Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ. Divine Liturgy. December 16, 2018 Tone 4 / Eothinon St. George Church Staff and Organizations

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1 2018 St. George Church Staff and Organizations Pastor The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Assistant Pastor Rev. Joseph Landino Deacon Thomas Underwood Sub-Deacon Peter Attar Altar Boy Captain George Khallouf Administrative Committee The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Chairman Rev. Joseph Landino Elias Gharzouzi, Vice Chairman Albert Bitar, Treasurer George Nassoor, Secretary Fred Davis Robert Mimari Nasser Sabbagh Dave Davis Office Administrator Donna Becker Custodian Adnan Sabbagh Building/Planning The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Pastor Rev. Joseph Landino, Ass t. Pastor Dave Davis, Chair George Nassoor, Co-Chair Choir Gail Ortner, Director Members: Khouria Minerva Sabbagh Khouria Mary Landino Delores Edwards Christina Attar Jouhayna Al-Amm David T. Davis Amjad Khalil George Nassoor Marwan Sabbagh Chanters Karsten Boyer Hanna Sayegh Marwan Sabbagh Ladies Altar Society Rosina Azar, President Hind Azar, Vice President Hiyam Tabchi, Treasurer Fay Moses, Recording Secretary Mouna Safi, Corresponding Secretary Children s Relief Fund Khouria Minerva Sabbagh Sunday School Sharon Barber-Lui, Director Teachers: Maggie Abboud Khouria Mary Landino Abe Assad Rita Mamari Christina Attar Julia Marques Dima Hanna Zaneh Khuzam Jaklin Sabbagh Rehab Martin Teen SOYO The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Pastor Rev. Joseph Landino, Spiritual Advisor Khouria Mary Landino, Head Lay Advisor Khalil Yacoub, Ass t. Lay Advisor Safwan Saba, Ass t. Lay Advisor Takla Zagtiti, Junior Advisor Meriam Deeb, Junior Advisor Mary Yacoub, President Giovanna Nema, Vice President Gabriella Landino, Treasurer Chelsea Shetayh, Recording Secretary Joy Sabbagh, Corresponding Secretary Katerina Landino, Historian Homeless Dinner Ministry Naife Khalouf, Coordinator Members of Teen SOYO St. George Bookstore Kh. Minerva Sabbagh Website Elie Jabbour George Issa Facebook Hope Sabbagh Charitable Ministries The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Nasser Sabbagh, Naife Khalouf Bachar Issa, Hala Atiyeh, Fouad Salloum Nour Salloum, Dima Botros Newcomer & Refugee Committee Marwan Sabbagh George Khalouf Nasser Sabbagh Hope Sabbagh December 16, 2018 Tone 4 / Eothinon 7 Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ Today we commemorate: Prophet Haggai; Theophania the empress; Modestos, archbishop of Jerusalem Divine Liturgy RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FOUR Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy. APOLYTIKION OF THE FOREFATHERS IN TONE TWO Thou hast justified by faith the ancient Forefathers, and through them Thou hast gone before and betrothed unto Thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and it was she who gave birth to Thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls. Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple. KONTAKION OF PREPARATION OF CHRIST S NATIVITY IN TONE THREE (**The original melody**) On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.

2 THE EPISTLE (For the Holy Forefathers) Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers. For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. (3:4-11) Brethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. THE GOSPEL (For the Holy Forefathers) The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (14:16-24) The Lord spoke this parable: A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, Come; for all is now ready. But, one by one, they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame. And the servant said, Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. And the master said to the servant, Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom continues as usual. THE DISMISSAL Holy Bread The Holy Bread is sponsored by: Georgette Awad & Family Elias Awad (Nine-Day Memorial) The Sayegh Family Adele Sayegh (40-Day Memorial) Maya Haddad El-Khoury Hala Gibraed Ibrahim (40-Day Memorial)

