Sunday Bulletin April 3, 2016 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 13555 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, Texas 75240 Office 972-991-1166 Fax 972-661-1717 www.holytrinitydallas.org Reverend Father Christopher Constantinides Reverend Father Peter Kostakis Reverend Father John Essa Reverend Deacon Mark Pakes Reverend Deacon Athanasios Clint Sharpley Reverend Deacon Christopher Stern
COMMUNION ETIQUETTE If you are either baptized and or confirmed as an Orthodox Christian and have spiritually prepared to receive Holy Communion, please come up from the middle aisle of the Church with reverence and humility, row by row, in a QUIET and ORDERLY fashion, and depart as directed. Please remain seated in your pews until a council member indicates your row should go forward. If you are standing in the back of the nave, please wait until all seated parishioners have gone forward and a council member indicates you should go ahead. In receiving Communion, you should place the cloth under your chin, recite your CHRISTIAN NAME, and wipe your mouth after receiving. Women, please remove your lipstick prior to receiving Communion. THANK YOU! PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN We are currently updating the list of active service members. Please submit the name of the person/s you would like added to this prayer list. 2
Sunday, April,, 016 Hymns at the Small Entrance HYMN FOR THE CROSS, FIRST TONE GREEN BOOK, PAGE 107 SAVE O LORD ENTRANCE HYMN, SECOND TONE Come let us bow down to Christ and worship Him the Son of God. Save us O Son of God, who did arise from the dead. We sing to You, alleluia! RESURRECTIONAL HYMN, THIRD TONE GREEN BOOK, PAGE 83 LET ALL THINGS REJOICE HYMN FOR THE CROSS, FIRST TONE GREEN BOOK, PAGE 107 SAVE O LORD HYMN FOR THE CHURCH, PLAGAL FOURTH TONE GREEN BOOK, PAGE 115 O BLESSED ARE YOU KONTAKION, PLAGAL FOURTH TONE GREEN BOOK, PAGE 98 TO YOU AS CHAMPION INSTEAD OF TRISAGION HYMN GREEN BOOK, PAGE 108 O YOUR CROSS 3
Epistle Reading St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." Gospel Reading Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." 4
Daily Commemoration of Saints April 3 April 4 April 5 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 9 Sunday of the Holy Cross; Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium; Theodosia and Irene the Martyrs; Joseph the Hymnographer George the Righteous of Maleon; Righteous Plato the Studite; Nicetas the Hieromartyr, Struggler of Serrai (1808); Righteous Zosimas; Theodoulos and Agathopous of Thessaloniki; Theonas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, Founder and Renovator of the Sacred Monastery of Saint Anastasia of Pharmakolytria, Halkidiki Monk-Martyrs Claudius, Diodore, Victor, Victorinus, and those with them; Theodora the Righteous of Thessaloniki; Agathopodes and Theodulos the Martyrs; George the new Martyr Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople; 120 Martyrs of Persia; Gregory of Sinai Calliopus and Akylina the Martyrs; Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of North America; Righteous Father Savvas the New of Kalymnos; George, Bishop of Lesvos; Gerasimos the God-Bearer of Byzantium The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, and Hermes; Rufus the Obedient of the Kiev Caves; Celestine, Pope of Rome; The Holy New Martyr John the Ship-Builder who was martyred in Kos The Holy Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea; Vadim the Righteous of Persia; Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, & Olympias of Mytilene 5
Calendar of Events Sunday, April 3 Sunday of the Holy Cross 8:15 a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy (S) Catechetical School after Holy Communion (Community Center). NO Adult Catechetical Class TODAY. Greek School Greek Independence Day Celebration (Community Center) immediately following Divine Liturgy. 6-8 p.m. GOYA B ball Practice (Gym) 6 p.m. Pan Orthodox Vespers (St. John the Baptist, Euless) Monday, April 4 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Yarn Guild (BR) 6 p.m. Great Compline (C) 7-8:30 p.m. HT Adult Greek School (GS Room) Tuesday, April 5 1:30-3:30 p.m. Pickleball (Gym) 2:30 p.m. Austin Street Cooking (K) 5-6:30 p.m. HT Greek School (GS Rooms) 5:30 p.m. Austin St. Volunteers leave church 7-8:30 p.m. Choir Practice (Downstairs) Wednesday, April 6 5-6:30 p.m. HT Greek School (GS Rooms) 6 p.m. Presanctified Liturgy (C) 7 p.m. Lenten Meal (A) 7:30 p.m. Faith Enrichment (BR) 7 p.m. JOY (A) 6
