SERVICES: 9AM Orthros follow by Divine Liturgy at 10AM.
WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS Whether you are new to Bangor or if you're just passing through - welcome! If you've come because you are curious about the Orthodox Church, its beliefs and worship, you are very welcome, too! 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.
THE LITERATURE RACK IN THE NARTHEX (entrance area with lit candles) has pamphlets and booklets about the Orthodox Faith and its beliefs and practices. If you are brand new, you might want to take a look at those materials. We also have some books downstairs in the fellowship hall which are available for sale.
COMMEMORATIONS THIS WEEKWednesday, October 16 - Longinos the Centurion; Thursday, October 17 - Prophet Hosea; Friday, Apostle Luke, the Evanglist; Saturday, October 19 - Prophet Joel, Martyr Varys. For a more complete list, consult your church calendar, available for free, on the candlestand in the narthex.
A VERY GREAT MERCY TO OUR PARISH FAMILIES A check in with our regularly attending parish families with out-of-town family members revealed that either they had been by-passed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton or saved in the midst of it. This is merciful news for which we thank God! Even so, let's keep those who've suffered unreported devastation in our prayers. Some lost everything as a result.
A WAY TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS International Orthodox Christian Charities is active providing aid in the area. To learn more and to send a donation to assist those affected, visit IOCC'S site: https://iocc.org/
A PRAYER FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE HURRICANES
Almighty God, we pray for victims of these hurricane disasters, that you would comfort the lives of those spared, O Lord.
We also ask Your mercy and forgiveness for all the souls who have been called from this life through these tragedies. May compassionate persons take on the duty of giving respectful burial to those who've perished.
Lord bless those who are doing everything they can to help the afflicted. Overshadow and empower all operations underway for rescue and restoration in all regions damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Let the victims feel Your love and care through those bringing relief.
Help the victims to have patience, O Lord. Sustain them during this great sorrow! Bless family members to be reunited.
Guard those victimized by the storm to resist all manner of illness that may come against them. Ensure O Lord that provisions designated for victims reach them with haste. May there be enough clean water, food and shelter for all. Remove any roadblocks to the distribution of aid.
O Lord, touch the hearts of the world to continue to pray for these people and to donate whatever they can to help stabilize and rebuild these devastated areas and those traumatized by these events.
Dear Lord, soften the intense grief people are feeling over the loss of loved ones, property, pets, livestock, and more. Give them beauty for ashes, O Lord!
Lord, only You can make miracles happen and we are asking for that which is needed for all victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
May the Name of the Lord be glorified--Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IN SESSION For students ages 6+, we meet in the fellowship hall downstairs immediately after Communion has been served.Mrs. Bucklin is teaching from the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles--the theme is "Salvation to the Ends of the Earth." We're learning together about the beautiful life of our Lord Jesus and how the Good News is spread to the ends of the Earth! There is so much to learn regardless of our age!
SINCERE THANKS to all who bring food dishes to share during fellowship hour, your kind generosity is always appreciated!
PRAYER REQUESTS Patty M has been suffering with migraines for a number of days now. She had a scan and is waiting for results. She appreciates the prayer support, she feels it is helping her manage the discomfort at this time. Please continue to remember two Orthodox sisters in Christ recovering from strokes (slow, but sure), Panagiota (Jaye) and Seraphima (Linnea). Panagiota is improving nicely, she is hopeful the use of her left side will yet be restored. She looks good and her cognition is also very good--thank God for His every mercy! Also, please remember Pat E whose eyesight is limiting her options, but not her enthusiasm for serving the Christ and the Church--thank God! Your prayers for these these brothers and sisters in Christ will be of great assistance.
