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 Ron Hanna, Director 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 Mariam Souid, Corresponding 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 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 Mariam Souid, Chair Naim Dergham, Co-Chair Antoun Saba Marwan Sabbagh April 28, 2013 Palm Sunday Glorious and Brilliant Feast of the Entrance of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem Divine Liturgy EPISTLE Philippians 4:4-9 Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Confess to the Lord; for he is good. The Reading is from St. Paul to the Philippians BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. Th Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. Gospel John 12:1-18 (Palm Sunday) Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made a supper; Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas
Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to carry what was put into it. Jesus said, Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not have me always. When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, Hosanna! Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel! And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass s colt! His disciples didn t understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard that he had done this sign. Orthodox thought for the day For the Son of God, the Father s equal, the Word by whom all things were made, in his good pleasure to become King of Israel was a demotion not a promotion, a sign of his pity, not an increase of his power. For he who was called the King of the Jews is in heaven the King of angels. St. Augustine of Hippo The Hidden Man of the Heart I Peter 2:21-3:9 The Apostle now points out to us the hidden man of the heart (I Peter 3:4) as the object of our most painstaking concern and care. We are to adorn ourselves through the formation of this man within ourselves. What is the meaning of the hidden man of the heart? It is that man which forms in the heart when only good dispositions and feelings come to dwell therein. Examine these dispositions and feelings, and you will see the face of the man hidden in the heart. Here are these dispositions: His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness (II Peter 1:3), and on your part, giving all diligence, writes St. Peter, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge; temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love (II Peter 1:5-7). In a similar fashion St. Paul lists the inner good dispositions of the Christian heart: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22-23). Also: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts (Col. 3:12-15). Bring together all of these good things into one spiritual body with its various members, and you will see the divinely beautiful Face of the hidden man of the heart. You must fervently establish the same in your own heart. St. Theophan the Recluse, Thoughts for Each Day of the Year, p. 34 Troparion Tone 2 Celebrating the memory of Your Prophet Jeremiah, O Lord, for his sake, we entreat You to save our souls. Kontakion Tone 3 Cleansing your radiant heart through the Spirit, O great Prophet and Martyr, glorious Jeremiah, you received from on high the gift of prophecy. You cried out with a great voice to the nations: This is our God, and there is none other beside Him who became incarnate and appeared on earth.
