Sunday Bulletin - St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-08-25
Bulletin Contents
Calendar
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Announcements
Wisdom of the Fathers
Archdiocese News
Welcome Visitors!
Saints and Feasts
Bulletin Inserts

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Sunday Bulletin - St. George Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (651) 222-6220
  • Street Address:

  • 1111 Summit Ave

  • St. Paul, MN 55105

Contact Information

Fr. Perry Kallis
Priest

[email protected] | (651) 706-9672

Dylan Eisenhuth
Admin.

[email protected] | (651) 222-6220

Steve Arsenault
Bookstore

[email protected] | (651) 222-6220

John P. Boosalis
Webmaster

[email protected] | (651) 222-6220

Services Schedule

Welcome!

We hope that you will make this your spiritual home. Connect with us on our website, Facebook page, YouTube, or sign-up for our email list at https://tinyurl.com/yc3tp29w.

Worship Sunday Orthros 8:15 am & Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

Confession (by appointment - call or email [email protected])

Weekday Services (www.stgeorgegoc.org/calendar)

Streaming

youtube.com/c/stgeorgestpaul

Fellowship Hour Sunday following Divine Liturgy

Office Hours Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Our Mission St. George Greek Orthodox Church is a Christ-centered community that: inspires faith and worship, cultivates spiritual growth and fellowship, and encourages benevolence and outreach.

Our Vision Ascending together to the fullness of Life.

Past Bulletins


Calendar

  • Parish Calendar

    August 25 to September 1, 2024

    Sunday, August 25

    9th Sunday of Matthew

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    Tuesday, August 27

    +St. Phanourios

    Wednesday, August 28

    +Fast Day

    Thursday, August 29

    +Commemoration of the Beheading of the Forunner John the Baptist *Strict Fast Day*

    5:30PM Orthros

    6:30PM Divine Liturgy

    Friday, August 30

    +St. Alexandros

    +Fast Day

    Sunday, September 1

    +Ecclesiastical New Year

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

  • Ministries Calendar

    September 22 to September 22, 2024

    Sunday, September 22

    12:45PM Pioneers (55+) Boat Cruise

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Tone

From on high You descended, Most Merciful; for us You condescended to a threeday burial to set us free from the passions. O Lord, our Resurrection and our Life, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Apostle Bartholomew in the 3rd Tone

O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

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Announcements

Greeters

Dean Natto & Richard Kanavatti

Prosfora

Anonymous

Fellowship

Thank you to Jackie & Dan Matuska and Minda & Steve Arsenault for hosting today's fellowship!

Welcome Dylan!

Please join us in welcoming Dylan Eisenhuth to the ministry team at St. George! Dylan started two weeks ago as our new church administrator. You can reach Dylan in the church office by phone at (651) 222-6220 and at [email protected]. Please keep in mind that he does not work on Sundays. Please contact him during regular office hours regarding administrative work. Thank you.

Catechumen Prayers

Metropolitan Nathanael has asked us to re-institute praying the Litany of the Catechumens during Liturgy. This litany is an ancient set of prayers that were historically included in the Divine Liturgy right after the Gospel and sermon. They began to be omitted during a period when the church had few catechumens. Now that we have more frequent baptisms and chrismations of adult catechumens, it is appropriate that we re-introduce these prayers. Our Lord commanded us to make disciples of all nations, and now we will pray for catechumens in the Church, especially those who are with us in our parish. All of the parishes in our Vicariate (Minnesota) will begin including them on September 1st, the first day of the new church year. Though one of the prayers asks the Catechumens to depart, His Eminence only asks us to reinstate the prayers for our Catechumens. According to current practice, Catechumens are still welcome to remain in Liturgy for its entirety.

Fellowship Hour

Please host an upcoming coffee hour! Individuals, families, or even groups can sign up to host or co-host. Use this URL to sign up. We have openings on September 1, 22, and 29. If you're able and willing, please consider signing up. Thank you.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5AD2BABFF2-46964197-fellowship#/

2024 St. Mary’s Minneapolis Taste of Greece Festival

Friday, September 6: 2:00-9:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 7: Noon-9:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 8: Noon-5:00 p.m.

Volunteer in preparation:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B44A9AB2BABFD0-50420889-festival#/

Volunteer at the festival:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B44A9AB2BABFD0-50538365-tog2024?useFullSite=true#/

Church School Student Registration Form

The 2024-2025 Church School year is right around the corner! Visit this link to register your child(ren).

https://forms.gle/6TqdwRsVmpFEyxKVA 

Philoptochos 

Please join us on Sunday, September 8th, after Divine Liturgy for the first Philoptochos Meeting of the new Ecclesiastical year! New members are always welcome!

