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PAIDPERMIT NO. 25

FITCHBURG, MA 01420

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church1319 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA. 01420 “Address service requested”

Our thanks to Larry Brandon from “Brandon Funeral Home” for his generous and continuous sponsorship of our monthly

“Messenger”

The Mission of Holy Trinity is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through the Orthodox Christian Faith.

THE MESSENGER Sunday Church Services:Orthros, 9:00 amDivine Liturgy, 10:00 am

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH1319 MAIN STREET, FITCHBURG, MA. 01420

FATHER PAUL C. BEBIS, PASTOR

Church phone: (978) 342-1216 Father Paul’s Cell: (978) 868-6637

Web site: www.holytrinity.ma.goarch.org E-Mail: holytrinityfitchburg@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 2018Let’s invite Christ to our feast!

This month, we remember the life of St. Matthew. He was one of the 12 disciples and was known to compile the Gospel of St. Matthew. He was a despised tax collector who collected tax money from the Jewish people which was later given to the oppressive Roman Government. Tax collectors were also known to overcharge and even steal much of the monies they collected.  The disciples gave up on their careers and precious time to follow Christ.  For several disciples who were fishermen, there was always a fishing career to return to, but not for St. Matthew.  The government would have never accepted him back to work. Christ gave him a new life, a life of sacrifice and meaning.  He not only belonged to a new group, but he became a follower of the Son of God!   Christ also used Matthew’s skill as a tax collector and record keeper to write the famous Gospel of Matthew.

St. Matthew later invited Jesus to eat at his home. When the Lord came to Matthew’s house, there were others there as well. When the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked the disciples why Christ was eating with tax collectors and sinners.  When Jesus heard this, He said, “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”  (Matthew 9:11).  Many of us fall short in the Christian life in lots of ways, but Christ will always love us and care for us.  Thanksgiving is closely approaching.  It is a time to be with family and friends.  It is a time to sit and relax and enjoy great food, especially that delicious turkey. It is a time to thank God for all the blessings that He has bestowed upon us.  It is also a time to invite Him into our homes through prayer, a time to invite Him to permeate our hearts and souls, and to thank Him for the wonderful feast in which we are about to partake.  St. Matthew was a sinner, but he did make a concerted effort to change his life.  It is up to us to make this same concerted effort to change our lives and to invite Jesus into our lives and our homes.  Thanksgiving is everyday in our lives.  It is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of us today have our own views of God, but according to the Gospel, there is only one view, and that is to love Christ more than anything else.  When we miss church services on Sunday, we actually miss a Day of Thanksgiving. The reason is that in Orthodoxy, the Liturgy is considered the Service of Thanksgiving in which we thank God for all that He has given us and we thank Him for offering His Body and Blood through the Eucharist. Many of us have icons around in our homes.  Remember in Orthodoxy, you are called to be icons of the Living God. 

This time of the year is also a reminder that there are those who are less fortunate. Fellow citizens are suffering from loneliness and economic deprivation. There are people who have lost loved ones and feel the deep pain of separation.  As we invite Christ into our homes, let us also invite Him into the lives of others by sitting with them and listening to them.  Show them the Love of God so that their lives can change as did the life of St. Matthew.  No one is beyond God’s help. 

St. Matthew's life was probably a life of cheating and boredom. However,  His life changed forever in one minute. He was a tax collector and God used his talents to record the best story that was ever told.  The story of St. Matthew informs us that everyone has a purpose, that anyone can follow Christ.  But the only way we can do this is by inviting Him into our homes and into our lives.  Read the scriptures, attend church, and follow the lives of our sacred fathers.   If you don’t follow God now, Thanksgiving is the time to invite Him into your life..  Invite His love, His kindness, and His mercy!!!!  Remember to have fellowship with other Christians.  Live it everyday!!!  

Our morals in society are slipping away because God was never invited into our lives. We need His love and mercy right now.  Do not be like the Pharisees who were more concerned with their outward appearance of holiness.  That is easy to do!   Invite Christ to be part of your lives and teach your children to be good Christians.  On Thanksgiving, tell them how great God is and that all the blessings we all have are from Him.  Don’t be an egoist and think that everything you have is from you, for it's not.  It is all a blessing from the Most High!…….Father Paul

OFFICE HOURS: Kiki Karamanos: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 am- 1:00pm.

