Ways to Give Back to God

The coffee hour reception/Royal Doors Flowers/Altar Vigil Candles are some of the meaningful ways to help in the building of the body of Christ through our local church community. At times it is a challenge to accommodate all the wishes and desires of all the generous families that would like to obtain the blessing of being part of this awesome ministry. When some of your preferred dates are already taken, and you prefer not to partner with other families or events, please consider the option of hosting one of the less popular dates that are otherwise left without a host by placing your name on the alert list at the church office. When the Royal Doors Flowers are already sponsored, again you may choose a different date or opt to sponsor some of the other front icons of the Iconstasis (Holy Mother of God, the Lord, St. Demetrios, ect. ) or the memorial table. Likewise, there are several altar vigil lights that are kept lit inside the holy altar as well as outside the royal door, and this would allow several families to cosponsor the Altar vigil lights on the same day. This option is available in addition to the blessing of sponsoring the cost (full or partial) of one of the 52 weeks of candles in honor or in memory of beloved ones. Supporting the weekly food bank collection drive by brining your gift on Sunday, which is distributed within the local neighborhood of St. Demetrios parish is another blessed option to enable Christ to touch the lives of many distressed people who are as beloved and precious in the eyes of Christ as we ourselves are.

Local Food Bank Ministries
Weekly Offerings

ST DEMETRIOS COFFEE HOUR INSTRUCTIONS

The coffee hour on Sunday after the Divine Liturgy is an excellent opportunity as a St. Demetrios parish family to get together and share fellowship. This gathering is really important especially if you take into consideration that it is difficult for all of us to get together during the weekdays, or visit with each other as often as we wish. You may want to host a coffee hour in memory for someone, or in celebration of a birthday, or name day, or just as a parish contribution.  Please consider hosting one Sunday a year where your family along with some of your friends can co-sponsor one Sunday by going online and signing up at , or by calling the church office at 386-252-6012.

Philoptochos as well as the church office stand ready to assist you should you wish to sign up for one of the available Sundays. Anything you need to know about hosting a coffee hour Sunday from where to begin all the way down to the smallest detail is only one phone call away and someone will send you the instruction via e-mail, or you may pick up a copy in the office.  A Binder with instructions will also be in the church kitchen for reference.

In case you do not have the time to do it yourself, and you may want to keep things simple, the Philoptochos ladies would be happy to help you to host the coffee hour on your family’s behalf and give you the opportunity to offer a freewill donation toward the service of the poor.  By this we mean, your donation would cover the direct cost of coffee hour sweets and supplies and an additional donation towards the Philoptochos philanthropic work.

Here is what you bring to host a St Demetrios Coffee Hour:

The sweets and, or fruit for approx 120 people and that will fill a 6- inch styrofoam plate

Some suggestions: Homemade or store bought cookies, strawberries, grapes, paximadia, koulourakia, biscotti, cake .

Here is what Philotochos provides and is stored in the kitchen and stage:

The paper cups, paper plates, coffee (decaf and regular), stirrers, sugar (regular & sweet & low) and powdered creamer packets

They do not supply spoons, if anything you bring needs them.

This is why Philoptochos puts out a “free will donation” basket at coffee hour .  This is to offset the cost of these supplies that have become costly.  This basket is located in the kitchen and should be put out on the counter when hosting a coffee hour.

If you would like to bring flavored creamer, or your own coffee, you are more than welcome, but you don’t have to.  There is a cooler in the back of the kitchen to the left if you need to keep something cold there.

Here is how to budget your time and setup:

Plan on arriving at least latest 1 hour before the liturgy starts at 9 am

In the kitchen is a tall, rolling sheet tray holder

The sheet trays are already on this tray holder

Pull 10 trays off to prepare your 120 plates

Each tray takes 12 (1 dozen) of the Styrofoam paper plates [4 rows of 3 across on each tray]

Start filling each plate with you treats

As you finish a tray put it back on the rolling tray holder to store out of the way and off the tables.

Making the Coffee:

In the kitchen there are (2) two — 100 cup electric coffee urns [one marked decaf and 1 marked regular]

You can put these on one of the rolling plastic servers, remove metal filters, and fill at sink with cold water.  If you need to use a plastic pitcher do so.  Usually, we do a full urn for regular coffee (100 cups) filling it with water to the top and just ½ urn for the decaf (approx 45-50 cups) filling it half way with water.  Check the glass indicators on the front of the urns.

Then replace the metal filters and put coffee directly in them (they do not require paper filters)

A measurement chart is located on the east wall by the window counter.  Follow those measurements. Then put the tops on. Make sure the switches on the urns are in the OFF position then plug into the duplex outlet below the window counter. Do not turn on the coffee to brew until approx 10:30 am or it may sit and get too strong and bitter before the liturgy is over.

Hall setup of supplies:

In the hall along the west wall (side where the glass doors and panels are) there is usually a long plastic picnic table, or two, place the gray caddy which holds the stirrers, creamer, and sugar packets (stored in kitchen by the supplies) out on those tables along with napkins. Also set out 2 or 3 pitchers filled with ice (ice is in the icemaker to your left as you enter the kitchen) and water.   Do not leave the ice shovel inside the icemaker. Also place plastic water cups by the pitchers.

All the coffee supplies mentioned above will be out in the kitchen on the stainless steel table directly across from the window counter. If they are not there is also plastic bin on the shelf below where they may be.  If you fall short there are more supplies on the stage in the top cabinet on the right but far left.

Plan serving the coffee  after the liturgy if you can.  If you absolutely cannot, then set it up where people can pour their own by facing the urns outwards and stacking the Styrofoam cups next to them.

That is all that there is to it, and you don’t have to host a coffee hour by yourself.  Make it fun and do it together with a friend, or two.  If you have any additional questions or concerns call the church office M-F during regulars hours at 386-252-6012 and if you need any additional help or questions Sunday the day of call __________________________.    Usually, if you have an urgent need, you can go and notify a Parish Council member at the candle stand in church.

THANK YOU FOR HOSTING!!!