ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter
1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org
January 6, 2019 THEOPHANY
TODAY’S EVENTS: Blessing of Water, 11am; 4pm Nativity Vespers (Old Calendar) at St. Mary Greek with Wonderworking Iveron Icon of Theotokos from Hawaii
Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati Prosfora: anonymous
Fellowship: Lana Kartak family Head Greeters: Bob Baffa, Joe Weiser
Wednesday 01-09 Bible Study 1:30PM
Thursday 01-10 MEOCCA meeting at St. Mary OCA Cathedral in Minneapolis 11:00AM
Saturday 01-12 VESPERS 5:00PM
Youth Family Night 6:00PM
Orthodox Game League at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in St. Paul 7:00PM
Sunday 01-13 ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY – SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY 9:30AM
Vasilopita Celebration 11:00AM
Monday 01-14 Catechism Class “Introduction to Orthodox Christianity” with Fr. Rick 7:00PM
Tuesday 01-15 Parish Council meeting 6:30PM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Wonderworking Icon: Resurrection Russian Orthodox Skete of Fridley is bringing the Iveron version of Portaitissa “Lady of the Door” Theotokos icon to St. Mary Greek this afternoon for the Nativity of our Lord (Old Calendar) 4pm Vespers and tomorrow, Monday January 7th for 10am Liturgy. May she bless us!
Note from Treasurer: please include designations on checks when making contributions to the church. A few words on the memo line noting the purpose of the check (e.g. 2018 stewardship, 2019 stewardship, memorial, capital campaign) is extremely helpful for bookkeeping, thank you!
Think About It: God’s desire to save you is greater than that of your enemy to destroy you. St. Nicodemus the Hagorite (+1809)
Bible Study: meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3pm in the conference room at church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Youth Event this Saturday! Youth ages 3-18 (and parents): Join us for an evening of fun and faith Saturday January 12 beginning with Vespers at 5:00pm at church, followed by dinner and activity. Youth make Vasilopita while learning about the story of St. Basil and the importance of giving (as well as having fun!)
Roselawn Cemetery Lots: 2019 prices are: $6,120 for a Monument Lot (2 graves); $3,825 for a Flat Lot A (2 graves); $2,167.50 for a Flat Lot B (1 grave). Single graves have limited availability. Contact church today!
Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. Cost of project is $118,647. We have raised over $71,755 from our parishioners and friends. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!
St. Mary’s OCA Winter Camp: for grades 6-12 at Camp St. Croix, January 18-21, 2019. Theme is “The Sacrament of Marriage”. Fees and more information posted in social hall. Contact Matushka Lisa Tucci with questions, lisatucci71@gmail.com or 612.599.0814.
Youth Minister Position Open: applications are now being accepted for this part time position. To apply, email a resume, cover letter and two references to Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org.
New Sunday School Director! Thank you to Miss Aida Abebe for graciously volunteering to lead our religious education program, working with our current teachers: Lerah McCullough (PreK), Carol Alexis (K-1), Lama Ghazi (2-3), Stephen Kanavati (4-5-6), Anastasia Mastrogiorgis (7-9) and Nick Kanavati & Vicky Paraschou (10-12). Please support Aida and the teachers by frequently bringing your children to liturgy and Sunday school.
New Youth Advisors: Several youth advisors have volunteered for various age groups to organize events and work with parents and children to increase participation. GOYA Anastasia Mastrogiorgis and Phyllis Kapetanakis will lead junior high and high school (7-12 grades). JOY Maria Paraschou and Katherine Cabieses will lead elementary ages (K-6 grades). HOPE: Lerah McCullough and Joanna Tzenis will lead preschool ages.
Intro to Orthodoxy- the cooperative catechism program of classes begins January 14th and will continue on Monday evenings 7-9pm for twelve weeks. This is an excellent opportunity to refresh the knowledge of our Orthodox Christian Faith. Classes are open to everyone but required for those planning to convert. For more info and to register online, visit https://tinyurl.com/yccynqsr
Church Fathers Speak: Any freetime during the day? Use them to read the Scripture and pray in order to fortify the soul, especially if it has become exhausted through activity in the midst of a world of vanities. St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (+1867)
Basketball Practices: Sundays, Jan 6-Feb 3 from 12:30-2:30pm at Saint Paul Academy lower school, 1150 Goodrich Ave. Coaches: GOYA Boys- Milam Paraschou & George Mastrogiorgis, JOY Coed- Elena Condos, Women- Anastasia Mastrogiorgis, Men- Luke Simon. Contact Milam or George with questions. All family participants are encouraged to register for the tournament and book hotels as soon as possible. We look forward to another great family basketball tournament in Milwaukee, WI on the weekend of February 8-10.
2019 Basketball Tourney: hosted by Annunciation Church, Milwaukee, February 8-10. Early team registration for Men, Women, Boys, Girls & JOY teams is $300 until Dec 15; $400 afterwards. For Player Registration, click here. Meal registration is separate click here.: Early Bird Weekend Package is $90/adult, $55/child until Jan 14; afterwards $110/adult, $60/child until Jan 28. Rooms $119/night at the Brookfield Hotel, 375 South Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, 262-364-1100 or here. Questions? Email 2019greekbball@gmail.com.
Patristic Wisdom: The spirit of lukewarmness reigns. There’s no manliness at all. We’ve been spoiled by good. How does God tolerate us? Today’s generation is one of indifference. There are no warriors…We have to witness our Faith with boldness, because, if we continue to remain silent, we’ll have no answer in the end. In these difficult days, each must do what is in their own power and leave what’s out of their power to God. St. Paisios the Athonite (+1994)
IOCC Job Opening in Minneapolis: the IOCC US Field Office is hiring a full time Administrative Project Assistant. Please see posting in social hall or https://www.iocc.org/careers/administrative-project-assistant. Deadline for application is January 18.
Things Sound Different- yes, that’s right, the Sunday liturgy is sounding a bit different the last few months. That’s because the choir is using minor mode from the Cherubic Hymn through the Epiklesis/Consecration. Although this is new to our community, it is not innovative or novel in the Tradition. Many Greek Orthodox churches throughout the United States and the world do this. Minor mode conveys a mystical and penitential quality that is so important to our Orthodox Christian phronema (mindset). Fr. Rick has encouraged this addition to the choir’s repertoire for many years. Recently, they accepted the challenge and are working hard to execute it better each and every Sunday. Please support them and seek to understand what minor mode is all about.
Wisdom from the Fathers: Whoever carries within themselves the peace of the Holy Spirit brings peace to others as well. And whoever carries an evil spirit within, brings evil to others. St. Silouan the Athonite (+1938)
Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.
Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.
Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week. Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org