HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH

JANUARY 2021 JANUARY 2021 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

3 30th after Pentecost 4 5 (Strict Fast Day) 6 Theophany: 7 of 8 9 Divine Liturgy 9:00A.M. Eve of Theophany Baptism of our Lord (sign -up required) Festal Vesperal Liturgy & [limited attendance] virtual streaming Great Blessing of Waters 6:00 PM (sign -up re- Daily Vespers 5:00 PM quired) [limited attend- [virtual streaming ONLY] ance] virtual streaming

10 31st after Pentecost 11 12 13 14 St. Sava of Serbia 15 16 Divine Liturgy 9:00A.M. (sign -up required) [limited attendance] virtual streaming Daily Vespers 5:00 PM [virtual streaming ONLY]

17 32nd after Pentecost 18 19 20 21 22 Apostle Timothy 23 St. Anthony the Great Divine Liturgy 9:00A.M. (sign -up required)

[limited attendance] Daily Vespers 5:00 PM Parish Council Meeting virtual streaming [virtual streaming ONLY] 7:00 PM

24 33rd after Pentecost 25 St. Gregory 26 27 28 29 30 St. Xenia of Petersburg the Theologian St. Three Holy Hierarchs Divine Liturgy 9:00A.M. (sign -up required) [limited attendance] Daily Vespers 5:00 PM virtual streaming [virtual streaming ONLY] GENERAL CONFESSION

31 34th after Pentecost Charity: New Martyrs of Russia Unmercenaries Cyrus & John Divine Liturgy 9:00A.M. (sign -up required) [limited attendance] virtual streaming

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Monthly Newsletter of HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH 305 Washington Street • PO Box 2876 • New Britain, CT 06050 -2876

www.htocnb.org JANUARY 2021

All voting members of the parish are asked to plan on being EPIPHANY/THEOPHANY: present and participating in the meeting. You are a voting mem- We will celebrate the Great Feast of Theophany ber if: with Festal Vesperal Liturgy and Great Blessing • of Water on Tuesday, January 5th at 6:00 p.m. You are at least 18 years of age. • Again we will have sign -up required with lim- You participate in the Sacraments of Confession and ited attendance and virtual streaming. Communion regularly, but at least annually, in the par- ish. •You have made a stewardship (financial) commitment HOUSE BLESSINGS: Sadly, I think that we to the parish and signed a pledge form. must postpone in -person house blessings at this time. We are If you have any questions about your eligibility please see Fr. presently limited in what we are blessed by our Diocesan au- or Daniel Belonick. thorities to do in -person at Church. Unfortunately in -person visits to parishioners’ homes may be among the very last ac- Also, we are in need of your service on the council with a num- tivities to which will be restored as, hopefully, this public ber of officers leaving the council for their ’break’. If you have health crisis subsides. served in the past please consider this again. If you have never been on the council now would be a good time to add your tal- FAST -FREE: The time between the celebration of ent and become a leader in our Parish. Please respond positive- the Nativity of our Lord and Theophany (December 25th - ly when a member of the nomination committee comes to talk with you! January 4th) is a fast -free period in the Orthodox Church. This year the Eve of Theophany (Tuesday, January 5th) is a strict fasting day . The January charity collection is for A Little Compassion in memory of Alexandra Dilger. PARISH COUNCIL: The final scheduled meet- ALC tries to make a difference in ing of the 2020 Parish Council will be held on Monday even- the lives of people with disabilities. ing, January 18th. We will review the proposed operating Young adults with autism (ASD) budget for presentation to the annual meeting, go over final and intellectual and developmental preparations for the annual meeting, and finish any business disabilities (IDD) face daunting bar- still outstanding. All council members are reminded of the riers in finding and keeping mean- schedule change and asked to make every effort to attend the ingful work as well as in becoming meeting. active members of their community. Having the opportunity to learn to work in an environment that fosters growth is some- thing the majority of young adults with disabilities never have. The CHRYSALIS CENTER: The Chrysalis Center is holding a Winter Dona- A Little Compassion Inc. (ALC) was founded with 3 goals: tion Drive - "Share the Warmth" - which our Par- • To create work experience/employment opportunities for ish Life committee is requesting everyone's assis- young adults with disabilities and build a bridge to adult- tance. We are asking that new, unused items such hood. as hats, gloves, scarves, socks, sweatshirts, sweat- • To provide an array of social activities geared toward the pants, thermals (any size) be collected at our interests of young adults with and without disabilities and church school by January 20, 2021. offer them in a safe, comfortable space in the community

