ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Fr. Perry Kallis, Pastor – (203) 525-5205 cell - www.facebook.com/stgeorgestpaul
1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org
August 4, 2019 7th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
TODAY’S EVENTS: Greek Dance practice, 6:30pm.
Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati Prosfora: anonymous
Fellowship: Dino & Stephanie Contolatis Greeters: Bill Clemons, Joe Weiser
Monday 08-05 Loaves & Fishes at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church 4:30PM
VESPERS – HOLY TRANSFIGURATION 7:00PM
Tuesday 08-06 ORTHROS (8am) &LITURGY-HOLY TRANSFIGURATION 9:00AM
Wednesday 08-07 Festival Baking – volunteers needed 9:30AM
PARAKLESIS 7:00PM
Thursday 08-08 PARAKLESIS 9:00AM
Greek Festival meeting 6:30PM
Sunday 08-11 ORTHROS (8:15am) &LITURGY-8th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW 9:30AM
Greek Dance practice 6:30PM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Fast of Dormition continues through August 15 for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. All are invited to participate in Dormition fast, refraining from meat and dairy, serving those in need, and encouraged to participate in Paraklesis services!
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!
Baking Volunteer Opportunity: Join our festival bakers in making Greek sweets and pastries on Wednesdays August 7 and 14. Start time is 9:30am- Contact Nanette Gomez, Irene Loudas or Anastasia Mastrogiorgis for details.
Loaves and Fishes: next meal is tomorrow, August 5. Volunteers always welcome and needed. Arrive at 4:30pm; serve 5-6pm; clean-up done by 7pm. Location is St. Matthews, 490 Hall Ave in West St. Paul.
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 St. George GOC would be assigned a new priest, Fr. Perry Kallis. Consequently, the planning process will be postponed until the 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 Fr. Perry adjusts to his new assignment, so that we may all work together toward common goals and outcomes. Contact Peggy Kennedy or Lily Zachariades with questions.
Patristic Wisdom: "True perfection consists in having but one fear: the fear of losing God’s friendship!" Saint Gregory of Nyssa (335-394)
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!
College Scholarship Winners: The winning essay in this year’s John Pitsavas Memorial Scholarship is by John Simon. Thank you to Mrs. Theologia Pitsavas for generously sponsoring this scholarship. Missions & Benevolence scholarships are awarded to Parry Paraschou and Elisabet Samonides-Hamrick. Essayists discussed the topic “How does the liturgical/worship life of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church help you draw/grow closer to God?” and were judged according to adherence to the topic, quality of content, organization of ideas. Congratulations to all!
Wisdom from the Teachers of the Church: "The Lord is quick to forgive the sins of the merciful!" Saint Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938)
Greek Festival: tickets for sale, $10 for $10 worth of food/beverage. Buy them in the social hall 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. Volunteer: invite a friend and consider working one or more shifts! Sign up in the social hall or online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5AD2BABFF2-2019 or email Denise Smith at denisegs@comcast.net. Final meeting: Thursday, August 8th at 6:30pm. Please attend!
Missing Anything? please check the Lost & Found area near the coat rack to claim any missing items, including jackets, costumes, toys. Anything not picked up by August 11 will be donated.
Clergy Laity Update:Sept 25-29, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bloomington, MN, co-hosted by St. George GOC and St. Mary’s GOC. Please consider a sponsorship and registering as an observer with choice of a la carte meals. Registration materials were mailed in early July, or register online at http://chicago.goarch.org/clergy-laity-2019. We have two paid ticket social events – one on Thursday night and one on Friday night, which are open to all parishioners. The entire conference is open to observers (registration required) at no cost unless you plan to join us for a meal, for which there is a charge. There will be many volunteer opportunities over the four day event—watch for announcements! Come join us at the conference for the opportunity to meet His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael and Archbishop Elpidophoros. Contact Alexis Bighley with any questions.
Interested in Hosting? if your family or group would like to host a Sunday Social Hour following Divine Liturgy, please contact Rita Kanavati at ritakanavati@comcast.net or sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca5ad2babff2-social.
Metropolis of Chicago Hands of Mercy campaign: Our Metropolis’ annual giving campaign is meant to provide our Metropolis with the financial stability necessary to operate efficiently and effectively. Unrestricted gifts are directed for greatest needs at the discretion of the Metropolitan and the Metropolis Council. Contributions will support: Religious Ed., Clergy Wellness, Youth Ministries, Mentoring & Leadership plans, Family Care resources, Camping ministries, Hospital & Prison ministries, College Campus ministries. For more information, please visit: www.chicago.goarch.org.
Labor Day Weekend Family Retreat: Join other Orthodox families at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Wisconsin, August 30-Sept 1, 2019. Fr. Josiah Trenham will speak on “Spiritual Athleticism in Family Life”. See posting in social hall or visit https://www.gocfamilysynaxis.org/. Register by Aug 21 (Aug 14 for early-bird rate).
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 info@stgeorgegoc.org.
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.
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. However, 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. Perry at frperry@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be an 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 those refraining from receiving are encouraged to seek a blessing from the priest during Holy Communion. Contact Fr. Perry 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
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce that the audit of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 has been completed. (See financial statements here). The completion of these financial statements confirms that progress in financial accountability is improving as this is the earliest after a year end in over 15 years that audited financial statements have been made available.
GREENLAWN, NY – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Feast of Saint Paraskevi, the Great-Martyr with the Divine Liturgy yesterday, July 26, 2019, at the Greek Orthodox Church of the same name, located in the Greenlawn hamlet of Long Island.
NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros wishing to further promote the value and importance of monasticism in our Οrthodox tradition and the spiritual life of the faithful, decided to convene a Monastic Assembly, on September 21-22, 2019 in the Holy Monastery of Saint Nektarios, in Roscoe, NY.
