Sunday Morning Orthros/Matins 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Saturday Great Vespers & Weekday Services (see Online Calendar, Sunday Bulletin & Newsletter); Confession (by appointment).
Parish Mission Statement: “St. George Greek Orthodox Church is a Christ-centered
Community that:
+SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
8:15AM ORTHROS
9:30AM DIVINE LITURGY
11:00AM VASILOPITA CUTTING
11:15AM Parish Council Oath of Office & Election of Officers
11:30AM Philoptochos Meeting
11:30AM Basketball Practice
11:45AM Greek School
4:30PM Greek Dance Practice
7:00PM Catechism Class "God-Holy Trinity"
6:30PM Bible Study
7:30PM Basketball Tournament Meeting
+FAST DAY
1:30PM Bible Study
7:00PM AHEPA Meeting
+FAST DAY
Youth Winter Camp
+ST. ANTHONY THE GREAT
+STS. ATHANASIOS & CYRIL
5:00PM VESPERS
+ST. MAKARIOS THE GREAT
8:15AM ORTHROS
9:30AM DIVINE LITURGY
10:30AM Sunday School
11:00AM Greeters Meeting
11:00AM DOP Meeting
11:30AM Basketball Practice
11:45AM Greek School
12:00PM Choir Practice
4:30PM Greek Dance Practice
+ST. EUTHYMIOS THE GREAT
The weather is projected to be -10 degrees wind chill at 10:00 am.
Vasilopita Sunday Today
In the fourth century, Saint Basil the Great established various philanthropic institutions, and distributed money to the poor in a discreet manner by placing gold coins in the sweetened bread. The recipients cutting the bread were surprised to find the gold coin, which provided them with material sustenance. These special loaves became known as the bread of St. Basil or Vasilopita. The beautiful tradition of our Orthodox Faith, the “Cutting of the Vasilopita” will be held today. Philoptochos will also be passing a tray and all of the proceeds will be sent to sustain St. Basil Academy, a “home away from home” for young people who come from troubled homes or who are victims of poverty, abuse or abandonment. Your generosity allows these young people to receive an education, feel loved, and have the home that all children deserve. Your generosity to this worthy cause is greatly appreciated.
Parish Council Officer Elections will take place in the conference room immediately following church.
Philoptochos meeting today following coffee hour.
House Blessings
Please contact Fr. Perry to have your house blessed for Epiphany! No complicated planning or preparation necessary. You provide a bowl of water and make sure your family is present. Please call, text, or email Fr. Perry (651) 706-9672 cell or frperry@stgeorgegoc.org to schedule a house blessing. Χρόνια πολλά! Many Years for the feast of Epiphany!
Fr. Perry Office Hours
During January Father is busy with house blessings and may not be available during his regularly scheduled office hours. Please call to make an appointment during this time, thank you!
Godparent/Godchild Sunday– February 2!
All godparents and godchildren are invited to participate in Divine Liturgy together beginning at 9:30am. A lunch will be prepared and served by the parish council afterwards. Freewill donations are welcome. Thank you!
Memory Eternal
It is with a heavy heart, but with hope in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we share with you the passing of former parishioner +John W. Larson of Taylors Falls, MN who fell asleep in the Lord on January 2, 2020. john-w-larson&pid
Support the Basketball Tourney by purchasing an ad in the program book! Watch your mailboxes for details.
Daytime Bible Study
Will be held once this month, this Wednesday January 15, from 1:30 to 3 pm at church. We will study The Good Samaritan Luke 10.25-37. Everyone is invited. For questions call Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or email kathy.aeiou@gmail.com
Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13
BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from Matthew 4:12-17
At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Saint Tatiana was the daughter of a most distinguished consul of Rome. She became a deaconess of the Church, and for her confession of the Faith of Christ, she endured many torments. As she was suffering, angels punished her tormentors with the same torments they inflicted on her, until they cried out that they could no longer endure the scourges invisibly brought upon them. She was beheaded during the reign of Alexander Severus (111-135).
Intro to Orthodoxy
Our 12-week Winter 2020 catechism class on the basics of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, held on Monday evenings 7-9pm, began on January 6. The class is open to all, especially inquirers, and those interested in converting to Orthodoxy. Classes are held here at St. George. Register online at https://forms.gle/CELCdCiVHCfWb3JU8 . Feel free to join us for individual classes without registering.
