The youth ministries of our Church are more than just “kids getting together for fun” since we are more than just a club. Being a Greek Orthodox Church means that every part of our life revolves around our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. To that end, when we minister to the youth, God’s children, we do more than just enjoy fellowship, although fellowship is part of every activity. Total youth ministry means gathering for fellowship, worship, learning and service. Thus our youth learn to lead Greek Orthodox Christian lives. We are very excited about the ministries planned for this fall and invite ALL our youth to participate in as many ministries as they can since no single ministry is able to serve the total person.
As outlined in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Youth Ministries Department, the purpose of youth ministry is to lead our young people into experiencing the Holy Orthodox Faith. By developing a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and becoming active sacramental members of the living Church, our young people will be equipped with tools necessary to assist them in their journey toward salvation.
Wednesday Nights at Transfiguration – NEW!
In conjunction with our youth ministries, the entire church family gathers each Wednesday evening for worship, fellowship and Bible study. This new ministry in 2011 is meant to develop deeper relationships with each other and our Lord Jesus Christ as members of the Greek Orthodox Church. One meeting each month will be designated as “Family Game Night.”
Sunday School – Ages 3K through High School
Sunday School meets for 45 minutes in the classrooms of our community center each Sunday morning following Holy Communion. The curriculum is set by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education and is designed to teach our youth the basic teachings, customs and practices of our Orthodox faith. Each week a “Making it Real at Home” guide will be sent home with each student for family time during the week.
Greek School – Ages 3K through Middle School
The Greek school meets each week in the classrooms of our community center for history, culture and language skills. Throughout the year, such as for the Annual Greek festival, the Greek school coordinates Greek folk dance for exhibitions and Church gatherings. Tuition for Greek school is $50 per student.
Specialized Ministries
Altar Boys (10 years and older)
Myrrh Bearers (girls 3K and older for Holy Friday and August 15th)
Vacation Church School (summer program for 3K through high school)
Where do the ministries meet?
All weekly ministries meet in the community center classrooms. This year there are two rooms that have been designated for special purposes.
The GOYA Room is reserved for teenage ministries and is available anytime during the week for our teenagers as long as an adult is present.
The Nursery Room is available during each ministry for parents to “take turns” babysitting their children so they too can attend various programs at the Church. The rooms is designed for children 0 – 5K, and an adult MUST BE PRESENT at all times.
Fall 2011 GOYA Schedule of Special Events
For youth in Middle School and High School – Grades 6-12
August 19 End-of-Summer Swim Party at Florence YMCA
September 16 Fireside Chat at Haros Home
September 22-24 29th Annual Greek Festival
October 1 Cross Dive in Wilmington, NC
November 18-20 Metropolis Lenten Retreat at Diakonia Center
December 16 3rd Annual Ginger Bread House Party at Church
December 17 GOYA Service Project
December 27-30 Winter Youth Rally in Atlanta, GA
Fall 2011 HOPE/JOY Schedule of Special Events
For youth in Elementary School – grades Kindergarten – 5th Grade
August 19 End-of-Summer Swim Party at Florence YMCA
September 22-24 29th Annual Greek Festival
October 15 Pimm Farms Corn Maize
November 18 “Lights Before Christmas” at Riverbanks Zoo
December 16 3rd Annual Ginger Bread House Party at Church
December 18 Christmas Program and Luncheon
Youth Ministry Staff
Reverend Father Athanasios C Haros, Pastor
Stacy Bakas, Vacation Church School Coordinator
Karen Davis, Sunday School Teacher
Lula Dewitt, Sunday School Teacher & HOPE/JOY Co-Coordinator
Renee Doulaveris, Myrrh Bearers Coordinator
Presvytera Vassi Haros, Sunday School Teacher
Eula Kampiziones, Greek School Teacher
Niki Kampiziones, Greek School Teacher
Demetri Krasias, Parish Council Liaison
Helen Nikolakakos, Nursery Room Coordinator
Janna Scimanico, Sunday School Teacher & HOPE/JOY Co-Coordinator
Jean Sox, Sunday School Teacher
Jimmy Tassios, Sunday School Teacher
Vivian Vlahos, Greek School Director
Internet Resources for Family and Youth Ministry
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
