Divine Liturgy St. George Church Staff and Organizations. March 10, 2013 Tone 7, Eothinon 7 Sunday of Meatfare

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1 2013 St. George Church Staff and Organizations Pastor The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Administrative Committee Albert Bitar, Treasurer Elias Gharzouzi Rehab Tabchi Robert Mimari Abe Assad Nasser Sabbagh George Nassoor Office Administrator Donna Becker Custodian Adnan Sabbagh Building/Planning Eli Mimari Dr. George Nassoor Altar Servers Peter Attar, Subdeacon Joseph Landino, Seminarian Anthony Youwakim, Altar Boy Captain Joe Wakim, Altar Boy Captain Choir Ron Hanna, Director Naida Abraham, Treasurer Members: Kh. Minerva Sabbagh Mary Landino Christina Attar Jouhayna Al-Amm Mishleen Bashour Sean Thornton Wayne Burke David T. Davis George Nassoor Vilma Abraham Delores Edwards Helena Yurconic Ron Benner Amjed Khalil Chanters Hweida Moussa Marwan Sabbagh Antoun Saba The Fellowship of St. John the Divine Christina Attar, Chair Abe Assad, Co-Chair Rehab Tabchi, Treasurer Ladies Altar Society Diane Gharzouzi, President Suzanna Zoudeh, Vice President Ebtisam Richie, Treasurer Fay Moses, Secretary Mariam Souid, Corresponding Secretary Children s Relief Fund Kh. Minerva Sabbagh Sunday School Ebtisam Moussa, Director Teachers: Abe Assad Jennifer Alraei Sana Bitar Ida Tabchi Sahar Tabchi Nadia Davis Jaklin Sabbagh Reem Haddad Teen SOYO The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Spiritual Advisor Naife Khalouf, Advisor Nicole Hamoui, President Takla Zaghtiti, Vice President Tony Sankari, Treasurer Mishleen Bahsour, Recording Secretary Hilda Souid, Corresponding Secretary Clara Yazji, Media Secretary St. George Bookstore Mary Landino, Chair Kh. Minerva Sabbagh, Treasurer Rehab Tabchi Charitable Ministries Annual Appeal for Syrian Orphanages Kamal Abboud, Chair Pastoral Discretionary Fund The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Albert Bitar Newcomer Committee Mariam Souid, Chair Naim Dergham, Co-Chair Antoun Saba Marwan Sabbagh March 10, 2013 Tone 7, Eothinon 7 Sunday of Meatfare On this day, we commemorate: Kodratos of Corinth and his five companions; Anastasia the patrician of Alexandria; New-martyr Michael of. Thessalonika Divine Liturgy Epistle I Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Meat Fare Sunday) The Lord is my strength and my praise. The Lord chastising hath chastised me: But he hath not delivered me over to death. The Reading is from Saint Paul s First Letter to the Corinthians BRETHREN, food will not commend us to God, we are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you a man of knowledge, at table in an idol s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

2 Gospel Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare Sunday) The Reading of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew When the son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left. Then the King, will say to those at his right hand, Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Then he will say to those at his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these you did it not to me. And they will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life. Orthodox Thought for the Day This Sunday we commemorate Christ s Dread Judgement and read His parable of the Judgement in Matthew (25:31-46). This paragraph on pre-destination is from St. Nicholai s homily on this passage and I think it is important for us to bring this into focus because a wicked mis-interpretation of this is so pervasive in the protestant (Reformed) world-view that surrounds us... What the Lord does not say is very important: that eternal fire is prepared for sinners from the foundation of the world, as the Kingdom is for the righteous. What does this mean? It is absolutely clear that the Lord prepared the eternal fire only for the devil and his angels, and that He prepared the Kingdom for ALL men from the foundation of the world. For God will have all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; cf. Matthew 18:14; John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 45:22), and that not one perish. Therefore, God did not intend men to perish, but to be saved; neither did He prepare in advance the devil s fire for them, but He prepared His Kingdom, and this alone. It is clear from this, that they who say of a sinner: he is predestined to be a sinner, are astray in their thinking. Were he thus predestined, this would not be from God but from the man himself. That this is not predestined for him by God is seen in the fact that God did not prepare in advance any sort of place of torment for men, but only for the devil. Therefore, at the Last judgment, the righteous Judge will have no place to which to send the sinners but the dark realm of the devil. And that it is in His justice that the Judge sends them there is clear from the fact that they, during their earthly lives, fell right away from God, and gave themselves to the devil s service. Saint Nikolai Velimirovic (Homilies, vol. 1, p. 121)

