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St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-05-12
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
Fr. Rick's Sermon
News and Events
Bulletin Inserts
Myrrbear
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (651) 222-6220
  • Fax:
  • (651) 225-9276
  • Street Address:

  • 1111 Summit Avenue

  • Saint Paul, MN 55105

Contact Information

Priest Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews

fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org

Administrative Assistant Julie Delton

office@stgeorgegoc.org

Bookstore Steve Arsenault


bookstore@stgeorgegoc.org

Newsletter- Glad Tidings Julie Delton

gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org

Services Schedule

Sunday Morning Orthros/Matins 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Saturday Great Vespers 5:00pm (October thru May); Weekday Services (see Online Calendar, Sunday Bulletin & Monthly Newsletter); Confession (by appointment).

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal 1st Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and bestowing life on those in the graves.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Mode

When You descended to death, O Immortal Life, then, the light of Your divinity destroyed Hades. When You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers cried out, "Glory to You our Christ, the Giver of Life."

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Mode

Lowering Your pure body from the Cross, Joseph wrapped it in clean muslin with fragrant spices and laid it in a new tomb. But on the third day You arose, O Lord, and granted the world Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Mode

Standing by the tomb the angel said to the Myrrh-bearing women: "Myrrh is for the dead; but Christ has shown Himself stranger to death." So go and cry aloud, "The Lord has risen and granted the world His great mercy."

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
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Saints and Feasts

Myrrbear
May 12

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).

Epiphanius
May 12

Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus

Saint Epiphanius was born about 310 in Besanduc, a village of Palestine, of Jewish parents who were poor and tillers of the soil. In his youth he came to faith in Christ and was baptized with his sister, after which he distributed all he had to the poor and became a monk, being a younger contemporary of Saint Hilarion the Great (see Oct. 21), whom he knew. He also visited the renowned monks of Egypt to learn their ways. Because the fame of his virtue had spread, many in Egypt desired to make him a bishop; when he learned of this, he fled, returning to Palestine. But after a time he learned that the bishops there also intended to consecrate him to a widowed bishopric, and he fled to Cyprus. In Paphos he met Saint Hilarion, who told him to go to Constantia, a city of Cyprus also called Salamis. Epiphanius answered that he preferred to take ship for Gaza, which, despite Saint Hilarion's admonitions, he did. But a contrary wind brought the ship to Constantia where, by the providence of God, Epiphanius fell into the hands of bishops who had come together to elect a successor to the newly-departed Bishop of Constantia, and the venerable Epiphanius was at last constrained to be consecrated, about the year 367. He was fluent in Hebrew, Egyptian, Syriac, Greek, and Latin, and because of this he was called "Five-tongued." He had the gift of working miracles, and was held in such reverence by all, that although he was a known enemy of heresy, he was well nigh the only eminent bishop that the Arians did not dare to drive into exile when the Emperor Valens persecuted the Orthodox about the year 371. Having tended his flock in a manner pleasing to God, and guarded it undefiled from every heresy, he reposed about the year 403, having lived for ninety-three years. Among his sacred writings, the one that is held in special esteem is the Panarion (from the Latin Panarium, that is, "Bread-box,") containing the proofs of the truth of the Faith, and an examination of eighty heresies.

Theodorecythera
May 12

Theodorus the Righteous of Cythera

May 12

Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Germanos, who was from Constantinople, was born to an illustrious family, the son of Justinian the Patrician. First he became Metropolitan of Cyzicus; in 715 he was elevated to the throne of Constantinople; but because of his courageous resistance to Leo the Isaurian's impious decree which inaugurated the war upon the holy icons, he was exiled from his throne in 715. He lived the rest of his life in privacy, and reposed about 740, full of days. The fore-most of his writings is that which deals with the Six Ecumenical Councils. He wrote many hymns also, as is apparent from the titles of many stichera and idiomela, among which are those for the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple.

May 12

Removal of the Sacred Relics of Saint Joachim "Papoulakis" of Vatopaidi

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 2nd Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.

