POSTFEAST OF & SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY OF CHRIST

Transcription

1 10748 E. 116 th Street Fishers, Indiana (317) V. Rev. Father Nabil L. Hanna, Pastor (317) V. Rev. Father Radoslav Filipovich, Attached (317) Rev. James A. Childs, Deacon (317) Rev. Joseph Hazar, Deacon, Pastoral Assistant (607) A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest TONE 7 JANUARY 10, 2016 EOTHINON 10 POSTFEAST OF & SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY OF CHRIST GREGORY, BISHOP OF NYSSA MARCIAN THE PRIEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE DOMETIAN, BISHOP OF MELITENE BISHOP THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE VENERABLE PAUL OF OBNORA AND MAKARIOS OF PISMA Called the Yardenit Baptismal Site, this is where most visitors today go to visit the Jordan River and where many get baptized (though Jesus Himself was likely baptized further south and on the east bank). Fr. Nabil took this photo last January. Notice the white dove that remained, hovering during our visit!

2 PA RT I : L I T U RGY VA R I AT I O N S FIRST ANTIPHON (PSALM 113.1, 2, 3, 5 LXX) When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us. Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. Refrain The sea saw it and fled: Jordan was driven back. Refrain What aileth thee, O Sea, that thou fleest? O Jordan, that thou turnest back? Refrain Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Refrain Schedule of Regular Weekly Services Sundays: Matins, 8:50 AM Divine Liturgy, 10 AM Wednesdays: Vespers, 6:30 PM Saturdays: Great Vespers, 5 PM Confession: After Saturday Vespers See Calendar for Feast Days and Other Weekday Services Scheduled Order for Holy Communion Members of the Orthodox Church age seven and above must prepare for Holy Communion with a recent confession, prayer, fasting from all food and drink from midnight (unless medical condition preclude it), being in church before the Epistle and Gospel readings, and being at peace with everyone. CHILDREN going to church school and their teachers should come down the center aisle first. (Small children may need to be assisted by their parents.) ALL OTHERS should wait until an usher dismisses your row from the center aisle. Then return to your place by a side aisle for the prayers of thanksgiving and the final blessing and dismissal. Please let choir members pass when they come down for Communion. During Sunday Matins Or by Appointment A Warm Welcome to Our Guests We are glad you are worshipping with us. Please note that Holy Communion is limited to members of the Orthodox Church in good standing, who have prepared with prayer, fasting and confession. For all others though we cannot share Communion with you, since it is an expression of membership and full unity in faith you are welcome to come forward after the dismissal, receive a blessing and partake of the blessed bread (in the large bowls). Please also sign our guest book, and introduce yourself to Fr. Nabil during the coffee hour. You may inquire with him how you can become a member.

3 SECOND ANTIPHON (PSALM 114.1, 2, 3, 5 LXX) I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Refrain: O Son of God, Who wast baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia. He has inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. Refrain The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hades took hold of me: I found trouble and sorrow, and I called upon the Name of the Lord. Refrain Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, and our God is Merciful. Refrain Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O only-begotten Son. THIRD ANTIPHON (PSALM 117.1, 2, 3, 4 LXX): TROPARION OF THEOPHANY AS REFRAIN (TONE 1) O give thanks to the Lord for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Refrain: When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity was made manifest, for the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ, our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee. Let the house of Israel now confess that He is Good: for His mercy endureth forever. Refrain Let the house of Aaron now confess that He is Good: for His mercy endureth forever. Refrain Let them that fear the Lord now confess that He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Refrain ENTRANCE HYMN Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia. Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy and didst bid Thine Apostles APOLYTIKIA AFTER THE ENTRANCE Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 7) proclaim a warning that Thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.

