CALENDAR & NEWS
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...
Hebrews 10:25 · Good News Translation
May 2026 at HTOC
Christ is risen! Indeed he is risen! Join our church family this month for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
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We Are Pentecost People!
This month (May 31) we celebrate Pentecost — the descent of the Holy Spirit upon risen Christ Jesus’ followers in first-century Jerusalem, which forged them into something new — the Church!
But Pentecost didn’t just happen to them a long timeA ago. It also happened to us when we were anointed with chrism right after baptism: “God himself has anointed us… he marked us with his own seal and put his Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
Chrismation was our own personal Pentecost, marking us as God’s own, destined to grow Christlike and bear “the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
As a church family of Pentecost people, then, let’s recommit to following the Spirit’s lead, trusting how “God did not bestow on us a spirit of bashfulness, but of strength, love, and good judgment” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Mark Your Calendar!
Sunday, May 3 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Fourth Sunday of Pascha: The Paralytic
Sunday, May 10 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Fifth Sunday of Pascha: The Samaritan Woman
Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 17 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Sixth Sunday of Pascha: The Blind Man
Thursday, May 21
Ascension of Christ Jesus
Sunday, May 24 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Seventh Sunday of Pascha:
Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day
Saturday, May 30 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service
All Souls Saturday
Sunday, May 31 • 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Kneeling Prayers
Pentecost: Descent of the Holy Spirit
Trinity Sunday · Green Sunday
Milestones
“Rejoice with those who rejoice”(Romans 12:15). Best wishes to our kinfolk in Christ celebrating special milestones this month! Birthdays: Olga Spontak (May 3), Lucy Fonseca (May 13), Lydia Pinkowski (May 26), and Emil Andrejkanic (May 31). God grant you many years!
News and Notes
Last All Souls Saturday for 2026: Saturday, May 30, 2026 is the last All Souls Saturday for the year. Come and pray at 9:30 a.m. for “all those whom we love but see no longer” (as one Christian prayer so tenderly puts it), acknowledging that “alive or dead, we all belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8) as we await Christ Jesus’ return and the resurrection of all.
Go Green for Pentecost: Green is the color of Pentecost — in our liturgical vestments and live greenery in church — as it celebrates how the gathered apostles of Christ Jesus received God’s Spirit, who sparks life and growth: “When you send your Spirit… you renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:30). Wear your finest green to church on Sunday, May 31!
Pitch In!
Church doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when all of us pool our time, talent, and treasure together and put them at God’s disposal to do his will as followers of Jesus. In a word, that’s stewardship. Want to lend a helping hand? See our parish priest, Father Alexis Woytek, to find out what needs doing. Want to become a supporting member? See our parish treasurer, Mrs. Lydia Pinkowski, to find out how. Thanks for pitching in to make your church happen!
Reach Out!
The Church doesn’t exist for itself. God calls it to reach out and share his love with the world that it lives in. Our parish charity bin is one way that we do such outreach, by collecting nonperishable food that our friends at People Helping People in Hernando County share with locals in need. To download a grocery list from our website, click here. Thanks for reaching out and helping others through your church’s charity!
Safe and Sound
COVID is no longer a global pandemic, but coronavirus still crops up now and then, here and there. Please keep alert and take sensible precautions while our church remains open.
If you feel ill, please stay home, follow doctor’s orders, and take good care of yourself. Let us know if you want us to pray for you. We look forward to seeing you again once you get well!
Please respect personal space and give each other courteous leeway, and please feel free to wear a face mask if your health requires it or you just feel safer doing so.
Thanks for your consideration, which is simply part of doing what Christ Jesus told us to do: “Love others as much as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31).