Publish-header
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-08-23
Bulletin Contents
Irenaeus
Organization Icon
St. George Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (651) 222-6220
  • Street Address:

  • 1111 Summit Avenue

  • Saint Paul, MN 55105


Contact Information






Services Schedule

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:

  • Inspires faith and worship
  • Cultivates spiritual growth and fellowship, and
  • Encourages benevolence and outreach”

Parish Vision Statement: "Ascending together to the fullness of Life"

 


Past Bulletins


Calendar

  • Upcoming Events

    August 23 to August 31, 2020

    Sunday, August 23

    Greek Summer Odyssey

    8:15AM ORTHROS

    9:30AM DIVINE LITURGY

    10:30AM Virtual Fellowship Hour

    12:00PM Live Stream Church Tour

    Tuesday, August 25

    7:00PM Sunday School Teachers Meeting 1

    7:00PM Evening Bible Study

    8:00PM Sunday School Teachers Meeting 2

    Wednesday, August 26

    +FAST DAY

    Thursday, August 27

    +ST. PHANOURIOS

    10:00AM Glad Tidings mailing

    Friday, August 28

    +FAST DAY

    Saturday, August 29

    +COMMEMORATION OF THE BEHEADING OF THE FORERUNNER JOHN THE BAPTIST *STRICT FAST DAY*

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy in Eau Claire, WI

    Sunday, August 30

    +ST. ALEXANDROS

    8:15AM ORTHROS

    9:30AM DIVINE LITURGY

    Monday, August 31

    +BELT/SASH OF THEOTOKOS

BACK TO TOP

Announcements

Sunday School Survey & Registration

Our Sunday School is preparing for the 2020 fall semester! Please register your child(ren) and fill out our survey so we can plan a safe and edifying semester for our youth. Please contact Aida at aidaabebe1@gmail.com or 651-434-7826 if you have any questions. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18OjPn_btCpruFFSYEnLiFFQYM5BfPUCLgR6P_9bJt6E/edit

  

Sign-up for Divine Liturgy August 23

Follow this link to sign up for services on Sunday, August 23 at 9:30 am. We are close to our capacity inside the church for this Sunday. We do have overflow in the exo-narthex (foyer), choir loft, and fellowship hall.

 

Sign-up for Divine Liturgy August 30

Follow this link to sign up for services on Sunday, August 30 at 9:30am.

 

Click the links below to stream upcoming services

YouTube Channel

Facebook Page

 

Memory Eternal!

A 1-Year Memorial service will be held today for +Annoula Bahneman, +John Georgolopolos, and +Presvytera Miriam Paraschou, following Divine Liturgy. A 13-year Memorial will be held for +Joshua Zitzloff.

 

Virtual Fellowship Hour Today

Click here to join the Zoom Fellowship Hour following Divine Liturgy at approx. 10:30am. You do not have to have Zoom to participate. Those interested may simply call in. Call (312) 626-6799 and enter the Meeting ID: 827 4691 4586

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82746914586 Meeting ID:  One tap mobile +13126266799,,82746914586# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

 

2020 Greek Summer Odyssey

In lieu of our annual Greek Summer Festival, the St. George festival community has organized the Greek Summer Odyssey: a Journey of Greek Food and Culture, this weekend of August 22-23. Festival participants will have the opportunity to undertake a Greek cultural journey to some of the best Twin Cities Greek restaurants and participate in online cultural events. Those who complete the Greek Summer Odyssey, like the ancient Greek hero, Odysseus, will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to a participating restaurant, their own copy of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, and a one-night stay at a Grandstay Hotel of their choice.

Net proceeds to support our church. Partial net proceeds from the Odyssey will be donated to FOCUS MN. Please bring a bag of non-perishables to any of the participating restaurants. The food will also be donated to FOCUS MN. Details can be found on the St. George Facebook page and the Greek Summer Odyssey website: https://bit.ly/3ioTL5w.

 

Intro to Orthodoxy

Our 12-week Fall 2020 catechism class on the basics of Eastern Orthodox Christianity will begin on Tuesday evenings 7-9 pm, starting September 15. The course is open to all, especially inquirers, and those interested in converting to Orthodoxy. Classes will be held virtually via Zoom. If we move to in-person, classes will take place here at St. George. See insert for schedule; register online at https://forms.gle/JuYZfmJGMWEUPpfE6. Feel free to join us for individual classes without registering. 

 

Evening Bible Study

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 25th at 7 pm. Click here to join Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 937 9208 2436; Passcode: 408571. We will be studying about the Falling Asleep of the Theotokos from the Gospel of Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28.

  

Sunday School Teacher Wanted

Interested in serving with Sunday School? Looking for someone to teach 2nd and 3rd grades, either in person or remotely. If interested, please contact Aida at aidaabebe1@gmail.com or 651-434-7826.

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12

Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.


Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35

The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

Irenaeus
August 23

Our Holy Father Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons

The Holy Hieromartyr Irenaeus was born in Asia Minor about the year 120, and in his youth was a disciple of Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. Saint Irenaeus was sent to Lyons in Gaul, to be a fellow labourer of Pothinus, Bishop of Lyons (celebrated June 2), who had also been a disciple Saint Polycarp. After the martyrdom of Saint Pothinus, Saint Irenaeus succeeded him as Bishop of Lyons. Besides the assaults of paganism, Irenaeus found himself compelled to do battle with many Gnostic heresies, against which he wrote his greatest work, A Refutation and Overthrow of Knowledge Falsely So Called . He was also a peace-maker within the Church. When Victor, Bishop of Rome, was prepared to excommunicate the Christians of Asia Minor for following a different tradition celebrating Pascha, Irenaeus persuaded him to moderate his zeal, and mediated peace. He made Lyons an illustrious bastion of Orthodoxy and a school of piety, and sealed his confession with martyrdom about the year 202, during the reign of Septimius Severus. He is not to be confused with Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium, also celebrated today, who was beheaded and cast into a river in 304 under Diocletian.


