St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
1073 Saunders Settlement Road
M.P.O. Box 713
Niagara Falls, New York 14302
Our parish seeks to help people:
v maintain a meaningful union with God
v become active members of His family
v grow up to be spiritually mature, Christ-like people
v minister within the Church and to the world
v glorify and worship the Holy Trinity
Schedule for the week of April 20-27, 2008:
Apr 20: 7 pm Bridegroom Service
Apr 21: 7 pm Bridegroom Service
Apr 22: 7 pm Bridegroom Service
Apr 23: 7 pm Holy Unction Service
Apr 24: 10 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
Holy Bread Offering: Sponsor needed!
Coffee Hour Sponsor: Gayle Fadel
7 pm Footwashing Rite and Service of the 12 Passion Gospels
Apr 25: 9 am Royal Hours
3 pm Vespers with the taking down of Christ from the Cross
4 pm Vigil Begins
7 pm Lamentations Service
Apr 26: 10 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
Holy Bread Offering: Sponsor needed!
Coffee Hour Sponsor: Sponsor needed!
11:30 pm Rush Service, Matins, and Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Holy Bread Offering: Lorraine Pealer
Coffee Hour Sponsor: Coffee by the Parish Council, Bring Your Own Blessed Basket to share.
Apr 27: Glorious Feast of Pascha - The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
3 pm Agape Vespers
3:45 pm Easter Egg Hunt
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me a sinner!
SUPERVISING HIERARCH : Archbishop Metropolitan PHILIP Saliba, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
Diocesan Bishop: His Grace Bishop ALEXANDER, Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada, and Upstate New York State.
Rev. Fr. Paul A. Solberg, Pastor Church Office Phone: 297-2668
Voice Mail & Cellular Phone: 983-1145 FAX: 297-2668
Home: 754-1641 E-mail: saintgeorgeorthodox@yahoo.com
Email: frsolberg@yahoo.com
V. Rev. Fr. George R. Aswad, Pastor Emeritus
Home: 773-3896
Rev. Dn. Raphael K. Barberg, Deacon Rev. Dn. David G. Scott, Deacon
Voice Mail & Cellular Phone: 861-4773 Home: (905) 835-2884
Home: 284-3815 Email: theology99@hotmail.com
Email: bonovox671@aol.com
Holy Bread Baking Available: Have you wanted to offer the Holy Bread, but don’t know how to bake it, or don’t have the time to bake it? Mickey Mokhiber is offering a great service. He is willing to bake 7 loaves of holy bread and deliver it to church for you. See him for price.
Coffee Hour Refreshments available for people who want to be a sponsor: See Mickey Mokhiber. He’s willing to bake sweet rolls, plain bagels (includes butter and jelly), donuts, seasoned breads (8 pieces per loaf – choice of anise, sesame, and zahtra. Also available is a Lebanese breakfast (see him for price) Prices include delivery to church and set up for Coffee Hour. Now how easy is that?
St. George Mission Sign Up Sheet: is still blank. Join a group, meet new friends, renew old friendships, act on your faith. Don’t be a pew warmer!
Relay for Life: June 6 -7 on Grand Island. Support Team Amazing Race. Stars and moons donation slips and merchandise are available in the social hall after the Divine Liturgy. They are also collecting old cell phones for recycling.
Med Fest Announcements: Ad Book: See Dr. Saba if you are interested in purchasing an ad for the book. Workers Needed: There is a sign up sheet in the social hall on the counter. Please fill one out indicating where you would like to work.
re/Call: In partnership with the Youth Department of the Antiochian Archdiocese Ancient Faith Radio is happy to announce a new podcast just for the youth! Go to Antiochian.org for more information.
Travel to Holy Land: See the bulletin board for information on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Paul.
Tired of cooking?: Try Fr. Nicholas’ International Pierogies. See the list of flavors on the bulletin board in the social hall.
2008 Bible Bowl: It’s never too early to start studying. This year the questions will cover First Corinthians, as found in the Orthodox Study Bible.
Donations for Carolyn’s House: The Antiochian Women are collecting paper products, cleaning products, and personal care products for Carolyn’s House. There are baskets in the social hall by the Antiochian Women’s bulletin board.
Quick Quotes: Friendliness is contagious. The trouble is, many of us wait to catch it from someone else, when we might better be giving them a chance to catch it from us.
Apr 28: 9 am Matins
10 am Bright Monday Divine Liturgy
Holy Bread Offering: Sponsor needed!
Coffee Hour Sponsor: Sponsor needed!
Fr. Paul’s Day off: Routinely Fr. Paul’s day off will be Mondays.