Calendar of Events (Continued) Thursday, April 7 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. Adult Bible Study (BR) 5-6:30 p.m. HT Greek School (GS Rooms) 6:30 p.m. HOPE (A,C) 7 p.m. Philoptochos Board Mtg. (BR) 7 p.m. Pickleball (Gym) Friday, April 8 1-3 p.m. Sr. Fellowship Committee Mtg. (BR) 7 p.m. 4th Salutations to the Virgin Mary (S) Saturday, April 9 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Marriage Seminar (A,D) 10 a.m. Caregivers Support Group (BR) 5 p.m. Great Vespers (C) Sunday, April 10 Sunday of St. John of the Ladder 8:15 a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy (S) Catechetical School after Holy Communion (Community Center). Teaching Liturgy (C) NO Adult Catechetical Class (Please attend the Teaching Liturgy). Coffee hosted by Philoptochos (Community Center) immediately following Divine Liturgy. 12 p.m. Maids of Athena (GS Room) 12:30-1:30 p.m. HTHD Practice (Gym) Jr. GOYA 1:30-2:30 p.m. HTHD Practice (Gym) Sr. GOYA 5-7 p.m. GOYA B ball Practice (Gym) 6 p.m. Pan Orthodox Vespers (Sts. Constantine & Helen, Carrollton) 7
Parish Council Schedule April 3 Tasos Kaiafas, Wade Stephens, Alin Voicu, Mary Ann Trapalis, Fotis Papanicolaou, Mary LeBrecht April 10 Jim Dolmas, Dimitri Tsevoukas, Nick Cimino, Jimmy Horiates, Louis Antos, Ellena Fox Great Lenten Dinners Following Presanctified Liturgy (Wednesday Evenings) April 6 April 13 April 20 4th Lenten Dinner (Forrest & Susan Boaz) 5th Lenten Dinner (GOYA) 6th Lenten Dinner (Nick & Julie Dimoulakis) Thank You to all our Lenten Meal Volunteers! Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 20, 2016 8
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S.A.L.T. Euless Church Tour/Pan Orthodox Vespers WHAT? We are meeting with the other DFW Orthodox young adult groups at the Pan Orthodox Vespers service at St. John the Baptist in Euless. Fr. Vasili, along with Presvytera Mirela (who actually designed St. John s), will give us a special tour of this beautiful new church before the service. A Lenten dinner will be served there in the hall afterwards. A great way to meet young adults from other area parishes... I've had many requests for this! A huge thank you to our friends at the Euless Church for hosting us all! WHERE? St. John the Baptist 303 Cullum Dr, Euless, TX 76040 WHEN? Sunday, April 3, 2016. The tour starts at 5:15 p.m. and Vespers start at 6 p.m. Dinner following. For more information contact: FrPeter@holytrinity.info 10
Please note there is NO Luncheon on April 19th. 11
MAIDS OF ATHENA ATHENA CONSTANCE CHAPTER #112 Join our Sisterhood! Are you between the ages of 14 and 28 with an interest in Hellenism, education, philanthropy and friendship? The Maids of Athena is an international philanthropic and fraternal organization. It is the Junior Auxiliary to the Daughters of Penelope. Founded in 1930, our Sisterhood quickly grew among young Greek women and today claims Chapters across the US and Canada.The Maids strive to achieve the ideals of Athena, as well as promote the Principles of our Order: Sisterhood, Service, Citizenship, Hellenism, Family and Arete. www.maidsofathena.org NEW MEMBER INITIATION SUNDAY, April 10th ~12:00 PM Contact Vice President Daniella Karant (817)229-7032 to find out more information! Follow our chapter on Instagram & Twitter: moa_dtown. 12
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Join Philoptochos in our Lenten Philanthropic Project Shoes for Orphan Souls Donate new shoes, socks and shoelaces during Great and Holy Lent for the benefit of orphans worldwide. Purchase new athletic shoes, socks and shoelaces (adult size 4 through 12). Enclose a note of encouragement with your donation. Drop off your donation at one of the collection boxes in either the Narthex or the ALS Community Center (across from the office) FAQs How many pairs of shoes, socks and shoelaces should I donate? Count the number of your children and/or grandchildren and purchase shoes in their honor. Where do I purchase these items? You can purchase your donation at Wal-Mart, Payless, Target or your favorite shoe store. Can I make a cash donation? Yes, make your check out to Philoptochos with Shoes for Orphan Souls on the memo line. How do I learn more about Shoes for Orphan Souls? Visit www.shoesfororphansouls.org Who do I contact for more information? Call Nancy Hebert at 972-679-6956 14
IMPORTANT PARISH ANNOUNCEMENT Holy Trinity Men s Ministry Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 The Men s Ministry Retreat, scheduled for April 16, 2016 has been postponed until October 15, 2016. You will hear more about the Retreat and other Men s Ministry programs as they develop. In the meantime, if you are interested in becoming involved and/or in helping with the planning stages of the Men s Ministry Program, please contact Deacon Mark Pakes or any other member of the Men s Ministry Leadership Council. The MM is guided and supported by Fr. Chris and the Clergy of Holy Trinity and dedicated men of our Parish, who together comprise the leadership. 15
