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St. George Greek Orthodox Church Fresno, CA

Rev. Fr. James C. Pappas, Presvyter

Ron Burkhard, Pastoral Assistant

The Dormation of the Theotokos

August 15th

Parish Council Ashley Hyatt —President

Peter Vallis-Vice-President Mark Archon – Secretary

Michael Osborn-– Treasurer Dio Stefanopoulos—Past President Advisor

Lorraine Bukilica, James Daniel Burkdoll, Zachary Jar-vie, Najwa Kaileh, Ramzy Khoury, Tony Kokalis Jr,

& Amanda Sopp

Ministries and Organizations Sunday School, Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Altar Boys Ron Burkhard 233-0397 rondalburkhard@gmail.com

Youth Choir Pres. Donna Pappas Chrysanthe Pappas 233-0397

Dance Ministries Cathy Snow & Maria Burkhard 233-0397

Choir Themis Michailides 233-0397

Bookstore Cindi Boukidis, Madelyn Jones 233-0397

Coffee Hour Pam Sopp at 209-986-5273

Bible Study & Studies In The Faith Fr. Jim Pappas 233-0397

Athena Philoptochos Society Elaine Sotiropulos

A.H.E.P.A. & DOP Dr. Ted Nassar, Aida Nassar

Cretan Club Edward Crossman

Stewardship Committee Parish Council

“Friends of St. George” Eve Taylor & Ron Burkhard

Greek School Helen Sexton 325-7528

Sunday Duties for August 2018

PC Members August 5th Mark Archon Michael Osborn Amanda Sopp Lorraine Bukilica

August 12th Ashley Hyatt Dio Stefanopoulos Tony Kokalis James Daniel Burkdoll

August 19th Peter Vallis Ramzy Khoury Lorraine Bukilica Najwa Kaileh

August 26th Mark Archon Michael Osborn Amanda Sopp Lorraine Bukilica

Epistle Readers August 5th English: Tony Kokalis Greek: Themis Michaailides

August 12th English: Pres. Donna Pappas Arabic: Aida Nassar

August 19th English: Chris Potzernitz Romanian: Cristian Panoff

August 26th English: Helen Rockas Greek: Helen Sexton

Lord’s Prayer August 5th Romanian Cristian Panoff

August 12th Eritrean Tesfai Family

August 19th Spanish Angelica Terlikas

August 26th Russian Luda Guibor

Prosforo August 5th Elaine Sotiropulos

August 12th Evelyn T. Boosalis

August 19th Onna & Demi Me-has

August 26th Widad Bechara

Angie Hyatt Helen Sexton Kara Zografos Phyllis Makredes

Coffee Hour Brew Crew August 5th Ramzi Khachadourian

August 12th Dr. Ted Nassar

August 19th Nick Svigos

August 26th Ramzi Khachadourian

We will be taking a break for the Summer. See you in the Fall.

Wednesday Evening Service

and Classes at St. George We will take a break for the Summer. See

you in the Fall.

Religious Education

Youth Group will take a

break for the Summer.

See you in the Fall.

The St. George youth group is open to kids

from 6th grade through high school. We

meet twice a month for faith, fellowship and

fun. *If you have any questions contact Ron

Burkhard at 233-0397 or

Youth Group at St. George

Save the date for the 2018 Metropolis of San Francisco Young Adult Camping Trip! For more information visit http://gosfyouth.org/young-adult-camping-trip

If you have any questions please contact Ron Burkhard in the church office at 559-233-0397

Family Wellness

This article was published in

PRAXIS Volume 17, Issue 3; Spring 2018.

Put Your Stewardship on Cruise Control With the busy summer months consider putting your stewardship on cruise control. You can setup auto-matic bill pay through your bank or go to the church website, http://stgeorgefresno.org/giving/treasure, and signup for automatic recurring monthly steward-ship payments through PayPal.

Host a Sunday Coffee/Social Hour Dates to host a Coffee Hour are open. Hosting a Coffee Hour is a great way to celebrate any occasion. You can choose to host the entire Coffee Hour or partner with

other families. For info please contact Pam Sopp at 209-986-5273.

Coffee Hour Dates for August All Sundays in August are available.

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On Sale Now!

Over 100 year History of Fresno’s St. George & the Greek Community!! Find

names, dates, places!

