His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America His Grace Bishop Alexander
Pastor: Fr John Vazquez| fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com | stgeorgealbany.org | 1 St George's Pl Albany
Office Hours: Mon/Fri 10am-5pm/Confessions: After weekly services or by appointment
Parish Council Leadership: Chair—Michella Rizk, Treasurer—Ranya Palmer, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Linda Grady
Beloved,
Sometimes people say the scripture is difficult to understand, that it was written for a people long ago and about things that no longer pertain to us. In actuality, the holy Scripture is only understandable when I understand that it is my life.
Today we remember the Holy Prophet Hosea. He wrote one of the prophetic books of the Old Testament. It is not uncommon for the prophets to seem confusing and difficult to understand. The book of Hosea might seem like it falls in that category, it has 14 chapters which include many famous prophecies that we are familiar with: In the third day we shall rise and live before him (6.2); For I desire mere and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than whole burnt offerings (6.6); Out of Egypt I have called my son (11.1) but these prophecies are in the midst of an overarching story that seems confusing on the surface.
The book itself is about the turning away of God's people from Him, for what might be considered "good reasons"—bountiful harvest, many children, victory over enemies. Not that any of those things are bad in and of themselves but when those good things become the most important...that is a problem. I am sure each of us can relate to placing undue emphasis on some of these very things. When we make this connection, the Scriptures begin to open to us and are shown forth as a help in bringing us face to face with God Himself.
It is this encounter that each of us desire in our lives and until we read with the understanding that when I read I am reading about my own life, this encounter will be slow in coming.
The good news is that our Lord is patient and is always calling us to himself. Take time and read for this effort has proven over and over again to bear fruit for God's people.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
Services and Events
Saturday, October 18th—5pm—9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)
Sunday, October 19th—8:45am—Midnight Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Monday, October 20th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers join us at Alias Coffee as on Pearl St in Albany as we work through Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian
Monday, October 20th—12pm—6th Hour and Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, October 22nd—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, October 22nd—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, October 24th—8am—3rd Hour and Orthros
Saturday, October 25th—3pm—YOUTH DAY
Saturday, October 25th—5pm—9th Hour and Great Vespers w/Bible Study to follow (Psalms)
Sunday, October 26th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy followed by memorial for Raymond Jefferson followed by a Parish Breakfast
COMING UP
Sunday, November 2nd—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
Sunday, November 9th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy—ALL PARISH MEETING
Saturday, November 15th—10am–6pm—NATIVITY RETREAT W/FR ANTHONY GILBERT ($20 admittance)
Click to view our Upcoming Schedule
Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...
*We are having a clothes drive for those in need. We will be taking clothes donations and passing them along to the Albany City Rescue Mission down the street from us. Contribute if you are able.
*The Archdiocese is looking for a Director of Training and Development for Youth Ministry. Check out the job posting HERE.
*Our Diocesan Fall Retreat will be in Montreal October 24th-26th with guest speaker Fr Michael Gillis. Learn more HERE.
*Our Nativity Retreat this year will be November 15th with Fr Anthony Gilbert who is a PHD in Literature. He will be looking at St Gregory the Theologian's Oration 38—On the Nativity of Christ. Mark your calendars.
*We are looking for a group of volunteers to help Albany City Rescue Mission to sort clothes on THIS EVENT IS BEING RESCHEDULED. See Fr John or Melody Holman for details.
Eduction at St George
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.1
*Read Metropolitan SABA's weekly teaching—A Bishop's Scribbles
*Sunday Education for kids ages 10 and up has started. Bring your children as they work through the Curriculum from the Archdiocese A People Set Apart—The Book of Exodus. Check out the Archdiocese Education page HERE.
*Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. Join us at ALIAS COFFEE on N. Pearl St in Albany as we study Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian.
*Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. We also are doing localized bible studies in peoples homes on Friday afternoons and evenings—in an attempt to provide an opportunity for as many people as possible to attend. Check the CALENDAR for locations.
*Click HERE for a great YouTube channel with Orthodox kids songs.
*You can view the WORD magazine online. Click HERE.
*Metropolitan SABA has an Instagram account to connect with youth and young adults—@AskSayidna.
*Click HERE and HERE for lives of the Saints.
*Check out our LEARN page for some great sites, podcasts and resources on the Faith.
