St. George. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Transcription

1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 2587 W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland

2 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, Pastor Office: (216) Fax: (216) Cellular: (440) Archdeacon Yarid Sahley Subdeacon Sam Elias Pastor s frjojaimi@msn.com Parish office@stgeorgecleveland.com Sunday May 14, 2017 Tone 4/ Eothinon 7; Fifth Sunday of Pascha Sunday of the Samaritan Woman & After-feast of Mid-Pentecost Martyr Isidore of Chios; Hieromartyr Therapont, bishop of Cyprus; New-martyrs John of Bulgaria and Mark of Crete; Venerable Isidore of Rostov, fool-for-christ WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS We are glad you are worshiping with us today. There are Service Books in the pews. Orthodox Christians must be prepared for Holy Communion through Confession, Fasting, Prayer and by being at peace with others. Please seek and give forgiveness before receiving Holy Communion. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, please join us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall. t ½Êà The mission of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Is to serve God and the community by commitment to the Gospel s command to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is a parish of the Self Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Orthodox Church follows the faith and practice of the apostles and disciples of Christ handed down by the ancient Christian fathers and twenty centuries of Church tradition. Genuine Christian life nurtures and stimulates our spiritual and moral development. The liturgical life of the Orthodox Church has been developing over the last 2000 years. By taking part in the mysteries of Christ s life, death and resurrection at the liturgical services, the community members are drawn to repentance and the gradual change of their inner selves. To join the community of St. George or to find out more information, please fill out the Guest Book in the Narthex. We hope this day will be spiritually rewarding for you. Fr John will be happy to answer any questions. Join us in the hall after Liturgy for our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

3 Bread of Oblation & Coffee Hour are offered in memory of Marie, Elias, Adma and Maggie Aboumrad by George and Nayla Aboumrad Bread of Oblation is offered for the health & Safety of Nelly, Jean, Chris, Sandra & my great-grandson Isaac by Nijmeh Rafeedie Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: George, Nayla, Wadih and Amanda Aboumrad. Lucy Aboid & Godmother Laverne Ameen by Barbara Aboid Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of: Marvin Harb by the Harb Family Michel Hayek by the Hayek Family My Beloved, Mother Mary, Father Abraham, Brothers Emile and James, Sitteh Zaineh & Uncle Kaiser by Emilie L. Easa Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family Edward Haddad by his wife Edward Fadel by his wife & family Prayers are requested for the sick, sufferings, shut-ins, needy, homeless, victims of disasters, war and violence in the whole universe. Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:52-54 With fear of God, faith And love draw near. Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you we are waiting for you. UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES Sunday May 21, 2017 Matins 9:30 am, Divine am Confessions will be heard on Sundays Morning before Liturgy starts or by appointment. Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary etc.. or just a day that no one has sponsored.

4 Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday May 14, 2017 Tone 4/ Eothinon 7; Fifth Sunday of Pascha Sunday of the Samaritan Woman & After-feast of Mid-Pentecost Martyr Isidore of Chios; Hieromartyr Therapont, bishop of Cyprus; New-martyrs John of Bulgaria and Mark of Crete; Venerable Isidore of Rostov, fool-for-christ The Priest begins Divine Liturgy with Blessed is the Kingdom and the choir responds Amen. Bearing the Paschal Candle, the Priest then leads the singing of the Paschal Apolytikion and censes the west side of the Altar Table. The Choir then sings this twice, and the Liturgy continues with the Great Litany.