Available in the Bookstore You can also purchase a book from George

Gianopulos or Chris Rockas

Available in the Bookstore We have re-stocked our three shelves dedicated to items made and sold by the Holy Monastery of the Theotokos, The Life-Giving

Spring, in Dunlap. Please come by the bookstore to see the beauti-ful items our nuns make and sell in their store at the Monas-

tery. The nuns have expanded their store area and items to include personalized wedding and baptism packages, its worth the trip to see these. We are carrying some items for baptisms and weddings

also (witness pins, Stefana, and candles).

St. George Bookstore

2018 Greek Food Festival Important Dates

August

Food Festival Deals Now Available! Save time and money by purchasing gift cards & admission tickets with online-only discounts! Gift Cards are reusable every year and can be reloaded for any value. Best of all, they’re accepted at the Greek Market plus every food and drink booth! Much faster and safer than cash… great for kids!! New this year - check your balance online! Do you have a gift card leftover from last year? Go to www.fresnogreekfest.com/gift-card then enter the 7-digit number printed on the back of your card to view your available balance. Online-only Discounts *$5 online admission ($6 at the gate) *$10 Weekend Admission Pass (3-day) *Free admission with each $25 Gift Card purchase! *Buy 4, Get 5 - get another free ticket when you buy an OPA! Bundle 5-pack! YIA YIA'S EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - save money and make Grandma proud! *8 Free Admissions with each $100 Gift Card purchase! offer expires 8/15/18 *3 Free Admissions with each $50 Gift Card purchase! offer expires 8/15/18 For more information, contact Cris Moradian or visit the church office.

REALITY by: Clarice Krikorian

Undergoing chemotherapy, my friend’s condition is presently stable. In his sixties, he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and often asks, “What is my purpose in life? Why am I here?” Depressed, he prays that God will show him a “sign” to reveal the answers and waits, each day, for it to magically appear. In a conversation with this friend, I mentioned that each of us asks these questions regarding our own lives as well, stating that the answer to what he is so desperately looking for is evident in every breath he takes. Each new day is a victory over death; a day to enjoy his family and to be an inspiration to others. Re-minding him that death has no time frame, age limit or, many times answers, what we choose to do with the time we have can make a difference, not only in our lives, but in the lives of those around us. Many who suffer from illness or disease often become stronger because of what they endure. Living with Multiple Sclerosis (a progressive, incurable disease of the central nervous system) I told my friend that I, too, deal daily with the unknown. Fearful of the possibility of going blind or losing the ability to walk, I cope with horrible side effects from weekly interferon injections in order to help slow the progression of the disease. It is painful, oftentimes unbearable and depressing. However, depression can only take you so far and giving in to it is giving up. No matter how difficult, I must cope with my diagnosis. My friend must learn to cope with his, as well. One of the great mysteries of life is that nobody knows what the future holds. We have two choices: succumb to our disabili-ties or embrace the abilities we have. We can be victims or victors. There’s a saying, “We are what we do and we have what we’ve done.” Our lives are reflections of the choices we make. Through our actions and words, we can enlighten, embolden, empower and encourage others. A phrase my father spoke prior to his passing from terminal cancer came to mind and I re-peated it to my friend, “Embrace today because you never know what tomorrow will bring.” This phrase often brings me peace and I hoped it would also bring peace to my friend. A few months later, under extreme and unrelenting emotional stress, I had to practice what I had spoken. Shortly after Thanksgiving this past year, I became a living witness to my father’s words. My husband, Ben, suffered a trau-matic injury while moving garbage cans to the curbside of our home. Losing his footing on the muddy, slippery driveway, he fell forward onto the asphalt breaking his lower jaw, fracturing his left arm and shattering his shoulder joint. Eight hours of surgery resulted in a reverse shoulder replacement followed by having his jaws completely wired shut. Ben is an accountant and church organist. Would he recover? Would he be able to work or play the organ again? Our “Nightmare Before Christmas” smacked us square in the face! The days following were a blur. Thankful for my background as a Registered Nurse, I became both, patient advocate and pri-vate nurse as our daily routine took shape. Syringe feedings were followed by sponge baths, medical challenges and many ques-tions. Sitting at Ben’s bedside, staring at cold hospital walls and listening to the constant, oftentimes deafening blares of moni-tors, became the new “norm.” Suddenly thrust into being decision maker, taxi driver, pep and cheer squad and update messen-ger to our four kids and family, my brain was ready to burst as thoughts swirled through in tangled knots. God, I thought, he has pneumonia now! What if he doesn’t make it? This is happening so fast. What are we going to do? Fast forward six months. Ben’s healing continues. With his jaws now unwired, he can eat normally, has recovered from the pneumonia, regained use of his hands and is able to work. His greatest challenge was to once again, play the organ. With per-severance, patience, physical therapy and, by the grace of God, Ben has achieved his goal. The reality of life knocks on each of our doors. I’ve learned to embrace each day that opens up before me. Whether faced with debilitating injuries like Ben, or incurable illnesses like my friend and me, we must keep to our goals to survive. “Embrace today because you never know what tomorrow will bring.” How powerfully those words resonate.

