St. George Orthodox Church

Transcription

1 St. George Orthodox Church V. Rev. Father Joseph M. Abud, Pastor 5191 Lennon Road Flint, Michigan (810) Dn. Michael Bassett Web Site: saintgeorgeflint.org November 17, ST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST GREGORY THE WONDERWORKER, BISHOP OF NEO-CAESAREA Tone 4 10 th Matins Gospel {John 21:1-14} Altar Servers: St. Nicholas team {Nicholas Shahin, captain} Next Week St. George team Confessions Matins p.44 Divine Liturgy p.91 Memorial Service 8:30-9:30am 8:50am 10:00am Trisagion p.183 Welcome to St. George! Every Sunday we remember the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The word Liturgy means work of the people which means everyone participates through singing, praying, hearing the teaching, and opening our hearts to allow God s grace to enter. For those who have committed themselves to the Orthodox Faith (through Baptism and/or Chrismation) it also means the reception of Holy Communion, if prepared. Preparation includes the Sacrament of Confession (7 years and older) within the last 2 months, prayer, being on time for church, being at peace with others, attending the Divine Liturgy regularly, and fasting (no food or drink from midnight the night before). If you are new, just visiting, or have any questions, please introduce yourself to Father Joe. Please know that everyone is invited to venerate the Holy Cross and receive Holy Bread at the end of Liturgy. All are welcome to our Coffee Fellowship in the hall after Liturgy. Third Antiphon (during the Little Entrance) Troparion of the Resurrection Tone 4 When the women disciples learned the joyful message of the resurrection from the angel, they cast away parental sin, and proudly told the message to the disciples proclaiming that death hath been spoiled and Christ our God hath risen granting the world great mercy. Hymns after the Entrance with the Gospel Troparion of the Resurrection Tone 4 (as above) Troparion for St. Gregory the Wonderworker Tone 8 By vigilance in prayer, and continuance in the working of wonders, you did acquire your achievements as a surname; wherefore, intercede with Christ our God, O Father Gregory, to enlighten our souls, lest we sleep in sin unto death. Troparion of St. George Tone 4 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. أ. -, +ر* ( ر و '& % و#! اء وا و و ط و ف و ا 9 6F و ( ر ب أ* C ا'< D 56 ا> C اء Bور B +س ا@? ا< # = > # ; إ ا 9 ا ص 56 # +,.

2 Kontakion of Mary s Presentation into the Temple Tone 4 The most pure Temple of the Savior, the very precious chamber and Virgin, is presented today in the house of the Lord. She brings with her the grace of the Spirit, which the angels of God do praise. She is the heavenly tabernacle. إن ا GFC ا 5F ا!وة, ھ GF ا RP, ا&+ل ا P ر ا G*NK ا O, وا NF ا Mھ K الله, ا+م =G4 إ او* V. ھ 5 ا< V WC الله, VFX3 6& (C اوح ا 5C8, ] اب, و= G4 'C 'V Epistle Reading: Galatians 2:16-20 {21 st Sunday after Pentecost} Gospel Reading: Luke 12:16-21 {9 th Sunday of Luke} Holy Bread Offerings Karam and Aida Nassar for the health of their family especially sons Fred, Omar, and Salam and in loving memory of Rasmiah Kaileh (3 year, Aida s mother). Elias Gantos and Family for the health of their family and in loving memory of wife and mother Laura (22 year), son and brother Shane (15 year), Linda and Chick. Timothy Beers for the health of his family on the occasion of his birthday -- May God grant him many years! -- and in loving memory of George, Lourice, Sam, Sadie, Handoumi, Harry, Fred, and Louise. Sally Abuaita and Family for the health of her family especially husband and father Khaled on the occasion of his birthday and Philip and Janett Abuaita on the occasion of their 55 th anniversary of being united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony -- May God grant them many years! Rula, Andrew, and Julian Alkazaha for the health of their family especially husband and father Majdi on the occasion of his birthday -- May God grant him many years! This morning we pray for the servants of God who have fallen asleep in the Lord: Hoosam Saad (+October 15 th, Eman Abufarha s nephew) and Michael Helal (+October 25 th, Amani Helal s brother). Prayers are offered for our parishioners who are ill, recovering, or in need, especially His servants: Androlla Abu Aita, Hanna Abuaita, Housam Abousamra, Evelyn Delbridge, Camille Ghantous, Nadera Ghantous, Phyllis Good, Carol Haddad, Roland Haddad, Betty Khouri, Edward Khouri, Jean Khouri, John Khouri, Mariam Khoury, Janet Lakis, Norma Lazar, Lourice Matta, Danny Mortensen, Laura Nassar, Elaine Salim, Elaine Shaheen, Michael Silpoch, William Sophiea Jr., and Lois Teunion (Bob s wife). Kristen (Abraham) Baradihi and the newborn Natalie (Oct. 12 th ). Amanda (Daoud) Alyatim and the newborn Basel (October 19 th ). Drew (Drossos) and Andrea (Shaheen) Gazis who were united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Communion Hymn (for the Lord s Day) (Refrain) Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise Him in the highest. (Verse) Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! (Refrain) (Verse) Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars! (Refrain) (Verse) Praise Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! (Refrain) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Reception of Holy Communion Please remember ONLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS who have PREPARED THEMSELVES may partake of Holy Communion.