5

6

7

8

9

10

11 St. Photini, the Samaritan Woman St. Photini lived in first century Palestine. She was the Samaritan woman who Christ visited at the well asking her for water. It was she who accepted the living water offered her by Christ Himself after repenting from her many sins (John. 4:5-42). She went and told her townspeople that she had met the Christ. For this, she is sometimes recognized as the first to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. She converted her five sisters (Sts. Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve, and Kyriake) and her two sons (Victor and Joses). They all became tireless evangelists for Christ. The apostles of Christ baptized her and gave her the name of Photini which means the enlightened one. She is remembered by the Church as a Holy Martyr and Equal to the Apostles. After Sts. Peter and Paul were martyred, St. Photini and her family left their homeland of Sychar, in Samaria, to travel to Carthage to proclaim the Gospel of Christ there. During the reign of Emperor Nero in the first century, excessive cruelty was displayed against the Christians, St. Photini lived in Carthage with her younger son, Joses. Her eldest son, Victor, fought bravely in the Roman army against the barbarians, and was appointed military commander in the city of Attalia (Asia Minor). Later, Nero called him to Italy to arrest and punish Christians. Sebastian, an official in Italy, said to Victor, I know that you, your mother and your brother, are followers of Christ. As a friend I advise you to submit to the will of the emperor. If you inform on any Christians, you will receive their wealth. I shall write to your mother and brother, asking them not to preach Christ in public. Let them practice their faith in secret. Victor replied, I want to be a preacher of Christianity like my mother and brother. Sebastian said, O Victor, we all know what woes await you, your mother and brother. Then Sebastian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes. He was dumbfounded, and his face was somber. For three days Sebastian lay there blind, without uttering a word. On the fourth day he declared, The God of the Christians is the only true God. St. Victor asked why Sebastian had suddenly changed his mind. Sebastian replied, Because Christ is calling me. Soon he was baptized, and immediately regained his sight. St. Sebastian s servants, after witnessing the miracle, were also baptized. Reports of this reached Nero, and he commanded that the Christians be brought to him at Rome. The Lord Himself appeared to the confessors and said, Fear not, for I am with you. Nero, and all who serve him, will be vanquished. The Lord said to Victor, From this day forward, your name will be Photinus, because through you, many will be enlightened and will believe in Me. The Lord then told the Christians to strengthen and encourage Sebastian to persevere until the end. All these things, and even future events, were revealed to St. Photini. She left Carthage in the company of several Christians and joined the confessors in Rome. At Rome, Emperor Nero ordered the saints to be brought before him, and he asked them whether they truly believed in Christ. All the confessors refused to renounce the Savior. The emperor then gave orders

12 to smash the martyrs finger joints. During the torture, the confessors felt no pain, and their hands remained unharmed. Nero ordered that Sts. Sebastian, Photinus and Joses be blinded and locked up in prison, and St. Photini and her five sisters, Anatola, Phota, Photis, Paraskeva and Kyriake, were sent to the imperial court under the supervision of Nero s daughter, Domnina. St. Photini converted both Domnina and her servants to Christ. She also converted a sorcerer, who had brought her poisoned food that was meant to kill her. Three years passed, and Nero sent to the prison for one of his servants, who had been locked up. The messengers reported to him that Sts. Sebastian, Photinus and Joses, who had been blinded, had completely recovered, and that people were visiting them to hear their preaching. Indeed, the whole prison had been transformed into a bright and fragrant place where God was glorified. Nero then gave orders to crucify the saints, and to beat their naked bodies with straps. On the fourth day, the emperor sent servants to see whether the martyrs were still alive. Approaching the place of the tortures, the servants fell blind. An angel of the Lord freed the martyrs from their crosses and healed them. The saints took pity on the blinded servants, and restored their sight by their prayers to the Lord. Those who were healed came to believe in Christ and were soon baptized. In a rage, Nero gave orders to flay the skin from St. Photini and to throw her down a well. Sebastian, Photinus and Joses had their legs cut off, and they were thrown to dogs, and then had their skin flayed off. The sisters of St. Photini also suffered terrible torments. Nero gave orders to cut off their breasts and to flay their skin. An expert in cruelty, the emperor readied the fiercest execution for St. Photis: they tied her by the feet to the tops of two bent-over trees. When the ropes were cut, the trees sprang upright and tore the martyr apart. The emperor ordered the others beheaded. St. Photini was removed from the well and locked up in prison for twenty days. After this, Nero had St. Photini brought to him and asked if she would now relent and offer sacrifice to the idols. St. Photini spat in his face, and laughing at him, said, O most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you? Hearing such words, Nero gave orders to throw St. Photini down a well, where she surrendered her soul to God in the year 66. ZOE Women s Center Needs You! We have created ZOE Women s Center Medical Committee to help us move forward with our plans to expand the services we offer women in distress due to unplanned pregnancies. Some of these services are parenting classes, abortion healing classes, child raising classes, as well as offering some abortion vulnerable women limited obstetrical ultrasounds, pre-natal vitamins and referrals to doctors for obstetrical care. If you have a few hours a week, and can volunteer to be a: Client Advocate, Receptionist, Community Coordinator, Nurse, Sonographer, Fund Raiser, Medical Assistant, Physicians Assistant or Administrative Assistant. WE NEED YOU! Please contact Despina at: despina@mavrakisfamily.com. THANK YOU!