YES! THE GREEK DANCE IS ON THE HORIZON Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 2. Our annual Greek Dance will be held once again at Wellman Commons, 300 Union Street, Bangor (our usual location) from 7-11PM. Enjoy great Greek food including gyro bar, baklava, wine & beer. LIVE Greek dance music! $40 in advance, $45 at the door. $10 for 17 and under, must be accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets available at Angelo's Pizza in Bangor. Free Greek dance lessons on two week nights preceding the dance--WEDNESDAY October 23 and note day/date change: TUESDAY October 29 from 7-8PM, here at St. George, 90 Sanford Street in Bangor. Sorry, no Silent Auction this year. All proceeds benefit the mission of St. George Greek Orthodox Church (founded in 1926).
GETTING READY FOR THE GREEK DANCE Did you receive dance tickets by post this past week? They are for you to buy for your family or sell to friends who would enjoy a very nice evening of food and dance! All ages are welcome at the Greek Dance! Take some Greek Dance announcement flyers home with you and post at local businesses and/or work place to get the word out. Invite a friend or friends to attend the dance and bring them along for free dance lessons to get in the groove. Sell tickets or buy them as gifts for others. The energy and commraderie at the dance is always wonderful! Be willing to prepare dishes for the buffet table on the night of the dance. Cynthia will be asking for donations of prepared dishes to make the buffet bountiful that night. Thank you, Cynthia! Please be generous inasmuch as you're able. This event has always been very well received by our community and friends. So, don't hesitate to get involved and invite others for an enjoyable night together--live music, great food, fun on othe dance floor. See you there!
ON-LINE SEMINAR: THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH JUDGMENTFr. Earl Cantos (Greek Orthodox presbyter of the Orthodox Mission Church of AZ) has offered an edifying on-line seminar on this topic which is excellent in content. You can access it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/I_4qs63N5og
IT'S TIME TO SAY THANKS AGAIN AND ASK FOR A LEG UP Our stewardship chair wants to express a sincere thank you for the stewards and other givers who help keep us going financially throughout the year. We couldn't function well without you! At this point in time, funds are running low and we're facing the fall/winter seasons. We respectfully ask that pledges be faithfully fulfilled so we can make it through the seasons and end the year in the black and not in the red. We're a modest sized congregation in a cold part of the country so let us pull together and help make sure bills will be covered as have been in the past. We are grateful to each and every one of you and how you are motivated for love of God and St. George who watches and prays for us all. Thanks so much! Donna Walter
AN UPDATE FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP CHAIR, DONNA WALTER We have a -$12,347 as of September 30. However, we received some generous donations last Sunday! We are so grateful for these! Please continue your fulfilling your pledges to St George so that we can reasonably manage the finances through the end of this year. Thanks so much!
LORD BLESS THOSE WHO LOVE THE BEAUTY OF YOUR HOUSE (ref Ps 25:8) Sincere thanks to Lee for restaining the front doors of the church--they look beautiful--thank you for further beautifying our church.
PROSFORA BAKING IS A MINISTRY For an Orthodox Christian, baking the Bread of Offering which becomes the Body of Christ for Holy Communion is a sacred offering. In Greek a single loaf of this bread is called " prosforo." Multiples loaves are "prosfora." Our church is always benefitted by receiving these breads--any excess loaves go into the freezer for future use. Please if you can and are willing, become a baker of this sacred bread for love of Christ and the ministry of our Holy Church. Loaves are always welcome and needed. We are grateful to those who've started to bake and those who are learning--God bless the work of your hands! If you have not already ordered a bread stamp and want to be a baker, let Presbytera know. A bread stamp costs $20 and is continually re-usable. If you've already ordered a seal, you can pick it up today.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.
Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus, & Agathonica, the Martyrs of Pergamus
Saint Carpus was Bishop of the Church of Thyatira in Asia Minor and Papylus was his deacon, whom he had ordained. Seized as Christians and tormented in Thyatira, they were taken to Sardis, whither Agathodorus, their servant, followed them, and also confessed Christ, and was tormented with them. Together with Agathonica, the sister of Saint Papylus. they were all beheaded during the reign of Decius, in the year 250.
October 13
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Daniel 3.26,27. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.
Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:5-15
Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15
The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
