ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter
1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org
June 23, 2019 ALL SAINTS
TODAY’S EVENTS: Greek Dance practice 6:30pm.
Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati Prosfora: anonymous
Fellowship: Luke & Krisandrea Rylander Family Greeters: Andrea Walkush, Bill Clemons
Thursday 06-27 Greek Festival committee meeting 6:30PM
Saturday 06-29 Summer Church Camp in Amery, WI (through July 5)
Divine Liturgy in Eau Claire, WI 9:30AM
Sunday 06-30 ORTHROS (8:15am) &LITURGY- SYNAXIS OF TWELVE APOSTLES 9:30AM
Greek Dance practice 6:30PM
Thursday 07-04 Independence Day holiday – office closed
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Welcome! To Fr. Paul Hodge who is celebrating Divine Liturgy while Fr. Rick is New York this weekend for the enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. Fr. Rick will return this evening.
Farewell! Next Sunday, June 30, is Father Rick's and Presvytera Jane's last Sunday at Saint George. Please join us as Father Rick serves his last Divine Liturgy for the community. After liturgy, the Parish Council will host a lunch and program to honor Father Rick and Presvytera Jane's 20 years of dedicated service to Saint George Greek Orthodox Church and to wish them well as they embark on their faithful service at their new parish.
Fr. Perikles Assigned: Metropolitan Nathanael has officially assigned Fr. Perry Kallis to our parish effective August 1, 2019. He will preside at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday July 28th. Presvytera Cassie, and their children: Joshua (8) Demetrios (5) and Penelope (2) are excited to begin their new ministry.
Think About It: God is visiting you when tears come during prayer. Elder Amphilochios of Patmos (+1970)
Apostles Fast- begins tomorrow and goes through Friday June 28th. May God strengthen us through our efforts!
Great grandson born! John Alex to parents Alexis & Stewart Utter; grandson to John Lake and great grandson to Stella Lake. Congratulations to all!
Baptism Invitation: Everyone is invited to the baptism of Panagiotis Telemachus, son of Christopher Christoforides & Emily Connolly, on July 6, 2019 at 11:00 am with reception to follow. Please rsvp via call, text or email. 218.428.0449 or christoforides@gmail.com. Thank you!
Help the Cash Flow this Summer: please continue stewardship contributions throughout the summer to avoid using savings to pay our bills. Costs associated with fulfilling our mission and ministries remain constant throughout the summer. Please don’t wait until the end of the year. Thank you to all for your generous support!
2020 Basketball Tourney: will be hosted by our parish here in Saint Paul, MN on February 7-8-9, 2020. The parish council approved at February meeting and planning committee is formed. The last time we hosted was 2012. For more info or to volunteer, contact tournament co-chairs Milam Paraschou and Dan Simon.
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: When those who praise us (or rather, those who lead us astray) begin to exalt us, we should briefly remember the multitude of our sins. And in this way, we will discover that we do not deserve whatever is said or done in our honor. St. John Climacus (+649)
Stewardship 2019: Theme is “All things are possible to the one who believes in Christ” (Mark 9:23). 110 pledges have been received averaging $1,571, total $172,829. 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!
Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. Cost of project is $118,647. We have raised over $92,281 from our parishioners and friends. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!
Church Fathers Speak: Stand in church as if you are in heaven with the angels and consider yourself unworthy to be praying with your brothers. And be vigilant not to be looking back and forth to observe the brothers and sisters, how they are standing or chanting, but observe only yourself, your chanting and your sins. St. Symeon the New Theologian (+1022)
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!
Festival Yard Signs:Please return your festival yard signs to church to have their date changed- it’s almost time to put them out. If you don’t have a sign, they’re coming soon! Just ask any member of the Festival cmte.
Classroom Clean-up: Sunday School teachers, please clear your classrooms so that they can be cleaned for the summer and used to store supplies for the Greek Festival. Contact Aida with any questions.
Clergy Laity Registration: is now open. Please consider a sponsorship and registering as an observer with choice of a la carte meals. http://chicago.goarch.org/clergy-laity-2019 Everyone is invited to participate in the strategic planning on Friday. St. George and St. Mary Church communities are co-hosting Sept 25-29, 2019.
Wisdom from the Fathers: Only the Holy Spirit can purify the intellect. For unless a greater power comes and overthrows the despoiler, what he has taken captive will never be set free (see Luke 11:21-22). In every way, therefore, and especially through peace of soul, we must make ourselves a dwelling-place for the Holy Spirit. St. Diadochos of Photiki (+500)
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.
Join an IOCC Homebuild Team! In response to hurricanes, 3 one-week projects are scheduled in Texas through August 24, 2019. The only cost is a $100 participation fee and getting to the respective city. Participants arrive on Monday afternoon and depart on Saturday morning; IOCC covers all costs on the ground (room, board, and local transportation). For project dates and locations, see posting in social hall or visit https://iocc.org/take-action/join-action-team/home-build-volunteers. More info DChristopulos@iocc.org
Bible Study: will continue in July on 10th and 24th in the conference room at church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!
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. (Note: there is no July issue; deadline for August issue is July 10) Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week. Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org
As previously communicated to the Faithful by the Archdiocese, after becoming aware of financial irregularities in late 2017, the Archdiocese self-reported its discoveries to governmental authorities in the State of New York. In the Spring of 2018, the Archdiocese was contacted by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Since that time, the Archdiocese has worked cooperatively with their offices.
NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is arriving today June 19, 2019 at 5:25 p.m. at New York’s JFK International Airport. He will be welcomed by Hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, dignitaries, clergy and faithful of the New York Area parishes.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Arrival Remarks on June 19, 2019 at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York.
NEW YORK – Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex M. Azar II will represent the President of the United States at the Enthronement Ceremony of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 11:00 am, at the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral.
Archbishop Elpidophoros received an enthusiastic welcome upon his arrival in the United states as hundreds of faithful from various New York area parishes gathered today June 19, 2019, in the arrival hall of Terminal One, at John F. Kennedy International Airport to welcome their new spiritual leader.
I stand here before you this evening, and I think about all that has transpired in just the past few weeks, and I have to say that I am so happy when I reflect upon my first interaction with the clergy of the Archdiocese, in the phone call of Thursday May 16th, just five days after my election as Archbishop of America.