Father Paul may be seen by appointment. Please call the office or the Parish Council President to schedule an appointment or for emergencies.

NOTICE: Please advise the Church office with regards to any hospitalization of Parish members. Due to the confidentiality laws, hospitals will not notify the Church.

Parish Council Officers:President: Mr. Mike NelsonVice-President: Mr. Phil StathasTreasurer: Ms. Star RegopoulosAsst. Treasurer: Mrs. Joanne AndertsonSecretary: Ms. Jossy BrackCouncil MembersMr. Greg BellezaMr. John GevrekakisMr. James IdarisMrs. Nikki MoorsheadMr. John RoumasMrs. Loula Roumbakis

Organizational HeadsChanters: Jim WoovisChoir Director: Johna GagneJoy Director: Dee Gevrekakis GOYA Director: Samir ElmasriPhiloptochos President: Effie KosmidisStewardship Comm. Chairman: Phil Stathas. Church Secretary: Kiki Karamanos

Message from the Parish Council President 

Message from the Parish Council President

Fellow Parishioners,

Happy fall to everyone! Hopefully by now everyone is well rested after our festival and feeling spiritually and physically reinvigorated for the fall and winter season to come. Even though our festival is over we are still quite busy with activities to keep everyone engaged and active in the Holy Trinity family. Orthodox 101 and Greek School are back in session, along with our walking club which is a great way to make new friends while being out in nature. Please contact the church office for more information on any of these great activities.

One of the more exciting things that we’ve recently done is celebrating with our dance troupe through a fun night of bowling and pizza. We had a great turnout and are so thankful to all the kids and our instructors Georgia and Staci for all of their hard work with the kids. Sunday school is also back in session and we are looking forward to many new GOYA activities lead by our new advisor, Angelo Roumbakis. Angelo already has so many good ideas to bring the kids together and to help engage the future leaders of our Church. I can’t encourage parents enough to please come to church and involve your children. Our community has so many

Book Store

Our book store cabinet at the foot of the stairs is filled with items you may like to give as gifts for birthdays, Christmas or to get for yourself. Please check out the icons, crosses, books, vigil lamps, tapes and other items we have on

families with so many kids but only a tiny fraction attend church on Sundays. Holy Trinity will not have any future unless the youth of today get engaged. Please don’t allow yourselves to fall into the trap of saying that you and your kids are simply too busy. You can make time for Church, you can make time for your kids to come on Sunday and engage with other kids who hopefully share some of the key foundational principles that we all should have. Make Holy Trinity a priority in your life!

I hope that many of you have put consideration into joining the Parish Council in 2019. As I mentioned last month, we will have multiple openings in the new year. Your commitment to Holy Trinity is critically important. Many members of the current council have been giving service for many years, and in some cases many decades. Please do your part and volunteer.

In closing, I’ll wish everyone a great start to the fall season.

Yours in Christ,

Mike Nelson

Synaxis of the Archangel Michael & the other Bodiless Powers: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, & Barachiel

All the Angels, according to the Apostle Paul, are ministering spirits, - sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation - (Heb. 1:14). God

set them as overseers of every nation and people, and guides to that which is profitable (Deut. 32:8); and while one Angel is appointed to oversee each nation as a whole, one is also appointed to protect each Christian individually. He commands them to guard them that hope on Him, that nothing should harm them, neither should any evil draw nigh to their dwelling (Ps. 90:10-12). In the Heavens they always behold the face of God, sending up to Him the thrice-holy hymn and interceding with Him in our behalf, seeing they rejoice over one sinner that repents (Esaias 6:2-3; Matt. 18:10; Luke 15:7). In a word, they have served God in so many ways for our benefit, that the pages of Holy Scripture are filled with the histories thereof. It is for these reasons that the Orthodox Catholic Church, wisely honouring these divine ministers, our protectors and guardians, celebrates today the present Synaxis that is, our coming together in assembly for their common feast to chant their praises, especially for the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, who are mentioned in the Scriptures by name. The name Michael means "Who is like God?" and Gabriel means "God is mighty." The number of Angels is not defined in the divine Scriptures, where Daniel says that thousands of thousands ministered before Him, and ten thousands of ten thousands attended upon Him -(Dan. 7:10). But all of them are divided into nine orders which are called Thrones, Cherubim, Seraphim, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.

