Theophany of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

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1 2019 St. George Church Staff and Organizations January 6, 2019 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 Gina Mamari, President Wafat Makhoul, Vice President Hiyam Tabchi, Treasurer Souha Hadeed, 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 Theophany of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great THE FIRST ANTIPHON When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among a barbarous people; Judah became His sanctuary; Israel His dominion. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. The sea beheld and fled: Jordan turned back. What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou Jordan, that thou didst turn back? (Refrain) Glory Both now (Refrain) THE SECOND ANTIPHON I am filled with love, for the Lord will hear the voice of my supplication. For He hath inclined His ear unto me, and in my days will I call upon Him. Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who wast baptized by John in the Jordan; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. The pangs of death have encompassed me; the perils of hades have found me. Tribulation and sorrow have I found, and I called upon the name of the Lord. (Refrain) Merciful is the Lord, and righteous; and our God hath mercy. (Refrain) Glory Both now O, only begotten Son and Word of God

2 THE THIRD ANTIPHON O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Israel now confess that He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Aaron confess that He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Let them now who fear the Lord confess that He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. During the Little Entrance, after the verses of the Third Antiphon, chant the Apolytikion of Theophany. Then, the following: THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. The Lord is God and hath appeared unto us. Save us, O Son of God, Who wast baptized by John in the Jordan; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. After the Entrance, sing the hymns in the following order below. APOLYTIKION OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE ONE When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity wast made manifest; for the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the likeness of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee. Do NOT sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple. KONTAKION OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE FOUR (**The original melody**) On this day Thou hast appeared * unto the whole world, * and Thy light, O Sovereign Lord, * is signed on us who sing Thy praise * and chant with knowledge: Thou hast now come, * Thou hast appeared, O Thou Light unapproachable. THE ANTI-TRISAGION HYMN (Sung in place of Holy God ) As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. (THRICE) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Have put on Christ. Alleluia. Dynamis! As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. THE EPISTLE Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to Titus. (2:11-15; 3:4-7) My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world; awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. THE GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (3:13-17) At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be bap-

3 tized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, I need to be baptized by Thee, and Thou dost come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great continues with the following variables. ST. BASIL LITURGY MEGALYNARION In thee rejoiceth all creation, O thou who art full of grace: the hierarchy of the angels, and all mankind, O consecrated temple and paradise endowed with speech; glory of virginity, of whom God, Who is our God before the ages, was incarnate and became a little child. For He made thy womb a throne, and thy belly did He make more spacious than the heavens. In thee doth all creation rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, and it glorifieth thee. NOTE: Every Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great requires In thee rejoiceth all creation for the megalynarion. However, as the faithful depart the church, the choir can sing the megalynarion of the Theophany of Christ which is provided after the Dismissal. KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) OF THEOPHANY IN TONE EIGHT The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Alleluia. After Communion, instead of singing We have seen the true light, sing the Festal Apolytikion: When Thou, O Lord. THE DISMISSAL MEGALYNARION OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE TWO Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more exalted in glory than the heavenly hosts. Verily, all tongues are at a loss to praise thee properly; and every mind, even though transcending the world, is distracted in thy praise, O Theotokos. But because thou art good, accept our faith, having known our divine longing. Wherefore, since thou art the helper of Christians, we do magnify thee. Blessing of the Water held today after Divine Liturgy Since the Son of God has taken human flesh and has appeared in the world, manifesting Himself in His baptism in the Jordan, all flesh and all matter is sanctified. Everything is made pure and holy in Him. Everything which is corrupted and polluted by the sinful works of men is cleansed and purified by the gracious works of God. All death-dealing powers of the devil which poison the good world of God s creation are destroyed. All things are again made new. Through the prime element of water on the feast of the Epiphany the entire creation is shown to be sanctified by God s Word through the same Spirit of God who in the beginning... was moving over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2) Holy Bread The Holy Bread is sponsored by: Triz Aboud & Family in loving memory of Youssef Aboud (40-Day 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; Fr. Anthony, Kh. Minerva and Hope Sabbagh; Triz Aboud and Family; Malek, Norvin, Marcos, Maria, Gabriella, Georges, Haneah Numeir; Georgette, Jason and Kensey, Janice Awad; Joanne and Daymyen Layne; Halim and