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Agape Picnic Sponsored by Dallas AHEPA Chapter 20 Proceeds benefit the Senior Division winner participating in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival of Dallas, Texas with a $500.00 college scholarship Sunday, May 1, 2016 Immediately following Agape Service Tickets Adults: $20.00 and Children (12 and under): $5.00 Tickets will be for sale on Sunday, April 10, 17 and 24, during Coffee Fellowship and at the door, Sunday, May 1st. Activities (Weather permitting) Children s Crafts, Easter Egg Hunt, Softball, Badminton, games, etc., Menu Greek roasted lamb, chicken, hot dogs, salad and dessert All parishioners, visitors and their families are welcome! 16
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Message from the Parish Council The new site has been up for a while and people are liking it. Check it out today if you haven't. Just a reminder: Change your bookmarks and other shortcuts to go to the new site. For a short time the old site will send you to the new one but make the change so you can keep getting the great info. We are sure that you will like the more modern design, and we hope that you will find the new site to be a better source of information about our church, its ministries, organizations, and activities. Some of the features we think you will particularly appreciate are: A modern, responsive design that looks good on a wide range of devices. A front-page Parish News column with the latest information on our activities and events. More and richer content about the Orthodox Church, for personal study and to further our church s evangelical mission. A Photo Gallery to preserve and share memories of past festivals, holidays, and other events. An Online Pledge Card where you can make your stewardship commitment each year. The new website has been in the works for quite some time. The project began under Chris Canellos s presidency, and Jim Chappel did much of the early exploratory work. We are also very grateful to the Archdiocese s Department of Internet Ministries the new site was built using Archdiocese tools and is being hosted on Archdiocese servers, all at minimal cost. We would value your input on the new website. If you have comments or suggestions, please email us at pcfeedback@holytrinity.info. (Eventually, as we complete the transition phase, we will update our church email addresses to reflect the new holytrinitydallas.org domain.) In Christ s Service, Your Parish Council 20
ATTENTION High School Seniors and College Undergraduates Applications for St. Barbara s Philoptochos Educational Assistance Funds for 2016-2017 are now available. These funds are open to students who are: active members and attendants of our Holy Trinity parish currently attending or have applied and been accepted to a twoyear or four-year undergraduate program at a public, in state (Texas) college or university or vocational/technical school. One application makes you eligible for either the St. Barbara s chapter Educational Assistance Funds or the Alpha Omega fund created by an anonymous benefactor and administered by Philoptochos. There is one common application for both funds, and the eligibility criteria are the same for both funds. The two highest ranking applicants will receive the Alpha Omega award and the next highest ranking applicant will receive the St. Barbara s Philoptochos award. Request an application by email to pat.antoniou26@gmail.com. If you have questions, please contact Pat Antoniou at 214-497-5989. Please put Attention: Scholarship Fund on the envelope when you submit your application. DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: MAY 31, 2016 21
ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS AHEPA SCHOLARSHIPS 2016 APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE There are three scholarship applications available from AHEPA for college students. To get your application for the District 16 and Local Chapter 20, follow these instructions: For the District 16 AHEPA applications go to: www.ahepad16.org Applications are due June 3, 2016 For the Local Chapter 20 applications, send an email to ahepascholarship@gmail.com An application will be emailed to you. Applications are due May 31, 2016 If you have any questions please contact Bill Lane at 214-497-1119 Holy Trinity Greek School George Nikolopoulos Endowment Scholarship The George Nikolopoulos Endowment Scholarship Applications are now available for the 2016-17 Academic school year. Deadline for submission is May 31st. Information for applicants and applications are available on the Greek School website at (http://holytrinitydallas.org/greek-school/general-information) Please submit completed applications and supporting documents to the Holy Trinity Greek School, Attention: Presvytera Alexandra Poulos. For questions, feel free to contact Billy Karant at wkarant@gmail.com. 22
