NOVEMBER 15 TH, 2009 TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST HOLY MARTYRS GOURIAS, SAMONAS AND HABIB OF EDESSA

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1 St. Mark Antiochian Orthodox Church Self-ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, Diocese of the West Sky Park Circle, Irvine, CA (949) Website: Archpriest Michael Laffoon, Priest Patrick Irish Deacon George Moubayed, Sub Deacon Athanasius Fakhouri Choir Director Barbara Scholl; Chanters: Elia Qushair, Theresa Joubran, Dionysius Ingraham, Mark Ellis, & Jacob Bahbah Church Office Administrator: Lydia Wakileh; Youth Director: Juliana Turk Saturday evening Great Vespers 4:00 p.m. (Confessions after) Sunday Schedule: Orthros (Matins) & Confessions 8:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Church School after Holy Communion NOVEMBER 15 TH, 2009 TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST HOLY MARTYRS GOURIAS, SAMONAS AND HABIB OF EDESSA

2 Note: Please make sure that your cell phones and pagers are turned off during the service. HYMNS AFTER THE LITTLE ENTRANCE Troparion of the Resurrection in the Sixth Tone: When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee. Troparion for SS. Gourias, Samonas and Habib in the Fifth Tone: Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs Gourias, Samonas and Habib as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strengthen the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou art good and the Lover of mankind. Troparion of Saint Mark in the Third Tone: O holy Apostle Mark, intercede with the merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of sins. Kontakion of the Theotokos in the Fourth Tone: The most pure temple of the Savior, the very precious chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of the glory of God, is presented today in the house of the Lord. She bringeth with her the grace of the Spirit, which the angels of God do praise. She is the heavenly tabernacle. Prokimenon: O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. To Thee, O Lord, have I cried, O my God. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (2:4-10) Brethren, God, Who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Alleluia Verses (Psalm ) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will live in the protection of the

3 God of heaven. He will say to the Lord: "You are my protector." The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (10:25-37) At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read? And the lawyer answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. And Jesus said to him, You have answered right; do this, and you will live. But the lawyer, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? The lawyer said, The one who showed mercy on him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise Holy Oblations are given today by Fr. Michael and family for Khouria Donna, who is having surgery tomorrow to remove the hardware used to stabilize the bone in her leg that was broken in last year, and for Fr. Michael Lewis of St. Luke Church who will undergo surgery for pancreatic cancer this coming Friday, by Lilian Kassicieh for the health of her family, Maher, Hani, Rula, Nawal, Michael & Mark, and by Salim, Shukry, Hazem and their families for the soul of their mother Alice Turk, on her one year memorial. Luncheon will be served by Our Teen SOYO, please support them Please remember in your prayers: Mary Khamis, Georgette Khamis, Ted and Irene Zogob, Lucy Listvinsky, James Goson, Mitchell

4 Zogob, Reham Turk & Fr. Michael Lewis Ushers serving this week: Elias Khury & Ibrahim Khamis. Altar boys serving this week: Anthony Najjar, Christopher Wakileh, Noah Fortuna, Daniel Attala, Conner Wilde. Ushers serving next week: Phillip Bahbah & Elias Nasrawi. Altar boys serving next week: Edward Deeb III, Ian Fortuna, Elias Deeb, George Bahbah. Quote from the Saints "If one becomes used to fleeing or escaping sorrows, or goes from place to place, or chooses only a particular time to begin to labor and to struggle, such a one all the days of his life will not find a place and a time for receiving benefit." - St. Paisios Velichkovsky Church Etiquette Entering the Church Property Upon entering the property, a new sense of respect should take place. Radios, CDs, Game Boys, etc. should be turn off and left in the car, not taken into church. If chewing gum, dispose of the gum before leaving your car, not on the property. If smoking, dispose of your cigarette before leaving the car, not on the property. In fact, there should be no smoking on the Church Property, except in designated out of doors areas. Things to Leave in the Car The following items should be left in the car and not brought into church: Radios, CD Players, Game Boys, etc. Gum, candy, and other food or juices, including bottled water. Baby bottles are certainly acceptable. Crayons, markers, and other coloring items. Cellular Phones and Pagers should be left in the car, turned off or set on vibration prior to entering the Sanctuary. A NOTE TO OUR VISTORS Welcome to St. Mark's! We are pleased to have you here with us today. Please be informed that only those Orthodox Christians who are prepared through prayer, fasting, and the sacrament of confession should approach the Chalice for the Eucharist. The Orthodox Church does not practice "open communion" or intercommunion with other churches (non-orthodox). If you have any questions concerning this, please talk to Father Michael before taking communion. Visitors are welcome to venerate the cross at the end of the