Clarice Krikorian is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired Registered Nurse. She is a member of the Arts and Humanities Advisory Board at Fresno State, member of the Cal State Summer Arts Community Board and the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee - Fresno. She also volunteers at St. George GOC for Greek Fest and Philoptochos baking.

St. George Greek Orthodox Church

2018 Stewardship Commitment Card/Family Information Card2018 Stewardship Commitment Card/Family Information Card In gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s blessings, I/we offer Him through His Church the following Annual Tithe

An annual amount of: _____$1800. _____$2100. _____$2400. ____$3000. ___$3600 Other:______

($150/mo) ($175/mo) ($200/mo) ($250/mo) ($300/mo)

Name: (first/last)__________________________________ Cell Phone: _________________

Spouse: (first/last) _____________________________Cell Phone: _______________

Address: ___________________________________________________

City/State: ___________________Zip: _________Home Phone: _______________

Name of Dependent Children Age

___________________________ _________

___________________________ _________

___________________________ _________

Are you on our church email

list? Yes No

If not, may we add you?

Yes No

Email address(es) to be added:

______________________________

______________________________

Would you like more information about the following?

___ Sunday Church School ___ Studies In The Faith ___ Choir/Chant

___ Youth ___ Young Adults (OCF) ___ Prison Ministry

___ Morning Bible Study ___ Philoptochos

___ Evening Bible Study ___ Food Pantry Committee

Give, give, give?Give, give, give? One day, a person complained to his priest that the Church and Christianity is one continual “give, give,

give.” To which the priest replied, “Thank you very much for the finest definition of Christianity I have ever heard. You’re right, Christianity is all about a constant “give, give, give.” God giving His only Son to the

world to show His unconditional love. His Son Jesus giving His life on the cross to forgive our sins and de-stroy death. Then our Lord’s disciples giving all they had to make sure God’s Good News of love was

preached to all people everywhere. They not only gave away their homes and businesses, but even gave up their lives as martyrs in gratitude to God!

Well done Well done

good and faithful good and faithful

servant servant

In the Gospel of Saint Matthew (6:19), Jesus instructs us, "Do not store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal….”

Often in life, we pursue and collect those things that do not last. We must ask, “One hun-dred years from now, where will our possessions be?” Our greatest blessing is our family. As

Orthodox Christians, we are called to be stewards of this great gift. If we are faithful to this calling, perhaps our Lord will say to us as he did to the faithful steward, “Well done

good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:23).

Stewardship donations received from June 25– July 22nd, 2018 Anonymous Donors Donald & Nariman Ajluni Steve and Fotini Alfieris Joan Arabatzis Mark and Holly Archon Alex and Georgianne Aretakis Fotis and Elisa Bilios

Danny & Amalia Booras Evelyn N. Boosalis James N. Boosalis Alexander T. Borgeas Jim and Cindi Boukidis Kelly Bottcher Georgia Brandon Michael and Lorraine Bukilica Daniel and Mina Burkdoll James and Tula Chrisman Nicolina Clements John and Marina Crowe Ziad Dagher and Fairoz Moussa Bill and Rebecca Farray Angela Foahene Nora George George and Dorothea Gianopulos Wayne Gomes Thomas Goumas Efi Gregory

