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St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-04-07
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Calendar
St. George News and Events
Allsaint
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (661) 325-8694
  • Fax:
  • (661)325-8694
  • Street Address:

  • 401 Truxtun Avenue

  • Bakersfield, CA 93301
  • Mailing Address:

  • 401 Truxtun Avenue

  • Bakersfield, CA 93301

Contact Information

Website / Email Tom Dorlis


webmaster@ourparish.us | 661-564-2347

Services Schedule

Sundays:

Orthros - 8:30 a.m.

Divine Liturgy - 9:30 a.m.

Weekdays:

Evening Vespers - 6:00 p.m.

Calendar

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Having learned the joyful tidings the angels told when they proclaimed the Resurrection, the women followers of the Lord did cast aside the ancient curse laid upon the forefathers. To the apostles, the women cried out with pride: “Death has lost its armored might, and Christ God is risen from the dead, granting his great mercy to all the universe”. To fe-dhron tis A-na-sta-se-os ki-rig-ma ek to an-ghe-lou ma-thou-se e tou Ky-ri-ou ma-thi-tri-e ke tin pro-yo-ni-kin a-po-fa-sin a-por-ri-psa-se, tis A-po-sto-lis kaf-ho-me-ne e-le-yon: E-ski-lef-te o tha-na-tos i-yer-thi Chri-stos o The-os, tho-rou-me-nos to kos-mo to me-ya e-le-os.

Apolytikion of Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Your abundant tears made the wilderness sprout and bloom, and your deep sighing made your labor fruitful one hundred fold. You became a star shining over the world with miracles , our holy Father John; intercede with Christ God to save our souls.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Tone

As a liberator of prisoners, and as a guardian of the poor, a doctor of the sick, a defender of kings. Trophy bearer, O Great Martyr George. Intercede to Christ our God, and save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

To you, Defender and Commander in a time of war. I, your City , offer gratitude for victory, for you rescued me from sufferings, O Theotokos. Since the power you possess is unassailable, from all dangers I entreat you to deliver me, that I may cry to you: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
April 07

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

Allsaint
April 07

Martyrs Calliopius and Akylina

The holy Martyr Calliopius was from Perga in Pamphylia, brought up in piety by his godly mother Theocleia. When the persecution of Maximian broke out, Saint Calliopius presented himself of his own accord before the Governor Maximus in Pompeiopolis of Galatia. After he had suffered many torments, his mother visited him in prison and encouraged him in his martyrdom. After this, his thrice-blessed mother, upon learning that he was to be crucified on Holy and Great Thursday, bribed the tyrants to defer it one day, that he might imitate the Lord's Crucifixion on the same day that He suffered it. The holy Martyr Calliopius received the crown of martyrdom on Holy and Great Friday in the year 304, being crucified upside down.

Allsaint
April 07

Tikhon, Pat. of Moscow

Born in 1865 in the region of Pskov, our Father among the Saints Tikhon was tonsured a monk in 1891 and ordained to the priesthood in the same year. In 1897 he was consecrated Bishop of Lublin, and a year later appointed Bishop of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, with his see extending to all of North America from 1900 onwards. He did much to unite the Orthodox Christians of a great many ethnic backgrounds in North America, so that there was indeed one flock under one shepherd. In 1907 he was made Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov, and in 1913, Archbishop of Lithuania.

In 1917, when he was Metropolitan of Moscow, he was elected to be the first Patriarch of Russia in over 200 years, in times that could not have been more difficult. After the Revolution of 1917, the persecution of the Russian Church by the atheist government grew more bold and more fierce with every year. By nature a meek and peace-loving man, Tikhon sought to determine, while giving only to God that which is God's, what could be given to Caesar to preserve peace and avoid the shedding of blood. At his departure on the feast of the Annunciation in 1925, Saint Tikhon made the sign of the Cross thrice, pronouncing the words, "Glory to Thee, O God!" Because of the many unspeakable sufferings he endures as Patriarch, he is honoured as a Confessor.