http://www.goarch.org
Archdiocese of America Department of Youth Ministry
http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/youth/
Archdiocese of America Department of Marriage and Family
http://marriage.goarch.org
Archdiocese of America Center for Family Care
http://family.goarch.org
Archdiocese of America Department of Religious Education
http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/
Archdiocese of America Department of Greek Education
http://greekeducation.goarch.org
Father Athanasios’ Blog
http://papaharos.blogspot.com
Online Videos and Sermons from Transfiguration Church
http://papaharos.blip.tv
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Holy Week Schedule for 2011
Saturday of Lazarus
Orthros 9am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Communion Breakfast - Fold Palms and decorate 11:30am
Great Vespers 6pm
Palm Sunday
Orthros 8:45am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Palm Sunday Luncheon – Sponsored by Philoptochos
Confessions 6pm
Orthros - Bridegroom Service 7pm
Holy and Great Monday
PreSanctified Liturgy 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Orthros – Bridegroom Service 7pm
Holy and Great Tuesday
PreSanctified Liturgy 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Orthros – Bridegroom Service 7pm
Holy and Great Wednesday
PreSanctified Liturgy 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Holy Unction – 7pm
Holy and Great Thursday
Divine Liturgy – Last Supper 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Crucifixion of Our Lord – 12 Gospels 7pm
All Night Vigil at the Cross of Our Lord
Holy and Great Friday
Royal Hours 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Taking Down from the Cross – Apokathelosis 3pm
Confessions 6pm
Orthros – Lamentations and Procession of Epitaphios 7pm
Holy and Great Saturday
Vesper Liturgy 10am
Orthros 11pm
Resurrection Service MIDNIGHT
Community Paschal Meal 2am
Holy and Great Pascha
Agape Vespers – 3pm (Easter Egg Hunt)
Join Father Athanasios in a special program “Our Journey through Holy Week” Monday through Friday at NOON. The program will be a special study on the themes and development of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church. This program is designed especially for those who are able to come to the Church during their lunch break at work and will not exceed 1 hour each day.
Orthros 9am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Communion Breakfast - Fold Palms and decorate 11:30am
Great Vespers 6pm
Palm Sunday
Orthros 8:45am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Palm Sunday Luncheon – Sponsored by Philoptochos
Confessions 6pm
Orthros - Bridegroom Service 7pm
Holy and Great Monday
PreSanctified Liturgy 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Orthros – Bridegroom Service 7pm
Holy and Great Tuesday
PreSanctified Liturgy 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Orthros – Bridegroom Service 7pm
Holy and Great Wednesday
PreSanctified Liturgy 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Holy Unction – 7pm
Holy and Great Thursday
Divine Liturgy – Last Supper 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Confessions 6pm
Crucifixion of Our Lord – 12 Gospels 7pm
All Night Vigil at the Cross of Our Lord
Holy and Great Friday
Royal Hours 9am
“Our Journey through Holy Week” 12pm
Taking Down from the Cross – Apokathelosis 3pm
Confessions 6pm
Orthros – Lamentations and Procession of Epitaphios 7pm
Holy and Great Saturday
Vesper Liturgy 10am
Orthros 11pm
Resurrection Service MIDNIGHT
Community Paschal Meal 2am
Holy and Great Pascha
Agape Vespers – 3pm (Easter Egg Hunt)
Join Father Athanasios in a special program “Our Journey through Holy Week” Monday through Friday at NOON. The program will be a special study on the themes and development of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church. This program is designed especially for those who are able to come to the Church during their lunch break at work and will not exceed 1 hour each day.
Friday, March 18, 2011
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CELEBRATES “A WEEK OF FREEDOM” WITH VETERANS PROGRAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Rev. Athanasios C Haros, Pastor
Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church of Florence
Office: 843-662-5471 Fax: 843-662-9134
TransfigurationFlo@mail.goarch.org
www.FlorenceGreekOrthodox.org
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CELEBRATES “A WEEK OF FREEDOM” WITH VETERANS PROGRAM
(Florence, SC – March 18, 2011) The Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Florence invites everyone to join us as we honor freedom with a “Week of Freedom” March 21-27, 2011.