Office Hours: The church office is staffed by volunteers Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm. We are looking for a volunteer or volunteers to staff the office Monday and Friday.
Fasting this Week: Fish is permitted today. The strict fast of Holy Week resumes on Sunday night with the celebration of the Bridegroom Service.
Confession and Communion: Orthodox Christians should avail themselves of these mysteries (sacraments) during the Lenten season. If you haven’t already prepared yourself with fasting, prayer, and examination of conscience, please do so. Don’t wait for the last minute to strengthen your Lenten journey with repentance, confession, and communion. Confession is available after any of the Lenten services.
Bake Sale: Today’s Bake Sale is sponsored by the Antiochian Women. Proceeds will go to Team Amazing Grace at the Relay for Life Race on June 6-7
Holy Week Flowers: It’s not too late to donate towards the flowers that will be needed for this week. Envelopes are on the table in the narthex. The flower bill is $1000 each year.
Sponsors Needed:
Holy Bread : April 24 (Holy Thursday), April 26 (Vesperal Divine liturgy at 10 am), June 29, October 26, Evening Divine Liturgies throughout the year, Soul Saturday
Coffee Hour Sponsors: June 8 & 29, Aug 10 & 31, September 14 & 28, Nov 30, Dec 28. Call Patti Chown if interested in sponsoring a coffee hour
Pascha (Easter) Coffee Hour : The Parish Council will provide coffee. Parishioners are encouraged to bring a basket of food to be blessed and to share after the service. Instructions on preparing a traditional Easter Basket will be available. Please keep in mind that the idea behind bringing a basket of food to be blessed was that you brought foods that you abstained from. The idea was to break the long fast of Great Lent and Holy Week with blessed foods. So fill a basket with whatever you wish and bring it to the Pascha (Easter) service.
Attire Advisory: The faithful are to come to church in attire appropriate to their gender. Immodest clothing violates the decorum of the church’s setting. Attire that may be permissible to wear on the street or at the beach is completely unacceptable in church. Young people (and their parents) are reminded that one may not come to church in a T-shirt (especially with blatant slogans or with depictions of idols of pop culture, etc) or in sneakers. Only boys under the age of seven may come to church in shorts.
According to long-standing practice, women enter the church with heads covered. This act of reverence has almost disappeared in North American Churches today. It is always appropriate to wear a head covering in church, especially if receiving communion.
The Themes of Palm Sunday : The solemnities of Holy Week are preceded by a two-day festival commemorating the resurrection of Lazarus and the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem. These two events punctuate Christ’s ministry in a most dramatic way. By causing the final eruption of the unrelenting hostility of His enemies, who had been plotting to kill him, these two events precipitate Christ’s death. At the very same time, however, these same events emphasize His divine authority. Through them Christ is revealed as the source of all life and the promised Messiah. For this reason, the interlude which separates Holy Week from the Great Fast is Paschal in character. It is the harbinger of Christ’s victory over death and the inrush of His kingdom into the life of the world. The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a messianic event, through which His divine authority was declared. Palm Sunday summons us to V behold our king, the Word God made flesh. We are called to behold Him not simply as the One who came to us once riding on a colt, but as the One who is always present in His Church, coming ceaselessly to us in power and glory at every Eucharist, in every prayer and sacrament, and in every act of love, kindness, and mercy. V accept both the rule and the kingdom of God as the goal and content of our Christian life. The kingdom does not lie at some p9int or place in the distant future. In the words of the Scripture, the kingdom of God is not only at hand (Mt. 3:2; 4:17), it is within us (Lk. 17:21). The kingdom of God is a present reality as well as a future realization. V behold our king – the Suffering Servant. We cannot understand Jesus’ kingship apart from the Passion. Filled with infinite love for the Father and the Holy Spirit, and for creation, in His inexpressible humility Jesus accepted the infinite abasement of the cross. Great Week and Pascha in the Greek Orthodox Church |
Religious Education Opportunities for all ages: It’s never too late to learn about your faith. Opportunities exist for all age groups. Don’t be shy, come out and join a group!
v Church School: Classes will be held after Communion for children in Grades Pre-K to 12. Classes will end at NOON.
v Wednesday Vespers and Adult Education: Join us on Wednesday for Vespers at 6 pm and our Adult Education class at 7 pm.
v Saturday Vespers and Adult Education: Kevin John Boddecker will be presenting sessions on the Nicene/Constantinople Creed.