3 Nagham Azar & Family Abraham Azar (One-Year Memorial) The Makhoul Family Nicholas Makhoul (One-Year Memorial) The Holy Bread of Oblation is offered before the Altar of God For Good Health, Well Being and Blessings Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim; Metropolitan Joseph; Georgette Awad and Family; Sayegh Family; Maya Haddad El-Khoury; Nagham Azar and Family; Makhoul Family; Souha Hadeed and Family; Patricia Charles and Family; John, Manwella, Michael, Mark, Angela, Meshleen Dergham; Naim and Fadwa Dergham and children; grandchildren: Mazin, Bashir, Elias, Alexander, Vivian, Oscar; David and Fay Moses; Majed and Theresa Dergham; Reda Barber; Children of Khalil and Wajiha Al-Khal; Reda and Mark Khoury; Sam and Sonia Wehbey and Family; Wehbey, Hanna, Barhoum, Hadeed and Zoudeh Families; Rahmeh Tabchi; Eyad, Jennifer, Eyan and Zayn Alraei; Ziad Alraei; George, Hiyam, Simon, Melissa, Yasmin Tabchi; Leo, Rehab, Naomi Martin; Neph, Resam and Nephtali Andujar; Asmat Hanna and Family; Naziha Assad and Family; Zakieh Hanna; Abed and Jaklin Makhoul; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Bashar Hanna and Family; Saba Family; Afeef and Naify Hanna; Layal Hanna and Family; Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia, Christian, Michael and Alexia Bitar; Georges Bitar and Family. In Loving Memory Metropolitan Philip; Bishop Antoun; Fr. George Khouli; Ibrahim, Resmeh Hanna; Nicola, Haloun Khouli; Nawal, Janet, Zahieh, Mtanious, George Hanna; Elias Awad; Adele Sayegh; Hala Gibraed Ibrahim; Abraham Azar; Nicholas Makhoul; Rafca, Abraham, Najat; Atiyeh and Angelina Dergham; Ernie Charles; Joseph Koury; Albert and Sophie Cunningham; Gail Charlie; Ralph Moussa; Jamil and Salwa Hadeed; Joseph Hadeed; Hiyam Hanna; Khalil and Wajiha Al-Khal; Said Khoury; Kamal, Najoum Hanna; Thomas Makhoul; Michael Awad; Georges, Tony Hanna; Ateya Moussa; Fouad, Ethman, Mekhael, Nemah Assad; George Georges; Brahim, Resmeh, Milia, Maria, George Hanna; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi; Rafaat Alraei; Rahmeh Hanna; Jamileh Abboud, Hanna, Georges and Samar Daher; Wajih Hanna, Elias and Raid Khouly; Azeezee Khouly; Antonios and Nadeema Hanna; Rafaat Alraei; Hanna Nakkoul; Laila Antar; Elias Saba; Michel and Badih Bitar; Alfred Hanna; Bassam, Khalil, Nizha Bitar. Memorial Service A Memorial Service is held for the rest of the souls of the servants of God: Elias Awad Adele Sayegh Hala Gibraed Ibrahim Abraham Azar Nicholas Makhoul May the Lord grant rest to His servants and remember them in His kingdom, now and forever. Coffee Hour Please join us after Divine Liturgy for Coffee Hour. Thank you to our sponsor: Nagham Azar & Family

4 7-Day Candle Sponsor Patricia Charles & Family Ernie Charles, Joseph Koury, Albert & Sophie Cunningham, Gail Charlie John Dergham for the good health of John, Manwella, Michael, Mark, Angela, Meshleen Dergham and Ralph Moussa Naim & Fadwa Dergham Nicholas Makhoul Sponsor the Eternal Light or a Seven-Day Candle Looking for a tnagible way to remember a departed loved one or pray for the good health of a friend or relative, or recognize a special occasion? Consider a one-week sponsorship of the Eternal Light or a Seven-Day Candle that will burn continuously in the House of God asking Him to make your prayers acceptable to his holy Majesty, that His love, mercy and peace will surround and sustain those whom you are praying for in this life and the life to come. The sponsor s name and who is to be mentioned and prayed for will also be printed in this bulletin for the week selected. Sponsors are asked to consider a donation of $10 or more per week to accompany their request. Please see Hiyam Tabchi after Church services to sponsor a week or call the church office weekdays at (610) Homeless Dinner Sponsor We thank the following for sponsoring a Homeless Dinner. Souha Hadeed & Family Jamil & Salwa Hadeed Joseph Hadeed Homeless dinners are offered to the poor in our community at the Salvation Army in Allentown and served by our Teen SOYO members. Contributions are always welcome. For more information, please contact Naife Khalouf, coordinator, at (610) Thought for the day There is one God Who created man from dust. He has ordered all things, both visible and invisible, by His Word and His Spirit. The Word is the Son of God, Who came down upon the earth on account of our sins. He was born of a Virgin, He lived among men and suffered and died for our salvation, and then He arose from the dead, and He has resurrected the human race with Him. We believe that He is One in essence with the Father, and equal to Him in authority and honor. We believe this without any sly rationalizations, for it is impossible to grasp this mystery by human reasons. St. Spiridon

