Message from Rev. Fr. Peter Balkas
Beloved Parishioners and Friends of St. George:
I pray that this letter finds you and your families well, in good health and in the protection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from this terrible COVID-19 virus. As we begin to enter Holy Week, the pinnacle of the Orthodox Liturgical life, we have the opportunity through all of our Divine Services to reaffirm our relationship and commitment to the Lord as we faithfully observe and pray along to all the services that are offered during Holy Week. Once again I invite all of you to participate in the services via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or follow the links on our website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org. These services are being offered to you live because unfortunately we still cannot be together worshiping as a family. Prayerfully, very soon our church family will be reunited.
You will soon be receiving through the mail an appeal letter with an envelope asking for your annual Paschal offering. I urge and ask each of you to please take care of your church and make your contribution to St. George during this Holy Season. Our parish is hurting financially. Our employees have had to take a reduction in salary because the church’s funds are dwindling. We are not able to pay our monthly assessment to the Archdiocese because offerings are not being received consistently. On our updated website you will now see that you can make an online donation to Light a Candle, for Fellowship/Stewardship or to Sponsor-A-Day. For those who are able financially, I oblige you to do that as well. We will be lighting the candles, of all sizes, for those who are making their offerings.
So once more I ask you to please support St. George which is in need of your help. Our church has always been there for our beautiful and loving flock, and now the church is calling out to you to provide assistance. Please stay strong and know that we are in this together and together we will make it through these trying times. I pray that the Lord blesses all of us and grants us a glorious resurrection.
May God Bless you, protect you and watch over you.
In His Service,
Rev. Peter G. Balkas
CHURCH PROTOCOLS AS WE FACE COVID-19:
We ask that everyone please follow the directives sent to us by His Eminence, Metroplitan Evangelos, per the directives issued by the Ecumenical Patriarch through Archbishp Elpidophoros: Effective immediately, Divine Services and Liturgy will take place in our parishes with only the parish priest and a chanter. The church doors will remain closed to the faithful who are instructed to participate in the services through online streaming services. Please visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for online streaming links or visit the church's Facebook page or YouTube channel. To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, go to agesinitiatives.com.
All Ministry and non-worship events are STILL CANCELLED until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation and we pray that God keeps everyone resilient and strong through these unsettling times.
The mission of our beloved parish of St. George is to put into practice our Orthodox faith for our spiritual growth while creating fellowship and ministries for all the faithful. It should be our mission to spread the word of the Gospel and build harmony and love within the community and be the example of our Orthodox faith for our youth.
Liturgical Schedule via Online Streaming Only:
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 19
The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
The Great Paschal Vespers of AGAPE.………………………………......…....11:00 AM
WEDNDESDAY, APARIL 22
St. George Vespers……………………………………………………….............……6:00PM
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
Saint George the Great Martyr, Church Feast Day,
Orthros & Divine Liturgy………………………………….........……………....…….8:30AM
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring, Orthros & Divine Liturg…............8:30 ΑΜ
Church Office:
For all matters, please make sure to call the office directly or email directly rather than using texts or various forms of social media. Office hours are limited so please leave a message and we will respond as soon as possible. DO NOT COME TO THE CHURCH. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Sponsor A Day Program:
In the New Year 2020 our ambitious goal is to meet our operating budget through Stewardship. It is estimated that the operating expenses of our church average to be $1,400 per steward/family. If this average were to be reached, then the Church would be able to pay all its bills only with Stewardship donations. All other funds collected from candles, trays, raffles, fundraisers, etc. could be used towards capital improvements. One way to bridge the gap is through our “Sponsor a Day” program. We encourage our parishioners to select a day that has special meaning to them like a birthday, feast day, anniversary or a memorial and make a $250 donation. We would like to thank the following for sponsoring the days of Holy Week: Morfia Sokolic for Holy Wednesday, Nicholas & Lisa Marcopulos for Holy Thursday, Anonymous for Good Friday and Dominick & Barbara Pepe for Easter Sunday in memory of Constantine Sougelas. All donors will be recognized on a calendar located in our atrium. For more information about the program, speak to one of our Parish Council members, Ministry Leaders or call the church office.
St. George Endowment Fund Scholarship:
On June 7, 2020, the Endowment Committee will be awarding three memorial scholarships to graduating high school seniors from our community in the name of Aspasia Smith, the endowment fund’s original benefactor. The scholarship awards will be in the amount of $750, $500 and $250 respectively. Application must be filed no later than May 22, 2020. For more information about the memorial scholarship, please inquire at the church office or read our online bulletin.
The Hellenic Musical Society Scholarship:
HMS awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors entering a college, university or trade school, who demonstrate musical talent and academic achievement. Applications are tentatively due on May 22, 2020. For questions or an application please contact: hellenicmusicalsoc@gmail.com.
National Philoptochos Young Philanthropist Award:
This award had been postponed since the National Philoptochos Convention in Cleveland has been cancelled.
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Cancer Awareness:
April is Testicular Cancer, Esophageal Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer Month. Continuing with the Philoptochos' year-long cancer project, please see the online bulletin for a brief overview of these cancers.