St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 125 Kohanza Street Danbury, CT 06811 V. Rev. Fr. George Alberts, Pastor Church/Rectory: 203-798-1771 Church Hall: 203-743-1921 Email: st-george@sbcglobal.net Church Website: stgeorgedanbury.org Liturgical Services Confessions heard: 4:30-5 p.m. Saturday (or by appointment) Great Vespers at 5 p.m. Saturday Orthros (Matins) Service at 9 a.m. Sunday Morning Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sunday Morning Church School (September-June) following Holy Communion Feast Day Vesper-Liturgy at 7 p.m. on the Eve of the Feast Sunday, June 4, 2017--Pentecost Sunday We welcome you to our Church today. Our Sunday service is the Divine Liturgy at which the Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated. While all are welcome to attend this service, we ask that you refrain from coming to receive this sacrament unless you are of the Orthodox faith and are properly prepared through prayer, fasting and the Sacrament of Confession.
THE SYNAXARION On this day, the eighth Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate Holy Pentecost. Verses In a mighty wind Christ distributeth the Divine Spirit In the form of fiery tongues unto the Apostles. In one great day, the Spirit was poured out on the Fishermen. On this day the fiftieth after Great and Holy Pascha we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the holy Disciples and Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. Numbering about 120, they who followed the Master gathered in Jerusalem in the upper room of a house to await the Lord s promise to send the Holy Spirit. At about the third hour of the day, there came a sound from Heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the house. Cloven tongues immediately appeared, like as of fire, and sat upon the head of each of them. The Apostles began to speak, not with the languages of their ancestors, but with other languages with which the Holy Spirit supplied them, as He inspired them. After the Apostle Peter explained what had happened, 3,000 people joined the Church on the inauguration of the priesthood of grace. The objectives of Pentecost are, namely, the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world, the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus Christ, and the completion of the undefiled hope of the Apostles. By the intercessions of the Holy Apostles, O Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen
Divine Liturgy Variables on the Fiftieth Day after Pascha The Great Feast of Pentecost THE FIRST ANTIPHON The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. Day unto day poureth forth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. There are neither tongues nor words in which their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Refrain) Glory Both now (Refrain) THE SECOND ANTIPHON The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction; the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Let Him send forth unto thee help from His sanctuary, and out of Zion let Him help thee. Refrain: Save us, O Good Comforter, who sing to Thee. Alleluia. Let Him remember every sacrifice of thine, and thy whole-burnt offering let Him fatten. (Refrain) The Lord grant thee according to thy heart, and fulfill all thy purposes. (Refrain) Glory Both now O, only begotten Son and Word of God THE THIRD ANTIPHON O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad, and in Thy salvation shall he rejoice exceedingly. The desire of his heart hast Thou granted unto him, and hast not denied him the request of his lips. Thou wentest before him with blessings of goodness, Thou hast set upon his head a crown of precious stones. He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him length of days unto ages of ages. THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF THE FEAST Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we shall praise and sing of Thy mighty acts. Save us, O Good Comforter, who sing to Thee. Alleluia. APOLYTIKION OF PENTECOST IN TONE EIGHT Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee. KONTAKION OF PENTECOST IN TONE EIGHT When the High One descended, confusing tongues, He divided the nations. And when He distributed the fiery tongues He called all to one unity. Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit. THE ANTI-TRISAGION HYMN As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. (THRICE) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Have put on Christ. Alleluia. Dynamis! As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. THE EPISTLE Their voice has gone out into all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God. The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (2:1-11) When the day of Pentecost had come, the Disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.