Note: St. Tikhon's repose was on the Feast of the Annunciation according to the Old Calendar (March 25), but on the New Calendar his repose falls on April 7.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Calendar

  • St. George Calendar

    March 11 to April 14, 2019

    Monday, March 11

    Great Lent

    Sunday, April 7

    Sunday of St. John Climacus

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Religious Education

    11:30AM Coffee Hour

    12:00PM Psalm Party

    12:00PM Choir practice for Lent/Holy Week

    12:30PM Youth Group Car Wash Fundraiser

    Monday, April 8

    1:50PM Health Check

    Tuesday, April 9

    6:00PM Great Compline

    6:30PM Inquirer Class

    Wednesday, April 10

    6:00PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

    Thursday, April 11

    3:00PM Great Canon (including the life of St. Mary of Egypt

    6:00PM Great Compline

    6:45PM Mens Group Meeting

    Friday, April 12

    9:30AM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

    6:00PM Akathist to the Theotokos

    7:00PM Couples Ministry Meeting

    Saturday, April 13

    8:30AM Youth Group Monastery Trip

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, April 14

    Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Religious Education

    11:30AM Coffee Hour

    12:00PM Choir practice for Lent/Holy Week

    12:30PM Parish General Assembly

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St. George News and Events

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Special Events Happening Today:

One Year Memorial for Dorthea Pamela Jones 

May her memory be eternal.

Coffe hour to follow in her memory.

Timely Notes: 

 Next General Assembly April 14th

Ministries:

Philoptochos

Philoptochos Dues are being collected!  

We will be collecting dues now until we meet our goal! Last year we had 57 members - this year we would love 60. So far we are at 54 - so close!. Join us as $40 helps our charities! 

SIGN UP FOR DONATIONS!

The Homeless Initiative is back! We have a two-part process this time, on Sunday, May 26th we will be assembling our Blessing Bags and on Sunday, June 2nd we will put together our lunch bags, then go out and deliver the Blessing Bags and Food Bags for the Homeless population near our church.

We will be putting together 120 bags on this date! Please sign up for items and bring them as soon as you can and place them in our bins. Once your items are brought to church - cross your name off and mark DELIVERED! Please deliver items by Sunday, May 19th (everything except Bread and Oranges).

 

We will need all hands on deck for this endeavor.

From donating items to assembling the bags. Take part!  

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

 

MISSIONS POSSIBLE!

Missions Possible 2019 has begun (Great Lent - Pentecost)! The goal of this annual campaign is to educate the faithful about our evangelistic calling and to raise funds for our Metropolis missions, as well as two other worthwhile charities: Project Mexico/St Innocent Orphanage and St Ignatius School in Calcutta, India. Our goal this year is to raise $2000 or more! Please pick up a cup and bring it each week to add your donation to our rising thermometer! Together we can do much for missions work in the US and abroad.   

TOTAL COLLECTED AFTER THE END OF WEEK 3: $284.00
Thank you to everyone who participated in and with the Holy Cross Luncheon. From the ladies and their donations of food to those of you who made financial donations, and to those of you who lent their hands in serving and clean up. Our success is dependent on everyone - thank you to those who were willing to be a part of it! 

Our Condolences-To the Exarchoulakos family on the falling asleep of Ted’s mother Fotini Exarchoulakos. May her memory be eternal.

Candy for our annual Easter egg hunt-Please bring small wrapped candy(no chocolate) for our Easter egg hunt. Have all donations here by Sunday the 21st. Thank you!

Make plans to decorate the Tomb of Christ!

Holy Friday, April 26th beginning at 9:00 am, join the women of Philoptochos in decorating the Tomb of Christ. Please dress appropriately as we will be decorating the Kouvouklion inside the church on the Solea. If you have any questions, please speak with Olympia Hackleman, our chairman for this beautiful blessing. 

Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring Feast Day Liturgy
If you are able, please mark your calendars to visit the Monastery on her feast day, Zoodoghos Peghe, The Life-Giving Spring, The feast is always celebrated on the Friday of Bright Week, this year on Friday May 3rd. There will also be services the night before (Vespers) which will be held in the Cemetery Chapel (scenes from the Akathist Hymn adorn the walls of this Chapel) and the next day services will be held in the Main Church (if you have never seen a hierarchical liturgy at the Monastery, this is your chance...chandeliers swinging, etc). A lot of the new facilities will be open and in use during these days. If you would like to spend the night at the Ranch the night before, call the Ranch early as a lot of pilgrims take advantage of the rates and the opportunity to be there over 2 days.

Men’s Group of St. George Church

Next meeting is April 11th. Meetings start from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. following Vespers.  Attendees are invited to attend Services prior to the meeting starting at 6:00 pm.  At this meeting we will begin our journey through the "Lionheart" series. 

