Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Tone

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Tone

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.

Ἐσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος ἡ ζωὴ ἐκ τάφου ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, τοῖς Μαθηταῖς ἐπέστης ἡ πάντων ἀνάστασις, πνεῦμα εὐθὲς δι' αὐτῶν ἐγκαινίζων ἡμῖν, κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20.

In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

Προκείμενον. Fourth Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 146.5;134.3.
Μέγας ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, καὶ μεγάλη ἡ ἰσχὺς ἀὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθός.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 5:12-20.

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετοB σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ λαῷ πολλά· καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος. Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα κολλᾶσθαι αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς ὁ λαός· μᾶλλον δὲ προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ, πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν· ὥστε κατὰ τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς, καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλινῶν καὶ κραββάτων, ἵνα ἐρχομένου Πέτρου κἂν ἡ σκιὰ ἐπισκιάσῃ τινὶ αὐτῶν. Συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες. Ἀναστὰς δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ - ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων - ἐπλήσθησαν ζήλου, καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ. Ἄγγελος δὲ κυρίου διὰ τῆς νυκτὸς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπεν, Πορεύεσθε, καὶ σταθέντες λαλεῖτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης.

Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Thomas Sunday
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ. Ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον· ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται.

Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἐωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με, πεπίστευκας· μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

News & Events

Welcome Newcomers & Visitors!

Please stop by the Welcome Table at Coffee Hour!

We would love to meet you!

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Christ is Risen!!!

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Baby Blessings

Illyana Angeliki Karas

Sophia Lambrinos

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VOLUNTEER HERE for 2019 JERSEY SHORE FESTIVAL

any questions contact Pauline McHugh @ volunteerjsgreekfestival@gmail.com

Flyer below

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Scholarships 2019

All applications for scholarships are due to the Church Office

by Monday, May 20, 2019

Scholarships to be Awarded in Church

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Application Flyers below

or From the Church Office

Parents: Please submit names of children who are 2019 graduating seniors from college (name) and their degree - major, minor - subject(s)

We already have info on the high school seniors through GOYA

For more information, please contact Sophia Anest: (732) 508-9310

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Are you musical? Like to sing?

Sing along with the choir during service? Join our choir!!!

Sundays, 9:30 am, in the loft

Text Director Claire Chrysanthopoulos @ 732-236-9405 for more info

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We hope you join us ~ INTO THE LIGHT run/walk on May 4, 4:30pm

Event at Rutgers University Cook Campus 50 Biel Rd., New Brunswick

Speakers, music, food and community!

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AHEPA Souvlaki Luncheon

Sunday, May 5, 2019

following Divine Liturgy

to benefit the AHEPA Scholarship Program

See menu and flyer below

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AHEPA 1st Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner

Monday, May 6, 2019

Jumping Brook Country Club

See flyer below

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Kali Parea meets 2nd Thursday every month

Next gathering is on May 9, 2019 ~ 12:30 pm

Spring Luncheon

Last gathering until September

All ages welcome!

Contact Mary Kotsopulos 201-893-0378

Flyer below

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Sharing Our Faith Book Corner

Next read: Time and Despondency, Regaining the Present in Faith and Life by Nicole M. Roccas

(softcover available at the bookstore for $12 - ebook, kindle and audiobook available online at Ancient Faith or Amazon)

Date: Thursday, May 30, 2019 ~ 7 pm

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THE SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP

2019 Stewardship forms are available at the church office or in the narthex. The Stewardship Committee is waiting to assist you!

"As the Father has sent me, so I send you!" (John 20:21)

Be a part of the St. George Family!!!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men….” (Colossians 3:23)

Thank you to all our faithful Stewards for their support of our St. George Stewardship Program!

If not you – who? If not now – when?

Time + Talent + Treasure = Stewardship!

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PLEASE NOTE: Recurring Stewardship payments for 2018 do not automatically renew for 2019. Please set up your payments for 2019.

ENJOY THE CONVENIENCE OF ELECTRONIC GIVING!!!

Did you know that St. George Church offers you the convenience of electronic giving? You can now make all donations to your parish life online! Pledge & donate your Stewardship for 2019 online! Give your weekly candle and tray offerings, Easter offerings, Epitaphios offerings, as well as donations towards the Epitaphio flowers, coffee hour, cemetery grave purchases and more! You can pledge & donate online to our Iconography Project. Be a part of our Community Icon, or donate an icon of your own.

You can make a one-time payment, or schedule weekly/monthly/quarterly payments automatically! For additional information contact the church office or log onto www.stgeorgeap.org/vanco and start today!

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STEWARDSHIP TABLE

For questions regarding Stewardship, please visit our Stewardship Table during any Sunday Coffee Hour or contact the Church Office

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ICONOGRAPHY PROJECT UPDATE

On March 16, the Iconography Committee met with Iconographer George Gariskanis to finalize the planned Phase 2 Icons. On the St. George website www.stgeorgeap.org/iconography is a poster that lists with highlights in red of the available icons including Prophets, Pendentives, Solea Arch, Crucifixion, Hierarchs, Diokonikon, Deacons, Saints behind the Chanter Stand, Scenes of the Life of St. George under the Choir Loft, and Saints to the right and left of the Choir Loft. Now is the time to pledge especially if you have a particular Saint in mind to allow the Iconographers to prepare the canvases for the Fall 2019 installation. No donation is too small; please consider a donation to the Gold Leaf Program or Community Icon. If you have already pledged, please make a progress payment toward your pledge as we will be incurring additional expenses. Please contact Father Andrew Eugenis; Anne Papageorge, Iconography Chair; or John Michals, Iconography Fundraising Sub-Committee Chair to discuss your options. Thank you for your support and generosity as we move toward our ultimate goal of Consecration in the fall of 2020.

