AVOID A WINTER PARKING TICKET by observing city guidelines:  If the day of the week is an even number then we park on the church side of the street.  If the day of the week is an odd number then we park across from the church.  This Sunday is an even number, park on the church side of the street. 

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 8 Dec, Forefeast of the Conception of the Theotokos; Monday, 9 Dec, Conception of the Theotokos, St. Anna, the Prophetess; Thursday, 12 Dec, St. Spyridon the Wonderworker, St. Peter the Aleut; Friday, 13 Dec, St. Herman of Alaska.  Feast Day blessings to all who are celebrating this week!

PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS  Your final opportunity to vote for Parish Council members is TODAY. Select four persons from the ballot.  Those running are George Leakos; Seraphim (Tim) Kulikowski; Areti Baldwin and Grigori (Gary) Fearon.  Sincere thanks to Basil (Cole) Brown and Jason Leighton who have served in parish council roles in the past--grateful to you all! 

SUNDAY SCHOOL  Mrs. Bucklin teaches class in the fellowship hall for ages 6+ immediately after Holy Communion.  Parents are always welcome to sit in on the class.

UPDATED PRAYER REQUESTS  For Dr. Dave Walter, who broke his ankle in three areas yesterday, Saturday, 7 Dec.  We are not sure how this new development might affect the date of his upcoming surgery.  Please offer prayers for both him and Donna as they navigate going forward.  For Dr. Allison's mother, Paula, who's been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. Much appreciation from Pres. Candace whose arm function has improved markedly over the past 10 days. For Mona's dad, Fr. Anthony, a priest in Pakistan who is ill. Mona updated us this week saying her father is stable, but weak. He is suffering from infection in some major organs. Mona and Anthony are in Pakistan now.  Pray that Mona's father recover his health, by the mercy of God. Pray for safety for Anthony and Mona. Many thanks from one of our catechumens, Nick, whose health has improved over recent weeks.  Please keep remembering two Orthodox sisters in Christ recovering from strokes (slow, but sure), Panagiota (Jaye) and Seraphima (Linnea).  Maria reports that daughter Seraphima's progress is slow and steady. Her cognition is improving as time passes.  She is yet to have feeling in her right hand, but can move her shoulder. She can move her right leg from the hip and circulation is improving to her right foot. We are so grateful for your continued prayer support. God bless you all!  Please remember Pat E whose impaired eyesight may limit some of her options, but not her enthusiasm for serving Christ and the Church--thank God!  Your prayers for these these brothers and sisters in Christ are of great assistance.  

PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR THOSE LEARNING ABOUT OUR FAITH Please add Dhesorae, Anita Rose and Vincent (mother & son), and Nicholas to your 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 in due time.  God bless and lead you, one and all! 

MEMORY ETERNAL For those who've not yet seen it, here is the recent obituary for Sasha's father, Dimitri: https://remembermyjourney.com/memorials/dimitri-michael-saretzky?id=7neaAoWJ.  Info on how to make a memorial gift is included in the obituary.  Please pray for the Wlodkowski family--Paul, Sasha, Roman, Leo and Mila as they pass through this period of grief. Memory Eternal for God's servant, Dimitri!  

OUR CHRISTMAS FAMILY  Thank you to all who gave generously last week toward the effort to meet needs and bless our Christmas family this season!  You can still donate today, if you'd like.

Our family this year is an Orthodox mom with three little ones who live in The County.  Recently, shopping was done to give each family member a much needed wardrobe bump-up for the cold season.  Contributions to underwrite that cost will be gladly accepted by Presbytera.  Any amount received in excess of that already spent will be applied toward heating costs or any other immediate need specified by the family.  An alternative way to help the family is to donate toward their home heating costs for the winter season.  

