COMPUTER GLITCHES Once again we apologize and ask for your patience as we work to correct the computer glitches that sometime occur when we attempt to send parish emails that are, unfortunately, received blank. When this does occur, it is beyond our control as it is a system error. Again, we apologize for this inconvenience. Please know that we are working to eliminate this problem, and ask for your patience whenever it does occur.

PREPARING FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOUL FOR ASSISTANCE DURING THE LAST MOMENTS OF OUR LIFE:
Abel the Righteous (Sunday of the Forefathers); St. Dismas the Good Thief (March 25); Apostle James the Lesser (October 9); Righteous Joseph the Betrothed (December 31); Archangel Michael (November 8); St. Anna (December 9)

Our goal as Orthodox Christians is to observe God’s commandments. We must realize well that today we are alive, tomorrow we may be gone, and we must be concerned how to be near Christ. Those who have by God’s Grace realized the vanity of this life have actually received the greatest gift; it is not necessary to be able to foresee the future, for it is enough to have the foresight to prepare for the salvation of the soul, and to take the best possible spiritual measures to be saved. You see, Christ did say, ‘The value of one soul is greater than the whole world’. The value of one soul is infinite! That is why the salvation of one soul is an extremely important matter! The person who is struggling to the best of his abilities, who has no desire to live a disorderly life, but who in the course of the struggle for faith and life falls and rises again and again, God will never abandon. God is Kind; He wants all of us to be saved. The gate into Paradise is not narrow. There is room for all those who bow humbly, and are not puffed up with pride, as long as they repent, and give the burden of their sins to Christ; then there is plenty of room to pass through the gate. We are inexcusable when we do not repent and do not approach our Savior humbly. The thief on the cross simply said, “Forgive me” and he was saved. Salvation depends on the second, not the minute. Man can be saved with a single humble thought, or with a proud one lose everything.


HALLMARK CHANNEL BROADCASTS `THE GREEN PATRIARCH` As a matter of information, the Hallmark Channel broadcasted “THE GREEN PATRIARCH” early this morning on the occasion of the visit of HIS ALL HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW to America. Scheduled for 7am ET/PT, the program offered the viewer a portrait of the 270th successor to the Apostle Andrew and followed him from the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the burning rainforests of the Amazon to the melting glaciers of the Arctic where he gathered representatives of the world’s religions in a silent prayer for the planet.

`NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS SUNDAY`: SPECIAL TRAY TO BE PASSED A SPECIAL TRAY will be passed TODAY by BOTH Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETIES in honor of the Feastday of SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIAN. These great saints were learned in the art of medicine and ministered to the sick without payment, not so much with medicine as by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. They were called “unmercenary physicians,” that is, unpaid physicians, for they healed freely and thus fulfilled the commandment of Christ: ‘Freely you have received, freely give’. How appropriate, then, that the patron saints of our National Philoptochos are Saints Cosmas and Damian. The monies received today will benefit our ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE in Constantinople.


PICTURES TAKEN TODAY TODAY is SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS PICTURE DAY at BOTH churches. Please make sure your children are in attendance; these class pictures are included in the annual Sunday School yearbook which is distributed at the end of the Sunday School year.


COME HUNGRY! With the weather turning colder, there is nothing like a warm breakfast on a cold, wintry day! The Holy Trinity 12TH GRADE Sunday School Class will host its ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST next Sunday, November 8 at Holy Trinity. All proceeds will benefit the 12th grade trip to Saint Anthony’s Monastery next April. Please call Emily Mantas (560-7855) if you have any questions. Your support is greatly appreciated!


BOWL-A-THON NOT JUST FOR KIDS! A Community-wide CHARITY-BOWL-A-THON, sponsored by our GOYA, will take place next Sunday, November 8 from 4pm-6pm at Olympus Hills Bowl. You may recall that this is a yearly event, at which everyone has a great time! The cost is $10 per person and includes two games and shoe rental. Families, please try to come!


`SUB FOR SANTA` DEADLINE NEARS Next Sunday is the LAST DAY to submit recommendations for our SUB FOR SANTA service project. If you know of a family or individual you would like us to consider for this holiday project, please call Father Elias at 277-2693 (office) or 556-4640 (cell).


AHEPA MEETING SCHEDULED It’s time to gather for our monthly meeting which has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm at Anna’s Restaurant. Please note that this is one week LATER than usual.


COLOR ME `CHRISTMAS`! The Prophet Elias Philoptochos Society invites all women for a FUN night with friends, decorating Christmas Mugs, under the direction of “COLOR ME MINE”, on Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm at Prophet Elias. All supplies will be provided; make one mug or a set. Each mug is $12, which requires pre-order. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Barbara Hillas (604-4884) or email Bonnie Georgelas at Bgeorgelas@aol.com.

