Divine Liturgy. Fourth Sunday of Great Lent

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1 2015 St. George Church Staff and Organizations March 22, 2015 Tone 8, Eothinon 8 Pastor The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Assistant Pastor Rev. Joseph Landino Administrative Committee Elias Gharzouzi, Chairman Albert Bitar, Treasurer Rehab Tabchi Robert Mimari Nasser Sabbagh George Nassoor Office Administrator Donna Becker Custodian Adnan Sabbagh Building/Planning Dr. George Nassoor Dave Davis Altar Servers Peter Attar, Subdeacon Anthony Youwakim, Altar Boy Captain Choir Gail Ortner, 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 Khouria Mary Landino, Chair Sawsan Khalouf Amjad Khalil Ghazal Stity, Treasurer Ladies Altar Society Diane Gharzouzi, President Suzanna Zoudeh, Vice President Ebtisam Richie, Treasurer Fay Moses, Secretary Children s Relief Fund Kh. Minerva Sabbagh Sunday School Ebtisam Moussa, Director Teachers: Khouria Mary Landino Abe Assad Dr. Rehab Tabchi Christina Attar Assistants Mark Zaiter Rita Mamari Teen SOYO The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Spiritual Advisor Kh. Minerva Sabbagh, Advisor Khalil Yacoub, Advisor Hope Sabbagh, Ass t. Advisor Joe Nehme, Ass t. Advisor Hilda Souid, President Jack Barakat, Vice President Jayson Saleet, Treasurer Clara Yazji, Recording Secretary Jack Yacoub, Corresponding Secretary St. George Bookstore Mary Landino, Chair Kh. Minerva Sabbagh, Treasurer Rehab Tabchi Website Elie Jabbour George Issa Charitable Ministries Annual Appeal for Syrian Orphanages Kamal Abboud, Chair Pastoral Discretionary Fund The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Albert Bitar Newcomer Committee Fourth Sunday of Great Lent On this day we commemorate: John Climacus, Author of The Ladder Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra; Martyr Kallinika of Rome; Venerable-martyr Euthymios of Prodromou Skete on Athos Divine Liturgy THE EPISTLE The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (6:13-20) Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, He swore by Himself, saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you. And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by one greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He interposed with an oath. So that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. THE GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (9:16-30) At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherev-

2 er it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able. And Jesus answered them, O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me. And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, How long has he had this? And he said, From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us. And Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again. And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, Why could we not cast it out? And Jesus said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting. They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day. Thought for the Day Keep strong, confident and devout in what you are doing. Our war is not against food and drink but rather against sin, temptations, passions, slothfulness, pride, unfaithfulness and other vices. His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH Holy Bread The Holy Bread is sponsored by: The Parish of St. George Church in loving memory of Metropolitan Philip (One-Year Memorial) Medhi & Laurice Azar, Joseph & Naziha Elias in loving memory of Youssef Azar Joseph Azar, George Elias (11-Year Memorial) Mona Safi in loving memory of Abdalla Safi (Six-Month Memorial) Jabra & Afifeh Safi Nehme & Jamileh Azar The Holy Bread is offered before the Altar of God by Father Anthony for the living servants of God: Metropolitan Joseph; Bishop Nicholas; Kh. Nadia, Nicklas, Sousan, George, Nibal, Helen Khouli; Naela and Family; Norven and Family; Mona, Sam, Samia, Ruth, Bassam and Joanne Safi; Shehda, Jouhayna, Louana and Nicholas Al-Amm; Jeremy and Nicole Al-Amm. Medhi and Laurice Azar; Sue and Family; Zouharia and Family; Joseph, Naziha and Michael Elias; Gus and Family; Reema and Family; Peter and Suzanne Zoudeh; Omar, Nancy, Peter, Tony, Christine, Abe, Madison and Mila; Fred, Nadia, Anthony, Julie Davis; Jaklin Makhoul; Nadim Makdessi; Sophie Cunningham; George, Hiyam, Simon, Melissa, Resam Tabchi; Rehab and Leo Martin; Neph; Mazhar Hanna; Sobhi and Ezdihar Nehme; Cleopatra, Mark, Angelina Nehme; Elias, Georgette,

