ORTHROS: 9:00
LITURGY: 10:00
WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS Whether you are new to Bangor or if you're just passing through - welcome! Please don't hesitate to introduce yourself to someone you've never met and consider staying for some refreshments and fellowship after the morning service. If you would like to receive mailings or otherwise stay in touch, please leave your contact information (name, address, phone, email) with the person in the church office.
TODAY OUR FOCUS IS DIRECTED TO THE HOLY CROSS We are now at the mid-point of Great and Holy Lent. The veneration of the Cross service will be held at the conclusion of the morning's Orthros (just before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy at 10AM). We encourage everyone to be present to venerate the Holy Cross at that time. Blessed fresh basil will be distributed after the Divine Liturgy. Basil can be consumed or dried or kept in your icon corner. Please do not throw it away, since the leaves have been blessed during the service of veneration. Thank you.
PRE-SANCTIFIED DIVINE LITURGY WEDNESDAY at 6PM. Please fast from noon to Commune in the evening. To clarify, fasting means no food nor drink in preparation for Communion.
7PM THIS FRIDAY - FOURTH SALUTATIONS SERVICE TO THE THEOTOKOS This is the fourth Salutations service that leads us to the eventual Akathist Hymn on the fifth Friday (March 31). Come and honor the Mother of God as a community on Friday evenings during Great and Holy Lent.
THIS SATURDAY (MARCH 25) IS THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ANNUNCIATION The Virgin Mary said "Yes," to God's plan when it was presented to her by the Holy Archangel Gabriel. Let us honor the Mother of God and God's plan as revealed on this magnificent Feast. Orthros 9AM, Divine Liturgy 10AM. This feast day allows for the eating of fish as well as olive oil and wine. May it be blessed!
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM LEE, PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT Your 2023 stewardship pledge is needed. Stewardship pledges help Parish Council reasonably plan for the year. We pray you can, and will, be generous when remembering your Church and our Holy Patron, Saint George. Pledge forms are available on the candle stand. Please turn in your planned pledge to the church office TODAY if you haven't already done so. You can also indicate your yearly pledge via postal mail (90 Sanford Street, Bangor 04401) or via email Thank you - we are a family in Christ and God is with us. We can never outgive God Almighty and we are greatly blessed!
2022 BUDGET DEFICIT The 2022 financial report from Parish Council is part of this bulletin, as an insert. Please scroll down to read. It's essential that all parishioners be aware of the parish's weekly financial needs and assist in meeting them. Please let us work as a team, we have a very good track record in that way. Thank you, Lee & Parish Council
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE DESIRNG TO UNITE THEMSELVES TO ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH By the mercy of God, we plan to receive these three people as new members of the Orthodox Church in upcoming weeks: George Z. (sponsor: Lambros); Gabriya S. (sponsor: Nina F.) and Katharine G. (sponsor: Pres. Candace).
AN ORTHODOX DRAMA THAT FOCUSES ON TRUE REPENTANCE This is a quiet classic movie, not to be missed this season, subtitled in English. You can watch "Ostrov: The Island," at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz-vegualMg
And incase you did not have time to watch this last week, ON PRAYERS NOT HEEDED An instructive spiritual short story, dramatized, and subtitled in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njr4jYliR20
THE PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN During Great Lent this penitential prayer is used at the conclusion of Vespers and Great Compline (after dinner prayers):
Lord and Master of my life, cast away from me the spirit of laziness, idle curiosity, love of power & vain talk. (prostration)
But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of moderation, humility, patience, and love. (prostration)
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters.
For You are blessed forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)
12 bows / Repeat "Yes, Lord and King..." (prostration)
IF YOU WANT RED EGGS FOR PASCHA - KEEP SAVING YELLOW ONION SKINS and by the time Holy Week arrives you should have enough skins to dye Paschal eggs red (yes--onion skins will yield a beautiful red egg dye)! Have a goal to accumulate skins from 10-14 medium-large onions between now and Holy Thursday. How-to directions will be posted soon. It helps if parish families bring a dozen red eggs to the Anastasi service for Holy Pascha so there are enough to distribute and share after the service. Thank you.
REALLY? HEALTHY MELOMAKARONA SUITABLE FOR THE SEASON Yes, it's true: https://panoseats.com/the-most-delicious-healthy-paleo-melomakarona/
EASY VEGAN SALAD DRESSING / DIP Using a large dollop of vegan mayonnaise (Vegenaise is a suggested brand found in the refrigerated section of the grocery), add salt, pepper, garlic powder, dillweed, 1-2 tsp dijon mustard and a generous splash of balsamic vinegar. Mix well and taste. This is a "to taste" recipe, so don't be shy about experimenting with it. Very nice as a salad dressing and also as a dip for fresh veggie sticks or even french fries. If you miss "creamy" dressing for salad, this is a good one to try.
