News, Events and Announcements

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 WEEK Today, Sunday, 20 October: St. Gerasimos of Kephalonia; Wednesday, 23 October, St. Iakovos (James) the Apostle; Friday, 25 October, St. Tabitha, raised by St. Peter; Saturday, 26 October, Holy Great Martyr St. Demetrios, the Myrrh-Streamer. For a more complete list, consult your church calendar, available for free, on the candlestand in the narthex.

MEMORIAL PRAYERS Today we will pray for the repose of the soul of our brother in Christ, Paul Flanzala. For Paul's rest in Christ and to Maria and the family we say, "Memory Eternal!" with love.

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. Pat E's son, Ben, was saved in the midst of Hurricane Helene. Please keep him in your prayers as he navigates and assists others in the aftermath of the storm.

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/

SUNDAY SCHOOL 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 how old we are!

SINCERE THANKS to all who bring food dishes to share during fellowship hour, your kind generosity is always appreciated!

PRAYER REQUESTS For Dr. Dave - for resolution of back pain with a potential surgery; for Fr. Leo to fully recover from a case of cellulitis in the leg (his condition ihas been improving over the past couple weeks which is a hopeful sign for the future--thank you for praying!). Patty M has been suffering with migraines for a couple weeks 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--THIS WEDNESDAY October 23 and note day/date change: NEXT 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!

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 showed a -$12,347 figure as of September 30. However, we received some generous donations recently--thank you! 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!

WHY ARE THOSE PRAYER ROPES SO SMALL?? The bookshop in the fellowship area has some new "tiny knot" prayer ropes. Often people look at them and assume they are made for children. They can be, but they are made for adult use, also. The "secret" is in the use of them. The knots are quite small and tight, but when saying the Jesus Prayer at each knot ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,") pull slightly between the knots and the bracelet will gradually loosen with use which will allow you to advance through the knots more easily and possibly be able to slip it onto the wrist when not in use for prayer. Prayer ropes are available in a variety of colors and cost just $5 each.

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.

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Saints and Feasts

October 20

6th Sunday of Luke

October 20

Artemius the Great Martyr of Antioch

Saint Artemius lived during the years of Saint Constantine the Great, and was appointed by him to be Governor of Alexandria; later, he was honoured with the rank of patrician. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, in the year 361, Artemius appeared before the Emperor and censured him for his apostasy. For this, he endured many torments and was finally beheaded.

October 20

Gerasimos of Cephalonia

Saint Gerasimus was from the Peloponnesus, the son of Demetrius and Kale, of the family of Notaras. He was reared in piety by them and studied the Sacred writings. He left his country and went throughout various lands, and finally came to Cephalonia, where he restored a certain old church and built a convent around it, where it stands to this day at the place called Omala. He finished the course of his life there in asceticism in the year 1570. His sacred relics, which remain incorrupt, are kept there for the sanctification of the faithful.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Eighth Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:16-18, 7:1.

Ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐστε ναὸς Θεοῦ ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ θεός ὅτι Ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν θεός, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι λαός. Διὸ, Ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφορίσθητε, λέγει κύριος, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε· κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσομαι ὑμῖν εἰς πατέρα, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ. Ταύτας οὖν ἔχοντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀγαπητοί, καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος, ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ θεοῦ.

Prokeimenon. Eighth Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.

Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Gospel Reading

6th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:26-39

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντι τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντίπερα τῆς Γαλιλαίας. ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὃς εἶχε δαιμόνια ἐκ χρόνων ἱκανῶν, καὶ ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν. ἰδὼν δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἀνακράξας προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπε· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ᾿Ιησοῦ, υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου; δέομαί σου, μή με βασανίσῃς. παρήγγειλε γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδεσμεῖτο ἁλύσεσι καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος, καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους. ἐπηρώτησε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· τί σοί ἐστιν ὄνομα; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· λεγεών· ὅτι δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτόν· καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν. ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένων ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς. ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη. ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγενημένον ἔφυγον, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς. ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός, καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξεληλύθει, ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν. ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντες πῶς ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς. καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν. ἐδέετο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια, εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα ἐποίησέ σοι ὁ Θεός. καὶ ἀπῆλθε καθ᾿ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς.

6th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.