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Wherefore then did He not do this, nor forgive the debt before the account? Desiring to teach him, from how many obligations He is delivering him, that in this way at least he might become more mild towards his fellow servant .... He gave more than he asked, remission and forgiveness of the entire debt.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 61 on Matthew 18, 4th Century

When then you are minded to be revengeful, consider that against yourself are you revengeful, not against another; that you art binding up your own sins, not your neighbors ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 61 on Matthew 18, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Stewardship

Stew_2020_image

Pledges

Please consider submitting a pledge card! 95 pledges have been received as of July 30, totaling $148,070. 2020 orange pledge cards are available; contact the office or visit http://stgeorgegoc.org/give. Pledge cards can be filled out and emailed to info@stgeorgegoc.org or printed, filled out, and mailed to the church office We thank you for supporting the ministries of our parish!

 

Contributions

Through July 31 $137,627 in Stewardship contributions have been received. 

 

Stewardship Response Fund

To reduce our likely budget shortfall (Greek Fest, Festival of Nations, Candles, Tray, etc.) and its impact on the ministries of the church, our stewardship committee and parish council are asking, for those who are able, to contribute an amount in addition to what one typically gives during the year. 

We have set a goal of raising an additional $15,000 above and beyond our original 2020 Stewardship goal. Any contribution amount will help us reach our goal!

 

Response Fund Goal & Progress

6/50 contributors have given $50 

9/75 contributors have given $100

5/20 contributors have given $250

6 contributors have given more than $250

In total, as of August 20, 26 parishioners have contributed $7,055.50/$15,000

 

If you are able to give, please visit http://www.stgeorgegoc.org/give

 Please enter - "2020 Stewardship Response Fund" in the "Notes" box.

 

Or please mail a check to:

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church

Attn: Stewardship – 2020 Stewardship Response Fund

1111 Summit Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55105

In the memo line, please add: "2020 Stewardship Response Fund."

BACK TO TOP

Missions & Benevolence

Meeting notes from August 12th

  • Loaves & Fishes- Thank you to Markos Chouliaris for cooking the August meal! We served 165 meals, need more dedicated volunteers for this growing ministry.
  • The Next FOCUS meal is September 6. Volunteer number minimal, dependent on need- to confirm a week before, number served is up- 120+
  • Online Silent Auction- Google format, for now, aiming for September Anniversary roll-out
  • FOCUS donation collaboration with 'Greek Summer Odyssey' - to support the food pantry, going fine- to produce signs/boxes for restaurant drop-offs. Please drop off a bag or some non-perishables at participating restaurants.
  • Union Gospel Mission- in agreement to add for monetary donation and possible meal serving coordination later on, SafeZone agreed no monetary donation, possible bag lunches later
  • Next meeting: September 17, 6:30pm.
BACK TO TOP

In Other News

Annual MCP Gala

The 2020 MCP Gala will be 100% virtual this year. Bid on items in the online silent auction. Watch the live gala production on September 20. See insert for details or visit MCP’s OneCause Event Site at http://bidpal.net/mcpgala2020

 

Learn to Chant

The Trisagion School of Byzantine Music is a new online Byzantine Chant training program offering instruction in English with a focus on the ever-growing English-language repertoire available in Byzantine notation. The cost of each 7-week course is $225 which includes access to repertoire scores, audio recordings, instructional videos, and weekly online practice sessions. The first term will run from August 31- October 18. For course descriptions and more information, visit https://trisagionschool.org

 

Save the Date

Summer Camp 2021 will be held on July 3-9, 2021. Staff applications at http://youth.stmarysgoc.org/ are being accepted until November 30, 2020. If you are a returning youth worker, please sign in with your username and PW; new applicants please create a new account. Feel free to pass this message along to anyone you think may be interested!

 

Opportunities to Serve 

Opportunities are available the first week of every month to serve a hot, nutritious meal to the hungry at either Loaves and Fishes or FOCUS. Please consider volunteering to help make a difference. Upcoming dates are September 6, October 5, November 1, and December 7. Contact George Mastrogiorgis at info@stgeorgegoc.org to reserve a volunteer spot.

 

4th Annual National Advanced Leadership Conference

This pan-Orthodox virtual conference September 18-19, 2020 showcases the Intensive Program in Servant Leadership Workshop, among other presentations. The two-day event sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative, features various speakers, including Fr. Marc Boulos, who will lead live, online presentations, Q&A sessions, and virtual break-out rooms. The cost is $200 (scholarships available). For details and registration click here.

BACK TO TOP

Bulletin Inserts

BACK TO TOP

Metropolis of Chicago News

Metropolis of Chicago Launches a New Women-Led Initiative

08/20/2020

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago announced today the launch of a new initiative, the Order of the Myrrhbearing Women, which seeks to recognize, promote, and amplify the individual and collective voices of women in service of Christ and His Church.
BACK TO TOP

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Updated Program: 45th Biennial Virtual Clergy-Laity Congress

08/19/2020

Updated Program For 45th Clergy Laity Congress 2020
BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP