Sunday Schedule:
Orthros: 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study:
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR – THANKSGIVNG FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Everyone is welcome to join us for Fellowship following Liturgy. We will once again be distributing 70 turkeys with all the fixings to our neighbors door to door. Anyone interested in helping is welcome. There are many available jobs and many hands make light work. Please wear warm clothes.
GOYA
APPLE PIE ORDERS – For those who ordered apple pies they will be available for pick-up during Fellowship. Thank you for your support!
100TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Our "O Come, All Ye Faithful Christmas Concert will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 8th at 4:00 pm. The Concert will feature the Transfiguration Choir, the Counterpoint Vocal Ensemble, the Triton Brass Quartet and a Jazz Quartet featuring Emilee Floor and more. All are welcome and no tickets are required. A free will offering is appreciated.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT - GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATION
On Friday, December 13, we welcome you to join us for our annual Gingerbread House Decoration event. We hope you will join us for Gingerbread house decorating, pizza, and holiday cheer. Bring your house assembled and ready to decorate or take your chances with assembling it that night! Please bring 2 bags of candy to decorate and share. Please use the QR code found on the flyer to register. All are welcome!
STEWARDSHIP 2025
The stewardship theme for 2025 will be “Your Own from Your Own” and “See Your Church As It Could Be”. As faithful servants, let us work to complete our 2024 stewardship pledge to the church. If you have not pledged for 2024, it is never too late. Thank you!
GOYA
APPLE PIE ORDERS – Today is the last that our Transfiguration GOYA will be selling homemade Apple Pies for $20 each as their fall fundraiser! Place your order with a GOYAn during coffee hour or by clicking the link GOYA Apple Pie Order Form 2024 or QR code. Pies will be available for pick-up during coffee hour on November 24th. Thank you for your support!
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
71ST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BENEFIT TEA - You are cordially invited to participate in this year’s 71ST Christmas Benefit Tea…a Virtual Event on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Purchase tickets using this link 71st Annual Philoptochos Tea (Virtual) or the QR code. Or complete the form on the attached flyer. The raffle will be drawn after church at noon in the Philoptochos room; join us or tune in to watch drawing in real time on YouTube. www.youtube.com/TransGOC A table is set up in the Fellowship Hall if you need assistance after Liturgy. Questions? Please contact Ellen Dobi at 978-505-1764 or [email protected]. Thank you for your generous support.
Fall Raffle All winners will be notified by mail or in person and announced at the end of the month. Your support is much appreciated to support our philanthropic ministries.
THE WISH PROJECT - We are again partnering with The Lowell Wish Project to help those in need. They are requesting $25 gift cards to Walmart, Target, or Market Basket. If you are not able to pick up a gift card, we are accepting monetary donations of any amount. We will use any money collected to buy additional gift cards. All donations are due by December 1st. Thank you!
LTLC
The Transfiguration parish family hosts dinner at the Lowell Transitional Living Center the second Saturday each month. The opportunity to serve dinner is once again open to all parishioners. Gather a group of 4 or 5 and sign-up for your month in the lower lobby, beginning in January.
MONTHLY PARAKLESIS
We will be offering a monthly Paraklesis to the Theotokos on the 4th Friday of every month at 6:30 PM, wherein we will beseech the Theotokos to intercede for all of our living loved ones who are suffering in any way. Bring names of your loved ones to the service or email them to Fr. Gregory in advance of the 4th Friday of the month.
PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES!!
New email addresses for church contacts. See the reverse side of the bulletin for an updated listing of email addresses with the domain @transfigurationlowell.org.
Trinity votive candles (To Sponsor a Candle please call the Church Office.)
†Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): In Loving Memory of Angelike Flanagan – from her daughter Mary Ploof and grandchildren
†Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ: In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas
†Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ (2nd): In Loving Memory of Peter Cakounes from his wife Sophia, Richard & Katherine Russell and the Cakounes, Russell, Byrd and Oliver families.