3 Jason, Joann, Janice Awad; Jennifer, Eyad and Eyan Alraei; Halim and Family; Georges Saba and Family; Silva, Issa, Reine Saba; Feylit Hanna; Naziha Assad; Zakih Hanna; Afifeh Skaf; Sahar, Elias, Fredrick and Allison Salloum; Mounif, Dalia, Jazmine, Makayla and Elias Katrib; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Bashar Hanna; Rahmeh Hanna, children and grandchildren; Naife Khalouf; Nour Atiyeh; Assad and Pavlick Families; Lawahiz, Abe, John, Kate Assad; Mary Assad, Tom Pavlick and Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; Zakieh Makdesi; Robert and Family; Najib and Family; Nabeel and Family; Mona Bitar and Family; Rami; Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia, Christian and Michael Bitar; Naify Hanna; Layal, Samantha, Alfred and Rita Hanna; Georges Bitar; for the departed servants of God: Patriarch Elias; Patriarch Hazim; Metropolitan Philip; Fr. George, Nicola, Haloun Khouli; Abdalla Safi; Jabra and Afifeh Safi; Nehme and Jamileh Azar; Joey Azar; George Elias; Youssef Azar; Laura Zoudeh; Fred and Genevive Davis; Montaha Salloum; Hosn Yacoub; Hawji Makdessi; Janet Makdessi; Joseph Hadeed; Ernest Abraham; Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Mtanios, Milia, Maria Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi; Issa Saloum; Barbara Saliby; Sajia Khouli; Doumar Khouli; Issa, Bedra and Sameer Saba; Abraham, Adla and Mary Awad; Mtanios Hanna; Brahim Kadeshaw; Fouad and Ethman Assad; Georges, Tony Hanna; Zaki Skaf; Wajih Hanna; Jamileh Abboud; Hanna Daher; Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; John Ray and Sameer Assad; Hanna, Dalal, Jamileh; Michael and Badih Bitar; Alfred Hanna; Bassam, Khalil and Nizha Bitar. Memorial Service A Memorial Service is held for the rest of the souls of the servants of God: Metropolitan Philip Youssef Azar Joey Azar George Elias Abdalla Safi Jabra & Afifeh Safi Nehme & Jamileh Azar May the Lord grant rest to His servants and remember them in His kingdom, now and forever. Please join us for Coffee Hour We thank the following for sponsoring today s Coffee Hour. Mona Safi One Year Anniversary of the Repose of Metropolitan Philip of Thrice-Blessed Memory Thursday, March 19, 2015 marked the one year anniversary of the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory. Reflects Archpriest Joseph Antypas of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Troy, MI, There is not a single day that passes without remembering the life and the contributions of this giant of a man, who has endeared himself to the cause of spreading Antiochian Orthodoxy in North America, and who has left a tremendous impact on the institutions that belong to the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. Remembering his predecessor, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph notes, It is hard to believe a whole year has already passed since our father and chief-shepherd of more than 48 years reposed. His life and legacy will continue to be with us and inspire us for many years to come. May God rest his soul with the saints and may his memory be eternal! Special donations to the Church We acknowledge families and friends who have honored dear ones with monety gifts given in the spirit of loving kindness. $ Kh. Nadia Khouli to Baby Care Kits in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli; Nicola, Haloun Khouli; for the good health of Nicklas, Sousan, George, Nibal, Helen Khouli; Naela and Family; Norven and Family. $ Mona Safi to the Church in loving memory of Abdalla Safi, Jabra and Afifeh Safi; Nehme and Jamileh Azar; for the good health of Sam, Samia, Ruth, Bassan and Joanne Safi. $ Medhi and Laurice Azar to Homeless Dinners for the good health of Medhi and Laurice Azar; Sue and Family; Zouharia and Family; in loving memory of Joey Azar, George Elias, Youssef Azar.

