Ελληνικός Ορθόδοξος Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Γεωργίου St. George Greek Orthodox Church 9426 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654 Reverend Fr. Dr. Gregory Edwards, Presbyter 727-967-2178 secretary1.stgeorge@gmail.com - Church Office: 727-868-5911 Alex Limberatos, Youth Director - youth@stgeorgetampabay.org or his cell phone 262-370-0586 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12TH, 2017 NEW WEB PAGE: www.stgeorgenpr.org 9th Sunday of Luke In observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday the Office and the Church will be closed as follows: Wednesday November 22, 2017 Close at 12:00pm (noon) Thursday November 23, 2017 and Friday November 24, Closed Church Services (See enclosed for weekly calendar) November 24th Friday evening, Vespers 6pm for St. Katherine November 25, Saturday, St. Katherine, 8:30amMatins - 9:30amDivine Liturgy November 25, Saturday, Great Vespers 6:00-7:00 pm. Welcome to St. George! If you like the Spiritual work done here at St. George together with all the Ministries and you would like to help us grow we encourage you to become a Steward of our Parish. For more information please do see our Stewardship Ministry Members after Church Services at our KONTOS Community Hall. We thank you for Praying with us today and we hope to see you again soon! Make St. George YOUR NEW HOME! 1
ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟ:Κυριακή ΚΔ Επιστολών, Αποστ. ανάγνωσμα: Προς Εφεσίους 2, 14-22 Αυτός πραγματικά είναι για μας η ειρήνη. Αυτός έκανε τους δύο αντιμαχόμενους κόσμους ένα λαό και γκρέμισε με το σταυρικό του θάνατο ό,τι σαν τείχος τους χώριζε και προκαλούσε έχθρα μεταξύ τους. Κατήργησε δηλαδή τον ιουδαϊκό νόμο των εντολών και των διατάξεων, για να δημιουργήσει με το έργο του από τα δύο εχθρικά μέρη, από τους Ιουδαίους και τους εθνικούς, μια νέα ανθρωπότητα, φέρνοντας την ειρήνη. Κι αφού θανάτωσε με το σταυρό του την έχθρα, ένωσε τους δύο πρώην εχθρούς σε ένα σώμα και τους συμφιλίωσε με το Θεό. Έτσι, ο Χριστός ήρθε κι έφερε το χαρμόσυνο μήνυμα της ειρήνης σ εσάς τους εθνικούς, που ήσασταν μακριά από το Θεό, και σ εσάς τους Ιουδαίους, που ήσασταν κοντά του. Πραγματικά, δια του Χριστού μπορούμε μ ένα πνεύμα και οι δύο, εθνικοί και Ιουδαίοι, να πλησιάσουμε τον Πατέρα. Δεν είστε, λοιπόν, πια ξένοι και χωρίς δικαιώματα, αλλά ανήκετε στο λαό του Θεού, στην οικογένεια του Θεού. Προστεθήκατε κι εσείς στο οικοδόμημα που έχει θεμέλιο τους αποστόλους και τους προφήτες κι ακρογωνιαίο λίθο αυτόν τον ίδιο το Χριστό. Μ αυτόν δένεται ολόκληρο το οικοδόμημα και μεγαλώνει, ώστε να γίνει ναός άγιος για τον Κύριο. Ο Κύριος οικοδομεί κι εσάς μαζί με τους άλλους, για να γίνετε πνευματική κατοικία του Θεού EPISTLE. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22 Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟ: Κυριακή Θ Λουκά, Ευαγγ. ανάγνωσμα: Λουκ. ιβ 16 21 Είπε ο Κύριος την εξής παραβολή «Κάποιου πλούσιου ανθρώπου χωράφια έδωσαν άφθονη σοδειά. Κι εκείνος σκεφτόταν και έλεγε: τι να κάνω; Δεν έχω μέρος να συγκεντρώσω τα γεννήματά μου! Να τι θα κάνω, είπε. Θα γκρεμίσω τις αποθήκες μου και θα χτίσω μεγαλύτερες για να συγκεντρώσω εκεί όλη τη σοδειά μου και τα αγαθά μου. Και τότε θα πω στον εαυτό μου: τώρα, έχεις πολλά αγαθά, που αρκούν για χρόνια πολλά. Ξεκουράσου, τρώγε, πίνε, διασκέδαζε. Τότε του είπε ο Θεός: «ανόητε. Αυτή τη νύχτα θα παραδώσεις τη ζωή σου. Αυτά λοιπόν που ετοίμασες, σε ποιόν θα ανήκουν;». Αυτά, λοιπόν, παθαίνει όποιος μαζεύει πρόσκαιρους θησαυρούς και δεν πλουτίζει τον εαυτό του με ό,τι θέλει ο Θεός». Αφού τα είπε όλα αυτά, πρόσθεσε με έμφαση: «Όποιος έχει αυτιά για ν ακούει ας τα ακούει». GOSPEL: 9th Sunday of Luke The Gospel According to Luke 12:16-21 The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my 2
barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." PRAYER CORNER: If you wish your name to be placed on the St. George Prayer List, please contact our Church office. Do not call for others because some people do not want their names to be published. Prayer List for: Calliope Scumas, MaryAnne Kranidis, Elias Kranidis, Kaliope Potawsky, Daniel Scherr, Maria Stolis, Phil and Marie Sherman, Evelyn Leufen, Ferd Leufen, Anthony Miceli BASIL PLANTS ARE NEEDED! THE CHURCH IS IN NEED OF BASIL PLANTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE A PLANT PLEASE BRING IT TO THE CHURCH OFFICE. PRAYER PRAY EVERY Morning and Evening at a Minimum Remember to make your prayer life one that is a firm rule and not something that is done occasionally or sporadically. It must be done each day morning and evening at a minimum. You need to commit to follow your rule each and every day. Think about certain personal hygiene tasks such as brushing your teeth that you do each day out of habit. You don t forget to do them each day. Your prayer needs to become a habit as strong as these. Prayer must become a daily habit that you never forget. Prayer is essential for the health of our soul Just like the hygiene activities that we do for the health of our body. PRAYER FOR OUR CHILDREN O God, our heavenly Father, Who loves mankind and is a most merciful and compassionate God, have mercy upon Your servant(s) (names), for whom I humbly pray to You, and whom I commend to Your gracious care and protection. O God, be their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of Your truth, and draw them nearer to You, so that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Your love and fear, doing Your will in all things. Give them grace and mercy so that they may be patient, hard working, tireless, devout, and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption, and direct them in the way of salvation, through the goodness of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the prayers of His Holy Mother and the blessed Saints. Amen. Taken from Small Book of Prayers for Parents (Trebugov Studios) (www.iconmotif.com) 3
