raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of ? Shall I Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church therefore take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid! Or, do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For, “The two,” He says, 1250 Oakdale Avenue, West Saint Paul, Minnesota 55118 “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication! Every sin Parish Website: http://www.saintgeorge-church.org that a person commits is outside the body, but whoever commits fornication sins against his own Church Phone: 651-457-0854 body. Or, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore The Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Metropolitan of all North America Right Reverend Bishop ANTHONY, Auxiliary Bishop : Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (15:11-32) Right Reverend Archimandrite John Mangels, Pastor he Lord spoke this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his Reverend Father John Chagnon, attached Very Reverend Archpriest Paul Hodge, attached T living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his Reverend Deacon John Mikhail, attached journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had Very Reverend Archpriest Thomas Begley, retired Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Duane Pederson, retired spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and Reverend Father Daniel Simon, retired joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And Reader Begley, Music Director he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when Pastor’s email: [email protected] Pastor’s Cell: 303-520-0981 he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to Signing up for services: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0444A8AC23ABF85-stgeorge spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me Sunday, February 28, 2021 as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And Sunday of the Prodigal Son the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy Tone 5 Eothinon 5 to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it Commemorations; Venerable Basil the Confessor, companion of Prokopios of Decapolis; Hieromartyr on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and Proterios, archbishop of Alexandria; Righteous Kyra and Marana of Beroea in Syria; Apostles Nymphas let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ and Euvoulos; New-martyr Kyranna of Thessalonica And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is

Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” KONTAKION FOR THE PROGIDAL SON IN TONE THREE HOLY BREAD Foolishly I sprang away * from Thy great fatherly glory, * and dispersed in wicked deeds * the Holy Bread is offered for the health and welfare of Jonesy, Christina, RJ, Christian, Sam, as well riches that Thou didst give me. * With the Prodigal I therefore * cry unto Thee now: * I have sinned as Worrall and Andrews families, St. George Church School clergy, teachers and students, all Covid victims, their families and all St. George parishioners. against Thee, O compassionate Father. * But receive me in repentance; * make me as one of * Thy hired servants, O Lord. In loving memory of our parents, Marian Artzt and Joseph Worrall, departed St. George Church School clergy, directors, teachers, and students, all Covid victims and all departed members of St. : George Parish. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. ELCOME to all our guests and visitors. We are delighted to have you visiting and wor- The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (6:) shipping with us this morning and hope that you return soon. We invite you to participate rethren, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful W in the Divine Liturgy, but, sadly, due to the divisions in Christianity, only bap- for me, but I will not be brought under the authority of anything. Foods are for the belly, and tized/chrismated members of the Orthodox Church who have made their Confession B the belly for foods; but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornica- before an Orthodox priest and prepared themselves by fasting may receive Holy tion, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body; and God both raised up the Lord, and will also Communion. Please come forward after Liturgy to venerate the Cross and partake of the Think About It: The person who listens to Christ fills himself with light; and if he imitates Antidoron-Holy Bread. Please turn off your cell phones and all electronic devices. Christ, he reclaims himself. St. Thalassios of Libya

ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING CHURCH SERVICES, ETC. ANNOUNCEMENTS Governor Waltz issued an Emergency Executive Order regarding the use of face masks in Church. PRAY FOR THE SICK From now until we hear otherwise, Face Masks shall be used in Church. Please refer to the Up- Please pray for Scott McCloud, Pat Burbank, George Droubie, Helen Katsampes, James Awada date, sent out on Friday, July 24 for more information. As the Governor said, if someone is not Sr., Lowell Colliander, Elizabeth Swanson, Nick Dragich, Ethen Leff, Elizabeth Henry, Boulos wearing a mask we must assume they have a reason and not make a scene and certainly not shame Bitar, James and Emily, Corrie Fox, Lauretta Villareal, Genevieve Lehnen, Jim Etoll, Michael people. is is the House of God. Etoll, Dwight Johnson, George & Ellie Saba, Anna Windsor, Peter Hafiz, Fr. Duane, John and With the new directives from Metropolitan Joseph and the Emergency Executive Order 20- John Etoll, Wally, Maria, Allen, Nick, Jackson & Hunter Golden, Yasmin Kakish, Carol Haddad, 62 of Governor Waltz, we have been allowed to increase the number of people attending Divine Camille Goll, Kh. Vergin Khoury, Margaret Boalbey, Norm Holmes, Phyllis Hodge, Lamese Services to 25% of capacity with people wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Please McDowell, Edgard Siouffy, Berhane Haliemichael, Fr. Dan & Eileen Simon, Joseph Kammeyer, go online to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0444A8AC23ABF85-stgeorge to sign up for Marilyn Perry, Nancy Maker, Dawn Tillbury, Joshua & Richard Lang, Eva Etoll, Alan & Mary the Services. We have 100 slots available for each Service. (50 in the Church and 50 in the Hall). Poulsen, Natalie Mozey, Mervat & Abigail Lotfalla, Samira Shehata. It is important to get people back to the Church. e Services continue to be available via If you are ill or having surgery and wish to be remembered in the Liturgy and daily prayers Livestreaming on YouTube thanks to the efforts of Heath Nelson, Mike Varian and James Baker! of the priest, please contact Fr. Mangels. ose who might be afraid to come back to Church in a larger setting can sign up to receive Holy Communion after all Services. We are able to have small gatherings at the Church as long as BULLETIN & NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENT PROCEDURE masks are used and social distancing is observed. We still do not have permission to use the Parish ANY announcement in the weekly bulletin and Newsletter is subject to approval by Fr. Man- Hall for Coffee Hours, etc. If you have any questions, concerns, or needs, please contact Father gels/and the Council. It is important to notify Brigitte by e-mail ([email protected]) or John Mangels at 303-520-0981 or [email protected]. phone with all your bulletin information by NOON Wednesday of the week before you offer the Holy Bread in order to print the bulletin in a timely manner. Deadline for APRIL newsletter: Patristic Wisdom: When someone has an illness, only then does he have the ability to truly empa- 3/18/2021. thize with the pain of another. And when you look briefly on another’s pain, then you will be greatly alleviated of your own. God bestows afflictions and illnesses so as to either purify us or to strengthen HOLY BREAD LIST us. Most illnesses are not permanent but pass and can be beneficial. God often accomplishes what Mar. 6, Saturday of Souls doctors are trying to do. And if He does not immediately bestow therapy, then it is for our benefit. Mar. 7, Meatfare St. Arsenios the Cappadocian (+1924) Mar. 14, Cheesefare Mar. 21, Orthodoxy Sunday The 2021 Drive Up & Pick Up Father John Khoury Falafel Dinner Mar. 25, Perry Annunciation Please join us, as we honor the Lenten tradition started by the late great Fr. John Khoury. The Mar. 28, Katrina/Michael Begley Annual St. George Falafel Dinner Sunday March 28th, Noon-3pm Fr. Khoury began this tradition almost 40 years ago, and it has been our honor to continue it in his name. Covid restrictions pre- To schedule Holy Bread and/or memorial, contact Joan Alevizos (651-453-1894). It is completely vented us from putting it on in 2020, but we are pleased to be able to go forward with it proper to offer more than one memorial or Holy Bread on the same Sunday. Coffee hour, due to this year. We will be doing it strictly drive-up, take-out & curbside only with no sales or dining the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been suspended in the Parish Hall. allowed inside the hall. We kindly ask that you please either pre-pay in advance or make a "reser- vation" in order for us to know how much to make. Also available on hand will be bags of bread, THIS WEEK AT ST. GEORGE containers of garlic sauce, and hummus available for purchase in addition for $5 each item. UPCOMING SERVICES Tickets/reservations can be made by contacting: • Saturday, March 6, Saturday of Souls Divine Liturgy at 10:00am * GEORGE KHOURY-651-208-3954 or PURCHASED AT BEIRUT RESTAURANT MONDAY- • Saturday, March 6, Great Vespers at 5:00pm THURSDAY 3PM-7PM. WE WILL ALSO ACCEPT CASH, CHECK, AND VENMO PAY- • Sunday, March 7, Orthros at 9:00am MENTS AT THE CHURCH ON DAY OF EVENT.SUNDAY MARCH 28, 202, NOON-3PM • Sunday, March 7, Divine Liturgy at 10:00am St. George Church PARKING LOT $10 for adults CONGRATULATIONS! $5 for kids (12 & under) We congratulate Dani Delcheva and Michael Woiwood who had their marriage blessed within the All proceeds go to St. George Church Orthodox Church yesterday. God grant them Many Years! Sponsored and prepared by Beirut Lebanese Restaurant, West Saint Paul.