4 When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized. Troparion of Theophany (Tone 1) Troparion for St. George (Tone 4, Russian) As Deliverer of captives and Defender of the poor, Healer of the infirm, Champion of kings, victorious Great-Martyr George, intercede with Christ, our God, for our souls salvation. Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and Thy light hath been shed upon us, who praise Thee with knowledge, saying, Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. Kontakion of Theophany (Tone 4) THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light. Prokeimenon (Psalm 32.22, 1 LXX; Tone 1) Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians (4.7-13; Sunday after Theophany) BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ s gift. Therefore, it is said, When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men. (In saying, He ascended, what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He Who descended is He Who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew ( ; Sunday after Theophany) AT THAT TIME, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

5 HOLY OBLATIONS AND PRAYER REQUESTS By the children and grandchildren of Fred and Ann Freije, for the health of niece Karla Fitzsimons and cousin Albert Freije Jr., and in memory of mother Ann Freije (1 year departed), father Fred Freije (28 years), great niece Georgia Fitzsimons (1 year), uncle John Kafoure (4 years) and of grandparents Frank (30 years) and Julia (27 years) Kafoure and George (65 years) and Agia (46 years) Freije. By Sophia Koroneos, for the health of Jiddo Najjar on the occasion of his 75th birthday. By Roma Koroneos, for the health of Sophia Koroneos and Jiddo Najjar on the occasion of his 75th birthday. By Anastasia Koroneos, for the health of Sophia Koroneos and Jiddo Najjar on the occasion of his 75th birthday. By Paula Najjar, for the health of Salim Najjar on the occasion of his 75th birthday. A sign-up sheet for baking and offering the prosphora (altar bread) is posted on the bulletin board, next to the elevator. You can also contact Thelma Hoover at (317) CHRISTMAS OBLATIONS ADDITIONS By Anees and Nadia Kassis, for the health of Nadia, Seham, Fahemeh and Nora, and in memory of Hanna, Niemeh, Andreia, Melvena, Bandaly, Shafic, Shaeka, Fahmey and Alice Mahfouz. By Shadi Khoury. By Leila Khoury, for the health of Ibtisam and family, Alex and family, and Mina and family, and in memory of Elyas, Lweza, Mina, Jeryes, Yosef and Helwa. By Charles Thomas, for the health of Melissa Thomas and Jean Settle, and in memory of Janet Thomas. By Vahik S. Sahakian. TODAY S STUDY TOPIC: EXODUS 1-2 All church school classes from first grade on up today will study this text. Adults will study the same text simultaneously with our children. Every week, you can see what your children are doing and find additional resources at a special website set up and maintained by our dedicated church school staff at

6 PA RT I I : A N N O U N C EMEN TS JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP FOLLOWING THE LITURGY Coffee hour is hosted today by Paula Najjar, on the occasion of Salim s 75 th birthday. The Church School snack is hosted today by the Roberts family. The sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour is posted on the bulletin board next to the elevator. We need people to sign up for the regular coffee hour as well as for the Church School snack. (Something simple is all that s expected, though you re welcome to do more for a special occasion.) ADDITIONS TO THE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD We regret that the following names were inadvertently omitted: Brent and Elaine Eckhart Honey Leas We also regret that George F. Freije s name was misspelled. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR HOME AND ALL WHO DWELL IN IT After the Twelve Days of Christmas we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, whose celebration includes taking the water blessed at Epiphany to the homes of all our parishioners. Thus Fr. Nabil would like to come and visit with you, pray with you and ask God to bless your home. It would help in setting up his schedule if you would kindly return the coupon below. Father would like to do his best to see as many as possible before Lent, which will start March 14, Also note that Pascha will be May 1. House Blessing Scheduling Form Name Telephone Address Check ALL Possible Days: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Check ALL Possible Times: Mornings Afternoons Evenings Please place in tray in church, or mail back as soon as possible.

