PROTOCOLS FOR OUR PARISH IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19:
Except where these GOMNJ Reopening Guidelines are more restrictive, each Parish must also follow the orders and directives of their State, County, and Local Authorities. Regulations NOW allow us to safely socially distance a maximum of 140 people in our Church.
PARISH SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
- Parishioners must wear protective masks throughout the Service.
- There are to be no gatherings of any kind after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
- There will be no access for parishioners to enter other buildings or areas, other than where the Liturgy is being celebrated, except for use of the restroom.
- Parishioners must sanitize their hands upon entering the Church.
- Parishioners upon entry must register their attendance with their full names and contact information.
- Parishioners must adhere to the social distancing guidelines of keeping a 6 foot distance from other parishioners at all times in the pews and throughout the Church. The only exception being for families that have quarantined together, as they will be able to sit together in a designated section of the Church.
- Parishioners are not to wander in the Church, in the Parish facilities, or outside on the parish grounds.
- Parishioners must leave the Church premises, including the parking lot and exterior grounds, upon conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
- The traditional practice of receiving Holy Communion will not be changed.
Parishioners MUST register online at St. George's website in order to attend services. Please visit stgeorgeclifton.org and click on "CHURCH SERVICE RSVP" on the home page. The deadline to register for Sunday services is by Friday at 12:00pm. Orthros will begin at 8:30 am and the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am. If you have difficulty registering online, please call the Church office at 973.779.2626 to register.
Follow us on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Stgeorgeclifton.org/ or on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJEO_34m3S9yKpiFfzZQo5A or visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for online streaming links. To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, go to agesinitiatives.com.
To light a candle or make a donation follow this link https://st-george-greek-orthodox-churchand-the-shrine-of-st-nectarios.square.site/.
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.
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! – CHRIST IS RISEN!
WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR COMMUNITY!
We are grateful that you have joined us for prayer and worship.
Liturgical Schedule:
Thursday, May 20th – Ss Constantine & Helen Vespers at Roseland……………….……7:00PM
Friday, May 21st – Ss Constantine & Helen………….………....Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM
Communion Guidelines:
Baptized and Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared, according to the Holy Orthodox Church guidelines, may receive Holy Communion. Please allow families with young children to receive Holy Communion first and wait for the ushers to dismiss your row.
Sunday Memorials, Artoclasias and Other Blessings:
Please inform the church office well in advance of Sunday mornings for all memorials, artoclasias, 40 day blessings and other blessings so as not to disrupt the Divine Liturgy. If any requests or lists of names are received after the Great Entrance they will have to wait until the following Sunday.
****Additionally, in order to preserve the sanctity of the Divine Liturgy, please wait to light candles in the St. Nectarios Chapel at the correct time. If one arrives after the Great Entrance, they will have to wait until the end of Liturgy, while the Andithoron is being given out, to light candles in the Chapel.
Holy Confession:
If you wish to partake in the Sacrament of Holy Confession, please feel free to call the Church office or Fr. Peter to arrange a time.
Mark Your Calendar:
Wednesday, May 12th ………..Orthodox Life Institute via ZOOM at 7:00PM
Thursday, May 13th……….…. "Bedtime Bible Stories" via ZOOM at 6:30PM
Adult Bible Study via ZOOM at 7:00PM
Friday, May 21st …………........YAL Open Gym Night – 6:30PM
Monday, May 24th ……………..St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Meeting and Elections – 7:00PM
Sunday, June 6th ………………Sunday School Graduation
Thursday, June 17th …………..St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Bowling Fundraiser
Grand 50/50 Raffle Tickets:
St. George is selling Grand 50/50 raffle tickets and the drawing will take place at 6:00pm on Sunday, June 13, 2021 during our Greek Mega Food Take-Out. Tickets are $100.00 each and can be obtained by contacting any of our Parish Council members or the Church office. All proceeds to benefit the General Fund of St. George.
