Holy Bread will be offered by:

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1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church سينيكيدرألا ةيألاطلألن سيدقرواسنكيدقلا ةسينك JANUARY 04, 2015 Forefeast of & Sunday before Theophany of Christ Tone 5 Eothinon 8 Sunday Service: Orthros (Matins) 9:20 AM, Followed by the Divine Liturgy Confessions by Appointment Only On this day, we commemorate: Synaxis of the Seventy Holy Apostles; Venerable Theoktistos of Sicily; Venerable Martyrs Euthymios and his twelve companions of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. Epistle: Christopher Al-Dehneh. Ushers: Upon Availability. Altar Boys: All are encouraged and welcome to serve. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION (TONE FIVE) Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. APOLYTIKION OF THE FOREFEAST OF THEOPHANY (TONE FOUR) Make ready, O Zebulon, and prepare, O Nephtali, and thou, River Jordan, cease thy flow and receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized. And thou, Adam, rejoice with the first mother, and hide not yourselves as ye did of old in paradise; for having seen thee naked, He appeared to clothe thee with the first robe. Yea, Christ hath appeared desiring to renew the whole creation. APOLYTIKION FOR ST. GEORGE THE GREAT-MARTYR (TONE FOUR) Since thou art a liberator and deliverer of captives, a help and support of the poor and needy, a healing physician of the sick, a contender and fighter for kings, O great among Martyrs, the victory-clad George; intercede with Christ God for the salvation of our souls. KONTAKION OF THE FOREFEAST OF THEOPHANY (TONE FOUR) Today hath the Lord appeared in the courses of the Jordan, crying to John and saying, Be not dismayed at my Baptism; for I have verily come to save Adam, the first to be created. Holy Bread will be offered by: Fr. George, Kh. Mageda, Lilian & Christopher: In thanking God for His unlimited Love, Grace & Protection. For the health of all the Al-Dehneh & Abou-Assaleh families. In celebration of Christopher s 20 th birthday. For the health and speedy recovery of our niece Renee. May the new year brings peace, health & happiness to all. Our fervent prayers to our merciful God & the Intercessions of the Most Holy Lady Theotokos to protect our families & all our brothers & sisters in Syria. May the King of Peace Brings peace, love & tranquility to all. In Memory of our beloved mother-in-law, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother (Violette Abou-Assaleh) فليكن ذكرها مؤبدا Eternal. (6 Year) Memorial. May her Memory be Georgette Abraham & Children: For the (1 Year) Memorial of our beloved husband, father, grandfather & great- فلنكنيةسرهيمؤباد ييييييي. Eternal grandfather Mitchell Abraham. May his Memory be Sami & Antoinette Esper & Children: For the (9 Day) Memorial of our beloved father, grandfather & great- فلنكنيةسرهيمؤباد ييييييي Eternal. grandfather (Antoinette s Father) Ward Gergos Tannous. May his Memory be

2 THE EPISTLE (For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ) O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my God. The Reading from St. Paul s Second Epistle to Timothy. (4:5-8) Timothy, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. THE GOSPEL (For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ) The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (1:1-8) The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. DONATIONS (NATIVITY) Sammy, Kimberly & Sofia Michael: For the health of the V. Rev. Fr. & Mrs. Jehad Michael. Sammy, Kimberly & Sofia Michael: For the health of Bryan & Annette Haddad. Sammy, Kimberly & Sofia Michael: For the health of Georgette Abraham. Joseph & Melissa Isaac: For the good health of our children, our parents, Godparents, nieces and nephews and our family and friends of St. George. Merry Christmas and a blessed new year. NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Constantine & Jeanne Papas Allen & Patricia Borschow Brahim & Layla Salloum Alex & Michele Tsoukalas Georgette Abraham Salah & Nada Al-Hanna Bryan & Annette Haddad Bishop BASIL Endowment Fund Adib & Helen Dayoub Fotios & Bertha Tsoukalas DONATIONS (Sunday, December 28, 2014) Ned & Wilda Abraham: In loving Memory of Mitchell Abraham. Ned & Wilda Abraham: For the health of Georgette Abraham & family. Ned & Wilda Abraham: In Memory of George Nabhan. NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Dr. Raed & Sylvana Aldouri Missionary Offering The Madsen Bishop BASIL Endowment Fund Constantine & Jeanne Papas In Memory of Ward Tannous Adib & Helen Dayoub

