Sundays:
Orthros - 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy - 9:30 a.m.
Weekdays:
Evening Vespers - 6:00 p.m.
The Lord seeks out the heart, not the appearance.
St. Paisius of Sihla
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FESTIVAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 12.
EVERYONE IS NEEDED TO MAKE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN!
September 2021 Stewardship News
Happy Ecclesiastical New Year September 1st!
(The following explanation found on goarch.org)
As the summer comes to an end and fall begins so too does the Church begin it’s ministries for the year. Soon Church School will commence as will other organization meetings and events in the parish. Speaking of events, its Greek Food Festival time of year as well (October 1-3). Let’s all pitch in and lend a hand to make this a successful fundraiser AND outreach event to the community.
Have a Happy New Year!
Stewardship Committee
Please fill it out and return to the church office or mail it, address at bottom of buletin.
Or you may fill it out the form online and sumbit it online. ---> ONLINE FORM
You may also download here the flyer to read all about stewardship according to the Bible.
Make donation via PayPal <-- Use paypal; (CC or Paypal) to make a donation.
Summer 2021 Stewardship news
(Please read the summer news on our website)
Teacher positions are open for Sunday School. Please let the secretary know if you are interesteded. Thank you!
To get the latest information on meetings and places please contact Stavros at pa@ourparish.us
Orthodox Catechism/Faith Classes
We have our Catechism/Faith Class every Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm via Zoom. This is led by your Priest, and assisted by Stavros Emery. We spend an hour presenting and discussing different aspects of our beautiful Orthodox Faith, as well as her history and practice. Here you will have the opportunity to meet some of our other inquirers as well.
Youth Program: The Relationship Project for Grades 7-12 AGES 12 - 18. Thank you all who participated in the summer session. Part 3 will resume in the fall/winter. Please contact Joyce Cisneros for more information and make sure she has your contact information as well for possible Youth outings and get-togethers.
Next Parish Council meeting is 9/23/2021 at 7:00pm at the back office.
We have an open position on parish council.
If anyone is interested please contact Namaz by phone or email our Parish Council at parishcouncil@ourparish.us
The Investment Committee
We are in the process of starting a new committee called "The Investment Committee".
We are looking for approximately 3 or 4 individuals to be part of the committee.
If you are interested please email Osama Dawood or call him at 916-778-9739.
Social Media & website
Follow and join us on Facebook
St George Greek Orthodox Church of Bakersfield
St George Christian Outreach Facebook Page
St George Greek Orthodox Church of Bakersfield YouTube channel
General Announcements:
The church secretary position is open!
Please contact Osama Dawood or any parish council member if interested.
Click here for job description.
If you need pdf reader, click here, it's free to download.
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Sign up to host a Sunday lunch! See sign up list in the hall bulletin board.
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Dancers have to be committed to be at all practices and available to dance between the actual performance time, to entertain the festival guests and encourage them to dance, or just participate in dancing so guests have something to see.
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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.
Click here to read how you can leave a lasting legacy to your parish.
Church Beautification and Capital Improvements. Click here for the 2021 update.
Text Notifications
If you would like to be part of our system, please provide your phone number to the church secreatary at Secretary@ourparish.us.
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.
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 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.
Secretary Presbytera Despina Hours
Tuesday 10-2
Despina will be at the office for only one day a week until a new secretary is hired. Thank you!
Prayers for Thanksgiving-Healing and Help:
Please add to your daily prayers
Orthodox: George, Abram, Vickie, Elaina, Maher, Nabel, Magdy, Daniel, Natalia and family, Nickolas, Irene, Pamela, Virginia, Paraskevi, Michael, Dimitris Mary, Margarita, Jennifer, Nikolas
Non-Orthodox: Judith, Nayeli and David, Peggy
For the rest of the soul of our departed:
Orthodox: George, George, Sooad, George, Leonid, Nikos, Vivian, John, Mary, Nektarios
Prayer
Grant, O Lord, that I may face all that this new day is to bring with peace of mind. Grant that I may dedicate myself completely to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things. Whatsoever I may receive during the day, teach me to accept them tranquilly, with the firm conviction that everything comes by Your holy will. Govern my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say. When unforseen things occur, do not let me forget that everything comes from You. Teach me to behave sincerely and wisely toward every member of my family, not embittering or embarrassing others. Grant me strength, my Lord, to bear the fatigue of the coming day and all that it shall bring. Guide my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love, and pray Yourself in me. Amen.
