Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
1250 Oakdale Avenue
West Saint Paul, Minnesota 55118
Parish Website:
http://www.saintgeorge-church.
Very Reverend Archpriest Thomas Begley, Pastor
Right Reverend Archimandrite Duane Pederson, attached
Reverend Deacon Russell Hodge, Assisting Deacon
Reader Leonard Soroka, Director of Music
Church Phone - 651-457-0854 Pastor’s Phone - 651-882-7809
SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2009
THE SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC
TONE: 3
On this day, we commemorate: The commemoration of the Apostle Simon the Zealot; venerable Laurence of Egypt.
DIVINE LITURGY TODAY OF ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Sing during the Little Entrance:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
During and after the Little Entrance with the Gospel Book, sing the Troparion of the resurrection Tone: 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm, He hath trampled down death by death and become the first born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades granting the world the great mercy.
Then sing the Troparion of St. George, our patron saint.
Then sing the Kontakion of Pascha in Tone 8:
Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice; and giving peace unto Thine Apostles. O Thou who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.
Prokeimenon: Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Clap your hands, all you nations.
.
EPISTLE: The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles
(9:32-42)
I
n those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments, which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
AW
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN
(5;1-15)
t that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethsaida, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first, after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befalls you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had healed him.
HOLY BREAD
Holy bread is given for the health and welfare of Rosa Neimy, her children Daniel, Ronald, Patricia, Susan and their families. In memory of Peter Neimy, Nicole Neimy and Shannah Koutz.
COFFEE HOUR
Happy Mother's Day!
There will be a luncheon in honor of all our "Mothers" today after the Divine Liturgy in the Social Hall. Please allow the women of our parish to go through the line first. We wish all our mothers, grandmothers and Godmothers a very blessed Mothers Day! May God grant them many years!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
W
ELCOME to all our guests and visitors. We are delighted to have you visiting and worshipping with us this morning and hope that you return again soon. We invite you to participate in the Divine Liturgy, but due to the sad divisions in Christianity only baptized/chrismated members of the Orthodox Church who have made their Confession before an Orthodox priest and prepared themselves by fasting may receive Holy Communion. Please come forward after Liturgy to venerate the Cross and partake of the Antidoron - Holy Bread - at the end of the Service. Please join us in the Parish Hall for Coffee Hour after the Liturgy.
PRAY FOR THE SICK
Please pray for Lorraine DeFlorin, Wally Golden, Nicholas Marinkov, Yasmin Kakish, Mary Saba, Erma Ziton, Peter Hafiz, John Etoll, Nicholas Bolt and John Feilmeier, Nick & Julie, Jackson & Hunter Golden, Joni Meister, Julie Funari, Denise, Mavis, John & Pat Burbank, Joseph Zaine, Robert & Barbara Hafiz.
If you are ill and wish to be remembered in the Liturgy and daily prayers of the priest, please
contact Father Tom.
THANK YOU!
Fr. Tom and family would like to thank those who send cards and gifts for Fr. Tom’s anniversary to the priesthood. A special thanks to Renee Melchert and her committee for a superb dinner and program on Saturday night. Also, our thanks to the Ladies of St. George for the wonderful brunch on Sunday. Finally, thank you to Mary Rudquist and the children of St. George for there beautiful performance at the Sunday morning brunch.
FASTING REGULATIONS
The Holy Synod of Antioch has given its blessing for no fasting during the 40 days of Pascha! You may return to the Wednesday/Friday fast or be fast free until the Feast of the Ascension.
LENTEN FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE BOXES:
Lenten Banks must be turned in today, Sunday, May 10, 2009. If you did not take a bank and care to make a donation, please make checks to St. George Church and memo FFHP. banks, checks and cash should be given to JoAnne or George Droubie. We will send one check to the Archdiocese for distribution to the hungry throughout the world. Thank You!
Attention Workers for the up coming Dinner-
Thank you for volunteering to work at the church dinner. We really appreciate all your help and know with your help this should be a great dinner. If you haven't signed up to work yet please sign up in the church hall and give me a call so I know you can work and which shift works for you.
