We at St. George, both Clergy and Laity, are very happy to have you as member and a friend.

The information below has been prepared to help you in recognizing what the Church is and what it has to offer, both spiritually and socially, to you and your family. Also, we are included some of the “Guidelines” on how to conduct ourselves in and around the Church.

Church Services
Spiritual Growth Ministry
Finances
Voting Membership
Non-Voting Members
Church Hall
Churching
Baptism
Marriage
Penance
Anointing the Sick

God has commanded us to "Keep the Sabbath Holy." To us Sunday is the most precious day of the week. Sunday Morning begins with the Matins Service at 9:45, (The matins service is mostly in Arabic); and it is immediately followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM. The service typically ends by 12:00 noon, followed by a fellowship hour with refreshments.

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The highest priority for all of us is our relationship with Christ. The Spiritual Growth Ministry gives our community the opportunity to learn her Orthodox Faith and the best ways to apply it in everyday life. By invitation from the family, the Priest will conduct an informal study session on the faith at the family’s home. The family typically invites their immediate relatives and get together one evening to pray, study and discuss the faith and how to ‘live’ it in today’s world.

Pray….It Works

A reminder from your friends at St. George:

"…Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." II Thessalonians 2:15

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The annual budget for our Church is about $250,000. The only source of income is the generosity of our parishioners. What you elect to give to your Church is a very personal decision. Only God, with His immeasurable knowledge, can judge whether you have sincerely given back to Him what He deserves. Every donation you give is an investment, and every investor expects a return. We’ll let God’s own words explain how well your investment will work for you: "..Test Me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Mal 3:10

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We do have some people in the community who try to get as much out of the Church as possible and offer very little in return. Of course we will always continue to serve and to pray for these people. Fortunately, however, our Church has been blessed with those who recognize the value of the investment they make in their Church. These individuals and families pledge to give back to God a portion of their resources, be it time or money. We call these people “Members in good standing of the St. George Family.”

Members, who fulfill their obligation spiritually and financially, have the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making aspect of the Church. They can serve on the Parish Council or simply vote for the leadership of their choice. To be a member, it takes a pledge of $500 per family per year (plus $45 per each person in the family as their dues to the Archdiocese). Of course, this is only a minimum; because what you give to God should be relative to what God has given you.

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In the name of fairness, we do request that non-Voting members who elect to use the services of our Church, pay for at least that portion for which they receive direct benefit. For that reason a schedule of minimum donations is recommended. Please contact our Church office for details.

Please remember that our objective is to bring people closer to God. Unfortunately, finances are one of the necessary resources to achieve this objective. But we would never allow material issues to become an obstacle to this sacred mission. Please communicate your concerns, along with your solutions to us.

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Many of our parishioners find that our Church hall is a convenient and more affordable alternative to a banquet facility. Parishioners may use the Church hall for all Sacramental occasions. A pledged member will have to accept full responsibility for the hall rental. We have special arrangements with caterers, which can give our community reduced rates. Please call the Church office for more details.

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One of the most enjoyable experiences for parents is the birth of a child. This miracle changes their outlook on life, and puts their existence in a different perspective.
A tradition that traces back to Old Testament, is to present this child to God, as a symbol of our admission that only God can bless and protect this child throughout his or her life. It is also a time to give thanks to the Almighty for this “miracle of childbirth” and for watching over mother and child.

As soon as the mother and child recover, and are physically able to move about, their first visit should be to the House of God, for this presentation and prayer of thanksgiving.
In addition, it is an opportunity for all the members of the St. George family to see the latest addition and congratulate the proud parents on this fine accomplishment.

Known as “Churching,” it begins with a prayer over the mother and child in the back of the church, then the priest carries the child to the front and are taken inside the altar. The Priest concludes the presentation and he hands the child over to the mother.
Please notify the office when you’re ready for churching, and be in the church no later than 10:15 am.

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The Sacrament of Baptism allows us to follow the tradition of our Lord as He was Baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. It is a “new Birth by water and the Holy Spirit” into the Kingdom of God. John3:5.

It is recommended that children be Baptized at the earliest possible age. The selection of the Godparents should be made with care. As the name implies they will be the parents who have the secondary (and if need be the primary) responsibility of the spiritual needs of the child. And since the Godparents will be speaking on behalf of the child, they must be members in good standing in the Holy Orthodox Church.

During the sacrament of Baptism the baby receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Chrismation) as well as First Communion.. Baptisms should be scheduled with the Priest as early as possible. (Please check with our Church office of the things that you need for the Baptism.)
For the three Sundays following the baptism, it is traditional for the Godparent to bring the child to receive communion.

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In an era where the concept of family and marriage is being diluted, it is refreshing to see the value the Orthodox Church places on the Sacrament of Marriage. It is not simply “until death do us apart,” rather the Sacrament allows us to translate our human love into an unending Divine experience.

The wedding ceremony uses traditional symbolism to reinforce the necessity of God’s presence as a prerequisite to a successful marriage. Among the items used are Gold Crowns, symbolic of the new kingdom over which the couple will rule, as well as a reminder of the martyrdom and sacrifice that must be made by the husband and wife. You may bring your own crowns (if you prefer to keep them), or the church will provide them for your use. Two large candles are also used in the ceremony, which the couple needs to provide, or they may be obtained from the Church.

Marriage Preparation session with the Priest is prerequisite to the sacrament. It creates an opportunity to openly discuss with the Priest the responsibilities and the rewards of a “Christ-centered” marriage.

A Wedding Day is the most memorable for newlyweds. We at St. George want to help make it an enjoyable and inspirational experience. Please try to notify the Church office of the date as early as possible.

Our Organist and Cantor are generally available. Please contact the Church office for all arrangements. (No music or musician from outside the Church is permitted).

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In spite of all of our efforts, committing a sin is a consequence of our very existence. The sacrament of Penance is the vehicle by which we formally reconcile ourselves with God. It is a three step process: Admitting our weakness and expressing sincere sorrow for our sin; openly confessing our sin in the presence of a Priest and receiving the prayer of absolution, and finally making an honest commitment and pledging our utmost effort to resist future temptation of sin.

The Orthodox Church follows strictly the teaching of the Bible that only God can forgive sins. Christians are encouraged to take part in this sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis. Although currently St. George does not have a regularly scheduled confession times, our Priest is available anytime to pray with the repentant faithful and offer guidance in areas of weakness.

Reconciliation with our Lord is a pre-requisite to receiving Holy Communion. Oftentimes we are not able to visit with a priest and receive full confession. For that reason those receiving communion may arrive early Sunday morning (by 10:00 am) and receive the prayer of absolution.

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The power of healing (on God’s terms) are an inherent part of the Orthodox faith. We are reminded in the Scriptures: “Are any among you suffering? They should pray...They should call the presbyters [priests] of the Church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of Faith will save the sick, and the Lord raise them up... The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16
Special church services are periodically held to pray for the health of one or more of our parishioners. Sometimes such service is held in conjunction with the other Orthodox Churches in the Washington area. This service is similar to the one that takes place during Wednesday of Holy Week.

In addition, our priests make it a priority to visit the sick, be it at home or in hospitals. Please notify the church office if you know of someone who may be in need of prayer service and the anointing with the Holy Oil.

The sacrament of anointing (sometimes known as “Unction”) is intended for spiritual, physical or even mental illness, and regardless of the nature or gravity of the illness. And since it is a sacrament, it is reserved only for Orthodox Christians.

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