From our Pastoral Assistant Stavros
Excerpt from the chapter “The Dark Years: 1942-1949” from the book “Papa-Dimitri, the Man of God”.
“That night, I (Papa-Dimitri Gagastathis) finally arrived at my village. I went first to the Church of the Archangels to pray and be revived spiritually, as well as to thank them for all they had done for me - it was important after all.
Afterwards, I went home. I knocked on the door lightly, lest any neighbor hear and betray me. After a while, Presbytera realized who it was, and opened the door. The scene of our reunion was especially moving - words cannot begin to describe the emotion. I was “dead and lived again, lost and was found” - a parallel to the prodigal son. [Luke 15:32]
She asked me, “How did you manage to survive? How did you pass through all those villages without getting caught?” I answered, “God lives, reigns, and protects the world!” “You know,” she said, “guerillas (communists) came today to take away our provisions and shut us in the house so that we might die from hunger, but they could not agree among themselves. One of them said, ‘Well, the priest has gone berserk and runs about on the mountains, but what wrong have these little ones done to deserve to die?’ Another of them said, ‘He did not take pity on his children - should we take pity on them?’ A third one said, ‘Let us leave things as they are. He may change his mind and come back. Only take care, Presbytera, to admonish him to come back and work for the (Communist) Party.”
She asked if I was hungry. “No,” I replied, “I ate at Papa-Christos’ house - glory be to God! I want only a fresh change of clothes and to go hide and sleep in the barn.” “Indeed, you have gone berserk!” she chided, “Are you going to fight alone? Do you not see the other priests who stay in their homes, go about their jobs, and eat and drink with their families? Whatever is in store for all of the people, the same will be in store for us.” I affirmed my position to her, “I will die for Christ! I will never be a communist!”
PROSPHORO offering
Joyce: 1/3, 1/31, 2/28, 4/25, 5/23, 6/20, 7/18, 8/15, 9/12, 10/10, 11/7, 12/5
Olympia: 1/10, 2/7, 4/4, 5/2, 5/30, 6/27, 7/25, 8/22, 9/19, 10/16, 11/14, 12/12
Bessema: 1/17, 2/14, 4/11, 5/9, 6/6, 7/4, 8/1, 8/29, 9/26, 10/24, 11/21, 12/19
Mary: 1/24, 2/21, 4/18, 5/16, 6/13, 7/11, 8/8, 9/5, 10/3, 10/31, 11/28, 12/26
Thank you!
Please make arrangements with Presbytera to bring the offering Saturday night either to the church or Father's home or for any chedule changes.
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
Thank you.
SEPTEMBER
ANNIVERSARIES
9/16 Joshua & Joyce Cisneros
9/17 Hesham & Sahar Ayoub
9/17 Osama & Angela Dawood
9/18 Matthew & Nahrain Antonaros
BIRTHDAYS
9/2 Naguib Mekhel
9/4 Nader Al-Sheikh
9/5 Nehemiah Little
9/9 Jimmy Andrews
9/10 Megan Pearse
9/15 Mary Mekhel
9/15 Nahrain Antonaros
9/19 Zain Ayoub
9/19 Fotini Stevens
9/21 Annette Londquist
9/21 Margaret Papadimitrakis
9/23 Dena Southerd
If your Anniversary or Birthday is not listed and would like to be added or if it's incorrect, please contact Presbytera directly or send her an email at secretary@ourparish.us
PLEASE NOTE: All bulletin announcements must be received each week by 6:00 pm Wednesday to be included in the Sunday bulletin for that week.
