04-10-2011 - Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
Transcription
04-10-2011 - Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, Pastor Office: (216) 781-9020 Fax: (216) 781-9545 Cellular: (440) 665-6724 Archdeacon Yarid Sahley Subdeacons Sam Elias & Khalil Samara Youth Director: Priscilla Callos www.stgeorgecleveland.com Sunday, April 10, 2011 Tone 5 Eothinon 2 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt Martyrs Terence and Pompey of Carthage with Alexander and their forty companions; New-hieromartyr Gregory V, patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr Demos of Smyrna O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. WELCOME The mission of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church is to serve God and the community by commitment to the Gospel’s command to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is a parish of the Self –Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Orthodox Church follows the faith and practice of the apostles and disciples of Christ handed down by the ancient Christian fathers and twenty centuries of Church tradition. Genuine Christian life nurtures and stimulates our spiritual and moral development. The liturgical life of the Orthodox Church has been developing over the last 2000 years. By taking part in the mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection at the liturgical services, the community members are drawn to repentance and the gradual change of their inner selves. To join the community of St. George or to find out more information, please fill out the Guest Book in the Narthex. We hope this day will be spiritually rewarding for you. Fr John will be happy to answer any questions. Join us in the hall after Liturgy for our Coffee Hour and Fellowship. Bread of Oblation is offered in beloved memory of Elias, Adma, and Maggy Aboumrad by George, Nayla, Wadih, and Amanda Aboumrad. Bread of Oblation is offered for Toufic, Mary, Najeeb, + Rita Boufaissal, and Michel + Antoinette Aboukhaled by Pierre and Maha Aboukhaled. Candles are offered for the health, safety, and spiritual welfare of: V. Rev. Fr. Theodore Ziton by his family Olivia Abdallah by Teta + Jedo; and by Teen SOYO My beloved family by Emilie Easa Family and friends by Hal + Louise Bouhasin Lania Zayed + Asma Zaboura by Jack, Randa, Donna, Rana, Liana, and Nick Zaboura My family by Ragda Harb A safe trip for everybody, and for us to come back home safe by Yacoub and Nuha Bill and Laverne Ameen (anniversary prayers) by Lucy Aboid Clayton Joseph by Elie and Joumana Barbari Candles are offered in memory of: Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary + family Christine George by Leo George Edward Fadel by his wife Rita + family Edward Haddad by his wife, Evelyn My beloved family by Emilie Easa Fadel Zayed by Jack, Randa, Donna, Rana, Liana, and Nick Zaboura Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of: Olivia Abdallah, Houda Abdelkarim, Melissa Aboid, Mary Assad, Evelyn Baldassari, Camille Chamoun, Naissef & Rita Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, James Eassey, Helena Elias, Sarah Elias, Vera Elias, Dani Fadel, Anne Marie, Dave & Altair Gann, Minerva Gantose, Leo George, Peter George, Elias Ghazal, Odeh Hanna, Pauline Hanna, Ava Harb, Samia Harb,, Corrine Khouri, Hanadi Khouri, Hilweh Khourieh, Wadad Khoury, Julia Kushner, Helen Lambert, Eleanor McKibben, Fadua Mina, Joyce & Marie Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Mary Namy, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel, George Sarkes, Alvera Shiekh, John Shdeed Linda Simon, Salim Tabangi, Georgine Trombetto, Asma Zaboura. PROPER CHURCH ETIQUETTE There are certain times during the Divine Liturgy when one should refrain from entering the Church out of respect for God and the worship of His people. They are: During the Trisagion Hymn During the Epistle and readings During the Cherubic Hymn and Great Entrance During the Creed During The Anaphora—(“Let us stand aright” through “Especially our all-holy Lady.” During Holy Communion one should remain standing throughout the distribution of the gifts. If you have already received Holy Communion, please avail yourself of the “Prayers of Thanksgiving” which begin on Page 128 of the red prayer book while you wait for everyone else to receive. Coffee Hour Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Lots of dates for 2011 are open. Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary, or just a day that no one has sponsored. Antiochian Women will meet on April 14th at Charles & Joan Haddad Antiochian Women Cookbook! Give the gift of food! You may purchase your cookbooks today! the cost is$15.00. The recipes by many of our parishioners for details. Contact Amy Chalhub George at [email protected] or Linda Simon at [email protected] Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, April 10, 2011 Tone 5/ Eothinon 2 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt Martyrs Terence and Pompey of Carthage with Alexander and their forty companions; New-hieromartyr Gregory V, patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr Demos of Smyrna **Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great** RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection. THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE ) Come, let us worship, and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection. APOLYTIKION OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT IN TONE EIGHT Through thee, the divine likeness was securely preserved, O mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and follow Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body, because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels. Troparion of St. George: Tone 4 As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation.. KONTAKION FOR ORDINARY SUNDAYS IN TONE TWO O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee. The Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us. Dynamis! (With Strength) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us. THE EPISTLE Make your vows to the Lord our God, and perform them. God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (9:11-14) Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), He entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? THE GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (10:32-45) At that time, Jesus took His twelve Disciples, and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit upon Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise.” