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Message from Fr. George for Friday, August 20, 2021

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Message from Fr. George for Friday, August 20, 2021 Message from Fr. George for Friday, August 20, 2021 I thank our parish family for joining us this past weekend to celebrate the Dormition Feast of the Theotokos. During Saturday’s Great Vespers, we offered the Lamentations in front of the Epitaphios and Kouvouklion (Tomb) of Panagia. Afterwards we processed around the church, stopping four times to pray for the world and our leaders, for those who are sick and suffering, for peace and prosperity, and for the repose of those who have fallen asleep. Following Sunday’s Divine Liturgy, I read the Encyclical from Archbishop Elpidophoros seeking our help to aide the victims of the Greece Fires. After coffee fellowship, our youth and adults studied our faith in their Religious Education classes. We ended our morning with a Philoptochos General Meeting. We will continue to remember the Dormition through Monday, August 23rd. We thank Kirk and Dedee Panayis and Maria Panayi for their gift of the new and complete set of blue liturgical vestments for the Holy Table, Prothesis, Skeuvofilakion, Proskynitaria, Pangari, Kouvouklion, and service tables and columns. The rich brocade and its matching galloon have been sewn with much care and attention to fine detail. During the five feasts of Panagia throughout the year, we like to adorn our church with blue. We also thank Anastasia (Julie) Torres for assisting in the sewing and finishing of the new vestments. This complete set was used for this year’s Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Earlier this year, Kirk and Dedee and his mother, Maria donated the Small Kouvouklion and Epitaphios of the Dormition of the Theotokos that was used this past weekend. They have now joined Alexandra Tagalos and Stella Christodoulopoulos who have generously donated their handmade liturgical vestments that we have used for many years, as well as Panagiota MacDougall who has donated and made special linens, bows, and Paschal Candles/banners. These hand-sewn and embroidered cloths add to our worship services. When we first began, I used “hand-me- downs” from the Cathedral and other parishes that have worn out. With these parishioners taking time to sew and donate, I invite others to check with me if they are interested in purchasing or making liturgical cloths utilizing other colors that can be used throughout the year. My dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, Even now as I speak to you, the fires are still ravaging Greece. And when this horror is over, thousands of our Greek brethren will be left without their homes and possessions. It is for this reason that I am calling on every parish across our sacred Archdiocese this Sunday to take-up a special collection for this purpose — the same day on which we celebrate the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. I am also inviting whoever wishes to make a direct donation, to do so by visiting the website of our Archdiocese. An accounting of all funds raised for this purpose will be made public, so that every person of goodwill can see how their generosity has effectuated positive results on the ground in Greece. May God, the Comforter, through the Holy Intercessions of the Virgin Mother of God, whose sacred Dormition we will celebrate in a few short days, send speedy relief to the people of Greece, and bring to an end this terrible inferno that continues to devastate our Ellada, την Ελλάδα μας. - His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Donate at: https://www.goarch.org/greecefiresdonate The South Atlanta Golf Classic Is Almost Here - We Need Your Help! We're expecting another great turnout for our 3rd annual St. Christopher Outreach Ministry fundraiser benefitting St. Christopher, Joseph Sams School and The Bedford School. We are 7days away from the event, here's how you can help: 1. Please consider what you would normally spend to support GreekFest. We encourage you to donate a similar amount by participating in the Helicopter Ball Drop event. You don't have to be present to participate but come watch the balls drop from the helicopter onto the course! It's very cool and way more fun in person - closest ball to the pin receives $1,000. This is a great way to support our Charities! You can use the following link to participate in the ball drop event - 2021 South Atlanta Golf Classic Helicopter Ball Drop 2. Please consider a sponsorship - several are available and costs to sponsors are quite reasonable. Here's where you can sponsor - South Atlanta Golf Classic Sponsorship 3. Please consider volunteering to help. The work is easy - picture yourself in a lounge chair under a tent enjoying the day watching golfers play. This is in large part how your day will go as ambassadors for our St. Christopher parish! You can sign up here to help - GOLF TOURNAMENT VOLUNTEER SIGNUP Call Tom Farmakis at 404-428-7006 or Maria Cahill at 770-630-5527 if you need help signing up or have questions on how to participate. As always - thank you for your continued support of our St. Christopher Outreach Ministry! Faithfully, Tom Farmakis and Maria Cahill South Atlanta Golf Classic Co-Chairs Please check out our Facebook page! And let the people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive. -Epistle Reading Titus 3:14 Facts: The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. is the largest women’s Christian philanthropic organization in the United States. We serve the sick, the elderly; we give aid to the poor and those less fortunate, especially the children who cannot help themselves. Prayer Shawl Blessing will be Sunday, August 22nd. December Blessing will be Sunday, December 12th. Children’s Medical Fund Established in 1989, the Children’s Medical Fund is the largest fundraiser for the National Philoptochos Society, making a significant and positive difference in the lives of children in the United States. The Fund was established to offer financial assistance to medically fragile children whose families were unable to afford the necessary treatment. Today, we provide funding for equipment, programs and research which benefit children with serious medical or surgical diagnoses, as well as mental health needs throughout the country. It is our hope to reach a significant level of giving, offering us the opportunity to grant substantial awards to children’s health care organizations which would benefit children throughout the Metropolis of Detroit. November 6, 2021 for the 18th Biennial Children's Medical Fund Luncheon hosted by the Metropolis of Detroit Philoptochos in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our St. Christopher Philoptochos sent in a sponsorship for this event which is the largest fundraiser for the National Philoptochos. Fanouropita The Fanouropita Event held by our Metropolis Philoptochos Chapters each September is similar to the Vasilopita we make for Saint Basil. The Fanouropita proceeds are for our youth, so all that are interested will be able to attend youth activities held within our Holy Metropolis of Atlanta. We will hold a luncheon event September 15th! St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine Appeal The Atlanta Metropolis Philoptochos has not yet fulfilled our obligation to the St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine. We ask each member to prayerfully consider contributing to this effort. All money collected will go directly to the metropolis to fulfill our commitment to St.Nicholas Church and National Shrine. Look for a presentation after church in October. Upcoming Opportunity- August. Midwest Georgia Food Bank- 220 Parkside Ct. Peachtree City We will provide lunch for the volunteers on August 19th, please arrive at 11:30am. Cynthia Cromartie is chair for this opportunity. She would like to have a few people to represent St. Christopher HOC just to help her set up and serve the food. If you would like to join her that day, please contact her: (678) 570-5083. Your sister in Christ, Helen Psihountas President Please click here to see the PDF with Links. CLICK TO VIEW LIVESTREAMING OF SCHEDULED SERVICES CLICK HERE TO VIEW PREVIOUSLY RECORDED SERVICES Costas is traveling the month of September and some of October. He needs to train people in August to fill in to do the Videography. If anyone is interested in helping with the Videography and would like to be trained. Please contact Costas Soulakos at 770-757-3859. Thank you. We welcome you to join us in person for church services. Parishioners and visitors are no longer required to take temperature checks, but of course those who are sick are asked to remain at home to recover and rest. In addition, we no longer require sign-up for services in advance (unless deemed necessary for a special event). Under Georgia law, there is no liability for an injury or death of an individual entering these premises if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of contracting COVID-19. You are assuming this risk by entering these premises. Click Image for Online Giving For questions, please email [email protected] or call the church office at (770) 347-7729. Click here for Online Giving Instructions Click image to view our parish calendar Copyright © 2021 St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a Parishioner or Friend of St. Christopher Our mailing address is: St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church 313 Dividend Dr. Ste. 210 Peachtree City, GA 30269 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. .
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