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 21, 2019 5th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
TODAY’S EVENTS: Choir practice, 12pm; Greek Dance practice, 6:30pm.
Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati Prosfora: Rita Kanavati
Fellowship: John & Lerah McCullough family Greeters: Diane Anastos, Yodahe Gamada
Wednesday 07-24 Festival baking – volunteers needed 9:30AM
Bible Study 1:30PM
Thursday 07-25 Glad Tidings mailing – volunteers needed 10:00AM
Camp Task Force meeting at St. Mary’s GOC in Minneapolis 6:30PM
Saturday 07-27 Divine Liturgy in Eau Claire, WI 9:30AM
Sunday 07-28 ORTHROS (8:15am) &LITURGY-6th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW 9:30AM
Summer Dance Party – FOCUS MN fundraiser in Mpls 5:00PM
Greek Dance practice 6:30PM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Welcome! To Fr. Thaddeus Wojcik who is substituting for Fr. Rick today while he is on vacation.
40 Day Churching- Christina Andrist and baby Constantine on July 14th. Congrats to all including dad Jesse!
Baptism & Chrismation: of Panagiotis Telemachus, son of Christoforos Christoforides & Emily Connolly, on July 6th. Godparents are Misael & Lisa Jordan. Congratulations to all!
Pastoral Emergencies: Fr. Rick is on vacation for the next week. Fr. John Kostas will cover any pastoral emergencies. He can be reached at 651-226-5012.
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 next Sunday July 28th. Presvytera Cassie, and their children: Joshua (8) Demetrios (5) and Penelope (2) are excited to begin their new ministry.
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!
Think About It: God is always by the side of his children who are in pain. St Paisios the Athonite (+1994)
Historic Visits: Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago visited St. Mary Summer Church Camp 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 Elpidophoros of America visited the Metropolis of Chicago 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.
Strategic Planning Update: the Strategic Planning Committee finalized its mission statement last spring, and initiated a process to determine its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats - commonly known as a SWOT analysis. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that the St. George GOC community would be assigned a new priest, Fr Perry Kallis. Consequently, we will postpone the planning process until the Planning Committee has an opportunity to work more closely with Fr. Perry, as his input, along with the progress of the planning will inform church direction and priorities. Please be patient as we provide Fr. Perry with some time to adjust to his new assignment, so that we may all work together toward common goals and outcomes. If you have any questions, please contact Peggy Kennedy or Lily Zachariades.
Patristic Wisdom: If you wait for only agreeable conditions for salvation, then you will never begin a God-pleasing life. St. Nikon of Optina (+1931)
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 $92,581 from our parishioners and friends. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!
Church Fathers Speak: The fact that I am a monk and you are a layman is of no importance. The Lord listens equally to the monk and to the person of this world provided that they are both believers. He looks for a heart full of true faith into which to send His Spirit. For the heart of every person is capable of containing the Kingdom of God. St. Seraphim of Sarov (+1833)
Greek Festival: discounted tickets are now available for sale. Don't wait, purchase $12 worth of tickets for only $10 through July 31. Buy them in the social hall on Sundays after liturgy, in the office on weekdays, or online at http://www.stgeorgegoc.org/. Lawn 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 this week. Any questions? Please contact Alexis Bighley.
Wisdom from the Fathers: The proud do not wish to live according to the will of God. They prefer to direct their own lives, and they do not understand that man lacks the capacity to direct his/her own life without God. St. Silouan the Athonite (+1938)
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
Lost & Found: please check the Lost & Found area near the coat rack to claim any missing items, including jackets. Anything not picked up by August 11 will be donated.
Summer Dance Partyfor FOCUS Minnesota next Sunday, July 28, 5-8pm at Four Seasons Dance Studio, 1637 Hennepin Ave S (off Loring Park). Yummy Food & Drinks + Ballroom & Swing Lessons + Great Music. Cost is $45 each/$20 students: Website/To Buy Tickets
Bible Study: will continue in July; next meeting is Wednesday, 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!
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
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!
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
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America met yesterday, July 16, 2019 with President Donald Trump at the White House Oval Office.
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.