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire” And Jesus said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Thy right hand and one at Thy left, in Thy glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to ”be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. اﻟ ّﺮﺳﺎﻟَﺔ 11 ْ ْ ﯿﺲ َﻛﮭَﻨَ ٍﺔ ﻟِ ْﻠﺨَ ﯿ َْﺮا ِ ْ ي َوأَ ﱠﻣﺎ ْاﻟ َﻤ ِﺴﯿﺢَُ ،وھُ َﻮ ﻗَ ْﺪ َﺟﺎ َء َرﺋِ َ ﻮع ﺑِﯿَ ٍﺪ ،أَ ِ ت اﻟ َﻌﺘِﯿ َﺪ ِة ،ﻓَﺒِﺎﻟ َﻤ ْﺴ َﻜ ِﻦ اﻷَ ْﻋﻈَ ِﻢ َواﻷَ ْﻛ َﻤ ِﻞَ ،ﻏ ْﯿ ِﺮ اﻟ َﻤﺼْ ﻨُ ِ 12 َاس ،ﻓَ َﻮ َﺟ َﺪ ﻓِﺪَا ًء ْﺲ ِﻣ ْﻦ ھ ِﺬ ِه ْاﻟﺨَ ﻠِﯿﻘَ ِﺔَ ،وﻟَﯿ َ اﻟﱠ ِﺬي ﻟَﯿ َ س َو ُﻋﺠُﻮل ،ﺑَﻞْ ﺑِﺪ َِم ﻧَ ْﻔ ِﺴ ِﮫَ ،دﺧَ َﻞ َﻣ ﱠﺮةً َو ِ ْﺲ ﺑِﺪ َِم ﺗُﯿُﻮ ٍ اﺣ َﺪةً إِﻟَﻰ اﻷَ ْﻗﺪ ِ 13 ﺎر ِة ْاﻟ َﺠ َﺴ ِﺪ14 ،ﻓَ َﻜ ْﻢ ﱠﺴﯿﻦَ ،ﯾُﻘَ ﱢﺪسُ إِﻟَﻰ طَﮭَ َ أَﺑَ ِﺪﯾًّﺎ .ﻷَﻧﱠﮫُ إِ ْن َﻛﺎنَ َد ُم ﺛِ َ س َو َر َﻣﺎ ُد ِﻋﺠْ ﻠَ ٍﺔ َﻣﺮْ ُﺷﻮشٌ َﻋﻠَﻰ ْاﻟ ُﻤﻨَﺠ ِ ﯿﺮ ٍ ان َوﺗُﯿُﻮ ٍ ˴ ˴˸˴ϧϡ˴Ϊ͉ ˴ϗϲ͈ ˶ϟί ˵˴ϳ͋ϱ ή˶ Τ ˴ϼ ˶Α ˵ Ϝ ˴˸ϋ Ύ Ϥ ˶˵Ϫδ˴ ϔ ˵Ρϭ ˬ ϡ˵Ω ˴ϥϮ ˸ϛ˵ή˴ ˶ ˴ ϟ˸Ύ Ϳ˶ ِ Ϣﻣ ْﻦ أَ ْﻋ َﻤﺎل َﻣﯿﱢﺘَ ٍﺔ ﻟِﺘ َْﺨ ِﺪ ُﻣﻮا ﷲَ ˴ο˴ ή˵ ͋Ϭ˴τ ˵ϳˬΐ˳ ϴ ˴ϟ˸ ˶Α ˳ ή˶Αϱ ά˶͉ϟ ˶ ϴδ˶ Ϥ ﻲ! ْاﻟ َﺤ ﱠ اﻻﻧﺠﯿﻞ 32 ﺻﺎ ِﻋ ِﺪﯾﻦَ إِﻟَﻰ أُو ُر َﺷﻠِﯿ َﻢ َوﯾَﺘَﻘَ ﱠﺪ ُﻣﮭُ ْﻢ ﯾَﺴُﻮ ُ عَ ،و َﻛﺎﻧُﻮا ﯾَﺘ ََﺤﯿﱠﺮُونَ َ .وﻓِﯿ َﻤﺎ ھُ ْﻢ ﯾَ ْﺘﺒَﻌُﻮنَ َﻛﺎﻧُﻮا ﯾﻖ َ َو َﻛﺎﻧُﻮا ﻓِﻲ اﻟﻄﱠ ِﺮ ِ 33 ﯾَﺨَ ﺎﻓُﻮنَ .ﻓَﺄَﺧَ َﺬ ْ اﻻﺛﻨ َْﻲ َﻋ َﺸ َﺮ أَ ْﯾﻀًﺎ َوا ْﺑﺘَﺪَأَ ﯾَﻘُﻮ ُل ﻟَﮭُ ْﻢ َﻋ ﱠﻤﺎ َﺳﯿَﺤْ ُﺪ ُ ﺻﺎ ِﻋ ُﺪونَ إِﻟَﻰ أُو ُر َﺷﻠِﯿ َﻢَ ،واﺑ ُْﻦ ث ﻟَﮫُ» :ھَﺎ ﻧَﺤْ ُﻦ َ تَ ،وﯾُ َﺴﻠﱢ ُﻤﻮﻧَﮫُ إِﻟَﻰ اﻷُ َﻣ ِﻢ34 ،ﻓَﯿَﮭْﺰَ أُونَ ﺑِ ِﮫ َوﯾَﺠْ ﻠِ ُﺪوﻧَﮫُ ﺎن ﯾُ َﺴﻠﱠ ُﻢ إِﻟَﻰ رُؤَ َﺳﺎ ِء ْاﻟ َﻜﮭَﻨَ ِﺔ َو ْاﻟ َﻜﺘَﺒَ ِﺔ ،ﻓَﯿَﺤْ ُﻜ ُﻤﻮنَ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿ ِﮫ ﺑِ ْﺎﻟ َﻤﻮْ ِ اﻹ ْﻧ َﺴ ِ ِ ْ ﱠ ُ ْ ُ ُ ُ ْ ُ َ ﺚ ﯾَﻘﻮ ُم«. َوﯾَﺘﻔﻠﻮنَ َﻋﻠ ْﯿ ِﮫ َوﯾَﻘﺘﻠﻮﻧَﮫَُ ،وﻓِﻲ اﻟﯿَﻮْ ِم اﻟﺜﺎﻟِ ِ 36 35 ﺎل ﻟَﮭُ َﻤﺎَ »:ﻣﺎ َذا ُﻮﺣﻨﱠﺎ ا ْﺑﻨَﺎ زَ ْﺑ ِﺪي ﻗَﺎﺋِﻠَﯿ ِْﻦ»:ﯾَﺎ ُﻣ َﻌﻠﱢ ُﻢ ،ﻧُ ِﺮﯾ ُﺪ أَ ْن ﺗَ ْﻔ َﻌ َﻞ ﻟَﻨَﺎ ُﻛ ﱠﻞ َﻣﺎ طَﻠَ ْﺒﻨَﺎ« .ﻓَﻘَ َ َوﺗَﻘَ ﱠﺪ َم إِﻟَ ْﯿ ِﮫ ﯾَ ْﻌﻘُﻮبُ َوﯾ َ 38 37 ﺎل ﺎركَ ﻓِﻲ َﻣﺠْ ِﺪكَ « .ﻓَﻘَ َ َان أَ ْن أَ ْﻓ َﻌ َﻞ ﻟَ ُﻜ َﻤﺎ؟« ﻓَﻘَﺎﻻَ ﻟَﮫُ»:أَ ْﻋ ِﻄﻨَﺎ أَ ْن ﻧَﺠْ ﻠِ َ ﺲ َو ِ ﺗُ ِﺮﯾﺪ ِ اﺣ ٌﺪ ﻋ َْﻦ ﯾَ ِﻤﯿﻨِﻚَ َواﻵﺧَ ُﺮ ﻋ َْﻦ ﯾَ َﺴ ِ ﺎن َﻣﺎ ﺗ ْ ﻟَﮭُ َﻤﺎ ﯾَﺴُﻮ ُ س اﻟﱠﺘِﻲ أَ ْﺷ َﺮﺑُﮭَﺎ أَﻧَﺎَ ،وأَ ْن ﺗَﺼْ ﻄَﺒِﻐَﺎ ﺑِﺎﻟﺼﱢ ْﺒ َﻐ ِﺔ اﻟﱠﺘِﻲ ﺎن أَ ْن ﺗَ ْﺸ َﺮﺑَﺎ ْاﻟ َﻜﺄْ َ ﺎن .أَﺗَ ْﺴﺘ َِﻄﯿ َﻌ ِ َﻄﻠُﺒَ ِ ع»:ﻟَ ْﺴﺘُ َﻤﺎ ﺗَ ْﻌﻠَ َﻤ ِ 39 ﺎل ﻟَﮭُ َﻤﺎ ﯾَﺴُﻮ ُ ع»:أَ ﱠﻣﺎ ْاﻟ َﻜﺄْسُ اﻟﱠﺘِﻲ أَ ْﺷ َﺮﺑُﮭَﺎ أَﻧَﺎ ﻓَﺘَ ْﺸ َﺮﺑَﺎﻧِﮭَﺎَ ،وﺑَﺎﻟﺼﱢ ْﺒ َﻐ ِﺔ اﻟﱠﺘِﻲ أَﺻْ ﻄَﺒ ُﻎ ﺑِﮭَﺎ أَﻧَﺎ؟« ﻓَﻘَﺎﻻَ ﻟَﮫُ» :ﻧَ ْﺴﺘ َِﻄﯿ ُﻊ« .ﻓَﻘَ َ 40 ْﺲ ﻟِﻲ أَ ْن أُ ْﻋ ِﻄﯿَﮫُ إِﻻﱠ ﻟِﻠﱠ ِﺬﯾﻦَ أُ ِﻋ ﱠﺪ ﻟَﮭُ ْﻢ«. ﺎري ﻓَﻠَﯿ َ أَﺻْ ﻄَﺒ ُﻎ ﺑِﮭَﺎ أَﻧَﺎ ﺗَﺼْ ﻄَﺒِﻐ ِ َﺎنَ .وأَ ﱠﻣﺎ ْاﻟ ُﺠﻠُﻮسُ ﻋ َْﻦ ﯾَ ِﻤﯿﻨِﻲ َوﻋ َْﻦ ﯾَ َﺴ ِ 41 ُﻮﺣﻨﱠﺎ42 .ﻓَ َﺪﻋَﺎھُ ْﻢ ﯾَﺴُﻮ ُ ﺎل ﻟَﮭُ ْﻢ» :أَ ْﻧﺘُ ْﻢ ﺗَ ْﻌﻠَ ُﻤﻮنَ أَ ﱠن ع َوﻗَ َ ﻮب َوﯾ َ َوﻟَ ﱠﻤﺎ َﺳ ِﻤ َﻊ ْاﻟ َﻌ َﺸ َﺮةُ ا ْﺑﺘَﺪَأُوا ﯾَ ْﻐﺘَﺎظُﻮنَ ِﻣ ْﻦ أَﺟْ ِﻞ ﯾَ ْﻌﻘُ َ اﻟﱠ ِﺬﯾﻦَ ﯾُﺤْ َﺴﺒُﻮنَ رُؤَ َﺳﺎ َء اﻷُ َﻣ ِﻢ ﯾَﺴُﻮ ُدوﻧَﮭُ ْﻢَ ،وأَ ﱠن ُﻋﻈَ َﻤﺎ َءھُ ْﻢ ﯾَﺘَ َﺴﻠﱠﻄُﻮنَ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿ ِﮭ ْﻢ43 .