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St. George Church
Publish Date: 2020-01-07
Bulletin Contents
News, Events and Announcements
GENERAL INFORMATION
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Metropolis of Boston News
Baptisma1cp
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St. George Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (207) 945-9588
  • Street Address:

  • 90 Sanford St

  • Bangor, ME 04401
  • Mailing Address:

  • 90 Sanford St

  • Bangor, ME 04401

Contact Information

Parish Priest Fr. Leo Schefe

57frleo@gmail.com | 207 385-3000

Services Schedule

ORTHROS: 9:00

LITURGY:  10:00

Past Bulletins


News, Events and Announcements

TODAY’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS Today we will familiarize the students with the event of Holy Theophany. Presbytera will be teaching the lesson.

TODAY IS THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS Today is held as a light fast day (because it’s Sunday) in anticipation of tomorrow’s Feast of Holy Theophany.

SERVICES TONIGHT Tonight is the Eve of Holy Theophany. Please join us at 6PM for Great Vespers and Holy Water blessing. Please bring a bottle or two to take Holy Water home with you.

SERVICES FOR HOLY THEOPHANY On Monday morning, January 6, we will pray Orthros of the Feast at 9AM with Divine Liturgy & Holy Water blessing following.

Please bring a bottle or two to take Holy Water home with you.

BLESSED NEW YEAR 2020 TO ALL! Church wall calendars are available in the narthex. Please take one or more calendars, according to your needs.

NEXT SUNDAY No formal Sunday School class next Sunday. We will be cutting the parish Vasilopita(s) in honor of the miracle of this bread. Students are encouraged to help serve Vasilopita and Presbytera will share the history of the feast during the fellowship time. This will remind and help us appreciate the miracle of the bread that much more.

PARISH VASILOPITA NEEDED Would someone(s) like to volunteer to bake this bread to share during fellowship hour next Sunday? One bread is fine, two would be even better. Please let Fr. know.

BIG THANK YOU TO ALL PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS for your consistent, faithful and prayerful service in our St. George community. Installation of members will occur this month.

PHILOXENIA HOUSE WISH LIST
The Philoxenia House, founded in 1986, is the centerpiece of the Philanthropic Ministry of the Metropolis of Boston. The Philoxenia House opens its embrace to people who find themselves in Boston for medical reasons. The Resident Guests travel from throughout the world to this “home away from home.” The common language of the Philoxenia House is the language of love, understanding, kindness and compassion. The Philoxenia House always welcomes your kind donation of the items listed below. These are items that are always kept in stock to help the home function: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2BRUIN7R1X7N0?ref_=wl_share

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Apostoliki Diakonia
Diptixa 2020 PDF


FACEBOOK PAGE Pat Claus is happy to receive items you’d like to have posted on the church’s FB page. You can submit items to her at patclaus@roadrunner.com.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO ST. GEORGE? If you are visiting our parish this morning, welcome! Orthodox Church tradition encourages Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church to approach the Holy Chalice for Communion... however, if you are not Orthodox, we ask that you please refrain. All worshipers are welcome to receive antidoron (a piece of blessed bread) immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Please stay for fellowship hour that we might get to know you.

WORSHIPING THE TRUE & LIVING GOD Worshiping the Living God, the All-Holy Trinity, is a witness of our faith in and love for Him. The Divine Liturgy is the service of thanksgiving to God. The Divine Liturgy is also the service of particular nurture for the Orthodox Christian--Christ is Present in the elements of Holy Communion. He nurtures those who approach with fear (reverence), faith and love. Those who partake of Communion receive God within. This is a great Mystery, not to be taken lightly, but one that the Orthodox Christian is bid to COME. Please avail yourself of the opportunities to worship the Lord and to receive Him in faith.

JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP HOUR DOWNSTAIRS Everyone is encouraged to come downstairs after service for refreshments. If you’re visiting, please let us treat you. We’re a family here and we all contribute toward the table weekly. So, thank you to all who have made fellowship time possible again today!

VALET PARKING Some parishioners have difficulty walking distances and find it hard to park near enough to the church on Sunday mornings.  If this applies to you, please do the following: park in the loading zone in front of the church, and come indoors with your car key and ask in the office for someone to park the car for you and you will be assisted.  We are here to help one another.  Please ask for help if needed.  Thank you. 

ROUTINE SERVICE TIMES AT ST. GEORGE Orthros/Matins (morning prayers) 9AM; Divine Liturgy 10AM.

NAME DAYS If you would like to participate in a Divine Liturgy on your Name Day, please let Fr. Leo know to arrange this beforehand.

SPECIAL PRAYER SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED Fr. can meet you here at the church and offer particular prayers for you if you are going to be traveling or are preparing to have medical procedures done (hospitalization, etc.) He is available to make hospital visits and will routinely visit those in convalescent care. Please arrange with him according to need. Thank you.

