Weekly Sunday Bulletin – October 4th, 2020
October 4, 2020~ 1st Sunday of Luke
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Mode
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος…
From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios in the Third Mode
Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις …
Greatness has been found in danger. You are champion of the world. A victor who could turn the nations back. You boldly encouraged Nestor to defeat Lyaeus in the arena. Therefore, holy great martyr Demetrios, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε…
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.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1
Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
2nd Sunday of Luke
The Gospel Reading is from Luke 6:31-36
The Lord said, “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Memorial Prayer
Maria Papastamatis (40 days) survived by her husband George, son Michael, son Alexander (Maria), and granddaughter Christina.
Dobri Petrov Penev (9 years) survived by his daughter Aneta Peneva – Zlateva.
Catherine Lycouris survived by her son Stephen and her grandsons Alexander and Constantine.
Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens
October 04
According to some, Hierotheus, like Saint Dionysius, was a member of the court of Mars Hill. Having first been instructed in the Faith of Christ by Paul, he became Bishop of Athens. He, in turn, initiated the divine Dionysius more perfectly into the mysteries of Christ; the latter, on his part, elaborated more clearly and distinctly Hierotheus’ concise and summary teachings concerning the Faith. He too was brought miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit to be present at the Dormition of the Theotokos, when, together with the sacred Apostles, he became a leader of the divine hymnody. “He was wholly transported, wholly outside himself and was so deeply absorbed in communion with the sacred things he celebrated in hymnology, that to all who heard him and saw him and knew him, and yet knew him not, he seemed to be inspired of God, a divine hymnographer,” as Dionysius says (On the Divine Names, 3:2). Having lived in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord.
Schedule of Church Services
- 10/4 Sunday: 9am/10am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Also, we are live streaming our services.
Visit https://stdemetrios.org/ where a link to the broadcast will be found.
Stewardship Year 2020
Thank you to our parishioners who have renewed their stewardship for pledge year 2020.
The pledge year runs from January 1st through December 31st.
To pledge visit https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/ and choose “Stewardship” from the drop down menu. If you have already pledged and wish to make a donation towards your pledge visit https://stdemetrios.org/make-a-donation/
Announcements
A “Thank You” To Our Church Musicians
This Sunday we celebrate National Church Music Sunday. It is a day set aside across our entire Archdiocese to commemorate the dedicated and talented women and men in our congregation whose stewardship provides music for our liturgical services throughout the year.
The ministry of music is an essential part of our religious life. Through our hymns, we worship the Lord, our God-we give thanks, we ask for blessings, we renew our faith, and we express the joy of Orthodox Christian fellowship.
When you see our chanters, Alex, Vassilis, Athena, and Mona, please tell them how much you appreciate their gift to our parish.
Youth Programs and the Greek School at St. Demetrios
- Watch your email for details to register for the youth programs.
- The Greek School classes for children and adults commenced on Monday, September 21. Kindly contact Dr. Stavroula Christodoulou at isapaul@aol.com for additional information.
Philoptochos service project
All citizens have the right to vote and be sure that their ballot won’t be lost or delivered too late to be counted. But voting is difficult for some of our elders who have no one to take their ballots to the ballot box if they don’t wish to mail them. Philoptochos wants to help. If you can be a driver to pick up and deliver ballots from your area of Broward County to one of the early-voting secure ballot box sites, contact Juanita Antley, 954-257-7843, as soon as possible. If you need help casting your ballot or know someone who does, call Juanita before October 23. ( Be sure to leave a message if she does not answer.) We will adhere to these deadlines, to ensure that ballots are delivered in plenty of time.
Pencil Pouches for Kids
The Daughters of Penelope are making “Pencil Pouches for Kids” for the students at Bennett Elementary School where our Sister Danielle Smith is the principal. We appreciate a minimum donation of $ 10.00 or any of the following supplies. Items needed are Safety scissors, washable markers, # 2 pencils, pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, erasers, Crayola (24 count) crayons, childrens face mask, mini hand sanitizer, small packets of tissues. Contact Judie Pappas 954 849-5859 or any member of the Daughters of Penelope for additional information. Monetary donations may be payable to Narcissus Chapter 289 and mailed to DOP c/o Demetrios, 820 NE 14th Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33304.
Model of St. Demetrios Church
Thank you to the Visvardis family for the LEGO model of St. Demetrios Church!
ZOOM BINGO – Friday October 16th 7:30 pm.