Ύμνοι της Εβδομάδος Απολυτίκιον Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον Αγίου Ανδρέου Ὡς τῶν Ἀποστόλων Πρωτόκλητος Καὶ τοῦ κορυφαίου αὐτάδελφος τῷ Δεσπότῃ τῶν ὅλων, Ἀνδρέα, ἱκέτευε, εἰρήνην τῇ Οἰκουμένη δωρήσασθαι καὶ ταῖς ψνχαῖς ἡμῶν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Ἀπολυτίκιο Άγίου Γεωργίου Ὡς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων ἐλευθερωτής, καὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστής, ἀσθενούντων ἰατρός, βασιλέων ὑπέρμαχος, Τροπαιοφόρε Μεγαλομάρτυς Γεώργιε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Seasonal Kontakion Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος. Hymns of the Week Resurrectional Apolytikion Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrhbearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world. St. Andrew Dismissal Hymn As first of the Apostles to be called, O Andrew, brother of him (Peter) who was foremost, beseech the Master of all to grant the world peace and our souls great mercy. St. George Dismissal Hymn Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick and a champion of kings. O trophy bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Seasonal Kontakion Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle. Sponsor a Day at St. George s! This year, 2017, it will cost over $480,000 to run St. George s. That means that it costs about $1320 a day to keep the doors of our church open. Following other successful parishes, we have decided to challenge our parishioners to sponsor a day at St. George s. With about 300 families, that means we could come close to sponsoring the whole year if every family would take a single day. Each week in the bulletin, we will acknowledge and thank those families who have stepped up to the challenge. Thank you to: Mr. Jack Balahtsis, The Edwards Family, The Tout Family The Chilimigras Family, The Psetas Family, The St. George Baking Angels Koulla Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Saravanos, Anonymous, 4
MEMORIAL SERVICE - +ΙΕΡΟ ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΟ+ It is with great sadness as we announce that our brother in Christ +Elias Vasilakos has fallen asleep with the Lord. Father Gregory, The St George Parish Council and our Parish would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Patricia (Pat) and to his family. You will truly be missed Elias! May his Memory be Eternal! Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτών! Perfection: Divine Love Brings Union of All How by our union with God or others is the union of the entire human nature and its union with God realized? Fr Dimitru Staniloae writes, St. Maximus the Confessor says that first of all love unifies the individual man. It replaces anger, falseness, gluttony, and all the things in which man has taken part by bodily love himself. When these things no longer exist, no trace of wickedness can persist; in their place various kinds of virtues are introduced, which integrate the power of love. However, by this unification of the individual man, the unification of individuals between themselves is also realized. While we are here on earth we only can experience love in short ecstatic moments, in relationship with another person or with God. Even when we are in an ecstatic relationship with God we forget all people. So how do we experience a union with all people? Fr. Dimitru says, It follows that only in peaceful everyday love, manifested in fact and in thought, in Christian love in a broad sense, can we experience more or less love for all men. My interests, my passions, contradictory opinions, as voluntary manifestations, no longer break the unity of nature between me and my neighbor. Every moment I judge things from the point of view of my neighbor with who I am connected; I replace my ego with his and give up mine. By doing this right along with various neighbors with whom I come in contact, the sentiment of my union, actual or virtual with anyone, is strengthened. On my part there is no longer a rift between me and them; I no longer see any such thing. If they do, I don't. This steady behavior strengthens the sentiment of my unity with them and with God... The energy of my love for another, also nurtured by the effort of my will, but especially by these moments of ecstatic contemplation, is easily directed later toward other people. And everywhere I gain a steady disposition of love for anyone, a joy for all, a conviction that in each one I can discover the mystery of enchanting depths. I feel united virtually with everyone and with every concrete opportunity... Love for others grows from the habit of love for God and especially from living it as ecstasy on the culminating step of prayer... We have the feeling that in the love of God as ecstasy, God has opened His heart to us and received us in it, just as we have opened our heart so that He can enter it. On the other hand, the coming back to God, to His heart, means to enter His home. God's "home", however, wants to include all people, because in His heart there is room for everybody, and when I enter it I must feel that by being there I am united with everyone there. Coming back to God, we truly come back home where we belong to the supreme parental home, together with all the heavenly Father's children... 5