Holy Bread The Holy Bread is offered before the Altar of God by Father Anthony for the living servants of God: Joseph, Sharon, Cayden and Alexa Lui; John, Manwella, Michael, Mark, Angela, Angelina Dergham; Hanna and Rafca Moussa; Naim and Fadwa Dergham; their children and grandchildren; Elias and Ebtisam Richie; Sami, Christine and Jeffrey Richie; George, Virginia, Amara, Ryan and Justin Daoud; Elias, Georgette, Joann, Jason and Janice Awad; Eyad, Jennifer and Eyan Alraei; Haleen, Silva, Issa and Reine Saba; Rafaat Alraei and Family; Elias Awad and Family; Emad Alraei and Family; Muhad Alraei and Family; Hiyam Alraei and Family; George, Angel, Georges, Yolla, Adrianna, Andrew, Danny, Racha, Daniella, Jack, Sandybelle and Jackson Dergham; Habeb and Nadia Habeb, their children and grandchildren; Joseph and Lamia Younes; Joseph, Silva, Marie and Joanna Younes; Abed, Jacklin, Sabagh, Elias, Tabitha, Thomas, Marianne Makhoul; Joseph Habib and Family; Nakhle, Georgette, Michael and George Awad; Ken, Maggie, Nicholas, Nthan and Alexander Abboud; Sami Layoun; Kamal and Amina Abboud; Abdo Abboud and Family; Kenneth Abboud and Family; Raouf and Joumana Chedraoui; Lillian, Hadi, Jonathan, Pierre, Jalques, Amin, Maryanna, Jacqueline and Elias Chedraoui; Malek and Morvin Nomier; Marcos and Maria; Elias and Seham Nanoah; George, Hiyam, Rehab, Resam, Simon Tabchi; Melissa Dib; Janet Hanna; Rahmeh and Nedal Tabchi; Noh, Marim Salloum; Nakhle, Marim Wehbi; Adla Hanna; Imtethal Khalouf; Farouk and Georgette Hamoui; Fazey Wakim; The Wakim Families; Anthony, Ola and Adam Youwakim; Patrick and Cecelia Mc- Carty; Linda Barber; Emad, Laudie, Fadi, Mariam and Michael Deeb; Michael Deeb and Family; Rada Khoury and Family; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Fouad Azar; Nahla Hanna and Family; Nina Minutelo and Family; Robert Azar and Family; Michael Daher and Family; Hiyam Mamari; Marbin and Karla Hadeed and Family; Salwa Hadeed; Joseph Hadeed; James, Samantha, Crystal, Priscilla and Vanessa; Georges and Saba Allan, their children and grandchildren; Rahme Hanna; Bashar Hanna and Family; Ida Akari and Family; Nayla Hague and Family; Bushra Fries and Family; Harb Khouly and Family; Elias Khouly and Family; Louceen Khouly; Gail, Bert, Jason and Albert Charlie, Jr; Sophie, Sarah, Mary, Patricia and Families; George, Sahar and Tony Dayoub; Naife Khalouf; Nour Atiyeh; Susan, Sebastian and Kyle Khalouf; Naziha Assad and Family; Afifi Skaf; 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 Georges Al-Khoury; Father George Khouli; Aziz, LouLou and Nahia Atiyeh; Jabbour, Marian, Adeeb, Maraweb, Ibrahim, Michael, Hafiza, Salma, Rafaat, Rafouh, Sadie, Jennifer, Elias, Helloun, Montaha, Farida; Mtanios, Rahme, Elias, Foutine, Michael, Elias, Toumeh, Toni, Ibrahim, Steve, Ruthy, Adla, Jack; Labebe Richie; Michael Sukar; Mariam, Nizha, Scundra and Jameel Abboud; Aziza; Yousef, Fareza, Sami, Fayez, Zakib, Hanna, Hisabah, Hanna, Nanora and Mtanios, Miriam, Hazim, Rajaj, Jergora, Zaki, Yamin; Brahim, Rasmih, Nawal, Matanios, Maria, Mossa, Zarifh, Elias Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi; Esber, Houria and Wajiha Tannous; Danny and Elias Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; Nabeeha Hanna; Alfred Hanna; Ibrahim, Janet, Mekael and Sabriah; Gereji; Joseph, Wafaa; Hanneh Nanoah; Suheil Barber; Khalil Mraish; Wajih Hanna; Hanna Daher; Jamileh Abboud; Youssef Mamari; Ghassan Dabura; Talat Layous; Fouad Assad; Zaki Skaf; 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. $ Joseph and Sharon Lui for the Easter Egg Hunt for the good health of Cayden and