Special Events Happening Today:

Memorial 

Dr. Mitchell Thabit.  May his memory be eternal.

Ministries:

Philoptochos

Last Day for 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.

Condolences

To the family of the handmaiden of God Zoe Spanos.  Zoe contributed to our parish and Philoptochos in so many ways.  She was loved by all and will be greatly missed. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. Trisagion Service for Zoe will be on Sunday, December 15^th at 7 p.m. Funeral will be on Monday, December 16^th at 10 a.m. May her memory be eternal

Parish Council 

Next meeting is December 19th , at 7 p.m. 

Sunday School

Sunday School lesson 9. 

Sunday School Christmas Program

 Practice on December 21^st at 10:30 a.m. Plan on attending if you would like a major part in the play.

Youth Group/GOYA 

Questions please call Michael or Gabriella Ryan at 219-3421.

Metropolis GOYA Winter Camp

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

Parish Council Elections

To take place December 8^th

Community Christmas Party

Ticketswill be sold at the door 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 Bible studiy will be December 12^th 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. Join us for study, coffee, and fellowship! For more info or to RSVP, please visit our parish bookstore or contact Monica (Cassiana). 

Book Club 

All are welcome! 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 

12/9 Mary Mekhel, 12/15 Sahar Ayoub, 12/22 Joyce Cisneros, 12/29 Nahla Demestihas, 1/5 Olympia Hackleman, 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.

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.

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: 

• Catechumens:  Daniel(Moses), Angela, Michelle. 
• Holy Cross Seminarian Anthony Cornett and family (Anna, Miriam,Zoë and Despina).
• Our brothers & sisters unable to attend:  Marika Psihoundas, Mary Valos & Beverly Balasis.
• Healing: Marika, Victor, Helen K., Irene, Mary, Mary, Serephima, and others in our parish.
• Those who are traveling
• Orthodox-Naguib,Katherine,Kaliope,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,Noah A.,Nick K., Kyriaki, Fred, Hannah, Irene Sinopole, Helen Protopapas, Candess Strategos,Gene, Kathy, Sofia, Clemy (Clementina), Jane, and Matthew.
• Non-Orthodox -Amparo, Mark, Uvaldo,Yesenia, 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

Annivesaries

• 12/01 Jim & Eleni Southerd
• 12/24 Joseph & Irene Sinopole
• 12/28 James & Jennifer Dean

Birthdays  

• 12/3 Zaid Dawood                             
• 12/8 Nuha Al-Sheikh
• 12/14 Despina Chaffee                     
• 12/17 Ken Hackleman
• 12/20 David Yanney                         
• 12/22 Laila Ayoub      
• 12/22 Lorin Neesan                          
• 12/24 Nate Murray
• 12/26 Sara Asmerom                        
• 12/27 Marek Pearse
• 12/27 Erin Strategos                          
• 12/31 Sue-Ellen DiFilipe

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.