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.
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 Fellowship Hall for a Lenten Fasolatha Luncheon hosted by our St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Society.
Memorial Services Today For:
Angeliki Paphitis – 6 months Georgia Hadjitoouli – 6 months
Konstantinos Servitis – 2 years Evangelia Servitis – 8 years
All the reposed St. Paraskevi Philoptochos members.
May their memory be eternal.
Liturgical Schedule:
Monday, April 8th – Small Compline…………………………6:30PM
Wednesday, April 10th – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy ……………10:00AM
Friday, April12th – 3th Salutations to the Theotokos…………6:30PM
Monday, April 15th – Small Compline……………6:30PM
Wed., April 17th – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy..........6:30PM
Friday, April 19th – Akathyst Hymn…………………6:30PM
Saturday, April 27th – Saturday of Lazarus………Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM Followed by a luncheon and Rise Against Hunger
Special Prayers During Church Services:
Requests for Memorial Services, Artoclasies, 40-day baby blessings, Fanouropites, etc. are welcomed. We ask that you please let the office know ahead of time so that we can include your special service in the Sunday bulletin.
Get Ready for Pascha:
Come for the sacrament of Holy Confession. “Be ashamed when you commit sin, not when you come to confess it. The one who gets up and continues after each fall is the one who reaches paradise.” ~ St. John Chrysostom
Mark Your Calendar:
Tuesday, April 9th …………….Metropolis of NJ Clergy-Laity Assembly and Philoptochos Convention in Clayton, DE
Wednesday, April 10th ……… Sr. Citizen Luncheon & Lenten Presentation following the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
Thursday, April 11th ………….Endowment Committee meeting – 6:30PM Parish Council Meeting – 7:30PM
Sunday, April 14th ……………Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC
Wednesday, April 17th ……….Pre-Sanctified Liturgy & Lenten Presentation – 6:30PM
Saturday, April 20th…………...Daughters of Penelope Walk MS Fundraiser
Wednesday, April 24th………..Lenten Presentation – 6:30PM
Saturday, April 27…………….Rise Against Hunger
Monday, May 5th ……………..Great & Holy Pascha
May 31, June 1 & 2 …………..Greek Festival
Sunday Sermon:
Please note, that going forward, the sermon will be delivered right after the Gospel reading which means at about 10:00AM. The Divine Liturgy, as you know, begins at 9:30AM and this is the time when all the faithful are called to be in Church. It is an appointment with the most Holy One, will you keep it? Put your best effort forward!
Holy Communion Line:
We remind everyone that the Communion line is to be formed in the center aisle, and once you receive, depart to the right or to the left to return to your seat. Sunday School children and their teachers will come up first. Infants may be brought up to the front of the line at any time. Please remain at your seat, (you may sit if you need to), and enter the center aisle once the Parish Council members indicate that it is time for people in your pew to come up. While you are waiting, you may read the prayers for before Holy Communion on page 76. Once you return to your seat read the thanksgiving prayers for after Holy Communion on page 90. This is one of the most sacred moments of the service, so please treat it accordingly, refrain from talking and be respectful and prayerful. Also, please wipe any excess lipstick from your lips before coming to the Holy Chalice and no chewing gum during services. Thank you.
Sunday of the Holy Cross:
With the help of God, we have reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labor set before us becomes apparent. Therefore, our holy Mother, the Church ofChrist, now brings to our help the All-Holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos:
Will host their annual Lenten Fasolatha luncheon today after Liturgy. As in the past, we ask for a free will donation that you feel is appropriate. All proceeds will benefit the seminarians at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary.
Greek Independence Day Parade Bus:
St. George will be booking a bus, pending interest, to go to the Greek Independence Day Parade on Sunday, April 14, 2024. There are 50 seats available and the cost for the bus is $25 per adult. FREE for children 17 and under who are accompanied by a paid adult. Beautiful weather is forecasted so make your reservations by contacting the church office. However, seats will only be guaranteed when payment is received. The bus will depart from St. George at 12 noon and leave from NYC at approximately 4:00pm. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Lenten Presentation Series at St. George:
- Wednesday, April 10th at 10:00AM – Following the morning Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, Rev. Protopresbyter Father Panagiotis Lekkas of Kimisis tis Theotokou will be speaking in Greek at the luncheon. The topic will be “Finding the Love of God through the Lenten Services of Holy Week.
- Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30PM – Following the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, speaker Agapios Kyritsis, from St. Demetrios in Perth Amboy, will be presenting “Finding the Joys of Heaven at Your Home Parish” and it will be based on practicing our faith through the liturgical schedule and other activities at your local parish.
- Wednesday, April 24th at 6:30PM – Speaker Peter Tarhanidis, from Holy Trinity in Westfield, will be presenting “Finding the Joys of Heaven at Home”, and working on our salvation through our interactions with our family at home.
Philoptochos Tsoureki Sale:
The ladies of the St. Paraskevi Philoptochos will be offering delicious Tsoureki Breads for Easter that are baked, wrapped and individually boxed by the Sisters of Agia Skepi. Only pre-orders will be sold! The cost is $25 for each 2-pound bread. Please make checks payable to St. Paraskevi Philoptochos. Orders must be received by April 21, 2024. Tsoureki will be available for pick-up on Palm Sunday, April 28th after Liturgy.
Stewardship Report:
We have launched the 2024 Annual Giving Stewardship Program and we invite all those who have offered an annual gift in the past to try and maintain or even increase their contribution this year. For those that have never given an annual gift, we need your help. Our community has nearly $40K in monthly expenses and the annual stewardship is the primary program that raises funds for us to meet our obligations. You can make a difference today with your participation. Please visit our website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org to make a gift or pledge. Our community is our common spiritual home, we owe it to God, our founding families, ourselves, our children and their children to sustain, maintain and grow it. We understand that philanthropy is something very personal. Each person is invited to give according to their ability. If you are able, please consider joining one of the following giving levels this year: ($5,000 or more – Grand Benefactors, $2500 – $4,999 – Benefactors, $1,200 – $2,499 – House of Stewards, $800 – $1,199 – Patrons). Of course, whatever you decide to give please know that you have our utmost gratitude and appreciation, and please know our Church is here to serve your each and every need. The important thing to keep in mind is that we need everyone to do something.