News and Events

Upcoming Events
Today, Nov 3
Daylight Saving Time ends, Orthros 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am, Sunday School 10:30am, Greek School 11:45am, FOCUS House 4:30pm, Greek Dance Practice 4:30pm

Tuesday, Nov 5
Youth Advisors Meeting 6:30pm, Intro to Orthodoxy Catechism Class 7-9pm

Wednesday, Nov 6
Bible Study 1:30pm, Strategic Planning Meeting 6:30pm

Saturday, Nov 9
+St. Nektarios, Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am, Pan-Orthodox Womens Tea at St. Mary’s OCA 2pm, Vespers 5pm, Hellenic Post 129 100th at St. Mary’s GOC in Mpls 5:30pm

Sunday, Nov 10
Orthros 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am, Sunday School 10:30am, Philoptochos Meeting after service, Greek School 11:45am, Budget Meeting 12:00-2:00pm, Greek Dance Practice 4:30pm

Patriarchate Sunday
Philoptochos will offer a collection at the end of service. Donations will go to benefit the philanthropic programs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

75th Anniversary Albums Available for Pick Up
The wait is over! If you purchased a family page and have not yet picked up your complimentary copy(ies) of the album, please stop by the church during office hours. Albums are also available in the bookstore for $20. Thank you for your patience!

Fresh Phyllo
Today is the last day to order fresh phyllo from Philoptochos! See attached flyer.

Help Feed the Hungry
Join our St. George church family today at 4:30pm as we will be the first catering team to serve a meal at FOCUS's new home (550 Rice Street, St. Paul). Questions? Please contact George Mastrogiorgis or a member of Missions & Benevolence.

Twin Cities YAL Event
Young adults 18-35 are invited to a Harvest Pack event to pack 30k meals today following Liturgy at St. Mary’s GOC in Mpls. Questions? twincitiesyal@gmail.com.

Next Daytime Bible Study
Wed. Nov. 6, 1:30pm at church. Passage to be studied is Matthew 3:13 - 4:17. All are welcome! Questions? Contact Kathy Ryan 651.292.9948.

Pan-Orthodox Ladies Tea
Sat. Nov. 9 at 2pm, St. Mary’s OCA Cathedral, Parish Center. See attached flyer.

American Legion Hellenic Post 129 100th Anniversary
Sat., Nov. 9. See attached flyer.

Parish Council Elections
Please prayerfully consider serving as a member of our Parish Council. See attached letter and form.

2020 Budget Meeting
Sun. Nov. 10, after coffee hour between 12pm-2pm. A representative(s) from each ministry is encouraged to attend to discuss 2019 budget concerns and requests for 2020.

Twin Cities IOCC Dinner
Thurs. Nov. 14 at St. Mary’s GOC in Mpls. 6pm Pan-Orthodox Vespers, 6:30pm Reception, Dinner & Presentations. Learn how your support is helping families around the world. Tickets $45 – RSVP by Nov. 1 at iocc.org/minneapolis. Questions? MaryKay Twito at mktwito@msn.com or 612.749.3969.

Support the Medical Crisis Program...
by attending Townie Tues. on Nov. 19, 3pm-9pm at the Lift Bridge Brewery, 1900 Tower Dr. W, Stillwater. Every beer (or root beer) sold raises $1 for the Medical Crisis Program. www.liftbridgebrewery.com/events/

Philoptochos Bake Sale
Sat. Nov. 23 10:30am-4pm & Sun. Nov. 24 11:30am-2pm

2020 Youth Winter Camp!
See attached flyer.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Martyrs Ascepsimas, Joseph & Aeithalas in the 4th Tone

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

The protection of Christians unshameable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, do not turn from the prayerful cries of those who are in sin; instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercession and speed now to supplication as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.

Saints and Feasts

November 03

Acepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter, & Aeithalas the Deacon, Martyrs of Persia

Saint Acepsimas, a bishop, Saint Joseph, a presbyter, and Saint Aeithalas, a deacon, suffered exceedingly cruel torments and martyrdom during the reign of Sapor II, King of Persia (325-379). See also April 17.

November 03

Dedication of the Temple of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda

The consecration of the Church of Saint George in Lydda of Palestine took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great. See also April 23.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

5th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Gospel Reading

5th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 16:19-31

The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"

Wisdom of the Fathers

By these words it is surely shown that in his [the rich man] daily feasting he had frequently sinned by his tongue, seeing that, while burning all over, he demanded to be cooled especially in his tongue. Again, that levity of conduct follows closely upon gluttony sacred authority testifies ... For the most part also edacity leads us even to lechery, because, when the belly is distended by repletion, the stings of lust are excited.

St. Gregory the Dialogist

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Chapter XIX, 6th century

The man who has once chosen pleasure in this life, and has not cured his inconsiderateness by repentance, places the land of the good beyond his own reach; for he has dug against himself the yawning impassable abyss of a necessity that nothing can break through.

St. Gregory of Nyssa