*SATURDAY OF THE SOULS: We will celebrate Saturday, March 6 as a SATURDAY OF THE ST GEORGE BOOKSTORE is online! Our bookstore offers an array of quality Ortho- SOULS. Divine Liturgy for the Departed will be served at 10:00am. Please send your lists of those dox Christian books, icons, jewelry, music, and gifts. Visit our store online and discover the rich- you wish us to pray for to Brigitte Khoury by Friday, March 5. We will not accept any names ness and beauty of our Orthodox faith. Go to https://bit.ly/2UHrUno and start shopping! Contact hastily scribbled on a piece of paper on March 6th before the Divine Liturgy. Deb Korluka at 612-889-5868 for pricing and to place your order. Arrangements will be made for payment and pickup at St. George Church. Quantities are limited. Your support of our bookstore with bringing food or supplies to you. It is important that we follow the guidelines that have been is greatly appreciated. given us but in an emergency or time of need, don’t hesitate to call.

Young Adults/Relationship Sundays The Church Fathers Speak—Do not be irritated either with those who sin or those who offend. Do We are gathering at 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm each Sunday afternoon. It is not too late to join us! More not have passion for noticing every sin in your neighbor, nor judge him. Everyone shall give an than 15 of you have signed up! It has been great fellowship! Call Cindy or Paul Karos to learn answer to God for himself. Especially do not look with evil intent upon the sins of your elders more. 612.701.7320 or [email protected]. because they have no bearing on you. Correct your own sins and amend your own life. St. John of Kronstadt (+1908) CHURCH SCHOOL Today immediately following Divine Liturgy let's celebrate Church School students who partici- SOYO STUDY pated in their first Sacrament of Holy Confession. May God grant all Church School students Every Sunday night at 6:15, SOYO meets for a bible study on Zoom. It is a time for fellowship, “many years”. Our next in person lesson will be March 7th. Please sign up and keep the faith!!! spiritual nourishment, and connection among the youth at St. George. Right now, we are making our way through the , starting with Matthew. Anyone 8th Grade and up is welcome and ICON ART STUDIOS encouraged to join… We would love to have you with us! We start each meeting with a prayer, Icon Art Studios is offering Virtual Icon classes hosted by Wet Paint, www.wetpaintart.com. Click then read/ discuss together, and close with prayer. Contact Joseph Karos at josephka- the link and go to “events & classes” for further information or send an inquiry to Deb [email protected] or 612-500-327 if you are interested! at [email protected] to obtain detailed information about session 1, 2 and 3. Virtual classes will take place Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 starting January 13th, session1, February 10th ses- WISDOM FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS: The Devil imperceptibly whispers such ungodly sion 2, and March 20th, Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, session 3. words into the ears of our incorporeal soul against its will; and he, the loathsome one, does this especially when we are standing in prayer, or kneeling before God and imploring Him for help in THINK ABOUT IT: It is not our economics which have failed; it is man who has failed—man who fighting against blasphemous thoughts. Often he attacks us during worship, even when we are about has forgetten God. Hence no manner of economic or political radjustment can posibly save our to partake of the awesome mysteries. He does this wishing to alienate us from God and to impede civilization; we can be saaved only by a renovation of the innter man, a purging of purging of our us from bowing our heads before Him and communing in the life-giving Mysteries. St. Anastasios hearts and souls; for only by “seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Justice will all these things of Sinai (8th century) be added unto us.” Fulton J. Sheen ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN CHURCH SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME The Antiochian women have busy days ahead. March is WOMENS MONTH in our Archdiocese! ank you so much for your continued support of your parish during this time! We are very much The ladies will be reading the Epistle and ushering, Rahwa Bahta is in charge of scheduling. The aware of what a hardship this crisis is putting on people throughout the country. If you are able, Ladies will be baking Spinach Pies Saturday, February 27. For info call Sue Perry or Boshra Had- please continue to financially support your Church during this time. dad. is Sunday will be the last Sunday of 2020. If you are planning an end of the Year con- Mark your calendars for March 20TH Ladies ZOOM MEETING AT; tribution, please have it in today so that it will be recoded on your 2020 giving statement. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87034534070?pwd=S1VRQmxIRUt4ekovOTNDK0MxNmp1QT09 e Parish Council has approved numerous ways to donate to St. George. COFFEE CUP COLLECTION money is due, those who have been filling your cup this year, send 1. Venmo is a free secure app that can be downloaded and installed on a mobile phone. Donors your check to Katy Price. For those who do not know about this, it is part of our annual fundraiser. that install the Venmo app can directly transfer money from their bank account to St. George's Take a cup and each Saturday put what you would pay for one cup of coffee daily into the cup. Old National Bank account with no fees incurred. However, if a credit card transaction is used Next March you write a check for whatever is in the cup and give it to the Antiochian Women. by the donor, the donor will incur a 3% fee. Venmo your donation to @stgeorgeaoc. e church is automatically emailed a notification of your donation. Book Club...New Book! Everyone is invited to join the St George Ladies book club meeting on 2. From your online bank account, do an External Transfer directly to the church's Old National March 18 at 7:00. The featured book is Thirty Steps to heaven by Archimandrite Vassilios Papa- Bank account. Info you will need: Routing Number 086300012 Account Num- vassiliou, and is available in the church book store. If you would like to sign up, contact Lisa Hart- ber 322042. Please send an email to [email protected] so that our Financial wig at [email protected] or Cindy Karos at [email protected].