to gather. GENERAL CONFESSION: is normally • To offer the community an opportunity to learn critical held on the last Saturday of each month (except for lenten pe- awareness, acceptance and inclusion of people of all abili- riods), following Great Vespers. All regular communicants ties. should make every effort to attend each General Confession. The next General Confession will be held on January 30th. Archpriest David Koles, Rector 9 Frankie Lane ANNUAL MEETING: The annual parish meeting will be held on Sunday, January 31st, (with a snow Terryville, CT 06786 date of February 7th) following the Divine Liturgy. As of this Phone: 860 -573 -0013 printing we plan a Zoom hybrid meeting with some at church Email: [email protected] and others at home. We estimate beginning around 10:45ish. 3 Together we will make the world a kinder, more fulfilled and Anna Hamilla 67 January 1 1927 inclusive place one community at a time. Agatha Gedz 79 January 1 1965

Visit their website at: Anton Bichun 80 January 1 1972 https://alittlecompassion.org/home -nest/ Romanuk January 2 1948 Valerian Garlewski 54 January 3 1947 The collection will be taken on the last Sunday of the month. Frank Smith 62 January 3 1956 Please use the envelope provided in your monthly mailing and Helen Karabin 92 January 3 2018 be generous!! Theodora Mazufek 43 January 4 1931 John Bilas 70 January 5 1960 Birthdays in JANUARY: Daniel Panish 86 January 5 1965 Evdokia Noveck 65 January 5 1965 Vera Neill 20 January 5 1984 3 Daniel Bradanini 1945 Child Lydia Mazur 8 mo January 6 1927 3 Abby Burrill 2018 Helen Srachno 16 January 7 1936 6 George Ludko 1945 John Karpie 65 January 7 1959 6 Jillian Wanik 1964 Helena Bichun 81 January 8 2000 8 Janice Hromi 1944 11 James Dounouk 1937 Child William Koles, Jr. 2 days January 9 1947 15 Katherine Szestakow 1922 Waselesia Dudchick 73 January 9 1963 16 Barbara Burrill 1952 Child Stephen Yanushkevich 9 mo January 10 1908 16 Paula Place 1953 Peter Saskevich 55 January 10 1927 17 Daniel Belonick 1982 John Baldowski 55 January 10 1971 28 Elitsa Baltadshiev 1981 Mary Hamilla Carlson 95 January 10 2004 30 Dresko 2013 Theodosia V. Belomyzy 30 January 11 1917 31 Enrico Santoro 1946 Basil Hulis January 11 1919 31 Anthony Dresko 2010 William Koles, Sr. 61 January 11 1979 Irene Panasuk 70 January 12 1941 Vladimir Baranovsky 50 January 13 1947 “WHEN I WAS SICK YOU CAME TO ME” Wasil Panasewich 58 January 13 1978 The following parishioners (and friends) are now home - Nina Molchan 88 January 13 2007 bound or in long -term care facilities. If there are any names John Tarasov 38 January 14 1927 missing, please inform Fr. David. The regular schedule of Helen Verbitsky 77 January 14 1968 visitations is included on the monthly calendar. Parishioners Olga Matyczyk 69 January 14 1994 are welcomed and encouraged to make regular visitations to Paul Gelazin January 14 2002 - nursing homes and shut ins. Our loved ones NEED to feel Mary Ankuda 50 January 15 1926 connected to their parish family. Basil Pavarno 32 January 16 1913 Home, New Britain Mary Shatula 78 January 16 1936 Alexander Dubnansky Modest Nazaruk 71 January 16 1962