Alexa Lui. $ John and Manwella Dergham to Easter Eggs for the good health of their Family. $ John and Manwella Dergham to Good Friday Candles for the good health of John, Manwella, Michael, Mark, Angela, Angelina Dergham; Hanna and Rafca Moussa. $ Naim and Fadwa Dergham to Palms for their good health and the good health of their children and grandchildren. $ Elias and Ebtisam Richie to Holy Week Needs for the good health of Sami, Christine and Jeffrey Richie; George, Virginia, Amara, Ryan and Justin Daoud. $ Elias and Georgette Awad for the good health of Elias, Georgette, Joann, Jason and Janice Awad; Eyad, Jennifer and Eyan Alraei; Haleem, Silva, Issa and Reine Saba. $ Eyad and Jennifer Alraei to Sunday School for the good health of Rafaat Alraei and Family; Elias Awad and Family; Emad Alraei and Family; Muhad Alraei and Family; Hiyam Alraei and Family. $ George and Angel Dergham to the Church for the good health of George and Angel; Georges and Yolla; Adrianna, Andrew, Danny, Racha, Daniella, Jack, Sandybelle and Jackson Dergham; in loving memory of Aziz, LouLou and Nahia Atiyeh. $ Habeb Habeb to Holy Week Needs for the good health of Habeb and Nadia Habeb; their children and family. $ Joseph and Lamia Younes to the Church for the good health of Joseph and Silva Younes, daughter Marie and newborn daughter, Joanna. $ Abed and Jaklin Makhoul to Holy Week Needs for the good health of Abed, Jaklin, Sabagh, Elias, Tabitha, Thomas, Marianne Makhoul; Joseph Habib and Family; in loving memory of Jabbour, Marian, Adeeb, Maraweb; Ibrahim, Michael, Hafiza, Salma, Rafaat Rafouh; Sadie, Jennifer, Elias, Helloun, Montaha, Farida. $ Nakhle and Georgette Awad to Holy Week Needs for the good health of Nakhle, Georgette, Michael and George Awad; Ken, Maggie, Nicholas, Nathan and Alexander Abboud; Sami Layoun; in loving memory of Mtanios, Rahme, Elias, Foutine, Michael, Elias, Toumeh, Toni, Ibrahim, Steve, Ruthy, Adla, Jack. $ Kamal and Amina Abboud to Holy Week Needs for the good health of Kamal, Amina Abboud; Abdo Abboud and Family; Kenneth Abboud and Family; in loving memory of Labebe Richie; Michael, Sukar, Mariam, Nizha, Scundra and Jameel Abboud, Aziza. $ Raouf and Joumana Chedraoui to the Church for the good health of Raouf, Joumana, Lillian, Hadi, Jonathan, Pierre, Jalques, Amin, Maryanna, Jacqueline and Elias Chedraoui. $ Malek and Morvin Nomier to Palms for the good health of Marcos and Maria Nomier; in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli. $ Elias and Seham Nanoah to the Church in loving memory of Yousef, Fareza, Sami, Fayez, Zakih, Hanna, Hisabah, Hanna, Nanora and Mtanios, Miriam, Hazim, Rajaj, Jergora, Zaki, Yamin. $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to the Church for the good health of Rehab, Resam, Simon Tabchi; Melissa Dib; Janet Hanna; Rahmeh and Nedal Tabchi; Noh, Marim Salloum; Nakhle; Marim Wehbi, Adla Hanna; in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli; Brahim, Rasmih, Nawal, Matanos, Maria, Mossa, Zarifh, Elias Hanna; Sueliman and Hanna Tabchi. $ Imtethal Khalouf to the Church in loving memory of Esber, Houria and Wajiha Tannous. $ Imtethal Khalouf to the Church in loving memory of Danny and Elias Khalouf; Nabeeha Hanna; Alfred Hanna. $ Farouk and Georgette Hamoui to the Church in loving memory of Ibrahim, Janet, Mekael and Sabriah, Gereji; Joseph, Wafaa. $ Patrick and Cecelia McCarty to Holy Week incense and wine for the good health of Fazey Wakim; The Wakim Families; Anthony, Ola and Adam Youwakim; Patrick and Cecelia McCarty.