Secretary can properly record your donation. NEIGHBORS Neighbors and MN March Food Share 3. From your online bank account, schedule Bill Pay and a paper check will be written to the Let's all do our part and help Neighbors Inc with their biggest food and fund drive of the year. The church. MN Food Share campaign begins on March 1 through April 11. If it is within your means, Neigh- 4. A paper check can be written and mailed to the church. bors prefers funds this year to help them purchase items they need. But know that food donations 5. When you come to Church, the collection tray will not be passed. Please leave your offering are always welcome! Make your check out to Neighbors Inc and give to Willy Percy, George in the plate on the Candle Table before or after Services. Khoury or Michelle Apman. Food donations may be dropped off outside the church hall. Thank PROFOUND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! you for helping Neighbors help our neighbors! 1 John 3:17: "But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his HELP FOR THOSE IN NEED heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him.” If anyone, particularly our older or shut-in parishioners needs help with anything, please call either Fr. John or George/Brigitte Khoury. We have a number of parishioners who are willing to help

Return from Exile (The Sunday of the Prodigal Son) The Following is an excerpt from Great Lent, by Schmemann From Chapter 2: Preparation for Lent Lent,

On the Third Sunday of preparation for Lent we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son (LK. 15:11-32). Together with the hymns on this day, the parable reveals to us the time of re- pentance as man's return from exile. The prodigal son, we are told, went to a far country and there spent all that he had. A far country! It is this unique definition of our human condition that we must assume and make ours as we begin our approach to God. A man who has never had that experience, be it only very briefly, who has never felt that he is exiled from God and from real life, will never understand what Christianity is about. And the one who is perfectly "at home" in this world and its life, who has never been wounded by the nostalgic desire for another Reality, will not understand what is repentance.

Repentance is often simply identified as a cool and "objective" enumeration of sins and transgressions, as the act of "pleading guilty" to a legal indictment. Confession and abso- lution are seen as being of a juridical nature. But something very essential is overlooked-- without which neither confession nor absolution have any real meaning or power. This "something" is precisely the feeling of alienation from God, from the joy of communion with Him, from the real life as created and given by God. It is easy indeed to confess that I have not fasted on prescribed days, or missed my prayers, or become angry. It is quite a different thing, however, to realize suddenly that I have defiled and lost my spiritual beauty, that I am far away from my real home, my real life, and that something precious and pure and beautiful has been hopelessly broken in the very texture of my existence. Yet this, and only this, is repentance, and therefore it is also a deep desire to return, to go back, to recover that lost home....

One liturgical peculiarity of this "Sunday of the Prodigal Son" must be especially men- tioned here. At Sunday Matins, following the solemn and joyful Psalms of the Polyeleion, we sing the sad and nostalgic Psalm 137:

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, and we wept when we remembered Zion... How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy...

It is the Psalm of exile. It was sung by the Jews in their Babylonian captivity as they thought of their holy city of Jerusalem. It has become forever the song of man as he realizes his exile form God, and realizing it, becomes man again: the one who can never be fully satisfied by anything in this fallen world, for by nature and vocation he is a pilgrim of the Absolute. This Psalm will be sung twice more: on the last two Sundays before Lent. It re- veals Lent itself as pilgrimage and repentance-- as return. Sunday, February 28, 2021 Sunday of the Prodigal Son