3 The reasons why Jesus Christ came into the world The reasons why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world are these: 1. The love of God for the human race: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). 2. The restoration in fallen humanity of the image and likeness of God, as the holy Church celebrates it: Man who, being made in the image of God, had become corrupt through sin, and was full of vileness, and had fallen away from the better life Divine, doth the wise Creator restore anew (First Canon of Matins for the Nativity of Christ). 3. The salvation of men s souls: For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). And so we, in conformance with the purposes of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, should spend our life in accordance with this Divine teaching, so that through it we may obtain the salvation of our souls. by St. Seraphim of Sarov, The Reasons Why Jesus Christ Came into the World Troparion Tone 3 Your fragrant relics have been revealed as godly treasure / filled with life for the Church. / On their august translation / we receive the gifts of the Spirit. / Righteous Father Nicephorus, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy. Kontakion Tone 1 The choir of patriarchs, honors your holy memory with praises and hymns, O Nicephorus, / for it received your spirit at your translation, O glorious one. / Therefore, today the Church magnifies Christ the King, / glorifying Him as the only Lover of mankind. The Last Judgement (Meat-Fare Sunday) Excerpt from Great Lent, Chapter 2: Preparation for Lent by Alexander Schmemann It is love again that constitutes the theme of Meat-Fare Sunday. The Gospel lesson for the day is Christ s parable of the Last Judgement (Matt. 25:31-46). When Christ comes to judge us, what will be the criterion of His judgement? The parable answers: love-- not a mere humanitarian concern for abstract justice and the anonymous poor, but concrete and personal love for the human person, any human person, that God makes me encounter in my life... Christian love is the possible impossibility to see Christ in another man, whoever he is, and whom God, in His eternal and mysterious plan, has decided to introduce into my life, be it only for a few moments, not as an occasion for a good deed or an exercise in philanthropy, but as the beginning of an eternal companionship in God Himself. For, indeed, what is love if not that mysterious power which transcends the accidental and the external in the other -- his physical appearance, social rank, ethnic origin, intellectual capacity-- and reaches the soul, the unique and uniquely personal root of a human being, truly the part of God in him? If God loves every man it is because He alone knows the priceless and absolutely unique treasure, the soul or person He gave every man. Christian love then is the participation in that divine knowledge and the gift of that divine love. There is no impersonal love because love is the wonderful discovery of the person in man, of the personal and unique in the common and general. It is the discovery in each man of that which is lovable in him, of that which is from God. The parable of the Last Judgement is about Christian love. Not all of us are called to work for humanity, yet each one of us has received the gift and the grace of Christ s love. We know that all men ultimately need this personal love-- the recognition in them of their unique soul in which the beauty of the whole creation is reflected in a unique way. We also know that men are in prison and are sick and thirsty and hungry because that personal love has been denied them. And, finally, we know that however narrow and limited the framework of our personal existence, each one of us has been made responsible for a tiny part of the Kingdom of God, made responsible by that very gift of Christ s love. Thus, on whether or not we have accepted this responsibility, on whether we have loved or refused to love, shall we be judged. For inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me...