Mary Cherpak 89 January 16 1974 The Summit, Plantsville Peter Sokoloski, Sr. 72 January 17 1961 Nick Tabakow John Gadzik 61 January 18 1983 Grandview Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Anna Garlewski 94 January 18 1992 [Walnut Hill Care Center], New Britain Sophie Belonitsky 62 January 19 1939 Martha Cherpak Child Peter Burak Jr. 2 days January 19 1951

Vladimir Dankevich 49 January 19 1971 Avon Health Center, Avon Stella Liwen Child Jennifer Smith 2 January 19 1997 Stephen Podonuk 43 January 20 1940 At Home: Helen Anop, Jim Dounouk, Kowar, Borys Karanowytsch 75 January 20 1982 Antoinette Rudy and Katherine Szestakow. Violet (Valentina) Wellman January 20 1987 Michael Hrablook 80 January 20 2001

Akim (Joachim) Dimnitch 73 January 21 1973

Robert Walls 84 January 21 1975 Mary Martinuk 49 January 22 1935 Anton Radionchik 79 January 22 1970 John Makula 69 January 23 1968 Joseph Bylek 79 January 23 1969 PARISH DIPTYCHS Lydia Levy 46 January 23 1974 Please remember our departed brothers and sisters in Katherine Steffick 91 January 23 1975 Arthur Novick 74 January 23 1992 4 your prayers. Peter Molchan 45 January 25 1963 revealed Thyself, and hast enlightened the world, Sophie Kwasnick 53 January 25 1967 glory to Thee. (The Troparion)

Alexander Semascho 80 January 25 1973 Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, and Thy Philip Baboval 88 January 27 1982 Light, O Lord, hast shone on us, who with under- Methilde Shevchuk 90 January 27 2002 standing praise Thee: Thou hast come and revealed Maria Stregotsky 86 January 27 2008 Thyself, O Light Unapproachable! (The Kontakion) Child Vladimir Pravka 1 January 28 1922

Vaslov Antonik 55 January 28 1947 The Blessing of Water The Great Blessing of Water is prescribed in the Church on Leonty Homrafcuk 58 January 28 1951 the Feast of the Epiphany following both the liturgy on the eve Nikolai Vholek 65 January 28 1958 of the feast as well as the liturgy on the feast day itself. Usually Nicholas Grusha 88 January 28 1971 this blessing is done just once in the churches at the time when Yaroslav Roman 82 January 28 1992 most people can be present. It begins with the chanting and Daniel Martinook 79 January 28 2005 censing of the water placed in the center of the church building, Valerian Bielomizy 78 January 29 1968 surrounded by candles and flowers as the sign of the beautiful Anna Opanasenko 83 January 29 1986 world of God's original creation and ultimate glorification through Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of God. Michael Piekarski 63 January 30 1962 Sometimes the blessing is done outdoors at a place of natural Stella (Stephanida) Tynik 90 January 30 2012 flowing water. Olga Fedak 88 January 31 2006 Sometimes people think that the blessing of water and the practice of drinking it and sprinkling it on everyone and every- thing is a “paganism” which has falsely and sadly crept into the Christian Church. We know, however, that this ritual was prac- ticed by the People of God in the Old Testament (see John 5 and 7), and that it continues to exist in the New Testament Church of Christ with a new and very important meaning and significance. THE GREAT BLESSING OF WATER By V. Rev. Thomas Hopko The service of the Great Blessing of Water itself reveals the DRE, OCA 1971 meaning of the event for the Christian People. The readings from the Holy Scriptures, particularly the messianic words from The Great Blessing of Water takes place the Prophecy of , and the litanies and prayers and hymns in the Orthodox Church on the Feast of the all serve to tell us what the great meaning of the Epiphany, and Epiphany sometimes called the Theophany. indeed of the entire Christian Faith, is for us men and our world.

