St George Antiochian Orthodox Church

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Lowell, Massachusetts

Wonderworkers and Unmercenarys Cyrus & John

January 31, 2016

ST. GEORGE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 44 Bowers Street, Lowell, MA 01854 Phone: (978) 452-4816 Fax: (978) 452-6041

Email: [email protected] Web: www.saintgeorgelowell.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/saintgeorgelowell Rt. Rev. Fr. Leonard Faris, Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICE Sunday: Matins (Orthros) Service 9:00 a.m. Sunday School Every other Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Office hours: Tuesday—Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Important Notice: The reception of Holy Communion is limited to Orthodox Christians who have pre- pared themselves by prayer, fasting and recent Confession. Confessions are heard on Sunday mornings during the Matins Service or by special appointment. The Eucharistic Fast begins at midnight on Satur- day and ends up with the receiving of Holy Communion. If you are on medication or a young child, you can have a light breakfast before coming to church. If you have any questions, please call Fr. Leonard. Thank you, + Father Leonard

Prayer Requests and Bulletin News: All prayer requests and articles for the weekly bulletin must be submitted each week by Noon, Tuesday: emailed to Fr. Leonard at [email protected] or call 978-452-4816, otherwise, the requests and articles will be published the following week.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

If anyone is in the hospital it is the duty of the family to inform the priest so that he can visit the patient. Also, if anyone is homebound and would like to receive Holy Communion, he/she or a family member should contact Fr. Leonard to make ar- rangements to bring the Sacrament to the shut-in. Fr. Leonard is always happy to bring the Sacraments to those in Hospitals, Nursing Homes or at home. Thank you and God bless!

Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 2 When Thou didst submit Thy-self unto death, O Thou Deathless and Immortal One, then Thou didst destroy Hell with Thy Godly power; and when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee: O Christ Thou Giver of Life, glory to Thee!

Entrance Hymn Ha-lum-mu li-nas-jud, wa-nar-ka’ lil-ma-sih, khal-lis-na ya bna l-lah, ya man qa-ma min bal-nil-am-wat, li-nu-rat-til la-ka, Hal-li-lu-ia

Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 2 (repeated)

Troparion of Sts. Cyrus and John, Tone 5 Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs, Cyrus and John, as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strengthen the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou alone art good and the Lover of mankind.

Troparion of St. George, Tone 4 As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirmed, champion of kings, victorious great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation.

Kontakion of the Presentation of Christ, Tone 1 Thou, O Christ God, Who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

3 Epistle: Paul 4:9-15

The Lord will give strength to His people. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God; ascribe to the Lord honor and glory.

The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your pro- gress.

Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see Who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Je- sus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Prayers are being offered for the Prayers are being offered Health and Safety of: in Memory of:

Nora Abdelahad Charles Abdelahad Albert Ghassemian Connie Abodeely Delia Moses Abdinoor Armenuhi Ghassemian Lorice Ansara George Abodeely John & Irene Gkolias William Ansara Miriam Abodeely George P. Habib Yvette Ansara Charles Agaty Philip Hajjar Nabil Bahou Ed & Lillian Betor Mazen Alwarad Mary Hassey David and Cindy Boragine Toula Anasoulis Frank Hurley Ida Boragine Andrew Ansara Eleanor Husson Jacque and Camilla Cloutier and Family Elias Ansara N. Mary Husson Arthur and Alice Danas John Ansara Terry Husson Kadir Steve, Krissy, and Michael Steven Dardas Maurice Ansara Siham Khadij Shake Der Apkarian Gladys Assaly George Lowe George & Frances Ellis Linda Assaly Efthymios & Paraskevi Manolis Sal Fumia Jacob Awad Elsie Faris Mansor Mr. & Mrs. Elias Grivas Juliette Bahou Nafie Moses Nicholas, Veronique, Annabelle & Chloe Groff Duayne Habib Laurice Bahou Frederick & Matilda Noonan Rosalind Hajjar & Family Widad Batten Hanna Saad Mary Howie James “Jimmy” Beaudry Mary Saati Joanne Husson Rita Beaudry George W. & Mary Saba Lloyd Jennings Florence Beede Badwi Sabbouh Joe Kadir Mary Bogosian Veto & Vasiliki Selvagio Fr. Stephen, and Family Dorothy Boragine Eleanor Shalhoup Rose Lowe Sal Boragine Judy Skaff Nick Manolis Cleopatra Bouras Mildred & Arthur Skaff Marcotte Family & Sgt. Peter Marcotte Sofie & Paul Brown Minnie Skaff Thomas Marcotte Paul Panagopoulos Toma Calache Nellie Husson Skaff Evanthia Pappas Dr. Christos Daoulas Ricky Skaff Freda Sadak & Family Fred Ead Stephen Skaff Amad Tayebi Frank Ellis T. Michael Skaff Jack Trottier George Faris Sr. Homerine Soucy Basil Xeros Mary T. Faris Elaine Viera Dr. Vartan & Lisa Yeghiazarians & Family Connie Fumia John Yeannakopoulos Genia Yeghiazarians Elizabeth & Joseph Ghareeb Leon Yeghiazarians Christian Yianopoulos Charles Zaharias Mary Ann Zaharias Nahil Zananiri

