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.
SUNDAY SCHOOL meets in the fellowship hall right after Holy Communion is offered. All ages 6+ are welcome. Mrs. Bucklin is taking our young people on an adventure through the Book of Acts.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Thanks to everyone for bringing fast friendly dishes for fellowship hour this season!
EVENING SERVICES DURING GREAT AND HOLY LENT A Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy is celebrated each Wednesday evening at 6PM. If you would like to receive Holy Communion that evening for strengthening, please fast from food and drink from an early lunch time that day. Every Friday night during Great Lent we have the Salutations service to our Panagia and on the fifth Friday, we pray the entire akathist service to the Mother of God. That service begins at 7PM.
THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 22 Great Vespers will be prayed at 6PM.
ALTAR GUILD MINISTRY Seeking a core group of individuals who will organize and care for existing church linens and decide on colors and designs for the same into the future. This group will change out linens according to season while assuring they remain in suitable use condition. Those with solid sewing skills are encouraged to participate but it is not a requisite. Please let Pres. know if you would like to be involved. doxa141 at gmail.com. Thank you.
THE LENTEN PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN This text is often offered during Great and Holy Lent. It is appropriate to use it at the conclusion of your prayer times at home. Simply read and offer the prostrations as noted below in the text. May our hearts be softened as one this season.
THE LENTEN PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM
Lord and Master of my life, cast away from me the spirit of laziness, idle curiosity, love of power and vain talk. (Prostration)
But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of moderation, humility, patience and love. (Prostration)
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. (Prostration)
(Followed by 12 bows saying silently each time, "O God be gracious to me a sinner.")
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters.
For You are Blessed forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER REQUESTS Prayer changes things--let us support one another. Eleni had a successful eye surgery last week and thanks the Lord and everyone who prayed for her. Deacon James from St. Innocent of Alaska mission in Bucksport is undergoing chemotherapy. Sharon's sister, Lori, is facing a surgery and would be grateful for prayer support - surgery date yet undetermined. Victoria has a knee surgery scheduled on April 25--an answered prayer! While she waits, she is managing with a less than stellar knee. Pres. Candace has a recurring shoulder impingement that is causing pain in her right arm and limiting mobility. Please keep remembering Dr. Allison's mom, Paula, in your prayers. She is managing a serious health condition. Thank God, she is doing well. Also, keep Mona's dad, Fr. Anthony, a priest in Pakistan, in your prayers. At present, his health is frail. Please keep remembering two Orthodox sisters in Christ still recovering from strokes (slow, but sure), Panagiota (Jaye) and Seraphima (Linnea). Pat E continues to thank everyone who prays for her as she copes with impaired eyesight. Again, your prayers for these these brothers and sisters in Christ are of great assistance.
NEXT SUNDAY IS THE SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS The Holy Cross will be put forth for veneration by the faithful next Sunday morning. The Sunday of the Holy Cross is the mid-point of Great and Holy Lent.
FUND-RAISER TO BENEFIT ST. GEORGE Gabriya has crafted some beautiful crosses out of natural materials which are on display in the fellowship hall. They are available by donation. Suggested donation is $8-$15 each, depending on size.
EGG DECORATING CLASS IS DEFERRED TIL LATER Eleni had a recent eye surgery which will keep her from conducting a pysanky egg decorating class this season. The class will be deferred to a later date. It does not need to be done during the Lenten season, eggs can be decorated any time. It is both a folk craft and art form and the eggs are usually kept and displayed. So we will have a class when Eleni thinks she can manage it--after her eye heals, most certainly. Thank you for your interest!
ARE YOU IN THE GROOVE? Great Lent began last Monday, March 3. A roster of 10 recipes that you can cycle through and repeat during Great Lent can help relieve the stress of "what will we eat?" Meal planning is a great help during the season. One favorite vegan cooking site that has great recipes, many of them demonstrated on YouTube, is https://plantbasedcookingshow.com/. Another popular site is https://rainbowplantlife.com/. Also, consider asking other parishioners what dishes or products they rely on during Great Lent. People are glad to share what works for them.
