the Official Newsletter Publication of HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH December 2018 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 13555 Hillcrest Road Dallas Texas 75240 Office 972-991-1166 Fax 972-661-1717 E-Mail: htgoc@holytrinitydallas.org Web Site: www.holytrinitydallas.org
Holy trinity greek orthodox church 13555 Hillcrest Rd. * Dallas, Texas 75240-5412 * 972-991-1166 * www.holytrinitydallas.org Clergy Rev. Presbyter Peter Kostakis, Presiding Priest frpeter@holytrinitydallas.org Clergy Reverend Protopresbyter Reverend Father Mark Pakes Christopher Constantinides Reverend Presbyter Presiding John Priest Essa, Retired Reverend Frchristopher@Holytrinity.info Deacon Athanasios Sharpley Reverend Reverend Deacon Deacon Christopher Mark Pakes Stern Administration Administration Tom Priscilla Clark, Administrator Owens tclark@holytrinitydallas.org Church Administrator Liz Strong, powens@holytrinity.info Administrative Assistant lstrong@holytrinitydallas.org Maureen Rakow Laura Groome, Administrative Assistant lgroome@holytrinitydallas.org Financial Assistant mrakow@holytrinity.info Basil Xeros, Neokoros bxeros@holytrinitydallas.org Vickie Wells Executive Demetrios Administrative Buck, Youth Director Assistant dbuck@holytrinitydallas.org vwells@holytrinity.info Torye Morris, Facilities Manager tmorris@holytrinitydallas.org Support Staff Basil Xeros, Neokoros Torye 018 Morris, Facilities Manager Parish Council President Vice President 2011 Parish Council President Harry Tomisides Vice President Treasurer Christopher Bill Zaemes Canellos Treasurer Recording Secretary Sam Jimmy Paulos Horiates Recording Corresponding Secretary Secretary Dimitrios Mary Horiates Ann Trapalis Corresponding Secretary Charles Pappas Perry Alexandris Matt Fossey Members Nick Cimino Wade Stephens Gus Kostas Mary LeBrecht Max Adams George Karahal Monica Ellena Arroyo Fox John John Lymberopoulos Nickolas Nic Carayannopoulos Amelia Fritz Constantine Charles Pappas Mathas James Chappel Peter Hronas Frank Hellen Mihalopoulos Smith James Dolmas Chrisoula Kazanas Michael Dimitri Petridis Tsevoukas Tasos Kaiafas Daniel Shaheen Church Office Hours Monday Thursday 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Bookstore Hours Sundays after Divine Liturgy until 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays 12:30-4:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Church is under the Jurisdiction of The Holy Metropolis of Denver 4550 E. Alameda Ave. * Denver, CO 80246-1208 Tel. (303) 333-7794 Fax (303) 333-7796 www.denver.goarch.org The Holy Archdiocese of America 8 E. 79th St. * New York, NY 10075 Tel. (212) 570-3500 * Fax (212) 570-3569 www.goarch.org and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Sunday Bulletin & Ekfonesis All information to be included in the Sunday Bulletin is to be submitted to the office no later than Wednesday at noon. Articles for the Ekfonesis are due by the 15th of the month before. Please submit each article as an attachment to: lgroome@holytrinitydallas.org Ekfonesis December 2018 Memorial Service, Artoclasia Service & 41 Day Blessings All Memorials, Artoclasias, & 40 Day Blessings may be arranged by contacting Laura Groome in the church office at 972-991-1166 or lgroome@holytrinitydallas.org Sunday Worship Service Orthros 8:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Weekdays Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. 2
Pastoral Reflections from Fr. Peter Kostakis God Relates God seeks to communicate with us in ways that we understand. Why does He do that? Who is man that you remember him and the Son of Man that you visit him? (Ps. 8) He must love us! God has become relatable to human beings! We certainly can t do that with things that we make! First and foremost, He relates to us in that He comes to His own creation as a true and complete human being! He understands our experiences, He celebrates the Wedding of Cana, He is tempted, He goes through disappointments when his disciples faith falters, His friends are not loyal, He suffers, He dies. Very relatable to things that are familiar to all of us! Jesus speaks in parables that address the ways of we think. To the agrarian workers, he certainly talks a lot about seeds, branches, fruit, harvests, laborers, sheep and shepherds! God communicated also to the Magi. The hymn of Nativity says that those who worshiped stars were taught by a star to worship You the Sun of Righteousness. St. John Chrysostom also wrote about how God taught Magi using their own terms. He met them where they were. Since they were worshipping stars, God, through a star, bridges their worship from stars to the Christ! Those Magi then had the humility to open their hearts and rejoice exceedingly with great joy over their King! What a great phrase, to rejoice exceedingly with great joy! The phrase itself sounds almost frustrated that there is no way to say just how much joy the Magi had! The love of God is such that He became a human being, He spoke our language, He met us where we were, so that we could grow ever closer to Him. We can share this love with others, be compassionate, and be present the best we can! May we always remember that Christ uses that which is relatable to bring us to the unimaginable, the blessing of eternal life! May that same great joy of the Magi strengthen us and give us hope! 3
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The staff at HTA wishes everyone a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with Joy, Peace and Good Health! Christmas Office Hours are as follows: Office Closed: December 24th & 25th New Year s Hours are as follows: Office Closed: December 31st & January 1st 11
