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.

MEMORY ETERNAL! Memorial prayers will be offered this morning for our departed sister in Christ, Athena Duddy. May her soul rest peacefully with our Lord Jesus Christ and may the family experience the comfort of God and peace in remembering her this day in prayer.

SUNDAY SCHOOL is on a break for the summer. Even so, Mrs. Bucklin has made coloring sheets and crayons available in the fellowship hall for any young ones who'd like to color. We ask that you take any artwork home after coloring. Thank you!

SOME COMMEMORATIONS THIS WEEK Monday, July 7--Great Martyr St. Kyriaki; Friday, July 11--Great Martyr Euphemia, St. Olga, Equal to the Apostles

FELLOWSHIP HOUR follows the morning services. We ask everyone, as often as possible, to bring a dish to share with others on Sundays. And we also ask that you take any leftovers home when you leave. Doing so makes it easier for those who tidy up afterwards. Thanks so much!

PRAYER REQUESTS UPDATE Prayer changes things--let us support one another. How is God answering prayers? Eleni M. is back at home with improving health, recovering from the effects of a tick bite; Innocent's broken foot is (almost) healed! Subdeacon Patrick's Uncle John underwent a biopsy and a minor surgery the past week. His condition might a form of cancer (waiting for confirmation), however, he is optimistic about treatments he might engage to regain health. He thanks everyone from the heart for praying for him and hopes you'll continue to uphold him as he pursues healing. Victoria's knee is healing well and Grigori is managing his recovery from DVT. Cathy is very optimistic about healing from any signs of breast cancer, so far things are looking very good for her, grateful to God! Dr. Allison's mother, Paula, is doing well at this time, a mercy for both her and her family. Thank God for these mercies! Summarized requests from past weeks: for Fr. Leo (continued improvement for mobility in right arm); for continued prayers of protection for Mona's family still living in Pakistan; for Mark, UMaine student working with Project Mexico this summer, returning to UMaine in the spring. Also, for parishioner relatives Nick and Darrell, two men afflicted with serious illnesses. Continue to uphold Victoria's son, Matthew (attending seminary this fall), Panagiota & Seraphima (stroke recovery) and Pat (managing eyesight health). Again, your prayers for these these brothers and sisters in Christ are of great assistance to each person being upheld.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE AMONG US who are learning more about the Orthodox Church and Faith. Some are considering uniting themselves to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let us remember Zach, Joshua, Sarah and baby Henry, Dana, Jada, Diane, Valerie and Benjamin in our prayers. God grant each of you wisdom and lead you as you seek Him through prayer, worship and reading. If others would like to join this group, please let Fr. Leo know.

HAVE YOU NOTICED? Our church looks brighter! That's because all the windows got cleaned, down to the screens, both inside and out by one of our members. Thank you for the time and energy put forth to beautify St. George's temple! From the Divine Liturgy, "Sanctify those that love the beauty of Thy house. Glorify them in return by Thy divine power."

CONGRATULATIONS to both Anna and Sophia K who are moving up the ladder academically--Anna starting junior high and Sophia entering high school this fall. Best wishes and prayers for your continued success in learning!

WE'RE NOT SURPRISED Sophia K recently won the #2 spot for all 8th graders in Maine for the state writing competition about National History Day--and she got to present in DC! She wrote about the very first child abuse case that was ever litigated in the US court system at the end of the Civil War. Ask her more about it--we're proud of you, Sophia!!

THANK YOU TO THE "UNDECORATORS" You know who you are--much appreciated!

INFORMAL LEARNING CORNER On the Sign of the Cross (Fr. Josiah Trenham): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kuqSEgEpy8. Quick how to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwTpJ-_DvRs

IS ALASKA AMERICA'S HOLY LAND? It certainly is a sacred land for Orthodox Christians. The land has yielded many Orthodox Saints to date, most recently St. Matushka Olga, who labored in the Church alongside her husband and also offered her skills as a midwife and comforter of the abused. A film will be shown "Sacred Alaska," at The Alamo Theatre in Bucksport on Thursday evening, July 31 at 7PM. Learn more here: https://sacredalaskafilm.com/. Perhaps a group of us from St. George might want to coordinate and meet there together that evening.

ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY Here is a recommended resource for Bible Study for Orthodox Christians. Learn from Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, a well respected and engaging Orthodox Christian expositor. Visit her site and go deep into the Scriptures: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/ Read her bio here: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/about-your-professor/. Many of us have read books written by Dr. Constintinou already and been greatly edified. She has a second web site, as well: https://www.drjeannie.com/.

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. Thanks for shopping here--and let Pres. know if you are looking for specific items or want to order a particular book.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.

Saints and Feasts

July 06

4th Sunday of Matthew

July 06

Sisoes the Great

This Saint, great and renowned among the ascetics of Egypt, lived in the fourth century in Scete of Nitria. After the death of Saint Anthony the Great, he left Scete to live in Saint Anthony's cave; he said of this, "Thus in the cave of a lion, a fox makes his dwelling." When Sisoës was at the end of his long life of labours, as the Fathers were gathered about him, his face began to shine, and he said, "Behold, Abba Anthony is come"; then, "Behold, the choir of the Prophets is come"; his face shone yet more bright, and he said, "Behold, the choir of the Apostles is come." The light of his countenance increased, and he seemed to be talking with someone. The Fathers asked him of this; in his humility, he said he was asking the Angels for time to repent. Finally his face became as bright as the sun, so that the Fathers were filled with fear. He said, "Behold, the Lord is come, and He says, 'Bring Me the vessel of the desert,'" and as he gave up his soul into the hands of God, there was as it were a flash of lightning, and the whole dwelling was filled with a sweet fragrance.

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 ῾Ρωμαίους 6:18-23.

Ἀδελφοί, ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν. Ὅτε γὰρ δοῦλοι ἦτε τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. Τίνα οὖν καρπὸν εἴχετε τότε ἐφʼ οἷς νῦν ἐπαισχύνεσθε; Τὸ γὰρ τέλος ἐκείνων θάνατος. Νυνὶ δὲ ἐλευθερωθέντες ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, δουλωθέντες δὲ τῷ θεῷ, ἔχετε τὸν καρπὸν ὑμῶν εἰς ἁγιασμόν, τὸ δὲ τέλος ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Τὰ γὰρ ὀψώνια τῆς ἁμαρτίας θάνατος, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα τοῦ θεοῦ ζωὴ αἰώνιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν.

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 Romans 6:18-23.

Brethren, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Reading

4th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 8:5-13

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ εἰς Καπερναοὺμ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἑκατόνταρχος παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ὁ παῖς μου βέβληται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ παραλυτικός, δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἐγὼ ἐλθὼν θεραπεύσω αὐτόν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος ἔφη· Κύριε, οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς ἵνα μου ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην εἰσέλθῃς· ἀλλὰ μόνον εἰπὲ λόγῳ, καὶ ἰαθήσεται ὁ παῖς μου. καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν, ἔχων ὑπ᾿ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας, καὶ λέγω τούτῳ, πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ, ἔρχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου, ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐθαύμασε καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀκολουθοῦσιν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον. λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν ἥξουσι καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται μετὰ ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐκβληθήσονται εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῳ· ὕπαγε, καὶ ὡς ἐπίστευσας γενηθήτω σοι. καὶ ἰάθη ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.

4th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 8:5-13

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

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