FAVORITE VEGAN PRODUCTS Ithaca hummus (various flavors). Fermented veggies (beets, carrots, cabbage) add to salads or sandwiches or eat them plain in place of salad. Pre-made cut "slaw," (add your own dressing, stir fry or use for vegetable soup). Vegenaise (mayo substitute) found in the refrigerated section at most grocery stores. Any of the "Violife" brand vegan cheeses. Nut Pod brand creamers. Powdered egg substitute for baking (Ener-G or Bob's Red Mill). You can find all these items at Tiller and Rye, right across the bridge in Brewer, or Natural Living Center in Bangor (near the mall).
QUICK MEAL TIP An easy vegetable soup can be made by sauteeing one onion and 2-4 peeled and chopped garlic cloves and 2 stalks chopped celery in vegetable oil (olive oil on Saturday or Sunday). Add four peeled and diced potatoes, one large can of diced tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1 can of canned and rinsed chickpeas, 1 package of vegetable slaw (from the produce section at the grocery), 1 box of vegetable broth, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dried basil or some torn, fresh leaves, and 1-2 TBsp dried parsley or a good handful of minced fresh leaves (if you cook often it is not necessary to measure, just go by taste). Simmer until potatoes are soft.
IN HONOR OF ST. PATRICK'S FEAST Look under the "Wisdom and Guidance of the Saints" section of the bulletin for an insert of the fast-friendly Irish recipe Colcannon.
NEXT BOARD GAME GET TOGETHER Mark your calendar for March 30, the next board game activity at St. George. The plan is to have the activity on the last Sunday of the month, toward the end of fellowship hour. Bring a game along or join in on someone else's game. Bring a friend, too, and the fellowship will grow! Questions? Ask our coordinator, Dhesorae.
BABY GIRL ARRIVED Blessings on baby Anastasia Maria born last Thursday, March 13 at 9:19AM to Patrick and Brigid K. Mama and baby are doing well and baby's stats at birth were 19", 6# 8oz.
A NICE WAY TO HELP ST. GEORGE For an unspecified time, a family 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. NEW ITEMS RECEIVED OVER THE PAST WEEK: Egg Wraps in many designs and colors! These are "shrink wraps" for Paschal eggs. One wrap will cover 7 medium sized eggs. Each wrap is $3.50. Other items: Small portable icons of Christ & Panagia including small dyptichs. Visor clips featuring the Holy Cross and various Saints, Tiny knot prayer ropes in maroon color ($5 ea). Plastic bread stamps for prosforo baking. Keychains and tapestry pouches. Check the icon display area and you'll find a new nook with additional books! You'll also find we have censers, self-light charcoal briquettes and aromatic Orthodox incense. Beautiful prayer ropes (30 knot and 100 knot in varied colors) from Ukraine are on display 30 knot bracelet is $14; 100 knot rope is $45. Thanks for shopping here--and let Pres. know if you are looking for specific items or want to order a book. COMING SOON: Paschal egg dye (red) from Greece.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.
This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.
His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.
March 16
Sabine the Martyr of Egypt
The holy Martyr Sabine was from Hermopolis in Egypt, and was known for his zeal and piety. During the persecution of Diocletian, he concealed himself with other Christians in a small dwelling outside the city. But when he was discovered, and professed his faith in Christ, he was taken before Arian the Governor, and after he had been tortured he was drowned in the river. Concerning Arian the Governor, See also December 14.
March 16
Christodulus the Wonderworker of Patmos
Saint Christodulus, who was from the region of Nicaea of Bithynia, was the son of Theodore and Anna, and was given the name John. He assumed the monastic habit in his youth and was renamed Christodulus ("slave of Christ" in Greek). At first, he lived the ascetical life in various places, then he received permission and monetary aid from the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus (reigned 1081-1118), and built on the island of Patmos a church and monastery named in honour of Saint John the Evangelist. These buildings stand to this day. However, when the Arabs attacked that place, he fled with his disciples and went to Euboia (Euripus), where also he completed the course of his life about the end of the eleventh century on the 16th of March. The disciples of this righteous man took his sacred incorrupt remains and transferred them to his own monastery, where they repose to this day for the sanctification of those who have recourse to them with faith.
Prokeimenon. Fifth Tone. Psalm 11.7,1. You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.
IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?
Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.
Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12
At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
