MINISTRY NEWS
Know about events and activities...
| | MESSAGE FROM FR. MICHAEL & FR. CHRIS | | For our full calendar of events and services, visit https://holytransfiguration.info/calendar/ | Due to the number of ministry events in this email, some email programs cutoff our message and include a link to see the full version in a web browser. If you do not see a flyer for an event listed above, please access that link. | | SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS | | SIMPSON SHUTTLE DRIVERS NEEDED | | |
In an effort to improve our overflow parking experience at Simpson Middle School on Sundays and major religious holidays, our church has purchased a 6-passenger golf cart to transport those that might need assistance from the Simpson off-site parking lot. Our plan is to transport parishioners that need assistance from the parking lot to the church and back again following the service.
As a result, we are in need of several volunteer drivers (ages 21 or older) for the golf cart, initially just on Sundays. So that no one misses a substantial portion of the Liturgy, we plan to schedule multiple drivers on Sundays. The goal is to create a committee of 18 drivers so that no one has to drive more often than once every 6 weeks.
If you are willing to drive the golf cart to and from Simpson Middle School for an hour on Sundays, please contact Steve Tingas, at 770-845-5045 or stingas@holytransfiguration.info, and provide your name & cell phone number. Steve will contact you to collect information for our insurance carrier.
| | HOLY TRANSFIGURATION ENDOWMENT | | BIBLE STUDY OF EPHESIANS: OCT. 14--NOV.18 | | CYPRUS EVENT AT EMORY: OCT. 17 | | TRANSFIGURATION ORTHODOX ACADEMY: OCT. 19 | | DIVORCECARE SUPPORT GROUP: OCT. 24 | | GREEK SCHOOL OXI DAY CELEBRATION: OCT. 25 | | PARK STREEK ELEMENTARY UNIFORM DRIVE | | |
Philoptochos is once again asking for your assistance in supporting the children at Park Street Elementary, as many students are in extreme need.
There are two ways you can help:
1. Purchase the required uniform items at a local Target store or online via Amazon.
2. Make a monetary donation to Philoptochos, and we will purchase the clothing.
Lists of the needed items are available on the bulletin board in the PLC, in the church office, and in the Atrium. A donation box will also be placed near the office.
| | ST. NICHOLAS MARKET: NOV. 1 | | ST. NICHOLAS MARKET - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2026 Save the date!! Annual Philoptochos fundraiser open to all parish and community vendors. For details martydriscoll@bellsouth.net | | | WOODSTOCK INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL: NOV. 6-8 | | The Annual Woodstock International Food Festival takes place from November 6-8 in Woodstock at St. Elizabeth Carpatho-Russian Church. The event includes our very own Hellenic Dancers performing on Saturday, November 7th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.. We hope you can make it! Visit their website for more details. | | RECURRING MINISTRY EVENTS | | 2026 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN | | Parish Membership - Every year, we seek your support and renewed commitment to help ensure that we are meeting our parish’s growing time, talent & treasure needs. We are also required by the Archdiocese Regulations to have all members of the Parish renew their membership each year to remain in “good standing.” | | |
Your Gifts in Service to God
Through stewardship, we offer our time, talents, and treasure as members of the Body of Christ, striving to reach our full potential in Him. Your generosity supports our church’s mission and transforms lives—both within and beyond our parish.
| | |
2026 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
How to submit your 2026 Membership/Stewardship Card:
1. PAPER: Grab a paper Stewardship form from a Parish Council member in the Narthex on Sunday. You may mail back the completed paper form to the Church or drop the completed form in the offering tray.
2. ONLINE: You can complete the Online Membership/Stewardship Form on the church’s Stewardship webpage (https://holytransfiguration.info/join/).
3. SCAN: use the QR code. Simply point your camera on the QR code and click the yellow link that appears within your picture frame.
| | Our next meeting will be Wednesday, October 21st at 10:00 am in Lower Level Parish Hall Classroom #127. Please text Ann Zakreski at 770.329.7421 if you plan to come. | | |
GOYA is a ministry for youth in middle and high school. We meet every other Wednesday and also participate in various events throughout the ministry season.
Next meetings: Wednesday, October 14 & 28 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Lighthouse.
Also, please don't forget to register for Winter Youth Rally (7th-12th graders) by the early bird deadline of 11/1 to save $50.
Contact us at goya@holytransfiguration.info if you have any questions.
Ministry information...
| | |
Yeero Village in October means - FRIDAY NIGHTS are GREEK NIGHTS - with our dancers performing every hour between 6-9pm EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT in OCTOBER. Come out for dinner and a show, a portion of the evenings sales of this time block will be given as a donation to our dance program! PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT US AND YEERO VILLAGE!!!
