Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Theotokos Myrtidiotissis in the Fourth Mode

O come, all you people, and let us in faith clap our hands * and sing sacred songs to her who is the Mother of God, * and longingly cry aloud: * "Rejoice, O protection of all those who entreat you; * rejoice, the salvation of those who honor you with longing; * rejoice, O Lady who restored * the paralyzed man to health."

Λαοί νῦν κροτήσωμεν, δεῦτε τάς χεῖρας πιστῶς καί ἄσωμεν ἄσμασι τῇ Θεομήτορι ἐν πόθῳ κραυγάζοντες˙ Χαῖρε ἡ προστασία πάντων τῶν δεομένων Χαῖρε ἡ σωτηρία τῶν τιμώντων σε πόθῳ, Χαῖρε ἡ τῷ παραλύτῳ τήν ἴασιν βραβεύσασα

Apolytikion for Protomartyr Thekla in the Third Mode

All aflame with love for your Creator, * from the teachings of the sacred preacher, * you disregarded as fleeting all things mundane. * And being bold in the face of the penalties, * you gave yourself as a beautiful gift to God. * Thekla, glorious companion of the Apostle Paul, * we pray you entreat your Bridegroom, Christ, * and ask Him to grant us His great mercy.

Θείου κήρυκος διδασκαλίας, πόθῳ κτίστου σου ἀναφλεχθεῖσα, τῶν γεηρῶν ὡς ῥεόντων ἠλόγησας· καὶ σεαυτὴν ἱερὸν καλλιέργημα, τῷ Θεῷ δοῦσα ποινῶν κατετόλμησας. Θέκλα ἔνδοξε, Παύλου τοῦ θείου συνέκδημε, τὸν σὸν Νυμφίον Χριστὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

Services and Sacraments

September 24, 2023 – First Sunday of Luke

Memorial:

YVONNE SIKORA – 7 Years

Coffee Hour Sponsor

May her memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

Sunday, September 24 - FIRST SUNDAY OF LUKE, Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Saints

Wednesday, September 27 – HOLY UNCTION SERVICE, 7:00 pm

Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Westland

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Previously recorded Sunday Divine Liturgy services are archived and available on our website! Go to https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming and you can click on the service you would like to view.

LIGHT A CANDLE AND SAY A PRAYER: When you are not able to attend church, you can purchase a candle from our church website (home page or video-streaming page), which be lit before the following service or a service that you specify. Please give specific names, living or deceased, that you would like Father to remember in prayer. Father will light candles one hour before each service. For Sunday services, please place candle orders prior to 8:00 am Sunday morning.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Bill, Katy, John, Nick, Christopher, Sarantos, George, David, Marcos, Evangela, Lela, Doris, Dawn, Panagioti, Nannette, Joanna, Suzanne, Lambrine, Nick, Fotini, Niki, George, Matthew, Tom, Stefanos, Georgia, Leonidas, Gus, Connie, Maria, Brenda, Panagiota, Nicholas, Vicki, Susan, Tom, Thomas, Jim, Panagioti, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Marti, Marty, Janet, John, Paul, Zacharias, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Angela, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Anastasia, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria.

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, or if there is a name that should be removed from the prayer list, please contact the church office at [email protected]

Saints and Feasts

September 24

1st Sunday of Luke

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 67.35,26.
Θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς Ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Ἐν Ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεὸν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 3:10-15.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, παρηκολούθηκάς μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, τῇ ἀγωγῇ, τῇ προθέσει, τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ, τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασιν, οἷά μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις, οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα· καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐρρύσατο ὁ κύριος. Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ θέλοντες εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διωχθήσονται. Πονηροὶ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ γόητες προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, πλανῶντες καὶ πλανώμενοι. Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης, εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνος ἔμαθες, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας, τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ πίστεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

