.
• Wednesday: 1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.      Pastoral office hours from 1:30 - 3:30, by appointment only.
• Friday: 9 a.m. – noon           (Approx. every other week, as needed).

Special Prayers:  With prayers for God's protection, strength, healing, and guidance, we continue hoping that He fulfill the ongoing and daily needs of Jane Anderson, Betty Day, Chresanthe Lemieux, Nicola Lykam, Jim Manos, Dolly Welling, Steve Sarris, Despina Xynidis, our parish and missionary families, and catechumens preparing for Illumination.

Holy Trinity Master Calendar:   A Holy Trinity Parish Master Calendar is on the website. This calendar can be printed or downloaded. This will help coordinate efforts and events with other ministries; dates will be included in the weekly bulletin; and will help actively involve others in the work of our Parish.  Active and enthusiastic participation in a parish’s activities and functions should emulate the Kingdom of God – a culture that is overflowing with joy, peace and love.

Outreach: Help! Last year there were 895 homeless students recorded in St. Johns county, and the St. Johns County School’s ASSIST program needs all the help they can get! They have a critical need for the following:

• School Supplies (pens, #2 pencils, lined paper, folders, notebooks, backpacks, etc.)
• Gift Cards to Walmart and Publix as well as gas cards
• Hygiene products
• Cleaning supplies

We are currently collecting items in the yellow bin located on the counter adjacent to where coffee is served. To leave larger items or for more information, please contact Dick Billeter or Susan Stone.  Outreach will also have a meeting after Divine Liturgy today, July 23th.

Upcoming Services and Events:

• Bible Study every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

• July Coffee Hostess –

ü  July 23^rd Carman Gaetanos, Kristina Wilkes

• July 23^rd Outreach Meeting – Today, after Divine Liturgy.

• July 29^th Greek Summer Night– Tickets are currently on sale after Divine Liturgy in the church hall!

Join us for a night of fellowship, family and fun to benefit our Holy Trinity Church.  Greek Summer Night is Saturday, July 29, 6:00-11:00 PM, at the Parish Hall.  Enjoy Greek food, music and dance.  Tickets, $20 donation per person, $15 per children 12 & under, and reserved seating available (for tables of 8).  Please see Carman or Mikae Gaetanos, Andy or Angela Lekos, Bill or Penny Angelus for tickets.  For reservations, call Andy at 904-823-8882 or email ajlekos@att.net.  Opa!

• July 30^th – Monthly Potluck Coffee Hour

• Wednesday, August 2^nd and August 9^th: Great Supplicatory Canon (Megale Paraklysis) to the Theotokos

• Tuesday, August 15^th: Dormition (Koimesis) of the Theotokos – Orthros at 9 a.m., Liturgy at 10 a.m.

• August Coffee Hostess –

ü  August 6^th  Lisa Colburn, Penny Angelus

ü  August 13^th Toula Zotos, Gail Jones

ü  August 20^th Joan Manias, angela Lekos

• August 20^th – Philoptochos Name Day Luncheon

• August 25^th – 27^th St. Demetrios Daytona Beach Reach – Fun at the beach with religious lessons.  For info call 386 252-6012.

• Center for Family Care– Please visit www.family.goarch.org for information about activities and events.

ü  September 20^th – 23^rd   Family Ministry Conference in Pittsburgh, PA –“The Orthodox Family in a Changing World”

• Saturday Events Hosts & Hostesses Needed – Holy Trinity will welcome Metropolis events for which we need hosts/hostesses.  Please check your calendars and be in touch with Nelda in the Church office if you or your ministry group would like to coordinate our attentive hospitality to registrants for:

ü  September 16^th – 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Workshop for couples, “Preparing for the Journey of Marriage”

ü   November 18^th  –  Parish Council Training Seminar

2017 Offerings:  July 9^th Candles $135; Tray $179; Stewardship $1780 - July 16^th Candles $141.90; Tray $81; Stewardship $2467

Visiting the Church Outside of Office Hours:  Though at this time we do not have volunteers coordinated to assist in receiving visitors to the Church outside of Office Hours (M-F 9am-1pm), we hope to always welcome parishioners and the many visiting out-of-towners to the best of our ability. Please call the office to arrange a visit. If there is no answer, call the emergency number on the voicemail, (602) 617-2467, to discuss options that may exist.

Ministries & Committees:  All are welcome and encouraged to apply common interests, skill sets, and life experience to the many areas of service in the life of the Church. 

Contact  the Church office:   To add your e-mail address and phone number to the ministry/committee contact list(s), or even to seek Father John’s blessing to begin a new ministry beneficial to church members involved or in need, please contact Church office.

Metropolitan Alexios Asks Every Family to Participate in the Panagia Chapel Roof Tile Campaign:   The Panagia Chapel at the Diakonia Retreat Center is in its final stages. To wrap up the building of the Panagia Chapel, His Eminence has asked that each family give the names of their loved ones, living and deceased to be sealed in the Holy Table during consecration and prayed for during each service held in the Chapel. When submitting names, it is requested that each family prayerfully considers a sponsorship of $30 or more, as you are able, to the completion of the Panagia Chapel’s roof.  A table is setup in the Church Hall to submit names and a sponsorship for this effort.

Weekly Offering:    The Bible says: "the Lord loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).  The Christian way to give is to give because desire to give; we give because we love the Lord.  Your offering can be made at the collection basket as you exit the service.

Weekly Bulletin Submission:  Please submit announcements to the Church office via email holy3goc@gmail.com with “Bulletin Article” in the subject line, no later than Wednesday/Thursday weekly.