PE PHILOPTOCHOS GEARING UP FOR HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! So what better way to get into the holiday spirit than to attend the annual HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE, sponsored by Prophet Elias Philoptochos! Held on Saturday, November 14 from 10-4pm at Prophet Elias, the Holiday Boutique will feature several vendors, offering such items as jewelry, soaps, clothing, and much more. A keftedes (meatball) luncheon, which will include rice pilaf and salad, will be available for $8 per person; a hot-dog lunch for kids will also be sold for $4 each. An assortment of Greek pastries will satisfy one’s sweet tooth, as well! Please support the ladies in their charitable fundraiser.


GIVING THANKS FOR GREAT FRIENDS ... Our YOUNG AT HEART will gather for their traditional THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON on Thursday, November 12 at noon at Holy Trinity.


THE PARTY`S HERE! BE A PART OF IT! All are invited to the ever-popular MINOS CHAPTER FALL HOROESPERITHA, featuring live Cretan Music, on Saturday, November 14 at Holy Trinity. Our own Minotavros Dancers of Salt Lake will entertain us with a dance performance as well. Cocktails begin at 5:30pm followed by dinner at 6:30pm. Tickets are $40 for adults and $15 for children 15 and under. For tickets or more information, please contact Sifis Sifantonakis (712-4004) or Nikos Vamianakis (557-2426). Don’t miss out on this great event!


HCA TO HONOR VETERANS; SCHEDULES GENERAL MEETING The VETERAN’S DAY CELEBRATION and GENERAL MEETING of the HELLENIC CULTURAL ASSOCIATION is Sunday, November 15 immediately following services at Holy Trinity. Please take advantage of this wonderful cultural association.

LAMBS, HOPE, & JOY SERVICE PROJECT AND PIZZA PLANNED LAMBS, HOPE, AND JOY are putting into practice the REASON FOR THE SEASON with their THANKSGIVING SERVICE PROJECT, CLOTHING DRIVE, and PIZZA PARTY on Wednesday, November 18 from 6:30pm-8pm at Prophet Elias. Let’s get the kids together for this fun and rewarding evening activity. We would truly appreciate a new or gently used item for a child, such as a pair of gloves, hat, coat, socks, or any other clothing item that would warm a cold child this winter.


BREAKFAST, TURKEY RAFFLE ALWAYS A YEARLY TREAT All are invited to the PANAHAIKOS annual CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST featuring a TURKEY RAFFLE following services at BOTH churches on Sunday, November 22. Raffle tickets are $1 each.


CHOIRS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERFAITH SERVICE The HOLY TRINITY and PROPHET ELIAS CHOIRS are participating in the annual HOLLADAY THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE on Sunday evening, November 22 from 5pm-6pm at the South Holladay Stake Center (4917 Viewmont, Holladay). Everyone’s welcome! Guest Speaker is Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Carroon.


HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT VOLUNTEERING? For those who have volunteered in years past at our ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY DINNER, there is a genuine feeling of reward and blessing in serving others. Please know there is still plenty of shift availability, so please consider this wonderful endeavor. Two serving shifts (10am-1pm or 1pm-4pm) and one clean-up shift (4pm-6pm) are available on Thanksgiving Day at Holy Trinity; the preceding two days (November 24 & 25, 10am) will be devoted to carving the turkeys. If you are able, please call Presbytera Denise at the Holy Trinity Office to volunteer a few hours of your time. We’d love for you to join us. Please note, as well, that this year we will receive only 86 turkeys, yet we are in need of approximately 120 turkeys to feed the vast number of individuals who will attend our annual dinner. If you are willing to donate a turkey, we must receive it by November 19.


COMMUNITY CLOTHING DRIVE GOING ON NOW We have begun our Thanksgiving COMMUNITY CLOTHING DRIVE! These will be distributed to the needy who will be attending our Thanksgiving Day Dinner. The days are getting colder and there are many who could use warm clothing. Please bring your donations to Holy Trinity no later than Friday, November 20. They will be sorted by the HOLY TRINITY PHILOPTOCHOS women on Monday, November 23 at 10am in preparation for distribution.