We only have to read the service carefully and celebrate it faith- The word ‘epiphany’ means the shining fully in the church for this meaning to become evident to our forth or manifestation or appearance or hearts and minds. revelation. The word ‘Theophany’ means the shining forth or manifestation or appearance or revelation of Sanctification of the World God. It is the faith of Christians that since the Son of God has taken human flesh and has appeared in the world, immersed in Manifestation of the Messiah the streams of the Jordan River (which is itself full of biblical In His baptism by John in the Jordan River, Jesus manifest- significance), all flesh and all matter is sanctified and made pure ed Himself for the first time as the Messiah of Israel. At the bap- and holy in Him, purged of its death -dealing qualities inherited tism John refers to Christ by the messianic title of the “Lamb of from the devil and the evil and wickedness of men. God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) At this time as well the voice of the Father calls Jesus the “Beloved” In the Lord's epiphany to the world, all creation becomes which is also a messianic title from the Old Testament. (Isaiah good again indeed “very good” the way that God called it and 42:1, Luke 3:22, Mark 1:11) And it is written that the Spirit of created it to be in the beginning of time. (Genesis 1:31) For in God descended and rested upon Jesus, which also shows Him to the beginning the Voice of the Lord spoke, as at the time of Je- be the long -awaited Messiah, the Redeemer of the world. (Isaiah sus’ baptism, and “the Spirit of God moved over the face of the 61:1 -2, Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22, John 1:33) waters.” (Genesis 1:2) At this time as well the “Breath of Life”

was breathing in man and in everything that was made to be Manifestation of the Holy Trinity alive by God for a life of living communion with Him. (Genesis In His baptism as well, Jesus is shown to be the divine Son 1:30, 2:7) of God, one of the Holy Trinity, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Thus the Church sings in its The world and everything in it is indeed “very good.” And main hymns of the Feast of the Epiphany: when it becomes polluted and corrupted and dead, filled with

evil and not with God, then God Himself does everything to When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized save it and glorify it once more. This is what Epiphany, and he in the Jordan, the worship of the Great Blessing of Water specifically tells us: that God has saved Trinity was made manifest. For .the and glorified by Christ and the Spirit the “very good” creation voice of the Father bear witness to that He made through the same Christ and the same Spirit in the Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son. very beginning of the world. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His God Is With Us word. O Christ our God Who hast The consecration of the waters on the feast of the 5 Epiphany places the entire creation - through its “prime ele- being renewed and becomes a partaker of the ment” of water - in the perspective of the cosmic sanctification saintliness of God. But at the same time, it is the and glorification of the Kingdom of God brought to the world by day when Christ enters on the way to Calvary. Christ and the Spirit. The Great Blessing of Water tells us that man and the world were indeed created and saved to be “filled He came to John the Baptist on Jordan, not in with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19), the “fullness of order to be cleansed, because he was pure of sin, him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22) It tells us that Christ, both as God and in the humanity made pure in Whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” is and throughout the history of Israel by those ances- shall be truly “all in all.” (Colossians 2:9, 3:11) It tells us as well tors who had given their lives to God and whose saintliness cul- that the “new heavens and the new earth” which God has prom- minated in the all -purity of the Mother of God, so pure, so stain- ised through His prophets and apostles are truly “with us” - for less that She could be brought into the Holy of Holies, into God is with us - already now in the mystery of Christ and the which even the High Priest dared not come except once a year, Church. (Isaiah 66:22, 2Peter 3: 13, Revelation 21:1 ) and only after a special sanctification.

Thus the sanctification and drinking and sprinkling of water Christ did not need cleansing. But these waters, into which all on the Feast of the Lord’s Epiphany is no pagan ritual. It arises the sinners who had come to John the Baptist confessing the evil from the depths of the biblical and churchly faith and experience of their lives had washed themselves, were as it were heavy with of the People of God as the expression of its most central doc- the sinfulness and therefore the mortality of mankind. They had trine. It proclaims and it celebrates the deepest conviction and become waters of death, and it is in these waters that the Lord vision of the Christian Faith that man and his world have the Jesus Christ merges Himself on that day, taking upon Himself vocation and destiny “to be filled with all the fullness of God.” the mortality resulting from the sin of man.

