FINALLY, GOOD NEWS!!!
OUR CHIEF SHEPHERD, ARCHBISHOP NATHANIEL HAS SENT US DIRECTIVES THAT WE CAN OPEN THE CHURCH FOR SERVICES. 

A note from Van Kolton, our President: On Sunday, June 7, Pentecost we held a trial run with Epitrops, Cantors, and just a few parishioners in attendance to make sure that everyone is aware of particular duties, that supplies are stationed properly, and that we can open while ensuring the safety of our community. With about 20 attendees, things went smoothly and we were pleased to see that the supplies and protocols we put into place satisfied the health and safety requirements necessary for St. Dimitrie to open its doors to our community again. 

 

As more people return to church this weekend and in the weeks ahead, we ask for your patience and cooperation as we try to speed up the entry process. Right now:

• George Ghitsa will be signing people in for tracking purposes
• Jim Demont will be handling the candle station.
• Linda Soper-Kolton will be taking temperatures outside.
• Two ushers, one on the left and one on the right will make sure people are maintaining appropriate social distancing. These changes will help ensure that things go smoothly.

There are many precautions that we still have to follow because of Coronavirus and State of Connecticut directives, I urge you to read this announcement completely. I’m sorry that it’s going to sound very dictatorial, but these are directives that we are required to follow for everyone’s safety.

• Church re-opens for the community on SUNDAY, JUNE 14. You will be required to adhere to the following CDC Directives: 

  1. Everyone must wear a face mask. Please bring one from home.

  2. Your temperature will be taken with a thermal thermometer as you enter. Anyone displaying a fever will not be permitted to enter.

  3. You will be required to use hand sanitizer (made available in the vestibule).

  4. You will have to sign in–name and phone number–for our records in order to do tracking just in case, God forbid, someone contracts the virus. 
     
     By signing in each week, you are agreeing to what is stated in the document “COVID-19 Sign-in Sheet” which is attached to this email (in English and Romanian). These notices will also be posted at church.

  5. You will be allowed to sit in the open pews keeping the proper distance (6 feet or 2 meters) between each other unless you live together.

  6. We will not offer Holy Communion the first couple of weeks during the Service (for those who do need the Sacrament at this time, please contact me).

  7. No handshakes or hugs (I’m sorry ‘cause I want to hug all of you). 

  8. Icons, etc. should not be kissed, it would be fine to bow your head.

  9. Unfortunately, there will be no Fellowship Hour in the Hall until further notice.

  10. We will try to have doors open so that you don’t have to touch handles.

  11. There will be no books in the pews so that you don’t have to worry about touching them.

  12. The pews and all items will be disinfected after each service and multiple doors will be open after the service so that we can keep our distance while exiting. 

  13. We will attempt to offer nafura (church bread) in the most sanitary manner possible. 

      I urge those of you who are among the more vulnerable to not rush back just yet and if you don’t feel safe, it’s alright to excuse yourself. We are in very careful times and we want everyone to be safe and to stay safe. I know that the Church should be the best and safest place to be, but we also have to be sensible. We don’t need to test the Lord and His care and love for us. Since we’ll be coming back on Flag Day, we can say God bless America and strengthen our beautiful country.

      God bless us and protect us and keep us safe. 

      With love and concern for all of you, 

      Fr. George

Although we cannot enter our physical church, many parishioners have been expressing a desire to have candles lit and prayers said for them. 
Click the "Prayers and Virtual Candles" tab above (it will appear white when you mouse over it.)

1. Request Candles be lit
2. Submit Prayer Requests (confidential between you and Fr George)
3. Make Donations

For additional information click this link for a pdf outlining step by step instructions.

Sunday, June 7: Pentecost

Click here for our service

Saturday, June 6:  Service for all Souls. 
Click here for our service

Congratulations to all the graduates in our community. We wish you happiness and success in the future.

Special prayers go to our cantor, Justin Puzstay, son of Joe and Maria Puzstay, who graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, Dr. Krystal Scinto, PharmD, daughter of Rich and Karen Scinto, who received her Ph. D. in Pharmacy and Nicholas Cannon, son of Kevin and Elaine Cannon.

