News, Events and Announcements

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.

COMMEMORATIONS THIS WEEK Today, Sunday 11/10 - St. Arsenios of Cappadocia; Monday, 11/11 - Ss. Menas and Victor; Tuesday, 11/12 - St. John the Merciful of Alexandria; Wednesday, 11/13 - St. John Chrysostom; Thursday, 11/14 - St. Philip the Apostle; St. Gregory Palamas; Saturday, 11/16 - St. Matthew the Apostle.

PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR OUR INQUIRERS / CATECHUMENS Please add Timothy and Ethan (father & son), Dhesorae, Anita Rose and Vincent (mother & son), and Nicholas to your parish prayer list. They are all learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith with intent to unite themselves to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We are glad you all are here and we hope to know you better!

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL TODAY Mrs. Bucklin is out of town today. Please join us for Sunday School again next week.

$5 GYROS SANDWICHES & MINI-GREEK DANCE TODAY Today's fellowship hour will feature a gyros sandwich fundraiser and some Greek music and folk dancing! If you couldn't make it to the Greek Dance, this is a fun second chance event for you!

Please bring a side dish for the buffet table and if you like gyros sandwiches, $5 per sandwich, please. We expect this will be an enjoyable fellowship hour. And when the music starts, by all means, be ready to dance--Lambros is here to lead & teach the steps! Opa!!

BIG THANKS to all who worked to make the annual Greek Dance a rousing success this year! The coordination and realization of this event is always significant. Most know it is the major fund-raiser of the year for our Church. To all of you who made it happen it couldn't have occurred without your extra energy and love for St. George! Good spirit, generosity and fun have been hallmarks of the Greek Dance for years. To everyone who put zest toward making this special event happen--and successful--we can't say thanks enough!

PRAYER REQUESTS For Dr. Dave - for resolution of back pain with a surgery in 4-5 weeks from now; . Glad to report Patty M is finally getting relief from migraines with less painful days and a greater ability to sleep well--she appreciates the prayer support, and hopes you'll continue for a while yet. Please keep remembering two Orthodox sisters in Christ recovering from strokes (slow, but sure), Panagiota (Jaye) and Seraphima (Linnea). 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 are of great assistance.

THE NATIVITY FAST BEGINS THIS FRIDAY Yes! We'll be getting into the groove preparing ourselves for the coming celebration of Christ's Holy Nativity and the Twelve Holy Days of Christmas. Starting this Friday, keep to a vegan diet except this fast is modified to allow eating of fish on any day of the week except Wednesdays and Fridays.

THIS IS NEAT For an unspecified time, someone has offered to buy our bookshop stock as a donation so the church does not need to fund the stock purchases. That means whenever you buy from our bookshop St. George benefits a good bit. So please shop here and if there is a book or something else (icon, prayer rope, neck cross, bread seal, or the like) you're looking for, please let Pres. know so it can be ordered.

BOOKSHOP RESTOCK--FIRST WAVE Twenty new books were added to our existing inventory last Sunday. Stop by and see what's new (or back in stock). More items coming soon....

THE BOOKS BY DONATION BOX IS RESTOCKED Once yearly older stock from the bookshop finds its way to the books by donation box in the fellowship hall (near the buffet table). Feel free to peruse the contents and if you find a book you'd like, you can leave a donation for it and consider it yours. Books generally show their original retail price so use that and the book's condition to gauge what seems to be a reasonable donation to you. The proceeds are a donation to the Church. Thank you!

AN INVITATION TO JOIN the Akathist a Day for 30 Days Prayer Group Join in a prayer discipline that is edifying and allows us to develop friendship with God's holy ones--the Saints! Each day for 30 days a group of Orthodox Christians from around the world offer an akathist from a selection of akathists to various Saints. By doing so, we get to know more about their lives and miracles and more so, they get to know us, too. How can they not know us since we honor them regularly and ask their intercessions? Yes, the Saints are available to us, even if we seldom recognize it. One of the things they do is intercede before God's throne, so let us ask their kind assistance for ourselves and our loved ones. Want to know more? Contact Pres. Candace (doxa141@gmail dot com or 949.2913, area code 207) and she'll provide details. Our next 30 days cycle starts on Thursday, November 14.

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

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.

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!

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.

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Saints and Feasts

November 10

8th Sunday of Luke

November 10

Erastus, Olympas, Rodion, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertios, Apostles of the 70

Of these Saints, Olympas and Rodion became disciples of Peter, the chief Apostle, and came to Rome, where they were beheaded by Nero. The others reposed in peace, having become bishops: Sosipater of Iconium, Quartus of Beirut, and Erastus of Paneas, or Paneias (which was also called Caesarea of Philippi); Saint Erastus had been chamberlain of the city of Corinth (Rom.16:23).

November 10

Orestes the Martyr of Cappadocia

Saint Orestes was from Tyana of Cappadocia. During the persecution of Diocletian, this Martyr's ankles were pierced with long nails; being bound to a wild horse and violently dragged by it, he gave up his spirit in the year 289.

November 10

Holy Father Arsenius of Cappadocia

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Third Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 1:11-19.

Ἀδελφοί, γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό, οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν· καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων. Ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι· οὐδὲ ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν, καὶ πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Πέτρον, καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου.

Prokeimenon. Third Tone. 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 Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:25-37

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, νομικός τις ἀνέστη ἐκπειράζων αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; ὁ δὲ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τί γέγραπται; πῶς ἀναγινώσκεις; ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· ἀγαπήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας σου, καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν· εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ· ὀρθῶς ἀπεκρίθης· τοῦτο ποίει καὶ ζήσῃ. ὁ δὲ θέλων δικαιοῦν ἑαυτὸν εἶπε πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν· καὶ τίς ἐστί μου πλησίον; ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εἰς ῾Ιεριχώ, καὶ λῃσταῖς περιέπεσεν· οἳ καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸν καὶ πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον ἀφέντες ἡμιθανῆ τυγχάνοντα. κατὰ συγκυρίαν δὲ ἱερεύς τις κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Λευΐτης γενόμενος κατὰ τὸν τόπον, ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ἀντιπαρῆλθε. Σαμαρείτης δέ τις ὁδεύων ἦλθε κατ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησε τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον, ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον ἐξελθών, ἐκβαλὼν δύο δηνάρια ἔδωκε τῷ πανδοχεῖ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιμελήθητι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν προσδαπανήσῃς, ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί με ἀποδώσω σοι. τίς οὖν τούτων τῶν τριῶν πλησίον δοκεῖ σοι γεγονέναι τοῦ ἐμπεσόντος εἰς τοὺς λῃστάς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔλεος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· πορεύου καὶ σὺ ποίει ὁμοίως.

8th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 10:25-37

At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."