The Blessing of Homes He comes, immortal in His humanity and His divinity, and at the The central sign of God’s sanctification same time He vests Himself with the mortality of the sinful of all things through Christ’s epiphany to the world. This is the beginning of the way to Calvary. This is a day world and His baptism in the Jordan River, is when we marvel at the infinite love of God. But as on every oth- the act of blessing the homes of the faithful er occasion, man had to participate completely in the ways of Christians. On the feast of the Epiphany, the salvation which God had provided. And this is why Christ Orthodox priest visits all the members of the comes and becomes partaker of our mortality, to save us. The Church in order to pray with them in the culminating point will come on Calvary when He will say, 'My place where they live, and to bless their sur- God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?' It will be a moment roundings with the sanctified water. when God as He was in His humanity will have lost communion with the Father by partaking of the destiny of mankind. This is According to the Orthodox Faith, the family is considered to the ultimate act of divine love. be a “small church,” and the family table is the “home altar” where the people gather each day to receive their “daily bread” Let us therefore today wonder and marvel, and worship this love from God with thanksgiving in the Name of Christ. Thus, during of God, and learn from Him; because He said in the Gospel, 'I the Epiphany season, the priest, who is the father of the greater have given you an example. Follow it.' We are called, within the “family of God,” the Church community, comes to each of the limits of our sinfulness and humanity, to carry one another's “small churches” bringing the blessings of God the Father and burdens, unto life and unto death. Let us learn from this. We find all of the brothers and sisters in Christ. it so difficult to carry the burdens even of those whom we love; and practically impossible to shoulder the burdens of those The sanctification of the home takes place not only by the whom we do not love with a natural, direct tenderness. Let us words of prayer, but by the sprinkling with the blessed water learn, because otherwise we will not have learned the first lesson which, as we have seen, stands for the new creation of the King- which Christ gives us when He enters upon His ministry. Amen. dom of God in which God Himself “fills all things with Him- self” including even the smallest particles of material existence.

When the priest comes for his annual visit of prayer and blessing, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of DAYS IN JANUARY every evil and to fill it with every blessing. All pray together for the good of the living and the dead of the family, and of all who Anthony the Great (January 17) live and have lived in the house. All sing together the great - hymn of salvation that Christ, the Son of the Father by the grace Our venerable and God bearing Father of the Holy Spirit, “has revealed Himself and has enlightened Anthony the Great was born in to a wealthy the world.” Thus the house itself, together with the living per- family in upper Egypt about 254 AD. Also sons of the family, is “filled with all the fullness of God.” known as Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, and Anthony the Anchorite, he was a leader among the , who were Christian monks in the Egyptian desert in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The Orthodox Church celebrates his feast on January 17. SERMON AT THE VIGIL FOR THE THEOPHANY Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh One day after a teaching on Jesus saying to the people, "If you 18th January 1998 want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,

and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow Me" In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 19:21), St. Anthony sold everything he owned, gave The day of the Epiphany is the day when the whole world is the proceeds to the poor, and left the city behind to live in the desert. He provides for the birds.