$ Linda Barber to the Church in loving memory of Hanneh Nanoah; Suheil Barber; Khalil Mraish. $ Emad Deeb to the Church in loving memory of Fr. Georges Al-Khoury; for the good health of Emad, Laudie, Fadi, Mariam and Michael Deeb; Michael Deeb and Family; Rada Khoury and Family. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher to the Church for their good health and for the good health of Fouad Azar; Nahla Hanna and Family; Nina Minutelo and Family; Robert Azar and Family; Michael Daher and Family; in loving memory of Wajih Hanna, Hanna Daher, Jamileh Abboud. $ Hiyam Mamari to the Church in loving memory of Youssef Mamari; Ghassan Dabura, Talat Layous. $ Marvin and Karla Hadeed and Family to the Church for the good health of Salwa Hadeed, Joseph Hadeed; James, Samantha, Crystal, Priscilla and Vanessa. $ George and Saba Allan to Holy Week Needs for their good health and the good health of their children and grandchildren. $ Rahme Hanna to the Church for the good health of Bashar Hanna and Family; Ida Akari and Family; Nayla Hague and Family; Bushra Fries and Family; Harb Khouly and Family; Elias Khouly and Family; Louceen Khouly. $ Gail and Albert Charlie, Jr. to the Church for the good health of Gail, Bert, Jason and Albert Charlie, Jr. and sisters Sophie, Sarah, Mary, Patricia and Families. $ George and Sahar Dayoub to the Church for the good health of Tony Dayoub. $ Naife Khalouf to the Church in loving memory of Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; for the good health of Nour Atiyeh. $ Naife Khalouf to Holy Week incense for the good health of Susan Khalouf and children, Sebastian and Kyle. $ Naziha Assad and Family to the Church in loving memory of Fouad Assad. $ Afifi Skaf to the Church in loving memory of Zaki Skaf. $ 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. St. George Church Bookstore Inspirational books Children s books Cookbooks Gifts for Birthdays Baptisms Easter Icons Cards Soap CDs Holy Bread Stamps $20 DVD: How to Make Holy Bread $12
Thank you We acknowledge with appreciation the following benefactors: Elie Kaba & Family and Marvin Hadeed & Family and Elie Floral Design 1739 W. Liberty St., Allentown, PA (610) 435-4687 www.eliefloral.com for the good health of their Families Elie donated and professionally arranged flowers used on the Good Friday Bier. His creativity, talent and generosity are very much appreciated. We also thank Marvin Hadeed & Family for their generous donation for these flowers. f Sharon & Joseph Lui Easter Eggs for the annual Church School Easter Egg Hunt for the good health of Cayden and Alexa Lui. f John & Manwella Dergham Easter Eggs for the Church for the good health of their Family. f Peter & Suzanne Zoudeh Joseph & Souha Hadeed Lazarus Saturday Breakfast Sponsors in loving memory of Laura Zoudeh, Richard Wehbey, Samantha Wehbey and Jameel Hadeed. for the good health of Cayden and Alexa Lui
Holy Week Services 2013 Holy Week Great and Holy Monday..............................April 29, 7 p.m., Bridegroom Service Great and Holy Tuesday...April 30, 7 p.m., Bridegroom Service Great and Holy Wednesday... May 1, 7 p.m., Holy Oil Annointing Service Great and Holy Thursday..., May 2, 9 a.m., Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 7 p.m., 12 Gospel Passion Service Great and Holy Friday....................... May 3, 10 a.m., Royal Hours Passion Service 3 p.m., Lowering the Body of Christ from the Cross and Burial Service; 7 p.m. Lamentations Great and Holy Saturday...May 4, 10 a.m., Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 11 p.m. Noctourns, Rush, Matins and Liturgy of Pascha Pascha (Easter Resurrection Service)... Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. Matins and Agape Vespers; Annual Easter Egg Hunt follows Easter Egg Hunt to be held next Sunday The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held immediately after services on Easter Day for all children. Easter and Holy Week items needed Please consider a donation toward Easter flowers, palms, oil, charcoal and incense for use during Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Pascha. If you would like to contribute, you can do so in any of the following ways: 1. Use the Easter Flower envelope found in your contribution envelope box. 2. Complete the form below and place it in the collection tray. 3. Mail your contribution to the Church. 4. Give a Spiritual Bouquet donation for the good health of or in memory of loved ones. Name Address Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Pascha Donation Amount $ Please print.
