St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church سينيكيدرألا ةيألاطلألن سيدقرواسنكيدقلا ةسينك 915-584-9100 / 9101 www.stgeorge-elpaso.org Fax. 915-760-5547 REVEREND FATHER GEORGE M. AL-DEHNEH, PASTOR Very Reverend Father Jehad T. Michael, Pastor Emeritus Very Reverend Father Bob Bethoney, Attached. أهال وسهال A warm welcome to our visitors and guests St. George is an Eastern Orthodox Church of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America We are glad to have you worshipping with us today. We minister to Orthodox Christians of all backgrounds. Holy Communion is a sign of our full unity of faith. Therefore, only Baptized and Confirmed Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer and Sacramental Confession may partake of this Sacr ament. However, all are welcome to partake of the Blessed Bread of Fellowship and receive a Priest blessing at the end of the Divine Liturgy. We also invite you to join us for light refreshments and coffee following the Service, where we will be happy to meet with you and answer any question you may have about the Orthodox Faith. JANUARY 26, 2014 Thirty-Second Sunday of Pentecost & Fifteenth Sunday of Luke ( Zacchaeus ) Tone 6 Eothinon 9 Sunday Service: Orthros 9:20 AM, Followed by the Divine Liturgy Confessions by Appointment Only On this day, we commemorate: Venerable Xenophon, his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Arkadios and John, of Constantinople; Translation of the relics of Venerable Theodore the Studite. Epistle: Deanna Nasser. Ushers: Upon Availability. Altar Boys: All are encouraged and welcome to serve. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION (TONE SIX) 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. APOLYTIKION FOR ST. GEORGE THE GREAT-MARTYR (TONE FOUR) Since thou art a liberator and deliverer of captives, a help and support of the poor and needy, a healing physician of the sick, a contender and fighter for kings, O great among Martyrs, the victory-clad George; intercede with Christ God for the salvation of our souls. KONTAKION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST (TONE ONE) Thou, O Christ God, Who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind. Holy Bread will be offered by: Salma Isaac: For the health of her children and grandchildren and on the occasion of Malik's 3rd birthday. Happy Birthday Malik! Jamie Isaac: For the good health of Joseph and Melissa Isaac & family; Tiffany & Chris Joudi; James Isaac & family. For the health of the Isaac, Joudi and Dayoub families. In Memory of Ed & Kathy Bashur, Salma Mizerany, George & Mary Abdou, George & Mary Maluff, James Maluff, Jessy & Jimmy Isaac. Surella Nasser and family: For the one year memorial of their beloved husband, father, and grandfather Delfone Elias Nasser. May God rest his soul in peace and may his memory be eternal. MAY DINNER TICKETS Please turn the money for your unpaid tickets. Thank You
THE EPISTLE (For the Thirty-Second Sunday after Pentecost) The Lord will give strength to His people. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God; ascribe to the Lord honor and glory. The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (4:9-15) Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. THE GOSPEL (For the Fifteenth Sunday of Luke Zacchaeus ) The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (19:1-10) At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see Who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today. So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost. DONATIONS Fr. Jehad & Kh. Salwa Michael: For the good health and well-being of their grandchildren Mia & Alla Michael. Bryan & Annette Haddad: In loving Memory of our dear father Mitchell Abraham and for the good health of our beloved mother Georgette Abraham, our children, grandchildren and our brothers and sisters. In Memory of Mitchell Abraham Milad & Laurice Farah Fr. Jehad & Kh. Salwa Michael Selma Malooly & family Marilyn, Ken & Jennifer Drahan Yani & Susana Payides Handumy J. Tahan Yousef & Hend Odeh Roger & Nouhad Schami Keith & Victoria Sanftner Brian & Judy Jones & family Richard & Delia Esper Brian M. Abraham Kenneth & Juliana Vaughan Marsha Chanoux William A. Elias In Memory of Nicholas Malooly Ibrahim & Layla Salluom Gilbert Sr. & Haifa Malooly & family Tony Dayoub William A. Elias Cheryl McCown & Michelle McCown In Memory of Richard Salem Yani & Susana Payides Archdiocese Dues Bryan & Annette Haddad Milad & Laurice Farah Missionary Offering Sharon Madsen Bishop BASIL Endowment Fund HOME BLESSING Adib, Helen, Adam & Jennifer Dayoub Adib & Helen Dayoub Started Monday, January 06, 2014 and will end Sunday, February 02, 2014. Please call the office or Fr. George to arrange for your home to be blessed. Thank You and God Bless you all.