4 Family; Georges Saba and Family; Silva, Issa, Reine Saba; Adele Alraei and Family; Eyad, Jennifer, Eyan and Zayn Alraei; Ziad Alraei; Rahmeh, Nedal Tabchi; George, Hiyam, Simon, Melissa, Yasmin Tabchi; Leo, Rehab, Naomi Martin; Neph, Resam and Nephtali Andujar; Asmat Hanna and Family; Zakieh Hanna; Abed and Jaklin Makhoul; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Bashar Hanna and 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; Andrew Numeir; Yousef Aboud; Elias Awad; Nakhle Awad; Issa, Bedra, Sameer Saba; Abraham, Adla and Mary Awad; Georges Daher; Elias Saba; Kamal, Najoum Hanna; Georges Salloum; Noh, Maryann Salloum; Thomas Makhoul; Michael Awad; Georges, Tony Hanna; Ateya Moussa; George Georges; Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Zahieh, Mtanios, Milia, Maria, George Hanna; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi; Rafaat Alraei; Rahmeh Hanna; Jamileh Abboud, Hanna, Georges and Samar Daher; Wajih 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: Youssef Aboud Charity Fundraiser today Please join us following Divine Liturgy for a Cheesesteak and Fries Fundraiser to benefit the St. George Charity Fund. Thank you to our sponsor: Abed & Jaklin Makhoul in loving memory of Thomas Makhoul Eternal Candle Sponsor Khouria Minerva and Hope Sabbagh for the good health of Father Anthony 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) 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 1/7 Jacqueline Morra 1/11 Nicole Moussa Intwanet Doumet 1/12 Ebtisam Moussa Emily Saliby 1/8 Karlen Takala Malek Numeir Happy Anniversary 1/9 Eliys Mrich 1/7/87 George & Samia Berro Mario Landino 1/7/74 Abdelnour & Hilaneh Khamiss 1/10 Abdelnour Khamiss 1/10/02 Joseph & Susan Kelly Radwan Razouk

