Community News

Weekday Services...

Every Sunday we have Orthros beginning at 8:50 a.m. and Divine Liturgy beginning at 10:00 a.m. Saturday evenings we have Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Weekday services begin at 9:00 a.m. with Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy. Unless otherwise stated service will be at St. George.

(Note: All services are at 9:00 a.m. and at St. George unless otherwise noted)

Repeaiting service for Pre-Lent & Lent

Great Compline (Mondays 7:00 p.m.) - March 11th, 18th, 25th, April 1st, 8th, 15th

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.)

At St. George - March 13th, 27th, April 10th

At St. Elijah - March 20th, April 3rd, 17th

Salutations to the Theotokos (Fridays 7:00 p.m.) - March 15th, 22nd, 29th, April 5th

Akathist (Friday 7:00 p.m.) - April 12th

Holy Week Schedule

April 20th - Saturday of Lazarus

9 a.m. - Orthros & Liturgy

6 p.m. - Great Vespers

April 21st - Palm Sunday

8:50 - Orthros followed by Divne Liturgy

7 p.m. - 1st Bridegroom Service

April 22nd - Holy Monday

9 a.m. - Presanctified Liturgy

7 p.m. - 2nd Bridegroom Service

April 23rd - Holy Tuesday

9 a.m. - Presanctified Liturgy

7 p.m. - 3rd Bridegroom Service

April 24th - Holy Wednesday

9 a.m. - Presanctified Liturgy

5:30 p.m. - Holy Unction

7 p.m. - Orthros for the Last Supper

April 25th - Holy Thursday

9 a.m. - Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil (Last Supper)

7 p.m. - Crucifixion Service

April 26th - Holy Friday

9 a.m. - Royal Hours

3 p.m. - Great Vespers (Christ Decent from the Cross)

7 p.m. - Lamintations Service

April 27th - Holy Saturday

9 a.m. - Proto-Anastasi

11:30 p.m. - Anastasi Service

April 28th - Pascha

1 p.m. - Agape Vespers

Bright Week Schedule

April 29th - Bright Monday - St. George

9 a.m. - Orthros & Liturgy

May 3rd - Bright Friday - The Life-Giving Fountain (Zodocho Pigi)

9 a.m. - Orthros & Liturgy

Thought of the Day

The beginning of contrition and repentance is to flee from sin and to abstain from passions. Let us hasten, then, to cut off our evil works.

~ Ode 1, First Canon of Chessefare Monday

Standing up against a critical spirit

Fearing the loss of control, we construct a wall of defense around us, keeping authenticity at bay. Fearing rejection, we see ourselves as unlovable, and blame others. Knowing we are inauthentic, we flee from the truth by becoming critical of others. We lie to ourselves, and to others, hiding our insecurity and unworthiness, and walling ourselves off from love. We feel we are unworthy of love, so we reject the love of others, and, ultimately, the love of God.

When confronted with our own critical spirit, we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the source of it. Why do we choose to be critical of others, when in truth we are wounded souls, suffering within a cloak of deception? Fault is found in others, only because we dare not face our own inauthentic self.

The fullness of life is knowing ourselves, and giving back to others. When we don’t forgive ourselves for falling short, we blame others. Insecure and unworthy, we reject the love and friendship of others, thinking ourselves unworthy, if they knew the truth. We are fraudulent. We lie to ourselves, and to others. We tell lies big and small, and ultimately, we lie to God. We live in fear that we will be found out, and mask the truth by being critical of others. We seek authority over others, because we are not authentic, and we have no integrity.

“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way (Romans 14:10-13).”

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Saint George Dinner Dance

Join us for St. George Dinner Dance

hosted by St. George Parish Council & Ladies of Philoptochos

Saturday, May 4th - Cocktails at 6:30 p.m. & Dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets on Sale

Adult's Plate

Ned's House Salad (Spring Mix Greens, Kalamata Olives, Grape Tomatoes, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Croutons & Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing), Seasoned Grilled Baseball Cut Sirlon Steak with Burgundy Mushroom Sauce Duo of Jumbo Shrimp Served over Fresh Garlic & Chive Scented Mash Potatoes, finished with Ned's Roasted Red Bell Pepper Cream Reduction, Sauteed Fresh Snap Peas & Carrots, Ned's Famous Homemade Love Knot Rolls, Chef's Choice Desserts, Ice Tea, Water & Coffee Service.

