Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Transcription

1 2013 St. George Church Staff and Organizations Pastor The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Administrative Committee Albert Bitar, Treasurer Elias Gharzouzi Rehab Tabchi Robert Mimari Abe Assad Nasser Sabbagh George Nassoor Office Administrator Donna Becker Custodian Adnan Sabbagh Building/Planning Eli Mimari Dr. George Nassoor Altar Servers Peter Attar, Subdeacon Joseph Landino, Seminarian Anthony Youwakim, Altar Boy Captain Joe Wakim, Altar Boy Captain Choir 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 Christina Attar, Chair Abe Assad, Co-Chair Rehab Tabchi, 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: Abe Assad Jennifer Alraei Sana Bitar Ida Tabchi Sahar Tabchi Nadia Davis Jaklin Sabbagh Reem Haddad Teen SOYO The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Spiritual Advisor Naife Khalouf, Advisor Ghassan Makdsi, Advisor Nicole Hamoui, President Takla Zaghtiti, Vice President Tony Sankari, Treasurer Mishleen Bahsour, Recording Secretary Hilda Souid, Corresponding Secretary Clara Yazji, Media Secretary St. George Bookstore Mary Landino, Chair Kh. Minerva Sabbagh, Treasurer Rehab Tabchi Charitable Ministries Annual Appeal for Syrian Orphanages Kamal Abboud, Chair Pastoral Discretionary Fund The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Albert Bitar Newcomer Committee Naim Dergham, Chair Ghassan Makdsi Antoun Saba Marwan Sabbagh July 21, 2013 Tone 3, Eothinon 4 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost On this day, we commemorate: Venerable Simeon of Homs, fool-for-christ and his fellow faster John and Parthenios, bishop of Radovizlios; Venerable Arta; Martyr Victor of Marseilles Divine Liturgy Epistle Romans 6:18-23 (4th Sunday after Pentecost) Sing praises to our God, sing praises. O clap your hands all ye nations. The Reading is from St. Paul s Letter to the Romans BRETHREN, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Gospel Matthew 8:5-13 (4th Sunday of Matthew) The Reading of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew At that time: As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress. And he said to him, I will come and heal him. But the

2 centurion answered him, Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, Go, and he goes, and to another, Come, and he comes, and to my slave, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, Truly, I say to you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. And to the centurion Jesus said, Go; be it done for you as you have believed. And the servant was healed at that very moment. Orthodox thought for the day Matthew 8:5-13 St. Theophan the Recluse (_Thoughts_, St. Herman Press, Platina, CA, 2010, page 137) speaks beautifully of how we need to have the strong faith and how we can acquire it. The Lord requires the same faith of us as well. He who has this faith knows no lack, and whatsoever he asks, he receives. Thus has the Lord Himself promised. Oh, when will we have such faith, if only a little? But this faith is a gift; we must ask for it as well, and ask for it with faith. Let us ask for it, with a feeling of need for it. Let us ask for it continually and fervently, at the same time aiding its unfolding within us through corresponding thoughts, and most of all by submitting to God s commandments. - St. Theophan the Recluse Holy Bread The Holy Bread is offered before the Altar of God by Father Anthony for the living servants of God: Kh. Nadia, Nicola, Sawsan, George, Nibel and Helen Khouli; Joseph and Lamia Younes; Delores and Bob Edwards; Labiby and Michelle Joseph; Hanna Makhoul and Family; Elias Nanoah; Seham Nanoah; Foulit Hanna; Saeda Salloum; George, Hiyam, Rehab, Resam, Simon Tabchi; Melissa Dib; Janet Hanna; Zakih Hanna; Afifeh Skaf; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Naife Khalouf; Esper Khalouf; Nour Atiyeh; Lawahiz, Abe, John, Kate Assad; Mary Assad; Tom Pavlick; Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; Michael, Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia and Christian Bitar; Ron Hanna; Charbel Elias and Family; Georges Bitar and Family; Sueliman Bitar and Family; for the departed servants of God: Father George, Nicola and Haloon Khouli; Alan Abraham; Robir Akel; Josef Salloum; Brahim, Rasmih, Nawal, Mtanios, Maria Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi; Georges Hanna, Tony Hanna; Zaki Skaf; Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; Zaki Skaf; Hanna Daher; Jamileh Abboud; Wajih Hanna; John Ray and Sameer Assad; Badih Bitar; Ilona Hanna; Abdo Elias; Bassam Bitar; Khalil and Nizha Bitar. 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. $ Kh. Nadia Khouli to the Church for the good health of Nicola, Sawsan, George, Nibel and Helen Khouli; in loving memory of Fr. George, Nicola, Haloon Khouli. $ Joseph and Lamia Younes to the Church in loving memory of Alan Abraham. $ Delores and Bob Edwards to the Church in loving memory of Alan Abraham. $ Labiby and Michelle Joseph to the Church in loving memory of Alan Abraham. $ Hanna Makhoul to the Church for the good health of her family. $ Elias Nanoah to the Church for the good health of Seham Nanoah. $ Fuolit Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Robir Akel. $ Saeda Salloum to the Church in loving memory of Josef Salloum. $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to the Church for the good health of Rehab, Resam, Simon Tabchi; Melissa Dib; Janet Hanna; in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli; Brahim, Rasmih, Nawal, Mtanios, Maria Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi. $ Zakih Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Georges Hanna, Tony Hanna.

