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

March 30, 2008 VENERATION OF CROSS

TODAY`S EVENTS: PROCESSION & VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Epistle: Tess Chadwick
Prosfora: Theologia Pitsavas
Fellowship: Greek School
Usher: Christ Kontenakos
4:00PM: Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers at Holy Trinity Serbian

Monday 03-31 COMPLINE SERVICE 6:00PM
Greek School 6:15PM
Greek School dance rehearsal for Festival of Nations 7:15PM
Catechism — Second Coming/Living the Christian Life w/ Fr Rick 7:00PM
Tuesday 04-01 Philoptochos meeting 6:30PM
Wednesday 04-02 NINTH HOUR SERVICE 5:30PM
PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY 6:00PM
Lenten Dinner & Lecture: Revelation- The Millennial Reign w/ Fr Rick 7:30PM
Friday 04-04 AKATHISTOS SERVICE 6:00PM
Lenten Dinner & Lecture: Monastic Ministry to the World w/Fr Simeon Gitlis 7:30PM
Saturday 04-05 GREAT VESPERS 5:00PM
Sunday 04-06 ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY — SUNDAY OF ST JOHN CLIMACUS 8:30AM
Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers at Holy Trinity OCA 4:00PM
Daughters of Penelope Loukoumades Spring Fundraiser 12:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Thank You – To everyone who attended and participated in the Lenten Retreat with Dr Kyriacos Markides. Special thanks to the Spiritual Life committee and additional volunteers who helped set-up, provide and serve food and helped clean-up. Dr. Markides shared a wealth of treasures about Orthodoxy springing from within the monastic tradition.

Choir News
·The choir welcomes those who would like to sing at our Holy Friday evening service. This includes singing our beautiful and moving Lamentations. If you have any questions, or need more info, contact Barbara Bauman, 651-415-0556, or Denise Smith, 952-929-1019, if you would like to join us in the loft.
·Don’t forget – Junior Choir practices are the first and third Sundays of each month. Adult choir practice is with the Junior Choir on the third Sunday. Choir is open to everyone. Choir members – plan ahead to practice together.

Lenten Lectures – Bring a Friend
Three different Lenten lecture series will take place this year. Monday’s topic is “Grief, Loss and Healing” Wednesday’s topic is “The Book of Revelation” Friday’s topic is “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.

Kids’ View of Angels: I only know the names of two angels: Hark and Harold. Gregory, 5

Come Receive The Light National Orthodox Radio Program: 04/05/08 Listen Saturdays, KKMS 980AM, at 5PM, or anytime at www.receive.org

Youth Announcements
·Lenten Read-A-Thon – Adults and youth are sought to participate in the parish wide Lenten Read-A-Thon. The goal is to incorporate reading into your daily Lenten routine and increase your knowledge base. A calendar will be provided for recording your time. Those interested should talk to their Sunday School teachers. Students can be partnered with adult parishioners for the purposes of discussing particular readings. The bookstore and your Sunday School teachers have age appropriate suggested reading lists and lectionaries.
·Lazaros Saturday Youth Retreat – On April 19, we’ll begin with Liturgy at 9AM, followed by a Lenten meal and cleaning and decorating of the church for Palm Sunday. We want to get all the cleaning done on this day so we can spend Holy Friday focusing on education, reflection and renewal. See potluck sign-up in social hall.
·Holy Friday Youth Retreat – Plan on taking the day off from school and work. Please register your child on one of the postings in either the social hall or lower level. There is also a potluck food sign-up in social hall. The Holy Friday retreat will begin with the Royal Hours service at 9AM and will end with the Descent from Cross Vespers service. Children are encouraged to attend all services. If you have questions, please contact Andrea Faches.
·Myrrhbearers – Girls interested in serving on Holy Friday as myrrhbearers, call Andrea Faches, 507-665-8053. An orientation and training will be provided on Saturday of Lazarus after the preparation of the church and making of the palm crosses. Thank You to all the women who so generously offered their time and talents to prepare new myrrhbearer gowns for our parish.

Decorating The Kouvouklion — Volunteers who would like to adorn the Kouvouklion for Holy Friday are needed to decorate on Friday, April 25. We will start at noon, following the morning service and lunch. Please come for Royal Hours Service at 9AM beforehand. For more information, contact Denise Smith, 952-929-1019.

Think on These Things: Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is practical; and expecting more than others think is possible.

Practical Stuff for Lent
·Fasting – do not eat meat, dairy or fish; reduce intake; skip a meal or two per day; fast from sinful words & actions.
·Prayer – pray each day; use prayer book; say Jesus Prayer throughout day using prayer rope; Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim each day; attend Lenten worship services each week: Sat. Sun. – Vespers, Mon. – Compline, Wed. – Liturgy, Fri. – Akathist; seek opportunities to serve & participate more in worship.
·Almsgiving – take time & money you would spend on yourself and give it away to serve the poor & needy.
·Quiet Time – turn off TV, radio; sit down meals with family; do not participate in entertaining/celebratory activity.
·Reading – read one chapter per day from Scripture (start w/ gospels); follow Lenten lectionary of Church (Genesis, Proverbs, Isaiah); read lives & teachings of Saints & Church Fathers; attend bible study.
·Repentance – participate in Sacrament of Confession; forgive others; apologize & ask for forgiveness.

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.

Church Fathers Speak: – Be ashamed when you sin, don’t be ashamed when you repent. There are two things: sin and repentance. Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine. Sin is followed by shame; repentance is followed by boldness. Satan has overturned this order and given boldness to sin and shame to repentance. St John Chrysostom.

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

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