4 $ Joseph and Naziha Elias to Homeless Dinners for the good health of Joseph, Naziha and Michael; Gus and Family; Reema and Family; in loving memory of George Elias, Joey Azar, Youssef Azar. $ Jouhayna Al-Amm to the Church in loving memory of Abdalla Safi; Jabra and Afifeh Safi; Nicola and Martha Al-Amm; for the good health of Shehda, Jouhayna, Louana and Nicholas Al-Amm; Jeremy and Nicole Al-Amm. $ Fred and Nadia Davis to Baby Care Kits in loving memory of Fred, Genevive Davis; Montaha Salloum; for the good health of Fred, Nadia, Anthony, Julie Davis; Jaklin Makhoul. $ Peter and Suzanne Zoudeh to Teen SOYO in loving memory of Laura Zoudeh. $ Peter and Suzanne Zoudeh to Baby Care Kits for the good health of Omar, Nancy, baby Peter, Tony, Christine, Abe, Madison and Mila. $ Nadim Makdessi to the Church in loving memory of Hosn Yacoub, Hawji Makdessi; Janet Makdessi; Joseph Hadeed. $ Sophie Cunningham to the Church in loving memory of Ernest Abraham $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to Baby Care Kits in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli; Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Mtanios, Milia, Maria Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi; for the good health of Simon, Melissa, Resam Tabchi; Rehab and Leo Martin; Jaklin Makhoul; Neph; Mazhar Hanna. $ Ezdihar Nehme to the Church for the good health of Sobhi and Ezdihar Nehme; Cleopatra, Mark, Angelina Nehme; in loving memory of Issa Saloum, Barbara Saliby, Sajia Khouli, Doumar Khouli. $ Saghar Salloum to the Church for the good health of Elias, Fredrick and Allison Salloum. $ Georgette Awad to the Church for the good health of Elias, Georgette, Jason, Joann, Janice Awad; Jennifer, Eyad and Eyan Alraei; Halim and Family; Georges Saba and Family; Silva, Issa, Reine Saba; in loving memory of Issa, Bedra and Sameer Saba; Abraham, Adla and Mary Awad. $ Feylit Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Mtanios Hanna; Brahim Kadeshaw. $ Naziha Assad and Family to the Church in loving memory of Fouad and Ethman Assad. $ Zakih Hanna to Baby Care Kits in loving memory of Georges, Tony Hanna. $ Afifeh Skaf to the Church in loving memory of Zaki Skaf. $ Mounif and Dalia Katrib to the Church for the good health of Makayla, Elias, and our newborn daughter, Jazmine. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher to the Church in loving memory of Jamileh Abboud; Hanna Daher; for the good health of Faisal and Nadia Daher. $ Bashar Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Wajih Hanna; for the good health of Rahmeh Hanna, children and grandchildren. $ Naife Khalouf to the Church in loving memory of Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; for the good health of Nour Atiyeh. $ 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; Tom Pavlick and Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; in loving memory of John Ray and Sameer Assad. $ Zakieh Makdesi to the Church for the good health of Robert and Family, Najib and Family; Nabeel and Family; Michael and Family; Rami; in loving memory of Hanna, Dalal, Jamilieh. $ The Bitar Family to the Church in loving memory of Michel and Badih Bitar; for the good health of Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia, Christian, and Michael Bitar. $ Naify Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Alfred Hanna. $ Layal Hanna and Family to the Church in loving memory of Alfred Hanna; for the good health of Layal, Samantha, Alfred and Rita Hanna. $ Georges Bitar to the Church in loving memory of Bassam, Khalil and Nizha Bitar.

5 Feast Day: The Annunciation observed March 24, 7 pm Join us as we observe the Feast Day of The Annunciation on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. St. George Church Calendar Bible Study for Adults and Teens Fridays at 7 pm Falafal & Sharwama Lunch...Sunday, April 19 Sponsored by Teen SOYO Paint & Party...Sunday, April 26, 5:30 pm See ad in this bulletin. Sponsored by The Fellowship of St. John the Divine Smoothies & Parfaits...Sunday, May 3, 12 noon Sponsored by The Fellowship of St. John the Divine St. George Banquet...Saturday, May 9, 6 pm Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter items needed Please consider a donation toward Easter flowers, palms, oil, charcoal and incense for use during Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. If you would like to contribute, you can do so in any of the following ways: 1. Use your Easter Flower envelope found in your contribution envelope box. 2. Complete the form below and place it in the collection tray. 3. Mail your contribution to the Church. 4. Give a Spiritual Bouquet donation for the good health of, or in memory of loved ones. Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Donation Name Address Amount $ Fellowship of St. John the Divine meeting on March 31 All members of The Fellowship of St. John the Divine are invited to a meeting on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. in the Church hall to discuss ideas for the coming year and to plan the St. George Heritage Festival in June. Hope to see you all there. Lehigh Valley Pan-Orthodox Lenten Services Come together with your brother and sister Orthodox christians of the parishes of the Lehigh Valley Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood to worship and break bread in Lenten fellowship. All services will be followed by a Lenten meal. Lenten Vespers Sunday, March 29, 4 pm St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1970 Clearview Rd., Souderton Teen SOYO advisor needed St. George Church is seeking an adult female Teen SOYO advisor. Those interested should contact Fr. Anthony (610) for more information.

