| May the Name of the Lord be blessed! On September 9/22, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; Martyr Severian of Sebaste; St. Joseph, Abbot of Volokolamsk; the Martyrs Chariton and Straton; St. Theophanes the Confessor of Diabenos; Blessed Nicetas the Hidden of Constantinople; the Commemoration of the Third Ecumenical Council; and the Repose of Elder Joachim of St. Anne’s Skete on Mt. Athos. Through the prayer of Thy Saints, O God, save have mercy upon and protect Thy people. Amen! Saturday, September 15: FEAST OF THE ELEVATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS Orthros 8:30 AM DIvine Liturgy
9″30 AM BIBLE STUDY 2019-2020: “The Prison Epistles of St. Paul” From the depths of a Roman prison, words of encouragement and instruction from the great Apostle Paul were sent in a series of letters to communities throughout the Roman Empire. St. Paul may have been fettered and shackled to a series of Roman guards, but the Word he preached remained unfettered and free. This Bible Study will focus on the epistles that St. Paul wrote while in prison to the Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. Begins September 12, 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. Join us for this exploration of God’s Word through the voice of St. Paul. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Adult Religious Education for 2019-2020 will begin Sunday, September 15, at 11:30 am in the Church library. The theme for this year is :\”Forming Christian Culture”. The class format is a round-table discussion format and the atmosphere is casual and relaxed so feel free to join and participate. These are not classes on high theology that are intimidating or difficult to understand. We focus on the “down to earth” and practical ways we should understand and live our faith. In His parables to the masses, Christ always used practical examples from everyday life to help people understand and draw near to God. We use the same model and spirit in this class.
ADULT INQUIRY CLASS: A new inquiry class will begin on October 2. It is designed for adults who want to become members of the Orthodox Church. Through discussions and personal sharing, the path to the ancient faith of the Apostles will be laid out clearly and enthusiastically — culminating in the Holy Mysteries of Baptism or Chrismation in December. Sessions will be held at 7:00 PM on October 2, 9, 16, and 23; November 6, 13, and 20; and December 11, in the Church Library. If the Holy Spirit is prompting you to join the Orthodox faith community, or you are already Orthodox and want to learn more about the faith that you hold, come to these sessions. It could be the most important decision of your life! For more information or to sign up for the class, contact Fr. Dimitrios at 301-469-7990. WHY READ THE CHURCH FATHERS?
To acquire the “mind of the Fathers” is to adopt and interiorize “structures of plausibility” that see beyond historical facts to the transcendent, divine Presence revealed in and through those facts. The Exodus, like the Exile into Babylon, is grounded in historical occurrence; some such liberation from Egypt actually happened. If it became the founding myth—the powerful, saving metaphor—of Israel’s identity and spiritual destiny, it is because God was at work through that occurrence, but also through its interpretation in Israel’s sacred literature. The same may be said for the Incarnation and Resurrection of Christ, which we affirm without qualification to be historical events. Yet for those events to have meaning for us—to work their saving power in our life—they must first be interpreted for us by the biblical authors, then received by us in faith. Our world-view must be marked by a profound “plausibility,” a bedrock conviction that the material universe is indeed interpenetrated by another reality, a reality that is God—transcendent divine Life—who is present and active in every aspect of material reality, in order to lead us through this world and into His eternal embrace. Why read the writings of the Holy Fathers? Because those venerable elders perceived what each of us needs and longs to perceive. Firmly anchored in “historical reality,” their spiritual vision enabled them to open the eyes of mind and soul to the beauty and glory of divine Reality, as it reveals itself and makes itself accessible in and through Scripture and Tradition, as well as in and through the most mundane aspects of our daily existence.
___________________________________ GOYA: ANNUAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING – We will have a very important informational meeting for all GOYAns (new and returning) & their parents on Sunday, September 15th at 12:30pm in the Chapel. Light refreshments will be served. Please make every effort to attend. GOYA: OPENING BASH will take place on Saturday, September 21st from 6pm-10pm at St. George. The GOYA Board plans this event. GOYAns will enjoy dinner and fun activities to kick off the year. We hope everyone (especially our newest GOYAns) will join us! UNIFIED YOUTH MINISTRIES REGISTRATION: Please register for all St. George Youth Ministries at https://stgeorge.org/ministries/youth-ministries-registration/ – this includes Sunday School and its Choir, Altar Boys, Hope/Joy, GOYA and the St. George Counselors-in-Training (C.I.T.s).
SUNDAY SCHOOL: Begins Sunday, September 15th with the “Being a Family in Church, Parenting in the Pews project”. There will also be 2 orientation days for parents on September 15th and September 22nd. Parents please take note and join us.
GREEK SCHOOL: Children’s registration for 2019-2020 school year has begun. Conversational Greek classes begin in October, Wednesday evenings for ages 5-7, and for 7 and up. Adult Greek classes begin in October, Monday and Tuesday evenings, for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Please visit https://stgeorge.org/education/greek-school/ for all registrations. Contact Greek School Director Eirini Iatrou at eirini.iatrou@gmail.com for additional information.
50 PLUS: Sept. 11, 11:30 AM. First meeting, luncheon served. Please make a special effort to attend, as we will hold elections and plan the Oct. 9 bus trip to St. Michaels Island. Koulourakia will also be sold.
CHOIR: Sept. 12, 7:30 PM. First rehearsal of English and Greek liturgical arrangements. All are welcome to join us in preparation for Divine Liturgy beginning Sept. 15. If you’ve thought of singing with the choir, please consider joining your voice with ours in worship during Divine Liturgy. We will spend extra time learning all voice parts thoroughly, in anticipation of hosting over 75 singers at St. George for the Oct. 17-20 Metropolis Annual Choir Conference. RSVP to Choir Director Paul Mavromihalis at pmavromihalis@gmail.com or (301) 455- 6785.
IOCC RACE TO RESPOND: Oct. 19. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is sponsoring the 7th Baltimore Running Festival to raise funds for those in need in places such as Ethiopia, Syria, Greece, the Holy Land, Haiti, Uganda and Nepal. All abilities of walkers and runners are welcome as there is a range of participants options: 5K, Team Relay, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon. Please register at www.iocc.org/baltimore
“He who desires to see the Living God face to face, should not seek Him in the empty firmament of the mind — but in human love.” (Fyodor Dostoevsky) |