Choir and Chanter's Corner A Happy New Year to all. May our Lord bless you and your families with peace and good health. With the start of the 2014 year, I want to extend and invite our Parishioners (teens and adults) to join the Choir. If you know how to read music, please share your talent with the Parish. Choir practice is scheduled on Mondays from 7:00-8:00 pm, in the Church. There is also a Chanting class scheduled on Mondays from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. I wish to remind the Choir and Chanters that what the Church expects of the Clergy it also expects of the Choir and Chanters. Those who sing must prepare themselves for the task of serving the Parish by constantly pursuing a life of spirituality, coming to practice, and being on time. Singing in the Church is far beyond musical settings and hitting notes: it is about prayer, and singers must first be people of inward prayer before they become people of outward prayer. When He dwells within us, then His beauty within us will come out when we are properly prepared, and the liturgical music will be performed in a prayerful way. For the words of the Chanters and Choir are meant to enter the ears of the congregation and transform their minds during the worship of God. As we glorify Him, He transforms us. Sub-Deacon Michael, Choir Director Total Sunday Collections ( $ 3309.00) Donations+ Archdiocese Dues+ End of 2013 pledges + Bishop Basil Fund $ 1799.00 Memorials Donations $ 1510.00 Remember our Abducted Syrian Innocent Hierarchs Honor Bishop BASIL on his Name s Day: The Feast of St. Basil the Great January 1, 2014 Bishop BASIL Mission Endowment Fund Dioceses of Wichita and Mid America (DOWAMA) Contribute by January 31, 2014 Please make check payable to St. George Church earmarked BB Name s Day HOLY BREAD Please see the New Holy Bread Calendar for the year 2014. If 2 families offer every Sunday (For the health of the living and/or in Memory of the departed members). We should be OKAY for the whole year. We have 52 Sundays in the year. All St. George Parishioners Please let Fr. George know AT LEAST ONE WEEK prior to the Sunday you are offering with the names of the living and departed beloved ones and if it is a MEMORIAL SERVICE or REMEMBRANCE ONLY so it can be in the Bulletin on time. It is your responsibility to call to order the Holy Bread and make sure it is at Church by 8:00 AM that Sunday. Thank You All St. George Parishioners The Ladies Society will be hosting a Pancake & Sausage Breakfast at Applebee's on Mesa on Saturday, February 8, 2014 between 8-10 AM tickets are $ 6.00 (Six Dollars). Please come & support us with family & friends. Thank You Sylvana Aldouri
CONDOLENCES Our sympathy goes to Skee Rizk and family and all the extended Ghanayem family on the departing to the Lord of their beloved Rose Ghanayem (Peter Rizk s older sister) on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 in Jacksonville, FL. May her Memory be Eternal and may our merciful Lord Jesus Christ grant the Rizk family and her daughters many healthy years in the resurrected Lord. From The Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church Those who seek humility should bear in mind the three following things: that they are the worst of sinners, that they are the most despicable of all creatures since their state is an unnatural one, and that they are even more pitiable than the demons, since they are slaves to the demons. You will also profit if you say this to yourself: how do I know what or how many other people's sins are, or whether they are greater than or equal to my own? In our ignorance you and I, my soul, are worse than all men, we are dust and ashes under their feet. How can I not regard myself as more despicable than all other creatures, for they act in accordance with the nature they have been given, while I, owing to my innumerable sins, am in a state contrary to nature. St. Gregory of Sinai, Philokalia, Vol. IV. 2014 DOWAMA SCHOLARSHIPS One $2,000.00 scholarship will be awarded to a 2014 graduating high school senior who is a members of a parish/mission of DOWAMA, and another $2,000.00 scholarship will be awarded to a DOWAMA priest or deacon for continuing education which will enhance his ministry. APPLICATION FOR 2014 ARCHDIOCESAN SCHOLARSHIPS is available online at www.teensoyo.org/pages/ Scholarships.aspx Several $2,500.00 scholarships will be awarded to 2014 graduating high school seniors who are members of a parish/mission of our Archdiocese. Our Sunday School Students Are now working on their Creative Festival Projects, for the Parish Life Conference in San Antonio, TX. All students need to be in attendance in order to work on & complete their projects by the due date. St. George Church Sunday School We are very proud of the following students who were in attendance at this past Sunday s Church School: Pre-School: Nia Isaac. Grades Kinder/1: Kendall Olivas. Grades 2/3: James Isaac, Emma Isaac. Sami Odeh. Grades 4/5: Rylee Isaac. Grades 6/7: Joseph Odeh. Grades 8-12+: William Shaghoury, Johnny Odeh, Sam Salloum, George Haddad, Christian Khouri, James Shaheen, David Dayoub. Parents & Students and teachers, please remember that Sunday School begins at 9:15 AM with opening prayer from Fr. George. It is important for us to be on time, to pray together, and learn about our faith.