3 EPIPHANY EVENING DIVINE LITURGY Will be celebrated with a Vesperal-Divine Liturgy for the Paramon of the Feast of Epiphany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with the Great Sanctification of 6:00 PM on Monday, January 05, Please join us in this Holy celebration commemorating our Lord s Baptism in the River Jordan by the Fore-runner, John the Baptist. On January 6 in the Holy Orthodox Church we celebrate the Holy Theophany, or Epiphany, of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. When our Lord reached thirty years from His physical birth, He began His teaching and saving work. He Himself signified this Beginning of the Beginning by His Baptism in the River Jordan. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, The beginning of the world: water; the beginning of the Good News: Jordan. At the time of the Baptism of the Lord in water, the Father was revealed to the sense of hearing; the Spirit was revealed to the sense of sight, and in addition to these, the Son was revealed to the sense of touch. The Father uttered His witness about the Son, the Son was Baptized in the water, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovered above the water. John the Baptist witnessed and said about Christ, Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. When John immersed and Baptized the Lord in the Jordan, the mission of Christ in the world and the path of our salvation were shown. That is to say: The Lord took upon Himself the sins of mankind and died under them (immersion) and became alive again (the coming out of the water); and we must die as the old sinful man and become alive again as cleansed, renewed and regenerated. This is the Savior and this is the path of salvation. The Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany in Greek) is also called the Feast of Illumination. For us, the event in the River Jordan illuminates, by manifesting to us God as Trinity, consubstantial and undivided. Also, every one of us through Baptism in water is illumined by this, that we become adopted by the Father of Lights through the merits of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. Unto Christ be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen. HOME BLESSING Will start Tuesday, January 06, 2015 and will end Friday, February 06, Please call the office or talk to Fr. George to arrange for your home to be blessed. The St. George Sunday School Reminder to parents, Classes will resume as usual on Sunday, January 4, HOLY BREAD OFFERING Please see the New Holy Bread Offering Calendar for the year If 2 families offer every Sunday (For the health of the living and/or in Memory of the departed members). We should be OKAY for the whole year. We have 52 Sundays in the year. Thank You

4 THE FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD The celebration of the Baptism of our Lord in the River Jordan reveals wondrous salvific events: The Mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed. The waters were blessed by Christ and ceased to be waters of the fall and became waters of renewal (Holy Water). Any demonic influence over water was ended. A model of Baptism was established for the followers of Jesus Christ. The sin of the old Adam was washed away and buried in the waters. The Forerunner John the Baptist was blessed by Christ. The word Theophany (meaning manifestation of God) comes from the apostolic passage, God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). Another name for the Feast is Epiphany (meaning manifestation from above), the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11). A third name is the Feast of Lights, as Christ reveals Himself as the Light of the World (John 8:12). House Blessing: The Purpose The annual blessing of homes is a custom of special beauty and significance. We again ask Christ to bless and enter into our homes and our lives. We ask Him to be with us, as we desire to be with Him. We ask that by the sprinkling of blessed water, the Holy Spirit renew us, our families and our lives in our homes. As Christ brought salvation to the house of Zacchaeus; we ask for the same for all dwelling in our homes. House Blessing: The Order The house being cleaned and ready, we dress in an honorable manner (as we would for Church). When the Priest arrives, we greet him at the door, having turned off any radio, TV, or other noise based element. Animals that may cause disruption should be placed out of the way. On a small table before icons, a small but wide-mouthed bowl full of newly blessed water is placed. Together with a list of names of those who reside in the home, a lighted candle and censor (if you have one) are also placed on the table. These items are arranged prior to the arrival of the Priest. At the beginning of the service for the blessing of the home, a family member leads the Priest throughout the home, carrying the lighted candle. The rest of the household follows and then returns to the table for the final prayer and blessing with water upon those present. House Blessings It is the custom among many Orthodox Christians to have their homes blessed with the Holy Water sanctified on Theophany (the Feast which commemorates the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan River). If you would like your home blessed, please call the Church office or talk to Fr. George. FOR CONSIDERATION On one of the stones in the Church of Hagia Sophia, the following words were engraved: "Wash your sins, not only your face." Whoever entered this glorious Church read this inscription and remembered that the Christian Faith requires of him moral purity: purity of the soul, purity of the heart and purity of the mind. Just as in the heart of man is concentrated the complete spiritual man, this is what the Lord also said, "Blessed are the pure of heart" (Matthew 5:8). Total external cleanliness does not help at all in gaining the kingdom of heaven. Oh, if only we would invest as much effort in washing ourselves from sins as we invest daily in washing our faces, then God would truly be seen in our hearts as in a mirror! The three temptations by which Satan tempted the Lord Jesus after His Baptism in the Jordan River: 1. Gluttony: The temptation with bread; 2. Pride: Lifting Him above the Temple; 3. Greed: Offering Him the possession of the entire world.

