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 our Hospitality Hour sponsored by the Niforatos family in memory of their beloved family member.
Memorial Services Today For:
Antonios Prekas – 6 months Iakovos Niforatos – 1 year
Maurice Salib – 13 years
May their memory be eternal.
Liturgical Schedule:
Monday, April 15th – Great Compline……………………………6:30PM
Wed., April 17th – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (presentation follows)...……..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
Sunday, May 5th – Great & Holy Pascha - The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – The Great Paschal Vespers of AGAPE & St. George celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan APOSTOLOS of NJ..............11:00 AM
Monday, May 6th – Saint George the Great Martyr, Feast Day of our St. George Community, Orthros & Divine Liturgy …………8:30AM (Followed by a luncheon in our Fellowship Hall)
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:
Sun., April 14th ……Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC – Bus departs at 12:00pm St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Sandwich Sunday
Wed., April 17th ………...Pre-Sanctified Liturgy & Lenten Presentation – 6:30PM
Sat., April 20th…………...Daughters of Penelope Walk MS Fundraiser
Tues., April 23rd………….Making Palm Crosses, 4:00 – 7:00PM
Wed., April 24th………….Lenten Presentation – 6:30PM
Thurs., April 25th.………..Making Palm Crosses, 4:00 – 7:00PM
Sat., April 27…………….Rise Against Hunger
Sun. April 28th …………..Palm Sunday Luncheon Philoptochos Tsoureki Sale Pick-up
Sun., May 5th ……………Great & Holy Pascha – His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos will preside over the Agape Services Greek School Easter Egg Hunt
Mon., May 6th……………St. George Feast Day
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.
The Lenten Presentation Series at St. George:
- 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.
Easter Candles/Lambades:
Our St. George Greek School will once again be selling beautiful Easter Candles/LAMBADES! The Lambades will be on sale following church services and the cost is $25. Please email greekschool@stgeorgeclifton.org for any further questions regarding orders or sales. All proceeds will benefit our St. George Greek School. Kali Sarakosti!
Sunday School News:
- THANK YOU! We were totally overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of an anonymous donor who dropped off a 75-inch Samsung TV and two Apple TV units for our Sunday School! We had a second TV donated as well and a portable TV stand was also shipped to the church! We were also able to purchase a second stand. We are so very grateful for the generosity of these donor(s) and truly appreciate their amazing gifts!
- Making of Palm Crosses: Our Sunday School students will be taught how to make crosses from a palm during class time on Sunday. April 21st. On Tuesday & Thursday, April 23rd & 25th we will be meeting in the lower hall to continue making palm crosses from 4:30pm – 7:00pm. On Saturday of Lazarus, April 27th, we will make additional crosses as needed. PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US!
- GOOD FRIDAY: On Friday, May 3rd Myrofora/Flower Girls are needed for the afternoon and evening Liturgical Services. Additional details are in the flyer. Please sign up by Palm Sunday.
- HOLY PASCHA: On Sunday, May 5th, no regular classes will be held. This is a family worship day.
- LAST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sunday, May 19th will be our last day of Sunday School. Our 10th graders will "officially" graduate on that day with informal presentations made in the church upon completion of the Divine Liturgy.
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Sandwich Sunday:
Our ladies will be making sandwiches today for the homeless. Our goal is to make a minimum of 225 sandwiches each time. Any donation to help defray the cost is greatly appreciated. It is a wonderful way to remember a loved one, or a special occasion. This month's sandwiches are being sponsored by Fay Pappas in memory of her husband, William; and Nick and Nora Kokozos in memory of their sons, John and Jason. Feeding the hungry is an important tenet of our mission to help the needy.
Agape Vespers Readers Needed:
We are looking for volunteers to read the Resurrectional Gospel reading during the Agape Vespers service on Great & Holy Pascha on Sunday, May 5th. If you can read another language and are able to attend the service, please contact Fr. Peter or the Church Office. During the Agape Vespers it is the tradition of the Church to read the Gospel reading (John 20:19-25) in multiple languages. This is a great way to reinforce the message of the Great Commission of Christ to our own community today.
Red Easter Eggs:
The St. Paraskevi Philoptochos is once again asking that you please remember to prepare Red Easter Eggs and bring them to Church by Good Friday, May 3rd. The eggs will be distributed at the Anastasi service and Easter Sunday Agapi service. Please leave them at the pangari or bring to the upstairs kitchen. All are invited to participate in this simple but meaningful project.
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.