13 The Teens Group Meets every Sunday after Church In The Teens Room If you re a Teen Join us For fun and Education ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN OF ST. GEORGE We will be having our next Meeting on Monday, June 05, :00 p.m. St. George s Men s Club Meets every First Sunday of the Month In The Yarid 7:30 pm Join us for Fellowship & Fun In Yarid Hall at the Church. God willing, see you there! St. George Orthodox Young Adult Ministy Thursday June 08, :30 pm St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church 2587 W.14th St. Cleveland.

14 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48) Thank you to previous years wish list contributors List The Elevator and The Outside Ramp Project started 01, 02, The cost is $ We already received $179 Anonymous 20 In memory of Edward Khouri by Son Clifford Imad Nader 1200 Pierre Aboukaled Dr. Salim Hayek 1200 Archdeacon Yarid Dr. Adib Al Souss Dr. Marwan Hilal Ted Ziton Dr. Amir Alamir 2000 James Hussney George Dawed 200 Greg Caraboolad 150 Elias Karsheh 3000 Dr. George Hawwa Fadi Chaccour 250 Rami Karsheh Edward Caroll 30 Dr. Bachar Dergham 1 Dr. Wael Khoury 3000 St. George Fundraiser 9104 Sub. Sam Elias 200 Hani Nader 3 Jerry Koncz George Sarkes 5 LSAJL of Cleveland 125 Dr. Fadi Bashour 4000 Anonymous 2000 Dr. Afaf Zayat Tony Abdulkarim Leo Koury Dr. Bassem Zraik Archdn. Yarid Sahley Anonymous Dr. Emile Sabbagh 1 Fred Koury 2 Nagi Abdulkarim Anna Deeb Dr Ghassan Ashkar Dr. Lutfi Nassar Dr. Basem Haddad Awwad Khourieh Barbara Sevchek Joyce Nader 200 Joseph & Audrey Bendetto 25 Fr. John Ojaimi Ronnie Harb Azar Khouri Ripepi Funeral Home Najdat Asad Dr. Khalil & Alma Korkor Daniel & Claudia Tanoos Irene Georgantas 150 Norma &Amelia Jacob Dr. Dergham Dergham George Bouchahine Dr. Ibrahim Bshara In memory of Samir Abdelkarim 250 Ronald Makhol American Lebanese Community Council 200 Elias Haddad Linda Ziton 20 Dr. George Jurjus Drs. Fadi & Samar Bashour 1 Dr. Gaby & Lea Khoury Eric & Georgina Barnett 150 Joseph Maalouf Nuha Karsheh 300 The Arthur Gallagher Found.