THE GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (7:37-52; 8:12) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Now this He said about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, many of the people said, This is really the prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was? So there was a division among the people over Him. Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him. The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, Why did you not bring Him? The officers answered, No man ever spoke like this man! The Pharisees answered them, Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd, who do not know the Law, are accursed. Nicodemus, who had gone to Him before, and who was one of them, said to them, Does our Law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does? They replied, Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. MEGALYNARION FOR THE FEAST IN TONE SEVEN O Mother that hath known no man, thou didst conceive, not experiencing corruption, lending a body to the Word, the Creator of all, becoming a receptacle to thine insupportable Creator, a dwelling place to thine incomprehensible Maker. Wherefore, O virgin Theotokos, thee do we magnify. KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) FOR PENTECOST IN TONE EIGHT Thy good Spirit shall lead me into the land of uprightness. Alleluia. Instead of singing We have seen the true light, sing the Apolytikion of Pentecost. +++PRAY FOR THEIR HEALTH+++ Please remember our ill parishioners, especially Mary Zamary (Maefair Nursing Home); Michael Aberisk Pope John Paul II Rehabilitation Center). Please call Fr. George if you know of someone who would like a phone call or visit. Candle Offerings (Please Note: All Candle requests must be given to Fr. George before Noon on Tuesday in order for them to be included in Sunday s Bulletin. This is also true for any announcements for the bulletin. Thank You.) 5 DAY VOTIVE CANDLES ARE OFFERED FOR THE HEALTH OF: Elie Elie John Debs Hanna and Hind Chaber Jeanette Beylouni by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal Carole Kaback by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal Nancy Farris by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal Victoria Matthews by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal Jennie Shukry by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal Mary El Masry by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal Nawal Sayegh by Dr. and Mrs. Fred Kayal
5 DAY VOTIVE CANDLES ARE OFFERED IN BELOVED MEMORY OF: John and George Beylouni by Jeanette Beylouni George Farris by Nancy Farris Raymond Beylouni by Jeanette Beylouni Michelle Kayal by Her Family Frieh Sayegh by Nawal Sayegh Hanna Chaber Hind Chaber PLEASE NOTE: If you are calling in or emailing your candle requests, please make your checks payable to St. George Church earmarked Candles or include a note with your donation. Sunday, June 4 Friday, June 9 Saturday, June 10 Sunday, June 11 Tuesday, June 13 Thursday, June 15 Saturday, June 17 Sunday, June 18 Friday, June 23 Saturday, June 24 Sunday, June 25 Services and Events Matins at 9 a.m./liturgy at 10 a.m./church School/Teen SOYO Mtg. Life Line Screening in our Church Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Confession at 4:30 p.m./vespers at 5 p.m. Matins at 9 a.m./liturgy at 10 a.m./church School/General Assembly Ladies Society Meeting at 7 p.m. Parish Council Meeting and Elections at 7 p.m.. Confession at 4:30 p.m./vespers at 5 p.m. Matins at 9 a.m./liturgy at 10 a.m. Middle Eastern Festival Middle Eastern Festival/Vespers at 5 p.m. Matins at 9 a.m./liturgy at 10 a.m. High School Graduates We are seeking the names of our parish High School Graduates so that we can honor them in our Church. The graduates that we know of are: Nancy Najjar, Josh Ipkovich, Clare McKinley, and Marisa Gueli. If you know of any other High School Graduated, please give their name to Fr. George so that we can include them. Ladies Corner: Coffee Hour Sponsors Please contact Joan Chaber James and Fr. George before you place your name on the calendar on the bulletin board next to the kitchen in the Church Hall if you would like to sponsor a coffee hour. Please let them also know if you need to change your coffee hour date! Please DO NOT write your name on a calendar date without first checking with Joan and Father. Just a reminder Those who are sponsoring coffee hour are also responsible for baking or purchasing the Holy Bread for the Divine Liturgy that morning. Fr. George needs the bread Saturday night as he performs the Proskomedia Service early Sunday morning before Matins. If you are unable to bake bread for your Sunday, bread can be purchased from our Ladies Society for $10. If you have the names of living or departed loved ones that you would like Fr. George to remember during the Proskomedia Service and the Great Entrance, or if you would like a Trisagion Service, please give Fr. George their names when you bring the bread to church. If you haven t sponsored a coffee hour during the past year, please consider helping us.
JUNE 4 1 Year Memorial for George Sager 11-- 18 Farewell Coffee Hour for Vickie Matthews 25-- AUGUST 6-- 13-- 20-- 27-- JULY 2-- 9-- 16-- 23-- 30-- SEPTEMBER 3-- 10-- 17-- 24-- Please remember that when it is your Coffee Hour, you are responsible for cleaning up the hall and kitchen and please remember to take any leftovers home with you so that they do not spoil in the Church Kitchen refrigerator. Coffee Hour Sponsors Needed We all enjoy the coffee hour and fellowship following the Divine Liturgy. This special time gives us the opportunity to see our fellow parishioners, catch up on the weeks' goings on, maybe set-up organization meetings, or just visit with everyone. To continue with this lovely custom, we need the support of all our families in the parish. So, please consider sponsoring a coffee hour. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, just a little something to "break our fast." Thank you, St. George Ladies Society General Assembly on Sunday, June 11 th Please remember our General Assembly and Election of Parish Council Members will be held following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 11 th. Attached to the bulletin this Sunday are several important documents that we hope you will read prior to the General Assembly. This will help us run an efficient meeting both business wise and time wise. The Tentative Agenda is as follows: AGENDA Opening Prayer and Remarks by Fr. George Quorum & last Meeting Minutes Chairman & Committee Reports (written) Financial Report Organization Reports (written) Nomination and Elections