ﻓَﻼَ ﯾَ ُﻜ ُ ﻮن ھ َﻜ َﺬا ﻓِﯿ ُﻜ ْﻢ .ﺑَﻞْ َﻣ ْﻦ أَ َرا َد أَ ْن 45 44 ﯿﺮ ﻓِﯿ ُﻜ ْﻢ أَ ﱠوﻻً ،ﯾَ ُﻜ ُ ْ َﻈﯿ ًﻤﺎ ،ﯾَ ُﻜ ُ ﺎن ﺼ َ ﺼ َ ﻮن ﻟَ ُﻜ ْﻢ ﺧَ ﺎ ِد ًﻣﺎَ ،و َﻣ ْﻦ أَ َرا َد أَ ْن ﯾَ ِ ﯿﺮ ﻓِﯿ ُﻜ ْﻢ ﻋ ِ ﯾَ ِ اﻹ ْﻧ َﺴ ِ ﯿﻊ َﻋ ْﺒﺪًا .ﻷَ ﱠن ا ْﺑﻦَ ِ ﻮن ﻟِﻠ َﺠ ِﻤ ِ ﯿﺮﯾﻦَ «. أَ ْﯾﻀًﺎ ﻟَ ْﻢ ﯾَﺄْ ِ ت ﻟِﯿ ُْﺨ َﺪ َم ﺑَﻞْ ﻟِﯿَ ْﺨ ِﺪ َم َوﻟِﯿَ ْﺒ ِﺬ َل ﻧَ ْﻔ َﺴﮫُ ﻓِ ْﺪﯾَﺔً ﻋ َْﻦ َﻛﺜِ ِ ST. BASIL LITURGY MEGALYNARION In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed Temple and super-sensual paradise, glory of Virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne, and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee. The Koinonikon Praise ye the Lord from the Heavens; praise ye Him in the highest. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Post-Communion We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit. We have found the true Faith. Worshipping the undivided Trinity; for he hath saved us. UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES Monday April 11th, English Great Compline @ 6:30 pm Tuesday April 12th,Arabic Great Compline @ 6:30 pm Wednesday April 13th, Presanctfied Liturgy @ 6:30pm Fridays April 15th, Vespers Service @ 6:30 pm LAZARUS SATURDAY, April 16th, Liturgy @ 10:30 am SATURDAY April 16th, Vespers @ 5:30 pm PALM SUNDAY, April 17, 2011 Matins @ 9:30 am Liturgy @ 10:30 am SUNDAY April 17th, Bridegroom Service @ 7:00 pm Confessions will be heard on Sunday Mornings before Liturgy starts or by appointment. “With fear of God, faith And love draw near”. Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you . We are waiting for you. Come for Confession, Start fresh. Worship and Children How can parents make participation in the Liturgy and other services meaningful for younger children, who often fuss and distract others? Sit up front. Help your children see what’s going on by taking a seat in the front pews near the aisle; don’t expect children to sit still, and don’t be afraid to “take a break” if your children need one. Read along with children. Use the liturgy books provided in the pews, or better yet a children’s liturgy book filled with pictures and responses. Find the epistle and gospel readings in your Bulletin and follow the reading with them. Sing with your children. If your children are young, encourage them to sing simple responses, like the Alleluias or Amen. If they are older, point to the words (and music if your liturgy book provides) and encourage them to sing along, even if they’re off-key. Help them notice what’s going on. Call your children’s attention to the priest, icons and seasonal colors. Point out the Little- and Great Entrance, the Consecration, and other key parts of the service. Help children participate. Help them to memorize common responses at home, like the litany and the Lord’s Prayer so they can be part of the service, too. Save the Date September 17, 2011 St. George Church 100th Anniversary THE LENTEN SEASON Once again, we continue our journey through Lent, on the Road to the heavenly gates of the Kingdom, in the Feast of Feasts: PASCHA! It is a journey that only you can take for yourself, for the reward you receive is based solely on the effort you put into