In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

They [the women] had followed Him ministering to Him, and were present even unto the time of the dangers. Wherefore also they saw all; how He cried, how He gave up the ghost, how the rocks were rent, and all the rest.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

And these [the women] first see Jesus; and the sex that was most condemned, this first enjoys the sight of the blessings, this most shows its courage. And when the disciples had fled, these were present.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Encyclical of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America

05/09/2019

Following the Apostolic injunction of speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), I have today the great honor to communicate with you in a spirit of truth and love, in order to share with you some important items related to the life and progress in Christ of our holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
https://www.goarch.org/-/encyclical-of-his-eminence-archbishop-demetrios-geron-of-america

Archdiocesan Council Unanimously Approves Letter to Ecumenical Patriarchate

05/10/2019

ATLANTA – The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which is meeting for its regular Spring meeting in Atlanta, May 9-10, 2019, received yesterday a request from the Ecumenical Patriarchate asking for the Council’s opinion according to article 13 of the Charter to be submitted today by 2:00 p.m. EDT.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocesan-council-unanimously-approves-letter-to-ecumenical-patriarchate

Resolution of the Archdiocesan Council

05/10/2019

WHEREAS: We, her faithful children in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, are grateful to our Mother Church for its wisdom in granting us an Archdiocesan Charter, and approving Archdiocesan Regulations, that provide to our beloved Holy Eparchial Synod and to the Archdiocesan Council a specific, meaningful and substantive advisory role in the election of the Archbishop of America;
https://www.goarch.org/-/resolution-of-the-archdiocesan-council

Resolution of Thanks and Appreciation for His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America

05/10/2019

Resolution of Thanks and Appreciation for His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America
https://www.goarch.org/-/resolution-of-thanks-and-appreciation-for-his-eminence-archbishop-demetrios-geron-of-america

Resolution of Thanks and Appreciation for His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane

05/10/2019

Resolution of Thanks and Appreciation for His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane
https://www.goarch.org/-/resolution-of-thanks-and-appreciation-for-his-grace-bishop-andonios-of-phasiane

Process Summary for Election of Archbishop

05/10/2019

Relative Regulations and Charter Articles to the Election of Archbishop
https://www.goarch.org/-/process-summary-for-election-of-archbishop
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Fr. Rick's Sermon

Don’t Be an Atheist (5-5-2019)

   Does it seem like America is becoming atheistic? Are more and more people leaving faith in God altogether? After all, we keep hearing how the ‘Nones’ (those with no religious affiliation) are the fastest growing group in America and that is true. However, research also shows that 90% of Americans believe in some kind of higher power. 56% believe in the God of Jews and Christians. 33% believe in another god or higher power. Only 10% of the American population are strict atheists. Lest we get too elated by that, we should remember that atheists outnumber Orthodox Christians over ten to one in America. As we know, the word ‘atheism’ comes from the Greek ‘atheos’ meaning “without God” or “Godless.”

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/25/key-findings-about-americans-belief-in-god/

   In today’s Gospel (John 20:19-31), from Antipascha or the Second Sunday of Pascha, we encounter the ‘Doubting’ Thomas. The risen Christ appeared to the Apostles when Thomas was not present, thus he did not believe them when they told him. But Thomas was really dabbling in atheism. 25The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." [οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω.]

   Thomas is a prototypical atheist, who puts conditions on their belief or lack thereof. I do not believe in God or I don’t believe God exists because of x, y and z. Or, I will believe in God when l,m,n,o,p and q happen. When someone tells me that they do not believe in God, I like to ask them, “Tell me about this God you don’t believe in.” Most often, they have very strong opinions about the God they don’t believe in. For example, “if God really existed, He would not allow children to suffer and die. Therefore, I don’t believe.” This is the common ‘theodicy’ dilemma about the righteousness or justness of God and it deserves serious, sensitive attention.

   Another example is based more on ignorance or misinformation. Like, “why would I believe in God since religion is the cause of all or most wars.” That actually is not true. In the 20th century, atheistic totalitarian aggressive regimes were the cause of the Great Wars, even killing tens of millions of their own people, especially in Nazi Germany, Leninist/Stalinist Russia, and Maoist China.