Guidelines for the Nativity Fast The Nativity Fast Begins (November 15 through December 24) Strict Fast Refrain from meat, fish, oil, wine, dairy, and eggs. The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods. The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays. The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period. Here are the guidelines: ( More fish is allowed) Meat Dairy Fish Wine Oil beef, chicken, pork, turkey, elk, veal, lamb, deer, rabbit, buffalo, and so forth milk, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, and so forth fish with a backbone (not including shrimp, octopus, shellfish, squid, or other seafood. Abstain. Abstain. Permitted only on Saturdays and Sundays before December 20. (some permit fish Tuesdays and Thursdays also) (some include all types of alcohol in this category) Permitted only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20. (some include all types of oil in this category) Permitted only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20. Abstinence includes refraining from the food and drink mentioned above, as well as from smoking. The Eucharistic Fast means abstaining from at least the previous midnight for communing at a morning Liturgy. 6
We sincerely thank All the Festival, Friday night Dinners, Office and Church Volunteers for all their hard work!! All the Greek School Parents, Teachers, PTO leaders All our Sunday School Teachers, Volunteers and Parents All our Ministry Heads and Ministry participants and supporters All the participants of our Greek Dance Ministry and Barbara & Georgia Rigas All our Veterans for your service and all those who currently serving All our Festival Sponsors and Donors All of our Stewards together with their Families for supporting St. George All of You who came out to support our festival All of our sponsors who support the Sponsor a Day at St. George s campaign In Jesus Christ Service, All of our weekly bulletin sponsor's ALL OF YOU for coming and Praying with us! May our Lord God and St. George BLESS YOU AND YOURS ALWAYS! +Fr. Gregory and the PARISH Council of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! 7
Η Νηστεία είναι μέσον για την ελευθερία Το αληθινό νόημα και το περιεχόμενό της Παρά το γεγονός ότι οι Ορθόδοξοι χριστιανοί τηρούν, και προσπαθούν να τηρούν τις νηστείες που έχει θεσπίσει η εκκλησία, αγνοούν οι πιο πολλοί απ αυτούς τους χριστιανούς, τη σημασία, το νόημα και το περιεχόμενο της νηστείας. Από την αλλη πλευρά, εκείνοι που δεν νηστεύουν θεωρούν τη νηστεία σαν «παπαδική εφεύρεση», ή περιττό τύπο, που δεν έχει σχέση με τη ζωή ενός συγχρόνου «προοδευτικού», «μορφωμένου», «πολιτισμένου» κ.λπ. ανθρώπου. Γι αυτό το λόγο και οι πρώτοι και οι δεύτεροι είναι ανάγκη να κοιτάξουν βαθύτερα και να συνειδητοποιήσουν μερικές αλήθειες γύρω από τη νηστεία, που οπωσδήποτε δεν είναι σκοπός, αλλά μέσον για την τελειοποίηση του ανθρώπου. Η Νηστεία μέσον για την ελευθερία του προσώπου Δεν νοείται χριστιανική ζωή χωρίς αγώνα, άθληση, άσκηση. Χωρίς, δηλαδή, την προσπάθεια εκείνη που αναλαμβάνει ο πιστός οδηγούμενος και ενισχυόμενος από την χάρη του Θεού, να απαλλαγεί από το ζυγό της αμαρτίας και την κυριαρχία των παθών και να ακολουθήσει με αυταπάρνηση το θέλημα του Θεού. Ο χριστιανός από τη στιγμή της βάπτισής του μπαίνει στο πνευματικό στάδιο και γίνεται αθλητής. Αυτό παρακαλεί και η εκκλησία το Θεό για το νέο μέλος της: «ον διαφύλαξον αήττητον αγωνιστήν διαμείναι» (ακολουθία βαπτίσεως). Στον ασκητικό αυτό αγώνα ιδιαίτερα σημαντική θέση κατέχει και η νηστεία. Αποτελεί ένα από τα καλύτερα όπλα στον αγώνα κατά των παθών. Δεν είναι, επομένως, η νηστεία απλώς η βίωση και η εφαρμογή μίας καλής παράδοσης, ούτε η δουλεία σε νόμο που επιβάλλεται έξωθεν, δεν είναι απλώς μία δίαιτα, ή μία γυμναστική της θέλησης, αλλά η προσπάθεια για να απαλλαγούμε από την δουλεία των παθών (της γαστριμαργίας και της λαιμαργίας), ο αγώνας για να ελευθερωθούμε από την τυραννία που θέλουν να επιβάλλουν τα κτίσματα, επομένως αγώνας για την ελευθερία του προσώπου. Γι αυτό και η εκκλησία δίνει μεγάλη σημασία στη νηστεία, η οποία έχει πολλές διαστάσεις και στάδια. Η Νηστεία είναι θεόσδοτη και αρχαιότατη παράδοση Η νηστεία είναι αρχαιότατη παράδοση και νομοθετήθηκε από τον ίδιο το Θεό ήδη πριν από την πτώση. Ήταν η πρώτη εντολή του Θεού στους πρωτόπλαστους. Γι αυτό και η Κυριακή της Τυρινής μας θυμίζει αυτή την πρώτη εντολή και μας καλεί να μπούμε στο στάδιο της νηστείας. Στην Παλαιά και Καινή Διαθήκη τονίζεται ιδιαίτερα η νηστεία, όπως και καταδικάζεται η τυποποίησή της. Ο ίδιος ο Χριστός νηστεύει σαράντα μέρες δίνοντας το παράδειγμα στους μαθητές του. Έτσι από την αρχή, η νηστεία μπήκε στην ζωή της εκκλησίας και οι Άγιοι Πατέρες καθόρισαν με πολύ σοφία τις μέρες και τις περιόδους νηστείας, όπως και τον τρόπο της νηστείας. Η αλλοτρίωση και η τυποποίηση της Νηστείας Κάθε τι το γνήσιο κινδυνεύει να γίνει κάλπικο. Όπως κι ένα νόμισμα, ακόμη κι ένα έργο τέχνης, κινδυνεύουν να παραχαρακτούν και να γίνουν ψεύτικα. Ο κάτοχός τους μπορεί να ξεγελαστεί. Να νομίζει ότι κατέχει ένα θησαυρό και αυτός να είναι κάλπικος, να μην έχει αντίκρισμα. Η Αγία Γραφή και οι ερμηνευτές της, οι πατέρες της εκκλησίας, καταδικάζουν την τυποποίηση της νηστείας, τη λειψή ή ψεύτικη νηστεία. Η νηστεία δεν είναι ένας ξηρός τύπος. Συνδυάζεται πάντα με τις άλλες αρετές, την εγκράτεια, τη μετάνοια, την προσευχή, τη φιλανθρωπία, την ελεημοσύνη. 8