We ask that you please sell or purchase raffle tickets as it is an excellent way for everyone to support our Church.
Sponsor A Day Program:
As a church community, it is our ambitious goal 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, feastday, anniversary or a memorial and make a $250 donation. We would like to thank Kalliope & Konstandina Papadakos for sponsoring Saturday of Lazarus in memory of their loving husband and father Alkinoos Papadakos; and thanks to Nick & Lisa Marcopulos for sponsoring Palm Sunday. Remember that as Orthodox Christians, we are also stewards of our Church family – those with whom we worship, fellowship and serve the community. In the same way that we care for our immediate family, we also care for our Christian brothers. For more information about the program, speak to one of our Parish Council members, Ministry Leaders or call the church office.
Virtual Bedtime Bible Stories & Adult Bible Study With Fr. Peter:
Fr. Peter will resume his story telling on Thursday, May 13, 2021. "Bedtime Bible" storytelling for our youth in grades Pre-K to 4th grade will begin at 6:30PM. Following at 7:00PM we will continue with our Adult Bible Study. We will notify everyone through a separate email to join the meetings with a ZOOM invitation so that all the faithful can join us in learning.
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos News:
The St. Paraskevi Philoptochos would like to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Mother's Day. We would also like to thank everyone who supported us by purchasing a Mother's Day e-cards. Additionally, we would like to thank everyone who supported our Tsoureki Bread fundraiser. Special thanks to our dedicated ladies who baked the delicious breads for all to enjoy!
Dates to remember:
Monday, May 24, 2021 - Meeting and Elections at 7:00 pm in lower church hall
Thursday, June 17,2021 - We will be hosting our 4th Annual Bowling event at Boonton Lanes. Proceeds will benefit the philanthropic efforts of our St. Paraskevi Chapter.
Orthodox Life Institute:
We have moved our lessons online to Wednesday nights at 7:00pm through ZOOM. If you would like to join us virtually, send your email address and contact information to Lisa Marcopulos at lmarcopul@gmail.com and we will send you the ZOOM invitation. Dr. Peter Salierno and the class are now studying the book of Esther, one of the four novellas in the Old Testament. We will continue with the books of Ruth and Deborah. After the novellas we will be studying the books of the Macabbees.
Loumidis Foods and Tsanos Bakery Products:
Purchase delicious cookies and breadsticks on Sundays following Liturgy. They are great to snack on anytime.
Please visit our Bookstore:
It will be open on Sundays after Liturgy. We have items for your religious needs and if you do not see what you need, we will be glad to special order it for you!
A MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER
Most Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for our mothers to whom You have entrusted the care of every human life from their very beginning.
You allowed Mothers to feel Your creative powers inside their womb. Grant that every woman may come to understand the full meaning of that blessing, and give them the desire for selfless love for their children.
Watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your Fatherly care and love for her and for her unborn baby. Give her courage in times of fear or pain, understanding in times of uncertainty and doubt, and hope in times of trouble. Grant her joy in the birth of her child.
To mothers You have given the great privilege and responsibility of being a child's first teacher and spiritual guide. Grant that all mothers may worthily foster the faith of their children. Help them to grow daily in knowledge and understanding of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and grant them the wisdom to impart this knowledge faithfully to their children, and to all who depend upon them.
Assist all "spiritual mothers", those who, though they may have no children of their own, nevertheless selflessly care for the children of others -- of every age and state in life. Grant that they may know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women, whether in teaching, nursing the faith, or in any other work which recognizes and fosters the true dignity of every human being created in Your image and likeness.
We beseech You to send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children that have died, are ill or estranged from their families, or who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help grieving mothers to rely on Your tender mercy and Your love for them.
We ask your blessing on all those to whom You have entrusted motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit inspire and strengthen them. May they ever follow the example of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, mother of Our Lord, and imitate her faith, her humility, and her self-giving love. May all mothers receive Your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come.
We ask all this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, onto the ages of ages, Amen.