Sunday Morning Orthros/Matins 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am; Saturday Great Vespers 5:00pm (October thru May); Weekday Services (see Online Calendar, Sunday Bulletin & Monthly Newsletter); Confession (by appointment).
As the deliverer of captives, and the protector of the poor; a physician of the sick, the defender of kings; O Great Martyr St. George Victorious, intercede to Christ our God, to save our souls.
Yesterday we celebrated the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple; today we honor the righteous Elder Symeon and Prophetess Anna, who prophesied concerning Him by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and were the first in Jerusalem to receive Him as the Messiah.
Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Prokeimenon. 3rd Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10.
Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
16th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 25:14-30
The Lord said this parable: "A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." As he said these things he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, through its National Department of Greek Education and the Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Education, organizes several events in celebration of the Feast of the Three Hierarchs and the Day of Greek Letters.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We give glory and thanksgiving to God on this blessed commemoration as we honor the memory of three holy luminaries who continue to guide and inspire us through the wisdom of their teaching and the sanctity of their lives. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, recognized in the tradition of our faith as the Three Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, offer to us through the witness of their lives beautiful examples of commitment to God and service to Him and others through the power of His divine love. Through their work as pastors and faithful stewards of the people of God, they are true images of the grace revealed to us by Christ. As skilled and prayerful theologians, they show us that the path of faith and truth is followed by those who are transformed by God’s love and offer it to others.
14. LET US COMPLETE OUR PRAYER TO THE LORD (5-9-2004; 1-27-2019)
Right after the Great Entrance, the first petition says, “Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.” For the uninitiated, they might think, “O great, we’re getting close to the end.” We too, after thirteen weeks of talking about the Divine Liturgy, might be thinking something similar. Not so fast though. Orthodox Christians know that virtually nothing in our tradition goes fast or quickly. I heard one person say that Orthodox time is ‘geologic.’ Yet, take a moment to reflect on the depth and richness of our Faith and worship. It’s an endless land of riches that can be explored for a lifetime and beyond. It can never be exhausted. If it was, we would get bored pretty quickly. If we are experiencing boredom, it’s due to the disposition of our heart and soul, not the worship and traditions of our Orthodox Faith.
Worship is not entertainment. And there is a direct positive correlation between what we gain from worship and the effort we put into it. Worship is like exercise. We can’t just walk into a health club like Lifetime, Anytime Fitness or the YMCA and automatically get in shape. Likewise, in the spiritual life we must exert great effort to pray, sing and concentrate. The good exercise and diet habits established at the health club, must be implemented throughout the week. If we don’t stretch, exercise and eat right at home, exercising at the health club will be more difficult and less effective. Same thing with church and worship. We must pray, read and fast at home in order to exert ourselves 100% in liturgy to gain the maximum benefit possible.
Anyways, returning to completing our prayer to the Lord, this set of petitions after the Great Entrance is called the ‘Plerotika’ in Greek or ‘Litany of Completion,’ named after the first word of the first petition. The rest of the petitions have a more personal tone, praying for such things as a holy, perfect, peaceful and sinless day, protection by our guardian angel, forgiveness, good things for our souls, peace in the world & our lives, repentance, a Christian end to our lives and a good account before the Judgment Seat of Christ. These petitions are eschatological--that is, they deal with our ultimate destiny at the end of our earthly life and at the Second Coming. They address the problems of our present situation that may determine the final disposition of our existence. For this reason, the response of the people take on a more urgent tone, moving from “Lord have mercy,” to “Grant this, O Lord.”
At the end of the petition, the priest prays:
“Lord God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept a sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart. Receive also the prayer of us sinners and let it reach Your holy altar. Enable us to bring before You gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the transgressions of the people. Make us worthy to find grace in Your presence so that our sacrifice may be pleasing to You and that Your good and gracious Spirit may abide with us, with the gifts here presented and with all Your people.”