Η Νηστεία των Χριστουγέννων Αρχίζει από της 15 Νοεμβρίου και τελειώνει στις 24 Δεκεμβρίου. Κατά την νηστεία αυτή τρώμε ψάρι (όλες τις ημέρες πλην Τετάρτης και Παρασκευής) από την αρχή της μέχρι και την 17η Δεκεμβρίου (αν δεν είναι Τετάρτη ή Παρασκευή). Ψάρι καταλύουμε επίσης και κατά την εορτή των Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου, οποιαδήποτε ημέρα κι αν πέσει. Από την 18η μέχρι και την 24η Δεκεμβρίου, παραμονή της εορτής, επιτρέπεται μόνο η κατάλυση οίνου και ελαίου εκτός, βέβαια, των ημερών Τετάρτης και Παρασκευής που θα παρεμβληθούν και κατά τις οποίες τηρούμε ανέλαιη νηστεία. Επίσης, με ξηροφαγία θα πρέπει να νηστεύουμε την πρώτη ημέρα της νηστείας, 15η Νοεμβρίου, καθώς και την παραμονή της εορτής, εκτός βέβαια κι αν πέσουν Σάββατο ή Κυριακή. Βεβαίως σε κάθε περίπτωση, ο κάθε πιστός πρέπει να συμβουλεύεται τον πνευματικό του και να ενεργεί αναλόγως. Dispelling Confusion About Fasting During Thanksgiving Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, By "Orthodoxy and the World" In a few days, on November 25, America is going to celebrate Thanksgiving Day which has a very significant role in American families because it is one of the few times a year that the family gets together. Thanksgiving Day is also called a Turkey day because it usually involves a meal with turkey or at least a more elaborate meal. Most American Orthodox Christians started the Nativity Fast on November, 15. How can an Orthodox Christian navigate these family gatherings, often with family who are not Orthodox, and still keep the Nativity fast? Thanksgiving for Americans is a family event. The roots of the feast are found in the inclination of the human heart to offer thanks to God for the abundance of blessings He has bestowed upon us. Theologically speaking this feast is an extension of the Divine Liturgy - the Holy Eucharist (in Greek Eucharistia=thanksgiving). As Orthodox Christians, who value the unity and strength of the family, we are inclined to adopt this feast as our own, especially at a time when the institution of the family is under attack from all directions. Considering the traditional Thanksgiving meal, however, which involves turkey, ham and dairy products, Orthodox Christians trying to hold the fast of Christmas are faced with the dilemma: Should I hold the fast and go contrary to the established social and cultural norms associated with Thanksgiving Day or should I break the fast in order to facilitate the need of blending in and not making others uncomfortable with my presence? Several years ago, responding to the request of the faithful under its jurisdiction in America, the Patriarchate of Constantinople applying "economia" discreetly granted its blessing for those who live in America to break the fast on Thanksgiving Day while focusing on the unity of the family and the "eucharistic" aspects of this feast, but quickly return to the observance of the fast immediately afterwards. The non-orthodox cultural norm is thus transformed through our theology and this pastoral approach to a positive element for the strengthening of family bonds, while keeping with the necessity of our spiritual ascesis of fasting. 9
Prayers at Church Prayer Upon Entering a Church I will come into Your house in the greatness of Your mercy: and in fear I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify You forever, One Divine Power worshiped in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayer upon Leaving a Church Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people; a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. Prayer at the Icon of Christ We reverence Your spotless icon, O gracious Lord, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God. Because of Your own good will You ascended the Cross in the flesh, that You might deliver those who You had created from the bondage of the enemy. We cry aloud unto You: You have filled all things with joy, O our Savior, for You came to save the world. Amen. Memorials When planning your memorial service please make sure that you contact the office and give the names of the reposed so that Father Gregory has them in advance. In addition, if you would like KOLYVA we ask that you contact Katina Kollias 727-849-0544 or 1-352-277-6545 Did you know this about Memorial Services and Kolyva : Memorial services may not be chanted from the Saturday of Lazarus through the Sunday of Thomas on any Feast days of the Lord or any Feast days of the Theotokos. Koliva is boiled wheat with a combination of some or all of the following ingredients: powdered sugar, almonds, ground walnuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon, pomegranate seeds, raisins, anise, parsley and more. Koliva is made for memorials, typically on Saturdays of the Souls, and according to different traditions, the day of a Funeral, the 40 th day after death, 3 rd month, 6 th month, 9 th month, annually, and even sometimes just on big anniversaries only, such as 5 years, 10 years, etc. You may also have Kolyva on the funeral day but ONLY boiled wheat no sweetness is added. Sweetness is added on the 40day memorial and thereafter. In John s Gospel we find this quote, Christ said, Unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24) As Orthodox Christians we are awaiting the 2 nd Coming and the General Resurrection of the dead, through Christ we have Life! But, remembering the memory of our deceased beloved ones is an opportunity to pray for the souls of the departed as well as a way to help us heal from the death. 10
YOU MAY PICK UP YOUR SPONSOR CARD AT THE PANGARI OR THE CHURCH OFFICE. WE ASK THAT ALL UPWRAPPED GIFTS ARE RETURNED TO THE CHURCH OFFICE ALONG WITH THE SPONSOR TAG YOU HAVE SELECTED. 11
Η ΘΕΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ Η Θεία Κοινωνιά προσφε ρεται στην Ορθο δοξη Εκκλησιά μο νο στα α τομα που βαφτι στηκαν στην Ορθο δοξη Πι στη. Για να συμμετα σχεις στην Θειά Κοινωνιά, πρε πει να ει σαι σε καλη κατα σταση με την Εκκλησιά πνευματικα (για παρα δειγμα, οι παντρεμε νοι α νθρωποι πρέπει να ε χει ευλογηθει ο γα μος τους στην Εκκλησιά και ο λοι πρε πει να ει ναι χωρι ς σοβαρη αμαρτιά στις καρδιε ς τους). Για ο λους τους Ορθο δοξους Χριστιανου ς πρε πει να τηρει ται η σωστη προετοιμασιά για τη Θειά Κοινωνιά: δηλαδη, εξε ταση της συνει δησης, εξομολο γηση, ανα γνωση των προσευχω ν για ιερη Κοινωνιά και σωστη νηστειά. Αν ε χετε περαιτε ρω αποριές σχετικα με αυτο, παρακαλείται να μιλη σετε με τον Ιερέα. Οι γυναι κες πρε πει να αφαιρε σουν ο λο το κραγιο ν ο ταν πλησια ζουν για τη Θειά Κοινωνιά. Παρακαλείται να αφη σετε τους γονει ς με τα μωρα τους και τους ηλικιωμε νους να προσεγγι σουν πρω τα. Σας