it. Therefore, we encourage you to make the following a part of your daily and weekly experience as we continue through this Lenten season: DAILY PRAYER: Please remember your morning and evening prayers, including prayers for our bishops, our clergy and their families, your Parish Council and all parishioners, the sick and suffering, those who hate us and those who love, us, those who are kind to us and minister to us, and all those in need of God's mercy; and especially St. Ephraim's Prayer. THE WORD OF GOD: When you come to pray, take 10 more minutes and read the Word of the Lord. You can start with a few chapters each day from the Psalms, the Proverbs, the Book of Job, or the Gospel according to St. Luke. But whatever it is, READ IT, and ask questions on those areas you find difficult. THE WEEKDAY SERVICES: GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE TO YOU! Great Compline, Monday evenings, 6:30PM; Arabic Great Compline, Tuesday evenings, 6:30PM, a uniquely peaceful time of prayers. 2) Pre-sanctified Liturgy, Wednesday evening, 6:30PM for strength at mid-week (Fasting begins after the noon meal). 3) Akathist (Madayeh), Friday evening, 6:30PM supplication to the Virgin Mary, followed by our Organizations’ Lenten Suppers . On Friday evening, April 15th at 6:30PM we celebrate Great Vespers for St. Lazarus. On Lazarus Saturday, April 16th we celebrate Liturgy at 10:30 AM Breakfast to follow. 5) Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, Sunday morning, 10:30AM. 6) Holy Week Services (schedule will be published later). THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION: Repentance is the door to salvation. Without it, we remain a lost sheep, and lose all hope of tasting the Fountain of Life; but with it we find the Door of Paradise, and the angels and the saints at the eternal Banquet Feast of the Lord. During Holy Week confessions will be heard after evening services though Holy Friday evening and by appointment. There will be no confession after Holy Friday evening. CHARITY AND GOOD WORKS: Basically, this is LOVING one another, with the same kind of Love Jesus showed us. (Read 1 Corinthians 13, James and 1John.) FASTING: A necessary ingredient to this season. Please try to abstain this season from any meat and if possible dairy products, and gain control over your earthly passions. Then, share what you didn't eat with those who have nothing. Remember to "feed" your Food For Hungry Box each day with your children, and teach them how to care for the poor. Saint Mary of Egypt Our venerable mother Mary of Egypt was a desert ascetic who repented of a life of prostitution. She lived during the sixth century, and passed away in a remarkable manner in 522. The Church celebrates her feast day on the day of her repose, April 1; additionally, she is commemorated on theSunday of St. Mary of Egypt, the fifth Sunday in Great Lent. Her Life She began her life as a young woman who followed the passions of the body, running away from her parents at age twelve for Alexandria. There she lived as a harlot for seventeen years, refusing money from the men that she copulated with, instead living by begging and spinning flax. One