Mother s Day is coming! Treat mom to a delicious brunch on Mother s Day and support all the Syrian mothers who have lost loved ones. Please join us! Our chef is Nasser Sabbagh Menu to be announced at a later date. Message from Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Imagine the sadness that surrounded the death of Lazarus. The entire community was deeply affected by the grief of his passing. If became a reasonable response to the heartache and pain of this loss. As Martha expresses to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died (John 11: 21). How many times have we also found ourselves echoing the familiar word if in response to life-altering situations? If only I had listened to my parents, I would have made better choices. If she had taken a different route, she would have avoided an accident. If he had followed the advice he had been given, he would have avoided a tragedy. The same holds true for many men and women who ve been released from prison. Lamenting over the past, the word if echoes in their thoughts. For some, the ifs are too much to bear. They are unable to release themselves from pain, sorrow, shame, and regret. Martha, too, was in pain and sorrow when she responded with if. But her relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ gave her hope to believe in the presence and love of God in the midst of her personal tragedy. Her hope in Christ allowed her to say, But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you (John 11:22). Her hope in Christ proved greater than the death of her beloved brother! As the line from the Troparion of this feast proclaims, We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death; Hosanna in the Highest! As Lazarus was called forth from the grave into new life, the surrounding community was called to free him from his graveclothes (John 11:44). Those who are released from jails and prisons are not unlike Lazarus-they have been resurrected from the death of prison, but they need help to be loosed from the negative thoughts, practices, and patterns that keep them bound even though they have been pronounced free. As the Church remembers the raising of Lazarus, may we remember the gift our Lord has given each of us, freeing us from the hopelessness of death and calling us to unbind one another. Together may we encourage one another to receive the Lord s forgiveness and live in the light of the Resurrection. Let us proclaim the Kontakion of this Feast Day: Christ the Joy, the Truth and the Light of all, the Life of the World and the Resurrection has appeared in His goodness, to those on earth. He has become the image of our Resurrection, Granting divine forgiveness to all! Patrick Tutella, Chaplain Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
Tuesday, June 25, 7:05 pm Tickets: $10 Call Abe Assad (610) 737-2100 by Sunday, May 5. If we sell a minimum of 50 tickets, one lucky person from our group will be allowed to throw out the first pitch at that game. Tickets must be purchased by May 5. Time for Dance Sign-ups All children are welcome to register for our Heritage Festival Dance Troupes. Please complete this form, along with a $20 registration fee per child and register on Sundays during Coffee Hour. Watch for updates in this bulletin. Dance Troupe Registration Child s Name Parent s Name Address Phone Email 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) 439-1232 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 4/28 Robert Azar 5/3 Ava Schaller James Salibi Minerva Sabbagh Fairouz Koury Salim Saliby 4/29 George Koury Samar Daher David Jarrah Alexander James Abboud Happy Anniversary Samantha Hanna 5/2/92 5/1 Abdo Abboud Mike & Seham Hanna Nadia Davis Juhaina Saleet 5/4/02 Salwa Saliby Joseph & Sharon Lui 5/2 Joe Atiyeh We re looking for St. George Church photos In preparation for our 100th Anniversary in 2016, we d like to create a pictorial history of St. George Church and need your help. If you have a photo, either old and/or recent of the church, special events and groups, please consider submitting it to our office for consideration. Did you know? The special beeswax candles used here at St. George Church are lovingly handmade by the Nuns of Holy Protection Greek Orthodox Monastery in White Haven, Pennsylvania. Will you kindly consider a donation to help offset the cost of these candles? Your thoughtful consideration is appreciated.