ευχαριστούμε! GUIDELINES FOR RECEIVEING HOLY COMMUNION Holy Communion is offered in the Orthodox Church only to those individuals baptized and Chrismated (confirmed) in the Orthodox Faith. To participate in Holy Communion one must be in good standing with the Church spiritually (for example, married people must have had their marriage blessed in the Church and all must be without grave sin on their hearts). For all Orthodox Christians, the proper preparation for Holy Communion must be observed: examination of conscience, confession, reading the prayers for Holy Communion, and the proper fasting. If you have any further questions about this, please speak with the clergy. Women should remove all lipstick when approaching for Holy Communion. Please let parents with their babies and the elderly approach first. We Thank you Father Gregory Edwards contact information is Cell: 727-967-2178 Office: 727-868-5911 Email address: frgregory.stgeorge@gmail.com If you would like to schedule a meeting, an appointments or confession please contact the church office and speak with Antonia or you may contact Fr. Gregory at 727-967-2178. Church is open daily for your spiritual needs from 9:00am - 4:00pm and on Sundays 8:15am-1:00pm Αγαπητοί μου εκ Κυρίω αδελφοί, είμαστε στην ευχάριστη θέση να σας ανακοινώσουμε ότι ο Ελληνορθόδοξος Ιερός Ναός του Αγίου Μεγαλομάρτυρος και Θαυματουργού Γεωργίου θα είναι ανοικτός καθημερινά από 9:00πμ έως και τις 4:00μμ και Κυριακές από 8:15πμ έως 1:00μμ για τις Λατρευτικές σας ανάγκες. Για την εξομολόγησή σας ή για οποιαδήποτε άλλη Λατρευτική ανάγκη παρακαλούμε να τηλεφωνήσετε το γραφείο του Αγίου Γεωργίου 727-868-5911 η τον +π. Γρηγόριος στο 727-967-2178 12
First Name: Last Name: Email address: Please return this form OR email it to our church office: secretary1.stgeorge@gmail.com You may also log onto the website www.stgeorgenpr.org and subscribe online Call for Volunteers! Have you worked in a business office? Have you operated your own business? St. George needs you! Beginning January after the calendar year begins we will have an improved system to greet visitors to the office and church and accommodate them. We will have a reception area in the Kontos Event Center lobby to help people schedule events, appointments, fill out forms, get information about the church and ministries, and we will also provide access to the church upon request for prayer, tours, or bookstore shopping. Please volunteer for an area which interests you and in which you are skilled. The schedule will be flexible. We will have 2 hour and 4 hour shifts available. Please contact Tina Wilson at 727-271-3061 to choose your preferred time. The goal is to have volunteer training in mid August and have volunteers in place shortly after that. Your church really needs you to contribute your talent. Whenever, you give time and talent, the church saves money and makes you a valued steward of St. George. Volunteers are one of our greatest assets at St. George. Please contact Tina soon. Thank you to Tom Williams for doing a great job cooking for the Friday dinners. We Thank YOU and all the Friday night volunteers. However, as the season picks up volunteers are needed. Please join the dinner crew and share your time and talents. May you receive many blessings for your service to your parish! BULLETIN SPONSOR FORM If you would like to sponsor an issue of the St. George Weekly Bulletin Please contact the Church Office and speak with Antonia 727-868-5911 from 9am -4pm Monday thru Friday Requests will need to be made by Tuesday 2 weeks prior the Bulletin issue The Bulletin donation is $50.00 payable to St. George Greek Orthodox Church 13
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St. George offers 3 bible study sessions under the direction of +Fr. Gregory *********************************************************** Bible study is an education program which provides an opportunity for parishioners and seekers to move forward in their spiritual journey. Join our learning community and actively engage in lively and relevant discussion to enhance your understanding and increase your spiritual growth in the one and Holy and Apostolic Church Evening bible Study Wednesday evening at 7pm Kontos Community Hall Opportunity to engage in open discussion about our faith and religion ****************************************************************************** Greek Bible Study Wednesdays at 1pm Opportunity to engage in open discussion about our faith and religion. Discussion will be in the Greek Language Κύκλος μελέτης στα ελληνικά Kάθε Τετάρτη από τις 1.00pm-2.30pm Ελάτε! **************************************************************************** Women s Bible study Thursday morning at 10:30am Discussion about faith, religion and family life. Focus on Family Life! +Father Gregory Welcomes you ALL Thank you to all those that attend weekly! 15
PRAYER LIST FOR OUR TROOPS ZOE LEKAKIS, MARINES ALEXI LAKE, MARINES LEONIDAS STEFOPOULOS, USARMY ELIAS A. KOSTAKIS, USARMY COSTADINO BAETEN, NAVY CONSTANTINOS VLAHOCHRISTOS, NAVY If you have a loved one serving in the USA Military please submit their names by calling the Church Office so that we can pray for them. May God Bless you and keep you all safe! The church will be collecting toiletry items for military care packages for our troops. Items such as shavers, shaving cream, wipes, toothpaste, tooth brushes, foot powder ect.. Also stationery items and stamps. You may drop off your donated items to the Church office Divine Liturgy Gifts If you wish to donate the gifts for our next Divine Liturgy please contact the Church office and speak with Antonia at 727-868-5911 The offerings include: 10 prosfora, the communion wine, the oil, the incense and charcoal. All items used during the prothesis in preparation for the Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion. VISITING ANGELS MINISTRY The visiting angels ministry needs volunteers! This ministry visits the nursing homes, shut-ins and hospitals. If you would like to be involved in this Philanthropic mission please contact Sofia Bouzios Tel. 727-207-1335 Stavroula Grivas Tel. 727-857-0071 16