Gospel Reading

1st Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11

At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

1st Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 5:1-11

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἑστὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς παρὰ τὴν λίμνην Γεννησαρέτ, καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυναν τὰ δίκτυα. ἐμβὰς δὲ εἰς ἓν τῶν πλοίων, ὃ ἦν τοῦ Σίμωνος, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐπαναγαγεῖν ὀλίγον· καὶ καθίσας ἐδίδασκεν ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου τοὺς ὄχλους. ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα· ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὸ δίκτυον. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ· διερρήγνυτο δὲ τὸ δίκτυον αὐτῶν. καὶ κατένευσαν τοῖς μετόχοις τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἑτέρῳ πλοίῳ τοῦ ἐλθόντας συλλαβέσθαι αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἦλθον καὶ ἔπλησαν ἀμφότερα τὰ πλοῖα, ὥστε βυθίζεσθαι αὐτά. ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσε τοῖς γόνασιν ᾿Ιησοῦ λέγων· ἔξελθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, Κύριε· θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ᾗ συνέλαβον, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβον καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην, υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν. καὶ καταγαγόντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀφέντες ἅπαντα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

ADULT BIBLE STUDY Our Adult Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, September 26^th at 7:00 pm. The group meets each Tuesday evening on the ZOOM platform. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789. All adults are welcome to join, as we resume our study of the Book of Matthew. No pre-registration is required.

GOYA OFFICERS AND FRAPPE SALE: Congratulations to our newly elected GOYA Officers and Committee Leaders! Next Sunday, October 1^st, they will be sworn in during the church service. Following the service, GOYA members will be selling Frappe and Greek coffee in the coffee hour.

OCW PRESENTATION: THE ROLE OF ICONS: Fr. Teodor Petrutiu will be the presenter at the Orthodox Christian Women’s meeting, held on Monday, October 9^th 7:00 pm, at the Holy Transfiguration Church in Livonia. No reservations are needed to attend this educational presentation.

CHOIR SUNDAY: Next Sunday, October 1^st, is Choir Sunday, the day each year when we honor our Choir Members, Chanters, and Church Musicians.

GOYA HAY RIDE: Our GOYA members will visit the Three Cedars Farm on Saturday, October 7^th for a hay ride and corn maze. There will be a bonfire and dinner at the Theodorou home in Novi, following the hayride. The charge is $10/person. Youth, grades 7 – 12, who are interested in participating, should sign up on the GOYA RSVP document, or send email to: [email protected]

HOPE AND JOY EVENT: The first HOPE and JOY family event will take place after church on Sunday, October 22^nd. Children, grades K – 6, and their families are welcome to stay for lunch and activities. As the children are participating in group activities and crafts, adults will meet separately with Fr. Teodor, for a time of discussion and Q & A. If you have any questions about HOPE and JOY, or would like to submit a question for discussion with Father, stop by the HOPE and JOY activity table at coffee hour, or reach out to Lisa Madias ([email protected]) or Zoe Miller ([email protected])

ANNUAL FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL: Tickets go on sale next week! Our annual Fall Festival, sponsored by the Moms’ Group will be held on Friday, October 27^th! Join us in the Hellenic Cultural Center for a safe indoor party with lots of prizes, games, bounce house, crafts, photo booth, BINGO, music, food, and FUN for kids of all ages!. Tickets will be available starting October 1^st after church or in the church office at $10/person, or $35 for a family of 4 or more. Teen and adult volunteers are also needed.

BUY YOUR REVERSE RAFFLE TICKETS TODAY!: Our parish’s biggest annual fundraiser, “Putting on the Glitz” will be held on Sunday, November 12^th at 6:00 pm! The Dinner, Auction and live drawing will be held at the Hellenic Cultural Center. Dinner and raffle is $150, Dinner only is $40, and each raffle ticket is $125, with the top prize of $4,000! Every 10^th number drawn receives gift cards and/or cash prizes! Tickets are available from any Parish Council member, from Fr. Teodor, or in the church office.

NEWS AND NOTICES

CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to Joy Kisabeth and Christina Peratsakis, who have been elected to the Metropolis Philoptochos Board, and to John Avdoulos, joining the Metropolis of Detroit Council at this week’s Clergy Laity and Philoptochos Conference.