Intro to Orthodox Christianity Catechism Course - Fall 2024

Join us for our MEOCCA catechism course, Intro to Orthodox Christianity, beginning on Tuesday, September 10, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Catechism is open to all; people interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity, inquirers, catechumens, and current Orthodox Christians as well. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in person (1111 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN) or online via Zoom. Register online at the link below. Learn more at www.meocca.org.

https://forms.gle/bgtnThRqQP6CWGnX8

YAL (Young Adult League) Philoxenia House Volunteer Event

We are excited that YAL Rochester and YAL Twin Cities are partnering for another volunteer event to serve Philoxenia House! The next gathering is on September 14. The event will start after a Saturday morning Liturgy. Please fill out the RSVP form as soon as possible so they can plan for enough projects for us all to do! The form includes more details about times and addresses.

https://bit.ly/4dHeUEx

Parish Picnic!

Join us on Sunday, September 15th, after Liturgy for our annual Parish Picnic. This year, the Jordan family will host the picnic at 10959 Akron Avenue, Inver Grove Heights 55077. A barbecue-style meal will be provided, with plenty of games and activities for all! Bring along your favorite lawn games and some lawn chairs! If you want to help or have any questions, please call or text Lisa at 1-651-470-6705.

 

On The Reading of Old Books

Are you interested in reading classical literature of the western world?

Have you ever wanted to read the works of literary giants like Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Plato, and Aristotle? To explore the strange worlds of the Greek and Norse myths, and the fairy tales of Brothers Grimm? To immerse yourself in centuries of legend with King Arthur and his knights of the round table? To see the origins of famous characters like Frankenstein, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

If you have ever wanted to read some of the great works of the western literary canon, but you were intimidated, found them to be too difficult or too boring, or if you have read them and want to return to them again, let me know!

A Group of Readers

If reading the great old books of the western world interests you, and you would like to participate in a reading group devoted to exploring and discussing these exemplar texts, email Grant Oldre ([email protected]).

Grant Oldre?
Grant is the School of Logic (6-8 grade) Humanities instructor for Great Oaks Academy, a classical charter school in Farmington MN.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfumf0-vx_R7sjkaZi7JkJX6LNn_V7sg0ooUleosuenr046vg/viewform

Family Camp

St. Mary's is thrilled to announce their 2024 Family Camp speaker, Fr. George Dokos! The 2024 theme is The Fathers on the Family. Registration closes August 31, at 11:59 p.m. Register early for a reduced rate. To learn more about Family Camp, our guest speaker, or to register, use the link below.

https://stmaryscamp.com/family-camp/

Pan-Orthodox Grief and Loss Support Group

If you seek support with grief and loss, please join St. Mary's OCA for their Grief and Loss Support Group.

The next 4-week Grief and education will occur on Tuesdays from 7-8 pm. Location TBD

October 22nd
October 29th
November 5th
November 12th

Each week consists of discussion and education. Learn about what grief is, how to ease the pain, and the impact of grief on the mind and body.

There is also a monthly support group that meets on the last Wednesday of each month from 7-8 pm at St. Mary's OCA in Northeast Minneapolis. Discussion and variety of topics. August 28th, September 25th, and October 23rd.

To sign up or ask questions, email Joni at [email protected].

Fr. Perry's Corner

Please let me know ([email protected] or (651) 706-9672) if you can help with any of the following:

1. Coordinate a Welcome and Outreach Fellowship Hour in the Fall/Winter

2. Coordinate our St. Gregory Palamas Parish Retreat on March 15, 2025

Silent Auction

Remember to check out the Silent Auction in the hall. Proceeds support our Missions and Benevolence ministry. New items are added regularly. If you would like to donate items that are new with tags or something else valuable, such as theater/sports tickets, please contact Angela Mortari at [email protected] or text 651-280-7123.

2024 Stewardship Program

Goal

$151,834 of $275,000 (through July)

At the Fall Parish Assembly, we approved the 2024 Stewardship Goal of $275,000. We have hit this mark in the last couple of years, and we truly believe that with everyone’s support, we will hit that mark again. Now is the time to submit your 2024 pledge. Pledge Cards are at the candle stand, or click the link below to complete the form online. Thank you for your support of the work of the Church.

2024 Theme

"Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant,” from the Parable of the Talents. We are all blessed with certain gifts. This parable stresses the importance of developing our gifts, multiplying them, and offering them back in service to God.