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8 OUR PARISH CALENDARS AND DIRECTORIES ARE HERE! Please help yourself to a 2016 church calendar in the narthex. If you had your photo taken or if you submitted one, please see one of our ushers after Liturgy to receive a free directory copy for your family. In response to your requests, we are buying extra copies. If you do not have a photo in the directory, you will be able to buy one for $10. Please sign up to let us know to order one for you. PLEDGING TO BE PART OF GOD S WORK What shall I render to the Lord, for All His Bounty to Me? I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. (Psalm 116.2, 17 Heb.) Thanks and blessings on all who stepped up and already made their stewardship commitments for This is the pledge we make to continue the operational support of our new church for the coming year and is separate from the building fund or mortgage pledge. If you haven t done so yet, please place your pledge card in the offering box at the candle stand, or return it by mail. You will find extra pledge cards in the narthex, or you can enter your pledge as a recurring donation online yourself at POD ( PORTABLE OFFERING DEVICES ) We are trying two of these devices in the narthex as a convenience to our parishioners who prefer to Swipe rather than use cash or checks. 1. Select the device labeled Regular Pledge or Mortgage, according to the intent of your donation. 2. Swipe your card on the side labeled $10, $25, $50 or $100 as many times as necessary to come up to the total you want to give. 3. A blue light will flash to indicate success. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES BIBLE STUDY Deacon James class on the Book of Acts class will continue on Wednesday, January 13, picking up with Chapter 22. We will meet again on January 20, and conclude on January 27. Class will meet after Wednesday Vespers from 7 pm - 8:30 pm in the north classrooms of the fellowship hall.

9 PARISH FAMILY NIGHT: DINNER & MOVIE Lasagna, salad, garlic bread and dessert - All you can eat! $10 adults $7 kids 7 to 12 6 and under free See Vicki Mesalam for Tickets Saturday, January 23, following 5 pm Vespers Sponsored by the Ladies of St. George We will see War Room, released in 2015, this is a compelling drama with humor and heart. It explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships and every other area of our lives. We will also have children s movies simultaneously. INVITING ALL LADIES It s a girl! Let s shower Jennifer Hazar with our love and baby gifts. WHEN: Saturday, January 30, noon 2 pm WHERE: St. George Hall HOSTED BY: the clergy wives of our parish Jennifer is registered at Target and Buy Buy Baby. RSVP to Kh. Elaine Hanna ( , eaghanna@live.com), Kh. Barbara Filipovich, Kh. Patty Beauchamp or Sarah Childs. Registration is open now! Register at for summer camp next year or for the upcoming winter camp (February 12-15, 2016). Bishop Anthony has instructed us not to send our youth to first session, as it runs the same time as the Midwest Parish Life Conference. Given the feedback we have received from our families, we will send our kids and provide transportation to Session 2: July 3 July 15. Because we believe strongly in the benefits of this program our parish will pay half of your children s tuition as well. Anyone who has further need of assistance should speak to Fr. Nabil privately, as we don t want any child left out. ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Check out to see if the colleges you re considering have OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship) chapters. OCF chapters provide an opportunity for fellowship among Orthodox Christian college students.

10 FOR A HEALTHY SOUL AND BODY: FORMING A MUTUAL SUPPORT GROUP Are you tired of dieting and following every new program that promises you will lose weight? Are you obsessed with healthy eating and strict dieting rules? Has food become an idol in your life? Would you like to learn and discover together what our Ancient Faith of Orthodoxy and Holy Tradition teaches us about our health and proper relationship with food? The book, Food, Faith and Fasting, by Rita Madden answers those questions and many more! Some of you may know Rita from her podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Rita is passionate about this subject and is devoted to helping people form a healthy relationship with food. She encourages those who read her book to do so with others and to form a group for support and encouragement. Well we are going to do just that! Our first meeting for our Food Faith and Fasting group will be on Sunday January 17 following Divine Liturgy at noon. This will be an informational/organizational meeting. It will also be a time to come and ask some questions if you are curious but not really sure if you want to be part of the group. You can also contact me at yanadumbaul@comcast.net and I will do my best to answer any questions you might have. Here is an excerpt from the book to give you an idea of what this all about: Throughout this book, we will use the grace and wisdom of the Ancient Eastern Orthodox Christian Tradition to take us back to the basics, encouraging us to adopt a rhythm of eating and living that allows us to enjoy food and exercise. Moreover, the rhythm plays a tune for us, guiding us to fast and feast, connecting our care for health to something greater. We will learn what and how to eat in order to nurture our health and facilitate sensible weight loss. We will work toward forming a healthy relationship with food, approaching eating and health in a way that glorifies our Creator. This book is for the parents who are trying to feed their families right. It is for the college students who are learning to eat on their own. It is for the single person living alone or with roommates. It is for those who live in monasteries, eating in community and providing hospitality to visitors. Moreover, the book is written for those who are struggling with the concept of caring for their health in a balanced way. These include (but are not necessarily limited to) the person who tries every new dietary recommendation; the one who is obsessed with, or tyrannized by, rigid eating rules; and the person who has a preoccupation with healthy eating that unwittingly ends up inducing stress in everyday life. Food (and health for that matter) may take such a hold in a person s life that it becomes an idol. The book will address ways of dealing with that idol.