The Feast of the Entrance into the Temple of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on November 21 each year.

Book Store

Our book store cabinet at the foot of the stairs is filled with items you may like to give as gifts for birthdays, Christmas or to get for yourself. Please check out the icons, crosses, books, vigil lamps, tapes and other items we have on

The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.

When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna decided that the time had come to fulfill their promise and to offer her to the Lord. Joachim gathered the young girls of the neighborhood to form an escort, and he made them go in front of Mary, carrying torches. Captivated by the torches, the young child followed joyfully to the Temple, not once looking back at her parents nor weeping as she was parted from them.

The holy Virgin ran toward the Temple, overtaking her attendant maidens and threw herself into the arms of the High Priest Zacharias, who was waiting for her at the gate of the Temple with the elders. Zacharias blessed her saying, "It is in you that He has glorified your name in every generation. It is in you that He will reveal the

Redemption that He has prepared for His people in the last days."

Then, Zacharias brought the child into the Holy of Holies—a place where only the High Priest was permitted to enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. He placed her on the steps of the altar, and the grace of the Lord descended upon her. She arose and expressed her joy in a dance as wonder seized all who saw this happen.

The Virgin Mary dwelt in the Temple for nine years until, reaching an age for marriage, she was taken from the Temple by the priests and elders and entrusted to Joseph as the guardian of her virginity.

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple signifies her total dedication to God and her readiness for her future vocation as the Mother of the Incarnate Lord. This is a feast of anticipation. As honor is shown to Mary, the faithful are called to look forward to the Incarnation of Christ, celebrated in a little more than a month by the Feast of the Nativity on December 25.

Fellowship Coffee Hour We would like to thank the following for sponsoring Sunday Coffee Hours for October: Sharlene & Elie Kotoch, all the wonderful ladies that always bring something and Priscilla Regopoulos who makes the coffee on Sunday mornings. We need more parishioners to participate in sponsoring this very important fellowship!

If you would like to sponsor a coffee hour without the work, please donate $75.00 for goodies and clean up. Contact the office before Sunday to make arrangements. The Parish Council will do the rest . Thank you.

Our apologies if we forget to post an announcement, an event or mention someone. Please contact us and we’ll be happy do so in the next issue of the Messenger.

If you want something to be included in the monthly MESSENGER please send it to us by email no later than the 20 th of each month!

Church Email:holytrinityfitchburg@gmail.com

Philoptochos News MISSION STATEMENT: “To promote charitable, benevolent and philanthropic outreach, to preserve the sanctity of life and family and to perpetuate and promote our Orthodox faith and traditions."

We, as a chapter, are entering our busiest time of the year for fund raising. Once again we will sponsor a “Thanksgiving Raffle” (A $300.00 value) of which all proceeds will go to our church! Please see flyer for more details.

On Saturday December 1st we will hold our annual Christmas Fair! This is our main fund raiser that we depend on to raise money in order for us to carry out our mission! See flyer for more details.

Our Philoptochos chapter is the only active organization and the backbone of our church so please support us so that we can continue our mission! New members are always welcomed and especially young women in their 30’s and 40’s, we need you and you will

have the opportunity to learn from some of the best ladies that truly know what PHILOPTOCHOS is all about. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful THANKSGIVING DAY and we all should give thanks to God for all the blessings he sends us every day!

Sacraments:Baptism:

Congratulations to Corey and Kristina Donnelly as they baptized their beautiful son “Alexander Corey” at Holy Trinity on Sunday, October 14th.  The Godparents were Fred and Stephanie Liatsis. "Να σας ζήσει και πάντα άξιοι!” (May he have a healthy, beautiful life and the Godparents to always be worthy). Proud grandparents are Tom & Joanne Donnelly and David & Lori Petrucci.

