Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Mt 11.28
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—Marie Barbera, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Justin Rezek
Beloved,
Tomorrow we remember St Nicholas. He is one of the most beloved Saints, not only in the Orthodox Church, but around the world. We do not have any of St Nicholas' teachings with us today in the form of anything he wrote down, he did not travel the world working great miracles while he was alive and he was not someone seeking great glory for himself. So how is it that he is remembered around the world today?
St Nicholas is a testament to how a life lived in Christ can have effects far beyond what we could ever imagine—like when a stone dropped into the middle of a pond has its ripples reach the shore. We have heard before the beautiful teaching of St Seraphim of Sarov who says—acquire the Holy Spirit and thousands around you will be saved. We see this statement in action in the life of St Nicholas—a life lived in Christ is the most radical AND IMPACTFUL thing that we can do and this life is not just for a select few but is available to everyone who breathes on this earth.
It can be so easy to complain about the world we live in and to point out all the things that are wrong with it all while being blind to the fact that the thing that could really change the world—that is in our own control even—is our own decision to live a life in Christ. Why is it so easy to look to the outside rather than the inside? Well, part of the reason is because looking to the inside is difficult. We don't want to put in the effort because it is much easier to point the finger, to pass the buck, to play the victim, than to take responsibility.
St Nicholas—and all the Saints—show us a different way. They show us the way of repentance which says, I choose to walk the narrow path, not the easy path, because it is this narrow path of the heart that keeps us away from the broad path of destruction. All of this boils down to living a certain way, which is what St Nicholas is so well-known for—his generosity and love toward others. This generosity and love for others is the place where we can start to make space to change our heart. There is no program, politician, amount of money or power that can truly and deeply affect the world more powerfully than a heart given to Christ.
St Nicholas pray to God for us.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
Read about St Nicholas' life HERE or watch this video. And celebrate His feast tomorrow morning with us at St Nicholas Church in Cahoes
Services and Events
Friday, December 5th—8am—Orthros
Saturday, December 6th—9am—Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St Nicholas @ St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Cohoes (67 Saratoga St)
Sunday, December 7th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy (St Nicholas appearance and Gingerbread House Making to follow Liturgy)
Monday, December 8th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers at Alias Coffee (75 N Pearl St Albany). Join us as we work through Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian
Monday, December 8th—12pm—6th Hour and Paraklesis of the Theotokos
Wednesday, December 10th—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, December 10th—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, December 12th—8am—Orthros
COMING UP
Saturday, December 13th—3pm-5pm—YOUTH DAY
Sunday, December 14th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy (St Lucia celebration with Lucia Bride(s) to follow Liturgy)
Sunday, December 21st—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Christmas Pageant/Concert to follow Liturgy)
Wednesday, December 17th—6pm—Holy Unction Service followed by a meal and fellowship. The service is open to the greater Orthodox Community of Albany and we will have some other priests present to help do the service. This service is typically done on the Wednesday of Holy Week or Great Week but it can be done at any time. We will be doing this service at least once during the major fasting periods of Nativity and Dormition as a way to enter more deeply into the fast and connect the fasting that we do with the healing that comes along with the repentance and confession that we do during the major fasts of the Church. As a note—Holy Unction is a Sacrament or Mystery of the Church and—like communion—is only available to baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians.
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 have collected a lot already—THANK YOU! We are still taking clothes donations and passing them along to the Albany City Rescue Mission down the street from us. Contribute if you are able.
*It is time for our 2025 Christmas Card. Our Christmas card is a fundraiser for our community. Fill out a form which can be found in the hall and return it to Ranya Palmer or Fr John.
*The Order of St Ignatius is an Archdiocese organization that helps support many activities and causes throughout our Archdiocese. Becoming a member is a wonderful way to support our Archdiocese and the work it does. Consider joining and becoming involved. There is information in the hall or you can speak to Fr John.
*St Innocent Orthodox Church in Oneonta will be hosting a speaker for the Orthodox Volunteer Corps on Sunday December 7th. There will be a speaker at 11am following the Divine Liturgy. This group is geared toward young people seeking to serve. See Fr John for more 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—Male and Female He Created Them in Complementarity
*Sayidna Saba also gave a talk recently titled—On Converts to Orthodoxy—you can watch it HERE
*Bring your children to our Sunday Education 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 Ephrem 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.
*Look HERE for some Nativity resources for your family.
*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." December 13th is the next date—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, Dn Basil, Leila, Helen, Lew, Marsha, Mary, Anastasia, Hassib, Callie, Shannon, Jennifer, Samantha, Fayez, Joel and Naomi and our catechumens: Joseph, Christa, 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, Charles, Iryna, Dorothy, 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:
*Curtain for Holy Doors ($850)churchembroidery.net
*Curtains for Deacons Doors ($1500 each) churchembroidery.net
*Epitaphios of Panaghia ($1800) churchembroidery.net
*Three Mount-Athos style Chandeliers for the nave (the space where the people stand during the service)
Sunday, December 7th, 2025
THE SYNAXARION
On December 7 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate our father among the saints Ambrose, bishop of Milan.
Verses
Ambrose, having shed his corruptible body, hath fitly partaken of divine ambrosia.
On the seventh Ambrose came upon immortal terrain.
His father was the imperial governor of Gaul and Spain, and a pagan, while his mother was a Christian. On the death of his father, the Emperor made him governor of Liguria, of which province Milan was the chief city. When the bishop of Milan died, there was great dissention about the choice of a new bishop. Ambrose went into the church to keep order. Thereupon, a child at its mother’s breast cried out: “Ambrose for bishop!” All the people took this to be the voice of God, and unanimously elected Ambrose as their bishop, although it was against his will. Ambrose was baptized, and passed through all the necessary ranks in one week. As bishop, he strengthened the faith of the Orthodox, restrained heretics, adorned churches, spread the Faith among the pagans, wrote many instructive books and was an example of a true Christian and a true shepherd. Ambrose died peacefully at daybreak on Pascha in 397.
On this day, we also commemorate the Martyr Athenodoros of Mesopotamia; and Venerable Gregory, founder of Gregoriou monastery on Athos. By the intercessions of Thy saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Parish Financial Summary—Fiscal Year 2025/26
Help us Reach our Goal of $135,000—Our estimated budget for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ST GEORGE!
Giving for Week of 11.30.25—$7118
Online Donations for Week of 11.30.25—$0
Broadview Bank Balance as of end of October: $33,579.59: $25,276.42 (Operating Fund); $7161.98 (Memorial Fund); $886.26 (Charity Fund)
Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund as of end of October 31, 2025: $417,248.48
Merrill Lynch Money Market Account as of end of October 31, 2025: $38,660
Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—$22,716
Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—48
Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—0
Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 25–September 26)—4
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 thre Fathers
Tone 1 Oikos of the Resurrection
Let us praise as God omnipotent Him that arose on the third day, Who broke the gates of Hades and raised from the grave the dead from ages past, and Who of His own good pleasure appeared to the myrrh-bearing women, giving them first the greeting: Rejoice; and announcing joy to the apostles, as the only Giver of life. Wherefore, with faith the women proclaim to the disciples the glad tidings of the symbols of victory, Hades groaneth, death lamenteth, the world is joyful, and all men rejoice together; for Thou, O Christ, hast granted resurrection to all.
