UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AT ST. GEORGE

Friday, December 6: FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER, ARCHBISHOP OF MYRA IN LYCIA    Orthros  8:30 AM and Divine Liturgy  9:30 AM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM:  PRE-NATIVITY REFLECTION DAY.  The theme is “From the Altar to Belief: Orthodox Worship as the Source and Summit of Faith”   The Orthodox Faith is established on different “connections” — one of which is the intimate link between the Divine Liturgy and Orthodox spirituality and theology.  Discover in this presentation by Chrysostomos Gunning what those links are and how they might deepen both our worship and our personal spirituality.  For all Sunday School teachers, Ministry Leads, and St. George families. A separate program will be offered for children who attend with their parents.   Make ready to commemorate the coming of the Lord in the flesh and His coming again in glory. Join us!

BIBLE STUDY 2019-2020: RESUMES THURSDAY, DEC 5.   “The Prison Epistles of St. Paul” – This Bible Study will focus on the epistles that St. Paul wrote while in prison to the Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. Meets Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM in the Church Library.

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Adult Religious Education for 2019-2020 at 11:30 AM following Divine Liturgy in the Church Library. The theme is “Forming Christian Culture.” In His parables to the masses, Christ always uses practical examples from everyday life to help people understand and draw near to God.  The format is a round-table discussion in a relaxed atmosphere. Please join and participate freely.

JOURNEY TO ORTHODOXY: Ongoing inquiry class for adults becoming members of the Orthodox Church, culminating in the Holy Mysteries of Baptism or Chrismation. Final session at 6:30 PM on Dec. 11, in the Church Library. If you just want to learn more about the faith that you hold, please attend these sessions. For more information or to sign up for the class, contact Fr. Dimitrios at FrAntokas@stgeorge.org
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LUNCH WITH SANTA: Dec. 8 following Divine Liturgy, hosted by the Greek Preschool. Purchase tickets at https://stgeorge.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/346/responses/new – space is limited. For information, contact St.George.Greek.Preschool@gmail.com

PHILOPTOCHOS: Philoptochos members are encouraged to share in the love of the season at the annual Philoptochos Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec. 15th in the Founders Hall following Divine Liturgy (1:00 PM).  Please bring a dish (Lenten) to share for a memorable pot-luck luncheon!

50 PLUS: Next meeting has been moved to the third Wednesday, December 18, at 11:30am, and we will have our Annual Christmas Pot Luck Party.  All are welcome!  Remember to bring your favorite dish to share. Philimona and John will be there to entertain us with lively music.  Also at our meeting, we will have our Bake Sale.  We offer Baklava 6/$12; Melomakarona 12/$12; Kourambiethes 12/$12; and Koulourakia 12/$7.

50 PLUS:    We are supporting Agia Skepi Monastery by ordering vasilopites from them.  Cost will be $20. We are accepting orders from now through the St. George link.  Please place your orders as soon as possible for vasilopites and/or sweets so we may know how many to prepare and order.  Please call Maria if any questions at (240) 421-9909

GOYA: Restaurant Night Fundraiser at Trapezaria Greek Kouzina (11 N Washington St. Rockville, MD) on next Thursday, December 12th. Enjoy some delicious Greek food while supporting GOYA. Please mark your calendars and join us to help raise money for our youth group ministry.

GOYA: Annual Christmas Caroling/Party and Gift Exchange will take place next Saturday, December 14th. We will meet at St. George and carpool to area nursing homes and St. George shut-in homes, followed by a fun potluck dinner party, fun gift exchange activity, and a mid-year general meeting. We hope to see all of our GOYAns. RSVP link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090948a9af22a3f94-christmas3

GOYA: Hot Cocoa and Christmas Bake Sale Fundraiser next Sunday, December 15th. Warm up with a delicious cup of hot cocoa and enjoy some Christmas treats made to serve by our very own GOYAns after Divine Liturgy, during Coffee Hour. All funds raised will support our youth group ministry.

SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING: Sunday, Dec. 15, following Divine Liturgy. All parishioners are encouraged to participate in this important meeting where the St. George 2020 budget and other items of business, information, and future parish goals will be discussed.

PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS, Sunday, Dec. 15, following Divine Liturgy. All who serve in this Ministry are called to represent Jesus Christ and the Orthodox Faith to all whom they meet in all aspects of life. The Parish Council consists of the Priest as the head of the Parish, along with elected lay members, together responsible to the entire parish for conducting all affairs in keeping with the mission, aims and purposes of our Church. If you are inspired to serve, please contact Father Dimitrios at FrAntokas@stgeorge.org

STEWARDSHIP: As you consider end-of-the-year donations, please offer or fulfill your 2019 pledges, and reflect on making a generous 2020 pledge. Your support helps to sustain our church’s ministries and our operations budget of $1.3 million, or $3,560 each day. Thank you for your strong and enduring commitment to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, so we may continue to express our gratitude to Christ our God and carry out his will in our own lives, those of our families, and throughout our wider St. George community.

NEW PARISH DIRECTORY: Receive a free 8×10 family portrait and a free St. George Parish Directory to be published in Spring 2020. We invite every family to register following Divine Liturgy for the free one-hour portrait photography session, to be conducted Nov. 26-Jan. 3 (available date/time details at the sign-up table). Additional photographs can be purchased directly from Lifetouch.

ORTHODOX YOUTH MISSION TEAM: St. George young adults and adult leaders are participating in the July 2020 Appalachian Service Project, working with families in this very poor region of the United States to help make their homes “warmer, safer and drier.” Registration deadline is Dec. 30 – contact Athena Kaiser for information at avkmail@verizon.net