Sunday, December 29, 2019

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 Welcome Newcomers & Visitors!

Please stop by the Welcome Table at Coffee Hour!

We would love to meet you!

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Altar Poinsettia Plants are sponsored by Billy & George Athans

in loving memory of their parents Peter & Georgia Athans

Altar Flowers are offered to the Greater Glory of God

& in loving memory of Spiros & Helen Michals

Kolivia Memorial Table Flowers are

in loving memory of Lambert Stamos ~ May his memory be eternal

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Memorials

Spiros Bardis ~ 40 days

Lambros Stamos ~ 40 days

May their memory be eternal

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Coffee Hour is sponsored in loving memory of Spiros Bardis

by his parents John & Helen Bardis &

by the Kavarakas, Kaklamanis & Dinis Families

& is also sponsored

in loving memory of Lambros Stamos by

John & Mary Tsakiris

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Upcoming Services

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Saint Basil the Great

8:30 am Orthros  9:30 am Divine Liturgy

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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

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 Thursday, January 9, 2020 ~ Kali Parea Vasilopita Luncheon ~ 12 noon 

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 Sunday, January 12, 2020 ~ following Divine Liturgy

Video Presentation ~ Library

'Fishers of Men: Winning Converts to the Orthodox Faith'

Refreshments & Coffee

See flyer

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Bible Study

Book of James

Beginning Tuesday, January 28th 7:00 - 8:00 pm library

Bring Bible & pen & paper

Facilitators: Teri Lalli and Father Andrew

Questions, please contact Teri:  lalliptds@comcast.net

1/28 James - Chapter 1

2/11 James - Chapter 2 

2/18 James - Chapter 3

3/10 James - Chapter 4 

3/17 James - Chapter 5

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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

Friday, March 27, 2020 ~ following Salutations ~ Library

Meet & Greet Father Josiah

See Flyer

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MUSTARD SEED BOOKSTORE and ST. BASIL'S LENDING LIBRARY

Orthodoxy is a way of life. Let us help you bring it into the lives of others.  Keep us in mind for upcoming name days, birthdays and special occasions.  

Stop by & see new items in stock including upcoming Book Corner recommended reading! 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

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Sunday School 2019 - 2020

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

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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!

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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! 

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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

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

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

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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 George, Nick, George,  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

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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” and year 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