Today is Homeless Initiative Day!  See the "Charity" section below for more information. 

Engagement

Ten Year Planning

Ten-year planning meeting Saturday, December 15th from 9am-2:00pm This is our second meeting to discuss formulating our Strategic Plan as instructed by the Metropolitan.

Magnetic Festival Signs

There are still quite a few out there. Please return the signs to the office.

Parish Council Elections

Will take place Sunday, Decmeber 2nd after service.

Parish Christmas Party/Fundraiser

Tickets are available now to purchase for our annual Christmas Party. The Christmas party wll be on December 9th after service.  All proceeds to benefit Church Beautification Projects.

Men's Group

We plan on meeting December 13th at church for Vespers and then head to Goose Loonies for social time.

Parish Council News

The Parish Council has implemented new safety and security measures for the hall.  The front hall doors will remain closed during church services.  Please see a Parish Council member for access to the hall and/or restrooms during services. On Sundays, the front doors will be opened after Holy Communion. 

Thank you for your understanding as we want to keep our facilities secure. 

Also note: Please contact a Parish Council member or usher if anyone is loitering in the hall during services. 

Thank you. 

Father Joseph's Hours

Father Joseph will be in the office Tuesday and Thursday form 11:00 to 3:00. Wednesday and Friday available at the church by appointment. Confessions appointments can be made with Sahar or Presbytera.

Appointments with Father Joseph

If you need to meet with father please make appointments during the week. Sunday should be left for Father to have time to visit with parishioners during coffee hour. Please give him the time to do so unless it is an emergency. Thank you for your understanding.

Women’s Prayer Group

There will be a stand in the Narthex for you to leave your prayer request to be added to the list our prayer list.  We need women’s prayer group partners.  Please see or call Irene Sinopole at 832-1871.  

Parish Council 

Next meeting is December 20th , at 7 p.m. There will be training on the diffibrillator. 

Prosphora Schedule 

11/18 Olympia Hackleman, 11/25 Mary Mekhel, 12/2 Elaine Dorlis, 12/9 Sahar Ayoub, 12/16 Basema Madain, 12/23 Nahla Demestihas, 12/30 Olympia Hackleman. Thank you.Please make arrangements with Sahar or Despina to bring the offering Saturday night either to the church or Father's home.  We are looking for more people to make the blessed bread. Please approach Father Joseph if interested.Thank you.

Narthex Ushers

11/18 Youth Group, 11/25 Osama & Michael R., 12/2 Manny & Jim, 12/9 James & Michael N., 2/16 Youth Group, 12/23 Danny & Ken, 12/30 Vago & Annette . Thank you. 

Religious Education

Sunday School

Sunday school lesson 8. Anyone in grades 5^th and up who are interested in having their children participate in the monthly skits please see Zain or Hana Ayoub.

Youth Group/GOYA

Youth group will have a short meeting in the back of the building (Sunday school room) where we normally meet. We are going to elect officers and have a small prayer then be dismissed to help with the homeless baskets. Parents please help in this endeavor to get your children into group meeting  as quickly as possible at 12:30 so we can dismiss hopefully by about 12:50-55. 16 years and over are encouraged to help with distribution of baskets after preparation. Questions please call Michael or Gabriella Ryan at 219-3421.

HOPE/JOY

Nexy meeting will be in December. More information to come. Please email Jenny Dean at shea0509@yahoo.com if you want your child registered and haven't yet.

Book Club 

For November our parish book club is reading Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica. We will begin our first reading & discussion with "Part One: The Life of Elder Thaddeus".  Our next gathering is on NOV 18TH. For more info call or text Monica (Cassiana) 661-337-0566.

Bookstore

Visit or contact the parish bookstore to purchase and order gifts for your loved ones in time for Christmas! Deadline for special ordering is December 2nd. COMING SOON: newly released Songs of Praise: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women, Nativity Cards, Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent, gift certificates, and much more!  Call or text Julie Pierucci (661) 342-2407.

Inquirers Class

Every Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. there will be an inquirers class for information regarding the Orthodox faith. We meet at the hall side door on U Street. Class is approximately 40 to 45 minutes. We are currently going through the “Journey of Faith” program by Fr. Barnabas. For more information please call Michael Ryan 661-747-1603.

Charity 

Homeless Initiative:

Today Is The Day!

Helping the Homeless Day is today, Sunday, November 18th.  For this parish-wide event we will be assembling 100 "Blessing Bags" and putting together 100 Food Bags that we will distribute to the Homeless population near our church at Martin Luther King Park. 

If you have signed up for items and not turned them in yet we need to have them a.s.a.p on Sunday so that we can complete the preparation of the bags. 

We will need all hands on deck for this endeavor.

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." ~Romans 12:13

Church Beautification

Church beautification/Capital Improvements Fund collections as of November 16th, 2018 are $6,850.00. Once more funds are collected we can begin Phase II.

Philoptochos Announcements

If you have not picked up a quarterly Philoptochos Newsletter please do! 

It lists all our upcoming events - look for it in the Church or get one from a Board Member.

Thank you to all those who participated in building our baskets for our Homebound Parishioners. Recipients of the baskets are expressing their deepest thanks to you all!

Congratulations to our Sts. Cosmas and Damianos Service Award Winner Nahla Demestihas. A very deserving member of Philoptochos - Axios! Many years!

Our next General Meeting will be our Christmas Party to be held on Sunday, December 2nd at 5:00 pm, at the Golden Ox Restaurant. Bring your families - hope you can all attend!