5 Special donations to the Church We acknowledge families and friends who have honored dear ones with monetary gifts given in the spirit of loving kindness. $ Kh. Nadia Khouli to the Church Fr. George Khouli; Brahim, Resmeh Hanna; Nicola, Haloun Khouli; Nawal, Janet, Zahieh, Mtanious, George Hanna; for the good health of Nicklas, Sawsan, George, Naya, Naela and Family, Norvin and Family, Helen and Family, Nebal. $ Eyad and Jennifer Alraei and Family to Sunday School in loving memory of Elias Awad. $ David and Fay Moses to the Church Elias Awad. $ Naim and Fadwa Dergham to Sunday School for the good health of Naim and Fadwa Dergham; children; grandchildren: Mazin, Bashir, Elias, Alexander, Vivian, Oscar; Nicholas, Rafca, Abraham, Najat, Atiyeh and Angelina Dergham. $ Majed and Theresa Dergham to the Church Nicholas Makhoul; for the good health of Naim and Fadwa Dergham; Reda Barber. $ Maya Khoury to the Church Hala Gilbraed Ibrahim. $ Children of Khalil and Wajiha Al-Khal Khalil and Wajiha Al-Khal. $ Reda and Mark Khoury to the Church Said Khoury (5-year memorial). $ Sam and Sonia Wehbey and Family to the Ladies Altar Society in loving memory of Alfred Hanna on his birthday. $ Sam and Sonia Wehbey and Family to the Church Elias Awad. $ Sam and Sonia Wehbey and Family to the Ladies Altar Society for the good health of the Wehbey, Hanna, Barhoum, Hadeed and Zoudeh Families. $ Naify and Afeef Hanna to the Church Alfred Hanna on his birthday. $ Asmat Hanna to the Church Kamal, Najoum Hanna. $ Zakieh Hanna to the Church Georges, Tony Hanna; Ateya Moussa. $ Naziha Assad to the Church Fouad, Ethman, Mekhael, Nemah Assad. $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to the Church Fr. George; George Georges; Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Zahieh, Mtanios, Milia, Maria, George Hanna; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi; Thomas Makhoul; for the good health of Simon, Melissa, Yasmin Tabchi; Leo, Rehab, Naomi Martin; Neph, Resam and Nephtali Andujar. $ Anonymous to the Church Georges Salloum; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi; for the good health of Rahmeh Tabchi. $ Anonymous to the Church Hiyam Hanna. $ Abed and Jaklin Makhoul to the Church Michael Awad; Thomas Makhoul. $ Eyad Alraei and Family to Sunday School for the good health of Ziad Alraei; Elias Awad; Rafaat Alraei. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher to Syrian Orphanages for the good health of Faisal and Nadia Daher; Rahmeh Hanna; Jamileh Abboud; Hanna Daher; Georges Daher; Samar Daher. $ Bashar Hanna to the Church for the good health of Bashar Hanna and Family; Rahmeh Hanna; Wajih Hanna; Elias and Raid Khouly; Azeezee Khouly; Antonios and Nadeema Hanna. $ The Saba Family to the Church Elias Saba. $ Georges Bitar and Family to the Church Bassam, Khalil, Nizha Bitar; Elias Saba. $ Afeef and Naify Hanna to the Church Alfred Hanna. $ Layal Hanna and Family to the Church Alfred Hanna. $ The Bitar Family to the Church for the good health of Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia, Christian, Michael and Alexia Bitar; Michael and Badih Bitar.

