ORTHROS BEGINS AT 8:30AM & THE DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 9:30AM
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/
WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY!
We are grateful that you have joined us for prayer and worship. Please join us after the Divine Services in our Fr. John & Presvytera Margaret Orfanakos Fellowship Hall for our hospitality hour.
Liturgical Schedule:
Saturday, February 25th – 2nd Saturday of Souls………Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM
Monday, February 27th – Compline……………………………………6:30PM
Wednesday, March 1st – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy…………………6:00PM
Friday, March 3rd – Salutations to the Theotokos………………6:30PM
Saturday, March 4th – 3rd Saturday of Souls……….........Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM
Special Events During Church Services:
Requests for Memorial Services, Artoclasias, 40-day baby blessings, Fanouropites, etc. are welcomed. We recommend that you please let the office know ahead of time so that we can include your special service in the Sunday bulletin.
Mark Your Calendar:
Monday, February 20th ……Church office closed in observance of President’s Day
Wednesday, February 22nd ………..Fr. Peter serving at St. Nicholas GOC & Shrine in NYC
Saturday, February 25th ……………Metropolis of NJ Altar Server Retreat at St. George GOC in Ocean, NJ from 8:30am – 3:30PM
Sunday, February 26th ……………..Sunday School Bake Sale Forgiveness Vespers Presided by His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia at St. George GOC in Piscataway, NJ – 6:00PM
Monday, February 27th ……………..Clean Monday – Lent Begins
Parish Elementary Oratorical Festival:
Today, our students will proudly present brief songs and prayers for you as they highlight some of their lessons from Sunday School. Our 5th & 6th grades will be featured during the judge’s deliberations at the Parish Oratorical Festival on Sunday, March 19th, so mark your calendars and plan on spending the afternoon with us that day; our youth will inspire you!
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Sandwich Sunday:
Our ladies are again preparing sandwiches for the homeless. Our goal is to make a minimum of 225 sandwiches each time. Any donations to help defray the cost are greatly appreciated. It is a wonderful way to remember a loved one, or a special occasion. This month's sandwiches are donated by Angelo Andreatos in memory of his father, Spiro. Feeding the hungry is an important tenet of our mission to help the needy.
St. George Youth Choir:
Our next rehearsal is Sunday, February 26th at 12:30pm. Children from 1st – 12th grade are welcome.
Earthquake Relief Fund:
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announces the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Earthquake Relief Fund, a fundraising effort by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to provide humanitarian aid to the victims of the recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. To make a donation please visit the following website: www.goarch.org/donate/earthquake-relief-fund. In addition, a second tray will be passed today to collect donations specifically for this purpose.
“In initiating the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Earthquake Relief Fund, the focus of our Archdiocese is to help with both the immediate needs and the longer-term implications of the devastation from the deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. Our Archdiocese will partner with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to identify trusted organizations for aid distribution." - His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros
Sunday School:
Next Sunday, 2/26, our Church School Classes will sponsor their annual bake sale. Parents are asked to support our sale by donating cupcakes, brownies, cakes, snacks and specialty items (no nuts, please). Your donations can be dropped off in the downstairs hall before Church. The children will purchase their Church School snack on that day so please send your children to class with a few extra dollars. Many items will be available for fifty cents. Upon completion of the Divine Liturgy the extra items will be available for purchase by parishioners. Support from all members of the parish would be very much appreciated. Money raised will be used to purchase new projectors and Bluetooth speakers to help us utilize new technology.
Talent Needed:
In an effort to expand our reach and impact as a community of faith, we are searching for volunteers who expertise in communications. Specifically, we would like to organize a committee of individuals comprised of with expertise in social media, writing, photography, graphic design, and film production and editing. If you or someone you know would be a suitable candidate, please contact Parish Council President George Orfanakos at 973-768-4995 or by emailing him at gorfanakos@gmail.com. Initial commitment will be minimal and extend from now until June.
Senior Division St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival – March 19th:
This is an annual, national event started by our own Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos over 37 years ago. Youths are challenged to explore a deeper knowledge of our Orthodox faith, think critically about current issues affecting their lives and how our faith guides them. Participants choose from among 5 topics to write a 3–5-minute speech. First, second and third place winners are selected in both junior (7th–9th grade) and senior (10th–12th grade) divisions. Parish winners can advance to the district, metropolis and then national level if they qualify. Finalists are eligible to receive a Chrysostom Scholarship to Hellenic College. This scholarship provides awards ranging from $2,500 up to $30,000 per year. Registration is FREE and can be done online https://www.goarch.org/-/st-john-chrysostom-oratorical-festival-forms-and-registration. Help is available to participant – for further information contact Morfia Sokolic at msokolic@verizon.net.