Click here for the link to our Liturgy for Sunday After Ascension

Ascension of the Lord is 40 days after Pascha. Fr. George commented that we have spent this whole season - almost all of Lent, all of Holy and Bright Weeks and all of the 40 days after Pascha not being in church. Hopefully during this time we have discovered how valuable and important church is to us.

Ascension of the Lord

Leave - Taking (Apodosis) of Pascha | Vespers of Ascension into Heaven

and 

Service for Ascension of the Lord in Glory

Last Sunday of Pascha - The Church puts a candle in our hand for important occasions of our life, baptisms, weddings and funerals, and in the life of the Church such as midnight on Pascha when we bring one candle into the dark. We are reminded that we are people of the Light and we have these candles that light the darkness of the world. 

Memorial Day Service - We pray for those who fought for our country - both those who were killed while serving and those who returned home.

23-li di Maiu 2020- " YIURTII ALTÂ TURLII"

Vluyii datâ di preftsii armânji di iutsido.

🔸preftulu George Coca dit USA, Bridgeport
🔸preftulu Saso Nakov dit Makidonia din Dzeanâ
🔸preftulu Toma Samara dit Albinushii, Moscopole
🔸preftulu George Dima dit România.

I wish you a lot of love and Armānami you the sweet tongue from dadā... from Preftu George Coca with rādzātina di Pleasa di-ndzeanā...." make us to be with a lie sh-unā heart..."

Our sister in Christ, Brenda J. Bicki, age 81, of Bridgeport, beloved wife of the late Stephen Bicki, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2020, in her cousin, Nancy Frederick's residence surrounded by family, Susan and Mitchell Cascella. Brenda was born on January 29, 1939 in Bridgeport and was the daughter of the late Walter and Marietta Farrace Steggles. She was an active member of St. Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church in Easton . In addition to Nancy, Susan and Mitchell, Brenda is survived by her cousins, Mary Beth Peddle and husband Joseph of Fairfield and Jackie Skultetey (Alex) of Bridgeport. Arrangements were entrusted to the Galello-Luchansky Funeral Home, 2220 Main Street, Stratford. To celebrate her life, please visit us at www.galellofuneralhome.com.  Pray for her soul and for the comfort of her family during this difficult time. 

NOTE: Although a funeral at church cannot be held at this time, there will be a graveside service at 10:30 at Lakeview Cemetery on Thursday morning. You may come and sit in your car or join Fr George for the service and keep a safe social distance from each other. 

Special thank you to Rich Scinto for writing an article for Patch.com about the parade held for Fr. George on his nameday - Thursday after Easter. 

"I miss everybody so much ... I keep saying the church is beautiful, but not without the people." quote from Fr George

Click here for a  link to the article.

This icon is of St. Corona an early martyr of the Church that gave her life for love of Jesus. She is also known as St. Stephanie (Stephana in Greek is corona/crown). She revealed herself in her icon in a field in Germany outside of Munich where a large church was built and still stands in her honor. Faithful through the years have prayed for her intercessions during times of plague and epidemic. How appropriate now at this time to pray for her help during the corona virus. Her feastday in the Orthodox Church is Nov 11.

We ask for her intercessions before the Lord to bring us out of this pandemic safely. Amen 

To know and experience the love of GOD –Father, Son and Holy Spirit; to worship Him in spirit and in truth as taught by the Lord through His Apostles; and to welcome and encourage others to know and love Him! 

Our own vegan chef extraordinaire, Linda Soper-Kolton offers her recipe blog to our community.  All her recipes are meat- and dairy-free.  You can even search for recipies by meal or specific ingredient. 

She also has written a vegan cookbook for the Catskill Sanctuary called "Compassionate Cuisine: The Cookbook" .  See her for information about purchasing a copy.

Linda - Thank you for your sharing your gifts with us

Did you know you can make donations, be a festival sponsor or pay your dues by credit card?

Click the Administration/Donation button in the upper left, then click  "Make a Donation" button and follow instructions

You can also go to www.stdimitrie.com

We accept PayPal, MasterCard, Visa and Discover

St. Dimitrie 's new icons are in the Pulse Section of Saturday's (8/31/13) CT Post!  See the article "Creative Gifts, Spirituality Shine in Icon Painter's Art"

http://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/Creative-gifts-spirituality-shine-in-icon-4769165.php