*Once a month we have a "Youth Day" at the Church which includes kids of all ages. The purpose of these days is to offer education, fellowship, wholesome fun and a chance for the kids to "ask Abouna." Dates for the fall are October 25th, November 22nd and December 13th—mark your calendars.
Parish Prayer List
"Remember Me O Lord When You Come Into Your Kingdom." Lk 23.42
Please include in your daily prayers the following. Contact me to have someone added to the list. These are the names that will be remembered during the Divine Liturgy.
Living:
Bishop Alexander, Fr Gregory Potter, Fr Joseph, Fr Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Meletios, Fr Terrance, Fr Michael, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, Leila, Helen, Lew, Marsha, Mary, Anastasia, Hassib, Callie, Shannon, Jennifer, Samantha, Schuyler, Raphael and Kelly, Fayez, Rose, Justin, Anne, George, Nektaria, William, Noah and our catechumens: Jared, Max, Ryan, Kathryn and Henry. All those traveling, those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and the middle east
Departed:
Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Fr John, Will, Camile, Raymond, Ruth, Dolores, Agnes, Ed, Charles, Iryna, The New Martyrs of Syria those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
"Beauty Will Save the World"
My favorite author—Fyodor Dostoyevsky—has a quote, "Beauty will save the world!" What in the world could this mean?! Well, this could be quite a big discussion but I think part of the answer is that as human beings we delight in what is beautiful and not only take delight in but find healing when we encounter something beautiful. Beauty is such a big part of our worship as Orthodox Christians. Orthodox worship engages our senses with beautiful smells, sights and sounds and this matters because God's creation is good and beauty helps us to understand this reality.
Have you ever wondered what you could do to help beautify our church. Here are some ideas:
*15-20 Icons (16”x24” $400 per icon) legacyicons.com
*Curtain for Holy Doors ($850)churchembroidery.net
*Curtains for Deacons Doors ($1500 each) churchembroidery.net
*Epitaphios of Panaghia ($1800) churchembroidery.net
*Chandelier for above Altar ($500) nioras.com
*Three Mount-Athos style Chandeliers for the nave (the space where the people stand during the service)
Sunday, October 19, 2025
THE SYNAXARION
On October 19 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy and glorious Prophet Joel.
Verses
Joel, who in tragic strains sang the earth’s sufferings,
Hath passed from the earth to a place above sufferings.
On the nineteenth, death concealed Joel.
Joel was the son of Phanuel of the tribe of Reuben. He lived 800 years before Christ, and foretold the misfortunes of the Israelites and their captivity in Babylon for the sins that they had committed against God. He called the people to fasting and the priests to penitent and tearful prayer that God would have mercy on them; and they heard him. Joel also prophesied the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, and the outpouring of His grace on all the faithful. He foretold and described the Dreadful Judgment of God, and also the glory of God’s holy Church.
On this day, we also commemorate the Martyr Varos and seven martyrs with him; Righteous Mother Cleopatra of Palestine; and Venerable John of Rila. By the intercessions of Thy saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Parish Financial Summary—Fiscal Year 2024/25
Help us Reach our Goal of $132,000—Our estimated budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Giving for Week of 10.12.25—$0
Online Donations for Week of 10.12.25—$145
Falafel Fundraiser 3.30.25—$1054
Parish Halfi 4.25.25—$9087.95
Parish BBQ 9.21.25—$1400
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of August: $43,6059.62: $35,023.23 (Operating Fund); $7160.78 (Memorial Fund); $1,136.10 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of October 7, 2025: $412,476
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of October 7, 2025: $38,660
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—$90,410
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—71
Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—3
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 24–September 25)—28
A Note to our Visitors
WELCOME!
We are blessed by your presence! Join us for fellowship after. Please note, in the Orthodox Church only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared with confession, fasting (no food from the night before until communion), prayer and forgiveness can partake of the Holy Eucharist. All others may come forward for a blessing and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.
A Word From the Fathers
St Maximus the Confessor
26th and 27th saying of the 4th Century (100 Sayings) on Love
Because today an assault of the devil has aroused some hatred in you, do not judge as base and wicked a brother whom yesterday you regarded as spiritual and virtuous: but with long-suffering love dwell on the goodness you perceived yesterday and expel today's hatred from your soul.
Do not condemn today as base and wicked the man whom yesterday you praised as good and commended as virtuous, changing from love to hatred, because he has criticized you; but even though you are still full of resentment, commend him as before, and you will soon recover the same saving love.
