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 are listed below and 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)

August

3rd, Monday - Paraklesis @ 7 p.m.

5th, Wednesday - Great Vespers @ 7 p.m.

6th, Thursday - Holy Tranfiguration @ 9 a.m.

7th, Friday - Paraklesis @ 7 p.m.

10th, Monday - Paraklesis @ 7 p.m.

12th, Wednesday - Paraklesis @ 7 p.m.

14th, Friday - Great Vespers @ 7 p.m.

15th, Saturday - Dormition of the Theotokos @ 9 a.m.

29th, Saturday - Beheading of St. John the Baptist @ 9 a.m.

The Church is now open to the public. We will continue to stream on YouTube.  To view online go to our website www.saintgeorgeokc.org, FaceBook page and click on the link or click on the link below.

YouTube link:

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCTFEPA3i_WXD6AF9nYDXe5A

 

The Gospel of Christ, and Politics

It is deeply disturbing to me to have witnessed the politicizing of Christianity in this nation. The conjoining of politics and faith have led to a polarization of our nation that has not been seen since just prior to the Civil War. In our having politicized Christianity, we’ve reduced the Gospel of Christ to a battle between political and social issues that have alienated many from the ultimate message of Christ, that we are in need of redemption, and that repentance and conversion of heart are to become the priority of each and every one of us.

By insisting that we are still a Christian nation, we’ve allowed a polarization to take place that has pushed Christianity to the brink, having linked values, and moral teachings that are based on the Gospels, while the world around us has become jaded, even hostile, to whatever the Church has to say. Thus, the primary message of the Gospel is dismissed, before people can even be brought through the door of our temples.

Today’s youth are leaving Christianity in droves, as has been demonstrated in the demographics of  America’s “Bible Belt”. The number of young people, even in the conservative South, who are giving birth out of wedlock, or having abortions, has skyrocketed. The support of civil marriage for same sex partners, has increased dramatically. These moral issues are of course a concern for Christians, but our acceptance of the moral standards set forth in the Scriptures, are received by us, not as law, but as a result of our personal encounter with Christ. Legislative action ignores the fact that Christ changes the heart, and a society that is to be transformed, must see this transformation take place in the hearts of its people. For we Christians to foist our beliefs upon the nation, only creates resentment, and Christophobia.

Society must be transformed, but it can not be done by force of law. It must be done by bringing Christ to the center of our national scene. This can only be done when Christian love and charity rule, and when the nation can see in it’s Christian peoples, an honesty of heart, and an authentic witness to Christ, that is not based on an angry polarization that contributes nothing but distrust, and disunity.

Chuck Colson, who was one of President Nixon’s Watergate people, and who, during his incarceration in prison, converted to Christ, said: “We made a big mistake in the ’80s by politicizing the Gospel … We [thought] that we could solve the deteriorating moral state of our culture by electing good guys. That’s nonsense. Now people are kind of realizing it was a mistake.” Change must begin with us, not with our society. Laws will not make this a Christian nation, for many of these very laws some politicians would enact, are also the basis of Islamic law. Biblical morality can only become an integral part of our nation, when we, as a people, have taken Christ into our hearts, and allowed the Holy Spirit to change us.

As Christians, we must not detract from the central message of the Gospels, by making it appear to be a part of one political party. To do so, will eventually lead to the total discrediting of the institution of the Church. History has proven, time and again, that the Church must remain aloof from political parties, or movements, for when the party is out of office, so is the Church’s influence. Christianizing of a nation can not be the result of legislation. It must come with the conversion of its people.

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), Chairman of External Relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, boldly delivered the following address before an assembly of the World Council of Churches: “When are we going to stop making Christianity politically correct and all-inclusive?……Why do we insist on accommodating every possible alternative to the centuries-old Christian tradition?  Where is the limit, or is there no limit at all? Many Christians worldwide look to Christian leaders in the hope that they will defend Christianity against the challenges that it faces…..Our holy mission is to preach what Christ preached, to teach what the apostles taught, and to propagate what the holy Fathers propagated.”

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

 

 

The evil that has descended upon our nation is largely my generation’s fault

My generation had a lot of spiritual capital handed down by our parents, but we spent it without replenishing it. We lived on a previous generation’s deposit of morality and spiritual heritage, but we failed to acknowledge the source of that, and establish our own relationship with God, and in turn, pass it on to the next generation.

We just assumed that everyone else knew what we knew, but we were wrong, and we’re now seeing the fruits of this error in our city streets. My generation raised our children without a spiritual foundation, believing that our children should be seen as “friends”, and setting aside spiritual foundations and discipline as nothing but “old school” and the “fifties baggage” belonging to our own parents’ generation.