day, however, she met a group of young men heading toward the sea to sail to Jerusalem for theveneration of the Holy Cross. Mary went along for the ride, seducing the men as they traveled for the fun of it. But when the group reached Jerusalem and actually went towards the church, Mary was prohibited from entering by an unseen force. After three such attempts, she remained outside on the church patio, where she looked up and saw an icon of the Theotokos. She began to weep and prayed with all her might that the Theotokos might allow her to see the True Cross; afterwards, she promised, she would renounce her worldly desires and go wherever the Theotokos may lead her. After this heart-felt conversion at the doors of the church, she fled into the desert to live as an ascetic. She survived for years on only three loaves of bread and thereafter on scarce herbs of the land. For another seventeen years, Mary was tormented by "wild beasts—mad desires and passions." After these years of temptation, however, she overcame the passions and was led by the Theotokos in all things. Following 47 years in solitude, she met the priest St. Zosima in the desert, who pleaded with her to tell him of her life. She recounted her story with great humility while also emonstrating her gift of clairvoyance; she knew who Zosima was and his life story despite never having met him before. Finally, she asked Zosima to meet her again the following year at sunset on Holy Thursday by the banks of the Jordan. Zosima did exactly this, though he began to doubt his experience as the sun began to go that night. Then Mary appeared on the opposite side of the Jordan; crossing herself, she miraculously walked across the water and met Zosima. When he attempted to bow, she rebuked him, saying that as a priest he was far superior, and furthermore, he was holding the Holy Mysteries. Mary then received communion and walked back across the Jordan after giving Zosima instructions about his monastery and that he should return to where they first met exactly a year later. When he did so, he found Mary's body with a message written on the sand asking him for burial and revealing that she had died immediately after receiving the Holy Mysteries the year before (and thus had been miraculously transported to the spot where she now lay). So Zosima, amazed, began to dig, but soon tired; then a lion approached and began to help him, that is, after Zosima had recovered from his fear of the creature. Thus St. Mary of Egypt was buried. Zosima returned to the monastery, told all he had seen, and improved the faults of themonks and abbot there. He died at almost a hundred years old in the same monastery. Later, the story of Mary's life was written down by St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Life of St. Mary of Egypt is read during Great Lent along with the Great Canon of St. Andrew. A way to overcome bitterness………. Overcoming bitterness seems to be one of the toughest battles you have had to face. Are you still plagued today with a secret bitterness that just won't let go? Do you bear the tell-tale signs of this unresolved condition, such as cynicism and sarcasm? A bitter person can also be