Stewards as of October 26, 2018Anderson, Mr. GregoryAnderson, Mrs. JoanneAndrellos, Mr. JohnArsenault, Dennis and PatriciaArsenault, MatthewArsenault, Ms. KimberlyAwad, Mr. & Mrs. BassemBebis, Fr. & Mrs. PaulBezas, Mr. & Mrs. HristosBezas, Mr. Athanasios & MelissaBicoules, Ms. VoulaBierfeldt, Michael & AthenaBogdasarian, Dr. & Mrs. JohnBottos, ChristosBottos, Mr. MichaelBouras, Mary J.Bourekas, GregoryBourekas, Mr. SpirosBrack, Ms. JossyCleary, James and ConstanceColby, Sean and MariaConnery, Michael and NikkiCouture, Andrew and KatrinaDonnelly, AlexisDonnelly, Mr. & Mrs. Corey

Donnelly, Mr. & Mrs.ThomasDonnelly, ShaneEleftherio, Ms. BessieElmasri, SamirFanos, Mrs. JennieFiffy, Ms. MariaFotakis, Mr. & Mrs. EliasGaetz, Mrs. Katherine LambropoulosGeorge, Mrs PamelaGervais, Jeffrey and SoulaGevrekakis, Mr. & Mrs. JohnGevrekakis, Mrs. EfthaliaGianakis,Jr., Mr. & Mrs. LarryGlimenakis, Mr. & Mrs. HarryGlimenakis, Mr. & Mrs. WilliamGrammenos, Mr. & Mrs. WilliamGrippo, Mrs BessieHaidousis, JohnHaidousis, Mrs LitsaHaithis, Ms. TinaHenault, StephanieHerr, Shawn and KaterinaHerrick, Mr. & Mrs. JamesHurtubise, Ms. VirginiaIdaris, ChrisIdaris, GregIdaris, Mr. & Mrs. JamesKakavitsas, Mr. & Mrs. NickKaramanos, Mrs. KikiKaris, ChristinaKaris, Mr. & Mrs. HarrisKaris, Mr. JonathanKaris,II, Mr. JamesKaros, Dr. DariaKazogles, Mr. & Mrs. StanleyKiosses, Mr John T.Kiosses, Mr. JamesKonomi, Mr. & Mrs. ThanasiKopley, Mr NicholasKopley, Mr. & Mrs. CharlesKotoch, Mr. & Mrs. ElieLambropoulos, Mrs. BarbaraLamkin, DeniseLanides, Mrs. VictoriaLaskarides, Mr. VanLekaditis, Miss AthenaLekaditis, Mr. & Mrs. ChristosLekaditis, Mr. & Mrs. William

Lekaditis, Mr. PeterLewis, Michael and ChristinaLiatsis, Mr CraigLiatsis, Mr. & Mrs. FredMackie, George and AngelaMandilas, Mr. & Mrs. NicholasMaxant, Mrs. ChristineMichaelides, Mr. & Mrs. ParaskevasMichaels, Mr. & Mrs. PeterMichaels, Mr. StephenMichaels, Mrs KatherineMilonopoulos, Mr. AnastasiosMoilanen, Mr. RonaldMountzuris, Mrs. LisaNelson, Mr. & Mrs. MichaelNicholaou, George & NoraNousis, Mrs. KatherinePagonis, Mr. & Mrs. JohnPantazis, Costa & SarahPappas, Mr. & Mrs. JamesPappas, Mr. NicholasPappas, Mrs. AlexandraPappas, Ms JoyPickering, Earl and AnnPinault, Paul and MarciaPratt, LindaQuarella, Mr. & Mrs. MichaelRegopoulos, Mrs. PriscillaRegopoulos, Ms. AngelRegopoulos, Ms. StarRigopoulos, Mr. & Mrs. PeterRobideau, Robert and GeorgiaRodriguez, Alexis & RodRoumbakis, Mr EvangelosRoumbakis, Mr. & Mrs. MichaelRoumbakis, Mrs. LoulaSalouvardos, Mr. & Mrs. KostasSardelis, Mrs ElizabethSarpakis, Mrs. EugeniaSawyer, Charles and EstelleSchuster, Todd and KimSimeonidis, Mr. & Mrs. PeterStagios, Mr ThomasStathas, AdamStathas, AlexandraStathas, MelissaStathas, Mr. & Mrs. PhillipStathis, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest

Stathis, Ms. PamelaStefanakos, Mr. & Mrs. TheofanisTheoharis, Mr. GeorgeTherrien, Mr. RobertThomaidis, Mr. & Mrs. GeorgeThomas, Mr. & Mrs. GeorgeThomas, Ms KatherineTolos, Mr. & Mrs. BasilTolos, Mr. & Mrs. GregoryTrodello, Joseph and AnnWernick, Alan and AnastasiaWernick, Mr. AaronWernick, Mr. AdamWitzgall, James and TaraWoovis, Mr. & Mrs. JamesXarras, AlexanderXarras, AlyssaXarras, Michael J.Xarras, Mr. & Mrs. Michael F.Xarras, Mr. & Mrs. StephenYiannos, Mr. & Mrs. CosmasYiannos, Peter

Dear fellow parishioners,Thank you to all who have fulfilled their Stewardship pledges for 2018. These pledges are vital to sustaining our church. Budgets and programs are determined based on Stewardship funds and other donations pledged by our community. When we do not reach our budgeted target for Stewardship, programs and events are put into jeopardy as funding is not available. As the year comes to a close, I wish to remind you of our Stewardship commitments.  You may recall that our minimum Stewardship amount of $350 has long been in place (“a dollar a day”).  With this amount and we can continue to provide the services and programs that have uniquely defined Holy Trinity Fitchburg.  If you have

submitted a Stewardship card and identified your pledge amount, we ask that you ensure your full pledge has been submitted before the end of the calendar year. If you have not submitted your Stewardship card, please contact the Church office at 978-342-1216 so that we can mail one out to you. Remember that your pledge is tax deductible. You will receive a report in the New Year from the Holy Trinity office which will document the amount donated. It is important to note that unless donations are specifically earmarked for Stewardship, they will be considered as a general donation and not count towards your pledge.  I pray that God blesses you and your families as we enter into the holiday season. Sincerely, Phil StathasStewardship Chairman

Altar Boys Schedule for November

Sunday, November 4 th :  “The Thessalonians,” – Brayden Schuster, Andreas Stefanakos, Tyler Witzgall, Maximos Pappas, Frank Gallo, Nickolas Tolos, and Matthew Tolos. Sunday, November 11 th : “The Ephesians,” -Joshua Bebis, Matthew Bourekas, Dimitrios Fowler, Christos Gevrekakis, and Alex Nelson.   Sunday, November 18 th : “The Thessalonians,” – Brayden Schuster, Andreas Stefanakos, Tyler Witzgall, Maximos Pappas,

Frank Gallo, Nickolas Tolos, and Matthew Tolos. Sunday, November 25 th :  “The Ephesians,” -Joshua Bebis, Matthew Bourekas, Dimitrios Fowler, Christos Gevrekakis, and Alex Nelson.  

Parish Council on duty for November

Sunday, November 4 th : Phil Stathas, Michael Nelson, Greg Belleza, Jossy Brack.

Sunday, November 11 th : Joanne Anderson, Loula Roumbakis, John Roumas.

Sunday, November 18 th : John Gevrekakis, James Idaris, Nikki Moorshead, Star Regopoulos.

Sunday, November 25 th : Phil Stathas, Michael Nelson, Greg Belleza, Jossy Brack.

Parish Council NewsParish Council Minutes on file in the Church office.

Next Parish Council meeting will be on Tuesday November 6.

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/holytrinityfitchburg

Liturgical Schedule for November

Thursday, November 1 st :   “The Feast Sts. Cosmas and Damien” Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.

Sunday, November 4 th :    Orthros, 9:00AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.

Friday, November 9 th :   “The Feast of St. Nektarios,” Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.

Sunday, November 11 th :   Orthros, 9:00AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.  

Sunday, November 18 th :   Orthros, 9:00AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.

Wednesday, November 21 st :   “The Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple.” Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.  

Sunday, November 25 th : Orthros, 9:00AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:00AM.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Bible Study: We will cover 1st Corinthians at Holy Trinity Church hall from 6:30PM to 7:30PM on November 5th.  

Sunday, November 11 th : Memorial Service for all VETERANS.

Sunday, November 18 th : Thanksgiving Raffle drawing.

Saturday, November 24 th : HOPE LUNCHEON from NOON until 1:00PM. Sponsors and volunteers needed.

Orthodox 101:

Every Monday at 11:00AM in the church hall.

YOUTH NEWS:GOYA (ages 11 to 18) meeting on Sunday November 4 after Devine Liturgy