We are again planning on wearing white shirts and black pants or skirts when working on the floor. Kids can wear their St. George Shirts (yellow or green) with black pants if they want or the same as adults. Hair needs to be pulled back and hands washed. If you are working the first shift, we are planning on leaving the church after communion, and eating before our shift starts. We will wait to open the dining room doors until after all have eaten. If we are ready, the doors will be open before 12pm - (possibly 11:30).
If anyone would like to help on Saturday, we would love to have your help. We will be preparing food, setting up the dining room, packaging cookies, and baking bread to list a few things. So please come and join the fun at St. George. Thank you again for your help, if you have any questions just give me a call. Thanks, Vicky
SPRING DINNER TICKET SALES for May 17th. Christ Is Risen!
Please do your BEST to sell your tickets for the Spring Dinner. We do need an account of the tickets you bought and/or the tickets you sold so we know how much food to prepare for the Spring Dinner. Please let Ellie or Gracie know today. Please help them out and sell your tickets. Call them with an amount by Wed. for I will be purchasing the food for our wonderful cooks to prepare this week. We hope to see you this FRIDAY, SATURDAY, and SUNDAY! We need your help to make this Dinner a SUCCESS!! Thanks, Sue
THIS WEEK
PARISH COUNCIL
Our next Parish Council Meeting will be May 12 at 6:30 P.M.
CHIOR REHERSAL
Choir rehearsal will be Wednesday MAY 13TH, at 7:00 P.M.
VESPERS
We will serve Vespers Saturday, May 16.
SPRING DINNER
Friday, May 15th at 5:00PM, we will start to pack baked goods and prepare for the Bake Sale in the Hall ~ set up tables, hang signs, etc. If you have baked goods to donate for the sale please drop them off at the church Friday so we can package them and price them. In addition, we need people to help with the packaging so please sign up in the church hall for a short 2 or 3 hour shift Friday evening.
Saturday, May 16th at 9:00AM, we will pack more Baked Goods in the morning, as well as bake our Famous Syrian bread throughout the day and evening. This is our Biggest Seller!!! So, it would be wonderful to have lots of bakers! Also, we need help filling garlic cups, packing macaroon in wax sleeves for the dinner, food prep for the dinner, setting up the dining hall, and decorating the hall. The St. George dance group will have a short dance practice at 9:00AM. Please bring your costumes. Our Clean Up Crew Leaders are Nusrallah Jubran and Tim Johnson who will need help during and after the dinner. This is a Big Job!! We are Blessed with a Beautiful Church and Hall and the annual dinner provides a time for us to share that with the community. So, please try hard to sell the dinner tickets that Gracie and Ellie provided. We have Dinner flyers in the Hall for you to hang up on your work walls. Inform your family, friends and co-workers about our Delicious Dinner. We will have a ball!
Sunday, May 17th, 2009, Noon - 5:30PM, we are hosting our Annual Middle Eastern Spring Dinner. Invitation is open for all to volunteer so sign up in the Church Hall. Please provide Homemade Baked Goods ~ Cookies, Cakes, Cup cakes, Brownies, Carmel's, Fudge, Pies, Pastries, Assorted Breads, etc. to be sold at the bake sale in conjunction with the dinner. An assortment at hand will make our Bake Sale look Grand! Please contact Sue Perry or Christine Quam with questions about the bake sale & Vicky Michaels for the dining hall questions. Since we are hosting a Middle Eastern Dinner, we will decorate with a Middle Eastern Theme. If you would like, please wear your Ethnic costume. The bake sale area, ticket sale area, cookbook sale area would be a great place to wear and show our beautiful dresses. We will have some available for you to put on that day. Please come and help at the Annual Spring Dinner!
Last day of Church School is Sunday, May 17th
The last day of church school for this year is May 17th. Thank you to all the students who have made it a point to regularly attend church school this year.. Thank you also to the parents for getting them here. Have a fun summer and we will see you again this Fall.
UPCOMING EVENTS
BENEFIT DINNER
A Benefit Dinner with Robert Alexander will be coming soon to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Mr. Alexander will speak about his travels in Russia and his new novel, which tells the story of the New Martyr St. Elizabeth. Proceeds will be going to benefit Children's charities and medical needs in St. Petersburg Russia." The event will take place at 6:00 PM Thursday May 21st at St. Mary's OCA Cathedral, 1701 5th Street NE, Mpls.