Although he held no titles or position, his holiness marked him During the day she wandered the streets, dressed in rags, endur- as one whose wisdom commanded respect. When the Synod of ing heat and cold, snow and rain, mocked by people. At night Nicea was convened, he was invited to participate. His eloquent she went out into the fields and prayed all night, and at other defense of the Orthodox doctrine concerning the person of Jesus times she spent the night at the Smolensk Cemetery. It was at Christ was instrumental in weakening the position of . this cemetery that she helped the workmen build the Church of His witness led to the eventual and complete elimination of Ari- the Smolensk of the Mother of God ( photo to the right ), by anism. secretly carrying bricks up the scaffold during the night. One night the workmen hid to find out who was helping them, and He instructed his followers to bury his body in an unmarked, discovered that it was "crazy Xenia." Whenever someone gave secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. The her alms, she immediately gave it to the poor. As the years monastic rules of Saint Anthony, the "" of monastic passed, the Holy Spirit filled life, have served as the basis for countless monasteries. Xenia with greater riches, and she became increasingly blessed. Quotes After a while, some people started to notice that "crazy Xenia" wasn’t so crazy after all, but was an instrument of divine grace, "I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and to whom had been given deep spiritual powers: she could see I said groaning, "What can get through from such snares?" Then into people’s hearts and into the past and future, and appeared to I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility"." people in visions. Anyone whom she touched was blessed. Be- “One should not say that it is impossible to reach a virtuous life; cause she gave up living for herself, she was able to live for oth- but one should say that it is not easy. Nor do those who have ers, helping those in need. She especially helped families, chil- dren and marriages, as she continues to do today. reached it find it easy to maintain. Those who are devout and whose intellect enjoys the love of God participate in the life of After she fell asleep in the Lord, around 1803, she continued to virtue; the ordinary intellect, however, is worldly and wavering, help those who asked for her assistance. Throughout the 19th producing both good and evil thoughts, because it is changeful century, tens of thousands of people came every year to her by nature and directed towards material things. But the intellect grave, and countless miracles occurred. In 1902 a chapel was that enjoys the love of God punishes the evil which arises spon- built over her grave in the Smolensk Cemetery, located on the taneously because of man’s laziness.” western end of Vasiliev Island in St. Petersburg. This chapel has "Our life and our death is with our neighbor. If we gain our now been reconstructed (photo to the left), again welcoming the brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalize our brother, pilgrims who come there every day, and the miracles continue to we have sinned against Christ." occur. For 200 years people have turning to the Blessed one, and she has been helping them. Her great spiritual power and her "A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see deep love for people transcend the grave and are manifested someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, 'You are daily. One of the most popular of God’s "chosen ones," her can- mad, you are not like us'." onization in 1988 was official recognition of what the faithful had long witnessed and experienced. "Whoever hammers a lump of iron, first decides what he is go- ing to make of it, a scythe, a sword, or an axe. Even so we ought to make up our minds what kind of virtue we want to forge or we labor in vain." Parish Council Meeting November 30, 2020

"Obedience with abstinence gives men power over wild beasts." Members in Attendance via video conference: Fr. David Koles, Daniel Belonick, Chris Sarah Clark, Rosemary Delaney, Xenia of Petersburg (January 24) Greg Dresko, Al Hromi, Marina Kaplan, Paul Salina and Rachel Blessed St. Xenia was a "fool -for -Christ," who, for 45 years, Santoro. wandered around the streets of St. Petersburg, Russia. For the first 26 years of her life, Xe- Meeting Called to Order at 7:03 p.m. and began with O Heaven- nia had lived quite comfortably. However, ly King. after her husband suddenly died, the Holy Spirit led her to give away all her possessions Dan Belonick shared the readings from the feast of Saint An- to the poor. She put on her dead husband’s drew. clothes and called herself by his name, saying that Xenia had died. Homeless, she lived in Pastor’s Report: the streets all year round for 45 years, owning The December schedule has been reduced due to the spike in only the ragged clothes on her back. The Ho- coronavirus cases. Just Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Father is holding confessions with parishioners with appointments. ly Spirit also led her to give away her mind and her heart to God. By giving everything away, she became - On November 6 and 7 the 2020 Diocesan assembly was held rich in humility, simplicity, self denial, kindness, and deep and via Zoom. profound love for all. By pretending to be insane, she showed how insane the world and its values are. By denying herself the Warden’s Report: comforts of a home, a bed, decent clothes, food, and the appear- Dan shared that he is not attending services at present because ance of being "normal," she helps us to examine what really is his is requiring he limit his contact as much as possible. important in life, and what really is "normal." By her self -denial, Blessed St. Xenia daily died to her old self and daily lived only Secretary’s Report: for God. She trusted totally that God would provide for her, as October minutes were approved with edits via an e -vote. 7 Old Business: Financial Report: Reopening Committee - Dan Belonick shared that he appreciates Stephanie Thomas Holy Trinity has reduced the services held weekly to only Di- completing her duties as much as possible from Virgina. vine Liturgies held in the church and reducing attendance and chanter/singers per the recommendation of the Metropolitan. Dan Belonick provided a report from Stephanie Thomas cover- ing the balance sheet of the church accounts. Dan Belonick also The council discussed the concept of adding a second service to presented the October figures, which have been audited. the week. Weighed the burden with the benefit. They discussed whether or not services are running “at capacity” or not - and Total September income - $ 8,979.24 - what that capacity is. Perhaps looking into regional opportunities Total September expenses $ 13,888.30 to offer a Wednesday morning service alternative. Expense over Income - $ -4,909.06 Dan Belonick asked what our maximum attendance figures Chris Adams motioned to accept the financial report as provid- would be considering we are limiting attendance. After discuss- ed. Al Hromi seconded and the motion carried unanimously. ing how many “places” we have available and what our capacity

