Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Friend of man.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Tone

By faith didst Thou justify the Forefathers, when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare Thee seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Ἐν πίστει τοὺς Προπάτορας ἐδικαίωσας, τὴν ἐξ Ἐθνῶν δι' αὐτῶν προμνηστευσάμενος Ἐκκλησίαν. Καυχῶνται ἐν δόξῃ οἱ Ἅγιοι, ὄι ἐκ σπέρματος αὐτῶν, ὑπάρχει καρπός εὐκλεής, ἡ ἀσπόρως τεκοῦσά σε. Ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Apolytikion for Hieromartyr Eleutherios and Anthia in the Fourth Tone

Being comely adorned in thy sacred priestly robes and newly drenched with the streams of thy pure and sanctified blood, thou didst soar aloft to stand before thy Master, Christ; hence never cease to intercede for those honouring with faith thy mighty and blessed contest, thou overthrower of Satan, O wise and blessed Eleutherius.

Ἱερέων ποδηρει κατακοσμούμενος, καὶ αἱμάτων τοὶς ῥείθροις ἐπισταζόμενος, τῶ Δεσπότη σου Χριστῷ μάκαρ ἀνέδραμες, Ἐλευθέριε σοφέ, καθαιρέτα τοῦ Σατάν, διὸ μὴ παύση πρεσβεύων, ὑπὲρ τῶν πίστει τιμώντων, τὴν μακαρίαν σου ἄθλησιν.

Apolytikion to St. George in the First Tone

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Tone. Psalm 115.15,12.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has given me?

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18.

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.

Προκείμενον. Grave Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 115.15,12.
Τίμιος ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ θάνατος τῶν ὁσίων αὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Τί ἀνταποδώσωμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ περὶ πάντων, ὧν ἀνταπέδωκεν ἡμῖν;

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 1:8-18.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, μὴ οὖν ἐπαισχυνθῇς τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, μηδὲ ἐμὲ τὸν δέσμιον αὐτοῦ· ἀλλὰ συγκακοπάθησον τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ κατὰ δύναμιν θεοῦ, τοῦ σώσαντος ἡμᾶς καὶ καλέσαντος κλήσει ἁγίᾳ, οὐ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ ἰδίαν πρόθεσιν καὶ χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων, φανερωθεῖσαν δὲ νῦν διὰ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καταργήσαντος μὲν τὸν θάνατον, φωτίσαντος δὲ ζωὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος καὶ διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν. Διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν καὶ ταῦτα πάσχω, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐπαισχύνομαι· οἶδα γὰρ ᾧ πεπίστευκα, καὶ πέπεισμαι ὅτι δυνατός ἐστιν τὴν παραθήκην μου φυλάξαι εἰς ἐκείνην τὴν ἡμέραν. Ὑποτύπωσιν ἔχε ὑγιαινόντων λόγων ὧν παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἤκουσας, ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὴν καλὴν παραθήκην φύλαξον διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος ἐν ἡμῖν. Οἶδας τοῦτο, ὅτι ἀπεστράφησάν με πάντες οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ, ὧν ἐστιν Φύγελος καὶ Ἑρμογένης. Δῴη ἔλεος ὁ κύριος τῷ Ὀνησιφόρου οἴκῳ· ὅτι πολλάκις με ἀνέψυξεν, καὶ τὴν ἅλυσίν μου οὐκ ἐπαισχύνθη, ἀλλὰ γενόμενος ἐν Ῥώμῃ, σπουδαιότερον ἐζήτησέν με καὶ εὗρεν - δῴη αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος εὑρεῖν ἔλεος παρὰ κυρίου ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - καὶ ὅσα ἐν Ἐφέσῳ διηκόνησεν, βέλτιον σὺ γινώσκεις.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

11th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 14:16-24

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς· καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις· ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ· ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος· κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον· ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί.

News & Events

Sunday, December 15, 2019

*******

Welcome Newcomers & Visitors!

Please stop by the Welcome Table at Coffee Hour!

We would love to meet you!

*******

Today's Coffee Hour is sponsored in loving memory of Peter Perentesis

by his Family

*******

Memorial

Peter Perentesis ~ 1 year

May his memory be eternal

*******

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Jersey Shore Greek Festival Outreach

Please join us as we honor the recipients of this year's

Jersey Shore Greek Festival Outreach Fund

Immediately following Liturgy

*******

Sunday, December 15, 2019 ~ 12 noon

Greek School Christmas Program

Cultural Center

*******

GOYA Christmas Carolers

Friday, Saturday & Sunday ~ December 13, 14 & 15

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

If you would like the Carolers to visit your home

Please contact Denise Natsis atlanticdn@gmail.com 732-241-5449 or

sign up on Facebook via Sign Up Genius

See Flyer

*******

PTO Vasilopita Pick Up

Several dates available

Visit PTO Table during Coffee Hour

*******

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Sunday School Nativity Pageant

Immediately following Divine Liturgy

Roles have been assigned; rehearsals week of December 15

Participation in Pageant brings our children closer to Our Lord

Come & See

*******

Sunday, January 5, 2020

St. George Philoptochos Vasilopita Reception

You can partake with a donation or sending a dish of your choice

Contacts: Gayle Billows: 732-241-5323; Deirdre Kosmas: 732-766-2733;

Angie Vrettos: 908-489-8880

*******

SAVE THE DATE!!!