Outreach 

Evangelism and Outreach

Evangelism and Outreach class will be held 7:10 p.m. on Thursday November 29th. Emphasis will be on why we have a welcoming committee and what is and is not the proper welcoming etiquette for visitors or inquiers. All leaders in the church especially those in the Parish Council or anybody helping in the narthex should attend these classes. Videos, question and answer, role play, fellowship and refreshments. Questions please call Michael Ryan at 747-1603.

Parishioner Visits

Helen Kemper is currently at Hallmark Homes, 2001 Akers, Room 223. Please find some time to go and visit her. The facility number is 831-7147.

Legacy

Scrip Cards

Scrip gift cards are now accessible online. You choose the card (cards) you would like and St. George Church receives a percentage of each sale. If you choose e-cards you will receive them same day in your email. If you choose gift cards, we will receive a notice and the order will be delivered to the church. Best to select e-cards so no shipping fee. Use this link and code when purchasing online. www.shopwithscrip.com, Code:42A1521E58345. 

Endowment

Honor your loved ones birthday and or anniversary by making a contribution to the Endowment Fund in their name. Make checks payable to St. George Church and write Endowment Fund on the memo line. Distributions from the fund will benefit the youth and maintenance needs of the Parish. For more information contact a Parish Council Member. 
Thank you.

About Communion

If you are a visitor and planning to take Holy Communion, please inform one of our ushers in the Narthex ahead of time. During Communion, parents with infants, and Sunday School Teachers should be first in line to receive Communion. All Christians Orthodox and Non-Orthodox are invited to come up to receive Blessed Bread (Antidoron) at the end of the service. However, present Church guidelines allow that only baptized and confirmed Eastern Orthodox Christians (who have properly prepared) may approach to receive Holy Communion. Thank you.

Dear Parishioners, 

Sundays should be set aside for quality time with God, our Church and Family.  This is true for the Priest, Parish Secretary and Parish Council.  Please let us try to address church business and make appointments during the week during office hours, and not wait until Sunday to address these matters.  For the generous providers of Coffee Hour, please arrange all meal preparation so that everyone is attending Divine Liturgy. The hall will always be open at least one hour before Divine Liturgy begins, as well as the evening before from 6:30 to 7:30.

Hall Reservation System

To reserve the hall for any church functions or activities please communicate with Annette or Sahar if you will be using the hall anytime to be placed on the calendar. This includes groups that meet on a regular basis or for any event. Thank you for your cooperation.

Anyone using the hall during the week, please make sure you turn off all lights, coffee maker and the hall is left clean.

Welcome New Parish Members

Prayers/Thanksgiving

Glory to God for His Bountiful Blessings

Please add to your daily prayers for: 

Catechumens: Walter (George), Daniel (Porfiros), Joshua (Michael). 

Our brothers & sisters unable to attend: 

Marika Psihoundas, Mary Valos, Zoe Spanos & Beverly Balasis.

Healing: Marika, Victor, Helen K., Irene, Mary, Mary, Serephima, and others in our parish.

Those who are traveling

Orthodox-Sophia,Virginia, Petros, Panagi, Elle, Eva L., Nicholetta Y., Dan S., Monica, Yorgos K, Giorgos, Anna,Angela, Antonia, Stelios, Petros, Anne, Anna, Leonid, Mariyka, Archalia,Natalie, Eva,Eleni K.,Efstratios, Ourania, Christopher, Alice, Suha,Abla, Jennifer, Tom, Gabriela,Ion,Danny,Nadia, Niko, Musa Daoud, Vasiliki, Theodore, Achilles, Vasiliki, Elizabeth, Labrini, Bert & Louise Moosios,Olympia,Margarita, Seraphim, Mary, Tika,Maria Sporaa, Athina, Helen, Gerry Collis, Nektarios,Marika,Bessie Mattly, Noah A., Nick A.,Nick K., Kyriaki, Fred, Hannah, Irene Sinopole, Helen Protopapas, Candess Strategos,Gene, Kathy, Sofia, Clemy (Clementina), Jane, and Matthew.

Non-Orthodox -Angelica, David, Nancy, Bud Lung,Julie, Pamela Y., Debbie, Emmitt, Donna,Steve, Richard,Donald, Christina, Eva, Dominic,Gaby Garcia,Romona, Elea, Graysen Astumian, Marie,Michelle, Irma,  Julie, Greg, Allyson, Margaret, Valerie, Martha Rogers, Helen Kemper, Joseph, Stephen, Elizabeth,Ellen, Ling, Richard, Christine & David, Debby.

 Financials               Budgeted                    Actual

 Anniversaries     

• 11/5 Manuel & Namaz Pimentel               

• 11/6 Tom & Georgia Drulias

• 11/8 Nick & Pam Valos                             

• 11/9 Donald & Annette Londquist

• 11/9 George & Nahla Demestihas                                               

• 11/10 Fr. Joseph & Presbytera Despina Chaffee

 Birthdays     

• 11/1 Anastasia Drulias      

• 11/3 Molly Dean

• 11/10 Nicole Strategos     

• 11/10 Julie Pierucci               

• 11/15 Chris Andrews

• 11/16 Nicolas Cisneros     

• 11/16 Bianca Gomez             

• 11/17 Demetri Southerd

• 11/20 Nikoloaos Exarchoulakos                                       

• 11/27 Virginia Liascos