Also, see the Special Announcements & Events section above for our flyers and info about our dancers being at the Woodstock International Food Festival next Month (Nov. 7).
| | |
Hope & Joy is a ministry for children in kindergarten through 5th grade and their parents.
Next meeting: Saturday, October 24 from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
We'll meet in the church for vespers at 5 p.m., then move down to the pavilion/playground area afterwards, around 5:45. Hot dogs and s'mores fixings will be provided. If your family would like to bring a side dish or drink, that would be appreciated. Hope to see everyone there! Please RSVP.
Ministry information...
| | |
The Mixed Choir practices on Tuesday nights / sing on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month.
Next practice: Oct. 20 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Church Sanctuary
Ministry information...
| | |
The Men's Choir practices on Thursday nights / sing on the 4th Sundays of the month:
Next practice: Oct. 15 & 22 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Church Sanctuary
Next Sunday singing the Divine Liturgy: Oct. 25.
Ministry information...
| | |
A group of friends (age 50+) who gather together purely for the enjoyment of each other’s company. They share experiences in life, their philosophies, values, ideas and goodies. Meetings are a light lunch with a guest speaker presentation.
Next meeting: November 19
Ministry information...
| | |
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 11:00 am in the Church Library (St. Basil Conference Room) followed by an optional lunch out.
ALL book lover readers are welcome to come.
We take a summer break in June/July/August.
NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday, November 3, at 11 a.m. in the Church Library (St. Basil Conference Room)
Book: Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Corben
Meeting followed by optional lunch out - restaurant TBD
| | PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE | | |
Philoptochos News: Use the 2026 Membership Form to join or renew your membership in Philoptochos.
If you have not already joined or renewed your membership in Philoptochos, please do the following:
1. Go to the church’s website: holytransfiguration.info.
2. From the “home” page, select MINISTRIES from the heading at the top of the page.
3. Under Philanthropy, select PHILOPTOCHOS.
4. On the Philoptochos page, select 2026 Membership Form (Download).
5. Save the Membership Form to your computer.
6. Follow the directions at the bottom of the form to complete, make payment to the Philoptochos Square account, and submit your completed form.
| | |
We meet on the second Monday of every month in the Church Library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. / co-hosted by Pres. Patty & Michael Gavalas, Please email us at mgavalas@holytransfiguration.info to be added to our email list.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Monday, October 19
We will be reading Everyday Saints by Fr. Tikhon. Here's the documentary about the monastery that is mentioned in the book.
It is available in the church bookstore.
| | | | |
Young Adults in their 20’s and 30’s meet twice a month for continuing education and fellowship. Second Sunday YA Class & Discussion meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month, and Third Thursday Social Gathering meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
Want to learn more? Join the HTGOC Young Adults GroupMe chat for notifications on events.
Contact Fr. Chris or Ministry Lead
Next meeting: Thursday, October 15: Third Thursday in the Lighthouse.
| | |
Religious Education for ages 3 through high school, held on Sunday mornings after Holy Communion, during the school year. New students may join at any time throughout the school year (August - May).
Parents are asked to complete a Youth Ministries Registration form (see below) prior to students attending class.
| | YOUTH MINISTRIES REGISTRATION | | |
Registration for our 2026-2027 youth ministries (Catechism, Hellenic Dance, Hope & Joy, GOYA) is now open! Please register your child/children and select what ministries he/she/they will be participating in.
For more information about these ministries, click below:
| | |
It is important, and also mandatory, for all youth who are participating in ministries of the parish to have completed the Youth Ministries Registration Form AND for the parent(s)/guardian(s) of that youth to have completed the membership/stewardship form. Completing both of these forms will not only give us the information we need to better serve the youth, but it will also be a big step towards helping all families become active and involved members of the parish.
So, with this email, we are asking everyone with a child/children participating in youth ministries to make sure that both of the necessary registrations/forms are completed:
| | |
Dear Parish Family and Friends,
Are you or someone you know unable to attend church due to illness or some other reason? Would you or someone you know like a visit from a member of our clergy team or lay volunteer? If so, please fill out this form and we will do our very best to arrange times to visit!
In Christ,
HTGOC Clergy Team
| |  | |
Dear Parish Family and Friends,
If you or someone who's part of your community is in need, Philoptochos is here to help. Please contact Jamie Hughes at 770-710-7733 or by email for details.
