Upcoming Events at a Glance
HOURS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES:
SUNDAY WINTER HOURS: Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am
September 8, 2019 - June 14, 2020
SUNDAY SUMMER HOURS: Orthros 8am, Divine Liturgy 9am
June 21, 2020 - September 6, 2020
WEEKDAY LITURGIES ALL YEAR: Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am
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SUMMER HOURS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR SUNDAY LITURGIES
Dear Parishioners of Saint George:
Saint George Re-Opening - SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020
What You Need to Know
We are glad to announce that we are set to re-open Saint George. However, things will not be business as usual. As you will read below there are three phases to opening and we are about to commence with stage one. We ask that you read the following information very carefully and we ask for your full cooperation and respect for fellow parishioners, Clergy and Parish Council members. Thank you in advance.
Preparations for Opening
To re-open our beloved Saint George, our Parish Council has reviewed, updated and will be implementing an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), in collaboration with the local health departments, our Metropolitan and other relevant partners. There are protocols to be followed by Fr. Jimmy, our chanters, each Parish Council member and each parishioner attending our services. Please read the instructions below and the attached encyclical from His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Our parish has established a registration platform on our website for parishioners to reserve their attendance at Liturgy. This platform will collect the full name, full mailing address, phone number, and email address (if applicable) of each parishioner, and their family members/guests. Online registration for services is now open and available daily. Visit our website: www.stgeorgehamilton.com and click on the REGISTRATION tab of the Main Menu. For those without email option, please call the office (609) 586-4448 to register at anytime. If you get voice mail leave a message and you will get a call back. From this platform a dated, registered log will be provided with all contact information of every person that attends each Service.
Phase II - All online & phone registrants' names will be included on a log sheet for the day of every Liturgy. . We are currently allowed to accept 25% of our seating capacity as per the State mandate. A limit will be set to 70 online registrations. (Please note this is changing frequently). Priority will be given to 40 Day Memorial Services, allowing each family to register up to 10 people for that Divine Liturgy. Memorial Services must call the office and not register online. If registration limit has been reached you are encouraged to register on the waitlist, and you will be called, should we get any cancellations. If you are wait listed DO NOT come to church, you will be notified if spots open up. Any persons registered who cannot attend, please call and let us know immediately.
During Phase III all restrictions will be lifted.
A Metropolis Checklist has been completed, signed by Parish Priest and the Parish Council President, delivered to and approved by His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos.
Procedures and Protocols for Services- Please do not come to church unless you have registered. Please plan to arrive between 8 and 9am for registration and keep a social distance of 6ft while waiting in line.
Registered parishioners will be greeted outside the church, where a table will be set up to check their registration. Prior to entry into the Church parishioners will be asked if they have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19in the past 14 days, or if they are taking care of anyone with COVID-19 symptoms for the past 14 days. If they respond yes, then they will not be allowed to enter the Church.
Before entering the church, the temperature of each person will be taken by a designated person. If the person’s temperature is above 100.4 degrees, he or she will be kindly asked to return to their home, both for their safety and the safety of others.
Masks are required upon entering the church by all parishioners aged 2 and above and all Parish Council Members, and all in attendance.
There will be only one door available for entrance into the Church. This door will be kept open so that parishioners do not have to touch the door handle.
Hand sanitizer stations will be available in the Narthex.
There will be no access for parishioners to enter other buildings or areas other than where the Liturgy is being celebrated, except to use the restroom. The restrooms will be open for use by only one parishioner at time.
Honor is to be shown to Holy Icons and the Holy Cross by only doing your cross and bowing, keeping in mind not to kiss or to touch the Holy Icons.
Parish Council members will direct each parishioner to designated seats in the pews for each person or household to sit starting in the front of the church and working their way to back. Please do not ask to be seated in your “usual” seats. Every other pew will be closed off.
You are encouraged to bring your own liturgy books as we have removed all liturgy books from pews in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
During the Service the Narthex will be continually sanitized.
The celebration of the Divine Liturgy will continue to be livestreamed for the parishioners (due to capacity limits) who are unable to attend the service.
There will be no Choir.
There shall be only two Acolytes assisting the Priest. It is preferred that they are family of clergy.
Communicants are asked to remain in pews until instructed by a Parish Council member to proceed to receive Holy Communion as to maintain proper distancing.
Communicants may remove their masks only momentarily to receive Holy Communion.
Clergy and altar servers must wear a mask during the distribution of Holy Communion.
The red communion cloths (Mάκτρα) will be held underneath the person’s chin by the altar servers. The communicant may not touch it and absolutely no wiping of mouths.
Antidoron is to be cut by one person, wearing gloves and a mask, placed in a plastic bag, and each parishioner will carefully take their own piece from the basket, without touching other bags. The same process will be used for Kollyva.
Collection baskets will not to be passed. At the end of Liturgy, a basket will be placed in the Narthex and parishioners will be encouraged to leave their donation as they exit. If possible, we should encourage parishioners to use the online giving portal which can be found at stgeorgehamilton.com by clicking on the "Donate" button.
Parish Council members have been instructed to continually monitor/remind parishioners of the 6 feet social distancing guidelines
There will be no coffee/social hour until further notice. Parishioners should leave the Nave as soon as the Divine Liturgy is concluded. There will be no gatherings of any kind after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy including parking lot.
Additional Info
The celebration of the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and marriage are now permitted to take place, keeping in place all the protocols listed above. 40 Day Baby Blessings are to be scheduled during the week with only the parents present.
The parish office will be closed for in-person appointments. The office staff will have remote access to phone messages as well as email and will try to keep you informed on all developments. Please don't hesitate to contact us via email or by leaving a phone message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The Clergy Laity Assembly and Philoptochos Convention scheduled for May 2020, is postponed.
We are sharing the following link for your daily prayers. May you find strength and guidance through this difficult time.
Praying that our merciful Lord continues to bless and protect you always
ALL EVENTS POSTPONED until further notice
Services scheduled as follows:
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Transfiguration of the Theotokos
Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am
Friday, August 7, 2020
Parsklesis, 5pm
Sunday, August 9, 2020-*Please note time change*
9th Sunday of Matthew
*Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 10am*
His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of NJ presiding
Monday, August 10, 2020
Paraklesis, 5pm
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Paraklesis, 5pm
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Dormition of the Theotokos
Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am
Sunday, August 16, 2020
10th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros 8am, Divine Liturgy 9am
Sunday, August 23, 2020
11th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros 8am, Divine Liturgy 9am
Sunday, August 30, 2020
12th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros 8am, Divine Liturgy 9am