ORTHROS BEGINS AT 8:30AM
Website Links: Visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for our online streaming links.
To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Digital Chant Stand at https://digitalchantstand.goarch.org.
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.
WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR COMMUNITY!
We are grateful that you have joined us for prayer and worship. Please join us after the Divine Services in our Fellowship Hall for our Hospitality Hour hosted by our Parish Council and supported by the Orthodox Life Institute & the Vlachakis family.
Memorial Services Today For:
Demetrios Vlachakis – 3 years May his memory be eternal.
The Artoclasia Service today is offered by the Orthodox Life Institute in honor of the feast day of Mother Maria of Paris, its patron Saint.
PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES FOR FATHER PETER AND PRESVYTERA KAREN!
As Fr. Peter celebrates his final Liturgy at St. George, it is with much emotion and affection that we say farewell to Fr. Peter and Presvytera Karen and let them know we will miss them. Nevertheless, we wish them both success in their new positions. We look back and acknowledge the difficult times of the COVID pandemic that you steered us through as well as all the beneficial things you have done for us as a parish. We THANK YOU Fr. Peter for your loving service to our beloved Church and look forward to the future. Finally, we want to wish you both happy farewell, good health, and abundant blessings from the Lord as you move on to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Kansas City, MO.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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. Fr. Peter will be preparing a second chalice and offering Communion at the end of Liturgy for those with health concerns. Those who want to receive with a separate spoon may wait in the first pew until after the distribution of the andithoron.
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.
Is Any Among You Sick? - James 5:14:
If you are sick or hospitalized and need prayers or a visitation, or have any other pastoral need, do not hesitate to call Fr. Peter. He can always be reached by calling the church phone number, 973.779.2626. If he is not in, please leave a message.
Mark Your Calendar:
July 17th – July 23rd …..Camp Good Shepherd – CAMP Linwood MacDonald, Sandyston, NJ
Friday, August 19th…….NNJ YAL Kickoff Bash – 7:30PM at The Waterside, N. Bergen, NJ
Sunday, September 11th ……….Ministry Registration Sunday
Thursday, September 13th …….Greek School Classes Begin
Sunday, September 18th ………Metropolis of NJ Holy Cross Celebration in Ocean Grove, NJ
Saturday, September 24th ……. Beefsteak Fundraiser
Sunday, September 25th ………Sunday School Begins
St. George Greek School:
Classes will begin on Thursday, September 13, 2022 starting with an Agiasmo blessing that day. We are all looking forward to welcoming all of our returning and new students! As a friendly reminder, there will be a $50 discount per family to all registration forms returned by 8/12/2022! Drop them off at the church office or mail in your registration forms with payments.
St. George GOYA:
GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association), is the ministry to Orthodox Christian teenagers for the purpose of fellowship, worship, service, and witness. The goal is to create a place where young people come to learn and grow as Orthodox Christians through a program of athletics, retreats, outreach and social activities. Orthodox Christian teenagers, (ages 12-18) who are in 7th through 12th grade are eligible and welcome to participate. Registration/athletics will begin in August and our first meeting will be in late September. For questions or to be added to our email list please contact us at: GOYA@StGeorgeClifton.org.
St. George JOY:
JOY (Junior Orthodox Youth), is the ministry to youths in grades three through six. This program allows kids to come together in fellowship each month while engaging in various social, artistic and athletic activities with the goal of strengthening their relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Additional information and a meeting schedule to follow. Please email JOY@StGeorgeClifton.org to be added to the mailing list.
Church School:
We are grateful to our dedicated staff of volunteers who do an amazing job teaching religious education to our youth. As we plan ahead for September, we invite others to join our team. No teaching experience is needed to help make a difference in the life of a child! All are welcome. Please email us at: churchschool@stgeorgeclifton.org if you are interested or would simply like more information on how you can help. Thank you!
Today, the church commemorates a 20th century martyr and theologian. Mother Maria of Paris, a French Orthodox Nun, sought to apply the gospel to everyday life. She was zealous in her attempt to restore the Christian Life to the Orthodox Christians of France. Her writings reflected a deep love for the church and also included a deep love for Jesus Christ. In the 1930's in Paris, she established a convent whose nuns would serve in the rehabilitation of prostitutes, battered women and neglected children. She also established a soup kitchen for anyone in need and helped everyone who came to the door regardless of their creed. After the Nazis invaded France in 1940, Mother Maria built a network of doctors, firemen, policemen and sanitation workers that helped her rescue 1200 Jewish children from deportation to concentration camps. These children were sent over the mountains to Spain and eventually to Palestine which is now Israel. Mother Maria was betrayed to the Nazis by an informer, and along with her nuns and her chaplain, was eventually sent to Ravensbrook, a concentration camp for women. After many sufferings Mother Maria and her nuns were murdered in the gas chambers in August of 1944. Her chaplain was sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp and was murdered there. In 1996, Mother Maria, her nuns and her chaplain were canonized by the Orthodox Church. She is a patron Saint of the poor, the afflicted, the neglected and those seeking a deeper spiritual life. Mother Maria is the patron Saint of the Orthodox Life Institute because of her devotion to truth and the church.
Feast Day Flower and Icon Donations:
During the Ecclesiastical year, our Church comes alive with many Liturgical services. It is customary in our faith to decorate icons used during special Feast Day services with flowers. We encourage our parishioners to offer this special donation as a unique and appropriate way to remember departed friends and relatives, as well as an expression of love on behalf of thier family and prayers for their loved ones. Donations are now being accepted for the following Feast Day celebrations:
- August 6 – Transfiguration of our Lord $150
- August 15 – Kimisis Tis Theotokou – Donated by Alexandra Kleiner in memory of her mother Angela Georgeou
- September 14 – Elevation of the Holy Cross $150
- November 9 – St. Nectarios the Wonderworker $500
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 expenses 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 Meletios Lendis for sponsoring July 17th, the feast day of St. Marina, for the health and protection of his family; the Orthodox Life Institute for sponsoring July 17th, the feast day of Mother Maria of Paris; Alexandra Kleiner for sponsoring July 20th, the feast day of Prophet Elias, in memory of her father Achilles Georgeou; and the St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Society for sponsoring July 26th, the feast day of their patron Saint, St. Paraskevi. Remember that as Orthodox Christians, we are also stewards of our Church family – those with whom we worship, fellowship and serve the community. For more information about the program, speak to one of our Parish Council members, Ministry Leaders or call the church office.
Our Church, our Spiritual Home:
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1
Whether you are new to our parish or have been a steward for many years, welcome to St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Clifton, New Jersey! We invite you and your family to participate in our spiritual, outreach, social and youth ministries. Help us grow as the Body of Christ by dedicating your time, talent, and treasures. The Church is here for you and your family to proclaim the Orthodox Faith and make our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Church the center of your family’s life! Sincere thanks to those who have already made their Stewardship Commitment for 2022. Your dedication and generosity are much appreciated and allow us to continue our many ministries here at St. George, our spiritual home.