Weekly Bulletin 2015 Stewardship Report as of 3/31/16 Contributions received 1/1/15 to 3/31/16 2016 Stewardship Number of $ 2016 $ Contributed to % of 2016 Pledge Pledges Pledges Pledges 2016 Stewardship Contributed No Change to Pledge 372 $434,960 Decreased Pledge 131 $150,941 Increased Pledge 182 $310,620 New Pledges 17 $12,900 TOTAL # of Pledges 702 $909,421 $262,371 28.85% Jim Dolmas Harry Yianitsas 2016 Parish Council President 2016 Stewardship Chairman Holy Trinity Bookstore The Holy Trinity Bookstore Welcomes You! We now have available THE ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE in soft leather! It would make a very nice gift for any occasion. Also, THE WAY OF THE PILGRIM and THE NAMES OF JESUS are books we think everyone will surely enjoy. Other good books to consider reading are HEAVENLY BANQUET and THE POCKET PSALTER handbook which is new to the Bookstore. We have several outstanding children s books as well: PICTURES OF GOD, FROM GOD TO YOU and THE HIDDEN GARDEN! There are always new gift items to discover, and in addition to these items we have key chains, komboskini's for your car and home, wedding crown holders, Kantili, komboskini bracelets and much more. Don t miss the handmade byzantine jewelry from Gallery Byzantium in sterling silver and gold. We also have colorful ribbon crosses that are quite unique and beautiful. And, if you can t decide, we have Gift Certificates! Come in and browse around, you ll be glad you did! Your Bookstore Team: Mary Zotos, Betty Boyd, Alin Voicu and Kristi Cimino Sundays after Divine Liturgy until 12:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 1-3 p.m. 23
Taxes vs. Stewardship By Harry Yianitsas, 2016 Stewardship Chairman In celebration of the approaching tax filing deadline, let s look at taxes vs stewardship: From Wikipedia: A tax (from the Latin taxo; "rate") is a financial charge or other levy imposed upon a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a state or the functional equivalent of a state to fund various public expenditures. A failure to pay, or evasion of or resistance to taxation, is usually punishable by law. (Hence, the IRS) Stewardship was originally made up of the tasks of a domestic steward, from stiġ (house, hall) and weard, (ward, guard, guardian, keeper). Stewardship in the beginning referred to the household servant s duties for bringing food and drink to the castle s dining hall. In business, it has been used by CEOs to denote the concept that "as a steward, you try to leave the company in better shape for your successor than it was handed over to you by your predecessor. In Jewish and Christian traditions, stewardship refers to the way time, talents, material possessions, or wealth are given for the service of God. At first glance, it looks like taxes and stewardship have a bit in common. Many would say, Yep, they both cost me money! They take up my time! But, in fact, they are more different than similar. Consider this: Do we have a choice in paying our taxes? Do we have a choice in paying our stewardship? Who decides if and how much? Do we pay taxes before or after we receive our paycheck? How about our stewardship? Do we have much of a voice in what our taxes are used for? How about stewardship? As we consider these questions, we realize that taxes are legally required by all of us. We have little to no freedom in the collection or use of our tax dollars, but we still pay them. Curiously, when we are given more freedom to contribute our time, talent, and treasure to our church, we have trouble doing so. Why? Ohhhh, now I know why taxes aren t voluntary! Consider this: Our wonderful local, state, and federal governments operate as smoothly as they do with the tax dollars we are legally bound to pay. Are we willing to be taxed at a higher rate to improve it? What kind of stewards are our state and federal representatives? Our beautiful Holy Trinity community, Metropolis, and national Orthodox Church operate as they do with the voluntary contributions of your time, talent, and treasureyour stewardship. That is an awesome thing to consider! We would not have our church without the stewardship, the voluntary giving, of ourselves. Amazingly, many great efforts are realized simply by people freely giving (not taxed) of themselves part of what God has given them. Which works better, taxes or stewardship? Thank you to all stewards who have submitted their 2016 Stewardship cards. If you have not submitted a card for 2016, please do it today. The new Stewardship Policy asks ALL stewards to complete a new card for 2016. In addition, please consider fulfilling your pledge month by month or more frequently. Our church budget runs much more smoothly when pledges come in evenly throughout the year.