ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter
1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org
July 14, 2019 FATHERS OF THE 4TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
TODAY’S EVENTS: none.
Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati Prosfora: Rita Kanavati
Fellowship: Mike & Nanette Gomez Greeters: Joe Weiser, Bill Clemons
Tuesday 07-16 Parish Council Meeting 6:30PM
Thursday 07-18 Greek Festival meeting 6:30PM
Saturday 07-20 Youth Canoeing on Lake Calhoun 6:30PM
Sunday 07-21 ORTHROS (8:15am) &LITURGY-5th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW 9:30AM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Welcome! To Fr. John Kostas who is substituting for Fr. Rick today while he is on vacation.
Thank you! Fr. Rick and Presvytera Jane thank everyone for a joyous and memorable farewell. The gifts and expressions were generous and thoughtful, especially the video and framed signed collage of photos from the youth, as well as the individual icons. We appreciate all the effort and hard work that went into the preparations including the luncheon, set-up of the social hall, the program and speeches. We will miss you all!
Pastoral Emergencies: Fr. Rick is on vacation for the next two weeks. Substitute priests will serve Sundays July 14, 21. Fr. John Kostas will cover any pastoral emergencies. He can be reached at 651-226-5012.
Historic Visits: Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago visited St. Mary Summer Church Camp last week and that marked the first time in the camp’s 70-year history a Greek hierarch has been with the kids and staff during for camp. In addition, our new Archbishop Elpidoforos of America visited the Metropolis of Chicago last weekend with several important events including lunch with clergy, liturgy at Annunciation Cathedral, Fanari Camp and St. John Chrysostom Monastery. Hopefully, the Archbishop will visit the Twin Cities for Clergy-Laity.
Think About It: Anyone who has received a gift from God, and is ungrateful for it, is already on the way to losing it. St. Peter of Damascus (12th cent.)
Calling All Youth: Join your friends for summer fun- canoeing on Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska)! Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 20th around 6:30 pm and watch your emails for an evite!
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.
Baptism & Chrismation: of Panagiotis Telemachus, son of Christoforos Christoforides & Emily Connolly, on July 6, 2019. Godparents are Misael & Lisa Jordan. Congratulations to all!
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: Although we don’t know why everything that happens to us is sent by God as a blessing, we should be convinced that everything happens to us for our good. St. Basil the Great (+379)
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: When you want to resolve a complex problem, seek God’s will in the matter, and you will find a constructive solution. St. Mark the Ascetic (5th cent.)
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!
Update your Festival Signs! It’s time to put out your festival yard sign! If it doesn’t say AUGUST 17-18, please bring it in for a free date change.
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. A mailing went to all members of our community last week. Any questions? Please contact Alexis Bighley.
Wisdom from the Fathers: Spiritual health equals pure thoughts, an enlightened mind, and a purified heart that unceasingly harbors Christ and Panagia. St. Paisios the Athonite (+1994)
Discounted Festival Tickets are now available for sale. Don't wait, purchase $12 worth of tickets for only $10 until July 31. See a festival representative in the social hall on Sundays.
Youth Minister Position Open: applications are being accepted for this part time position. Email a resume, cover letter and two references to parish council president George Mastrogiorgis at gmastrogiorgis@yahoo.com
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; next meeting is July 24th in the conference room at church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Photos Updated! Through May 2019 on parish website www.stgeorgegoc.shutterfly.com.
Sermons Updated: on website through May 12, 2019. http://stgeorgegoc.org/pastors-corner/fr-ricks-sermons/
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 interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, 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, avoiding sin 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). Catechumens and penitents are encouraged to seek a blessing from the priest during Holy Communion. 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
NEW YORK – During his multi-day visitation of the Metropolis of Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophros of America, accompanied by Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, made a pilgrimage to the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gračanica-Midwestern America.
NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros received today a letter of congratulations from President Donald Trump for his enthronement as Archbishop of America.
LITCHFIELD, Conn. – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was received with much enthusiasm, joy and love; and repeated exclamations of AXIOS, as he made his first Archpastoral visit yesterday, July 11, 2019, to Camp Saint Paul, the Direct Archdiocesan District’s youth camp located in Connecticut’s scenic Berkshire Mountains.
