WORSHIP SCHEDULE

SUNDAY DIAKONIA

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CATECHUMEN PRAYERS

Today we joyfully welcome Jude Aquillino as he is received as a catechumen.

WELCOME DR. BRUCE BECK

We welcome Dr. Bruce Beck from Holy Cross Seminary, where he teaches New Testament and is the Admissions Officer.

A.C.T.S. - Area Churches Serving Together

Oct 6 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

SPAGHETTI DINNER

Oct 8 at 6:00 PM Come join us for our monthly spaghetti dinner with live entertainment! Plates are $10 for adults, and $5 for kids.

ST. ELIAS MID-EAST FESTIVAL

Oct 10-11 at St. Elias Orthodox Church, Atlanta, Georgia. Click here for more info, or see flyer below.

OCF CHEW & CHAT

Oct 13 at 6:30 PM OCF will meet at the home of Father Anthony and Presvytera Christine for dinner and discussion.

ST. OLYMPIA'S SISTERHOOD

Oct 15 6:30PM - 8:30 PM We will meet at 1169 Old Farm Road, Watkinsville Georgia.

FESTIVAL OF THE SAINTS

Oct 18 immediately after the Agape Meal

Come celebrate the saints with our parish community! Host a Saints Station featuring a saint of your choice -- individually, with a friend, or as a family. Teach others about your saint while making your station creative, interactive, and fun with games, crafts, activities, prizes, or giveaways.

Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you host a station or simply come to learn about the saints. Come dressed as your patron saint or any saint! For questions, please contact Regina or Mary Anna.

MORTGAGE PAYOFF CELEBRATION

Oct 25 We will commemorate this joyous milestone in the life of our parish with a special Greek Dinner Banquet following the Divine Liturgy. Click here for a video about the history of St. Philothea.

OCF CHEW & CHAT HOSTS NEEDED

Sept 1 - Dec 8 Let's feed our college students - body AND soul! We're looking for folks willing to host our students for an evening of food, fun and conversation. Click HERE to sign up for a week (or two!).

GET TO KNOW YOUR COUNCIL OF MINISTRIES!

Each week, the heads of each ministry will give a five-to-ten-minute presentation highlighting their goals, activities, and ways to become involved going into 2027.

October 4 - Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism

October 11 - Philoptochos/Parish Life

Dear Parishioners,

I am writing to share an update regarding this year's Nominating Committee: Nina Herrington, Presvytera Christine, and Chris Bowman. From October through December, their role will be to help fill vital positions within our parish and to assist each of our St. Philotheans in finding their place to offer their time and talents.

While many of you are already actively involved, Nina, Presvytera Christine, and Chris will be working to strengthen our church's ministries through recruitment. They may reach out to you directly, or you are welcome to approach them with your own ideas. We express our sincere gratitude to them for their service, as well as to all of you for your continued support.

Currently, we have immediate needs for the following roles:

 - Communications Head

 - Building and Grounds Head

 - Volunteers to assist with cleaning the chapel on a regular basis

Thank you all for your dedicated assistance to our community.



-Father Anthony Salzman

Sanctuary and Narthex Cleaning Ministry

Volunteers needed to share in the duties of keeping our parish clean! Many hands make light work, and with weekly work to be done, we need more hands to take a turn vacuuming, dusting, cleaning glass, and other light house keeping tasks. Our goal is for each volunteer to spend no more than 30 minutes to an hour each month. If you feel like this would be a way you would like to serve our parish, reach out to Kristen Arp with any questions, or to sign up for our roster. 

Email kcarsonarp@gmail.com, or come find her during coffee hour. (She’s the one with the awesome purple hair.)

THE COUNCIL OF MINISTRIES

Philanthropy & Outreach

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

Oct 5 at 7:00 pm at church. You can obtain your discussion book, “Memory Eternal” from the church bookstore. Meets the first and third Monday of the month.

OCF CHEW & CHAT

Oct 13, 27; Nov 10, 17; Dec 1, 8

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FELLOWHIP

Every Thursday - 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Tabling on campus

MEAL TRAIN SUPPORT

We are expanding the Meal Train ministry at Saint Philothea! If you or your loved ones would benefit from support from this ministry, please click here. Hannah will confirm receipt and organize the sign-up page. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to her at hghoward3@gmail.com.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK

The OCN's quarterly newsletter is out now! Filled with inspiring articles, reflections, interviews, and stories, it is designed to encourage the faithful and introduce others to the beauty of our Orthodox faith. Click here for the latest edition of Orthodoxy Now!

BIGGER VISION DINNERS **4th Monday of every month

NEXT: October 26

We can always use hands to help serve in many ways! To learn more about it go to our BV webpage ...and... Join the BV GroupMe.

Education

BOOKSTORE

NEW CHILDRENS ITEMS NOW AVAILABLE Also, "The Life of St Philothea" book is in stock!

SUNDAY SCHOOL

This Sunday, our Level II children will experience La Fettuccia (“The Ribbon”), a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd presentation using a ribbon more than 50 yards long to contemplate the vast history of creation. As we unroll the ribbon, the children will reflect on the vastness of God’s work in creation, the long preparation of the earth for human life, and our place in God’s continuing plan. Because of the length of the ribbon, this presentation will take place outside during Sunday School.

Visit the Sunday School page of the St. Philothea website here.

BYZANTINE CHANT LESSONS

For beginners to learn Byzantine notation. Wednesday evenings after church.

ORTHODOXY 101

Oct 9 at 7:15-8:30 PM and is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Orthodox Church. Please email prchristine@ilicons.us for more information. Access the 2026 Orthodoxy 101 schedule here. Click here to get a copy of our study book, Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life by Anthony M. Coniaris. Click here for more info.

CHOIR & YOUTH CHOIR New voices welcomed.

OTHER NEWS

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...

• 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 may have only one or two seats left.

CEMETARY PLOTS

St. Philothea section in the Oconee Memorial Park in Watkinsville. Burial Plots available at our special group price. Click here to see the flyer.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ORTHODOX OBSERVER

News from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. OrthodoxObserver.org

TEAM LISTS: CLICK HERE. To be added or removed from a team, text Presvytera at 706-340-6366.

STEWARDSHIP

Please remember to turn in your 2026 Stewardship Pledge Card

 We Christians are called to share in the Life of Christ. Service to His Church and His people is our discipleship to Christ. It’s real and inspires the people of God to offer their very best of time, talent and treasures which are abundantly blessed. Truly, Service bears fruit!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 - 2nd Sunday of Luke

WE COMMEMORATE:

Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens; Domnina the Martyr and her daughters; and John the Hermit 

Entrance Hymn - Mode 2

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Resurrectional Apolytikion - Mode 1

The stone having been sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests, * and Your all-immaculate body being guarded by soldiers, * You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your eternal rule! * Glory to Your plan for saving us, only benevolent God!”

Kontakion - Mode 2

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.

Prokeimenon. Mode 1

Psalm 32.22,1

Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.

Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

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