St. George Greek Orthodox Church - August 22, 2021
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St. George Greek
Orthodox Church
August 22, 2021
1
New Guidelines With continued guidance from the County of Fresno Health Department, and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, we are requesting that all parish mem- bers continue to wear masks while inside the church, during indoor services. Our appeal is intended to lower the risk of infection for all of our beloved parishioners due to the ongoing pandemic, which include uncertainties due to COVID variants. We are thankful for your understanding and cooperation. If you forget your mask, we will happily provide one for you in the Narthex. Parish Council Members Serving Today Ashley Hyatt, Amanda Sopp, Marean Bechara & Elena Stefanopoulos Prayer List Does someone need prayer? Call or email the office in order to request a name to be put on the prayer list. When a family requests a name be placed on the list, the name will remain on the list for one month. Health: Alfred, Patty, Demetri, Pat, John C., Tom, Mary, Robert, Elizabeth, Pe- ter, Michael, Dee, Carlo Military/First Responders: Cindi, Andreas, Joseph, Justin, Andy, Nick, Matthew, Gail & Tarek Sponsor a Coffee Hour If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Hour please contact Pam Sopp at (209) 986-5273. Baby Blessings Today’s 40-day Baby Blessings are for John Michael Carter, son of Alex and Jo- hanna Carter and Mirva Aldaoud, daughter of Sameer Aldaoud and Silva Zidane. Services, Classes and Activities This Week Thursday: Food Fest meeting at 6:30pm Friday: Catechism at 5:30pm Welcome Back Sunday! Sunday, September 12th is Welcome Back Sunday! Join us for liturgy followed by food, music, activities, ministry engagement booths, Sunday School registra- tion and more! Everyone is invited to attend. We look forward to welcoming back our St. George family. St. George Bookstore The Bookstore will be open for in person shopping most Sundays. As a remind- er, we are limiting the amount of people in the Bookstore to two customer at a time. Face masks must be worn while in the Bookstore. Extra masks are available in the Narthex. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Ready. Set. EXCLAIM!
Are you ready to Exclaim your faith? Then the
Young Adult League (YAL) Conference over La-
bor Day Weekend 2021 in Phoenix, AZ is where
you need to be! Conference attendees will enjoy a
weekend of events, workshops, worship and relaxa-
tion from September 2 – 6, 2021 at the JW Mar-
riott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, AZ.
Highlights of the weekend include engaging work-
shops, daily worship, dances, a Grand Banquet, and
a special western-themed event “YeeHaw YAL”.
Registration has already exceeded 500 young adults
from across the Archdiocese and we expect this event to be a sell-out! Register soon
before it sells out! Visit
www.sanfran.goarch.org/YAL for more registration and hotel details.
3Today’s Epistle & Gospel Reading Orthros Gospel: John 20: 19- 31 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not be- lieve." Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. I 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 mani- fest; 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 on- ly 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.
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 wa-
ter." 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.
Hymns of the Day
For the Feast
You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not
desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother
of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
From on high did You descend, O merciful Lord, for us did You endure, three
days in the tomb that we may be released from passions in this world, You who
are our resurrection and our life, Glory unto You O Lord.
Hymn for the Church of St. George
As the one renowned for setting captives free and for defending those in pov-
erty, the physician of the sick and the champion of emperors, great and victori-
ous Martyr George, interceded with Christ our God, beseeching Him to save
our souls.
Kontakion
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The Theotokos is undying in intercession.* Immovable is our hope in her for
protection. * Neither death nor burial prevailed over her. * As she is Mother of
Life, she was removed to life by Him, * the Lord who lived in her ever-virgin
womb.“A Time for Every Purpose Under
Heaven”
Orthodox Christian Stewardship Program
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
2219 N. Orchard Street
Fresno, CA 93703
559 233-0397
This past year has brought unforeseen challenges for everyone. In spite of
these challenges, our Community is at a point of strong, positive growth.
This time has also given us an opportunity for change. A change to allow us
to work together to grow our community instead of simply sustaining it. It’s
time to fully invest in ourselves today– for the future by become a Financial
Steward of St. George Church in 2021.