3 $ Afifeh Skaf to the Church in loving memory of Zaki Skaf. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher to the Church in loving memory of Hanna Daher, Jamileh Abboud and Wajih Hanna. $ Naife Khalouf to the Church for the good health of Esper Khalouf. $ 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. $ The Bitar Family to the Church in loving memory of Badih Bitar and for the good health of Michael, Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia and Christian Bitar. $ Ron Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Ilona Hanna. $ Charbel Elias and Family to the Church in loving memory of Abdo Elias. $ Georges Bitar and Family; Sueliman Bitar and Family to the Church in loving memory of Bassam Bitar; Khalil and Nizha Bitar. Church Festival Volunteers You re invited! Dinner Friday, August 9, 7 pm Sponsored by RSVP (610) Father Anthonty heads to Archdiocese Convention Father Anthony, Kh. Minerva and Hope Sabbagh will be attending the 51st Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Convention in Houston, Texas. They are leaving July 22 and returning July 29. In the interim, Father Witalis Suszczenia will officiate at next Sunday s Divine Liturgy. If you need to contact a priest, please call our secretary, Donna Becker, who will get in touch with a local Orthodox priest. Stream Energy is the host for this dinner and cordially invites you to join them on Friday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. Come and enjoy a great dinner and hear a short presentation on how Stream Energy is saving our church money. St. George s has partnered with Stream Energy who works in conjunction with PPL to give our parishioners a low group rate. When you sign up with Stream Energy, you save money on your electric bill and St. George s Church will get a $4 donation each and every time you pay your bill. Bring your electric bill to our next church festival, Aug , and see how you can save $$.

4 Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church Fourth & Ferry Streets, Easton, PA 2013 LEBANESE th HERITAGE DAYS th 36 Annual Festival SATURDAY EDDIE OSSAMA FREE ADMISSION Enjoy Two Days of Fun SUNDAY AMIN SULTAN SATURDAY, August 3 5:00 PM - 12 Midnight SUNDAY, August 4 11 AM - 10 PM Visit our Website: mountlebanon.org info@mountlebanon.org Delicious Lebanese Food and Pastries, Live Music & Dancing! Children s Activities Market Place th rd RAIN OR SHINE

5 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. Please keep the church office (610) informed of birthdays, anniversaries and special family events. Best wishes for a wonderful Birthday/Anniversary and a year filled with good health and happiness! May happiness be yours on this special day and in the year ahead! Happy Birthday Happy Anniversary 7/21 Gabriella Youwakim 7/21/12 Chad & Ronia Jarrah Roseanne Sankari 7/24/82 Hassan & Nouhad Moussa 7/23 Anissa Abboud 7/24/94 David & Bushra Fries 7/24 Kristin Hosni 7/24/10 Elias & Tabitha Makhoul 7/25 Kh. Tammy Makoul 7/25/04 Peter & Christina Attar Betty Williams 7/25/80 Mike & Bonnie Davis John Eskander 7/25/12 Danny & Hala Khouly Larry Belles 7/27/86 Joseph & Souha Hadeed Danny Khouly Georges Bitar 7/27 Kimberly Jarrah Tony Makhoul Joanne Hosni Dormition Fast observed in August Every year, the Orthodox Church sets aside the first 14 days of August in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Dormition Fast begins Aug. 1 and continues through Aug. 14. The fasting discipline during this 14-page period is no meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk or other dairy products, fish, wine or oil, except on Saturdays and Sundays where there is an exception for wine and oil and on the Feast of the Transfiguration on Aug. 6 when there is an exception for fish, wine and oil. Houses for sale on Fullerton Ave. St. Mary s Ukrainian Orthodox Church is offering two properties for sale in the low $100,000 s. For more information call Nik Fartuch (610) Fullerton Ave. (former Rectory) 4-5 bedrooms (one currently used as pastor s study) Brand new roof completed July 15, Fullerton Ave. (former Sunday School Annex and Guest House) 3 large bedrooms; 2 rooms on third floor Large garage Help make a difference Please help us meet our goal. Help rebuild the lives of many oppressed Syrian Christian refugees. Donate now! God loves a cheerful giver. If it s not now, then when? If it is not you, then who shall give? Donate: We opened this fundraiser, heavy-hearted and with a visionary mind. to alleviate the pain and suffering of Christian Syrian victims of war, who are fleeing for their lives. Terrorists are targeting and persecuting our Syrian Christian communities to extinction. Families are becoming obliberated. Many of these people are coming to the Lehigh Valley seeking refuge, shelter, food, jobs and more. While our church is looking to enlarge the base of our services for the suffering and oppressed, we discovered Mary Immaculate Center that is for sale. The Center will meet all our church needs and help the poor, deprived, displaced and homeless. We are interested in purchasing Mary Immaculate Center for the greater good of our vast Syrian church community and to help those in need in our community at large. For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison; and you came unto me. (Matthew 25:35-35) We come to you with hopeful expectations. Please consider our situation and enable us as Our Good Samaritan to give hope, restore broken homes and the hearts of many. Your donation now will make a difference and help rebuildlives. Please give according to your ability and joyful heart.

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