5 CONDOLENCES Our Sympathy goes to Sami & Antoinette Esper & their families and to all the extended Tannous families in Syria and abroad on the departing to the Lord of their beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather Ward Gergos Tannous on Thursday, December 25, 2014 in Jowaikhat, Syria. May his Memory be Eternal and may our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ grant فليكن ذكره مؤبدا Lord. his family many healthy and faithful years in the Thank You To all members of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch for their good service during the month of December, May the New-Born King of Glory grant all of you and your families many healthy years. For Pastoral Emergencies, or to notify Fr. George of ill or hospitalized parishioner, please call: Rev. Fr. George Church: OR Cell: PLEASE REMEMBER As we approach the Chalice (Holy Communion), the following observances should take place: 1- Walk in a prayerful and reverent state, minding your inwardness and forgiveness. 2- Form a sign of the cross with both hands to the chest (right over left). 3- Holding the red napkin under your chin, recite the following when the Priest say: The servant of God, your Baptismal name. 4- Pat your mouth with the napkin and make sure no crumbs fall onto the ground. 5- Step aside to partake of the Holy Bread. In the Orthodox Church Tradition, the faithful are asked to stay until the end of the Divine Liturgy, at which time the Priest says, let us depart in peace. We come in line to venerate the cross, and depart to the fellowship hall. THE MEANING OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH'S MEMORIAL SERVICES BOILED WHEAT (KOLYVA): The boiled wheat is offered (on the 40 Day) because man is also a seed and like a fruit from the earth. Like a seed he is placed in the earth now, and he will be raised up and blossom forth again by God's power. THIRD DAY SERVICE: The third day service is celebrated for the reason that the reposed one received his being through the Trinity, and having been translated, he hopes to be changed back to the ancient beauty in which man was first made before the fall, or one better at the resurrection. NINTH DAY SERVICE: The ninth day service is celebrated that his spirit may dwell together with the holy spirits, the angels, since it is immaterial as is their nature. They are ranked according to nine orders, and in three trinities they proclaim and praise God in Trinity. 40TH DAY SERVICE: The 40th day service is celebrated in the Memory of the Savior's Ascension 40 days after His Resurrection and that the reposed one, when he is resurrected, may be taken up in the clouds to meet the Judge, our Savior and Master, and thus be with Him forever (1Thes. 4:17).

6 Honor Bishop BASIL On his Name s Day: The Feast of St. Basil the Great, January 01, 2015 Bishop BASIL Mission Endowment Fund, Dioceses of Wichita and Mid America (DOWAMA) Contribute by January 31, Please make check payable to St. George Church earmarked BB Name s Remember our Abducted Syrian Orthodox Innocent Hierarchs DONATION ENVELOPES FOR 2015 We ask all of you to use the Designated Offering Envelopes that is placed in the Vestibule for your donations starting January 01, Please pick up your Box (1 box for each active family). Using these envelopes will help the Church Treasurer in recognizing the purpose, date and amount of every Sunday collection. Please DO NOT pick up for somebody else. Thank You PARISHIONERS INFORMATION CARD St. George Directory is being updated to correct changes in addresses, phone numbers etc. We are asking for your help by completing the following form. Parents Name Address Children's Name AMOUNT TO PLEDGE: Weekly $ Date of Birth Phone (H) (B) (C) Date of Birth Monthly $ This form can be cut and mailed to the Church Office, or dropped in the donation basket. Thank you for your cooperation.