5 service and to receive some of the blessed bread, if they so desire. For Orthodox Christians to receive Holy Communion: You must be spiritually prepared and uphold the beliefs and moral teachings of the Church. You must keep the fast (Wednesday & Friday, and other fasting seasons) If married, your marriage must have been consecrated in the Orthodox Church. If (unfortunately) divorced, you must be formally restored to communion by the Church by confession and Episcopal decision. If an Orthodox Christian has left the church, or has been absent from services for a long period, and is returning, he or she must see the priest prior to receiving the sacraments of the Church. Canned Food Drive As we all know, our country is in the midst of a deep recession. All relief agencies are seeing more needs and at the same time donations are down. In light of this, the on going canned food collection of our parish is a small but important way to help. Please try to bring something to go in the collection barrel every week. Good Samaritan Fund Several years ago, St. Mark Church established a fund for assisting those in need, both within our parish and in the general community. From time to time we ask for contributions to the Good Samaritan Fund, and this is one of those times. If you are aware of someone in our parish that needs financial assistance, please speak with Fr. Michael. Today Men s Club Meeting after Liturgy. Teen SOYO Luncheon Advent Fast starts today! We are now in Advent (the Christmas Fast). This fast, which lasts exactly 40 days, prepares us to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity (Birth) of Jesus Christ, commonly known as Christmas. During this season we are reminded that the Christian life style must include alms giving (acts of charity), prayer and fasting. Therefore, we are asked to intensify these efforts. During Advent we should be praying more, giving more time and resources to those in need, eat less and more simply, and above all, seek to fast from sin. As usual, Wednesdays and Fridays are strict fasting days (abstention from all meat, poultry, dairy & egg products, alcohol and olive oil). Until December 20, the other days of the week we are to fast from all meat and meat

6 products, with wine and olive oil allowed. As part of our Advent effort Orthodox Christians should also participate in the Sacrament of Confession. The only way to combat the commercialization and vaguely sentimental observance of the Birth of the Savior is to prepare for a Holy Feast Day by participating in some meaningful way in the Fast. Please see the Coffee hour calendar, included in this bulletin since we have done some changes. One enlarged Calendar will be posted in the Church Hall for your convenient! Thanks! Book store notice We have new expanded gift offerings in the St. Mark Bookstore for Christmas! We also have a children's gift area with inexpensive gifts so that children can buy gifts for their brothers, sisters and friends. All proceeds benefit St. Mark Church. Religious books, crosses and icons are a meaningful gift which your family will cherish. Community Christmas Card organized by our Teen SOYO. We ask a donation of $15 per sponsor/family. The Teens use the proceeds to support a poor young person in Lebanon through the Archdiocese. Please check the flyer included! This week Monday November 16 th, 7:00PM Advent Paraklesis. Wednesday November 18 th, 6:30PM Vespers. Thursday November 19 th, 7:00 p.m. Akathist to the Theotokos with the Kurst Root Icon of the Virgin Mary at the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Serbian Church, 2148 Michelson Dr., Irvine CA. Friday November 20 th, 7:00PM Parish Education. Saturday November 21, 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos. Next week Monday November 23 rd, 7:00PM Advent Paraklesis. Wednesday November 25 th, 7:00PM Akathist of Thanksgiving. Thursday & Friday 26 & 27 the Church office will be closed for Thanksgiving Holiday. Upcoming Services & Events Monday November 30 th, 7:00PM Advent Paraklesis. Sunday December 6 th, Ladies Guild First-Ever Craft Sale. Spinach, Zaater pies and Falafel dough will be available for sale after Church.