Penny Pacheco Fr. Jim and Pres. Donna Pappas Michael and Marsha Philipou Alice Ramirez Jabran Samaan Saul Jimenez-Sandoval & Mariana Anag-nostopoulos Kay Schlotthauer Bob and Helen Sexton Cathy and Charles Snow Amanda Sopp Ernie and Pam Sopp Melissa Sopp Kopi and Elaine Sotiropulos Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Stalis Ms. Bessis Stalis Mr. and Mrs. George Stalis Galatia Stanley Helen Stavros Deeb and Fahda Tayar Dan and Eve Taylor Marcia Taylor Peter and Teri Theodore Carl and Dixie Waddle Ben and Clio Weber William and Georgeanne White James and Tracy Zografos Paul and Nickie Zografos Matthew and Julie Zoolakis

Thank you to the following people Thank you to the following people

who have donated in the month of who have donated in the month of JulyJuly..

Whatever you do, work at it with

all your heart all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men

Tom and Irma Hill Ashley Hyatt Tom and Angie Hyatt Zachary Jarvie Bob and Madelyn Jones Mary Jones Nathan Jones and Alexis Rau-Jones Tom and Katie Kallos Nabil and Pauline Karam Mrs. Andione Karastathas Rick and Gina Kazanjian Ramzi and Ilham Khachadorian Raed Khoury Ramzy & Doris Khoury Cheryl Kinnamon Adolphe & Shahira Korkis Mina Lighthall Nicki Livanis John and Donna Macris S. Michael and Phyllis Makredes Gloria Mas Greg and Dorie Mas Alexandra McGrady Dr. Paul Michaelides Phillip Michaelides Crystal Nassar Ramzi and Melissa Nassar Sami and Tania Nassar Dr. Ted and Aida Nassar Nicholas Nomicos

St. George Greek Orthodox Church 559-233-0397 sggoc@comcast.net www.stgeorgefresno.org

AUGUST 2018

SITF: Studies in the Faith YABS: Young Adult Bible Study FOSG: Friends of St. George

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Food Fest Mtg 6:30pm

2 3 FF Baking: Kourabiedes 5pm-8pm

4 FF Baking: Kourabiedes 8am-done

5 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

6 Transfiguration of Jesus Christ Orthros 9:00am, Divine Liturgy at 9:45am

7 8

9 FF Baking: Galatobouriko 9am-5pm

10 FF Baking: Galatobouriko 9am-5pm

11 FF Baking: Galatobouriko 9am-done

12 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

13 14 FF Baking: Syrup 8am-12pm

15 Dormation of the Theotokos Orthros at 9:00am, Divine Liturgy at 9:45am Melosing sweets after services Food Fest Mtg 6:30pm

16 17 FF Baking: Bake Baklava 7am-done

18 FF Baking: Cut and Cup Pastries 7am-done FF Setup 7am-done

19 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am Packaging sweets after services

20 FF Baking: Karidopita & Yogurt Cake 9am-done

21 PC Meeting at 6:30pm

22 23 Soft Opening 5:30pm-10pm

24 25

26 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

27 28 29 Beheading of John the Baptist Orthros at 9:00am, Divine Liturgy at 9:45am

30 31

Young Adult Camping Treat

Aug 31-Sept. 3

4pm– 12am 11am-12am

11am-6pm

St. George Greek Orthodox Church 559-233-0397 sggoc@comcast.net www.stgeorgefresno.org

SEPTEMBER 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

3 Office Closed in Observance of Labor Day

4 5 6 7 8 Nativity of the Theotokos Orthros 9:00am, Divine Liturgy 9:45am

9 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

10 11 12 13 14 15

16 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

17 18 19 20 21 22

23 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

24 25 26 27 28 29

30 Orthros at 8:30am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Adult Resort Camp September 17th– 21st at St. Nicholas

Ranch and Retreat Center

Family Wellness Ministry will

resume in September. Date TBA.

Young Adult Camping Treat

Aug 31-Sept. 3

St. George Greek Community of Fresno

2219 N. Orchard St.

Fresno, CA 93703

Return Service Requested

www.facebook.com/ stgeorgegreekorthodoxchurch

@412fouronetwo sggoc@comcast.net

www.stgeorgefresno.org

559-233-0397

559-233-0564

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Fresno, California

Permit No. 1978

Orthros at 8:30am and Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Greek Fest 2018, Aug. 24th- 26th

For more info go to

www.fresnogreekfest.com