4 Holy Bread The Holy Bread is sponsored by: The Makhoul Family in loving memory of Kasser Makhoul (One-Year Memorial) The Makoul Family in loving memory of Richard, James and Thomas Makoul Georgette Makhoul in loving memory of Nader Makhoul Maurice & Sylvia Abboud and Family in loving memory of Touma Abboud (9-Day Memorial) Jacklin Sabbagh in loving memory of Safi Safi (9-Day Memorial) The Holy Bread is offered before the Altar of God by Father Anthony for the living servants of God: Maurice and Sylvia Abboud; The Makhoul Family; Elias, Tony and Nabil Makhoul; The Makhoul Family; Loretta, Georgeann, Michael, Jennifer, Alexa and Kaden Makoul; Alice and Richard George; Georgette Makhoul; Michael, Andrew and Tony Makhoul and their families; Nadia Georges; Georgette Salloum; Linda Butros; Raymond, Jacklin, John, Jamie and Joy Sabbagh; Reem Haddad; Mike, Mary Jo and Mona Makoul; Abdo, Jacklyn, Sabah, Elias, Tabitha, Marianne and Thomas Makhoul; Barhoum and Evelyn Khouli; Elias and Family; Michael and Family; Khouria Nadia Khouli and Family; George, Hiyam, Rehab, Resam, Simon, Rahmeh and Fadi Tabchi; Melissa Dib; Janet Hanna; Layla; Hiyam Mamari; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Naife Khalouf; Nour Atiyeh; Afifi Skaf and Family; Naziha Assad; Zakieh Hanna; Lawahiz, Abe, John and Kate Assad; Mary Assad; Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; Assad and Pavlick Families; Michael, Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia and Christian Bitar; Georges Bitar and Family; Sueliman Bitar and Family; Ron Hanna; Charbel Elias and Family; for departed servants of God: Father George Khouli; Nicholas and Haloun Khouli; Brahim, Resmeah, Nawal, Mtanios and Maria Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi; Alfred Hanna; Kasser Makhoul; Richard, James and Thomas Makoul; Nader Makhoul; Touma Abboud; Safi Safi; Michael Jarjous; George Safi; Doris (Emily) Makoul; Elias, Haloun, Jabbour, Mariam, Adeeb, Marwan, Montaha; Nawal Hanna; Ghassan Dabura; Talat Leyos; Toufik Mamari; Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; Zaki Skaf; Fouad Assad; Tony Hanna, Burhoum Saba; John Ray and Sameer Assad; Wajih Hanna; Hanna Daher; Jammily Abboud; Badih Bitar; Bassam Bitar; Khalil and Nizha Bitar; Ilona Hanna; Abdo Elias. Memorial Service A Memorial Service is held for the rest of the souls of the servants of God: Kasser Makhoul Richard, James and Thomas Makoul

5 Nader Makhoul Touma Abboud Safi Safi May the Lord grant rest to His servants and remember them in His kingdom, now and forever. Coffee Hour We thank the following family for sponsoring today s Coffee Hour. Please join us immediately folllowing Divine Liturgy. The Makhoul Family Join us for a Fundraiser Lunch this Sunday Sponsored by the Ladies Altar Society Grape Leaves 12/$8 Stuffed Cabbage 12/$8 Koubeiba 12/$12 Fried Stuffed Kibbee balls March is Antiochian Women s Month The month of March is recognized by the Archdiocese as Antiochian Woman s Month. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America has been an official organization of this Archdiocese for over 30 years. The entire month is dedicated and set aside for the participation of our Orthodox women in Church life. The organization is open to all Antiochian Orthodox women. they are a sisterhood of women who have committed themselves to serve our Lord, our faith, our parishes, and our Archdiocese. they serve in the spirit of Christian leadership, foster,ing love and service through charitable acts and creating a fellowship and understanding through their faith and traditions. Please see related inserts in this bulletin. 