THE FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD The celebration of the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River reveals wondrous salvific events: The Mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed. The waters were blessed by Christ and ceased to be waters of the fall and became waters of renewal (Holy Water). Any demonic influence over water was ended. A model of Baptism was established for the followers of Jesus Christ. The sin of the old Adam was washed away and buried in the waters. The Forerunner John the Baptist was blessed by Christ. The word Theophany (meaning manifestation of God) comes from the apostolic passage, God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). Another name for the Feast is Epiphany (meaning manifestation from above), the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11). A third name is the Feast of Lights, as House Blessing: The Purpose The annual blessing of homes is a custom of special beauty and significance. We again ask Christ to bless and enter into our homes and our lives. We ask Him to be with us, as we desire to be with Him. We ask that by the sprinkling of blessed water, the Holy Spirit renew us, our families and our lives in our homes. As Christ brought salvation to the house of Zacchaeus; we ask for the same for all dwelling in our homes. House Blessing: The Order The house being cleaned and ready, we dress in an honorable manner (as we would for Church). When the Priest arrives, we greet him at the door, having turned off any radio, TV, or other noise based element. Animals that may cause disruption should be placed out of the way. On a small table before icons, a small but wide-mouthed bowl full of newly blessed water is placed. Together with a list of names of those who reside in the home, a lighted candle and censor (if you have one) are also placed on the table. These items are arranged prior to the arrival of the Priest. At the beginning of the service for the blessing of the home, a family member leads the Priest throughout the home, carrying the lighted candle. The rest of the household follows and then returns to the table for the final prayer and blessing with water upon those present. House Blessings It is the custom among many Orthodox Christians to have their homes blessed with the Holy Water sanctified on Theophany (the Feast which commemorates the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan River). If you would like your home blessed, please call the Church office or talk to Fr. George. FOR CONSIDERATION On one of the stones in the Church of Hagia Sophia, the following words were engraved: "Wash your sins, not only your face." Whoever entered this glorious Church read this inscription and remembered that the Christian Faith requires of him moral purity: purity of the soul, purity of the heart and purity of the mind. Just as in the heart of man is concentrated the complete spiritual man, this is what the Lord also said, "Blessed are the pure of heart" (Matthew 5:8). Total external cleanliness does not help at all in gaining the kingdom of heaven. Oh, if only we would invest as much effort in washing ourselves from sins as we invest daily in washing our faces, then God would truly be seen in our hearts as in a mirror! The three temptations by which Satan tempted the Lord Jesus after His Baptism in the Jordan River: 1. Gluttony: The temptation with bread; 2. Pride: Lifting Him above the Temple; 3. Greed: Offering Him the possession of the entire world.
JANUARY 2014 HAPPY NEW YEAR & A BLESSED EPIPHANY SUNDAY ORTHROS 9:20 AM Followed by the DIVINE LITURGY SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT 1 Circumcision of Jesus Christ BASIL the Great 2 3 4 5 Eve of Epiphany 6 Holy Epiphany 7 8 9 10 11 12 Sunday After Epiphany 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 12th Sunday of Luke 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 15th Sunday of Luke 27 28 Ephraim The Syrian Isaac the Syrian 29 30 31 To request a Dome Lighting, please contact Fr. George @ 584-9100 The donation is $ 50.00 per lighting For Pastoral Emergencies, or to notify the Clergy of ill or hospitalized parishioners, please call: Rev. Fr. George Al-Dehneh: 345-9800 The Very Rev. Fr. Jehad Michael: 203-2831 REMINDER Parishioners, please remember to use your COMMUNITY card at Albertsons, because we get 1% donation to the Church. (That is easy fundraising)