Patriarchal Special Tray Offering + Palm Sunday 2013 Every year on Palm Sunday, a special Patriarchal tray offering is conducted in Antiochian parishes. The Palm Sunday special tray collection is for the benefit of the Patriarchate of Antioch, and is used at the discretion of the Patriarch to benefit people, churches, and programs of the Patriarchate of Antioch in the Middle East. Now, more than ever, this material support is crucial, as our brothers and sisters in Syria are suffering such great hardship because of the violence that has gripped the country. A significant portion of the funding that is required by the Archdiocese comes from the assessments and Special Trays which are paid by each parish to the Archdiocese on an annual basis. Orthodox Bishops abducted near Aleppo in Northern Syria Metropolitan Paul Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo and Metropolitan Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo were both abducted on Monday, April 22, near Aleppo in northern Syria, while carrying out humanitarian work unrelated to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Their driver, a church deacon, was killed during the abduction. IOCC will continue its humanitarian relief activities in Syria, but is monitoring the situation closely through its church partner, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (GOPA). We ask everyone to please pray for the safe return of Metropolitan Paul, and Metropolitan Gregorios. ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered $438 million in relief and development programs to families and communities in more than 50 countries. IOCC is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. To learn more about IOCC, visit www.iocc.org. Come for the food, stay for the music! St. George Church Festival Heritage 2013 Middle Eastern Food Thursday-Sunday June 20-23 Begins at 5 p.m. 1011 Catasauqua Ave. Allentown, PA 18102 Live Music! Rides & Games! Info: 610-439-9972 www.stgeorgeallentown.com Dance Troupes!
Food for Hungry needs your donation Look for the special collection boxes in the Church to donate to the annual Food for Hungry program during the Lenten season. Our Lord Jesus Christ instructs us to make the needs of others our own, especially the needy. They are all around us: men, women, children, the elderly, the sick, the suffering, families and individuals, next door neighbors and those in all corners of the world. During Great Lent, remember those who need us the most and proclaim that we are here to help. Almsgiving goes together with Prayer and Fasting and the Food for Hungry People program has become synonymous Pick up your collection box in the Church to with Great Lent. There is no donate to the annual Food for Hungry better time than now to show program and bring it to the Church during our fellow man the depths of Holy Week. our kindness. We thank you for allowing us to care for the needs of those less fortunate. May God bless you and your family today and always. Robin Lynn Nicholas Food for Hungry People Coordinator This Lent will you help support Project Mexico?
Antiochian Village Service Weekend 2013 May 18 19 SAVE THE DATE: We need your help!!! Join us for the weekend to help clean & prepare the camp for the coming summer! Meals and lodging will be provided. Gather your friends and join us for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and service! Friday night arrivals welcome for those traveling longer distances. Download a registration form at www.avcamp.org and register NOW! Saturday May 18 10:00 am Clean the camp! 12:30 pm Lunch 1:30 pm More cleaning 6:00 pm Great Vespers 7:00 pm Dinner 8:00 pm Evening Program Sunday May 19 8:00 am Matins 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am Brunch 11:30 am Depart Parish Life Conference 2013 On July 3-7, 2013, St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church of Emmaus, PA, is hosting the 2013 Parish Life Conference for the Dioceses of New York /Washington (Metr. PHILIP) and Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic. Information on registering to attend, participate as a vendor, as well as placing an ad in the souvenir journal and for making a donation: www.saintpaulemmaus.org/ plc-2013/ St. Paul s welcomes Orthodox Christians from throughout the dioceses of both Metropolitan PHILIP and Bishop THOMAS, as well as Orthodox Christians from other jurisdictions. Featured spiritual speakers at the PLC will include keynote speaker Prof. Christopher Veniamin (Patristics Professor at St. Tikhon s Seminary and a spiritual son of Elder Sophrony Sakharov), Samuel Noble (researcher in medieval Arabic Orthodox Christianity and doctoral candidate at Yale University) and Jonathan Jackson (General Hospital and Nashville actor and lead singer of the band Enation, as well as a convert to Orthodox Christianity). The theme of the conference is The End of History... the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). Antiochian Archdiocese Convention 2013 July 21-28 St. George Orthodox Church, Houston, TX Info: www.achouston2013.com 2013 contribution envelopes available in church hall Make sure to pick up your 2013 contribution envelopes in the church hall. Envelopes are organized by number. If you do not know your envelope number, there is an alphabetical listing of names with corresponding number provided by the contribution envelopes. To save on postage, envelopes will not be mailed.