"A Week of Freedom" is planned to honor freedom in all forms as a gift from God. Freedom comes in many forms: freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom from sin, freedom from suffering and oppression. Each event during "A Week of Freedom" will focus upon one or more aspect of freedom.
An Interfaith celebration at Veteran’s Park, Tuesday, March 22 at 11am, in honor of those courageous veterans who defended and protected our freedom will kick-off the events of “A Week of Freedom” March 21-27, 2011. The Veteran’s Celebration will include a “Roll Call” of those US Veterans engraved on the Wall of Honor.
Other events for “A Week of Freedom” will include:
Ladies Philoptochos Society Spring Pastry & Food Sale - March 24-25 (11am - 8pm on the grounds of the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church - 2990 S Cashua Dr in Florence) honoring the Freedom from Suffering, the annual spring pastry sale raises funds for more than twenty local, regional and national charities.
Florence Mayor, Stephen J Wukela will be present at 6pm on Friday, March 25, during the Spring Pastry & Food Sale to present a Resolution by the City of Florence designating March 25, 2011, as “Greek Independence Day in the City of Florence.”
Divine Liturgy (Worship) for the Feast of the Annunciation - March 25 (8am in the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church) - God has sent His Son that we may live with Him free from the curse of sin.
Greek Independence Day Luncheon - March 27 (12pm following Sunday worship at the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church) honoring Freedom of Religion and Freedom from Oppression, the modern Greek State, being emboldened by the United States’ Declaration of Independence declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821 on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation trusting that God’s gift of freedom could not be taken away.
This event is sponsored by the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church as part of "A Week of Freedom" events held March 21-27, 2011, in conjunction with Greek Independence Day.
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CONTACT:
Rev. Athanasios C Haros, Pastor
Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church of Florence
Office: 843-662-5471 Fax: 843-662-9134
TransfigurationFlo@mail.goarch.org
www.FlorenceGreekOrthodox.org
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CELEBRATES “A WEEK OF FREEDOM” WITH VETERANS PROGRAM
(Florence, SC – March 18, 2011) The Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Florence invites everyone to join us as we honor freedom with a “Week of Freedom” March 21-27, 2011.
"A Week of Freedom" is planned to honor freedom in all forms as a gift from God. Freedom comes in many forms: freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom from sin, freedom from suffering and oppression. Each event during "A Week of Freedom" will focus upon one or more aspect of freedom.
An Interfaith celebration at Veteran’s Park, Tuesday, March 22 at 11am, in honor of those courageous veterans who defended and protected our freedom will kick-off the events of “A Week of Freedom” March 21-27, 2011. The Veteran’s Celebration will include a “Roll Call” of those US Veterans engraved on the Wall of Honor.
Other events for “A Week of Freedom” will include:
Ladies Philoptochos Society Spring Pastry & Food Sale - March 24-25 (11am - 8pm on the grounds of the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church - 2990 S Cashua Dr in Florence) honoring the Freedom from Suffering, the annual spring pastry sale raises funds for more than twenty local, regional and national charities.
Florence Mayor, Stephen J Wukela will be present at 6pm on Friday, March 25, during the Spring Pastry & Food Sale to present a Resolution by the City of Florence designating March 25, 2011, as “Greek Independence Day in the City of Florence.”
Divine Liturgy (Worship) for the Feast of the Annunciation - March 25 (8am in the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church) - God has sent His Son that we may live with Him free from the curse of sin.
Greek Independence Day Luncheon - March 27 (12pm following Sunday worship at the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church) honoring Freedom of Religion and Freedom from Oppression, the modern Greek State, being emboldened by the United States’ Declaration of Independence declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821 on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation trusting that God’s gift of freedom could not be taken away.
This event is sponsored by the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church as part of "A Week of Freedom" events held March 21-27, 2011, in conjunction with Greek Independence Day.
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