Please send email with your request or suggestion to editor@ourparish.us
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 Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18.
Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.
البروكيمنون. Plagal Second Tone. مزمور 27: 9، 1.
خلص يالله شعبك وبارك ميراثك
Verse: إليك يا رب صرخت، إلهي
فصل من رسالة بولس الاولى الى غلاطية 6: 11-18.
يَُّا إِخْوَة، اُنْظُرُوا، مَا أَكْبَرَ الأَحْرُفَ الَّتِي كَتَبْتُهَا إِلَيْكُمْ بِيَدِي! جَمِيعُ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا مَنْظَراً حَسَناً فِي الْجَسَدِ، هَؤُلاَءِ يُلْزِمُونَكُمْ أَنْ تَخْتَتِنُوا، لِئَلاَّ يُضْطَهَدُوا لأَجْلِ صَلِيبِ الْمَسِيحِ فَقَطْ. لأَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَتِنُونَ هُمْ لاَ يَحْفَظُونَ النَّامُوسَ، بَلْ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَخْتَتِنُوا أَنْتُمْ لِكَيْ يَفْتَخِرُوا فِي جَسَدِكُمْ. وَأَمَّا مِنْ جِهَتِي، فَحَاشَا لِي أَنْ أَفْتَخِرَ إِلاَّ بِصَلِيبِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، الَّذِي بِهِ قَدْ صُلِبَ الْعَالَمُ لِي وَأَنَا لِلْعَالَمِ. لأَنَّهُ فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ لَيْسَ الْخِتَانُ يَنْفَعُ شَيْئاً وَلاَ الْغُرْلَةُ، بَلِ الْخَلِيقَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ. فَكُلُّ الَّذِينَ يَسْلُكُونَ بِحَسَبِ هَذَا الْقَانُونِ عَلَيْهِمْ سَلاَمٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ، وَعَلَى إِسْرَائِيلِ اللهِ. فِي مَا بَعْدُ لاَ يَجْلِبُ أَحَدٌ عَلَيَّ أَتْعَاباً، لأَنِّي حَامِلٌ فِي جَسَدِي سِمَاتِ الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ.نِعْمَةُ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ مَعَ رُوحِكُمْ أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ. آمِينَ.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
Sunday before Holy Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.
13 في ذلك الزمان قال يسوع َلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ صَعِدَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، ابْنُ الإِنْسَانِ الَّذِي هُوَ فِي السَّمَاءِ.14((وَكَمَا رَفَعَ مُوسَى الْحَيَّةَ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ هَكَذَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُرْفَعَ ابْنُ الإِنْسَان، 15لِكَيْ لاَ يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ. 16 لأَنَّهُ هَكَذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ الْعَالَمَ حَتَّى بَذَلَ ابْنَهُ الْوَحِيدَ، لِكَيْ لاَ يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ. 17 لأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُرْسِلِ اللَّهُ ابْنَهُ إِلَى الْعَالَمِ لِيَدِينَ الْعَالَمَ، بَلْ لِيَخْلُصَ بِهِ الْعَالَمُ.
لتفرح السماويات وتبتهج الارضيات ، لأن الرب صنع عزاً بساعده ، ووطئ الموت بالموت، وصار بكرالاموات ، وأنقذنا من جوف الجحيم، ومنح العالم الرحمة العظمى.
ميلادك يا والدة الإله بشر بالفرح كل المسكونة لأنه منك أشرق شمس العدل المسيح إلهنا فحل اللعنة ووهب البركة وأبطل الموت ومنحنا حياة أبدية.
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
9:30AM Divine Liturgy for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
6:00PM Vespers
7:15PM Bible Study
11:00AM Father Joseph Office Hours
6:00PM Vespers
7:30PM Catechism class
11:00AM Father Joseph Office Hours
6:00PM Vespers
5:00PM Evening Office Hours - Sacrament of Holy Confession, No Appointment Necessary
6:00PM Paraklesis
6:00PM Great Vespers
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
By Alexandros Kostas Via Skype or Zoom