7 Sunday December 20 th, Ladies Christmas Bake Sale. Order your bake goodies by filling out the form included in this bulletin. Bakers are needed, please see Barbara Khamis!! SOS Family St Mark s has once again adopted three families for the Christmas Season. We have agreed to provide a dinner and gifts for them. A small Christmas tree will be in the hall with small notes indicating items you may sponsor for this charitable effort. Bring the wrapped gifts to the Church by Sunday December 13 th. Please see Charlotte Hanna after Liturgy if you have any questions. Please help make this Christmas a little brighter for those less fortunate than ourselves. Any donation for food is gladly accepted. Mark your Calendar for St. Mark Annual New Years Eve. Here at our Church Hall. Keep Watching for More details to follow in the next bulletins!! "What Orthodox Christians Believe" God the Father is the fountainhead of the Holy Trinity. The Scriptures reveal that the one God is Three Persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit eternally sharing the one divine nature. From the Father the Son is begotten before all ages and all time (Psalm 2:7, 2 Corinthians 11:31). It is also from the Father that the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds (John 15:26). Through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, we come to know the Father (Matthew 11:27). God the Father created all things through the Son, in the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2, John 1:3, Job 33:4), and we are called to worship Him (John 4:23). The Father loves us and sent His Son to give us everlasting life (John 3:16). BUY SCRIP Our Ladies Guild buys scrip from many and various stores and Restaurants (see list included in this Bulletin) at a 3 to 10% discount. When you buy the scrip, which is accepted just like cash at the issuing store, the Parish benefits. You pay no more for these goods and services and are making a donation to our parish. You can purchase this scrip from Saeda Turk & Barbara Khamis at the coffee hour. Saint of the Day Holy Martyrs Gourias, Samonas and Habib of Edessa (November 11) The most illustrious Martyrs of the city of Edessa in Syria, Gourias and Samonas contested during the reign of Diocletian, in 288; after many tortures, they were cast into prison, then beheaded. Saint Habib, a deacon, contested in the days of Licinius, in the year 316, and was burned alive; he was buried with Saints Gourias and

8 Samonas. The three have one common feast, and it is always together that they are portrayed in icons and invoked by the faithful.on account of a renowned miracle they worked, they are invoked for help in marital difficulties. A certain Goth had come with the Roman army to Edessa and was quartered in the house of a pious widow named Sophia. The Goth asked Sophia for the hand of her daughter, Euphemia; after resisting for a long time, Sophia at last agreed. When it was time for the army to return home, Sophia made the Goth vow by the power in the holy Martyrs Samonas, Gourias, and Habib, to keep Euphemia as the apple of his eye. As he was nearing his home, however, the treacherous man revealed to Euphemia that he already had a wife. Euphemia was compelled to serve the Goths wife, who dealt with her mercilessly. After extreme sufferings, which included being sealed alive in a tomb and left there to die, Euphemia was miraculously conveyed to Edessa, to the very shrine of the holy Martyrs whose surety they had taken, and was reunited with her mother through their holy prayers. STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE DRIVE Commencing in the month of November, we will be pursuing the 2010 Stewardship Pledge Drive for funding the St. Mark Church Operating Expenses for The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, have established that all Orthodox Christians, upon reaching the age of 18, should be contributing members of their local church, regardless of their residency. You contributions should come in four (4) ways: 1. Completion of payment of your 2009 Stewardship Pledge to St. Mark Church. 2. Payment of your 2010 Archdiocese/Diocese Dues of $130.0 per family, to be included as a part of your 2010 Stewardship Pledge to St. Mark Church. 3. Pledging and payment of your 2010 Stewardship Pledge to St. Mark Church. The 2010 Pledge and Census Cards are now available for your use. 4. Pledging of your time and talents to St. Mark Church and participating in the committees and organizations established at St. Mark Church. We need your time, talents and participation. Please address any questions that you might have on Stewardship and the

9 Pledge Drive to Kendall Schorr, Chairman of the Stewardship Committee, Father Michael, or any member of the St. Mark Parish Council. ROBERT & THEODORA WHITEHEAD There is a white wooden box by the bulletin board. Please drop in your completed Tan pledge cards for Thank you. The following members have submitted their regular 2010 in support of our operating budget. Thank you for your prompt response! Please return your pledge forms as soon as possible. Total pledge cards: 27 Total Pledged to Date: $ 41,200 ANAHID AZZOUNI RANDY & MAY DABBAH SAMIRA EISSA MARK & MEGAN EL-HINN ELSA FRECH JAMES N. & SANDELLA GOSON ISA & BARBARA KHAMIS ELIAS & HILDA KHAMIS EMILIE LAFFOON MICHAEL & DONNA LAFFOON SAMIR & ROBIN LAKKEES MARY MANSOUR SAM & ADEL MUNAYYER JAMAL & TAMMY QUTAMI ROBERT & KIMLA RANNEY EMAD & MUNA RISKALLAH TONY & PAULA RODRIGUEZ FARAH & SYLVIA SABA ANGELIKA & AUTUMN SCHORR KENDALL & RONDA SCHORR DON JR & PENNY SKAFF THEODORE & KATHY SKAFF FOUAD & RIMA TARAZI ROGER & CAROL TIERNEY AUSTIN & SAEDA TURK IBRAHIM & LYDIA WAKILEH