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. 

MEMORIAL PRAYERS for Christos Kritikos will be offered this morning commemorating the fifth year of his repose.  God grant him eternal memory!  

SUNDAY SCHOOL is on a break for the summer and will restart on September 14!  In the interim, 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!  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP HOUR DISHES  Reminder:  We do have food allergies among us.  Someone has an allergy to some nuts--specifically walnuts, pecans and cashews.  If you bring a dish having any of these ingredients, please label them!  Cashews are notorious--they are often made into vegan cheese products or spreads and some nut milks contain cashews.  Consuming these nuts accidentally makes the person rather ill.  Someone else has a severe allergy to salmon and crab.  Again, please label any dishes containing these ingredients.  We want to avoid causing illness in others.  Of course, we all know about peanuts--please don't bring those at all.  Thanks, everyone!

BAPTISM  Let us rejoice with Patrick and Brigid whose third child, Anastasia, will be presented for baptism today, Sunday, 31 Aug.  The baptism will take place at Holy Archangels Mission in Limestone.  Let us pray for the family and especially for little Anastastia that she will grow up to be a Saint!

PRAYER REQUESTS UPDATE  Prayer changes things--let us support one another.  A note of thanks from Sean and his mom, Anita Rose.  Sean underwent some tests last week and learned he is overall well, but needs to tweak a few things in order to feel better.  He and Anita Rose thank everyone for their prayers!  George Z and his wife, Svetlana, are both struggling to get over a gastro-intestinal issue that seems to be lingering.  George has not felt well since suffering a double grief with the loss of his parents not so long ago.  Please keep both of them in your prayers.  George also asks prayer for his aunt and uncle, Daniel and Georgine, for strength as they are both up in years and Daniel just entered the hospital last night.  They came to worship with us at St. George some time back.  Thank you!  Keep Mona, Anthony and their "Little Sprout" on your prayer lists, please.  More info below.  Let us also remember Susan and Sharon, and their departed loved ones, brother Darrell and step-dad, Allen, both having departed this life this month.    Catherine, who was on this list in the past, and needs a second surgery to correct an aneuyrism, hopefully we'll hear more about her condition soon.  She appreciates your prayers. Summarized requests from past weeks: for Fr. Leo (he has a complete rotator cuff tear--weighing whether or not to have surgery); for Eleni M who has chronic health struggles, for continued prayers of protection for Mona's family living in Pakistan; for Cathy who is seeking to overcome cancer naturally, for John, who needs treatment for esophageal disease, and for Mark, UMaine student now at Hellenic College for this fall.  Also, for a parishioner relative Nick, afflicted with a serious illness.  Continue to uphold Victoria's son, Matthew (at St. Tikhon's Seminary now with his family), 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 who are learning more about the Orthodox Church and Faith.  These plan to unite themselves to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  Let us remember Zach, Joshua, Sarah and baby Henry, Dana, Jada, and Valerie 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.

BASIC STEPS FOR CATECHUMENS  Please see the section Informal Learning Corner for guidance.  We plan to update this section regularly.

YOUNG ADULT ACTIVITY SUGGESTED FOR SEPTEMBER  Hiking, canoeing, kayaking at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge (not far from St. George).  There is a shelter building there, a pond and a dock.  Hiking trails are along Pushaw Stream.  Demetri knows the area like the back of his hand and is the Refuge Manager.  Want to make it happen?  Talk with Demetri during fellowship hour.

ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL TRAGEDY  Please see this article which appeared in The Orthodox Observer on 8/28:  https://www.goarch.org/-/minneapolis-shooting-oo.  Please remember all the afflicted families in your prayers, and especially the souls of the departed children, Fletcher (8) and Harper (10).  God grant full recovery to young Sophia (12) a Greek Orthodox student who was wounded and is in critical condition.  She also needs much prayer.  Thank you.

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?  It is essential that we give attention to the Divine Perspective which is not always revealed to us (read the Book of Job in the Old Testament).  It is essential for every Christian to trust God fully regardless of our experiences and fortify ourselves spiritually that we remain rooted and strong in Christ, no matter what our future holds.  Let us find joy in each moment and allow life's experiences (which God uses to refine us) to fit us for life with Him eternally in His glorious coming Kingdom.  St. Paul emphasized God's overarching love for us when he wrote to the Christians in Rome, summarized below:  

THANK YOU for remembering to buy shelf staple items to donate to the Bangor homeless shelter!  Continue to bring your grocery donations and we will continue to deliver them to the shelter for you.  Community members Jack, Areti, Gabriya and Kathy graciously collect and deliver items monthly--thank you!  Here is a list of foods needed regularly by the shelter:  Pasta  / Pasta Sauce / Macaroni & cheese / Boxed stove-top meals / Instant potatoes / Pancake mix / Butter / Margarine / BBQ sauce / Salad dressing / Mayonnaise / Mustard / Ground coffee / Powdered coffee creamer / Sugar.  Note to senior citizens:  Ocean State Job Lot in Bangor offers 20% off food items (many on the above list) every Monday between 8-9AM.  You can get more for your donation dollars there!

A DESIGNATED SPOT FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING  Please note the spot designated for handcapped parking right outside the front door - the curb is painted blue to advise us to leave that space free for those who may need it. 

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.

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/.  

BASIC STEPS FOR CATECHUMENS 

#1  I have my catechisim book (Orthodox Way a Catechism for Seekers by Deacon Charles Joiner, PhD) and am going through it at my own pace.  I am making note of any questions I have as I go.  I am attending the Divine Liturgy regularly.  Should I be doing something else?

Yes.  As an Orthodox Christian you will want to establish a prayer corner in your home or room with at least one icon, usually of Christ and His mother, our Panagia, and an Orthodox prayer book.  You can add a wall cross and a candle, too, or an oil lamp.  Often a prayer corner grows and other icons get added as time passes.  It is also a good place to keep your Bible and an Orthodox Psalter (Book of Psalms). Examples of icon corners can be found by doing a search of images on-line.

Set up your prayer corner facing east whenever possible.  Use the area for prayer only, don't stage other personal items there.  If you use a shelf or top of a bookcase or dresser, perhaps put down a cloth and arrange your icons there.  Keep it a sacred space where you meet with God.  Use an Orthodox prayer book--our bookshop area has a variety of books from different publishers and you can choose which one you like.  Some people use just one prayer book, some like to collect more than one.  A hardcover prayer book is a very good investment.  Follow the prayers in the prayer book in the order they are written for morning and evening.  You can also purchase a knotted prayer rope and use the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me."  This prayer helps cleanse the heart and draw grace to oneself. 

An Orthodox Christian life is rooted in prayer, repentance and love.  Setting a daily discipline of prayer will undergird you for the rest of your life.  You can start while you are yet a catechumen and we suggest that you do--to begin getting rooted in Orthodox Christian practice.

Learn Psalm 50/51 "Have mercy on me, O God," and the Nicene Creed.  If you read them regularly, you will naturally commit them to memory over time.  Psalm 50/51 is King David's prayer of repentance.  The Nicene Creed states what we believe as Orthodox Christians.  The Nicene Creed we use at St. George is standard throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.  It is printed on pew cards.  You can photocopy it for use at home.  If anyone ever asks you what you believe, you can recite the Nicene Creed.  If you have questions or concerns about any tenet of the Nicene Creed, please talk with our priest.  You will be asked to state the Nicene Creed at your Baptism / Chrismation before being received into the Church.  It is very important that you are in full agreement with it.