Metropolis of NJ Clergy Serving at St. Nicholas GOC & Shrine:
On Wed., February 22nd Fr. Peter will be assisting as one of the area clergy at Saint Nicholas GOC & Shrine in Manhattan from 11:00am to 3:00pm with a Paraklesis service taking place at 1:00pm. We are taking a school bus to St. Nicholas which is now full. On Wed. February 22nd at 10:00am a light breakfast will be served in our fellowship hall for all those that will be traveling to NY. The bus will depart the church at 11:00am sharp and leave from Manhattan at 2:30pm.
Metropolis of NJ Altar Server Retreat:
His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia will speak on the theme “Come, Receive the Light!” The retreat will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 8:30am – 3:30pm at St. George GOC, 1033 W. Park Ave., Ocean, NJ. Register online at www.stgeorgeap.org or call 732.775.2777.
Saturday of Souls:
The next two Saturday of Souls are on February 25th & March 4th. Please bring your own dish of Koliva to the church by 8:45am and place it on the table and submit your list of names to Fr. Peter. If you would like to order Koliva, we are asking for a contribution of $25 per order which will be for a large communal tray of Koliva. Please contact the church office and make arrangements by Thursday before the Saturday of Souls. 973-779-2626 or office@stgeorgeclifton.org.
Memorial Prayers in the Greek Orthodox Church:
For Christians, the act of gathering to pray for those who have died goes back to the earliest days of the Church. Martyrs were honored (for example, placing the Altar Table of a church upon the site where the relics of a martyr were buried); however, gathering at the burial place of a friend or family member was also a common practice among Christians. When we gather today in the Church for a memorial, we are continuing a centuries-old practice. Why do we use ‘kollyva’? In John 12:24, Jesus says: “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The boiled wheat is used as a symbol of our hope in the Resurrection. From the grain that died comes the fruit of eternal life. Why do we call the wheat ‘kollyva’? This name comes from a term commonly used during the fourth century, particularly where the following miracle occurred. The Emperor Julian the Apostate tried to have the fruits and vegetables, for use by Christians who were fasting during Great Lent, contaminated! In a dream, Saint Theodore the Tyron appeared to Patriarch Evdoxios and told him to instruct the faithful to consume only boiled wheat (‘kollyva’). The faithful responded accordingly and were able to continue the fast! This miracle is commemorated annually on the third Saturday of Souls. ~ Father Anthony Stratis / Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Lenten Dinner and Lecture Series:
On Wednesdays during Lent, immediately following the service of Pre-sanctified Liturgy, there will be a Lenten meal hosted by our ministries followed by a presentation from Fr. Peter. Various spiritual themes will be presented and discussed during this Lenten series.
Orthodox Life Institute:
Classes resumed on Wednesday, February 15th at 7:00pm via ZOOM. If you are interested in joining us, send your email address and contact information to Lisa Marcopulos at lmarcopul@gmail.com and we will send you the ZOOM invitation.
Pilgrimage led by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros:
SAVE THE DATE! April 30th through May 12th! The pilgrimage will visit sites in Alexandria, Cairo & Mount Sinai. Call or email to reserve your spot today: 718.721.3808 or stephen@cloudtours.com.
Paradise4Kids.org:
You may have met Fr. Themi, now Bishop Themi, when he visited St. George during Easter 2011 as a missionary priest. His inspiring biography is now available in a book titled “Themi, Apostle to the Hungry”. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Orthodox Mission to the poor and needy in Sierra Leone, Africa. To make a purchase, please visit this website www.arkoudaglobalpress.com.
Sponsor A Day Program:
One way to help the church 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 suggested $250 donation. We would like to thank The Hellenic Musical Society for sponsoring February 5th in memory of Dr. George Tzanakos’ 10-year memorial. For more information about the program, speak to one of our Parish Council members, Ministry Leaders or call the church.
Please consider sponsoring these feast days:
- Monday, February 27th – Clean Monday