March for Life
Join us for the annual March for Life on January 22, 2020, which takes place at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Orthodox Christians across the country will be joining in their local marches to speak out against abortion and to pray for healing for those affected by it. The bus will pick up participants at St. Mary’s at 9:30am & at St. George’s at approx. 10:00am. 10:30am Service for Life at the Cathedral of St. Paul (we have reserved seating). Following the service, we will march together to the Capitol building for the program. Departure is 1:00pm. Children are welcome to attend. Dress warm!
Pan-Orthodox Ethnic Dance Party
Saturday, February 1st, 7:00pm at St. Mary’s GOC in Minneapolis. Last year there were over 200 participants! Questions? See posting or contact Steve Selin at 616-443-0970/skselin5@gmail.com or TJ Perry at 651-895-9693/ thomas.perry@osumc.edu.
First Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture
Next Sunday, January 19 at 1pm, St. Elizabeth Orthodox Christian Church (125 Congress Street E, St. Paul) will host a lecture by Fr. Paul Nadim Tarazi, Professor Emeritus, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. The MLK Memorial lecture is an annual event at St. Elizabeth that pays tribute to the legacy of MLK by honoring his commitment to the biblical imperative, “in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek.” Each year, the lecture will explore biblical texts that deepen our understanding of St. Paul’s teaching, so vital to the ministry of Dr. King.
OCF Meal Sign-up
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) at the University of Minnesota is in need of parents or families to offer to cook and bring dinner for five meetings beginning January 23. The meetings are every other Thursday at Bruininks Hall on the U of M East Bank Campus. We usually have 20-30 students at our meetings. An OCF member will communicate more information once you sign up. The sign up link is: www.z.umn.edu/ocf-food. Thank you!
Memorials
At a recent Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Syndesmos (meeting), a few liturgical directives were offered in order to enhance our liturgical uniformity throughout the metropolis. The most notable of the requests is that all parishes have been asked to refrain from singing the Evlogitaria for the Deceased (the hymns that begin with: Blessed are You O Lord, teach me Your Commandments) during Memorial Services offered on Sundays. Technically speaking, Memorials are not supposed to be offered on Sundays. This is because Sundays are reserved to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection. Memorials are offered on Sundays, "κατ᾽ οικονομία." That is to say that Memorials are offered on Sundays as a practical concession to the Church's rubrics. With these things in mind, we have been asked to omit the Evlogitaria for the Deceased on Sundays moving forward. I know that we will miss singing the Evlogitaria of the Deceased during Memorials on Sundays. On a positive note, please keep in mind that the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection are offered each Sunday morning during Orthros/Matins before the Diving Liturgy. We ask your patience as we work to align ourselves with our sister parishes throughout our beloved metropolis. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about the other Liturgical directives, please contact Fr. Perry.
Bronze Cross of the Metropolis Award Nomination
We have the opportunity as a parish to honor one of our parishioners with the Bronze Cross of the Metropolis Award. See page 7 for the purpose and criteria of this award. If there is someone you feel demonstrates the qualities of service, leadership, and innovation to receive the Bronze Cross of the Metropolis we encourage you to complete the form on page 7 and drop it in the secured voting box located in the Social Hall. Additional paper forms are also available in the Social Hall. Or you can complete the online form which is available on our website stgeorgegoc.org. If you have any questions please talk to Vicky Paraschou or send your inquiry to info@stgeorgegoc.org. The nomination process will be open until Sunday, February 2, 2020.
St. Mary's GOC HOPE/JOY Winter Bowling at Bowlero!!!
Our sister parish of St. Mary's has invited us Saturday, January 18: 1:50 pm (sharp) - 4:00 pm for Bowling at Bowlero (12200 Singletree Lane, Eden Prairie). The kids will be bowling, as well as playing arcade games (Each kid will receive 5 tokens)! Even though the bowling is for the children, parents/guardians should be in attendance watching over their children). Pizza will be included! Please RSVP to Georgia Andron (Greekborba@hotmail.com or 612.978.2793) by January 10! The cost is $12.99 per child.
Parish Nomination Form