As we reach the final month of the year, we have made it would be Fr. David stated that HTOC will limit Sunday Services to 30 persons. Inclusive of priests, altar servers, everyone. through without needing to dip into the dividend funds. Seems that contributions are slowing, but Chris Adams is keeping a Parish Council 2021 - close watch. Still looking for a Warden.

Finance Committee: Annual Parish Meeting 2021 - concerns that need to be ad- Chris Adams shared the October 2020 figures for all accounts dressed is how to conduct a vote with remote attendees. Father and investments. We are overall down 6% but that is certainly David pictures the meeting happening after the service and have as expected this year and we had contingencies in place for all in person and remote participation as would be occurring during scenarios that would pan out given the Presidential Election and the service. There will be challenges for older members access- anticipation of a Covid -19 vaccine. ing the meeting via the computer or specifically via Zoom. Fa- The financial committee will meet on December 17 to start plan- ther was asked to consider older parishioners to be in attendance ning out the budget for the upcoming year. A major variable is in person. We also, as a parish should be focused on only the the costs for snow removal. Also, there are reductions in the most pressing issues facing the church at this annual meeting. diocese fair share for 2020 and 2021 (so, less cost to parish). Chris Adams asked if we need to waive any portion of the by- There will be an increase to the required pension contribution laws ahead of the meeting. Father David will check with the diocese. and a 1.3% cost of living increase for Fr. David.

New Business: Building and Grounds: Dan Belonick is still connecting with Dan Bradanini to look into Christmas Services: the water damage in the back of the church to be able to provide Older parishioners are not really keen on being out and about at recommendations for the January meeting. night in the winter. Perhaps returning to a Christmas morning service at least for this year. Father David will take sign ups Rachel Santoro shared the gate will be fixed this week. early for Christmas morning, and then can determine the exact time based on those who are planning on attending. Parish Life: Dan Belonick shared a need for the Chrysalis Center to receive Chris Adams motioned to have A Little Compassion will serve donations from the parish to sponsor the Christmas tree. Since as the charity for January, seconded by Greg Dresko. The mo- the deadline is coming up this week, the Sisterhood and Men’s tion passed unanimously. Club. Fr. David noted that a number of parishes providing virtual in- Information coming regarding the collections for toiletries for teractive opportunities and he will be sharing them with Holy families and veterans as well as new warm clothes (sweatshirts, Trinity. Rosemary shared some offerings from around the state. hats, gloves). Father David will explore any ways that we can expand our own interactions to our parishioners. Father David will also discuss Church School will be sending cards to shut ins with drawings with Chris Dresko and Dan Belonick on offering Vespers on and photos. Saturdays virtually.

Also, Rachel and Gladys looking into donating cookies and food Rosemary Delaney asked that Memorial Funds that were con- to our neighborhood and shut ins. tributed in Mae Camarata’s honor be provide to her with an itemized list so she can acknowledge them. Also brainstorming a drive -thru version of St. Nicholas Sunday. Information forthcoming. Next Meeting - Regular Council Meeting: Mon, January 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Father David received thank yous from the Potters and Rudys for the gifts of breads, etc. Chris Adams motioned to adjourn at 8:47 p.m., Rachel Santoro seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Cemetery Committee: Gladys Labas shared that she has done a drive through and a Respectfully Submitted, walk through the cemetery since the last meeting. The landscap- er will handle the leaf cleanup in addition to fallen branches. Sarah Clark

8