ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter
1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org
February 24, 2019 SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON
TODAY’S EVENTS: Children’s dance practice 12:15pm; Greek Dance practice 4:30pm.
Memorial: Joanna Angelis (40 days) Prosfora: Irene Loudas Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati
Greeters: Jon Kennedy, Andrea Walkush Fellowship: Family of Joanna Angelis
Monday 02-25 Catechism Class “Church II-Councils, Creeds, Bible, Tradition” w/ Fr. Wojcik 7:00PM
Wednesday 02-27 Bible Study 1:30PM
Youth Ministry meeting 6:30PM
Saturday 03-02 VESPERS 5:00PM
Sunday 03-03 ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY – JUDGMENT SUNDAY 9:30AM
MEATFARE
Youth Oratorical Festival 11:00AM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
2020 Basketball Tourney: will be hosted by our parish here in Saint Paul, MN on February 7-8-9, 2020. Several persons already volunteered to serve on planning committee and parish council approved at last meeting. The last time we hosted was 2012. Contact Fr. Rick or George Mastrogiorgis to volunteer.
Fresh Phyllo - Philoptochos is taking orders for FRESH phyllo following liturgy today and March 3, 10. It will be ready for pick up March 24. Forms will be available on-line and at church. If you have any questions, please contact Presbytera Jane at janedono1@gmail.com. Make your holiday baking easy with FRESH PHYLLO!!
Learn Greek Dancing: The Greek School will be teaching kids Greek folk dancing after Sunday liturgies at 12:15pm in the social hall. The dance practices are in preparation for the Greek Independence Day program on Sunday, March 24 and the Festival of Nations (May 2-5) Please contact Angela or Stella for more information.
Think About It: Sorrow is given to us on purpose, to cure us of sin. St. John Chrysostom (+407)
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!
Lent Approaches: next Sunday is Meatfare when we start fasting from meat products to prepare for the start of Great and Holy Lent on March 11th. Start planning now how you will intensify prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
New Sunday Social Hour Coordinator: Thank you to Rita Kanavati for assuming this important task! Please contact Rita at ritakanavati@comcast.net if your family or group would like to host a Sunday Social Hour.
Lenten Lectures- Wednesday theme is Christian Italy in which Fr. Rick shares images, memories and history from his recent trip including Venice, Florence, Sienna, Pisa & Rome. Friday’s theme is Patrology and Patristics: Church Fathers in Orthodoxy with various speakers covering the Apostolic Fathers of the 1st cent (Fr. Thaddeus Wojcik), Cappadocians of the 4th cent (Fr. Andrew Morbey), Greek Fathers (Fr. George Dokos) and the Syriac/Desert Fathers (Fr. Paul Wesche). Each preceded by Presanctified Liturgy & Lenten meal.
2019 Lenten Meal Sign-up Sheet: please sign up in the social hall to host the 7:30pm community meals individually or with a group on Wednesdays (March 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 10) and Fridays (March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12) during Great Lent. Potluck meals are scheduled for Lazaros Saturday and Holy Friday. Thank you!
Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. Cost of project is $118,647. We have raised over $78,305 from our parishioners and friends. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!
Stewardship 2019: Theme is “All things are possible to the one who believes in Christ” (Mark 9:23). 60 pledges have been received averaging $1,844, total $110,695. Three things to do: 1) pray for God’s inspiration and guidance, 2) plan-budget stewardship first, 3) give generously and sacrificially, at least three percent (3%) of gross yearly income. We thank you for supporting the ministries of our parish!
Lenten Retreat: our 14th annual St. Gregory Palamas Festival of Light Lenten Retreat will be March 22-24 with Fr. Moses Berry speaking on African Americans and Orthodox Christianity. Fr. Moses will share his life journey into Orthodoxy (Friday evening), Christian History in Africa (Saturday morning) and the African American Experience & Orthodoxy (Sat. afternoon). Potluck lunch on Sat. followed by Vespers.
Summit Avenue Bridge Project: a community open house will be held next Wednesday, Feb 27 from 5:30-7:30pm at the St. Paul Police Dept, 389 North Hamline Ave, St. Paul, where city staff will present an overview of the project to begin in October 2019. See notification posted in social hall, detailing the closure of Summit Avenue over Ayd Mill Road and the anticipated traffic detour.
Church Fathers Speak: He who wants to conquer the world, must take up the rarely used weapon of forgivenss, despite the trouble he may suffer at the hands of the people of this world. Elder Arsenie Boca of Romania (+1989)
MEOCCA Choir Rehearsals for Sunday Lenten Vespers: at St. Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church, on Friday, March 1, 7:15pm and Tuesday, March 5, 7pm. Address is 2210 Franklin Ave SE, Minneapolis. New singers welcome! We will also be forming a MEOCCA Chanters Group this year. Contact MEOCCA Choir Director Mark Wesche at mark.wesche@gmail.com with questions.
Girls Day-Treat: An Orthodox Lenten Retreat for Girls grades 8 – 12 aims to help them grow into womanhood through the teachings of the Church. Twelve Holy Apostles Church in Duluth hosts this day of prayer, learning and fellowship on Saturday, March 9! Please register and see more details at www.12holyapostles.org!
Wisdom from the Fathers: Do not say, “this happened by chance.” In all that exists there is nothing disorderly, nothing indefinite, nothing without purpose, nothing by chance…How many hairs are on your head? God will not forget one of them. Do you see how nothing, even the smallest thing, escapes the gaze of God? St. Basil the Great (+379)
St. Mary’s Lenten Retreat: Friday and Saturday, March 15-16, 2019. This year’s theme is “Talking in Circles: The Orthodox Understanding of Scripture,” led by Fr. John Kostas. See flyer in social hall for details.