6 St. George Orthodox Church Lent Services 2015 Divine Liturgy Every Sunday at 10 a.m. Feast Day: The Annunciation observed 7 pm, Tuesday, March 24 Great Lent Special Services Great Compline Services Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Presanctified Evening Divine Liturgy Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Covered Dish Supper Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Akathist (Maddih) Services Fridays at 7 p.m. Vesper Services Saturdays at 6 p.m. Lazarus Saturday Lazarus Saturday Palm Sunday April 4, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Remembrance of the Departed (Breakfast follows) Palm Sunday April 5 Matins, 9 a.m.divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.; Bridegroom Service, 7 p.m. Holy Week Great and Holy Monday April 6, 7 p.m., Bridegroom Service Great and Holy Tuesday April 7, 7 p.m., Bridegroom Service Great and Holy Wednesday April 8, 7 p.m., Holy Oil Annointing Service Great and Holy Thursday , April 9, 9 a.m., Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 7 p.m., 12 Gospel Passion Service Great and Holy Friday April 10, 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 Great and Holy Saturday April 11, 10 a.m., Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 11 p.m. Noctourns, Rush, Matins and Liturgy of Pascha Pascha Pascha (Easter Resurrection Service) Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m. Matins and Agape Vespers; Annual Easter Egg Hunt

7 Eleventh Annual Danny E. Khalouf Scholarship Memorial Banquet March 22, pm Dinner Buffet served at 4 p.m. Days Hotel 3400 Airport Rd., Allentown, PA Donation: $65 Keynote Speaker: Andre Reed, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of Pictures For tickets or more information (610) Please pick up your Food for Hungry People collection box today This year we mark 41 years of raising funds for our Food for Hungry People program. Through your generosity, over $4 million has been distributed to the hungry poor in the United States and around the world. Every year, we are able to help more unfortunate men, women and children. Let s make this year the best ever. March is Antiochian Women s Month The month of March is recognized by the Archdiocese as Antiochian Women s Month. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America has been an official organization of our Archdiocese for over 30 years. The entire month is dedicated and set aside for the participation of Orthodox women in Church life. The organization is open to all Antiochian Orthodox women 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, fostering love and service through charitable acts and creating a fellowship and understanding through their faith and traditions. Yes We Do video tells Antiochian Women story The North American Board of the Antiochian Women and videographer Joseph Wihbey have produced a promotional DVD, Yes We Do. Former president Laila Ferris explains that the leadership wanted to communicate to all parishes of the Archdiocese, about who the Antiochian Women are, their role in the Archdiocese as well as their parishes, their mission as an organization, and the many ways through which they have served their Faith, this Archdiocese, those in need, and our Lord. Noting that the the video also aims to reach out to a new audience, Laila continues, The second purpose is to use the DVD for increasing membership within the Antiochian Women, especially among the younger women so that they will come to know that this is an organization for all women of all ages and not just for our mothers and grandmothers. It is also key for our younger women to understand how much their talents are needed in the organization, especially as we continue to evolve to meet the needs of whom we serve in today s and tomorrow s global community. See a short video at

8 LADIES ALTAR SOCIETY 2015 Humanitarian Project: Baby Care Kits St. George Ladies Altar Society is collecting items needed to assemble Baby Care Kits to help young mothers care for their newborn babies. With the help of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) these kits will be sent to areas of extreme poverty and to disaster areas where the need is great. Baby Care Kits include the following: 6 cloth diapers 2 T-shirts or undershirts (no onesies) 2 washcloths 2 gowns or sleepers 2 diaper pins 1 sweater or sweatshirt (can be hand-knitted or crocheted) 2 receiving blankets (one can be. hand-knitted or crocheted baby. blanket) All items must be new and sized for 12 months and younger. Also, financial donations are welcome to purchase needed items. Will you help? Bring any of the needed items to Church and give to Diane Gharzouzi or Fay Moses. Items can also be brought to the church weekdays and given to our church secretary, Donna Becker. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in assisting with this worthy cause. Your care for others is a testimony of God s love in your heart. About IOCC: Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered $438 million in relief and development programs to families and communities in more than 50 countries. April 2 is deadline to Easter Candles, Sweet Bread Easter Candles $18 Sweet Bread Braid $7 2 1/2 lb (approx.) round $14 2 lb. round $12 Resources for Lent During this Lenten season, stop by our Bookstore and see our Orthodox resources to teach, strengthen and encourage you and those you love. Many items in our Bookstore would also make a wonderful gift. You are sure to find a fresh word from God among the variety of books. For more information or if you would like an item that is not displayed, please contact Kh. Minerva Sabbagh at (610) Some of the items we carry: Arabic prayer books Bibles DVDs music jewelry children s items soaps lotions Lip balm incense honey and jam religious books 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. Keep the Church Office informed of birthdays, anniversaries and special events. Call (610) Happy Birthday 3/22 Hilda W. Hanna 3/25 Judy Atiyeh Ennam Leyos Daniel DalMaso Joseph Moussa 3/28 Lauren Koury 3/24 Janet Laflouf Ezdihar Nehmeh Jami Lynn Hafer Joy Sabbagh 3/25 Mouna Younes Happy Anniversary Nadia Hanna Daher 3/28/98 Michael & Leah Saliby Madhat Sayegh 3/28/93 Nassim & Mounera Youwakim