Prayer of the Proskomide (Basil)
“Lord our God, You created us and brought us into this life. You have shown us the way to salvation and have bestowed upon us the revelation of heavenly mysteries. You have appointed us to this service by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Grant therefore, O Lord that we may be accepted as servants of Your new Covenant and ministers of Your holy mysteries. Accept us as we draw near to Your holy altar according to the multitude of Your mercy, that we may be worthy to offer You this spiritual sacrifice without the shedding of blood, for our sins and for the transgressions of Your people. Grant that, having accepted this sacrifice upon Your holy, heavenly, and spiritual altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, You may in return send down upon us the grace of Your Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and consider our worship; and accept it as You accepted the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the burnt offerings of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, and the peace offerings of Samuel. As You accepted this true worship from Your holy apostles, accept also in Your goodness, O Lord, these gifts from the hands of us sinners, that being deemed worthy to serve at Your holy altar without blame, we may obtain the reward of the faithful stewards on the fearful day of Your just judgment.”
Besides themes that we have previously mentioned in our sermon series, we see quite prominently here the mediatorial role of the priest between God and the people. Some may say, “I don’t need a priest or a minister to mediate for me. I can pray directly to God.” On one hand, that is true, we can, and we should pray directly to God. On the other hand, name one Christian denomination or even major non-Christian religion that does not employ a priest, a minister or a shaman to pray for people, especially in corporate worship. In Judaism and Christianity, we know the role of the priest is part of God’s design for worship. The fact that the same happens in other religions reveals God’s design for worship that is imprinted upon every human person. Basil’s prayer here speaks to the history of worship, from ancient Israel to the early Church, up to and including our present liturgy. It also speaks to our sought-after goal of salvation and eternal life at the Second Coming.
After this prayer, the priest turns to the people, blesses them and exclaims, “Peace be with you all.” The people respond, “And with your spirit.” This is a remembrance of Christ’s granting peace to His disciples (John 20:21). The fingers of the priest’s right hand are articulated to form the Greek letters “ICXC,” the first and last letters of the two words: Jesus Christ. Thus, the priest fulfills his iconic form by granting, not his own peace, but the peace of Christ Himself. The gesture is reciprocal as the people pray that the same peace be granted to the priest. All of us together must strive for the peace of Christ in our hearts and minds because without it, we cannot approach the Throne of God with any guile, hatred, impurity, doubt or despair. We must be reconciled to one another, we must be one body in Christ without difference or distinction between us. We must be one family: brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers—united not by blood, but by love and peace as adopted children of God.
This is expressed tangibly amongst the concelebrating clergy with the Kiss of Peace after the priest says, “Let us love one another, so that with one mind we may confess.” The people respond, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the consubstantial and undivided Trinity.” The priest bows and reverently kisses the Gifts saying, “I will love You Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Foundation, my Fortress and my Deliverer.” The concelebrating clergy say to one another, “Christ is in our midst.” And the response is “He was, He is and forever shall be.”
Next, the priest exclaims, “The Doors, the Doors, in wisdom, let us be attentive.” This phrase hearkens back to the early times of persecution, when at this point the doors to the Church were shut and locked to keep out all who were not believers, and who might betray the Church. Later, it became the time to make sure all the catechumens left the sanctuary, for they were not baptized and could not receive the Eucharist.
During the recitation of the Creed, the priest lifts up the Aer and holds it extended over the Holy Gifts, waving it with a fanning or vibrating motion. On completion of the Creed, the veil is folded, kissed reverently and laid to one side of the altar table. This action is to symbolize the rolling away of the stone from the tomb, by which Jesus rose from the grave—unto life. Just as the removal of the veil of the Gifts allows us access to new life in the reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Let us close today with a brief examination of The Creed, also known in Greek as “To Pisteuvo” again because it’s the first word. The official name is “The Symbol of Faith” because it is concise summary of the central doctrines and dogmas of the Christian Faith. It was originally drafted at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325AD. The bishops gathered in response to the prevailing heresy of that time- Arianism. It was added to at the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381AD. Thus, it is also known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. I will recite the Creed and interpolate some explanatory comments.
