HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH Elmira Heights, NY – 607-732-3980 – www.holytrinityorthodoxchurch.org

Sunday, January 17, 2021: 32nd Sunday After Pentecost – Tone 7 Anthony the Great ∙ “Group A” Church Attendance

PLEDGE UPDATE FOR 2021 So far, for 2021, 12 parish households have turned in pledges, and $50,700 has been pledged. That’s 71 percent of the stewardship income we will need to meet our tentatively budgeted amount for 2021 Parishioner Donations. (The Proposed 2021 parish budget is in preparation.) In 2020, we had 20 households pledging. We hope that at least that many will turn in a pledge form for 2021. Please submit your 2021 pledge by email, US mail, or in person: Email [email protected] ∙ 140 Horseheads Blvd., Elmira Heights NY 14903 Thank you! ANNUAL PARISH MEETING FOR 2021: SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, AFTER THE LITURGY

Orthodox Christian adult members of Holy Trinity Church who are active in the Sacraments may participate in voting and discussion on matters affecting the life of the parish. Because of Covid restrictions, we will hold the Annual Meeting in the nave of the church. Everyone is asked, of course, to maintain distancing and wear masks throughout the meeting. Unfortunately we cannot serve refreshments this time.

All things considered, we have received many blessings from God as a parish family this past year. I look forward to reflecting on them with you, and I look forward to planning with you to wisely steward the resources and ministries of Holy Trinity Church in 2021! With love in Christ, Fr. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES: Most Services May Be Joined by Live Stream at Web Address www.facebook.com/htocelmiraheights or go to www.YouTube.com and search for “Holy Trinity Church Elmira Heights NY” Today 8:50 AM Third Hour 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 1:00 PM Church School Meets – By Zoom; Parents, check your email for instructions Tuesday, January 19 6:30 PM Parish Council Meeting – in the Church Wednesday, January 20 7:00 PM “Orthodox Journeys” Adult Education & Fellowship – By Zoom; check email for instructions Saturday, January 23 5:00 PM Great Vespers Private Confession Available Before Vespers by Appointment or After Vespers By Request Sunday, January 24 8:50 AM Third Hour 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 1:00 PM Church School Meets – By Zoom; Parents, check your email for instructions

SCRIPTURE READINGS EPISTLES Colossians 1:12-18 Brethren: Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the first- born of all creation; for in Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything He might be pre-eminent. Hebrews 13:17-21 Brethren: Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, and bear the abuse He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. GOSPELS Luke 6:17-23 At that time, Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” Luke 18:18-27 At that time, a certain ruler asked Jesus, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He 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.” And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Prayer List Memory Eternal: Fr. Irvin; Fr. James Doyle, Andrew; Joan; Helen, Josephina; John; John; Krislyn; Ralitsa Maltabes; Fr. Eugene Pianovich; Shirley Kohena; Jeffrey; Catherine; Maryanne, Marijana, Carlos; Donald; Dana; Wendy; Yuri; Fr. James Laliberte, Fr. Ernesto Rios, Anna. All those taken from us by the Coronavirus, by sickness, violence, and accidents. All the departed named Anthony, on this Feast Day of St. Anthony the Great. For Health: Archpriest Jason, Archpriest Nicholas, Archpriest & Mat. Myra Kovalak, Archpriest Herman, Archpriest John, Archpriest John, Archpriest Ken James, Rdr. Thomas & Mildred, Rdr. William, Mat. Cynthia, Mat. Anastasia; newly baptized ; newly Chrismated Elizabeth Holobinko; Robert Karney ( Karney’s father); newborn Michael & mother Elena; Joan; Eileen (Mat. Katie’s grandmother), David, Samantha; Nicholas; Scott, Steven; Juliana, Antonina; Ryan; expecting mothers Ashley, Lauren & Matushka Margaret; Jane Ann, Susan, James, James, Child Hannah, Joshua, Chloe, Helen, Nadezhda, Kathleen, Erica, Sherri, Ruth, Harriett, Katherine, Kristin, Sierra, Maria, Michael, Kate, Lorraine, Abigail. Diocesan Prayer Requests: DANIEL (Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the West); Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky, Fr. Daniel Ressetar, Fr. Emil Hutnyan, Fr. Matthew Markewich, Fr. Joseph Chupeck, Fr. Peter, Dn. John, Mat. Julitssa Davis; Mat. Tamara Skvir, Reader John, Reader Peter, James Silver; Maria; Andrew, Liudmilla, Pamela, Alexis, Krista, William; George, Jessica; Roel, Wendy, Juliana, Alex, Emilia, Thomas, Joanne, George, James; Nicholas; Cheryl; John; Anna; Donna; Larry; Thomas; Joan; Marion; Nikolai, Margaret, George, John, Michael, Nadine, Dasha, Roman, Patricia, Lydia, Alexis, Marion, Terrance, , Caroline, Anthony, Robert, Cheryl, Theodore, Loretta. Drs. Carol & Steven, Dn. Michael, Adam; Officers Luke, Boris & Charles, and all of the healthcare and public safety personnel in our parish and our communities; all those afflicted with the Coronavirus and those caring for them, those afflicted by sickness and injury. Name Day: Anthony Lyon & Ryan DeSocio (St. Anthony the Great, 1/17); Reader Kyrill Cowan (St. Cyril of , 1/18). Birthday: Nathan Devens (1/21). Parish Children: Lucia Hannah Andrew Myra Anthony Anysia Lydia Natalie Emilia Patrick Sophia Dmitri Gabriel Angelina John Thomas Nikolai Melania Alexei Larissa Julianna Nadia Nathan Justus Gabriel Ezekiel College Students: Anna McKane – Duke University Katherine McKane – Sarah Lawrence College Please give prayer requests to Fr. David, Dn. Michael, Subdcn. Walter, or Reader William. Typically, prayers for Newly Departed and Health remain on this list for 40 days, unless requested otherwise. Thank you. PRAYER CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible: In thine ineffable goodness, look down upon us, thy people gathered in thy Holy Name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind, deliver us from the impending threat of the Corona Virus. Send thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians and preserve those who are healthy. Enable us to continue to serve our suffering brothers and sisters in peace; that together we may glorify thy most honorable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. PRAYER IN A TIME OF CIVIL UNREST Our Father, great and glorious God Who art in Heaven, yet Who dost look upon the earth with compassion, meting out Thy justice and Thy mercy upon nations: look down upon our earthly and temporal homeland, the United States of America, which is now divided by strife, and send Thy Spirit, the Spirit of peace, upon us like a heavenly Breeze, to restore peace to our cities, our countrysides, and our hearts. May He, the Spirit of truth Who leads the saints into all truth, teach us the truth, that we may abide in it, repenting of our error and ignorance. May He, the Spirit of righteousness, lead us in the way of righteousness, that we might cast aside and forever reject all hatred and bigotry. May He, the Spirit of Justice, strengthen us to restore justice to our land, that we may root out all corruption. O Father Almighty, adorn our rulers with a spirit of wisdom; adorn our civil authorities and the police and all who enforce the law with a spirit of mercy and restraint; and adorn all who dwell in our land with a spirit of love for one another, regardless of race or class. O Father without beginning, Who at the breathing of Thy Spirit didst cause dry land to appear out of the churning waters of chaos when the world was founded: deliver our earthly homeland from disorder, and grant us all to stand firmly on the ground of Thy justice and Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom is due all worship, together with thee, the God and Father, and the All-holy Spirit, the Comforter, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Please consider your financial PLEDGE to the parish for 2021.