COLLEGE CONNECTION: The Moms' Group is planning to mail the College Connection “CARE” packages in mid-October to our college (undergrad and grad) students living at home or away. Please submit your student's info by October 13, on the Google form at: https://www.stcons.org/documents or you are welcome to email the info to Cathy Brylinski at [email protected]. If your student has graduated, please let us know, so we can update our records.

FASHION SHOW THANKS: What a terrific event! Our St. Helen Philoptochos "Sweater Weather" Fashion Show got us all excited and ready for the cooler Fall temps. Many thanks to our volunteer models, those who attended, who donated raffle items, and those who purchased some great casual separates - raising funds for our Philoptochos charities and assistance to local families in need. Special thanks to our Philoptochos Board members for all their hard work: Pam Avdoulos, Christina Peratsakis, Brittany Moussa, Caryl Lowes, Joy Kisabeth, Carol Bozadzis, Donna Linaras, Sophie Kour, and Fana Bosidis.

FEEDING THE NEEDY: Many thanks also to our event sponsors, those who participated, or donatedto the Men’s Club Golf Outing, raising funds to Feed the Needy. Donations are still needed for this terrific annual program, providing Thanksgiving Dinner for hundreds of area low-income families in need. If you would like to make a donation, giving envelopes are available at the Pangari.

AUCTION DONATIONS NEEDED: Consider this: Where do you work? Where do you shop (eat, play, etc.), Who do you know? Think of at least one person or place that you can approach this week to ask for a live or silent auction item donation for our “Putting on the Glitz” event, November 12^th. Gift cards, baskets, services, entertainment, sports memorabilia, etc. Please notify Annette at [email protected] about any donation opportunities, or bring your donations into the church office, and call the office if you have any questions, if you need printed materials, tax exempt info, etc.

LEARN TO SPEAK GREEK! We are excited to welcome students, old and new to “The Three Hierarchs” Greek School program, a joint ministry with the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church in Plymouth. In person and online classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for children and adults, at all skill levels. For more information, contact Anna Liakou-Hentnik, [email protected], 248-425-2321

GREEKFEST PLANNING: It’s time to start planning for next year’s GreekFest! If you are interested in working on a planning committee for our festival, to be held in February 2024, contact Dean Peretsakis at [email protected]

VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE! Our church bookstore has re-opened with beautiful new icons and merchandise recently shipped from Greece. Come on in and take a look at what’s new! We are also happy to order a specific icon or item for you. The store is open during Sunday services, or by appointment.

SING PRAISES! Our Choir has begun rehearsals for the new Ecclesiastical year! The group will be learning new music and focusing on English translations of Orthodox hymns. The group rehearses on Wednesday evenings, and no experience is needed! In addition to Sunday services, our Choir has many additional training and performance opportunities throughout the year. If you are interested in joining our Choir, contact our Choir Director, Maritsa Madias-Kalasz at [email protected]

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Please call the church office to schedule all memorials and coffee hour sponsorships at least two weeks in advance. On the day of the service, please bring a list of family names you would like Father to remember in prayer. Requested Coffee Hour sponsorship donation is $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family. Koliva will be distributed at the coffee hour; if you wish to bring in paximadia, koulourakia, or other dry cookie it may also be distributed.

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS:

Wedding:

September 24^th ALEKSANDER PAPANASTASOPOULOS to MADISON PAIGE MERLANTI

Congratulations!

Funeral:

September 20^th CONSTANTINA (DINA) SPANOS

May her memory be eternal!

Wisdom of the Fathers

For now they were well instructed beforehand...But mark both their faith and their obedience. For though they were in the midst of their work when they heard His command, they delayed not, they procrastinated not, they said not, "let us return home, and converse with our kinsfolk," but "they forsook all and followed."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century

Because such is the obedience which Christ seeks of us, as that we delay not even a moment of time, though something absolutely most needful should vehemently press on us.