ARABIC LITURGY
Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord!
Please join us in celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Arabic Language, 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at St. George in West St. Paul. Thank you for your support of this very special ministry at St. George! All are welcome! Please also forward this message to anyone who may be interested in attending. Don't forget the family luncheon afterwards.
Yours,
Anthony Rezcallah.
The TEEN GROUP will be going to the Twins verses Milwaukee baseball game at the Metrodome on Sunday, May 24th. It is an evening game (7:05), There is a sign up sheet posted in the Social Hall. Please sign up as soon as possible so we can get a count of who is all going. For questions please see Tim Johnson or Luke Mikhail.
PUTTING FOR GOLFERS
Golf 3 - 9 - 18 holes,
miniature game or visit the driving range can make a huge difference
for someone who needs a buddy. Hang out on a monthly basis. Do activities
that you both enjoy besides golfing, like going out for coffee, shopping,
watching sports or attending events. Reimbursement for mileage and expenses
is available. Learn more by contacting the VolunteerCoordinator at Guild
Incorporated: (651) 925-8465 or e-mail at volunteerteer@
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America are offering scholarships, usually in the amount of $500 to help women continue their education in order to improve their circumstances and those of their families. Qualifications for the scholarship are as follows:
1. The applicant must be a female over 26 years of age.
2. The applicant must be a member in good standing of a parish of the Antiochian Archdiocese.
3. The applicant must be actively involved in her parish.
4. The applicant must be applying for or registered in an academic or trade program of study
5. The applicant must demonstrate financial need.
Please contact Fr. Thomas if you would like an application form.
Music & Dinner
Chants of the Russian Orthodox Church and folk songs from Russia. Following the
concert will be a Russian-style dinner sponsored by
St Johns in the Wilderness Episcopal Church
2175 First Street
White Bear Lake
Sunday, May 17th
3:00 PM
Admission to concert is $10 at the door and includes the meal. (see flyer).
HOLY BREAD
Boshra Haddad has volunteered to take over the scheduling of Holy Bread for Sundays and Feast Days.
COFFEE HOUR
If you would like to host the coffee hour on Sunday after liturgy, please call Sana Jubran (651)-731-2988. We need people to host coffee hour. Also, please consider hosting the coffee hour the same day that you offer the holy bread. Thank you.
Announcing the 2009 Summer Camp Scholarship Contest!
Now open to our entire Pan-Orthodox Community! Two Camp scholarship coupons will be awarded in memory of Presbytera Mary Coniaris and James H. Zubulake. Camp registration fees will be rebated to two contest winners. This year’s theme is, “How do I let Christ’s light shine through me?” There will be two divisions:
Junior Division- open to children entering 3rd- 6th grades Fall 2009. Contestants are required to submit a 250- word (typed) essay on the theme.
Senior Division- open to teens entering 7th- 12 grades Fall 2009. Contestants are required to submit a 500- word (typed) essay on the theme.Entries must remain as close to the word limits (250 or 500) as possible.ENTRIES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN FRIDAY MAY 22, 2009.Please submit entries to:Fr Christopher WojcikE-mail to htoc@amerytel.net
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
El Messieh Kahm! Hakken Kahm!
Kristos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!
Christos Aneste! Alethos Aneste!
Cristos a inviat! Adevarat a inviat!
Christos tensiou! Bahakee Tensiou!
73rd Annual Midwest Federation of American Syrian Lebanese Clubs Convention
August 6th-8th
Marriott Minneapolis West
9960 Wayzata Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN
Book of tickets include: Thursday night Hospitality night, Friday night Hafli and Banquet, Saturday night Hafli and Banquet and Sunday morning breakfast. (Arabic entertainment by John Khoury). Cost is $125 for the book of tickets and $75 for children (this includes all events). Single event tickets are available at the cost of $65 Friday evening Hafli and Banquet; $35 for children. And for Saturday night the cost is $75 for Hafli and Banquet; $35 for children.
Limited space. Please reserve as soon as possible. To reserve your tickets please contact Mark Lett at 402-895-8976 (checks should be made payable and sent c/o Midwest Federation - to 13935 Monroe St., Omaha, NB 68137.