WHAT IS THE DIVINE LITURGY (10-19-2003; 10-28-2018)

   Today’s Epistle reading that we just heard is very interesting. It is read for some Feasts of the Theotokos, including today’s Feast of ‘Agia Skepe’ or Holy Protection.

      ^9:1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. ²For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence this is called the Holy Place. ³Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. ⁴In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; ⁵above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. ⁶Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; ⁷but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.

   The passage is from Hebrews 9:1-7 and is meant to connect the Old Covenant Judiac temple with the New Covenant temple of the Virgin Mary, where Christ would dwell for nine months before His birth. This is a great example of last week’s topic on Worship and Liturgy, demonstrating that it comes from ancient Judaism.

   Literally defined, Liturgy means “work of the people”. That’s right Liturgy is work—hard work. However, it is not just any job, but a work inspired by God and for God—for His glory—that’s what makes it Divine. However, many people come to Divine Liturgy wishing to pray like they pray at home—with quiet solitude. However, as most of us know, Sunday morning in Church is about the last place you’re going to get quiet solitude. The liturgy contains many prayers, but most of them are read/prayed by the priest. The Liturgy also contains petitions, hymns/songs, readings, processions, movements and other elements. So, don’t come here on Sunday morning expecting to pray quietly by yourself. That’s what you’re supposed to do the rest of the week at home to prepare for Liturgy. We’ll talk more about this next Sunday.

   If Divine Liturgy is work, what are we working for/towards? Essentially, we are working together towards the God’s Kingdom of Heaven. That’s why the liturgy begins with “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Specifically, we are working remember the Mystical Supper of Jesus Christ and His Apostles. The way we remember it is by calling it (summoning) into our present reality and at the same time, being mystically transported into the heavenly reality of the eternal Mystical Supper. In the Gospel of Luke (22:19), at the supper before His Passion, Jesus, ¹⁹And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Celebrating the Divine Liturgy is following the command of Christ our Lord.

   Orthodox Christian liturgical prayers, just like their Jewish antecedents, tend to be very long and wordy. We spend most of the prayer re-calling or remembering God’s divine acts, revelations, and interventions in history. Then at the end, we finally get to the point, “God please do this or that!” Why is it so important for us to remember the past? Because historical consciousness is essential for future growth and learning. Someone once said, “Wisdom is knowledge tempered by experience.” God, through the Mosaic Law, the teachings of Christ and the lives of Saints and Prophets, teaches us how to live life. If we do not remember and learn from the our past and the history of our ancestors, we are bound to repeat the mistakes. Remembrance of God also helps us understand His faithfulness to us and inspire our faithfulness to Him. It is in remembering, that our faithful trust helps us come into the presence of God or vice versa.

   Divine Liturgy is celebrated every Sunday to remember the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, culminating in His Resurrection and Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Liturgy is the context by which our offering of Bread and Wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John6:53). So great is this mystery that we are left without any possible response which would express what God has done. Therefore, we offer the only answer we can: Thank you! Euxaristia! Eucharist!

   Today’s Gospel (Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28), also chosen for the Feast of the Protection is the account of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and Mary, the sisters of the Righteous Lazaros. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching. Martha was busy with trying to host Jesus and complained to Him that Mary was not helping. Jesus replied, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (41-42).

   Divine Liturgy is us coming into God’s house to kneel at the feet of Jesus and listen to His word. It the place and the moment where we lay aside all earthly cares to build a personal relationship with God in the communal prayer and worship of His Church. Sooner or later, all of our material possessions will be taken from us, even our own bodies in death. But our soul and our relationship with God cannot be taken away. Amen!

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter

1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org

November 4, 2018                                                                                                              5^TH SUNDAY OF LUKE

TODAY’S EVENTS:  Daylight Saving Time ends; Patriarchate Sunday.

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                        Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Philoptochos                                      Head Greeters: Andrea Walkush, Dan Simon

Monday       11-05     Parish Council meeting                                                                                       6:30PM

Tuesday       11-06    Catechism Class “Sacraments II-Eucharist, Liturgy, Worship, Prayer”                  7:00PM

Thursday     11-08     MEOCCA meeting at FOCUS MN in St. Paul                                                       11:00AM

                                   Twin Cities IOCC dinner at St. Mary’s GOC in Minneapolis                                    6:30PM

Saturday      11-10     Baking for Bake Sale                                                                                        9:00AM

                                   Youth Ministry meeting                                                                                  3:00PM

                                   VESPERS                                                                                                         5:00PM

                                    Teen Pre-Advent dance at St. Mary OCA Cathedral                                            6:00PM

Sunday         11-11     ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY – 8^thSUNDAY OF LUKE                         9:30AM

                                   Parish Council budget meeting                                                                     12:00PM

                                   Philoptochos meeting                                                                                  12:00PM

                                   Baking for Bake Sale                                                                                     1:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Patriarchate Sunday Today: Philoptochos will receive an offering for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Your generous donation will help support the work of the philanthropic programs and institutions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate including the Baluki Nursing home, orphanages, schools and shrines. Thank you!