Vegetarian's Option

Ned's House Salad (Spring Mix Greens, Kalamata Olives, Grape Tomatoes, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Croutons & Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing), Ned's Quinoa Stuffed Bell Pepper, Roasted Bell Pepper Suffed with Sauteed Mixed Vegetables & Balsamic Indused Quinoa, Fresh Garlic & Chive Scented Mash Potatoes, Sauteed Fresh Snap Peas & Carrots, Ned's Famous Homemade Love Knot Rolls, Chef's Choice Desserts, Ice Tea, Water & Coffee Service.

Children's Menu

Hand Breaded Country Chicken Tenders, Green Beans, Mac & Cheese.

ADULT'S PLATE & VEGITARIAN'S OPTION - $45

CHILDREN'S PLATE - $15

SAINT GEORGE BOOK CLUB

We are continuing with our book "The Mountain of Silence" by Markides, Chapter 13 to the end of the book, for our next meeting. Our next meeting will be announced shortly. More information to follow.

Community Connections

Activities During Holy Week

Lazarus Saturday, April 20th - After Liturgy - Making Palm Crosses

Holy Thursday, April 25th - After Morning Liturgy - Dyeing of the eggs

Holy Friday, April 26th - Noon - Decorating the Kouvouklion

Noon - Holy Friday Retreat

Pascha, April 28th - 12:30 - Easter Egg Hunt

Pick Up Easter Eggs

Empty eggs are available to take and fill with candy for the Easter Egg Hunt on Pascha Sunday, April 28th. Please return before Saturday, April 27th.

Saint George Dinner Dance

Hosted by St. George Parish Council, Silent Auction by the Philoptochos

Saturday, May 4th - Cocktails 6:30 p.m., Dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Adults $45 / Children $15

Philoptochos Corner

40/40 Lenten bags available: gently "used items" for charity donation Instructions listed on all bags.

April 10: Zigo T. & Nadine P.

May 4: St. George Dinner Dance. Philoptochos will be providing "themed baskets" for action. Those donating baskets please remember to provide a list of its contents. We will be helping with auction set up.

Friday, May 10th at 6:30: Wine & Paint Night/Moms Night Out in church hall. Macey Poff/Lloyd & Louise will be our artist/leader. Please let a Philoptochos board member know if you will be attending by May 4th. *Philoptochos will provide the wine. Open to all ladies in our community. Come join in the fun!

Classes...

Bible Study is every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. provided that there is not a Service.

Fellowship Hour...

Today's fellowship is provided by Demetra Caporal Hoshall in memory of her mother and father, Argie & Pete Caporal, and husband, Tom Hoshall.

Next Sunday, April 21st - Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon following Divine Liturgy.

We invite you to take part in our fellowship hour by hosting for a Sunday. Bring your own food or have the Church cook for the congregation. Sign up as a Sunday School class, or celebrate a special birthday or name-day, the list goes on. You can even offer to buy the donuts for the day, and we will add your name in the bulletin. Call Stacy in the Church office to sign up today!

Prosfora Schedule

April

7th - Patrick Ingle

14th - Patrick Ingle

20th - Patrick Ingle

21st - Patrick Ingle

25th - Patrick Ingle

27th - Catherine Chrysant

We are need of a few people to make the Prosfora for the upcoming months. Please call the office if you would like to have your name added to the list. Thank you!

The making of Prosfora is an honor and gift we offer to Christ and His Church, thus the name of Prosforo, which means "offering." We are in need of a few people to join the list of bakers.

Pleased call the office if you would like to have your name added to the list. Thank you!

Saints and Feasts

April 14

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

April 14

Aristarchus, Pudens, Trophimus the Apostles of the 70

Saint Aristarchus is mentioned in the Epistle to the Colossians (4:10), and also in the Epistle to Philemon (v. 24). By his ascetical manner of life, this Saint proved to be another Saint John the Baptist. He became Bishop of Apamea in Syria, and brought many to the Faith of Christ. Saints Pudens and Trophimus are mentioned in II Timothy 4:20-21. Also, Acts 21:29 mentions that Trophimus was from Ephesus. According to sources that Saint Dorotheus of Tyre (celebrated on June 5) found written in Latin in Rome, these Apostles were beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero (54-68).