   Thus, if one looks and listens closely, the professed atheist very often either explicitly or implicitly acknowledges the existence of God. What does Jesus say about atheism? Later in today’s Gospel, when Thomas was present with the Apostles, the risen Christ appears again: 27Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." [μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός]

   So, Jesus is telling everyone: “Don’t be an atheist! Be a theist and specifically be a Christian, someone who believes in Me, the Christ!” This was not the first time Jesus commanded His disciples regarding belief.

“Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11). So, Jesus not only commands faith in God but He promises that power rests in faith and in prayer.

   In a dialogue with the Pharisees and Jewish leaders, Jesus told them: 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8). Jesus means that we must believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God in order to receive divine forgiveness and eternal life.

   Long before Jesus Christ, King Solomon imparted his wisdom to the Israelites, now recorded in the Book of Proverbs. Regarding faith in God, he said: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3). Solomon’s father, King David wrote in the Book Psalms, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1; 53:1)

   The Apostle Paul upheld the importance of faith saying, 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Corinthians 2). Even more to the point, Paul says,

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11)

   My brothers and sisters, we can see plainly the paramount necessity of faith in God. We should not look down on the atheists, for we all doubt God at one time or another. We have all placed conditions on our faith in Him. We have all been ignorant of His mysterious ways. And even if we have faith in God, it is not enough by itself. For the Apostle James said, 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2). Our faith in God, must be accompanied by good works, helping those who are poor and in need. That help must also extend to those who are poor or bankrupt in faith. Atheism will not save the world. Consider for a moment that someone might profess to be an atheist because they have never experienced the true love of Christ from a Christian. Don’t be an atheist! Reach out and help an atheist know the love of Christ. As it is written at the end of today’s Gospel: 30And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. Amen!

 

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News and Events

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter

1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org

 

May 12, 2019                                                                         3rd SUNDAY PASCHA - MYRRHBEARERS

 

TODAY’S EVENTS: Mother’s Day, St. Alexis Toth Lecture at St. Mary OCA Cathedral 7pm.

 

Memorial: Chris Georgantones (40 days)            Prosfora: anon.           Greeters: Andrea Walkush, Joe Weiser

Epistle: Stephen Kanavati                                      Fellowship: Mary Georgantones

 

Tuesday       05-14     MEOCCA meeting at IOCC field office                                                                   11:00AM

Wednesday 05-15     Youth Ministry meeting                                                                                           6:30PM

Thursday     05-16     AHEPA meeting                                                                                                    7:00PM

Saturday      05-18     Divine Liturgy in Eau Claire, WI                                                                           9:30AM

                                    Spring cleaning church grounds                                                                          10:00AM

                                    Pan-Orthodox Women’s Tea at St. Michael Ukrainian Church                                   3:00PM

Sunday         05-19     ORTHROS (8:15am) &LITURGY-4th SUNDAY PASCHA- THE PARALYTIC                   9:30AM

                                    Sunday School Commencement & recognize Graduates                                      11:00AM

                                    Choir practice                                                                                                 12:00PM

                                    Greek School picnic                                                                                         12:30PM

                                     Greek Dance practice                                                                                           6:30PM

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Blessed Mother's Day! to all our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers and mother-like figures in our lives. We appreciate all that you have done and still do for us!

Fr. Rick Away: this week at Metropolis Clergy Retreat, Holy Cross Seminary in Boston for 25th anniversary of graduation and the Metropolis Strategic Planning Retreat in Chicago. For pastoral emergencies, please call St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, 612-825-9595.

Honor Graduates: please send us info about your high school and/or college graduate no later than Wednesday, May 15, so we can honor them on Graduation Sunday May 19th. Please provide school, diploma, special awards/achievements and future plans.

Think About It: To judge others is a shameless arrogation of the Divine prerogative; to condemn is the ruin of one’s soul.                                                       St. John Climacus (+649)

St Alexis Toth Lecture: today at 7pm, at St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral. Dr Bogdan Horbal, Curator of the Slavic and East European collections at the New York Public Library will speak about Orthodox and Rusyn resources in the library as well as “Lemko Folk & Religious Music on Mainstream American Labels, 1928-1930”. See posting in social hall or contact (612) 781-7667 or info@stmarysoca.org for more information.