St. George Annual Lenten Retreat and Luncheon

Saturday, March 28, 2020 ~ 10 am - 3 pm

'Healing Our Diseases: The Church as a Spiritual Hospital'

Retreat Master: Father Josiah Trenham

Cultural Center

See Flyer

*******

MUSTARD SEED BOOKSTORE and ST. BASIL'S LENDING LIBRARY

Stop by & see new items in stock including upcoming Book Corner recommended reading! Remember your loved ones in the Orthodox way this Christmas. Can't find what you want? Ask about our ordering options. Open Sundays following Divine Liturgy & during Church Office Hours.

SHARING OUR FAITH BOOK CORNER

***DATE CHANGE***

'Let All Creation Rejoice: Reflections for Advent, The Nativity and Epiphany' by Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis (Mustard Seed Bookstore $20)

NEW DATE: Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm with refreshments

Church Library

All invited to join in our discussion of the author's message & share encouragement

*******

Sunday School 2019 - 2020

Reminders and info via text messages, text @familiesst to 81010

*******

STEWARDSHIP

2020 Stewardship forms are available at the church office or the narthex

If you have not pledged or contributed for 2019, it is not too late to submit your 2019 form

and become a supporting Steward of our St. George. If you do not feel like filling out a form for

2019, but would like to contribute, please do so from your heart and to the best of your ability.

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

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

Stewardship is an opportunity to examine our priorities and values, to express our thankfulness

for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us, and to grow in grace.

Please Complete your 2020 Commitment Form today!

“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!

*******

PLEASE NOTE: Recurring Stewardship payments for 2019 do not automatically renew for 2020. Please set up your payments for 2020.

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!

*******

STEWARDSHIP TABLE

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

*******

ICONOGRAPHY PROJECT UPDATE

At this time of Thanksgiving, we, the community of St George Ocean, NJ, have much to be thankful for. We celebrated our 90th Anniversary this fall. As we outgrew our roots in Asbury Park, we began a journey to expand our footprint in Ocean, NJ. Despite a recession, we were able to begin construction in 2008, celebrate our Thyranixia in 2012, and complete the Iconography necessary to Consecrate our church in 2020. More important than the physical vessels that we have built are the ministries that have flourished.

I would like to thank Father Andrew, our Parish Presidents Spiro Pappas and John Vrettos; the Executive Iconography Committee Members including Athena Loesch; Manny Tsarnas our attorney;
Parish Council members George Costidis, Theo Koufidakis, George Moutis, Mike Psomias, Barbara Kissas Terlecsky, and Peter Thomas; Scaffolding Committee members Marko Parlamas and George Nicholas; Fundraising Subcommittee Chair John Michals; the entire Iconography Committee including Pandora Jacobs; Karen Catizone; all the donors including our Ministries and Organizations; our Iconographers George Giariskanis, Manolis/Basilios/Constantinos/Alexandros Vlachos, Antonios Ladias, Nikos Bakalias, Anastasia Mavridou, Peter Giariskanis, Antonis Anastisiades, and mosaic craftsman Marion Apatachioae; and Atlas Pro Scaffolding.

Without all of your collaboration and support, we would not have gotten this far.

On December 1, we celebrated Iconography Sunday where Phase 2 Iconography was unveiled. We ask those of you who have pledged to fulfill your pledge, and those of you who have not yet contributed to join us. The following icons are available:

7 Prophets
7 Crosses in Windows
Crucifixion
Birth of Christ
Pentecost
2 Scenes of Life of St George (George Moutis is organizing Georges who would like to contribute)
St Rafael Nicholas Irene to Left of Choir Loft
St Katerina to Right of Choir Loft
Medallions- Gabriel and Michael
St Antonios Behind Icon Stand

In the Altar
2 Hierarchs Half (Gregory and Fotios)
Diakonikon
4 Deacons
2 Angels Gabriel and Michael
Artoforio Amnos tou Theo

Gold Leaf Program
Or Any donoation you would like to offer to the Community Icon

We thank you for your generosity.

Chair Anne Papageorge

*******

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!

~~~~~~~

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

*******

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

*******

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 Nick, George, Peter, Art, Madoula, Georgia, Maria, Steve, George, Elly, Tiffany, Tyler, Jerry, Vicki, Cleo, Stephen, Mihali, Alexios, Alexandra, Hurricane Dorian people, George, Donna, Joseph, Barbara, Megan, Matthew, Amber, Domna, Spiro, Gabe, Angela, Maria 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

*******

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

*******

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.

*******

BUILDING CAMPAIGN

Several naming opportunities for our building campaign are available:

johnp@warshauer.com or johnvret@aol.com

*******

CHURCH OFFICE

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

*******

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.

*******

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

*******

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.

*******

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