REMINDER - PLEASE BRING STAPLE FOODS FOR MANNA MINISTRIES WEEKLY and leave them in the church office. Remember, we have low income neighbors who need nourishing and somewhat easy to prepare items. Thank you!
FOODS REQUESTED BY MANNA MINISTRIES FOOD PANTRY They are currently in need of canned soups, pasta sauce and tuna fish. Other foods are also welcome, but those listed as especially sought now. And, they sent a hearty thank you to our St. George community for all we've been sending over in recent weeks! Again, thanks to Demetri for being our liaison with Manna. Read further in this bulletin to learn more about Manna Ministries and why we support their work.
WHAT TO COOK & EAT DURING GREAT LENT? One of the things that many people stumble over is what to eat / what to cook for the Season of Repentance (or any fasting season, really). The diet the Church guides us to follow is, largely, plant based augmented with some seafood, if desired, along with wine and olive oil, if desired, on the weekends. Nevertheless, there still seems to be the struggle of what to eat / what to prepare? May we suggest a very useful site to help answer these questions? Jill Dalton of the Whole Food Plant Based Cooking Show is a plant based cook with a family and she has created some truly delicious dishes that fit right in with the dietary guidelines of Great Lent. Visit her site: https://plantbasedcookingshow.com/ and learn how to follow and cook for a whole food, plant based, diet. Not only are Jill's recipes tasty, but they are gluten free, dairy free, oil free and sugar free. Does that sound too good to be true? It's not. You might be surprised by how easy this is to do. Anyway, before Great Lent arrives, consider visiting her site & channel and get some neat pointers and recipes to get your family through the season. This will also aid in keeping the Wednesday / Friday fasting days each week. Jill demonstrates how to cook all her recipes on YouTube, too, so it's a great learning experience. Highly recommended.
A MINISTRY TO OUR CHURCH'S NEIGHBORS Our church sits in a neighborhood where there are some obvious on-going needs. A number of lower income people living nearby rely on Manna Ministries' food pantry and soup kitchen (located in the Old Brick Church) somewhat regularly. In an effort to help the pantry help our neighbors, let us make the effort to bring some staple foods to church every Sunday and leave them in the office. We will take the donated foods down to Manna Ministries so we can be part of the effort to feed those who are hungry in our area. This is not meant to be a one-time thing, rather something we do routinely as a ministry to our neighbors. A verse from the Old Testament speaks to the needs for on-going charity, Deuteronomy 15:11, For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. And the Lord Jesus speaks about the effects of our charitable giving in Matthew 25:40, And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’ So, let us fulfill that which pleases God and He will reward the love and obedience of the giver.
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!
ROUTINE SERVICE TIMES AT ST. GEORGE Orthros/Matins (morning prayers) 9AM; Divine Liturgy 10AM.
SPECIAL PRAYER SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED Fr. will offer particular prayers for you if you are going to be traveling or are preparing to have medical procedures done (hospitalization, etc.). 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: 17 Brunswick, Ft. Fairfield, ME 04742
email: 57frleo@gmail.com
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
With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.
Saint Chrysanthus, who was from Alexandria, had been instructed in the Faith of Christ by a certain bishop. His father, who was a senator by rank and a pagan, had him shut up in prison for many days; then, seeing the unchanging disposition of his mind, he commanded that a certain young woman named Daria be brought from Athens. She was a very beautiful and learned maiden, and also an idolater, and Chrysanthus' father wedded him to her so that he might be drawn away from the Faith of Christ because of his love for her. Instead of this however, Chrysanthus drew Daria unto piety, and both of them boldly proclaimed Christ and received the crown of martyrdom in 283, during the reign of Numerian, when they were buried alive in a pit of mire.
2022 BUDGET DEFICIT REPORT
Icons of St. George
Pledge Form
Statement on the Sacredness of Human Life and its Untimely Termination
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 Ἑβραίους 4:14-16, 5:1-6.
Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες οὖν ἀρχιερέα μέγαν, διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειραμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθʼ ὁμοιότητα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν· μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν· καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτως καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀαρών. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασεν γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλʼ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε. Καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει, Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.
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 Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.
BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
Sunday of the Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.
Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."