5 Wishing all our faithful members and friends all of God s Blessings in the 2019 New Year! Father Anthony, Khouria Minerva and Hope Sabbagh Father Joseph, Khouria Mary Landino and Family Please join us Bible Study Fridays 6:30 pm Vesper Service Saturdays 5 pm 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. $ Fr. Anthony, Kh. Minerva and Hope Sabbagh to Charity and Candles in loving memory of Salim and Namnoume Haddad; Issa and Jamileh Sabbagh; Richard, Marge, Betty, Levinia, Sisters Nawal and Watfa, Aunt Manera, Jameel and Badih and all ancestors; for the good health of Fr. Anthony, Kh. Minerva and Hope; Kh. Tammy and Family; Kh. Mary and Family; Subdeacon Peter and Family; Hope; Haddad, Sabbagh, Yazigi, Zaghtiti Families; parishioners, godchildren, clergy, nuns, monks, all the faithful in the worl, all the people who come to know our Lord and God. $ Triz Aboud and Family to the Church in loving memory of Youssef Aboud. $ Malek and Norvin Numeir to Charity for the good health of Marcos, Maria, Gabriella, Georges, Haneah Numeir; in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli; Andrw Numeir. $ Georgette Awad to the Church for the good health of Georgette, Jason, Kensey, Janice Awad; Joanne and Daymyen Layne; Eyad, Jennifer, Eyan and Zayn Alraei; Halim and Family; Georges Saba and Family; Silva, Issa, Reine Saba; Adele Alraei and Family; in loving memory of Elias Awad; Nakhle Awad; Issa, Bedra and Sameer Saba; Abraham, Adla and Mary Awad; Georges Daher; Elias Saba. $ Rahmeh Tabchi to the Church for the good health of Rahmeh, Nedal Tabchi; in loving memory of George Salloum; Noh, Maryann Salloum; Sulieman, Hanna Tabchi. $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to the Church in loving memory of Fr. George; George Georges; Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Zahieh, Mtanios, Milia, Maria, George Hanna; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi; for the good health of Simon, Melissa, Yasmin Tabchi; Leo, Rehab, Naomi Martin; Neph, Resam and Nephtali Andujar; Jaklin Khouli. $ Asmat Hanna and Family to the Church in loving memory of Kamal, Najoum Hanna. $ Zakieh Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Georges, Tony Hanna; Ateya Moussa. $ Abed and Jaklin Makhoul to the Church in loving memory of Michael Awad; Thomas Makhoul. $ Eyad Alraei and Family to Sunday School for the good health of Ziad Alraei; in loving memory of Elias Awad; Rafaat Alraei. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher; Bashar Hanna and Family to the Church for the good health of Faisal and Nadia Daher; Bashar Hanna and Family; in loving memory of Jamileh Abboud; Hanna, George, Samar Daher; Rahmeh, Wajih Hanna. $ Georges Bitar and Family to the Church in loving memory of Bassam, Khalil, Nizha Bitar; Elias Saba. $ Afeef and Naify Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Alfred Hanna. $ Layal Hanna and Family to the Church in loving memory of 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; in loving memory of Michael and Badih Bitar.

6 Ladies Altar Society officers installed today We announce that a new slate of officers for the Ladies Altar Society were elected on December 11 and will be officially installed today. Welcome to Gina Mamari, president; Wafaa Makhoul, vice president; Hiyam Tabchi, treeasurer; and Souha Hadeed, corresponding secretary. You have been called by God and chosen by the people of God for leadership in our church. This special ministry is a blessing and a responsibility. It recognizes your special gifts and calls you to work among us. In love we thank you for accepting your obligation and challenge you to offer your best to the Lord, to this people, and to our ministry here in the community and in the world. Live a life in Christ and make him known in your witness youd work. We ask for God s blessings to grant grace to Gina, Wafaa, Hiyam and Souha to give themselves wholeheartedly in service to keep before them the example of our Lord, who did not think first of himself but gave himself for us all. Guide them in their work, reward their faithfulness with the knowledge that through them God s purposes are accomplished. We thank our past officers, Rosina Azar, Hind Azar, Hiyam Tabchi, Fay Moses and Mouna Safi for their dedication and acknowledge the support, encouragement and kindness of Fr. Anthony and Kh. Minerva, Fr. Joseph and Kh. Mary. We acknowledge with gratitude a $23,259 gift from the Ladies Altar Society to the Church. This gift represents their hard work and dedication that reflects their faith. The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America purpose is to develop a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness and commitment, to foster a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity, and to instill a sense of fellowship and deeper understanding of our holy Orthodox faith. We welcome women of all ages and urge you to join us in our ministry. Orthodox thought for the day St. Jerome clearly explains why Christ was baptized. (Commentary on Matthew , CCL 77:18-19) For three reasons the Savior accepted baptism from John. First, because he was born a man, that he might fulfill all righteousness and humility of the law. Second, that by his baptism he might confirm John s baptism. And third, that by sanctifiying the waters of the Jordan through the descent of the dove, he might show the Holy Spirit s advent in the baptism of believers. Annual pastoral visitation and blessing of homes now offered Father Joseph is available to visit with you and bless your home for the new year. Please call the Church office weekdays to arrange a convenient time (610) Year-end statements to be mailed in January The 2018 contribution statements will be mailed in fourth week of January. This is your statement of charitable giving to St. George Church for filing with your tax return to the Internal Revenue Service. 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.

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