Couples Ministry

Friday, April 12th. We would like to attend the Akathist service and then join in fellowship at the Noodle Bar. Visit our Couples Ministry resource page for more information and a link to the videos. 

Parish Council 

Next meeting is April 18th, at 7 p.m. 

Sunday School

Sunday school lesson 17. 

Youth Group/GOYA 

Youth group car wash today! Please come out to the back parking area to support the youth! Questions please call Michael or Gabriella Ryan at 219-3421.

HOPE/JOY

Next meeting to be announced. 

Book Club 

Our parish book club is currently concluding Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica. Our next gathering is Sunday, May 19th during coffee hour. We will be discussing Part Two, chapters 14 through 16. Our next book club selection beginning in June is Becoming a Healing Presence by Albert S. Rossi. All are welcome to join! For more details, call or text Monica (Cassiana) 337-0566 or email mejiamoe@gmail.com.

Bookstore

Looking for devotional items for Great Lent or Pascha? Please visit the parish bookstore and place your orders soon! Bookstore is open Sundays during coffee hour or by appointment. Lots of new arrivals including icons and books! For more info, special ordering, or questions please 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.

Lenten Psalm Group

We will read a Psalm each day until April 7th.  Please grab a plate of food to sit and have a discussion in the hall at 12:00 p.m. on April 7th.Please see or call Irene Sinopole at 832-1871.

Prosphora Schedule 

4/7 Basema Madain, 4/14 Nahla Demestihas, 4/21 Olympia Hackleman, 4/27 Mary Mekhel, 5/5 Sahar Ayoub, 5/12 Elaine Dorlis, 5/19 Basema Madain, 5/26 Nahla Demestihas, 6/2 Olympia Hackleman, 6/9 Sahar Ayoub, 6/16 Elaine Dorlis, 6/23 Mary Mekhel, 6/30 Basema Madain.  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. If you want to learn more about how to make Prosphora, you can visit our Prosphoro site under the "Resources" tab on our website. Thank you.

Evangelism and Outreach

Questions please call Michael Ryan at 747-1603.

General Announcements: 

Text Notifications

If you would like to be part of our system, please provide your phone number to Sahar (stgeosecretary@gmail.com).

This service will only be used to notify parishioners of any changes to service times or to provide information on events or occurences that affect the entire parish.  We see this as being used infrequently but feel that we need to an effective way to communicate important information quickly. 

Stewardships Envelopes

Each family is asked to sign off on a box of envelopes.  Please see Julie in the bookstore.

Items on the Bar in the Hall

We are asking all parishioners--young and old--to help clean the hall clutter.  Many items are frequently left in the bar area, kitchen and back room.  Beginning in January, any clothing, books, decorations, office supplies, etc. will be saved for two weeks.  After that time all remaining items will be gathered and donated to local charities.

Please check the hall every Sunday to claim your family's items and take them home. 

Thank you for helping keep our hall neat and clean.   

Father Joseph's Hours

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

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.

Church Beautification

Church beautification/Capital Improvements Fund collections as of April 3rd  are $6,850.00. Once more funds are collected we can begin Phase II.

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.

Hall Reservation System

To reserve the hall for any church functions or activities please communicate with 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 (Porphyrios), Joshua (Michael), Daniel(Moses). 
  • Holy Cross Seminarian Anthony Cornett and family (Anna, Miriam, and Zoë).
  • 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-Lorece Noel,Mary C., 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, Joseph, Stephen, Elizabeth,Ellen, Ling, Richard, Christine & David, Debby.

 Financials               Budgeted                    Actual

Stewardship

$2,000/week

$3,698.05

Candles & Tray

$500/week

$400.00

Anniversaries

  • 4/20 Emmanuel and Erin Strategos

  • 4/26 John & Irene Wilson

Birthdays  

  • 4/2 Nickolas Antonaros

  • 4/6 Anthony Cornett
  • 4/7 Miriam Cornett
  • 4/15 Tom Dorlis
  • 4/20 Sahar Ayoub
  • 4/22 Kim Niz
  • 4/25 Joe Sinopole
  • 4/25 Max Dean
  • 4/27 Evanthia Chaffee
  • 4/28 Mark Pearse
  • 4/29 Cahon Grens

 

Please note:  All bulletin announcements must be received each week by 3:00 pm Tuesday to be included in the Sunday bulletin for that week. 

 

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