“I believe (not, I know) in one God (MONOTHEISM, not Polytheism), the Father Almighty (1ST PERSON & SOURCE OF HOLY TRINITY), Maker of heaven and earth (CREATOR OF ALL). And in one Lord (MASTER) Jesus (SAVIOR) Christ (ANOINTED ONE), the only-begotten Son of God (2ND PERSON OF HOLY TRINITY), begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made (CO-ETERNAL & CO-EQUAL W/ GOD THE FATHER, not an Arian created God). Who for us men (HUMANKIND) and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man (INCARNATION). He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried (CRUCIFIXION-SACRIFICE-HISTORICAL). On the third day He rose (RESURRECTION) according to the Scriptures (AUTHORITY OF BIBLE). Who ascended (ASCENSION) into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again (PAROUSIA- SECOND COMING) in glory to judge (JUDGMENT) the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets (3RD PERSON OF HOLY TRINITY). In one, holy (FROM GOD, NOT MAN), catholic (WHOLE, UNIVERSAL), and apostolic (FOUNDED APOSTLES & THEIR TEACHING TRADITION) Church (WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH). I accept one baptism (1ST SACRAMENT) for the remission of sins. I look (EXPECTATION, ANTICIPATION, PREPARATION) for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the age to come. (ULTIMATE DESTINY—ESTABLISHMENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM ON EARTH AND ETERNAL LIFE). Amen!
If anyone asks, what do Orthodox Christians believe, or what do you believe? Start with the Creed. Now, let us complete our prayer to the Lord. 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
February 3, 2019 16th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
TODAY’S EVENTS Godparent/Godchild Sunday 11am; Philoptochos meeting 12pm; Final basketball practice at St. Paul Downtown YMCA 12:30pm; Greek dance practice 4:30pm.
Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati Prosfora: anonymous
Fellowship: Parish Council Head Greeters: Yodahe Gamada & Alexis Bighley
Monday 02-04 Office Closed (every Monday for next three months)
Loaves & Fishes at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church 4:30PM
Catechism Class “Christ I- Incarnation, Theotokos & Saints” w Fr. Mangels 7:00PM
Wednesday 02-06 Bible Study 1:30PM
Strategic Planning committee meeting 6:30 PM
Friday 02-08 GOYAL Basketball Tournament in Milwaukee, WI through Feb 10
Saturday 02-09 VESPERS 5:00PM
Sunday 02-10 ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY – SUNDAY OF CANAANITE 9:30AM
Greek Dance practice 4:30PM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Godparent/Godchild Sunday Today! All godparents and godchildren are invited to participate in divine liturgy together beginning at 9:30am. Please be properly prepared if planning to receive Eucharist. A lunch will be prepared and served by the parish council afterwards. Freewill donations are welcome. Thank you!
Souperbowl Sunday Today: annual IOCC Souper Bowl of Caring. We encourage everyone and especially our youth to donate nonperishable items for local foodbank and donate to IOCC. Carol Alexis is coordinating. Donations and items may be dropped-off in the exo-narthex. Thanks for being generous!
Philoptochos: will meet in conference room today after the liturgy and luncheon. All are welcome!
Think About It: Blessed are those who have Christ as the axis of their heart and joyfully revolve around His name. St. Paisios the Athonite (+1994)
Basketball Practices: final practice today from 12:30-2:30pm at St. Paul Downtown YMCA, 194 Sixth St E, St Paul, MN 55101. Coaches for Boys- Milam Paraschou & George Mastrogiorgis, JOY Coed- Elena Condos, Men- Luke Simon. Register for the tournament and book hotels now! Contact Dan Simon to confirm registration.
2019 Basketball Tourney: hosted by Annunciation Church, Milwaukee, February 8-10. Player Registration, click here. Meal registration is separate click here. Weekend Package is $110/adult, $60/child until Jan 28. Rooms $119/night at the Brookfield Hotel, 262-364-1100 or here. Questions? 2019greekbball@gmail.com.
New Office Hours: starting tomorrow, the church office will be open Tuesday-Friday, 9am to 5pm. The office will be closed on Mondays. This will be in place for a three-month trial period. Please contact Fr. Rick or parish council member if any questions or concerns.
