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 Palm Sunday Luncheon hosted by our Parish Council.
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 Euchelion 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.
Mark Your Calendar:
Sunday, April 28th ………Palm Sunday Luncheon Philoptochos Tsoureki Sale Pick-up
May 3rd & May 6th………Church Office Closed
Sunday, May 5th ………..Great & Holy Pascha – His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of NJ will preside over the Agape Vesper Services Greek School Easter Egg Hunt
Monday, May 6th………...St. George Feast Day
Monday, May 13th ………2024 Metropolis Northern NJ Region Honoree Grand Banquet at the Venetian in Garfield, NJ – 6:00PM
Sunday, May 19th ………..Last day of Sunday School
May 31, June 1 & 2 ……..Greek Festival
June 24th – 28th …………..VCS – Vacation Church School – Summer Camp
Sunday Sermon:
Please note, that going forward, the sermon will be delivered right after the Gospel reading which means at about 10:00AM. The Divine Liturgy, as you know, begins at 9:30AM and this is the time when all the faithful are called to be in Church. It is an appointment with the most Holy One, will you keep it? Put your best effort forward!
Holy Communion Line:
We remind everyone that the Communion line is to be formed in the center aisle, and once you receive, depart to the right or to the left to return to your seat. Sunday School children and their teachers will come up first. Infants may be brought up to the front of the line at any time. Please remain at your seat, (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. While you are waiting, you may read the prayers for before Holy Communion on page 76. Once you return to your seat read the thanksgiving prayers for after Holy Communion on page 90. This is one of the most sacred moments of the service, so please treat it accordingly, refrain from talking and be respectful and prayerful. Also, please wipe any excess lipstick from your lips before coming to the Holy Chalice and no chewing gum during services. Thank you.
Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha Donations:
We would like to thank the parishioners who have made donations towards the flowers and many other liturgical items needed for Holy Week. Please donate if you can, several items are still needed as indicated in the enclosed flyer.
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 greekschool@stgeorgeclifton.org for any further questions regarding orders or sales. All proceeds will benefit our St. George Greek School. Kali Sarakosti!
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, May 3rd. The eggs will be distributed at the Anastasi service and Easter Sunday Agapi service. Please leave them at the pangari or bring to the upstairs kitchen. 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 Daughters of Penelope Kronos #188 for sponsoring May 3rd, Holy Good Friday & the Myrofores (Myrrh-Bearing Women). For more information about the program, please speak to one of our Parish Council members, Ministry Leaders or call the church office.
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, May 5th. 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.
Stewardship Report:
We have launched the 2024 Annual Giving Stewardship Program and we invite all those who have offered an annual gift in the past to try and maintain or even increase their contribution this year. 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 or pledge. 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 please know 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.
Sunday School News:
- GOOD FRIDAY: On Friday, May 3rd Myrofora/Flower Girls are needed for the afternoon and evening Liturgical Services. Additional details are in the flyer. Please sign up by Palm Sunday.
- HOLY PASCHA: On Sunday, May 5th, no regular classes will be held on this most Holy day of the Lord’s Holy Resurrection.
- LAST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sunday, May 19th will be our last day of Sunday School. Our 10th graders will "officially" graduate on that day with informal presentations made in the church upon completion of the Divine Liturgy.
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 john.pilavas@gmail.com or Stephanos Frangos at sfrangos@icloud.com. As we all know, this is the most important fundraiser of our church and we appreciate your involvement.
St. George VCS Summer Camp – Save the Dates:
Camp will be held from Monday, June 24th - Friday, June 28th. Campers are ages 5 – 12 years old. Counselors ages 13 (going into 8th grade) through 17 are welcome. Registration forms will be forthcoming.
Greek-Americans Eligible to Vote in Greece:
Please read the materials in the "Flyer regarding eligible Greek-Americans registering to vote in the upcoming elections in Greece.