11 In our culture, the notion of eating for the right reason- that reason being to commune with God- has been lost. Caring for body and soul has become out of balance. The hope is that this book will aid in restoring that balance. This book is a nutrition-based approach for all ages, ethnicities, genders, and professions. It is for people who wish to care for their health by eating in ways that will deepen their communion with God. Both those who are new to the Orthodox Tradition and those familiar with the faith will encounter more teachings and practices of the tradition. And those who are immersed in the Orthodox Tradition might find in the book helpful reminders that will reinforce the notion that caring for our health can be an avenue through which we can nurture and deepen our practice in the faith. We have ordered and will soon have copies of this book in our bookstore. If you prefer, you can also get it on your Kindle. Just search for Rita Madden in the Amazon Kindle store. Please contact Yana Dumbauld if you have any questions about the group: or yanadumbaul@comcast.net MISSION WORK OPPORTUNITIES The Lord commanded his Disciples to go into all the world and to baptize, teach and make new disciples. This work falls to us, as His disciples in this generation, so everybody needs either to Be a missionary, or support a missionary! This summer, our Central Indiana Orthodox Mission Council is organizing a number of opportunities. 1. Kodiak, Alaska, June 14-26: working at St. Herman Seminary and in villages in the surrounding area. 2. Project Mexico, July 14-20: working on building for the homeless and with the boys at the St. Innocent Orphanage. 3. Guatemala, approx. Aug. 2-10: working with and for the children at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage and the Orthodox Monastery Lavra Mambre. 4. Evansville, Indiana: dates are to be determined for weekend trips to help our St. Ananias mission church repair and prepare for Orthodox worship a building that is in the process of being purchased. See Brad Tingwald or Eddy Srour during coffee hour for more information and for application forms. You can also them at dbtingwald@sbcglobal.net or esrour@iu.edu

12 BIBLE BOWL AND ORATORICAL FESTIVAL Our church is looking for our 2016 representatives to go to the Parish Life Conference in Detroit to compete in the Bible Bowl (Thursday, June 23) and Oratorical (Friday, June 24) festivals. We need teens to participate in the Oratorical Festival, and teens and adults to participate in the Bible Bowl. Contact Dn. Joseph if you are interested in participating.

13 Orthodox Christians for Life Sanctity of Life Sunday Observance As we celebrate these most precious and holy events of our Lord's birth and baptism, let us pause to reflect on the tragedy of the death of the Holy Innocents at the time of our Lord's nativity due to human ambition and insensitivity. OC Life of Indianapolis, as a mission of the Presbyters Council of Central Indiana, extends an invitation for you to join them and the larger community for a Memorial Service sponsored by Right to Life of Indianapolis for all of our children who have lost their lives through infanticide. Memorial Service For the Unborn Sunday, January 17 2:30 to 3:30 pm Indiana War Memorial 431 N. Meridian Street (enter from Michigan Street) Keynote speaker: Jennifer Trapuzzano MLK OBSERVANCE The Fishers Ministerial Association of which Fr. Nabil and St. George Church are members seeks your participation and commitment for us to promote listening, openness and mutual respect in our City. This year s observance will take place at 7:30 pm on Monday, Jan. 18, at E. 126 th St.