Loaves and Fishes: tomorrow we will be serving our first meal of 2019. Volunteers always needed starting at 4:30pm. We serve meals 5-6pm and clean-up is done by 7pm. This month’s meal donated by Mrs. Theologia Pitsavas in loving memory of her husband Bill. Thank you so much, may his memory be eternal!
Bible Study: meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3pm in the conference room at church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Stewardship 2019: Theme is “All things are possible to the one who believes in Christ” (Mark 9:23). 53 pledges have been received averaging $1,902, total $100,855. Three things to do: 1) pray for God’s inspiration and guidance, 2) plan-budget stewardship first, 3) give generously and sacrificially, at least three percent (3%) of gross yearly income. We thank you for supporting the ministries of our parish!
Wisdom from the Fathers: If you want Christ to bless you, then give food and assistance to the hungry, poor, widow, orphan. Do not wait for them to ask you. Give with pleasure. Do not be afraid that you may become indigent. Have faith in Christ and you shall never starve nor be in want. St. Arsenios of Paros (+1877)
Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. Cost of project is $118,647. We have raised over $72,505 from our parishioners and friends. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!
Youth Minister Position Open: applications are now being accepted for this part time position. To apply, email a resume, cover letter and two references to Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org.
Youth Ministry Updates: next Youth & Family night will be February 23rd focusing on St. Photini the Samaritan Woman. Future youth & family events will be March 23rd, April 20 & 26, and May 11. Next organizational planning meeting will be Wed. Feb.27th 6:30pm, then Mon. March 25th 7pm, & Wed. May 15th.
FOCUS MN Update: Volunteers opportunities at new home 550 Rice Street in St. Paul: team leader and workers to renovate kitchen and food shelf area- contact Vera at 651-324-2705 or vsproctor@gmail.com. On Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays 10am – 2pm volunteer to unpack and sort donations, clean, make minor repairs and more. Contact Kathy Schtowchan, 651-343-4183 or k.schtowchan@comcast.net.
Church Fathers Speak: He who desires to acquire love must first reject every angry and malicious thought—not to mention actions and words—and must forgive all offenses—just and unjust. St. Nikon of Optina (+1931)
2019 Pilgrimage to The Holy Land: Tom and Mary Rudquist of St. George Antiochian Church will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land September 17-26, 2019 that includes 3 nights in the Old City of Jerusalem; 3 nights in Bethlehem, and 2 nights in Nazareth. Cost is $1450 plus tips and airfare; includes hotels, transportation, entry fees, all breakfasts and dinners, 2 lunches and boat ride on Sea of Galilee. Limit is 25 participants; please confirm by March 15. For more info contact Tom or Mary at 651-890-6817 or abousean@yahoo.com.
Metropolis Clergy Laity: The St. George and St. Mary Church communities will co-host in the Twin Cities September 25-29, 2019. Alexis Bighley will co-chair. Hotel is Hyatt Regency in Bloomington.
Patristic Wisdom: The ignorance of the Scriptures is a great cliff and a deep abyss. To know nothing of the divine laws is a great betrayal of salvation. This has given birth to heresies and corrupt ways of life. St. John Chrysostom (+407)
Roselawn Cemetery Lots: 2019 prices are: $6,120 for a Monument Lot (2 graves); $3,825 for a Flat Lot A (2 graves); $2,167.50 for a Flat Lot B (1 grave). Single graves have limited availability. Contact church today!
Things Sound Different- yes, that’s right, the Sunday liturgy is sounding a bit different the last few months. That’s because the choir is using minor mode from the Cherubic Hymn through the Epiklesis/Consecration. Although this is new to our community, it is not innovative or novel in the Tradition. Many Greek Orthodox churches throughout the United States and the world do this. Minor mode conveys a mystical and penitential quality that is so important to our Orthodox Christian phronema (mindset). Fr. Rick has encouraged this addition to the choir’s repertoire for many years. Recently, they accepted the challenge and are working hard to execute it better each and every Sunday. Please support them and seek to understand what minor mode is all about.
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
Liturgy Guide 02-03-2019
February 9, 2019, hosted by the Holy Metropolis of Chicago
February 7-10, 2019, hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago