Godparents Day

Many parishes in the Greek Archdiocese have "Godparents Day" in which Godparents and their Godchildren are encouraged to attend Liturgy and receive Communion together. Thanks to the influence of Fr. John and Evelyn, Holy Trinity is adopting this practice. The difference is that we are also adding grandparents and their grandchildren.

After the Liturgy we took some group photos. Anybody who is there with a Godchild or grandchild was invited to be in the photograph. It was impossible to ensure that all the Godparents were with their Godchildren. For example, I was in the back and my godson was in the front. His father's Godfather had moved away. Two of my other Godsons were not able to be at the Liturgy. One is in the Navy and is on deployment someplace.

The ceremony which I received from the Greeks is below. The whole congregation is encouraged to participate since, as the late Fr. Dimitry Grigoreff always said, we are responsible for one another. Probably the best time for this is right after the Prayer Before the Ambo between the second and third singing of "Blessed Is the Name of the Lord." The service is an excerpt from our Baptism service.

Godparents - Godchildren Sunday

The entire congregation is asked to participate.

Drive out from us every evil and unclean spirit, hiding and lurking in our hearts. The spirit of error, the spirit of evil, the spirit of idolatry, and of all covetousness that works according to the teaching of the devil. Make us reason-endowed sheep of the holy Flock of Your Christ, and honorable members of Your Church, hallowed vessels, children of Light, and heirs of Your Kingdom. So that, having ordered our lives according to Your commandments, and having guarded the Seal and kept it unbroken, and having preserved our garment undefiled, we may attain unto the blessedness of the Saints of Your Kingdom. Through the Grace and Compassion and Man-befriending Love of Your Only-Begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-Creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of Ages. Amen.

Priest: Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his worship, and all his angels, and all his pomp?

People: I do renounce him. (3 times)

Priest: Have you renounced Satan?

People: I have renounced him. (3 times)

Priest: Then blow and spit upon him.

Priest: Do you join Christ?

People: I do join him. (3 times)

Priest: Have you joined Christ?

People: I have joined him. (3 times)

Priest: And do you believe in him?

People: I believe in Him as King and as God.

THE CREED

I believe in One God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried. On the third day He rose according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead.
And the life of the age to come. Amen.

Priest: Have you joined Christ?

People: I have joined him, (3 times)

Priest: Then bow before Him and worship Him.

People: I bow down before the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; Trinity One in Essence and Undivided.

Priest: Blessed is God Who desires that all people should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth; both now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

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