Darlene Simon requested by her family Maria Flaris MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE ETERNAL!! 5 ALTAR BREAD

Today’s Altar Bread is being offered for the repose of the soul of the Handmaid of God, Frances Ellis, requested by her husband, George Ellis. May Frances’ memory be eternal!

MEMORIAL SERVICE Today, January 31

A 9 Day Memorial Service is being offered for the repose of the soul of the Handmaid of God, Frances Ellis, requested by her husband, George Ellis. May her memory be eternal! ————————————————————————— NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

A One Year Memorial Service will be offered for the repose of the soul of the Handmaid of God, Widad Batten, requested by her son, Mark Batten. May her memory be eternal!

COFFEE HOUR

Today’s Coffee Hour is being sponsored for the health and safety of the Abou-Seke and Kozma Families by Feryal Abou-Seke. May God bless the Abou-Seke and Kozma Families with peace, good health and happiness.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I would like to thank the Choir and the Ladies and Gentlemen and Altar Servers who helped make last Sunday’s Ecumenical Prayer Service such a success. Many compliments on how beautiful the Choir was and I am very proud of them. We also raised over $2,300.00 for the Syrian Refugees. Anyone who would still like to make a donation can send a check made out to IOCC and send it to the church.

May God bless you all with good health and happiness always. +Fr. Leonard

6 QUOTE OF THE DAY

If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.

THIS WEEK

Mon 2/1 6:00 pm Evening Divine Liturgy for the Feast of The Feast of the Presentation of Christ To the Temple

Wed 2/3 6:30 pm Parish Council Meeting

Sat 2/6 Valentine Dinner Dance at Princeton Station, Chelmsford

COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS

We would like to encourage our parishioners to sign up to host a Coffee Hour after Sunday Church Services. If there is no sponsor on any given Sunday there will be no Coffee Hour. Anyone ca sponsor a Coffee Hour either for the health and safety of their family or “in memory of” a loved one. They can be very simple, coffee, donuts and muffins. If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Hour please sign your name on the sign up sheet near the water bubbler.

7 BLESSING OF HOMES-WHY IS A HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINES BLESSED?

We all know that when a monument is unveiled; when a building is opened; when signifi- cant undertaking is begun, it is customary for a ceremony of dedication to be held. So too, our Holy Orthodox Church has special blessings for those moving into a new home, a newly con- structed or renovated home, a place of business, as well as the annual blessing of the home during the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6. With these rites the home is dedicated or rededicated and sanctified as an abode of a Christian believer under the Holy Trinity.

In the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 19: 1-10 we read of the time our Blessed Lord visited the home of Zacchaeus, the rich publican. When Jesus entered Zacchaeus' house he said: “today salvation has come to this house since he too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save what is lost.”

Therefore, during the services for the Blessing of homes, the priest prays that God will grant sanctification, blessings, purification, and health to those whose home is blest. He also prays for their spiritual and temporal welfare throughout the year. The Holy Orthodox Church sancti- fies the lives of her faithful, to consecrate them, and to insure their salvation by every means at Her command.

During the Blessing of homes, please adhere to the following guidelines: 1. Have as many family members there as possible. 2. Set up a place for prayers, in the dining room or kitchen, with an Icon and candle. 3. Take this time to get to know the priest better, asking any questions you may have. 4. Please don't feed the priest! We don't want to play favorites, and we also don't want to gain weight by eating everything that is offered to us. ______Dear Father Leonard, Yes, I/we would like to have my/our home blessed in 2016. The most convenient days and times are as follows: Name: ______Phone: ______Address: ______

Best day: Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Best time: AM PM 8

Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church 44 Bowers Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Right Rev. Fr. Leonard Faris, Pastor

January 1, 2016

Dear St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church parishioners and vendors:

We’re accepting advertisements to appear in our church bulletin (see last page). For $250 you can advertise your business to our community weekly for one year. Our bulletin is distributed weekly in church in hard copies as well as electronically to approx. 250- 300 people from the greater Lowell area.

Advertisements are approx. 3” wide x 2” high (business card size).

To submit your business card or if you have any questions please contact, Ron Tayebi 978.337.0843.

We look forward to your support,

St. George’s Church Parish Council