Many of us wanted to free ourselves from the bonds of morality and from the Law of God. Now we are witnessing the fruit of our arrogance. The late Orthodox theologian, Father Thomas Hopko, said “hell is getting to do what you want to do all the time”. My generation created a foundation for our children that, in turn, led to them being ill equipped to pass down to their own children that which would, in turn, be a strong foundation for their lives.

My generation thus failed not only our children, but are now responsible for the ills of this new generation. We can therefore hardly look down with contempt upon the young people who are, although motivated by a good cause (ending racism), burning and looting our cities, and forgetting the just cause that began with their desire to bring about justice for our black brothers and sisters.

That which began with the unjust and cruel death of a black man, has now degenerated into uprisings inspired by Marxist ideologies that are dragging our nation into darkness, and the only leader for this “cause”, is the devil himself. We can spend a lot of time blaming this generation for their lack of spiritual awareness, but what are we going to do about it, and how are we going to help them?

Saint Seraphim of Sarov greeted everyone who came to see him with the words, “my joy”. It did not matter if the person was a criminal, or a good person, to the Elder Seraphim, they were all his joy, and all worthy of his love. He saw the good in everyone. They were “my joy”, even if they were a murderer or a revolutionary.

Everyone is charged by the Lord Jesus Christ to love those shouting their hatred in their face. We must love everyone, no matter what their political persuasion or intensity, their race, their religious beliefs or lack thereof. We are bound to love our enemies, in whatever capacity that might manifest itself, just as I am bound by this same Lord Jesus Christ to love even those who have threatened my life.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

 

The Mystery of the Church and the corporate nature of salvation

There is a certain emptiness in trying to live the Christian life outside the life of the Church. This is because it is impossible to truly live as a Christian without the Church. The reading of the scriptures, and our commitment to prayer, are important foundations in the life of a Christian, but they are incomplete without the mystical and sacramental life that is found within the Church.

If we hope to grow spiritually, we will take advantage of the Mysteries that are found only within the Church. Without the Mystery of Penance, and the absolution of the Church, we have no hope of transformation and holiness, for without the corporate life of the Church, our sins keep us captive. Without the Mystery of Christ’s Body and Blood, received during the celebration of the Church’s Divine Liturgy, the healing of the soul remains undone, and salvation is next to impossible.

The center of the Church’s Eucharistic liturgy is to be found in the descent, the appearance, the divine presence of the resurrected Christ, and is central to every moment of the liturgy. As believers, the partaking of Communion is actually that moment when we are encountering the living person of the Lord who enters the congregation as “King of the universe borne invisibly over their spears by the angelic hosts.” This act is so central to the life of a Christian, as to make it the necessary component to being a Christian.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

 

Community Connections 

Philoptochos Corner

Our BUZZED with BLESSINGS fundraiser continues in a time of social distancing.  The Bees might be a nice alternative!  $50, includes 30 Bees, occasion card & honey.  Thank you! Take care & prayers for our community.  Contact the Church office or a Philoptochos member to schedule any upcomming BUZZED with BLESSINGS date.

Classes...

We are holding our class on St. Dorotheos of Gaza - Teachings of Living a Christian Life, Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom,  provided there is not a service on that day.  They will resume at Church once the Church is open to the public.

Fellowship Hour...

 

 

Prosfora Schedule

July

5th - Elaine Bappert

12th - Fofo Bargeliotis

19th - Elaine Bappert

20th - Catherine Chrysant (Prophet Elias)

26th - Catherine Chrysant 

27th - Catherine Chrysant (St. Panteleimon)

August

2nd - Catherine Chrysant 

6th - Catherine Chrysant (Holy Transfiguration)

9th - OPEN

15th - Fofo Bargeliotis (Dormition of the Theotokos)

16th - Fofo Bargeliotis

23rd - Catherine Chrysant

29th - OPEN (Beheading of St. John the Baptist)

30th - OPEN

St. Paul writes, "The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you.  Do this in rememberance of me.'" (1 Cor. 11:24).

We are in need of Prosfora bakers.  Our ladies and gentlemen have diminished over the years.  The greatest part of this is everyone qualifies! Anyone young and old can make Prosfora.  We would only ask a few times per year to prepare bread for a Divine Liturgy.  What better way for a family to give of themselves and their love for the Church.

Prosfora can be kneaded in a bread machine, with a mixer that has dough hooks, or by hand.  It can easily bge an individual's or an offering made by the whole family.  Children love to knead bread or be able to put the seal on and for the children it is a learning experience.  It is a great offering of life and love to God.

Please call the Church office if you would like to offer this gift.