In Christ,
Philoptochos
| | WANTED: HOST FAMILIES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERINGS | |
Dear Parishioner,
We are continuing our Neighborhood Gatherings at Holy Transfiguration. These small gatherings give our parishioners an opportunity to get acquainted with other parishioners that live in their immediate vicinity. I would like to ask that you consider hosting a Neighborhood Gathering in your home for parishioners in your area. We will help you set it up and will send out the invitations to your parish neighbors. This is an opportunity to host as an act of stewardship to bring parishioners closer together in a more intimate, social setting.
The time and date of the Gathering will be your choice, to accommodate your schedule. We plan to have a Parish Council member and a Priest at each Gathering to provide "talking points", to get conversations going, and to answer church-related questions. Food or snacks will be optional. And if you do choose to have food or dessert at your Gathering, we suggest that you do it as a potluck so that all may participate in providing an item.
If you are willing to host a Neighborhood Gathering, please respond directly to me, Steve Tingas, at stingas@holytransfiguration.info. Thank you for considering.
Steve Tingas
Outreach Chairman
770-845-5045
stingas@holytransfiguration.info
| | | | We are aware that several phishing-type communications have been received by parishioners from supposed members of the church leadership. The church (priests, staff, Parish Council, ministry leads) will never email or text you asking for you to buy gift cards or send money for any reason. If you receive such a message, it is a scam. Please disregard the request and report it to the church office. Always verify requests for financial assistance through direct communication with the church office. Protect yourself, your personal information, fellow parishioners, and the church by being cautious of these fraudulent attempts. | | FELLOWSHIP/COFFEE HOUR SPONSORSHIP | | Fellowship/Coffee Hour Sponsorship is a great way to honor someone's birthday, nameday, memory, or a significant event with your church family. For ministries, it is a great opportunity to bring awareness to your group and gain members. Reserve your date using the links below. | | A growing PreK-8th grade Orthodox Christian hybrid school serving families in the Metro Atlanta area. | | We're so excited to open registration for the first cohort of the 2026–2027 TOA Enrichment Program — three Monday mornings spent outdoors, together, getting to know the wildlife that shares our bioregion. | | PARISH LIFE COMMITTEE SEEKS TEAM MEMBERS! | | |
Parish Life, the behind-the-scenes group that brings the community together, is looking for volunteers to help with Sunday coffee hour and other events.
Why Join Us?
Become a vital part of our Parish Life Committee and help create welcoming experiences for our church community! We organize and serve refreshments during Coffee Hour, supply light meals for the General Assembly, and coordinate food for special events like Palm Sunday, the Agape Picnic, and the Homecoming Picnic.
No cooking experience? No problem! We will teach you fun skills like:
- Bagel slicing
- Brewing mass quantities of delicious coffee
- Operating the commercial dishwasher
What to Expect:
- Friendly team environment
- Have fun while serving others
- Support the church’s spirit of hospitality
Ready to help and have fun? Contact us!
Cherie Cookorinis at 404-307-3888, or email CCookorinis@holytransfiguration.info
Lela Bridgers at 404-932-5941, LBridgers@holytransfiguration.info, or
Eleni Reese at 630-854-2174, EReese@holytransfiguration.info
| | |
Every weekday morning in the basement of St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Parish, neighbors gather in the courtyard to feed and be fed. FOCUS Atlanta Center Director Ashton Walker invites you inside a ministry that began more than 20 years ago with Fr. Jacob's homeless outreach in Grant Park — and continues today, five hours a day, in fellowship with roughly 65 unhoused guests.
FOCUS stands for the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve. It also stands for Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter — promises made good each morning through shared meals, showers, medical care, job assistance, housing support, and the simple, sacred act of listening. At just $6,000 a month, FOCUS Atlanta runs one of the most efficient day centers anywhere, holding space for communities across the city to come together in a shared mission.
Today, we're asking for your help to keep these doors open. Every gift, no matter the size, sustains this work.
Donate to FOCUS Atlanta: focusna.org/give
| |
ORTHODOX FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY
(A METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA MINISTRY)
| | BEYOND HOLY TRANSFIGURATION | | UPDATES ON THE ARC & THE PANAGIA CHAPEL | | |
Save the Dates
December 27-30 Atlanta, GA
| | | | |
HDF 2027 marks the beginning of the next chapter in our HDF story. Together in HARMONY, we will expand upon the stories of our ancestors, of our festival, and of all the individuals who have made it what it is today.
We hope you’ll join us January 14-18 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando to live, feel, sing, and of course dance as one HDF Family in Αρμονία!
| | | | |
