ST GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
REV FR RICHARD D. ANDREWS, PRESBYTER
www.stgeorgegoc.org

March 9, 2008 FORGIVENESS / CHEESEFARE SUNDAY

TODAY`S EVENTS: PHILOPTOCHOS CHEESEFARE LUNCHEON
Epistle: Ann Woods
Prosfora: Dimitra Hatzistamoulos
Fellowship: Philoptochos
Usher: Joe Weiser
Memorial: Dimitrios Hatzistamoulos (9 mos)
4:30PM: Greek Dancers of MN rehearsal
6:00PM: FORGIVENESS VESPERS

Monday 03-10 CLEAN / PURE MONDAY- GREAT & HOLY LENT BEGINS
COMPLNE SERVICE 6:00PM
Greek School 6:15PM
Youth & Family Ministry meeting 6:30PM
Greek School dance rehearsal for Festival of Nations 7:15PM
NO Catechism class
Grief, Loss & Healing- Defining Death & Loss; Sharing our Story w/ Fr Rick 7:00PM
Tuesday 03-11 Bible Study at Fr Rick & Pres Jane’s home 7:00PM
Wednesday 03-12 PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY 6:00PM
Lenten Dinner & Lecture Revelation- Bible Commentary & Controversy 7:30PM
Thursday 03-13 Parish Council meeting 7:00PM
Friday 03-14 AKATHISTOS SERVICE 6:00PM
Lenten Dinner & Lecture: Monasticism- An Indirect Call w/ George Kanavati 7:30PM
Saturday 03-15 GREAT VESPERS 5:00PM
Sunday 03-16 ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY —SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY 8:30AM
Adult & Junior Choir joint rehearsal 12Noon
Greek School classes 12:30PM
Greek School dance rehearsal for Festival of Nations 1:00PM
Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers at St Mary OCA 4:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
May Her Memory be Eternal! A 1 year memorial for Kathleen Niki Rogers (Boosalis) was held Friday, March 7.

Philoptochos News — Cheesefare Sunday is today, March 9, and Philoptochos is hosting lunch. Please join us for tiropites, salads and coffee cake. Cost is $5. Proceeds from lunch will benefit Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

Think on These Things: You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.

Meaning of Cheesefare
With Sunday of Cheesefare, we commemorate Adam & Eve’s Expulsion from Paradise that resulted from their refusal to fast. Therefore, we begin the strict fast with the commencement of Lent tomorrow on Clean-Pure Monday. We also commemorate God’s forgiveness today with the Vespers of Forgiveness this evening marking the entrance into Great Fast. Use this time to reconcile with God and neighbor through the Sacrament of Confession. Call Fr Rick to schedule an appointment for confession.

Kids’ Letters to God: Dear God: Thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy. Joyce

Receive The Light National Orthodox Radio Program: 03/15/08 Tune in to Come Receive the Light, when Fr Chris will speak with Dr Albert Rossi, a professor at St Vladimir`s Seminary, about the role of lay people in the life and ministry of the Orthodox Church. The Ark and The Rudder will feature new programs. Special Moments in Orthodoxy features another installment from the International Conference of Orthodox Psychotherapists. This week, Dr Frank Johnson will speak on "Counseling, Psychotherapy and Spiritual Direction: A Comparison, Part 1." Check online for the rest of our lineup, including Theologically Thinking, Get Wisdom, Just Thinking and the Featured Artist Block showcasing the music of Eikona. The "Best of Come Receive the Light" for March 17-21 includes "Church and State Issues" (3/17), "Ecumenism in the 21 Century" (3/18), "Church Music" (3/19), "Loss of a Child" (3/20), and "How to Help a Friend with a Chemical Dependency" (3/21). Listen Saturdays, KKMS 980AM, at 5PM, or anytime at www.receive.org

Social Hall Remodel Approved! — At our February General Assembly, the Parish approved and passed the remodeling of the Social Hall. This project includes improved lighting & acoustics, fresh paint, new banquet style chairs & tables,and updated window coverings. Work will begin in June. A special Social Hall Update and Decorating Fund Drive has been initiated and donations are greatly appreciated. See the design plan and fund drive display boards in the Social Hall.

Bookstore News – For all your Lenten recipe needs – “A Lenten Cook Book For Orthodox Christians” – $10.

Choir Practices —Junior Choir practices are the first and third Sundays of each month. Adult choir practice is with the Junior on the third Sunday. Choir is open to everyone. Choir members plan ahead to practice together.

Church Fathers Speak: – In order to fulfill the commandments of Christ, you must know them. They are expounded in the Gospels. Read the Holy Gospel, penetrate its spirit, make it a rule of your life—your manual in everything you do; and for every question in life, act in accord with the teachings of the Gospels. This is the one light in your life. St Nikon of Optina

Stewardship Update — As of March 6th, 101 parishioners have submitted a pledge card and 56% of our stewardship budget is pledged. If you have not already, please make your commitment of time, talents and treasures to God in our parish of St George. We are encouraging everyone to tithe (give 10% of gross income) by increasing their giving from the previous year. Reflection: There are two kinds of gratitude – the kind we feel for what we receive and the larger kind we feel for what we give.

Lenten Lectures Set
Three different Lenten lecture series will take place this year. Monday’s topic “Grief, Loss and Healing” Wednesday’s topic “The Book of Revelation” Friday’s topic “Monasticism: Wisdom for the World.” Lenten meals will be hosted after the worship services on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please see posted flyers for more info.

Kyriacos Markides to Speak at Lenten Retreat
The 3rd Annual St. Gregory Palamas Festival of Light Lenten Retreat will happen on March 21-22. Dr Kyriacos Markides, author of “The Mountain of Silence” and “Gifts of the Desert”, will speak on the theme: Orthodox Monastic: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World. Please see posted flyers for more info.

Greek School News — The review for the Children`s dance at the Festival of Nations is this Sunday, March 9. We need as many as possible to show up in order to ensure that we get enough tickets for all the participants. If you have been intending to bring your child to participate, today is the day. We will have a rehearsal after Liturgy and head over to the International Institute on Como Avenue. We will be dancing the program from 2 years ago, so your child/children most likely already know it if they have participated before. If you need a ride, please let us know and we will accommodate. Contact annachristoforides@comcast.net

Glad Tidings deadline: the 10th of each month. Example; Apr 10th for May 2008 Glad Tidings.
Glad Tidings email: stgeorgegladtidings@excite.com
Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week. Secretary’s email: fionamaria_1@netzero.net

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St. George Church
1111 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

Phone: (651) 222-6220
Fax: (651) 225-9276
Website: www.stgeorgegoc.org
Email: stgeorgegoc@msn.com

Proistamenos: Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews
Email: fatherrick@usa.com