Youth Ministry Updates: youth & family events scheduled for March 23rd, April 20 & 26, and May 11. Next organizational planning meeting will be Wed. Feb.27th 6:30pm, then Mon. March 25th 7pm, & Wed. May 15th.
Patristic Wisdom: Contemplate the love of Jesus. The love of Jesus will overpower every other desire. The more we renounce in the natural world, the more the love of God we shall enjoy. Elder Ephraim of Arizona
New Office Hours: effective February 4, the church office will be open Tuesday-Friday, 9am to 5pm and closed on Mondays for a three-month trial period. Give feedback to Fr. Rick or a parish council member.
Choir Practices: on the third Sunday of each month after Divine Liturgy. Also, in preparation for Lent and holy Week- March 12th 6:30 pm, March 18th 7:00pm, March 26th, April 2nd, April 9th – 6:30 pm, April 15th 7:00pm.
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.
Festival of Nations (FON) May 2-5: For over 85 years, the Festival of Nations has inspired people throughout the region to discover more about our world and embrace the rich cultural diversity brought to us by immigrants from around the globe. The St. George community has been involved from the beginning. This event is a fun way to celebrate a culture that many parishioners share, and the proceeds benefit our church and its ministries. Please join us by volunteering at the Greek Café. We need volunteers for all shifts and roles such as food prep, server, clean up, move-in /setup and breakdown/move-out. Use the Sign Up Genius website at the following link to sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5AD2BABFF2-festival4 or contact Tom Lampros. This year’s FON dates, May 2-5, the week after Pascha, avoid Easter and Mother’s Day, so we are expecting good crowds. Learn more about the FON at their website: http://www.festivalofnations.com.
Biblical Symposium: The 2019 Symposium of the Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies (OCABS), will be held March 8-9, 2019, at St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church, in St. Paul. The keynote speaker is Dr. Robert Miller, Ordinary Professor of Old Testament, School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America. A special episode of the Bible as Literature will be recorded live at the symposium. For program details, see flyer in social hall. To register, please visit ephesusschool.org.
Photos Updated! Through December 2018 on parish website www.stgeorgegoc.shutterfly.com.
Metropolis Clergy Laity: The St. George and St. Mary Church communities will co-host in the Twin Cities September 25-29, 2019. Alexis Bighley will co-chair. Hotel is Hyatt Regency in Bloomington.
2019 Pilgrimage to The Holy Land: Tom and Mary Rudquist of St. George Antiochian Church will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land September 17-26, 2019 that includes 3 nights in the Old City of Jerusalem; 3 nights in Bethlehem, and 2 nights in Nazareth. Cost is $1450 plus tips and airfare; includes hotels, transportation, entry fees, all breakfasts and dinners, 2 lunches and boat ride on Sea of Galilee. Limit is 25 participants; please confirm by March 15. For more info contact Tom or Mary at 651-890-6817 or abousean@yahoo.com.
FOCUS MN Update: Volunteers opportunities at new home 550 Rice Street in St. Paul: team leader and workers to renovate kitchen and food shelf area- contact Vera at 651-324-2705 or vsproctor@gmail.com. On Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays 10am – 2pm volunteer to unpack and sort donations, clean, make minor repairs and more. Contact Kathy Schtowchan, 651-343-4183 or k.schtowchan@comcast.net.
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!
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.
Recycle Clear Drinking Cups! reminder to those hosting or attending events in the social hall: the clear cups (for cold beverages) are recyclable! Please recycle them and help save our environment.
Recycle Icons- please do not throw icons, including printed Sunday Bulletins, in the trash. They are holy and sacred images of the saints. Please return them to the church office or social hall to be given to those in need.
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.
Summer 2019 Student Adventures. Prescience is a New York-based provider of Experiential Learning Premium Adventures in Greece for high school (grades 9-12) and college students. Four Adventures are offered between June 16 and July 28. Each two-week Adventure is designed as an exceptional learning experience with extended extracurricular and cultural activities, with Athens and the Aegean Islands serving as living and learning laboratories. For more information, visit www.prescienced.com.
Videos Updated: check our parish YouTube channel to see videos for 2018 Lenten lectures and Lenten retreat. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmLF0t0U6p0ZEBTuGwqFLoQ . Other videos include 75th Anniversary, Introduction to Orthodox Christianity, Holy Land pilgrimage, and previous lectures and retreats.
Sermons Updated: and posted on our website through Februay 3, 2019. More to come, including children’s sermons in 2018. http://stgeorgegoc.org/pastors-corner/fr-ricks-sermons/
Original Materials: must stay on church premises. It is a policy of our parish that no original material (paper, photos, electronic, etc.) is to leave the church. If someone wants or needs something, a copy will have to be made if one does not already exist. This applies to bookkeeping documents, archives and all church records.
Vespers Has Begun! Start off your Saturday evening on the right foot with Great Vespers service at 5pm. It has beautiful hymns about the Resurrection and the Saints of the day, petitions, prayers and readings but only takes 45 minutes to complete. It is an excellent preparation for Sunday Divine Liturgy.
Let Us Commit Ourselves and one Another: We cannot neglect the task of practical preparation to enhance our liturgical participation. Commitment to God and His family (the Church) requires advance planning and sacrifice. It behooves all of us to take seriously our Orthodox Christian Faith by participating the Sunday Divine Liturgy and weekday Lenten services. Let us commit ourselves and one another and our life to Christ our God!
Rise and Shine! Orthros is the sunrise service in the Orthodox Church but probably one of the most neglected. Every individual and family should make an effort to participate periodically. At least, plan to arrive at the beginning of Divine Liturgy. Like Vespers, Orthros has many profound hymns about Jesus' Resurrection and the Saints or Feast of the Day along with petitions, prayers and readings. Orthros begins Sunday morning 8:15am.
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