Spring Cleaning: will be this coming Saturday May 18th 10am to 2pm. Top priorities include picking-up debris, organizing external storage areas, clearing rooftop and drains, cleaning exterior windows. Please help out.

Pan-Orthodox Women’s Tea: this Saturday, May 18, 3-5pm at St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 505 4th Street NE, Minneapolis. Please bring a dessert or appetizer to share and plan to attend Vespers at 5pm. For more information, contact Julie Pawluk at wdowychyn@q.com.

Next Game Night: Saturday May 18th, 7pm, at St. Mary’s GOC in Minneapolis. The Orthodox Game League invites adults 18+ to learn a new game, play a classic, teach a game, and have fun! Flyer in social hall; contact Nikki Beauchamp 612.910.2943 for details.

Wisdom from the Fathers: If for you disgrace is like praise, poverty like wealth, insufficiency like abundance, they you will not die.                                                         St. Makarios the Great (+391)

Greek School Party! The St George Greek school is having an end of the year party to celebrate another successful year on Sunday, May 19th. We begin at 12:30pm on the side lawn for fun and games. Then we will proceed inside for a potluck luncheon. Everyone is welcome to attend the fun and food!

Pascha Lamb Dinner: We hope everyone who partook of the Pascha lamb dinner, enjoyed it. A big thank you to those who helped prepare the lamb and set the tables and stayed and helped with the cleanup.

College Scholarship Contest:college students and graduating high school seniors are invited to apply for 2019-2020 academic year by submitting an essay discussing the topic: “How does the liturgical/worship life of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church help you draw/grow closer to God?” Awards:1st place $1000 by John Pitsavas Memorial Scholarship; 2nd place $500 and 3rd place $300 by Missions & Benevolence Ministry Scholarship. Deadline is June 15, 2019. Applications and guidelines are available in the church office.

Strategic Planning Update: based on everyone’s input, the mission statement was recently finalized "St. George Greek Orthodox Church: A Christ-centered community that inspires faith and worship, cultivates spiritual growth and fellowship and encourages benevolence and outreach.” We now move into our next phase, which is called a SWOT survey. We invite your feedback about Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats regarding our parish community. Complete survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9LH9FG

Patristic Wisdom: To a person weak in mind and proud, nothing is to his liking. He gets angry, enraged, troubled, grumbles and doesn’t receive beneficial things with thanks.   Elder Paisius of Sihla (+1990)

Roselawn Memorial Day Service Rescheduled: Since Fr. Rick will be giving the invocation and benediction at the overall Memorial Day program at Roselawn Cemetery on Monday May 27th, 10-11am, Memorial prayers at the Greek Orthodox section will take place the same day at 11:15am. Parishioners and friends are encouraged to participate in both services. Notice- we will NOT have prayers on Sunday May 26.

St. Mary’s Summer Camp 2019: Registration now open; fee is $495. Registration closes Thursday May 23 at 4:30pm. For more info visit https://stmaryscamp.com/summer-camp/ Camp will be held at Camp Wapogasset in Amery, WI from Saturday June 29 to Friday July 6. Every St. George Camper will receive $100 assistance!

Church Fathers Speak: Get a good grip on prayer. Don’t pray carelessly or lukewarmly. Prayer is everything. Without prayer expect a general decline, going from one fall to another. Rather, hold on to prayer with all your strength, especially during times of temptation and you will overcome the devil.   Elder Ephraim of Arizona

FOCUS MN Blessing & Open House: on Saturday June 1 from 10am to 12 pm. All are invited to attend. Please hold all clothing donations until after June 1st. We are accepting these food items: oatmeal/cereal, mac & cheese, peanut butter, jelly, pasta and sauce. Please watch future bulletins for further updates.

Metropolis Listserv Sign-Up: His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael personally invites all of us to sign up with the Metropolis of Chicago listserv in order to receive announcements, news, and messages directly from His Eminence. Please honor the request of our chief shepherd and help strengthen the bonds within our Holy Metropolis. Fr. Rick and the Parish Council strongly encourage you signup. http://chicago.goarch.org/signup.

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

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Bulletin Inserts

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