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS COFFEE FELLOWSHIP is hosted by Majdi and Rula Alkazaha. COFFEE FELLOWSHIP HOSTS Available dates: December 1 st, 15 th, 22 nd, and 29 th -- signup poster is in the Hall. Hosting information is in the Hall and Lounge and includes: bringing whatever you wish to serve and cleaning up afterwards. St. George provides coffee, cups, cream, and sugar at a charge to the host of $25. During the Christmas Fast (November 15 th - December 24 th ), no meat or dairy products are to be served. WEEKLY OFFERINGS FFERINGS: Our average weekly offerings need to be $4,835 to meet our 2013 Budget. On November 10 th our offerings were $2,512 so we were short $2,323! If you haven t already, fill out your 2014 Offering Form and support the work of St. George! COMING EVENTS This Week The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their by-products) is observed on Wednesday and Friday as normal. TODAY Teen SOYO Sports Sunday Monday Bible Study: Gospel of St. Luke 3-5pm Wednesday NO Arabic/English Study Combined Evening Liturgy for the Virgin Mary s Presentation in the Temple at St. Mary Magdalene (2439 S Long Lake Road, Fenton) 6pm Thursday If you can t make Evening Liturgy, Divine Liturgy for the Virgin Mary s Presentation in the Temple at Assumption 10:30am Saturday Great Vespers and Confessions 5pm YAF follows Great Vespers NOVEMBER 17 TH ST. GREGORY THE WONDERWORKER Saint Gregory was born in the city of Neocaesarea (northern Asia Minor) into a pagan family. Having received a fine education, from his youth he strived for Truth, but the thinkers of antiquity were not able to quench his thirst for knowledge. Truth was revealed to him only in the Holy Gospel, and the youth became a Christian. For the continuation of his studies St Gregory went to Alexandria, known then as a center for pagan and Christian learning. The youth, eager for knowledge, went to the Alexandrian Catechetical School, where the presbyter Origen taught. Origen was a famous teacher, possessing a great strength of mind and profound knowledge. St Gregory became a student of Origen. Afterwards, the saint wrote about his mentor: This man received from God a sublime gift, to be an interpreter of the Word of God for people, to apprehend the Word of God, as God Himself did use it, and to explain it to people, insofar as they were able to understand it. St Gregory studied for eight years with Origen, and was baptized by him. The ascetic life of St Gregory, his continence, purity and lack of covetousness aroused envy among his conceited and sin-loving peers, pagans that they were, and they decided to slander St Gregory. Once, when he was conversing with philosophers and teachers in the city square, a notorious harlot came up to him and demanded payment for the sin he had supposedly committed with her. At first St Gregory gently remonstrated with her, saying that she perhaps mistook him for someone else. But the profligate woman would not be quieted. He then asked a friend to give her the money. Just