14 LECTURE/SPRITUALITY/PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT SYRIAN REFUGEES St. George is hosting an event on behalf of the Multi- Faith Alliance for Syrian Refugees on Feb. 4. They are bringing in Professor Peter Bouteneff from St. Vladimir s Seminary, to speak on Arvo Pa rt: The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt has, for the past five years, been the most-performed living composer in the United States. Even those who don t normally listen to contemporary classical music have experienced the beauty of compositions such as Fur Alina, Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, the Magnificat, etc. But what many may not know is that Pärt is also a devout Eastern Orthodox Christian whose composition is deeply influenced by his engagement with the Church Fathers, contemporary saints such as Silouan the Athonite, and the liturgical life of the church. In this lecture, Orthodox theologian and Pärt scholar Peter Bouteneff (author of Arvo Pärt: Out of Silence, published last year by St. Vladimir Seminary Press) will give a lecture on Pärt and spirituality. We will also be blessed by a performance of Pärt s Magnificat by an ensemble from Butler University. The event is free of charge, though a free-will offering will be taken to benefit Syrian refugees. 100% of that money will go to refugees both abroad (via International Orthodox Christian Charities) and here in Indianapolis. Mark your calendars for 7 pm, Thursday, February 4 HERE ARE JUST A FEW WAYS THAT YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN 2015: 2,700 sleeping bags, 2,000 baby kits, 11,000 hygiene kits and 7,000 food kits were distributed to refugees/migrants on the Greek islands of Chios, Samos and Kos this winter. More than 200 vulnerable women-headed households in the West Bank received agricultural and animal husbandry training to develop sustainable high-yield home gardens that produce enough food for their families and to sell at market for vital income. Nine wells were built in Syria, providing critically-needed clean water to 127,000 people. Emergency assistance was provided to earthquake survivors in Nepal, including ready to eat food, blankets, and tarpaulins to serve as emergency shelters On behalf of all the families your support has reached, THANK YOU. We appreciate your prayers, compassion and ongoing commitment to helping those in need.

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16 PARISH PRAYER LIST Please include in your daily prayers the following those struggling with acute illness and those newly departed this life from our parishioners and those for whom they have requested our prayers. (Names are kept for 40 days, the date indicated after the name, and may be renewed upon request of the patient/family.) LIVING Metropolitan Paul and Archbishop John Persecuted Christians and All people suffering violence, captivity or homelessness throughout the world Messai Belayneh, on mission in Ethiopia Kenneth Hanna, Clearvista Lake Rehab., 1/26 Fouad Musleh, 1/20 Amal Khazal, 1/13 Lilija Filipovich, Fr. Radoslav s sister, 2/18 Donna Beyer, friend of Kathleen Everhart, 2/18 Kristin Smith, friend of Al and Martha Sleder, 2/17 Hayfa Assalley, Tom s mother, 2/10 Thomas Tanoos, from Terre Haute, 1/21 Karla Fitzsimons, niece of George Freije and Elaine Eckhart, 1/21 Ibrahim and Khader Shaheen, brother and nephew of Hana Musleh, 1/20 Infant Alma, Greg and Barbara Mitchell s granddaughter, 1/18 Roger Dickinson, Brian s father, 1/12 DEPARTED Fr. Christodoulos Hadgigeorge, former pastor Tue. 19 at Holy Trinity, 2/10 Fr. Richard Peters, Williamston, MI, 2/1 Wed. 20 Archdeacon Russell Hodge, Minneapolis, 1/19 Charles Fender, Ana Nebesny s husband, 1/24 John Corey, cousin of Norma Johns, 1/20 Mary Jane Arbuckle, Kathleen Albert s mother, 1/16 The victims of violence everywhere ST. GEORGE PARISH CALENDAR Sun. 10 Mon. 11 Wed. 13 Sat. 16 Sun. 17 Mon. 18 January 2016 Matins, 8:50 am Choir practice, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am Church School Church School staff meeting, 7 pm Vespers, 6:30 pm Bible Study on Acts, 7 pm FOCUS Breakfast, 9:30 am at St. John Church Great Vespers and Confession, 5 pm Matins, 8:50 am Choir practice, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am Church School Food, Faith and Fasting group first meeting, noon Memorial for the Unborn, 2:30 pm at the Indiana World War Memorial Church School staff meeting, 7 pm Fishers MLK Memorial, 7:30 pm at AME Church, E. 126 th St. Parish Council meeting, 7 pm Vespers, 6:30 pm Bible Study on Acts, 7 pm When it s cold or wet/snowy, kindly enter via the glass lobby doors instead of the big church doors (so we don t let in a big blast of cold air or track in water). See the full calendar and the latest additions and updates at