About the Sermon and When We Arrive for the Liturgy:

First of all, please do not enter the nave (the church proper) if you arrive while the priest is preaching the sermon. If you are running late for a legitimate reason and arrive while the sermon is in progress, it is appropriate to wait in the narthex until the ushers allow latecomers into the nave.

For one thing, it distracts the priest and the congregation when someone enters while such teaching is in progress.

Also, the sermon is a liturgical action, similar to the reading of the Epistle and Gospel, the Great Entrance with the gifts, or the Anaphora, when the priest asks God to consecrate the bread and wine and ultimately transform them into the Body and Blood of Christ. Just as we would wait until the Epistle or Gospel reading is finished before entering the nave, so should we wait while the sermon is delivered to the people.

Finally, I strongly encourage individuals not to receive Holy Communion if they arrive after the Epistle and Gospel readings. The entire Liturgy fits together as a whole – it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. We need to hear and receive God’s word proclaimed liturgically in the Epistle and Gospel readings before we can receive Christ the Word of God bodily in Holy Communion. The two actions go together.

The only exception is when the priest grants a blessing to do otherwise. (For example, he does so when taking Communion to the sick and shut-ins who could not be present for the service. Also, if a person knows ahead of time he will be late for a service for a good reason, he can ask for a blessing in advance.) Please understand: I do not know if this has been an issue here at our parish. It just seems like an appropriate time to make sure we are all “on the same page.”

As the Apostle Paul put it so well, we are to be in the habit of “speaking the truth in love,” so that we may “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” (See Ephesians 4:15). As a priest, it is my duty and privilege to announce these guidelines from time to time, in order to maintain order in our services, keep us all focused on glorifying the Living God, Who saves us… and to help us all advance steadily on the road of salvation in Christ.

Special Prayers:  With prayers for God's protection, strength, healing, and guidance, we continue hoping that He fulfil the ongoing and daily needs of Jane Anderson, Betty Day, Chresanthe Lemieux, Nicola Lykam, Jim Manos, Dolly Welling, Steve Sarris, Despina Xynidis, Nicola & Michael Lykam’s friend’s young child, Kaden Hammellour, 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 Wal-Mart 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. 

Greek Summer Night Thank You:  The second annual Greek Summer Night was a huge success!  Thanks to everyone for their participation, support and attendance.  Everyone truly enjoy themselves!  As one attendee noted, “The food was fabulous, the decorations were so pretty (loved the jewel tones), and everyone had such a good time.”  In addition to fellowship, laughter and dancing, we profited over $2080 for our beloved church.  Opa!

Upcoming Services and Events:

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

• Sunday, August 6^th: The Transfiguration of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ

• Wednesday August 9^th: Supplicatory Canon Canon (Paraklesis) to the Theotokos at 6 p.m.
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• Tuesday, August 15^th: Dormition (Koimesis) of the Theotokos – Orthros at 9 a.m., Liturgy at 10 a.m.

• August Coffee Hostess –

ü  August 6th Toula Zotos, Gail Jones 

ü  August 13th Lisa Colburn, Penny Angelus

ü  August 20^th Joan Manias, Angela Lekos –Philoptochos Name Day Luncheon

• August 20^th Feast Day of the Dormition of the Theotokos luncheon– Please join Philoptochos as we celebrate the feast day of the Dormition of the Theotokos with a luncheon on August 20^th.Tickets are on sale beginning August 6th: $10.00 for ages 12 and above,  and $5.00 for children under 12.

• 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

July 30, 2017 Offerings:  Candles $92.26 Tray $149; Stewardship $3270

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.

Holy Trinity Stewardship:  The Bible says: "the Lord loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).  Stewardship is Christian, biblical and equitable, for each is asked to give according to his or her love for God, conscience and means.  By stewardship we support Christ's work not as a duty, but as a privilege.  The Christian way to give is to give because desire to give; we give because we love the Lord.  Thank you for Holy Trinity Church Stewardship commitment.

Weekly Offering:  Just like your household, the parish has expenses that are necessary to keep our doors open to all who come here. Your gift goes to ensuring that our church is open and accessible to all who seek her comfort. 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. Please remember to put the DATE & TIME when announcement an event. Please grant patience, sometimes articles or parts of articles are edited or deleted during final editing process.