4 as the woman took the unjust payment, she immediately fell to the ground in a demonic fit, and the fraud became evident. St Gregory said a prayer over her, and the devil left her. This was the beginning of St Gregory s miracles. The bishop of Amasea, Thedimos, having learned of St Gregory s ascetic life, decided to have him made Bishop of Neocaesarea. But having foreseen in spirit the intent of Bishop Thedimos, the saint hid himself from the bishop s messengers. Then Bishop Thedimos ordained the absent saint as Bishop of Neocaesarea, beseeching the Lord that He Himself would sanctify the unusual ordination. St Gregory perceived the extraordinary event as a manifestation of the will of God and he did not dare to protest. This episode in the life of St Gregory was recorded by St Gregory of Nyssa (January 10). He relates that St Gregory of Neocaesarea received the episcopal dignity only after Bishop Thedimos of Amasea performed all the canonical rites over him. During this time, the heresy of Sabellius and Paul of Samosata began to spread. They taught falsely concerning the Holy Trinity. St Gregory prayed fervently imploring God and His most pure Mother to reveal to him the true faith. The Virgin Mary appeared to him, radiant like the sun, and with Her the Apostle John the Theologian dressed in archbishop vestments. By the command of the Mother of God, the Apostle John taught the saint how to correctly and properly confess the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. St Gregory wrote down everything that St John revealed to him. The Mystery of the Symbol of the Faith, written down by St Gregory of Neocaesarea, is a great divine revelation in the history of the Church. The teaching about the Holy Trinity in Orthodox Theology is based on it. Subsequently it was used by the holy Fathers of the Church: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. This Symbol was later examined and affirmed in the year 325 by the First Ecumenical Council, showing his enduring significance for Orthodoxy. The preaching of the saint was direct, lively and fruitful. He taught and worked miracles in the name of Christ: he healed the sick, he helped the needy, he settled quarrels and complaints. Two brothers sharing an inheritance were not able to agree over the property of their dead father. There was a large lake over which they argued, for each of the brothers wanted the lake for himself. They both gathered their friends together, and were ready to come to blows. St Gregory persuaded them to delay their fight until the following day, and he himself prayed all night long at the shore of the lake which sparked the quarrel. When dawn broke, everyone saw that the lake had dried up or gone underground. Through the intense prayer of the saint, now there was only a stream, and its course defined the boundary line. Another time, during the construction of a church, he commanded a hill to move and make room at the place of the foundation. When a persecution against Christians began under the emperor Decius ( ), St Gregory led his flock to a faraway mountain. A certain pagan, knowing about the hiding place of the Christians, informed the persecutors. Soldiers surrounded the mountain. The saint went out into an open place, raised up his hands to heaven and ordered to his deacon to do the same. The soldiers searched the whole mountain, and they went several times right past those praying, but not seeing them, they gave up and went away. In the city they reported that there was nowhere to hide on the mountain: no one was there, and only two trees stood beside each other. The informer was struck with amazement, he repented of his ways and became a fervent Christian. St Gregory returned to Neocaesarea after the end of the persecution. By his blessing church Feasts were established in honor of the martyrs who had suffered for Christ. By his saintly life, his effective preaching, working of miracles, and grace guiding of his flock, the saint steadily increased the number of converts to Christ. When St Gregory first ascended his cathedra, there were only seventeen Christians in Neocaesarea. At his death, only seventeen pagans remained in the city. 4

5 !"#$ %&'()! )! The Ladies will be selling a variety of pastries: cookies, pies, cakes, Arabic sweets, etc. Along with selling pastries, the Ladies are also making and selling Meat and Spinach Pies by the dozen. If you have any questions, see any member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Please fill out the form below and send it to the Church with your check or give it to any member of the Ladies Auxiliary by November 17 th. Thanks for your Support! DEADLINE is November 17 th!!! Order Form Item Number of Dozens Price ($12 per dozen) Meat Pies Spinach Pies Date Cookies TOTAL Name