THE “GIVING GRID”

Our 20 pledgers for 2020 pledged an average of $56/week. If everyone who pledges were to increase their pledge by even 1 percent of their income; and if those households who aren’t yet pledging (many of whom already give!) could commit to a pledged amount for 2021, then we could raise that average amount to $73/week per pledging household …

Then, we could meet our anticipated budgeted Parishioner Support of $73,000 for the year 2021, just through the fulfilling of pledges!

That would be another great step in the maturing stewardship of our parish family!

So, ask yourself: Where am I on the grid? If I’m not at 10%, can I move 1 square to the left and pledge that amount for 2021?

A B C D E F G H Pledge Commitment Forms were mailed out Saturday 12/12; look for yours in your mailbox.

Thank you for your generous stewardship of the ministries of Holy Trinity Church!

With love in Christ, Fr. David THE 2021 MARCH FOR LIFE EVENTS will be held VIRTUALLY.

The Orthodox Church in America: Due to the ongoing global health crisis, this year His Beatitude Metropolitan TIKHON will lead a virtual March for Life event which will be live-streamed on Thursday, January 28 beginning at 7:30 pm ET on oca.org/live and via the OCA’s YouTube and Facebook pages. The live-stream will feature a prayer service led by Metropolitan Tikhon, followed by reflections by His Beatitude. The main address will be given by Dr Ana Iltis of Wake Forest University, a leading Orthodox Christian bioethicist. The broadcast will also highlight Orthodox organizations that support women in crisis pregnancies. In preparation for Sanctity of Life Sunday, the faithful are encouraged to explore the numerous reflections, articles, texts, liturgical services available online. Visit www.oca.org/sanctity-life- resources

The national March for Life will also be held by live-stream, on Friday, January 29, at 11:00 AM. To RSVP for a link to the live-stream, visit www.marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events

ONLINE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021 www.marchforlife.org The Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center is hosting their annual Sanctity of Life Baby Bottle Boomerang! Find information and bottles at the display. Take a bottle home and fill it with change. Bring it back by Sunday, February 28th. Call 732-2111 for more information. PLEASE RETURN YOUR FILLED BOTTLE BY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28. Thank You! – Fr. David Another Worthy Local Charity – The Southern Tier Food Bank