May the Name of the Lord be blessed!
On October 29 / November 11, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Martyr Anastasia of Rome; St. Abramius the Recluse; St. Anna of Constantinople; the Martyrs Claudius, Asterius, Neon and Theonilla of Cilicia; the New Martyr Athanasius of Sparta; the Martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou Monastery on Mt. Athos; the Martyrs Cyril, Menas, and Menaeus; the Martyr Vassa; and the Glorification of Equal-to-the-Apostles Rostislav, Prince of Greater Moravia. Through the prayers of Thy Saints, O God, save, have mercy upon and protect Thy people. Amen!
2018-2019 BIBLE STUDY: “The Gospel of St. John: Beholding the Glory” This year’s Scripture study focuses on the fourth Gospel, composed by St. John the Theologian. Join us every Thursday at 10:30 AM or 7:00 PM in the Church library to explore the depths of the Gospel written by “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2018-2019: “The Shared Experience of the Orthodox Christian Faith.” Our theme this year is that our faith is not primarily about ideas or concepts, rules and regulations. It is about our relationship and our personal connectedness with Jesus Christ in the experience of our everyday lives. Following Divine Liturgy on Sundays.
ADULT INQUIRY CLASS: For adults interested in joining the Orthodox Church. Through discussion, speakers, and personal sharing, adults will be preparing to receive Baptism or Chrismation. Sessions will be held at 7:30 PM on Wednesdays (except October 31 and November 21) in the Church Library. Contact Fr. Dimitrios for more information or to sign up at 301-469-7990.
LIVE ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2018-2019: Each Sunday at 11:30 AM, the St. George Adult Education program meets in the Church library and is live streamed to a global audience through the Orthodox Christian Network Facebook page. This year’s theme is “The Shared Experience of the Orthodox Christian Faith.”People all over the world listen to our class, write in their comments, and interact with your fellow parishioners in real-time. On Oct 28, our class on “Sin, Society, and Stillness – Getting Past Life’s “Motion Sickness” to Live as Christ Teaches Us to Live” was connected globally to the Orthodox faithful in the U.S., including Alaska, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Lebanon, Norway, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries. Click this link watch it using Facebook or click this link to watch from any device now and share with your family and friends!
NATIVITY FAMILY RETREAT: Saturday, Nov. 17, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM. The theme of the retreat is “Why Do We Need God?” with guest speaker Prof. Alex Younes, former Professor at the Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy. The retreat will include prayer, presentations, discussion groups, Vespers and a fasting dinner. As we prepare to commemorate the coming of God’s Eternal Word in the flesh, make time as a family to join us. The offering per family is $20.00 – please register at https://stgeorge.ccbchurch.
FOR REFLECTION…..
‘O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!’ – Psalm 83:1
One may have in place a regular prayer rule, endeavor to read the Bible daily, and attend church services regularly to partake of the life giving Eucharist – and yet feel that God is absent from it all, especially when calamities transpire. Where is God to be found if not in the dialogue of prayer, in His Word or in the confines of His Holy house? A question we despairingly ask ourselves from time to time. But God is never absent! He is always near, walking beside us, working within us. The Lord’s silence must never be mistaken for absence. For the Savior may, for a time, permit tribulations to come upon us and stand silently alongside us to watch us fight. Perhaps the Lord wants to test our love for Him or to teach us perseverance. Regardless of what may come, we must be of good cheer, because our faithful Savior is always near.
Prayer
My Lord, strengthen my faith in times of struggle and grant me the wisdom to know You are present in times, even when You seem silent.
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USHERS WELCOME: Please consider serving our faith community by helping keep our Divine Liturgy prayerful, beautiful and well-ordered, welcoming your fellow parishioners and caring for the Narthex. We welcome all men and women to serve as ushers. Please sign up at
https://www.signupgenius.com/
GREEK SCHOOL: Adult classes are in session, as are conversational classes to supplement Greek School instruction, offered every Tuesday for free to all students five years and older. Register adults at
https://stgeorge.ccbchurch.
JOIN THE ST. GEORGE MISSION TEAM TO APPALACHIA: St. George is forming a group to join the 2019 Mission Team to serve the needy people of Appalachia by repairing homes, making them warmer, safer and dryer. Training will be provided and all you need is a heart to give and hands to help. Registration has begun and information meetings are forming. Students who have completed 8th grade and older are eligible to participate. Adult leaders are also needed. It will be a week you will never forget. Consider joining this missionary team. For more information, contact Athena and Ken Kaiser at avkmail@verizon.net or call 301-881-8683. “Insofar as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me.!” (Matt. 25:40)