| | Saint Philothea Greek Orthodox Church | | | | | |
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| SUN 5/3 | 8:45 AM
10:00 AM | Orthros / Matins
Liturgy | | WED 5/6 | 5:45 PM | Mid-Pentecost Liturgy | | | | | |
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CHRIST IS RISEN!
WE ARE CALLED TO GIVE!
Each parish of the Atlanta Metropolis is asked to support the completion of the iconography at the Panagia Chapel at the Alexios Retreat Center. Our portion is $5000. Fr. Anthony and Presvytera Christine love the ARC for all the wonderful programs offered to all of us, such as St. Stephens Summer Camp, Festival of Faith Retreat, Holy Unmercenaries Medical Society, The Liturgical Arts Academy, and more. We are members of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta and thus this church belongs to all of us.
-- We are petitioning for donations from individuals to meet this amount.
--Checks payable to: The Alexios Retreat Center, memo: Panagia Chapel. can be given to Fr. Anthony to submit.
GRADUATING CLASS OF 2026
Congratulations to Nicholaos Athanasatou, Ana Buchanan, Mario Dallas, Angelina Lemon, Nicholas Price, Nikolaj Todorovski, and Liam Wilson
OCF BAKE SALE TODAY
Please support our college ministry. Note that due to hall rental there will only be the bake sale and coffee. No other food will be provided today.
FESTIVAL OF FAITH RETREAT
May 22 - 24 at The Alexios Retreat Center. Theme: Matt 5:43-48 Serving One Another. REGISTRATION and Schedule see flyer below
MARIETTA GREEK FESTIVAL MAY 15- 17 see flyer below
YARDSALE FUNDRAISER FOR THE APPALACHIAN SERVICE PROJECT
Consider donating items! Hosted by St John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church on May 16th. When doing your spring cleaning, please consider donating any unwanted items to the cause! Jack and Mary Anna McClain will be taking a couple trailers worth of stuff over and are willing to transport any items. Contact Mary Anna McClain at 770-866-3094 for more details.
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Thursday May 7, 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM at The Classic Center, with Keynote Speaker Gov. Brian Kemp. $35 per person includes hot breakfast and free parking. Buy Tickets Here
NEW INQUIRERS TO ORTHODOXY
Thursday, May 28 6:00 to 8:00 PM Meeting for newcomers who are not Orthodox and have not completed the Inquirers Class. Come for pizza so we can meet and answer some questions. This will be an informal gathering to welcome you.
YOUTH MINISTRY POOL PARTY - JUNE 6
Mark your calendars and RSVP to Penny by May 22 or SOONER! See flyer and more details below.
REGISTRATION FOR TLAA NOW OPEN Read more
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME!
Friday, May 22
St Philothea Group Night at the Gwinnet Stripers vs Charlotte Knights. There will be fireworks at end of game. Group Rate $18 per person, free for kids 3 and under, $6 for parking (50% off).
Help us plan the number of tickets by filling out the form
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Sunday School Family Event - June 6
– Save the Date!
All parents with children in Sunday School are invited to join us for a special gathering!
COME learn more about our Sunday School program and how you can support this vital ministry. While parents connect and collaborate, the kids will enjoy a fun-filled time making a big splash at the pool.
For the safety of all children and to support the presentations prepared by our Sunday School teachers, this will not be a drop-off event.
Please RSVP by May 22 to Penny
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PARISH COUNCIL MEETING May 20 at 7:00 PM
ST OLYMPIA SISTERHOOD FELLOWSHIP
Next gathering date is May 21. All women of the parish are invited to come for refreshment and fellowship. Call Presvytera to be added to the GroupMe to get all the details. 706-340-6366
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
May 4 at 7:00 pm at church. You can obtain your discussion book, “Memory Eternal” from the church bookstore.
ACTS FOOD BANK **First Tuesday every other month
June 2, 9:00 to 1:00 pm to stock shelves at the Area Churches Together Serving food bank of Oconee County. 130 E Thompson St, Bogart **Come-and-Help
SPAGHETTI DINNER
Thursday May 14, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
OCF CHEW & CHAT DINNERS - SIGN UP
2026 Schedule: Consider sponsoring dinner for the college students on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month. We are a big group this year and we encourage co-hosting with other families. See SIGN UP DATES HERE
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BIGGER VISION DINNERS **4th Monday- NEXT: May 25.
We will need a protein, vegetable, starch and servers for the Bigger Vision homeless shelter. Thank you all. To learn more about it go to our BV webpage ...and... Join the BV GroupMe.
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BYZANTINE CHANT LESSONS
For beginners to learn Byzantine notation. Wednesday evenings after church. (approx. 7:00 pm).
INQUIRER'S CLASS
This is open to those who want to learn more about the Orthodox Church. Please email prchristine@ilicons.us for more information. Class runs from September to January then Lenten services are the practicum for Inquirers. Meet and greet with new inquirers Thursday, May 28 6:00 to 8:00 PM at church.
CHOIR & YOUTH CHOIR New voices welcomed.
BOOKSTORE & LENDING LIBRARY
are in need of volunteers to keep up these ministries. See Regina if you would like to offer your talents in these areas. View our library holdings here
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VIEW THE COUNCIL of MINISTRIES CHART here
Don't see your name on the Chart? Contact Presvytera Christine to be added.
