ORTHROS BEGINS AT 8:30AM & THE DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 9:30AM
Website Links: Visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for our online streaming links.
To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Digital Chant Stand at https://digitalchantstand.goarch.org.
WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY!
We are grateful that you have joined us for prayer and worship. Please join us after the Divine Services in our Fellowship Hall for our Hospitality Hour.
His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos will visit our community on Pascha for the Agape Service and also on Sunday May 4th. We look forward to having our Spiritual Father among us.
Get Ready for Pascha:
Come for the sacrament of Holy Confession. “Be ashamed when you commit sin, not when you come to confess it. The one who gets up and continues after each fall is the one who reaches paradise.” ~ St. John Chrysostom
Commemoration of the Living and Deceased for Holy Week:
On Holy Wednesday afternoon, Fr. Peter will be reading the names of the LIVING (for health) at the Efchelion service at 4:00pm. If you would like them read, please submit the names by Wednesday’s service. On Good Friday evening with the procession of the Kouvouklion, Fr. Peter will read the manes of the DECEASED. Please submit those names by Good Friday. These forms along with pens can be obtained at the Pangari by the candles or outside the Church office.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE 2025
PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 13
Service of the Bridegroom………………6:30 PM
HOLY AND GREAT MONDAY, APRIL 14
Service of the Bridegroom……………...6:30 PM
HOLY AND GREAT TUESDAY, APRIL 15
Service of the Bridegroom & Hymn of Kassiani…………6:30 PM
HOLY AND GREAT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts (Holy Communion).….…9:00 AM
The Sacrament of Holy Unction …………4:00 PM
Orthros of Holy Thursday …………………6:30 PM
(With Holy Unction Anointing after Orthros)
HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY, APRIL 17
The Mystical Supper – Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great……....9:00AM
The Sacred Passion and Crucifixion of our Lord (The Twelve Gospels).……6:00 PM
HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY, APRIL 18
Divine Service of the Imperial Hours...........….…9:00 AM
Service of the Apokathelosis
Descent of Christ from the Cross………...………3:00 PM
The Burial of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Service of Lamentations………………..…………6:30 PM
HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Great Vespers of the Feast of the Resurrection and
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (Bring small bells from home)…..……9:00 AM
Midnight Service of The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Orthros & Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom...………..11:00 PM
GREAT & HOLY PASCHA, SUNDAY, APRIL 20
The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
The Great Paschal Vespers of AGAPE celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan APOSTOLOS of NJ......……………11:00 AM
TUESDAY, APRIL 22
St. George Great Vespers………………………6:30PM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
Saint George the Great Martyr, Feast Day of our Church
Orthros & Divine Liturgy…………………………9:00AM
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring, St. Mark the Apostle & Evangelist
Orthros & Divine Liturgy…….……....................8:30 ΑΜ
Holy Communion Line:
To ensure a steady pace to allow the children of our community to participate in our Sunday School program we ask everyone to follow the below guidelines when receiving Holy Communion:
- Please remain in place, (you may sit if you need to), and enter the center aisle once the Parish Council members indicate that it is time for people in your pew to come up Communion line is to be formed in the center aisle.
- Infants may be brought up to the front of the line at any time.
- When Sunday School is in session, children and their teachers will come up first.
- We ask to please wipe any excess lipstick from your lips before coming to the Holy Chalice and no chewing gum during services.
Once you receive, depart to the right or to the left to return to your seat. While you are waiting, you may read the prayers for before Holy Communion on page 76. This is one of the most sacred moments of the service, so please treat it accordingly, refrain from talking and be respectful and prayerful. Thank you.
The Sacrament of Holy Confession:
When an Orthodox Christian repents & comes to the sacrament of Holy Confession, God grants forgiveness of sins and helps him or her in the struggle against the passions and the influence of the evil one. We have a printed booklet with useful information which helps the faithful better prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Confession. It is available free of charge for everyone who wishes to use it. Pick up your copy today from the table outside the Church office. To make an appointment for confession, call Fr. Peter directly on his cell, 973-650-9717.
Commemoration of the Living and Deceased for Holy Week:
On Holy Wednesday afternoon, Fr. Peter will be reading the names of the LIVING (for health) at the Efchelion service at 4:00pm. If you would like them read, please submit the names by Wednesday’s service. On Good Friday evening with the procession of the Kouvouklion, Fr. Peter will read the manes of the DECEASED. Please submit those names by Good Friday. These forms along with pens can be obtained at the Pangari by the candles or outside the Church office.
Easter Candles/Lambades:
Our St. George Greek School will once again be selling beautiful Easter Candles/LAMBADES! The Lambades will be on sale following church services and the cost is $25. Please email [email protected] for any further questions regarding orders or sales. All proceeds will benefit our St. George Greek School. Kali Sarakosti!
Agape Vespers Readers Needed:
We are looking for volunteers to read the Resurrectional Gospel reading during the Agape Vespers service on Great & Holy Pascha on Sunday, April 20th. If you can read another language and are able to attend the service, please contact Fr. Peter or the Church Office. During the Agape Vespers it is the tradition of the Church to read the Gospel reading (John 20:19-25) in multiple languages. This is a great way to reinforce the message of the Great Commission of Christ to our own community today.
Mark Your Calendar:
Sunday, April 13th ………………...Philoptochos Pascha Tsoureki & Dessert Sale
April 18th & 21st …………………..Church Office Closed
Sunday, April 20th ………………...Great & Holy Pascha – His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos will preside over the Agape Services
Greek School Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, May 4th ……………………..His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos will preside over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
Monday, May 12th …………………Metropolis of NJ Northern Region Honoree Grand Banquet at the Venetian, Garfield, NJ.
Thursday, May 15th….……………Philoptochos “Power of the Purse” Evening – 5:30PM
May 24th & 25th …………………...Metropolis of NJ GOYA Olympics at Monmouth University
May 30th, 31st & June 1st 2025…..Greek Festival
July 13-19, 2025…………………..Camp Good Shepherd in New Jersey
Bible Study/Lessons on Orthodoxy:
Sessions are ongoing on Thursdays at 7PM. Everyone is invited. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact the church office at 973.779.2626 or [email protected]. The bible study lesson will be based on the upcoming Gospel reading of the Sunday after the day of the lesson. The next session will meet on Thursday, May 1st.
Easter Eggs (Red Eggs):
The St. Paraskevi Philoptochos is once again asking that you please remember to prepare Red Easter Eggs and bring them to Church by Good Friday, April 18th. The eggs will be distributed at the Anastasi service & Agapi service. Please leave them at the pangari or bring to the upstairs kitchen. Also, if you are in need of red dye, the Philoptochos is selling the packets of dye. All are invited to participate in this simple but meaningful project.
Sponsor A Day Program:
One way to help the church is through our “Sponsor A Day” program. We encourage our parishioners to select a day that has special meaning to them like a birthday, feast day, anniversary or a memorial and make a suggested donation of $250. We would like to thank the Kopellas Family for sponsoring March 25th, the feast day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos; and the Daughters of Penelope for sponsoring April 23rd, the feast day of St. George and May 4th, the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women (Myrofores). For more information about the program, please call the church office.
Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha Donations:
We would like to thank the parishioners who have made donations towards the flowers and other liturgical items needed for Holy Week. Please donate if you can, several items are still needed as indicated below:
- Easter Lily Plants (10) $30 each
- St. George Feast Day Flowers $250
Greek Festival Sponsorship:
Please consider sponsoring our upcoming Greek Festival by making a suggested “Friends & Family” donation of $100 to help defray food expenses. This is ideal for individuals or families who are unable to offer their time during the festival, but want to support it. This will cover a one 4-hour shift of external labor expense. To make a donation please contact the church office. In order to schedule yourself as a volunteer during the festival, contact John Pilavas at [email protected] or the church office at [email protected]. As we all know, this is the most important fundraiser of our church and we appreciate your involvement.
Stewardship 2025:
We invite you and your family to participate in our spiritual, outreach, social and youth ministries. For those that have never given an annual gift, we need your help. Our community has nearly $40K in monthly expenses and the annual stewardship is the primary program that raises funds for us to meet our obligations. You can make a difference today with your participation. Please visit our website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org to make a gift. Our community is our common spiritual home. We owe it to God, our founding families, ourselves, our children and their children to sustain, maintain and grow it. We understand that philanthropy is something very personal. Each person is invited to give according to their ability. If you are able, please consider joining one of the following giving levels this year: ($5,000 or more – Grand Benefactors, $2500 – $4,999 – Benefactors, $1,200 – $2,499 – House of Stewards, $800 – $1,199 – Patrons). Of course, whatever you decide to give please know that you have our utmost gratitude and appreciation, and that our Church is here to serve your each and every need. The important thing to keep in mind is that we need everyone to do something.