†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: In Loving Memory of George Tsoukalas - from his family
Family Fun Night - Gingerbread House Building
The Wish Project Gift Card Collections
Philoptochos 71st Annual Benefit Tea (Virtual)
Buy A Brick Order Form
Sunday, November 24 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
†Orthros 8:30 am
†Liturgy 9:30 am
Thanksgiving Food Distribution
Thursday, November 28
Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed
Friday, November 29
Office Closed
Sunday, December 1 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
†Orthros 8:30 am
†Liturgy 9:30 am
Monthly Trisagion
TODAY’S PARISH COUNCIL: Ellen Dobi, Carl Maib & Stephanie Gulezian
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 4
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am/7:00 pm
December 8
Tenth Sunday of Luke
5 Year Memorial for Esther Kokas
7 Year Memorial for Peter Kokas
Parish Council Elections
O Come, All Ye Faithful Christmas Concert, 4:00 pm
December 10
Parish Council Meeting, 6:30 pm
December 11
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am/7:00 pm
December 12
St. Spyridon – Liturgy, 9:30 am
December 13
Family Fun Night – Gingerbread Night 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
December 15
Eleventh Sunday of Luke
December 18
Bible Study (online), 10:00 am/7:00 pm
December 22
Sunday Before Nativity
Sunday School Christmas Pageant
Prokeimenon. Plagal First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
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.
13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27
At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Kevin Lawrence
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Kevin Lawrence
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Kevin Lawrence
Saint Clement was instructed in the Faith of Christ by the Apostle Peter. He became Bishop of Rome in the year 91, the third after the death of the Apostles. He died as a martyr about the year 100 during the reign of Trajan.
Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.
Saint Alypius was from Adrianople of Bithynia; having lived upon a pillar for fifty-three years, he reposed about the year 607, at the age of one hundred.
This Saint was from the city of Bythlaba and was of noble birth; he was the closest and most honoured friend of Isdiger (or Yazdegerd) I, King of Persia (reigned 399-420). Though a Christian from his youth, James renounced Christ because he was allured by the King's friendship and flatteries. When his mother and his wife learned of this, they declared to him by letter that they would have nothing more to do with him, since he had preferred a glory that is temporal to the love of Christ. Wounded in soul by these words and coming to himself, the Saint wept over his error, and repudiated the worship of the idols. Therefore, becoming exceedingly wroth, the King - this was Bahram (or Varahran) V (reigned 421-438), Isdiger's son and successor - condemned him to a most bitter death, the likes of which not even a brute beast was ever condemned to: that is, his body was dismembered at every joint of his arms and legs. And so, when he had been cut asunder limb by limb to his very hips and shoulders, the courageous Martyr was finally beheaded, in the year 421.
Saint Irenarchos, who was from Sebastia, lived during the reign of Diocletian. In his youth he ministered to the holy Martyrs during the time of their punishment in prison. Once, on beholding seven women being tormented in behalf of Christ, and marvelling at their courage, and seeing how, although they were weak in body, they nonetheless became like men before the tyrant and put him to shame, the Saint was enlightened by divine grace and confessed Christ with boldness. Tried by fire and water, he was beheaded together with the holy women in the year 298.
Saint Paramonus contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. A ruler named Aquilinus, seeking relief from a bodily malady, visited a certain therapeutic hot spring. He brought with him captive Christians from Nicomedia, and commanded them to offer sacrifice in the temple of Isis. When they refused, he had them all slaughtered, to the number of 370. Saint Paramonus, beholding their murder, boldly cried out against such an act of ungodliness. When Aquilinus heard this, he sent men to take the Saint. Some smote him with spears, others pierced his tongue and body with sharp reeds, until he died.
Saint Philumenus' contest in martyrdom took place during the reign of Aurelian, in the year 270. Coming from Lycaonia, he was conveying a load of wheat into Galatia when he was denounced as a Christian to Felix, Governor of Ancyra. Nails were driven into his hands, feet, and head, and he was commanded to run. While running in the road, he fell and gave up his holy soul into the hands of God.
This Saint was from Bethsaida of Galilee; he was the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. He had first been a disciple of John the Baptist; afterwards, on hearing the Baptist's witness concerning Jesus, when he pointed Him out with his finger and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1.29,36), he straightway followed Christ, and became His first disciple; wherefore he is called the First-called of the Apostles. After the Ascension of the Saviour, he preached in various lands; and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he died in Patras of Achaia, where he was crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X," the first letter of "Christ" in Greek; this cross is also the symbol of Saint Andrew.