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. $ Maurice and Sylvia Abboud to the Charity Fund in loving memory of Touma Abboud and for their good health. $ Elias, Tony and Nabil Makhoul to the Church in loving memory of Kasser Makhoul. $ Loretta Makoul to the Church in loving memory of Richard, James and Thomas Makoul. $ Georgeann Makoul to the Church in loving memory of Richard, James and Thomas Makoul. $ Michael, Jennifer, Alexa and Kaden Makoul to the Church in loving memory of James, Richard and Thomas Makoul. $ Alice and Richard George to the Church in loving memory of James, Richard and Thomas Makoul. $ Georgette Makhoul to the Church in loving memory of Nader Makhoul; for the good health of Michael Makhoul and Family; Andrew Makhoul and Family; Tony Makhoul and Family. $ Nadia Georges to the Church in loving memory of Nader Makhoul. $ Georgette Salloum to the Church in loving memory of Nader Makhoul. $ Linda Butros to the Church in loving memory of Nader Makhoul. $ Raymond and Jacklin Sabbagh to the Church in loving memory of Safi Safi; Michael Jarjous; George Safi; for the good health of Raymond, Jacklin, John, Jamie and Joy Sabbagh. $ Reem Haddad to Sunday School for her good health. $ Mary Jo Makoul to the Church for the good health of Mike Makoul; Mona Makoul; in loving memory of Doris (Emily) Makoul. $ Abdo and Jacklyn Makhoul to the Church for the good health of Abdo, Jacklyn, Sabah, Elias, Tabitha, Marianne and Thomas Makhoul; in loving memory of Elias, Haloun, Jabbour, Mariam, Adeeb, Marwan, Montaha. $ Barhoum and Evelyn Khouli to the Ladies Altar Society Fundraiser Lunch for the good health of Elias and Family; Michael and Family; in loving memory of Nawal Hanna.

6 $ Khouria Nadia Khouli and Family to the Church in loving memory of Father George Khouli; Nicholas and Haloun Khouli; Brahim, Resmeah, Nawal, Mtanios and Maria Hanna. $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to the Church for the good health of Rehab, Resam, Simon Tabchi, Melissa Dib; Janet Hanna; in loving memory of Father George Khouli; Brahim, Resmeah; Nawal, Mtanios and Maria Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi. $ Rehab Tabchi to the Church for the good health of George, Hiyam, Resam, Simon, Rahmeh and Fadi Tabchi; Melissa Dib; Layla, Janet Hanna; in loving memory of Father George Khouli; Brahim, Resmeah, Nawal, Maria, Alfred Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi. $ Hiyam Mamari to the Church in loving memory of Ghassan Dabura; Talat Leyos; Toufik Mamari. $ Naife Khalouf to the Church in loving memory of Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; for the good health of Nour Atiyeh. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher to the Church in loving memory of Wajih Hanna, Hanna Daher; Jammily Abboud; for the good health of Faisal and Nadia Daher. $ Afifi Skaf and Family to the Church in loving memory of Zaki Skaf. $ Naziha Assad to the Church in loving memory of Fouad Assad. $ Zakieh Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Tony Hanna, Wajih Hanna; Burhoum Saba. $ Abe Assad and Mary Assad to Church School for the good health of the Assad and Pavlick Families, Lawahiz; Abe, John, Kate Assad; Mary Assad and Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; in loving memory of John Ray and Sameer Assad. $ The Bitar Family to the Church in loving memory of Badih Bitar and for the good health of Michael, Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia and Christian Bitar. $ Georges Bitar and Family; Sueliman Bitar and Family to the Church in loving memory of Bassam Bitar; Khalil and Nizha Bitar. $ Ron Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Ilona Hanna. $ Charbel Elias and Family to the Church in loving memory of Abdo Elias. Upcoming Services 2013 Divine Liturgy...Every Sunday at 10 a.m. Meatfare Sunday March 10 Cheesefare Sunday...March 17 Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers... Saturday, March 23, 5 pm at St. Mary s Orthodox Church Sunday of Orthodoxy Sunday, March 24 Feast Day: The Annunciation... observed Sunday, March 24 Calendar of Special Services for Great Lent 2013 Lent Begins... Monday, March 11 Great Compline Services Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Presanctified Evening Divine Liturgy Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Covered Dish Supper followed by Akathist (Maddih) Services... Fridays at 6 p.m. Vesper Services Saturdays at 6 p.m. 3rd Sunday of Lent: Adoration of the Holy Cross...Sunday, April 7, 10 am Guest Speaker: Klaus Kenneth Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers...tba Lazarus Saturday... April 27 Divine Liturgy and Remembrance of the Departed (Breakfast follows) Palm Sunday April 28 Matins, 9 a.m.divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.; Bridegroom Service, 7 p.m. Holy Week Great and Holy Monday April 29, 7 p.m., Bridegroom Service Great and Holy Tuesday...April 30, 7 p.m., Bridegroom Service Great and Holy Wednesday... May 1, 7 p.m., Holy Oil Annointing Service Great and Holy Thursday..., May 2, 9 a.m., Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 7 p.m., 12 Gospel Passion Service Great and Holy Friday May 3, 10 a.m., Royal Hours Passion Service 3 p.m., Lowering the Body of Christ from the Cross and Burial Service; 7 p.m. Lamentations Great and Holy Saturday...May 4, 10 a.m., Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 11 p.m. Noctourns, Rush, Matins and Liturgy of Pascha Pascha (Easter Resurrection Service)... Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. Matins and Agape Vespers; Annual Easter Egg Hunt follows Join us for these Sunday Fundraiser Lunches Ladies Altar Society Lunch...March 10 Sunday School Falafal Lunch...March 17 Ladies Altar Society Lunch... April 7 Teen SOYO Falafal Lunch April 21

7 On your Lenten journey join us in these special services Great Compline Services, held at 7 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, are a somber and peaceful time of prayer of psalms and hymns in which we contemplate God s righteousness and goodness. The Presanctified Liturgy is held Wednesdays at 7 pm. In order to maintain our strength at midweek during Lent, the Church prescribes that we serve this special Divine Liturgy so that we may receive the life-giving Gift of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a more solemn Liturgy where the holy gifts have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit on the previious Sunday (hence the term presanctified ). It is not the celebratory Liturgy that we normally see on Sunday, but rather reflects the spirit of Lent. It is truly a beautiful and solemn time of prayer. The Akathist, held Fridays at 7 pm, is a special beautiful hymn service in honor of the Theotokos, which we sing to her in thanksgiving for bearing Jesus our Savior. It is combined with the Little Compline, which is known as prayer before sleep. In Greek, the word Akathist is translated to mean not sitting. It is a time where we stand and offer the gift of our voices to Mary, the Mother of God, in a reverential way. A Covered Dish Supper precedes the service. Our regular services include Great Vespers (6 pm, Saturdays); Matins (9 am, Sundays) and Divine Liturgy (10 am, Sundays). Even during Lent we celebrate the glory of our Lord s Resurrection. At Vespers on Saturday evening we return to our more common celebratory worship to which we are normally accustomed. Matins and Divine Liturgy is the culmination of our Resurrection celebration. During Lent, after every service, there will be a time available for those who have self-examined their souls and minds and prepared for the Sacrament of Holy Confession. Syrian refugee Samira with her children (Photo: Sarah Malian/ Christian Aid) Baltimore, MD (IOCC) IOCC s ongoing aid to Syrian refugees Samira, 32, was eight months pregnant when she was forced to flee her home in Syria with her six small children. After a grueling 12-hour journey, Samira and her children arrived at a settlement in western Lebanon s Bekaa Valley with nothing other than her identity papers. They now live in a crudely constructed tent of wood and billboard vinyl, with a small diesel heater that does little to keep out the cold and damp. I am not comfortable here, Samira says. The situation is very bad for my children. I am worried about their health. Samira s youngest child, Ahmed, just a few weeks old, is underweight. Expectant and new mothers are among the most vulnerable refugees fleeing Syria, faced with great risk to their own health and uncertainty about their newborn s survival under such precarious conditions. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), a member of the ACT Alliance, is working to help protect the well-being of displaced Syrian mothers and infants by providing prenatal care for expectant mothers living in the harshest conditions, providing access to hospital deliveries in Bekaa, and following up with post-natal care. More than 150 expectant mothers have received healthcare support from IOCC, and 100 refugee women have delivered their babies with assistance from IOCC and local relief partners.