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Thank you to our bulletin sponsors for your continued support with advertising your business in our weekly bulletins. 18
SCHEDULE OF ECCLESIASTICAL SERVICES FOR NOVEMBER 2017 Πρόγραμμα Εκκλησιαστικών ακολουθιών μηνός Νοεμβρίου 2017 November 19, 9 th Sunday of Luke, Forefeast of the Entrance of the Theotokos, 8:15 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy. 19 Νοεμβρίου, Η Κυριακή Λουκά, Προεόρτια Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου, 8.15πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. November 20, Monday, Great Vespers for the Entrance of the Theotokos 6:00-7:00 pm. 20 Νοεμβρίου, Δευτέρα, Μέγας Εσπερινός των Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου 6:00-7.00 μμ. November 21, Tuesday, Entrance of the Theotokos, 8:30 AM Matins - 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy 21 Νοεμβρίου, Τρίτη, Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου, 8.30πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. November 24, Friday, Great Vespers for St. Katherine, 6:00-7:00 pm. 24 Νοεμβρίου, Παρασκευή, Μέγας Εσπερινός της Αγ. Αικατερίνης, 6:00-7.00 μμ. November 25, Saturday, St. Katherine, 8:30 AM Matins - 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy. 25 Νοεμβρίου, Σάββατο, Αγ. Αικατερίνης, 8.30πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. November 25, Saturday, Great Vespers 6:00-7:00 pm. 25 Νοεμβρίου, Σάββατο, Μέγας Εσπερινός 6:00-7.00 μμ. November 26, 13 th Sunday of Luke, 8:15 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy. 26 Νοεμβρίου, ΙΓ Κυριακή Λουκά, 8.15πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. November 29, Wednesday, Festal Vespers with Artoklasia for the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the First Called, 6:00-7:15 PM. 29 Νοεμβρίου, Τετάρτη, Μέγας Εσπερινός μετ Αρτοκλασίας του Αποστόλου Ανδρέου του πρωτοκλήτου, 6.00-7.15μμ. November 30, Thursday, Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, 8:15 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy. 30 Νοεμβρίου, Πέμπτη, Εορτή Αγίου Αποστόλου Ανδρέου του Πρωτοκλήτου, 8.30πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. 19
PLEASE SEE THE LADIES OF THE PHILOPTOCHOS DURING COFFEE HOUR IN THE KONTOS HALL TO PRE-ORDER YOUR VASILOPITA FESTIVAL POST FESTIVAL SALE PORK SOUVLAKIA $35(BOX) VISTING ANGELS -- CHRISTMAS BASKETS Donations of Greek and Christmas cookies will be collected for the holiday gift baskets. Anyone wishing to bake and donate cookies may do so and drop them off at the Church Office Melomakarona Kourambedes -- Koulourakia --Christmas cookies No later than December 12th Father Gregory and the Visiting Angels will be delivering the baskets the week of December 18th to the Shut-ins and Nursing home. Please contact the office 727-868-5911 if you have a loved one that would like a visit! 20
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St. George Weekly Church Services & Church Ministries Schedule The Church & the Church Office are open daily from 9:00AM to 4:00PM Feel free to come to Pray and light a candle at the Church Monday 11/20 Tuesday 11/21 Wednesday 11/22 GOYA from 6:15-7:30 6:00-7:00 pm.great Vespers for the Entrance of the Theotokos Tuesdays from 7-8 Greek Dance (younger kids 8:30 AM Matins - 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy. Entrance of the Theotokos, No Greek School No Adult Bible Study Office and Church will be closing at 12:00pm Practice 7:30PM -8:30PM Greek Dance (older kids) 6:00-7.00 μμ. Μέγας Εσπερινός των Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου 8.30πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου, Thursday 11/23 HAPPY THANKSGIVING Office and Church will be Closed Friday 11/24 Saturday 11/25 Sunday 11/26 No Friday Night Dinners 6:00-7:00 pm. Great Vespers for St. Katherine, 8:30 AM Matins - 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy St. Katherine 6:00 pm. Great Vespers 8:15AM Matins 9:30AM Divine Liturgy. Sunday School will follow in the Kontos Hall after Holy Communion 6:00-7.00 μμ. Μέγας Εσπερινός της Αγ. Αικατερίνης, 8.30πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία Σάββατο, Αγ. Αικατερίνης 6:00 μμ. Μέγας Εσπερινός 8.15πμ Όρθρος 9.30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία. Choir rehearsals will be immediately after dismissal Visiting the Shut In,Nursing Homes and Home visitation Please contact the Church Office 727-868-5911 if you would like for Father Gregory to visit your loved one in the Nursing Home, Rehab Center or Assisted Living Facility. Also, please do notify the Church Office if you would like for us to mail you the weekly bulletin. Father Gregory s cell phone number is 727-967-2178 23