The Church Fathers on Palm Sunday: Today He returns from Bethany & proceeds of his own free will towards His holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation… He comes without pomp or ostentation…Let us run to accompany Him as He hastens towards His passion, and imitate those who met Him then, not by covering His path with garments, olive branches or palms, but doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before Him by being humble and trying to live as He would wish…So let us spread before His feet, not garments or olive branches, which delight the eyes for a few hours & then wither, but ourselves, clothed in His grace, or rather, clothed completely in Him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before Him.
Easter Basket Raffle: Tickets are $2 each for an Easter Basket that will be raffled off on Pascha, April 27. See Mickie Mokhiber if interested in buying a ticket.
Coming Events:
May 3: Bright Saturday Divine Liturgy at Sts. Theodore Orthodox Church, 96 Los Robles St. Williamsville
Marriage Preparation Class after Vespers
May 18: Parish Annual Meeting and Lamb Roast sponsored by Mickey Mokhiber
June 22: Chicken Dinner and car show sponsored by St. Ignatius
July 11-13: Mediterranean Festival
Aug 3-10: Church Camp
Aug 3-9: Camp Transfiguration (Diocesan Children’s Camp)
Nov 13-25: Holy Land Vacation
2009: St. George Niagara Falls will host the Parish Life Conference
St. George Wants Your Paper! Save precious landfill space and help the church – all at the same time! We have recently added a Paper Retriever® green & yellow paper recycling bin to our parking lot. Not only will we be helping our environment, we will also be raising funds. Each month, we will receive money for every ton collected. The more paper our community places in the bin, the bigger the check!
Types of paper accepted are: catalogs, newspapers, magazines, advertising mail, and school and office papers. Please do not deposit cardboard or phonebooks.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! How do you say that phrase in Norwegian? In French? In Greek? In Georgian? In Slavonic? In Arabic? In Italian? In Spanish? How about in some 250+ languages? Go to http://srbigham.com/en to find out how. (or search for the phrase “pascha Polyglotta”). You will hear the phrase in your choice of language and can practice to your heart’s content. Be ready for the Pascha service!
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
1073 Saunders Settlement Road
M.P.O. Box 713
Niagara Falls, New York 14302
Words of Welcome: Welcome to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. We are an Orthodox Christian parish whose roots trace directly back to first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). The Orthodox Church is the oldest and second largest Christian group in the world. We are called by God our creator to worship and follow Him, and to proclaim to the world His message of love, peace, and salvation. God loves all mankind and desires that all human beings should believe in Him, know Him, abide in Him, and receive eternal life from Him. To accomplish this, God Himself came into the world as a man, Jesus Christ, becoming man that we might become like God.
As it is with all Orthodox Parishes, please note that the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church. Although every person is most welcome to come forward at the end of the Divine Liturgy Service to receive the priest’s blessing and to take a piece of the Holy Bread being distributed. If you have question concerning the Holy Orthodox Faith, please speak with Fr. Paul. We hope you will worship with us again and again.
Sunday, April 20, 2008: Today is the Feast of Palm Sunday. On this day, we commemorate The Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
Holy Bread Offering: Sylvia and Bud Bailey
Coffee Hour Sponsor: Wendy Anzalone Family
Matins Gospel: Matthew 21: 1-11, 15-17 which is found on page 1137 of the pew Bible.
Troparion of Lazarus Saturday (Tone 1): O Christ God, when Thou didst raise Lazarus from the dead, before Thy Passion, Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection. Wherefore, we, like children, carry the insignia of triumph and victory, and cry to Thee, O Vanquisher of death, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Troparion of Palm Sunday (Tone 4) : O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of Thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise Thee, crying, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Kontakion of Palm Sunday (Tone 6): Upborne upon the heavenly throne, and seated upon the earthly foal, O Christ our God, receive the praises of angels and the hymns of men, exclaiming before Thee, Blessed is He that cometh to restore Adam.
The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians 4:4-9 :
Prokeimenon: Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
The text of the Epistle is found on page 1351 of the pew Bible
The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John 12:1-18 :
The text of the Gospel is found on page 1238 of the pew Bible.
Appropiate/Pious Behavior in Church : We should come to public services on time, and make an effort not to leave until their completion, unless there are extremely compelling circumstances requiring us to leave early. Even in secular society, this is an elementary rule of good upbringing and a sign of respect for the others who have assembled.
Reminder: The palms and pussy willows have been blessed, and therefore religious holy objects. We should not be finding them on the floor, on the driveway outside the church, or children playing with them or with lit candles.
Today at the end of the Liturgy, we will have the procession with the Palms. All Church School students and teachers are to remain in the church after Communion. Church School students and teachers will be dismissed after the procession.