8 The focus on mothers and infants is aimed at decreasing the heightened risk of mortality among vulnerable women and infants. UNICEF reports that the stress of the conflict is having a damaging effect on expectant Syrian mothers; a rise in early deliveries, miscarriages and double the number of Caesarean sections compared with the same period last year. Working in partnership with University of Balamand in Lebanon, IOCC is also hosting support group sessions to educate mothers on emergency infant nutrition through breastfeeding. According to the World Health Organization, small children are the most vulnerable groups of refugees, as they face a triple risk of death from diarrhea, pneumonia and under-nutrition. While sickness and displacement are perhaps the most visible problems for refugee mothers and their children, says IOCC Lebanon Program Manager, Linda Shaker-Berbari, the lack of proper early nutrition in infants is costing precious lives. We need to arm refugee mothers with the knowledge that breastfeeding provides the most portable and most protective nourishment possible for their baby s survival. More than 30 Lebanese healthcare workers trained by IOCC on nutrition and proper infant and young child feeding practices in emergencies are passing that knowledge onto pregnant and lactating refugee women living in the Bekaa region, and helping mothers establish breastfeeding to help preserve the health of their babies. Samira received regular visits from IOCC healthcare workers throughout her pregnancy, and continues to receive assistance since the birth of her son. She is grateful for the lifesaving support she has received, but still fears for baby Ahmed and her other children. I don t think the situation in Syria will improve anytime soon, it will not be solved soon. I wish I could return, but I can t now. Since March 2012, IOCC has assisted more than 330,000 Syrian people displaced in their own country, or living as refugees and the neighboring countries of Jordan and Lebanon. Vulnerable children, women, families and elderly have been provided with emergency relief such as food parcels, winter clothing, cooking and heating stoves, rent assistance, trauma counseling and remedial education Food for Hungry needs your donation Look for the special collection boxes in the Church to donate to the annual Food for Hungry program during the Lenten season. Our Lord Jesus Christ instructs us to make the needs of others our own, especially the needy. They are all around us: men, women, children, the elderly, the sick, the suffering, families and individuals, next door neighbors and those in all corners of the world. During Great Lent, remember those who need us the most and proclaim that we are here to help. Almsgiving goes together with Prayer and Fasting and the Food for Hungry People program has become synonymous with Great Lent. Hear the cries of our neighbors who are hurting and hungry, be filled with compassion, that you may be the hands that bring some goodness into this world, and have courage to do great things in offering of yourself, so that others might share in our blessings. For almost four decades we have committed ourselves to helping the hungry, homeless, afflicted and oppressed. There is no better time than now to show our fellow man the depths of our kindness. We thank you for allowing us to care for the needs of those less fortunate. May God bless you and your family today and always. Please bring donation boxes to the Church during Holy Week. Robin Lynn Nicholas, Food for Hungry People Coordinator

9 Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers to be held All are invited to Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers to be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, March 23 at St. Mary s Orthodox Church, Allentown. Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. The theme of this Sunday since 843 has been the victory of the icons. In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday in Lent. Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, guest homilist Archpriest Chad Hatfield is the first Chancellor of St. Vladimir s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS). Fr. Chad came to SVOTS from St. Herman Seminary in Alaska.He presently serves as a member of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). His experience in various pastoral, teaching and administrative roles, spread over some 30 years of ordained ministry, are now blended into the Chancellor s ministry at SVOTS. Klaus Kenneth will be guest speaker on April 7 We are pleased to announce that Klaus Kenneth, author of a best-selling book, Born To Hate, Reborn To Love will speak during church services on Sunday, April 7. His book retells his spiritual odyssey through childhood abandonement, drugs, the occult, transcendental meditation, the religions tradition sof North and South America, Africa and the Middle East, Indian and the Orient. Having tried it all and reaching the brink of despair and desore for non-existence, Klaus encountered the One who he had never thought to look for Jesus Christ. Klaus is an Orthodox Christian and spiritual child of Elder Sophrony of Essex. Please join us on Sunday, April 7, as he tells his story contribution envelopes available in church hall Make sure to pick up your 2013 contribution envelopes in the church hall. Envelopes are organized by number. If you do not know your envelope number, there is an alphabetical listing of names with corresponding number provided by the contribution envelopes. To save on postage, envelopes will not be mailed. Within the Church We wish each parishioner and friend of St. George Church a Happy Birthday or Anniversary. May God s blessings shine down upon them throughout the coming year. Please keep the church office (610) informed of birthdays, anniversaries and special family events. Best wishes for a wonderful Birthday/Anniversary and a year filled with good health and happiness! May happiness be yours on this special day and in the year ahead! Happy Birthday 3/10 Wajih Khouly 3/15 David Joseph 3/11 Elias and Lamis Awad Jennie Hayel Salma Morro Emalene Hadeed 3/12 Hend Azar Samia Berro Samia Berro 3/16 Anthony Koury Sabah Makhoul Jody Davis 3/13 Steve Younes Jamil Saigh Dawn Moses Mona Marie Skaf Happy Anniversary Victor Christopher Koury 3/15/1976 Janet Nanoah Abed & Jaklin Makhoul Tony Hanna The Word available at The March 2013 issue includes the following articles: I Am an Antiochian Woman Enthronement Speech of H.B. Patriarch John X David DeJonge: Beyond the Image Works of the Order in Action: Theophany School The Funeral Service: Lecture 4 So What s the Big Deal with Great Lent?

10 Ninth Annual Danny E. Khalouf Scholarship Memorial Banquet April 7, pm Dinner Buffet served at 4 p.m. Sheraton Four Points Airport Rd., Allentown, PA Donation: $65 House speaker Pictures Tickets (610) Applications available for Danny Khalouf Scholarship The Danny Elias Khalouf Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Danny Khalouf, a 1994 Dieruff High School graduate. Scholarship applications are available at Dieruff, deadline is March 20, For more information, call Renee Saleh, Selection Committee, (610) We re looking for St. George Church photos In preparation for our 100th Anniversary in 2016, we d like to create a pictorial history of St. George Church and need your help. If you have a photo, either old and/or recent of the church, special events and groups, please consider submitting it to our office for consideration. WINDOWS TO HEAVEN Icons & The Ancient Church Saturday March 16, p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Registration 11:45 a.m. $10 donation appreciated St. Matthew s Greek Orthodox Church 8477 Allentown Pike Blandon, PA To register or information (484) History How the beautiful tradition of Iconography began in the ancient church. Tradition Why holy Icons are rich with purpose and significance. Meaning Know the sacred mysteries handed down by the founding Masters. The Sacred Task The iconographer s laborious work; how they are done. A Sacred Tool for Prayer Know why they are seen as windows to Heaven. Come to an in-depth discussion on the history, significance, and spiritual meaning of icons. Fr. Demetrius Nicoloudakis (who has also worked on icons) will share a substantial overview on the topic, based and framed in the Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, through the Ancient Church, with its implications and practice in the worship and prayer life of the faithful into the present. Schedule 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Session #1 Icons Their history, purpose, significance and placement in the Orthodox Church. 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Short Break (with coffee and light refreshments) 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Session #2 (a) Icon interpretations; (b) The creative proces (c) Miracle working icons; (d) Praying with icons 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Short Prayer Service

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