APRIL 2020
Let no one out of laziness or continuous worldly occupations miss these holy Sunday gatherings, which God Himself handed down to us, lest he be justly abandoned by God... If you are detained and do not attend on one occasion, make up for it the next time, bringing yourself to Christ's Church. Otherwise you may remain uncured, suffering from unbelief in your soul because of deeds or words, and failing to approach Christ's surgery to receive... holy healing. St. Gregory Palamas
REVISED SERVICE SCHEDULE
Beloved Assumption Family,
These are not normal times. And we will get through them.
Considering the continuing spread of the Coronavirus, we are dealing with an airborne virus (in as much as it can be spread in an aerosolization through sneezing and such) in which clean surfaces and washed hands are inadequate for control. There is a lot we do not know.
With this being said, Metropolitan Isaiah has directed that the Sunday Divine Liturgy may be celebrated where possible and prudent.
THEREFORE, PLEASE NOTE UNTIL OTHERWISE NOTIFIED,
SUNDAY DIVINE SERVICES WILL NOT BE CELEBRATED.
We have also been instructed that all LENTEN SERVICES (beginning this Wednesday March 18th) OF PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY AND SALUTATIONS SHOULD BE CANCELLED.
Also, the following activities will be cancelled or postponed, they include Sunday School, Youth Greek Dance Practice, Ladies Philoptochos, Agape Fellowship, and all Parish Ministries, as well as the Palm Sunday Luncheon, Pascha Lamb Luncheon Celebration, and Easter Egg Hunt. The Parish Council Meeting for this coming Sunday is also cancelled.
Our parish primary concern – which we share – is for the well-being of our own parishioners and to act responsibly to our broader community by cutting down on the opportunities for this highly contagious virus to spread between people.
We would like to encourage you to follow the Divine Liturgy by logging into the following website from the Greek Orthodox Church of Dallas (in Central Time Zone) to stream live the Liturgy on Sunday. Holytrinitydallas.org/worship-webcast You may also find other websites for streaming their services on the Archdiocese website.
Meanwhile, we will continue to provide pastoral care for our parishioners who are sick and otherwise in need on a personal basis. Don’t hesitate to call Father Constantine in time of need. The parish will continue to stay in touch with it’s faithful. Lenten material for your journey during Great Lent will also be emailed to you. You may also consider the website Ancient Faith Ministries for wonderful instruction and spiritual uplifting material.
There are a number of unanswered questions. A lot will depend on how this pandemic progresses in our community and in our country.
In light of this uncertainty, we ask several things of you:
• Please be patient with the situation, which seems to change every day or two. We will communicate any changes with you as soon as we know them.
Fr Constantine