April 15

Crescens the Martyr

This Martyr was from Myra of Lycia, born of an illustrious family. Of his own accord he went amidst the idolaters and admonished them to leave off their futile religion and worship the only true God, Who is worshipped by the Christians; for this he was arrested. When asked by the ruler what his name and lineage were, the Saint would answer only that he was a Christian; counseled to offer sacrifice to the idols, he refused. For this, he was hung up and beaten, was scraped, and then was cast into fire, in which he gave up his holy soul into the hands of God, though not even the hair of his head was harmed by the flames.

April 15

Leonidas, Bishop of Athens

April 16

Agape, Chionia, and Irene, the Holy Martyrs

When the Emperor Diocletian was at Aquileia, he learned that these Saints were Christians, and had them brought before him. Because they would not deny Christ, he had them imprisoned, and when he went into Macedonia, he committed them to Dulcitius the Prefect, who, however, lost his understanding and became incapable of doing them any harm. Diocletian then gave Count Sisinius charge over them. He had Saints Agape and Chionia burned; he ordered that Saint Irene be put in a brothel, but by the providence of God this was not accomplished, and she was shot with an arrow. These holy sisters suffered martyrdom in Thessalonica in the year 295.

April 17

Symeon the Holy Martyr and Bishop of Persia

This Martyr was Bishop of the royal cities Seleucia and Ctesiphon in Persia. As the number of Christians increased in Persia, building churches and appointing clergy, the Magi, guardians of the Persian religion, and the Jews, who also envied them, accused Symeon to Sapor II, King of Persia, saying that Symeon was a friend of the Roman Emperor and his spy. Then began Sapor's persecution of the Christians of Persia, about the year 343. The Magi together with the Jews destroyed the churches. Saint Symeon was brought before Sapor, and, refusing to worship the sun, was imprisoned. On Holy and Great Friday of that year, Saint Symeon was brought out of prison with a hundred others, bishops, priests, and deacons. As each was taken to be slain, Saint Symeon exhorted him to be of good courage; he was slain last of all. It is said that 1,150 Martyrs were slain; an innumerable multitude of Christians were slain throughout Persia during this persecution, among them Saints Acepsimas, Joseph, and Aethalas (see Nov. 3).

April 17

Makarios, Bishop of Corinth

April 18

Holy Father John the Righteous, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth and became a disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see Nov. 20). After his elder, Saint Gregory, reposed (in the first half of the ninth century), he came to Jerusalem and finally reposed in peace in the Monastery of Saint Chariton.

April 19

The Holy Hieromartyr Paphnutius

All that is known concerning this Saint is that he was a bishop and that he suffered many torments by fire, the sword, and wild beasts.

April 20

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of the Lord Jesus, had given Him hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-4z; John 12:2-3). They were from Bethany, a village of Judea. This village is situated in the eastern parts by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem. When Lazarus - whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God has helped," became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had this report taken to our Saviour, Who was then in Galilee. Nonetheless, He tarried yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleepeth." By this, of course, He meant the deep sleep of death. On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters of Lazarus, who was already four days dead. Jesus groaned in spirit and was troubled at the death of His beloved friend. He asked, "Where have ye laid his body?" and He wept over him. When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had been dead four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him go." This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Saviour that we celebrate on this day.

According to an ancient tradition, it is said that Lazarus was thirty years old when the Lord raised him; then he lived another thirty years on Cyprus and there reposed in the Lord. It is furthermore related that after he was raised from the dead, he never laughed till the end of his life, but that once only, when he saw someone stealing a clay vessel, he smiled and said, "Clay stealing clay." His grave is situated in the city of Kition, having the inscription: "Lazarus the four days dead and friend of Christ." In 890 his sacred relics were transferred to Constantinople by Emperor Leo the Wise, at which time undoubtedly the Emperor composed his stichera for Vespers, "Wishing to behold the tomb of Lazarus . . ."

April 20

Theodore the Trichinas

Saint Theodore who was from Constantinople, was born to parents who were pious and of means. He took up the monastic life in a monastery in the imperial city, and wore nought but a rough hair shirt for all his life, from whence also he received his name. He reposed in the late fourth, or early fifth century. Saint Joseph the Hymnographer composed a canon in his honour.

April 20

Zacchaeus the Apostle of Caesaria

The conversion of the publican Zacchaeus, and our Saviour's compassion for him, is narrated in the Holy Gospel (Luke 19:1-10). Afterwards he laboured as a companion of the Holy Apostles, and became first Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Wisdom of the Fathers

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.

St. John Chrysostom