The Daughters of Penelope are hosting a Virtual Bingo game via Zoom for the Community of St. Demetrios, 2 cards for $ 5.00 additional cards can be purchased at the same price. Must register and pay by October 12th to receive your bingo cards by email Please include your email address. Payable to DOP Chapter 289 c/o St. Demetrios Church 820 NE 14th Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33304. Contact Judie Pappas 954 849-5859 or email jpappas34@yahoo.com for further information. All proceeds will be donated to the church.
College student address request
Our college students are setting off on a new school year. If you have a child, grandchild or Godchild in college, please email the name and college address to philoptochos@st.demetrios.org Help us make sure they know that St. Demetrios loves them and prays for them. We’ll be sending College Care Boxes soon.
College Care Boxes 2020-2021
Philoptochos is collecting for College Care Boxes 2020-21 for our college students. They will be mailed out twice this school year, so the list below covers both boxes. If you would like to help us remind our college students that we love and care about them, please donate an item listed or donate any amount online at: https://ladies-philoptochos-of-st-demetrios.square.site/ (Select College Care Boxes) Please write checks to Ladies Philoptochos and mail checks to: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, College Care Boxes, 820 NE 14th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
We are trying to keep the element of surprise, so if you have any questions about what an item is, please email philoptochos@stdemetrios.org
If you would like to donate an actual item, there are 30 students. Please contact philoptochos@st.demetrios.org to coordinate.
Light a Candle & Say a Prayer at Saint Demetrios
“It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church in which candles are not lit.”
(Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica, 15th Century)
“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
We know that at this time it can be difficult to pray from home and not physically be in the church. One of the first things most people do upon entering an Orthodox Church is to light their candle and offer prayers for one’s personal needs or that of a family member or friend, we also light candles to pray for protection and safety so that we may live this life without fear.
If you wish to light a candle, visit https://saintdemetrios.square.site After you select the candle(s) that you would like us to light and before pressing the “Place Order” button, please submit the names of your loved ones, those who are alive and/or those who have departed this life. During these times we would be happy to light the candle for you and read the names that have been submitted during the Divine Liturgy.
Dear St. Demetrios Family,
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Ft. Lauderdale is open to the faithful. We are complying with all CDC, State, Local and Archdiocese guidelines. Here is the list of things that will be taking place on Sundays.
1) Everyone must wear a mask in order to enter the church.
2) Before entering the church, the temperature of each person will be taken by a designated person. If the person’s temperature is above 100.4 F he or she will be kindly asked to return to their home, both for their safety and the safety of others.
3) Parish Council will direct each parishioner to the designated X in the pews for each person or household to sit starting in the front of the church and working their way to back.
4) A place to accept offerings will be provided in the Narthex upon entering or leaving.
5) Parishioners are not to move around the church during the services to light candles or venerate icons.
6) Names and phone numbers of each attendee at every service will be taken in the event that a subsequent infection requires tracing.
7) If you have any symptoms of coronavirus, COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell), you must NOT attend church, and immediately seek medical attention for yourself and your household.
8) Parishioners who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 as defined by civil authorities are given dispensation not to attend services and will be asked to refrain from attending.
9) In terms of preventing the spread of this virus, we ask parishioners to follow CDC directives, which currently include: washing of hands thoroughly and frequently, covering your coughs and sneezes, avoiding sharing personal items, wearing a mask, and maintaining a social distance of six feet.
10) Honor is to be shown to Holy Icons and the Holy Cross by only doing your cross and bowing, keeping in mind not to kiss or to touch the Holy Icons and the Holy Cross.
11) No one is to enter the Holy Altar except the clergy and assigned adult helpers.
12) For Memorials, please write the names of your deceased for the clergy to pray for their souls (without Koliva).
13) Artoclasias will be celebrated as normal.
14) No service books will be left out for common use. This includes papers of any kind (bulletins etc.). Parishioners are encouraged to bring their own service books.
15) During Holy Communion – Communicants must line up row by row (with help from Parish Council) and remain six feet apart using the designated social distancing X’s that have been placed in the church. Communicants may remove their masks only momentarily to receive Holy Communion.
16) For the continued safety of those attending church services in person, parishioners should immediately leave when the service is finished. For the sake of others, please do not socialize in the Narthex or other areas of the church or its surrounding buildings or parking lots. Additionally, Sunday Coffee Fellowship hours will be suspended until further notice.
Yours In Christ,
Fr. Peter Zougras