6 December Services & Events St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Ladies Altar Society Christmas Party Sunday, Dec. 16, 6 pm All women invited for refreshments and a $10 gift exchange. Bring a Lenten dish to share. More information: Rosina Azar (484) Teen SOYO Christmas Party Friday, Dec. 21, 7-10 pm More information: Kh. Mary Landino (408) Christmas Visit to shut-ins Saturday, Dec. 22, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Teen SOYO s annual visit to shut-ins with Christmas Carols and Poinsettias. Sunday before the Nativity of Christ (Sunday of the Genealogy), which falls on Paramon (Eve) of the Nativity of Christ Divine Liturgy Sunday, Dec. 23, 10 am Christmas Concert presentation by Sunday School follows Divine Liturgy. Within the Church We wish God s blessings to our parishioners and friends of St. George Church on their special day. Please keep your church office informed of birthdays, anniversaries and special family events (610) Best wishes for a wonderful Birthday/Anniversary and a year filled with good health and happiness. Happy Birthday 12/16 Joanne Yazigi 12/20 Barbara Williams Andrew Makhoul Kristina Younes Naziha Ibrahim 12/22 Raeda Al-Khouri Touni Murra Joseph Nanouh 12/18 Salwa Nehme Leo Martin Randy Hanna Milad Morra Happy Anniversary 12/19 Anissa Kelly 12/18/89 Sami & Ebtisam Moussa Renee Jabbour-Olewine Vespers Artoklosia Service Monday, Dec. 24, 6 pm Christmas Day Festal Divine Liturgy Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 am The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. St. George Church New Year s Eve Hafli Monday, Dec. 31, 8 pm-2 am Holiday Inn, Rt. 100, Allentown, PA ONGOING Bible Study Fridays, 6:30 pm Vespers Saturdays, 5 pm Divine Liturgy Sundays, 10 am Thank you for your contribution to the Church It is by offering our blessings back to God that He will be able to continue His forgiving, healing, liberating, empowering, transfiguring, loving ministry through the Church. For God, infinite though He be, has chosen to work through us, through our gifts, to continue His saving work in the world today. Stewardship is our response to God s grace and moves us from grace to gratitude. Just as we love because God first loved us (1 John 4:14), we give because God first gave to us. The question of the Psalmist, What shall I give to the Lord in return for all His benefits towards me? (Ps. 116:2), is answered in every liturgy when the celebrant calls us to offer ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

7 Teen SOYO plans annual Christmas visits to our shut-ins on Saturday, Dec. 22 Teen SOYO will visit our shut-ins on Saturday, Dec. 22. If you know of someone that would like this special Christmas visit, please call Donna in the Church office at (610) with their name, address and phone number by Thursday, Dec Orthodox Youth & Camp Worker Conference registration opens Register now for the 18th Annual Orthodox Youth Workers & Camping Conference, being hosted at the Archdiocese s Antiochian Village Conference Center in the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania. The Conference will take place over the weekend of January 24-26, 2019, and is open to all Orthodox jurisdiction youth workers in North America. Keynote Speaker, Dr. Chris Thurber, is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of California at Los Angeles and has served as a psychologist and instructor at Phillips Exeter Academy since An entrepreneur from a young age, Dr. Thurber is the co-founder of ExpertOnlineTraining. com, the internet s most popular library of educational videos for youth leaders. He has been invited to deliver keynotes, contribute articles, and lead workshops at schools and camps on five continents. His award-winning preparatory resource for families, The Summer Camp Handbook, was recently translated into Mandarin to help launch the youth camp movement in China. The Conference is sponsored by the Orthodox Youth Directors in North America with the blessing of the Assembly of Bishops. Its objective is to offer an enriching and uplifting experience that will connect youth and camp workers and provide them with inspirational and challenging ideas to help them refine and improve their work. More information: Fr Anthony Yazge With the Nativity Fast (Advent) upon us, what s the point of this season? The six weeks prior to Christmas (the Nativity of our Lord in thej Flesh) is a fasting period that many call Advent. Advent means coming. It is that period of time when we find ourselves waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ. For this reason, it has a different character than other fasting periods. Although there is an element of preparation involved, it is not the same as the Great Fast that precedes Holy Week and Pascha. The liturgical preparation is limited to the two Sundays before the Nativity and the five days leading up to the feast. Those two Sundays we are reminded of the Holy Ancestors of God and the Holy Fathers, Patriarchs, and Prophets who played a role in the coming of the Messiah. In the hymns of the Sunday cycle of services, we hear of their great faith and are called to build our own. For most of us, we are anxious to get to the feast. We want the days to rush by. Our preparation usually consists of shopping and decorating, not to speak of parties. Here is where the notion of waiting comes into play. We must discipline ourselves through self-control and patience. We are to read the Scriptures, specifically the prophecies that speak of the coming of the Messiah. We are to turn our focus to a Godly way of life that calls for sacrificing and almsgiving (acts of mercy). Let us think of charity and the giving of our time, talents and resources to others that may be in need. There is no better way to imitate Christ than to be loving and charitable towards others. Put Christ back into Christmas. Find the meaning of the feast by understanding the importance of the Son of God taking on human flesh. Remember the real reason for the season is that Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, came into the world and dwelt among men, taking on Himself the sins of the world so that we might have life in Him. Nativity Fast Guidelines now through Dec. 24 Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Strict Fast Days Do not eat meat, dairy, fish with backbones, fowl, alcoholic beverages and olive oil. Tuesdays and Thursdays: wine and olive oil permitted. Saturdays and Sundays: fish with backbones, wine and oil permitted. Foods permitted on all days are vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and shell fish.

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