Become a Financial Steward of St. George Church:
• Fill out a confidential 2021 Stewardship Commitment Form* and return
it to the church office.
• *Commitment forms are located in the monthly newsletter and on the
parish website:
http://stgeorgefresno.org/assets/files/Stewardship%20Card%202021
(2).pdf
Fulfill your stewardship commitment in numerous ways:
• Setup automatic monthly payments to be mailed from your bank to the
church. (Mailing Address: 2219 N. Orchard St.; Fresno, CA 93703)
• Make a one time Stewardship payment or setup automatic monthly pay-
ments with your credit card through the church website: http://
www.stgeorgefresno.org/giving/treasure
• Mail monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual stewardship checks to the
church office. (Mailing Address: 2219 N. Orchard St.; Fresno, CA
93703)
• Place monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual stewardship checks in
the Sunday offering tray.
As highlighted in our 2021 annual budget, if the families that were Financial
Stewards last year increased the average commitment to $2,330 per family,
per year, we would fulfill the financial obligations of our church, freeing us
from relying on the Food Festival to cover operating expenses.
*Copies of Vision 100 are available on our website at: http://
stgeorgefresno.org/st.-george-strategic-plan.2021 Confidential Stewardship Commitment Form
Please return your completed form to the church office by
Mail: 2219 N. Orchard St. Fresno, CA 93703; Email: sggoc@comcast.net or Fax:
559-233-0564.
Did you know that out of the 400+ families to which our church ministers, only 220
families are stewards? Of those 220 families, 82 families give less than $500 per year.
If each of these 220 families gave at least $2,330 per year, we would be able to fulfill
the financial obligations of our church. This would free up income from fundraisers,
like the Food Festival, to use on property improvements and future growth. We ask
that if God has blessed you with the means, please consider giving at least $2,330 per
year in stewardship. If you already give at least $2,330 per year, we ask that you con-
sider increasing your stewardship by 10% for 2021.
No matter what you are financially able to give, you are a valued parishioner of St.
George Church.
In gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s blessings, I/we offer Him through His
Church the following Annual Tithe:
An annual amount of: ___$2,330 _____$2,700 _____$3,000 _____$3,600 ____$4,800
($194/mo) ($225/mo) ($250/mo) ($300/mo) ($400/mo)
Other:____
Name: (first/last) ________________________________
Cell Phone: _________________Home Phone: _____________
Email ________________________
Spouse: (first/last) ____________________________
Cell Phone: ______________ Home Phone: _________________
Email_________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
City/State: _________________ Zip: _________
Please fill out the information below if you would like to make your stewardship
donation using your credit card, and would like our office to setup the donation(s).
You can also go to our website
http://www.stgeorgefresno.org/giving/treasure to setup automatic stewardship do-
nations.
Name on card:____________________________________________
Card number: ___________________________ Expires: ________________
CSC#: __________ Billing address:________________________________
Email Address: _________________________(Required for credit card donations)
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Monthly amount: ___________ Or One time donation amount:__________
I hereby authorize St. George Greek Orthodox Church to debit the above amount,
per instructions, from my credit/debit card.
Signature: ________________________________ Date: _______________Church Income & Expense Update
The figures below reflect current actual income and the budgeted expenses
for the week prior to this Sunday. Followed by current actual year to date
income and expenses. They are provided in order to give an ongoing report
as to what is necessary to cover the financial needs of our congregation.
Thank you for your continued support.
Weekly Income and Expenses
Income (actual) for the week of 8/15/2021 $ 3,460.00
Budgeted expenses ($601,335 for the year divided into 52 weeks) $ 11,564.00
Difference of: $ (8,104.00)
Year to Date Income (Actual) and Expense (Actual)
Income (actual) 1/1/2021- 8/15/2021 $ 310,491.00
Expenses (actual) 1/1/2021-8/15/2021 $ 354,083.00
Difference of: $ (43,592.00)You can also read