Father Rick Away: is attending Metropolis Council meeting and Strategic Planning Retreat in Chicago this weekend. Please welcome Fr. John Kostas who is substituting today.

Teen Lunches for FOCUS MN: October was a successful Teen Bag-Lunch Month! Thank you to another great group of teens who helped make lunches for teen shelter last week. In October our parish made 325 lunches to help alleviate hunger. We look forward to serving this ministry again next year.

Think About It: He who seeks the forgiveness of his sins loves humility. But he who judges another strengthens his own evil deeds against himself.                                  St. Mark the Ascetic (5^th cent.)

2019 Budget: All parishioners invited to dialogue with St George Treasurer John Simon during Sunday coffee hour today. Please share your ministry's vision & financial budget for next year by providing amount and details to John Simon at 651-338-2355 or simonjohn@aol.com. Thank you!

Vespers Has Begun! Start off your Saturday evening on the right foot with Great Vespers service at 5pm. It has beautiful hymns about the Resurrection and the Saints of the day, petitions, prayers and readings but only takes 45 minutes to complete. It is an excellent preparation for Sunday Divine Liturgy.

Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. The cost of the project is $118,647. All parish council members and many others have already pledged or given their financial support. A brochure was mailed in October Glad Tidings. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!

Last day to order Fresh Phyllo! Get your order in today following liturgy. Fresh phyllo will be ready for pick up Nov. 18. Make your holiday baking easy with fresh phyllo!!

Twin Cities IOCC Dinner: Thursday, November 8, 2018, at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Come and learn how your support is helping families in Greece, Syria, Ethiopia, and right here at home in the US. Pan-Orthodox Vespers will begin at 6:00pm, followed by a reception, dinner, and special IOCC presentation at 6:30pm. Join us! Tickets are $45. For registration and sponsorship information, visit iocc.org/minneapolis.

Church Fathers Speak: The media present us daily with the Calvary of suffering humanity. Watching them should inspire us to compassion and prayer.                                          Elder Sergei of Vanves (+1987)

Pan-Orthodox Youth Dance: students in grades 6-12 are invited to a pre-Advent Dance on Saturday, November 10, at 6pm (Vespers at 5pm) at St. Mary's OCA Cathedral, 1701 5th St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.

Stelios Petrakis Trio: coming to The Cedar in Mpls on November 11, 2018 at 7:30pm. They perform Cretan music that blends cultural influences from Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Spain, and France. https://www.thecedar.org/listing-2/2018/11/11/stelios-petrakis-trio-with-special-guest

Patristic Wisdom: The rose does not speak but puts forth a strong fragrance. We too, should put forth a fragrance--a spiritual one, the fragrance of Christ. The fragrance of our deeds should be heard from far away: good, pure, righteous deeds, full of love. Only thus can the kingdom of God appear within our hearts, appearing not through words, but with power. Amen!                        St. Luke of Simferopol (+1961)

Parish Council Elections: nomination forms must be received by the Board of Elections on or before Sunday, November 11, 2018. Official notification of the Elections will be mailed by November 28, with a list of eligible candidates and of parish council members whose terms are ending. Elections will be held on Sunday, December 9, 2018. If you have any questions concerning the nomination process, please contact one of these Board of Election members: Bill Clemons, Dean Natto, Maria Paraschou, Tina Sageotis, Andrea Walkush.

Bible Study: the newly formed Bible study group will meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3pm in the conference room at St. George church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!

Missing Anything? Please check the Lost & Found area near the coat rack in the lower level for items that have been left at church. Anything not claimed by November 15 will be donated.

Wisdom from the Fathers: Beware of the mother of evil—self love! From it are born three basic passions: gluttony, lust and vanity. Many indulge in these with the excuse that they are natural bodily needs, thus giving birth to a whole swarm of other passions.                              St. Maximos the Confessor (+660)

Pan-Orthodox Thanksgiving Eve Divine Liturgy: Following our decades long tradition, clergy and laity from the Orthodox parishes in the Twin Cities and beyond will gather for annual liturgy to give thanks to and celebrate our unity in Christ our Lord on Wednesday, Nov 21 at 6pm for liturgy and a memorial service for departed clergy and spouses. Afterwards, we will share a lenten meal and honor our retired clergy and widowed spouses.

IOCC Homefront Workshop on Saturday December 8^th, 9am-12pm, at St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church. To help educate leaders about parish emergency, disaster preparedness and response. RSVP by Dec.3^rd to julie@stmarysgoc.org. For more info, dchristopulos@iocc.org or 612-308-5407.

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org