9 Sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine Sunday April 26 5:30-7:30 pm at Paint and Party 1901 W. Allen St. Allentown, PA Paint a 16 by 20 canvas of a beach scene. Profits will help purchase new Altar Boy robes. Tix $34pp More info: Christina Attar (610) Sawsan Khalouf (484) HOW TO REGISTER Complete the registration form in this bulletin OR register and pay via this website: Click the sign-up button or pay upon arrival the night of the event. Sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine Paint & Party Registration Yes, I will attend Paint & Party on April 26. Name Address Phone Total number of people attending Tickets $34 pp Enclosed: $ Complete this form and mail it, along with your check payable to St. George Church. Send it to St. George Church, 1011 Catasauqua Ave., Allentown, PA or give it to Christina Attar or Sawsan Khalouf. Thank you for your support! Annunciation Vigil to be held at St. Thekla Convent The Annunciation Vigil will be held at the Convent of Saint Thekla, 5409 Allison Mill Rd., Glenville, PA from 8 pm, Tuesday, March 24 through 2 a.m. Wednesday, March 25. Metropolitan Joseph, Bishop Nicholas and Bishop Thomas will be in attendance. Limited lodging at the Convent; hotel lodging nearby. Those interesting in attending, contact Kh. Minerva (610) The Convent of St. Thekla is a female monastic community under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The first Antiochian Orthodox Monastery for Nuns in North America, the purpose of the convent is to pray for the salvation of the whole world and to lead a life of repentance. Free Home Safety program for older adults The Allentown Health Bureau Adult Safety Survey program provides an opportunity to reduce injury to older adults, ages 55 and older, by helping them make their homes safer. A representative of the Health Bureau will come to the resident s home and take a tour of the home to identify any safety hazards which can be corrected. To help Allentown residents stay injury free, the Bureau provides free safety items such as a flashlight, night light, whistle, magnifier, bath mat, pill box, and if needed, a smoke detector. Contact the Allentown Health Bureau s Inuury Prevention Program at (610) to schedule your free, in-home Senior Safety Survey. St. John Antiochian Orthodox Church Parish Life Conference set for July 1-5 St. John Antiochian Orthodox Church, Levittown, NY, proudly hosts the 64th annual Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of New York and Washington, DC. The Conference will be held July 1-5 at the Upsky Long Island Hotel, 110 Motor Pkwy, Hauppauge, NY (631) For more information visit St. John Church website at StJohn- 2015PLC@gmail.com or visit

10 Orthodox Christians to gather at March for Marriage The March for Marriage will take place on April 25 on the National Mall in Washington D.C. This year s March will include an Orthodox Gathering, sponsored by the group Crown Them With Glory. On Jan. 16, 2015 the Supreme Court agreed to hear four new cases on same-sex marriage, and rule on the power of the states to ban same-sex [so-called] marriages and to refuse to recognize such marriages performed in another state. The March for Marriage is supported by the National Organization for Marriage who is working diligently to communicate the necessity for the defense of marriage between one man and one woman. April 25 represents the third March for Marriage in Washington D.C., and is set to take place within days of when the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the cases before them that will decide the national legal status of civil gay marriage. It is projected that this ruling will seriously impact religious freedom in the USA. The March is a peaceful rally, comparable to the March for Life. We invite you to make every effort to attend the rally, and encourage your priests, brothers and sisters in Christ, and leaders and members of religious communities in your area to do likewise. Come out in support of marriage between one man and one woman, modeled from our Lord s love for His Bride: the Church. With a blessing to pursue this work from a number of our bishops, many priests believe it is time we had a national pan-orthodox Christian movement. A strong, vibrant, and clear message is needed from our Church on the matter of the Mystery of Holy Matrimony, as well as an enumeration upon God-blessed sexuality and gender roles, toward the strengthening of family life. This action is necessary in order to dispel confusion which has been stirred up by our secular culture, and most egregiously, even by some of our own clergymen. Such an effort would be blessed by God to the building up of our faith in the hearts of our Orthodox people. This is what our nation s people need to see: that the Orthodox Church has preserved its timeless teachings on the sacrament of marriage, and, as a place of refuge, the Church offers healing through Christ for us all, boldly proclaiming a blessed path toward salvation. More information:

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