Information for contact: Father Andrew, frandrew@stgeorgeap.org, Anne Papageorge, John Michals jmichals@desotc.com or the Church office 732-775-2777. Other information is available on our website www.stgeorgeap.org/iconography and pledges/donations can be made on-line at www.stgeorgeap.org/vanco.

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Faithful Hands Crochet & Knitting Ministry

Faithful Hands ministry is making baby blankets for a local group to send all throughout the world to families with babies recovering from airway surgery. These tiny babies need our extra hugs and prayers!

If you have any leftover baby yarn you can donate to our project, please drop it into our YARN DONATION box near our Mustard Seed bookstore. Any color yarn would be a blessing!

Please visit copingwithlm.org for more information on this caring group. Of course EVERYONE is welcome to join our Faithful Hands group - see our notice below for dates and times!

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Join us for fun and fellowship: create beautiful lap blankets and baby blankets for 40 day blessings. Beginners and experienced crocheters and knitters welcome! Help us in our current project making lap blankets for St. Michael's residents. Yarn, Needles and Hooks provided. Afternoon group - Tuesdays 4:00pm - 6:00pm in the Library. Please contact Bea Paparsenos at: 732-922-9463 or email: beapap@live.com

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St. George Philoptochos "Cookbook"

To order our fabulous cookbook

Please send an email to Errie Teevan

cteevan@optonline.com or call 732-294-9327

See Flyer below

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Fellowship in Prayer

"Heavenly father physician of our souls and bodies, you have sent Your only-begotten Son and Our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, we ask that you visit and heal also your servants Amber, Maryann, Carlee, Mihali, John, Heather, Pat, Kaitlyn, Nicole, Jim, Stacey, Steve, Caroline, New Zealand Families, Martin, Sophie, Anastasia, Konnie, John, Rafael, Marty, Rita, Elly, George, Helen, Angela, Megan, Andrew, Penny, George, Sabrina, Spiro, Stathis, Demitri, Sava, Jean, Patricia, Domna, Gary, Irene, Cam, Fermo, Patrick, Spiro, Ian, Erin, Nick, Renae, Gabe, Tara, Maria, Anastasia, Greek Familes from Mati in Athens and our Security Forces from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant them patience through this hardship, strength of body and spirit and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. We pray that You heal Your Servents and grant them the gift of complete joy in You. For You are the source of healing and to You we give glory in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!

For an addition to this list,

please contact the Church Office: 732-775-2777

or George Moutis gmoutis@scinj.com

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ST. GEORGE SOCIAL MEDIA

Remember to register St. George Greek Orthodox Church for all your Amazon purchases. Our Church receives .5% for every purchase. Simply paste the link below in your browser, to be directed to the registration page Amazonsmile: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/21-0643361. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. Watch our live services each Sunday.

Link for our web site for your convenience: www.stgeorgeap.org

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ST. GEORGE?

Get trained for Narthex Service: open/close the doors, extinguish candles & clean Icons, 7-Day Candle Placement; rotating schedule for service. Can you help? Please contact the Church Office at 732-775-2777.

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BUILDING CAMPAIGN

Several naming opportunities for our building campaign are available:

johnp@warshauer.com or johnvret@aol.com

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CHURCH OFFICE

Friendly reminder: When making a contribution, please ensure all checks include the specific “fund” where your contribution should be applied. THANK YOU!!

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AS DEVOTED AND RESPECTFUL

PARISHIONERS OF ST. GEORGE

Please be considerate and make room in the pews for others. If you insist on keeping the end of the pew, please be aware of others looking for a seat and step out to allow them to enter. Those in the stasidia must step down onto the floor as follows: *When the Gospel is being read, *During the Small and Great entrances, *During Holy Communion. It is disrespectful to stand higher than the Holy Gifts. Please instruct your children in this discipline as well.

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PROCEDURE FOR HOLY COMMUNION DISMISSAL

In order to insure proper reverence for the Holy Gifts before us:

1) Please exit FROM YOUR ROW, row by row into the CENTER AISLE

2) Only Newly-Illumined Christians, infants from the crying room, Sunday School teachers and their families, and the Choir proceed from the back rope-FIRST

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WHO ARE MAINTAINING ORDER FOR YOUR PRAYERFUL APPROACH

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SECURITY

All doors and lights must be secured before leaving facility. The Township of Ocean has advised that fire lanes must be kept clear. Lost keys or fobs will require a fifty dollar fee to replace. Please do not adjust the thermostats.

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Effective Immediately - the following items are prohibited during church services:

Back Packs of any size - Shopping bags

Fanny Packs - Brief Cases

Shoulder Book bags - Luggage of any type

Boxes of any kind - Food or Drinks

Cameras or Video equipment

For any questions, please see a Parish Council Member