Make Your 2024 Pledge Online

https://forms.gle/TAvAZUNCBrcRHX1KA

Make a Stewardship Donation Online

https://www.stgeorgegoc.org/give

 

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Wisdom of the Fathers

The principle and source of the virtues is a good disposition of the will, that is to say, an aspiration for goodness and beauty. God is the source and ground of all supernal goodness. Thus the principle of goodness and beauty is faith or, rather, it is Christ, the rock of faith, who is principle and foundation of all virtues. On this rock we stand and on this foundation we build every good thing (cf. I Cor. 3:11).
St. Gregory of Sinai
On Commandments and Doctrines no. 83, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 228, 14th century

Christ did not command the winds to cease at that time, but Himself stretched forth His hand and took hold of Peter, because here faith was required of him. When we do not do our part, divine (grace) slows and stands still.. . . it was not the wind that did Peter harm; his lack of faith sank him. Where faith is fruitfu, firm and strong, none of the evils that may befall us can do us any harm.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002, 4th Century

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Welcome Visitors!

Thank you for joining us in worship. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us! Although Holy Communion is offered only to baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of the service. The Antidoron and fellowship hour are reminiscent of the Agape Feast that followed worship in the early Church.

One does not have to be of Greek descent nor speak Greek to be an Orthodox Christian and member of our parish. All people of any background are welcome to join the Orthodox Church. For those interested in learning more about the Christian Faith or becoming a member of our church, please see Fr. Perry after services or contact him at [email protected] or (651) 222-6220.

We hope you will join us in our hall upstairs this morning after services for fellowship and refreshments!

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Prosfora (Offering Bread)

Thank you to those who make the prosfora/offering bread for Liturgy. If you would like to sign up to bake and make an offering of bread to the church, please get in touch with Krisandrea at [email protected].

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” John 6:27

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Content for the Bulletin

All content for the bulletin (flyers, blurbs, calendar events, etc.) is due Wednesday each week. Content submitted after Wednesday will be included in the bulletin for the following week.

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Parish Email List Sign-Up 

Sign up for our email list to see what’s happening at St. George!

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Please Note

St. George GOC broadcasts its worship services live on the internet. Your presence in the church is subject to audio and video recording.

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Saints and Feasts

August 25

Titus the Apostle of the 70

Saint Titus was a Greek by race, and an idolater. But having believed in Christ through the Apostle Paul, he became Paul's disciple and follower and labored with him greatly in the preaching of the Gospel. When Paul ordained him Bishop of Crete, he later wrote to him the Epistle which bears his name. Having shepherded in an apostolic manner the flock that had been entrusted to him, and being full of days, he reposed in peace, some ninety-four years of age.

August 26

Adrian & Natalia the Martyrs & their 33 Companion Martyrs in Nicomedea

The holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalie confessed the Christian Faith during the reign of Maximian, in Nicomedia, in the year 298. Adrian was a pagan; witnessing the valor of the Martyrs, and the fervent faith with which they suffered their torments, he also declared himself a Christian and was imprisoned. When this was told to his wife Natalie, who was secretly a believer, she visited him in prison and encouraged him in his sufferings. Saint Adrian's hands and feet were placed on an anvil and broken off with a hammer; he died in his torments. His blessed wife recovered part of his holy relics and took it to Argyropolis near Byzantium, and reposed in peace soon after.

August 27

Poimen the Great

Saint Pimen was from Egypt and shone forth in the ascetical life in Scete in the fourth century; he was renowned for his discretion. Many of his sayings and deeds are preserved in the Paradise of the Fathers and the Sayings of the Fathers.

August 28

Moses the Black of Scete

Saint Moses, who is also called Moses the Black, was a slave, but because of his evil life, his master cast him out, and he became a ruthless thief, dissolute in all his ways. Later, however, coming to repentance, he converted, and took up the monastic life under Saint Isidore of Scete. He gave himself over to prayer and the mortification of the carnal mind with such diligence that he later became a priest of exemplary virtue. He was revered by all for his lofty ascetical life and for his great humility. Once the Fathers in Scete asked Moses to come to an assembly to judge the fault of a certain brother, but he refused. When they insisted, he took a basket which had a hole in it, filled it with sand, and carried it on his shoulders. When the Fathers saw him coming they asked him what the basket might mean. He answered, "My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and I am come this day to judge failings which are not mine." When a barbarian tribe was coming to Scete, Moses, conscious that he himself had slain other men when he was a thief, awaited them and was willingly slain by them with six other monks, at the end of the fourth century. He was a contemporary of Saint Arsenius the Great (see May 8).

August 29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.

This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.

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Bulletin Inserts

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