Do You Believe? By Bill Marianes I understand death. I ve seen it. I buried a goldfish that my daughter really loved but which died notwithstanding her great love. I have buried a father, two in-laws, grandparents and best friends, all of whom I have loved very much. Death is all around us and it s touched all of us. It s about all the evening news likes to talk about. I get death. And I know it will one day get me. What I have trouble with sometimes is resurrection. I haven t seen it. I don t actually know anyone who came back from the dead. My daughter s goldfish is still buried in our back yard. The physical remnants of loved-ones are scattered in cemeteries all over this country and in Greece. So is resurrection real? Am I the only person who sometimes has doubts? I got to wondering, so I decided to do some research. That s what lawyers do. In his outstanding book, America Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, Harvard researcher Robert Putman presents the amazing fact that with respect to Americans: Eighty percent are absolutely sure that there is a God. And yet he reports that only sixty percent are absolutely sure that there is a heaven, although fewer (52%) have this level of certainty about life after death Which led to his conclusion that: the vast majority of Americans also believe in God, but Americans are less sure about life beyond the grave. Well maybe it is just a modern American thing. Perhaps it is that secular humanist, anti-christian epidemic that seems to be overtaking our One nation under God. So I decided to research the best believers I could find who lived in a different time and place. Christ s Apostles. Among the most faithful men of all times who gave up everything to follow our Lord and ultimately died executing his final instructions to make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19). For several years, almost every day of their lives, they walked with Christ, they ate with Christ, they were directly taught by Christ, and they saw miracle after miracle He performed. Indeed, right before the triumphant entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem (on the day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday), they saw what had to be the ultimate proof of his divinity and the promise of resurrection. Four days after the death of a dear friend of our Lord (according to John 11:5), Christ brings Lazarus back from the dead and clearly says: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. (John 11:25) It can t get any clearer than that, can it? Christ makes resurrection definitive, undeniable, and the Disciples (and others) see it with their own eyes. No witness can possibly have any more doubts about resurrection, right? Well, not so fast. Just a few days later, these very saintly and devout Disciples actually did doubt. I couldn t believe it. They saw with their own eyes, and yet they doubted. Could that be true? Now I am no theologian or Biblical scholar, but it seemed to this simple country lawyer that again, research was called for. I encourage you to seek proper guidance from a Theologian or scholar. But I just had to see for myself. So I looked at what the Apostles told us in their very own words in the Gospels they wrote. And I found it easily. They didn t attempt to hide their lack of faith or disbelief in an effort to make themselves somehow sound better or more courageous. They were honest and just told us the truth. They doubted. These holiest of holy men repeatedly heard our Lord describe resurrection, and they saw him demonstrate it with his friend Lazarus (and others). Yet once they witnessed Christ s death on the cross, that perhaps devilish doubt overcame them. Not once, or just one of them. But they all confessed it to us, their descendants. In Mark 16:11-13 we learn, first hand, what happened when Christ appeared to his faithful after his death and resurrection: And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. (emphasis added) After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. (emphasis added) 24
As Matthew describes the Lord s appearance in giving the Disciples their Great Commission, he acknowledges that when the 11 disciples saw our Lord: they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:17) (emphasis added). And the Apostle Luke also acknowledges that they did not believe in Luke 24:11. What in the world is going on? It appears that there was an epidemic of disbelief from those closest to our Lord. Those who saw Him, and heard Him, and professed to believe in Him. Yet all the eye witnesses, and the most faithful, publicly confess to us that they had their doubts about resurrection. I don t know about you, but this made me feel a little better when I sometimes have my doubts about things. It s like they knew we might sometimes need to be encouraged when we suffer our own occasional disbelief. And the synonym for doubt, Thomas, had his disbelief forever documented in John 20:24-29. To this day, we call one who lacks belief a doubting Thomas. The Apostle John tells us that Thomas would confess his belief only after our Lord let him reach out and touch the unthinkable injuries Christ suffered during His crucifixion. And in that precious and amazing moment, it s as if Christ speaks to all of us in this day and time: Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed. (John 20:29) There it is my brothers and sisters. A clear path to receiving our Lord s blessings. The simple act of belief. Belief in His resurrection. Not because we are like the over 500 hundred live witnesses who saw a resurrected Lord (1 Corinthians 15:5-8), including the Apostle Peter (called Cephas in Holy Scripture), the other Apostles, James, and St. Paul who chronicles Christ s appearance after his death on the cross. We receive the promise that resurrection will be our fate, if only we have faith. And Hebrews 11:1 teaches us what faith is. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So we come full circle. I haven t seen a human resurrection. Neither probably have you. And yet we are given a test of faith. What can we use to pass that test? How about a promise from our Lord? We hear such a promise in one of the many times our Lord promised us life after death. In John 13:36 when Simon Peter asks Christ: Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him, Where I am going you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow Me afterward. So why do we have doubts? Why do at least 48% of us believe there is NOTHING after this life? And what can we do to learn to have faith? Now this is an important question each of us has to answer for ourselves. It s perhaps one of the most critical questions to which we must seek our own answers. But if we answer that we believe, our lives must change. No longer can we merely focus on the 50, 60, 70, 80 years we will have on this earth. We have to focus on a much larger objective and a longer period. All of eternity. Perhaps at this point you re wondering if I will share a secret formula or hidden pathway to belief. I will not. I can t. That s for you to prayerfully seek and find for yourself. However, I confess to you, that I do believe. I know resurrection to be the truth. How, you ask? How can you know and believe that which you have not seen? I have never seen subatomic particles, but I believe they exist. So I started to make a list of things I believe in but have never seen. My list included sound, earthquakes, Mount Everest, energy, dreams, dinosaurs, emotions, the past, electrons, the Holy Spirit, the bottom of the ocean, that ALL people have good in them, cancer cells, gut feelings, my ability to lose the 20 pounds I have been losing for the last 20 years, very unsuccessfully. OK, I admit, that last one may not actually exist given my significant and well-chronicled inadequacies. But as I started to make my list I realized it was endless. Let s keep the dialogue on this going. If there is something you believe in but have not seen, email me at Bill@stewardshipcalling.com. I will periodically update this list and the dialogue. I believe that if you prayerfully reflect on this you will discover many things in which you believe that you have not seen. These are all proofs that you have faith. Anyone who has ever flown in an airplane or driven a car understands faith. You trust that the other person in control of these multiton, fuel-filled projectiles will either stay out of your way or land it, and you, safely. 25
But I also realized I have seen so many miracles in my own life that should help me with this faith journey. I have seen the miracle of the births of my two amazing daughters. I have seen the miracle of a sunset (the death of a day), followed by the resurrection of the sunrise on the next day. I have seen people sacrifice significantly and willingly without seeking a return on this earth. Can anything else explain our parents or those who serve and protect us every day. What about the love that we have all experienced, perhaps even when we didn t always deserve it. How about you? What miracles have you seen in your life. Again, share them with us all by emailing me at Bill@stewardshipcalling.com. Not so that we can be voyeurs into your life or beliefs. But so that we too can believe without seeing and share this belief and faith together. Blind people do not physically see as we who have been given the blessing of sight do. And yet they are full of beliefs and will tell you that they believe that they see things sometimes more clearly than we sighted people do. In some respects, blindness can be both a physical phenomenon and a spiritual one. It can also be a self-inflected wound as it was for the Apostles and those who saw our Lord suffer and did not believe, that is, until they saw him after his resurrection. So do you believe in a resurrected Lord? Can you accept the word of holy eyewitnesses: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James and hundreds of others who saw and believed and shared their seeing and believing so that we who inherited these stories might also believe. If you do believe and call yourself a Christian, what are you doing with your life to demonstrate that belief? How are you living today, so that you can prepare yourself for the eternal life we have all been promised. When you discover WHY you are here on this earth, and what your Lord has called you to do, you prove you believe and have faith. When you figure out how to take the many gifts he has given you and deploy them for His greater glory and to help prepare you for theosis and salvation, you prove you believe and have faith. When you decide that every day you have left on this earth you will actually live your stewardship calling, you prove you believe and have faith. And when you believe and have faith, you actually become a steward of our Lord s gifts to you. It is to that purpose that I have decided to dedicate the remainder of my life as a stewardship calling evangelist. What s your purpose? What s your why? What s your stewardship calling? And most importantly, what are you doing, every day, to prepare a good account before the awesome judgment seat of Christ? I pray that you believe and have faith and become a living icon of Christ s presence every day. May God bless you on your journey as you discover and live your stewardship calling. My prayer for you is that you SOTPAETJ (stay on The Path and enjoy the journey). God bless. By day, Bill Marianes is a partner in the Atlanta office of a large international law firm. By calling, he is a stewardship evangelist who seeks to inspire people and Parishes to identify and live their stewardship callings. To learn more about how you and your Parish can better live your respective stewardship callings and improve your stewardship ministries, visit his always free stewardship resource www.stewardshipcalling.com. You can watch his Igniting the Flame of True Christian Stewardship program, learn about strategic planning as an invaluable Parish process and tool, and view other extensive materials that help Parishes reorganize themselves to become ministry-based and stewardship driven, and reenergize the faithful to live their true Christian stewardship callings. You can contact Bill at Bill@stewardshipcalling.com or sotpaetj@gmail.com. Copyright Bill Marianes 2015 26
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