given to emotional extremes, relentless in his strivings, harshly reproachful and full of underlying anger. If you have ever tasted straight vinegar, you know it's very bitter...but imagine mixing vinegar with gall (the bile of an animal). When Jesus was on the cross, it was after He received this bitter cup that He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). I've often wondered if this symbolized that bitterness was the last thing that Jesus overcame on the cross. If you are suffering from symptoms of bitterness, remember that, even if it was the last thing He tackled, Jesus totally overcame it on the cross; God also illustrated this point through the children of Israel. Remember when they came to Marah, "They could not drink its water because it was bitter...Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water and the water became sweet" (Exodus 15:23-25-NLT). The piece of wood in this story represents the cross...the cross of Christ which, when applied to your life, can make even the most bitter waters of your heart sweet. Hold this promise in your heart on this day and let His cross wipe out any bitterness hidden there. MEMO TO ALL PARISHIONERS The Lenten season is now upon us, and soon Holy Week & Pascha will be here as well. There are many things that the church needs for all of our special services, and we ask for your participation and support. If you would like to offer a donation to St. George for the health or in memory of, any of your family members or friends, please fill out the form below and send it the the church office as soon as possible. We thank you and pray that you experience a rewarding and fruitful Lenten season and celebration of our Lord’s Holy Resurrection. OFFERINGS FOR LENT AND HOLY PASCHA I / We would like to offer a donation of $_________ toward the following: _____ Flowers _____Bread _____Lilies _____Wine _____Oil _____Palms _____Eggs _____Votive Candles For the health, safety, and spiritual welfare of: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ __________________ In beloved memory of: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Given by: ______________________________________________________________ Teens News BIBLE BOWL TEAM Chapters 13-18 today!! And by the way: only two months ‘til the conference! Are you ready to rally??!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS: April 22-23: Good Friday vigil May 1: SOYO meeting May 13: Bowling! (7pm) PARENTS: THERE’S STILL TIME!!! In our continuing efforts with the Orthodox Christian Coalition for Healthy Youth, we’re asking that you take 3-5 minutes to complete this brief online survey about your child or teen. All responses will be completely anonymous. http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/parents/ In XC, Priscilla The Joseph Haddad Memorial Scholarship is open to all 2011 High School Graduates who have maintained a 3.3 Grade Point Average through High School, religious involvement in youth church activities and whose parents have been members of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church for at least 3 years. Applications may be obtained by calling the church office at 216-781-9020.