Sundays:
Orthros - 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy - 9:30 a.m.
Weekdays:
Evening Vespers - 6:00 p.m.
Saint Clement was instructed in the Faith of Christ by the Apostle Peter. He became Bishop of Rome in the year 91, the third after the death of the Apostles. He died as a martyr about the year 100 during the reign of Trajan.
Saint Peter illustriously occupied the throne of Alexandria for twelve years, and, as Eusebius says, "was a divine example of a bishop on account of the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred Scriptures" (see Eusebius, Eccl. Hist., Book VII, 3 2; Book VIII 11, 13; and Book IX, 6). He excommunicated Arius for his sympathy with the Meletian schism. When Arius learned that Saint Peter had been imprisoned, he sent many priests and deacons to him, asking that he receive him back into the communion of the Church before his martyrdom. When the ambassadors of Arius, who had not, like Saint Peter, perceived the ruin he would engender, were astonished at the vehemence with which Saint Peter refused to receive Arius again, he revealed to them a dread vision he had seen, in which the Master Christ had appeared to him as a child wearing a garment torn from head to foot. When Saint Peter asked the Lord who rent His garment, the Lord answered that it was Arius, and that he must not be received back into communion. The holy hieromartyr Peter was beheaded during the reign of Maximinus in the year 312; he is called the "Seal of the Martyrs," because he was the last Bishop of Alexandria to suffer martyrdom under the pagan Emperors. His successors to the throne of Alexandria, Saints Alexander and Athanasius the Great, brought to final victory the battle against Arius' heresy which Saint Peter had begun.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10.
Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27
At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
12:15PM Book Club - Father Arseny
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Vespers
6:30PM Inquirers Class
11:00AM Father Joseph Office Hours
6:00PM Vespers
6:00PM Vespers
5:00PM Evening Office Hours - Sacrament of Holy Confession, No Appointment Necessary
6:00PM Paraclesis
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Vespers
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
Special Events Happening Today:
Ministries:
Philoptochos
Community Christmas Card! You can have your family be a part of our seasonal greetings to each other for just $10 (or more if we want to be generous). You may also choose to sponsor someone who is less fortunate to be in our Community Christmas Card. ALL proceeds go to the Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund which provides our seminarians with scholarships (our own Michael Cornett benefits!) and the St George Benevolence Fund. See Joyce Cisneros or Mary Mekhel.
Next meeting is December 19th , at 7 p.m.
No Sunday School.
Questions please call Michael or Gabriella Ryan at 219-3421.
Calling all youth, grades 6th-12th for the Metropolis GOYA Winter Camp at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center, January 2-5, 2020. Reunite with old friends, and meet new ones as we come together during Christmas break for fun winter adventures at the Sequoias, hay rides with hot apple cider, visits to the Monastery, campfire & s'mores, awesome talks, and much more! Some of your favorite Metropolis Summer Camp Counselors will be there, so get ready for a fun time!!
DATES: January 2-5, 2020
LOCATION: St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center, Dunlap, CA
AGES: Open to all youth, grades 6th-12th
COST: $250 per person
REGISTRATION: Coming Soon
MORE INFO: http://gosfyouth.org/goya#/goya-winter-camp
CAMPER CHECK-IN TIME: Thursday 3:00pm - 7:00pm
CAMPER PICK UP TIME: Sunday 1:00pm - 2:00pm (Parents can join us for Liturgy on Sunday morning at the Monastery if they would like)
FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/410960669567451/
PARISH CARPOOLING RECOMMENDED
Community Christmas Party
Tickets are now being sold for our annual Christmas party on December 8th. Please see Mary Mekhel or Sahar for tickets. All proceeds this year to benefit kitchen renovations
Sunday Coffee Hour
There are several Sundays left open this year for coffee hour. If you have not yet covered a Sunday this year please put your name on the sign up list in the hall.
Bible Study
Fr. Joseph will lead us through the Gospel of John. Next two Bible studies will be December 5th and December 12th from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at the home of Danny and Mary Andrews. 8001 Corte Rey. All parishioners are encouraged to attend. Bring and Orthodox Study Bible, pen, paper and highlighter. Study sessions will be held twice a month. Please check the St. George calendar online for future dates.
Women's Psalter Study Group
We meet on the first Tuesday of every month. Next meeting is Tuesday, Dec 3rd at 10:15 am to discuss Kathisma 3 (Psalms 17-23). Join us for study, coffee, and fellowship! For more info or to RSVP, please visit our parish bookstore or contact Monica (Cassiana). ADVENT PSALTER GROUP ROTATIONS: We have reached our 20 member goal! Each participant will be reading one different Kathisma each day and will rotate throughout the Nativity Fast. This means we will be reading the whole Psalter every day for the next 40 days, twice, on behalf of our parish! Many thanks and God bless those who are partaking of this beautiful community endeavor. If anyone else is interested contact Heather West
Book Club
All are welcome! We are currently reading Father Arseny, 1893-1973: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father. Our next gathering will be on Sunday, Nov 24th in the church hall and we will be discussing pages 39 to 98. For more details, see bookstore or contact Monica (Cassiana) 661-337-0566
Bookstore
The church bookstore is open Sundays during coffee hour or by appointment. For more info, special ordering, or questions please call or text Julie Pierucci (661) 342-2407.
Prosphora Schedule
11/24 Nahla Demestihas, 12/1 Basema Madain, 12/9 Mary Mekhel, 12/15 Sahar Ayoub, 12/22 Joyce Cisneros, 12/29 Olympia Hackleman, 1/5 Nahla Demestihas, 1/12 Basema Madain, 1/19 Mary Mekhel, 1/26 Sahar Ayoub. 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.
Social Media
Follow and join us on Facebook!
St George Orthodox Christian Church of Bakersfield: www.facebook.com/StGeorgeOrthodoxBakersfield
St George Orthodox Community of Bakersfield (Facebook Group): www.facebook.com/groups/175227557308
General Announcements:
Legacy
Leave your mark!
Consider naming St. George Church as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy. It's a great legacy gift to your parish and very easy to do...just ask your provider for the change beneficiary form and complete and return to them. The legal name for the church is Hellenic Community St. George Church Tax ID #95-3575365 God bless you.
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.
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
Thank you for helping keep our hall neat and clean. 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. 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.
Father Joseph's Hours
Father Joseph will be in the office Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 to 3:00.
Father will also maintain office hours on Friday evenings from from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the sacrament of Holy Confession. He will be available to meet in the hall, narthex, or crying room on these nights. Please feel free to send Father Joseph a text message at 661-496-5768 during this time to check his availability. You will receive an estimated wait time if any.
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
Be cautious of scaffolding as construction is underway for the fascia repairs and painting of the church exterior. Thank you to those who contributed to the Capital Improvements Fund. An electric gate in the alley is next once we receive more donations.
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:
Financials Budgeted Actual
Stewardship |
$$3,750/week |
$395.00 |
Candles & Tray |
$325/week |
$98.00 |
Annivesaries
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 Father Joseph & Despina Chaffee
Birthdays
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.