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MUSICAL INTERLUDES
FROM KATE
One of the great aspects of living in a University town is the wide access to art and music, often at a very low or reasonable cost. Among many other concerts this spring, consider attending!
Full disclosure, I'm singing in it!
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May 30 8pm Athens Festival Chorus (SATB).
The opera oratorio ELIJAH, by Felix Mendelssohn. The dramatic story of Elijah's confrontation with Baal and his ascension to Heaven in a fiery chariot! Appreciate the complexity of Mendelssohn's composition, the emotion of the story as felt in the music, and the skill and practice of the singers in performing this piece. With orchestra. In Hodgson Hall, $15/$7.50.
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TECH HELP
Someone with a background in video streaming software and an aptitude for improving WIFI signals within our Church building. If you have these skills please contact Rose Lieffring rose@lieffring.com
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GREETERS
We are STILL looking for 4 more greeters to fill out the schedule so they can rotate and have 2 - 3 greeters each Sunday. You will be fully trained on the duties. This is a beautiful ministry and a wonderful way to serve your church. Contact Nina Lamson ninalamson@aol.com
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JOIN THE ONLINE PRAYER GROUP
to post prayer needs and to be a prayer warrior. To join send your email address to rose@lieffring.com. You will receive emails when someone posts a prayer request or you can post to st-philothea-prayer-group@googlegroups.com
A WORD ABOUT CHURCH SEATING - please...
- Leave the front row for people with special needs
- Leave the back 2 rows, right and left, for families with children
- Fill in all the rows by moving in towards the center aisle.
- Our pews fit 5 or 6 persons, so be mindful of families so they can sit together.
- Single persons should fill in rows that have may have one or two seats left.
- ...and thank you!
CEMETARY PLOTS
St. Philothea section in the Oconee Memorial Park in Watkinsville. Burial Plots available at our special group price. Please see the flyer below.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE ORTHODOX OBSERVER
News from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. OrthodoxObserver.org
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AGAPE MEAL TEAMS UPDATE
** POTLUCK lunches approx. every other week**
POTLUCK GUIDELINES
Our goal in holding more potlucks is to provide a community-led lunch that fosters fellowship and connection at the parish. Agape means love and these lunches are all about loving our parish family by sharing food and breaking bread together.
In an effort to reduce clean up, please follow these guidelines.
- Please do not use the kitchen to prep, plate, or warm up.
- Bring whatever you can - it’s more about participation than perfect cooking or food!
- Bring ready-to-serve food and avoid kitchen prep.
- Crockpots are great if necessary.
- Place it on the buffet table (or in fridge) and proceed into church.
- Do not bring your serving utensils - we will use ones from the kitchen.
- Take your dish home to wash at home (thx!)
- The host team will facilitate the set up and clean up of the tables, the coffee equipment and cups, and the utensils.
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To be added or removed from a team, text Presvytera at 706-340-6366.
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Please remember to turn in your 2026 Stewardship Pledge Card | | Stewardship, in the context of our faith, is a commitment to recognizing and managing the gifts that God has entrusted to us. These gifts encompass not only our financial resources but also our time, talents, and energy. By practicing good stewardship, we actively participate in the life of the Church, contributing to its growth and vitality. | | | | |
OUR MISSION
SPGOC is a local, Eucharistic community dedicated to the continuation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s ministry of salvation through the proclamation and teaching of the Gospel; through Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and through loving service to all humankind
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OUR VISION
The community will provide a loving, caring and welcoming environment where all belong
and grow in the faith through worship, service, education, witness and fellowship.
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Holy Communion
is offered in the Orthodox Church only to those individuals baptized and chrismated in the Orthodox Faith. One must also be in good standing with the Church and properly prepared through prayer, fasting and confession.
Allow the Sunday School teachers and children who are receiving to approach first so they may depart for class. Parents with small children and others with special needs may approach to receive after them. Those who are not receiving, please remain prayerfully in your pew. Women should remove all lipstick when approaching for Holy Communion.
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SUNDAY May 3 - Sunday of the Paralytic
WE COMMEMORATE:
The Holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura , Peter the Wonderworker, Theophan, Bishop of Peritheorion, Xenia of Kalamata the Great Martyr, Father Theodosius, Abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra, Ahmet the Calligrapher & Martyr, Oikoumenios the Wonderworker, Bishop of Trikka
"Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life."
Entrance Hymn Mode 2
Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.
Resurrectional Apolytikion Mode 3
Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy.
Kontakion of Pascha Mode pl. 4
Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out “Rejoice” to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection.
Hymn to the Theotokos Mode 1
The Angel cried aloud to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin; and again I say Rejoice. Your Son has truly risen from the grave on the third day.
O Virgin, with one voice, all we believers call you blessed. * Metaphorical City and Gate of the Lord, rejoice! * Light of your Son’s resurrection from the dead * shines on us today through you, O Lady. * And therefore we salute you: Rejoice!
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ST. PHILOTHEA APOLYTIKION MODE 4
The famed city of Athens does honor Philothea, the righteous martyr whose relics it now revers with joy. For while living in sobriety and holiness she has exchanged all earthly things for the everlasting life through great contest as a martyr. And she entreateth the Savior to grant His mercy unto us.
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Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42 | | |
Prokeimenon. Mode 3
Psalm 46.6,1
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
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Gospel Reading According to John 5:1-15
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At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.
Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.
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