LET OTHERS DO THE BAKING FOR YOU! PROPHET ELIAS PHILOPTOCHOS is selling Pasta Flora (1/2 raspberry, 1/2 apricot) in time for Thanksgiving (Approximately 90 pieces, $25 prepaid). To order, call Sophie (278-3395) or send check with order to PE Philoptochos, 5125 Gurene Drive, SLC 84117. Pick up after services on Sunday, November 22. Orders must be placed by November 16! ... HOLY TRINITY PHILOPTOCHOS is now taking orders for Baklava ($55 per pan) and Koulouria ($6 for 12). Orders must be received by Monday, November 30. Please contact Nia Reganis (582-1454) or Margo Sotiriou (891-3215).


IT`S TIME TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Send your friends a greeting for the holiday season and help support the ministries of our parish, too! The deadline to submit your family names for inclusion in our annual CHRISTMAS CARD is Tuesday, DECEMBER 1. Please send your donation of $10 along with your names to the Holy Trinity Office.


DAUGHTERS OF MINOS ANNOUNCE UPCOMING CHRISTMAS GATHERING Join the DAUGHTERS OF MINOS for their annual CHRISTMAS DINNER at CHRISTOPHER’S Seafood and Steakhouse on Wednesday, December 2 at 6pm. The cost is $35 per person; a child’s plate will be available at a lower cost. There will be FUN raffle prizes and a gift for everyone! For reservations, please call Athena Proestakis (484-7912) or Athena Davis (278-6994).


HT PHILOPTOCHOS INVITES EVERYONE TO THEIR HOLIDAY DELIGHT The HOLY TRINITY PHILOPTOCHOS Annual CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON is just one month away! Please join them for this favorite annual holiday event on Saturday, December 5 at the LITTLE AMERICA Grand Ballroom. There is something for everyone —- great food, great fashions, great atmosphere, and most especially, great friends.


SIGN UP FOR METROPOLIS B-BALL TOURNEY ONE MONTH REMAINS to register for the 2010 GOYA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT which will take place in Dallas, Texas January 15-18. The registration deadline is now December 1 with a $199 fee per participant. To register, please visit the official basketball tournament website at www.goyahoops.net/ Regarding group airline reservations, it is imperative that you please contact Father Elias at 556-4640 as soon as possible.


ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK MINOTAVROS DANCE PRACTICE: 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, Sunday, PE
PARISH COUNCIL: 6:30pm, Monday, PE
GIRL SCOUTS: 7pm, Monday, PE
PE WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: 10am, Tuesday, PE boardroom
GREEK SCHOOL: 6:30pm, Tuesday & Thursday, PE; AND 10am, Saturday, HT
HT BIBLE STUDY: 10:30am, Wednesday, HT boardroom
BOY SCOUTS: 7pm, Wednesday, PE NEW TIME!
O.P.A. DANCE PRACTICES: Parthenon, Tuesday, 6:30pm; Olympian and Athenians, Thursday, 6:30pm, PE
PE CHOIR PRACTICE: Thursday, 7pm, PE


FOR THE HEALING OF SOUL AND BODY (OUR PARISH PRAYER LIST) Jenn, Robert, George, Joyce, Margie, Marlene, Loren, Cy, The Black-Zimmer Family, Cyndia, Sophia, George, Dimitri, Isabella, Zafiris, Nancy, Michael, Tim, Jonathan, Andrew, Sophia, Elizabeth, Subdeacon Christopher, Anastasia, Suzanne, Christian, Steven, Warren, Andrea, Elaina, Stefani, Andrew, Lisa, Alex


HALLOWEEN - JUST HARMLESS FUN? Known as "All-Hallows Eve", this festival began in pre-Christian times amongst the people of the British Isles and Northern France. On the evening of the festival, a huge bonfire was lit; crops, animals, and even human beings wee burned in order to appease the pagan god of death whose name was Samhain. If Samhain was pleased with these offerings the god would allow the souls of the dead to return to their homes -- at night, to visit the living. From this, the modern practice of adults and children dressing up in costumes came into being.
The expression "trick or treat" grew out of the belief that the souls of the dead wee hungry and therefore would beg for nourishment from those whom they visited. If "treats" were not forthcoming, then "tricks" (or curses) were unleashed by the dead upon the living.
This pagan festival was incorporated into the life of western Christians vis. a vis. Rome on October 31, the eve of the day when Roman Catholics celebrated all saints day.
As Orthodox Christians, we need to be aware of those things in society which do not contribute to our spiritual well-being. Halloween is one of those festivals where we need to show caution, that we not be accused of reverting to pagan practices.
Our Holy Orthodox Church was strengthened by the will and piety of the faithful who would not submit to such anti-Christian practices, and who are honored as victorious ones - on our commemoration of All-Saints -- the first Sunday after Pentecost. (Taken from the website of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia as well as information provided by Father Makarios Mannos)