15 George & Joie Haddad 250 Beverly George 200 Jennie Sadallah William & Laverne Ameen 250 Mary Abdallah 25 Dr. Helen Hattab Mary Ameen in memory of Wadia Ameen 300 David & Kathy Jones 2000 Drs. Hassan & Julia Abbass in memory of Fr. Youssef Maalouly The Namy Family 3000 Please Help us to reach our Goal, we have to raise $53821 more. Also needed Two Cases of Orthodox Liturgical Wine for Communion $240 by William Tegreene 3 Communion Spoons and the Star for the Offering Tray $350 by Barbara Aboid Change the Yarid Light Hall Bulbs to LED $800 By Anonymous Remodeling the bathroom under the Church Labor are donated by Mazhar Kanneh $ needed for construction materials Fixing damaged walls and Painting the Yarid Hall $1340 Six cases of Taper Candles $89 each Forty Altar Pure Liquid Paraffin Quarts $8.50 each Change the carpet on the stairs and the entry to Church area along with the Yarid Hall Part Change the rear end carpet in Church and fix the middle Runner. Sell the rest of the memorial tiles at the entrance of the office area. $150 each Replace the Carpet at the Rectory ChangeThe Metropolitan Hall Light Bulbs to LED Replace the Aluminum Entry Door, back entrance to the Sunday school $4690 Thank you and may God bless you all. RESERVE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDER June 17, 2017 Our Spring Annual Parish Mill Stream Run ZĞƐĞƌǀ ĂƟŽŶ ^ƚƌžŷőɛǀ ŝůůğ K, June 21-Ϯϰ ϮϬϭϳ WĂƌŝƐŚ >ŝĩğ ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŚŝĐĂŐŽ D ĂƌƌŝŽƩ K ĂŬ Brook, 1401 W. 22nd St. Oak Brook, Illinois July 23-ϯ Ϭ ϮϬϭϳ ϱϯ ƌě ŝğŷŷŝăů ŶƟŽĐŚŝĂŶ ƌđśěŝžđğɛğ ŽŶǀ ĞŶƟŽŶ - The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, 3555 South Ocean Dr. Hollywood, FL ƵŐƵƐƚ ϭϰ ϮϬϭϳ ^ĂŝŶƚ D ĂƌLJ Ɛ ŝŷŷğƌ ĂŌĞƌ ƚśğ ǀ ĞŶŝŶŐ ŝǀ ŝŷğ >ŝƚƶƌőlj ŽĨ ƚśğ ŽƌŵŝƟŽŶ Feast August 27, 2017 Our Summer Annual Parish Redwing Picnic Area, West Drive Hinckley, OH (off Bellus Rd. - between Hinckley Hills Rd. & State Rd.) October 07, 2017 Our Annual Clam 6:00 pm November 19, 2017 Our Annual Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Thanksgiving Banquet

16 What is Orthodoxy? First of all, Orthodoxy is right faith in God; it is that mighty power which makes each truly believing Orthodox Christian unwavering on the righteous and pious path of his life. To be Orthodox means to know correctly with the mind, to believe correctly with the heart, and to confess correctly with the lips all that God Himself has revealed to us about Himself, about the world and man, and about the tasks and aims of our life in the teaching on the attaining of our spiritual union with Him and our eternal salvation. Without such right faith, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a right confession of the fundamental truths and dogmas of the Church of Christ, but also a right and virtuous life, founded on an unshakable law: the fulfilling of God s commandments, the permeating of the heart with humility, meekness and love for one s neighbor, the rendering of help to the needy and unfortunate, and the serving of one s church. The Apostle James teaches: Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the future Judge of the whole world, promises to reward every man according to his works (Matt. 16:27). The Apostle Paul testifies that every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor (1Cor. 3:8). Here is the Orthodox point of view. Right faith must be expressed in deeds, and deeds must serve as a manifestation of faith. One must be closely united with the other indissolubly, like soul and body. This only, then, is the Orthodox, the correct way leading us to God. Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a life according to faith, but also correct service to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the essence of the right worship of God in these brief but profound words: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Only the inspired divine service of the Holy Orthodox Church, which is permeated by prayer, has realized this sacred worship of God in truth. Moreover, Orthodoxy is strict proportionality and correctness in the manifestations of all the powers of soul and body. In Orthodoxy, a proper place is allotted to everything: to the intellect, to the wants and needs of the heart, to the manifestations of man s free will, to labor and prayer, to abstinence and watchfulness, in a word, to everything of which man s life consists.