OCN  Get to know the Orthodox Christian Network
http://myocn.net/

FR. LEO'S CONTACT INFORMATION 
cell: (207) 385-3000, call or text 
Mail: 252 14th St., Bangor ME 04401 
home: (207) 307-7852 
email: 57frleo@gmail.com, frleoschefe@mail.goarch.org
Personal website:glt.goarch.org
Church website & Newsletter: http://www.stgeorge.me.goarch.org/
Weekly Bulletin: http://www.bulletinbuilder.org/stgeorgebangor/current
I am available to parishioners whenever needed; please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you. +Fr. Leo

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Saints and Feasts

Baptisma1cp
January 05

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

January 05

The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas

When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.

January 05

Righteous Syncletike of Alexandria

Saint Syncletike was from Alexandria in Egypt. She lived eighty-three years in virginity and asceticism, and became the leader and teacher of many nuns. What Saint Anthony the Great was to men, she became to women: a model of mortification of the flesh, of patience in afflictions, and of wise instruction; for this, she is known a "Amma," a title corresponding to "Abba." Towards the end of her long life, she was stricken with an exceedingly painful disease, which she endured with faith and magnanimity. She reposed in the middle of the fourth century. It is said of Saint Syncletike that she was the virgin who hid Saint Athanasius from the Arians for more than a year in the environs of Alexandria, and it is to Saint Athanasius that her life is ascribed (PG 18:1488-1557).

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Hymns of the Day

Troparion. pg. 84 in the Fourth Tone

When the tidings of the resurrection from the glorious angel was proclaimed unto the women disciples and our ancestral sentence also had been abolished to the Apostles, with boasting did they proclaim that death is vanquished evermore and Christ our God has risen from the dead and granted unto the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion of Eve of Epiphany in the Fourth Tone

River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.

APOLYTIKION FOR ST. GEORGE in the Fourth Tone

Ὡς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων ἐλευθερωτής,
καὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστής,
ἀσθενούντων ἰατρός,
βασιλέων ὑπέρμαχος,
Τροπαιοφόρε Μεγαλομάρτυς Γεώργιε,
πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ,
σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

AS the Liberator of captives,
and the protector of the poor,
a physician for the ill,
he defender of rulers,
O great Martyr, Saint George, victorious,
pray for us to Christ our God
to save our souls.

Kontakion of Sun. before Epiphany in the Fourth Tone

Today hath the Lord appeared in the courses of the Jordan, crying to John and saying, Be not dismayed at my baptism; for I have verily come to save Adam the first to be created.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Sixth Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.

Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8

᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 2019 Yearbook Now Available Online

01/09/2019

Yearbook 2019
https://www.goarch.org/-/greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america-2019-yearbook-now-available-online

Archdiocese Unveils New Youth Safety Videos & Resources

07/10/2019

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is announcing a new ten-episode video series introducing the faithful to the new Policies for the Safety of Children and Youth. These new resources also include step-by-step checklists designed to help parishioners and communities follow the new guidelines.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocese-unveils-new-youth-safety-videos-resources

Policies for the Safety of Children and Youth are Being Implemented Throughout the Archdiocese and in Every Metropolis

09/05/2019

The implementation and enforcement of the Policies for the Safety of Children and Youth take another step forward towards the goal of ensuring that every ministry and event is physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe and healthy for the children of all Greek Orthodox Churches in America.
https://www.goarch.org/-/2019-09-05-policies-for-the-safety-of-children-and-youth

Gov. Cuomo and Archbishop Elpidophoros Announce Construction to resume on St Nicholas

01/02/2020

NEW YORK – Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo officially welcomed Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to New York and announced plans to resume the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center. This was the Governor's first meeting with His Eminence since the Archbishop was elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Archbishop of America to succeed Archbishop Demetrios in May. The project will be driven by a new non-profit organization with an independent, 13-member board - the Friends of St. Nicholas. The new entity has been formed to ensure that the sacred space is completed as expeditiously as possible and can begin welcoming visitors from around the world. The Friends of St. Nicholas will aim to resume construction with a two-year target to complete the church
https://www.goarch.org/-/gov-cuomo-and-archbishop-elpidophoros-announce-construction-to-resume-on-st-nicholas
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Metropolis of Boston News

2019 Christmas Reflection of Metropolitan Methodios

12/23/2019

http://boston.goarch.org/news/metropolis_news/2019/2066.html
M e r r y C h r i s t m a s! Every year we exchange this greeting, wishing that we all have a “merry Christmas”. What we mean and what we think by these words is like a picture taken from the perfect Christmas card: sentimental caroling, sugar plums, mistletoes, and the presents wrapped under the tree. In other words, a Christmas that is more about ¬us than it is about Christ.

Patriarchal Christmas Encyclical

12/23/2019

http://boston.goarch.org/news/metropolis_news/2019/2065.html
Having once again arrived at the great feast of the Lord’s Nativity, we glorify with hymn and spiritual song the One who emptied Himself for our sake and assumed our flesh so that He might redeem us from captivity to evil and open the gates of paradise to the human race. The Church of Christ rejoices as it liturgically experiences the whole mystery of Divine Economy and receives a foretaste of the glory of the eschatological kingdom, offering a good and godly witness to faith, hope and love in the world.
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