DONATIONS TO BLESS OUR CHRISTMAS FAMILY--THE "HOW TO"  You can contribute in either or both of these ways:  (1) By cash or check payable to Presbytera Candace.  She has already purchased clothing, toys and games for the family--a generous and loving package of goods to bless the receivers!  If you want to and are able, contribute whatever amount seems reasonable to you.  Whatever is received will offset the cost to make this effort truly a "group" gift.  (2) Specific donations for home heating fuel can be made using cash or check.  You could write a check payable to St. George GOC (or put cash in an envelope) and mark the memo on your check "CHRISTMAS FAMILY," or label your envelope "Christmas Family."  IMPORTANT: Put any home heating fuel contribution in the winter themed basket in the church office.  Please DO NOT PUT IT IN THE OFFERING PLATE.  The office will accept those contributions as donations and write a check of benevolence to the mother so she can order the heating fuel needed (two kinds are used).  Thank you so much!

THE REGULAR TRAY COLLECTION is specifically for the needs of St. George Church.  It is not related to collections being received for our Christmas family.  

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE HEAT AND LIGHTS ON (AND MORE) HERE AT ST GEORGE  We appreciate all of you who are faithfully fulfilling pledges to keep St. George in good stead for the cold weather months.  Your love for God and for the church of St. George are known by Him--may your reward for faithfulness be from God's hand into eternity.  And may dear St. George who watches and prays for us all ever remember you in his intercessions before God's throne.  Gratefully, Donna Walter, Stewardship Chair  

IT PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT...Please remember to prioritize stewardship and then benevolence and not substitute one for the other.  God knows what each of us can and cannot do.  He often makes a way for us to do both--and provides a blessing as well!

FELLOWSHIP HOUR NOTE OF THANKS  To all who bring something for the table on Sundays, we're grateful!  Everyone is encouraged to bring something regularly. Just a reminder to avoid bringing any food containing peanuts. We do have some people (including visitors now and then) with allergies or sensitivites.  Gluten free or dairy free items are also always welcome and during fasting periods we endeavor to put out fast-friendly dishes. Thanks again for all your thoughtful offerings!

THE NATIVITY FAST IS SLIGHTLY CHANGED as of December 12 (Thursday).  It is Church tradition to scale back starting on the 12th and omit the option for eating fish during the Fast. Seafood is still fine.  Basically, follow a vegan diet (plus seafood, if desired) until the Feast of Christ's Holy Nativity.

NEXT SUNDAY - DECORATORS WANTED  After fellowship hour NEXT Sunday, we'd like to decorate the nave for the upcoming Feast.  If you can stay and help make the church look festive for the coming holidays, it would be especially appreciated.

UPCOMING HOLIDAY SERVICES  We will continue with our tradition of celebrating the vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil for the Holy Nativity on Christmas Eve (5:30PM) and St. John Chrysostom's Divine Liturgy for Christ's Holy Nativity on Christmas morning (9AM / 10AM).  The Christmas morning service is not a repeat of the Christmas Eve service.  Rather, it is a continuation of the service which encompasses the entire Feast.  For that reason we ask that you plan to attend both services, worshipping together, the truly awesome Incarnation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   

A CHRISTMAS EVE AFTERGLOW WILL FOLLOW THE VESPERAL DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL On Christmas Eve, please bring a festive dish (an appetizer, main, or side dish is suggested) for the afterglow table on Christmas Eve which we pray will be blessed and memorable.  Thank you. 

BAKLAVA MADE EASY?  Yes, it's possible!  Visit this YouTube link and a Lebanese lady will share the easiest baklava receipe ever:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImPP0Jx7D7Y.  Suggestion--use ghee (clarified butter) which can be purchased in most grocery stores.  It will save you from a soggy baklava.  Buying ghee can be a game changer. 

DO YOU START CELEBRATING YOUR BIRTHDAY A MONTH IN ADVANCE?  Our consumer focused culture has molded a mindset over time that gets people into the habit of celebrating Christmas weeks before the festal occasion with rich excessive food and drink, gifts, parties, etc.  Is the meaning reduced to what gifts are opened on Christmas morning?  Is the holiday then over?  As Orthodox, let's opt for celebrating on the First Day of Christmas, December 25, focused on the Holy Incarnation of Christ and enjoy the Twelve Holy Days of Christmas. What a beautiful time of year!  Learn more here:  https://otftd.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-twelve-days-of-christmas-arewhen.html.

NICE WAY TO HELP ST. GEORGE  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. 

WE HAVE ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CARDS in the bookshop.  Assorted packages of 15 cards for $16.95.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.