Fish Allowed 1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11 12
Strict Fast 7,13,14,18,19,21,24 December 2018 Wine/Oil Allowed 5,12,15,16,20,22,23 13
HTGOC Men s Ministry As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Holy Trinity Men s Ministry will meet the first Saturday of every month in the Boardroom at 9:00 a.m. All men who are members of one of the Metroplex s Orthodox parishes, as well as those who are on the journey to Orthodoxy are invited to attend. For more information about the Men s Ministry group contact: Andy Atalis (214-923-7454) Stephen Konstans (214-228-1030) or Fr. Mark Pakes (972-814-2251) 14
Join us in supporting all who seek Good within the Ministry of Project Mexico and St Innocent Orphanage. Your prayers, time, talent and financial gifts sustain this amazing ministry, and allow them to continue to provide a home for orphaned boys and homes for those without. Father Nicholas Andruchow, Priest/Associate director for Project Mexico will be visiting our Church on Sunday, December 9, 2018. Please come and make him feel welcomed at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. www.projectmexico.org HOLY TRINITY CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP The Caregivers will meet on Saturday, December 8 at 10am, only if someone is interested in attending the session. If you are a caregiver and would like to meet with us, please contact one of the following: Steve Pakes spakes1@att.net, Bill Lane lanetex@yahoo.com, Presv. Alexandra Poulos presvyalex@verizon.net 15
General Interest Coffee Hour Thank you to December s Sponsors! Sunday, December 2 Sunday, December 19 Sunday, December 16 Sunday, December 23 Sunday, December 30 St. Barbara s Luncheon Nafpaktians GOYA/Christmas Program Eritrean Women Parish Council To volunteer your organization contact Amelia Fritz at amfrtiz1816@sbcglobal.net Tree Lighting Ceremony Saturday, December 2, 2017 Please join us for the Holy Trinity Lighting of the Christmas Tree Ceremony! It will begin with Vespers at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary, and then afterward everyone will move outside into the courtyard to Light up the Christmas Tree! We will also sing carols, share fellowship and have refreshments. For Unto Us A Child Is Born! 16
General Interest (continued) Parish Registry - Sacraments in November Baptisms: None Deaths: None Weddings: Ladik / Patts Ladik DANCE PRACTICE TIMES EVERY SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH UNTIL FESTIVAL 12:15-12:30 p.m. Pre K ******* 12:30-1 p.m. 1 and 2 st nd ******* 1-1:30 p.m. 3, 4 & 5 rd th th 1:30-2 p.m. Jr GOYA (6th, 7th, 8th) ******* 2-3 p.m. Sr. GOYA (9th - 12th) ******* 3 4 p.m. (Please note your dance time) PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN Brandon Bell, USAF Michael Bocan-Collins, PO1, US Navy Thomas C. Bouras, 1st Lt., US Army Jorge Brignoni, Lt., US Navy Nicholas Patitsas, 1st Lt., US Marine Corps Haylie Marie Pike, US Navy Stephen Serniak, Major, USAF Space Command Karl Schlotthauer, US Army 17
The Holy Trinity Bookstore Wednesdays: 12:30 4:30 p.m. Fridays: 10:00 (or after Liturgy) - 2:00 p.m. Sundays: After Liturgy 18 If you don t have a seal, one can be purchased at the Bookstore. Contact Basil Xeros on 972.991.1166
Parish Council Schedule Dec 2 Hellen Smith Dimitri Tsevoukas Perry Alexandris Mary Ann Trapalis Chrisoula Kazanas Mary LeBrecht Dec 9 Matt Fossey Charles Pappas Nick Cimino Jimmy Horiates Gus Kostas Gus Kostas Ellena Fox Dec 16 Amelia Fritz Wade Stephens John Nickolas Bill Zaemes Peter Hronas Dec 23 Hellen Smith Dimitri Tsevoukas Perry Alexandris Mary Ann Trapalis Chrisoula Kazanas Mary LeBrecht Dec 30 Matt Fossey Charles Pappas Nick Cimino Jimmy Horiates Gus Kostas Gus Kostas Ellena Fox All of us, in the Church Office, wish ALL of you a very BLESSED Christmas and PROSPEROUS New Year! Fr. Peter Fr. Mark Tom Torye Liz Laura Basil Demetrios Martha Laura Magarita Pedro 19
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Fall Schedule for 2018 Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 21
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To whomever you are who donated these beautiful throws this past week THANK YOU!! EFKHARISTO!! MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!! You pushed us over the top! And on behalf of this large group of Haitian orphans, thank you to everyone of you who have contributed to them over the past year. It has been heart-warming to work together with you all. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!! And should you have more blankets to give, we will happily take them. We have Big dreams for next year. And you have already put us off to a good head start. We love you!!god bless you. Liz, Nancy & Karen Community Christmas Card It is the tradition of our Holy Trinity community to offer the opportunity to share the wonderful greetings of the Christmas season by placing your name on the Parish Christmas Card. The card will be mailed to Holy Trinity parishioners mid-december. Please complete this form with the names of your family (as you would like them to appear on the card) and return the form with your donation by Tuesday, DECEMBER 6, 2018. Name/s (please print clearly): Phone: 23
EKFONESIS DECEMBER 2018 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 13555 Hillcrest Road Dallas, TX. 75240 Christian Orthodox Gardens at Restland Holy Trinity Cemetery Lots Available Cemetery plots are still available in the Orthodox Christian Garden at Restland. Prices in the funeral industry continue to rise, so please don't miss this opportunity to secure your family s burial needs. Currently: Price Increase Effective 1/1/2019: $3000 $4000 For more information call the Church Office at 972-991-1166 24