10748 E. 116th Street • Fishers, Indiana 46037 (317) 845-7755 • www.stgindy.org

V. Rev. Father Nabil L. Hanna, Pastor (317) 919-0841 • pastor@stgindy.org

Rev. James A. Childs, Deacon (317) 626-3943 • jachilds555@gmail.com

A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America • Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest

TONE 3 FEBRUARY 26, 2017 EOTHINON 3

FORGIVENESS SUNDAY (“CHEESE-FARE SUNDAY”)

PORPHYRIOS, BISHOP OF GAZA GREAT-MARTYR PHOTEINI, THE SAMARITAN WOMAN , AND THOSE WITH HER

MARTYR THEOKLITOS AND THOSE WITH HIM • NEW MARTYR JOHN OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Woe is me! Verily, Adam by disobedience was exiled from paradise and driven from bliss, having been deceived by the words of the woman; and he sat opposite Eden naked and wailing. Let us all, therefore, be careful how we receive the season of fasting, obeying the traditions of the Gospels, that, becoming thereby acceptable to Christ, we may once more attain to paradise.

From Vespers for Forgiveness Sunday

L I T U RGY VA R I AT I O N S

THIRD ANTIPHON: 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.

APOLYTIKIA AFTER THE ENTRANCE

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 3)

Let the heavens rejoice….

Schedule of Regular Weekly Services

Sundays: Matins, 8:50 AM

Divine Liturgy, 10 AM

Wednesdays: Vespers, 6:30 PM

Saturdays: Great Vespers, 5 PM

Confession: After Saturday Vespers

During Sunday Matins

Or by Appointment Remember to turn cell phones off!

See Calendar for Feast Days and Other Weekday Services Scheduled

Order for Holy Communion Members of the Orthodox Church age seven and above must prepare for Holy Communion with a recent confession, prayer, fasting from all food and drink from midnight (unless medical condition preclude it), being in church before the Epistle and Gospel readings, and being at peace with everyone.

CHILDREN going to church school and their teachers should come down the center aisle first. (Small children may need to be assisted by their parents.)

ALL OTHERS should wait until an usher dismisses your row from the center aisle. Then return to your place by a side aisle for the prayers of thanksgiving and the final blessing and dismissal. Please let choir members pass when they come down for Communion

A Warm Welcome to Our Guests We are glad you are worshipping with us. Please note that participation in Holy Communion is limited to members of the Orthodox Church in good standing, who have prepared with prayer, fasting and confession.

For all others: though we cannot share Communion with you—since it is an expression of membership and full unity in faith—you are welcome to come forward after the dismissal, receive a blessing and partake of the blessed bread (from the large bowls). Please also sign our guest book, and introduce yourself to Fr. Nabil during the coffee hour. You may inquire with him how you can become a member.

Troparion for St. George (Tone 4, Byzantine)

Liberator of captives, Defender of the poor, the Physician of the sick and the Champion of kings, O Trophy-bearer, Great-martyr

George, intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion of Forgiveness Sunday (Tone 6)

O Thou Who guidest to wisdom and givest understanding and intelligence, Instructor of the ignorant and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart, and grant it

understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father, for I shall not refrain my lips from crying to Thee, O merciful One: Have mercy upon me who am fallen.

THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Prokeimenon (Psalm 46.7, 2 LXX; Tone 3)

Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises. Verse: O clap your hands, all ye nations.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (13.11-14.4; Forgiveness Sunday)

BRETHREN, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not

for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

Gospel according to St. Matthew (6.14-21; Forgiveness Sunday)

THE LORD SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the

hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father Who is in secret;

and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in

heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

HOLY OBLATIONS AND PRAYER REQUESTS

By Mina and Eloisa Khoury, for the health of Salim Najjar and Nelly Ghaoui.

By George Freije, for the health of Karla FitzSimons.

By Dr. John, Margaret Ann and Richard Bennett, in memory of Barbara Corey.

A sign-up sheet for baking and offering the prosphora (altar bread) is posted on the bulletin board, next to the elevator. You can also contact Thelma Hoover at (317) 782-1633.

TODAY’S STUDY TOPIC: LESSON II.15 ELIJAH AND THE PRIESTS OF BAAL

All church school classes from first grade on up today will study this text. To keep up with our children, read pages 270-75 in The Golden Children’s Bible, or 1 Kings 17-19 in Protestant Bibles, or 3 Kingdoms 17-19 in the Orthodox Study Bible.

READING FROM THE SYNAXARION

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.

A N N O U N CE M E N T S

JOIN US FOR A “SOUPER” SUNDAY AND FELLOWSHIP AFTER LITURGY

The Ladies of St. George are offering a simple meal of hearty soups, salad and bread.

Your free-will donations will help our Ladies contribution to the national Antiochian Women’s project (see below). There is no fee, but please be as generous as you are able.

The funds we raise this year will go to strengthen the following ministries in our Archdiocese: planning senior housing projects; founding missions; supporting seminarians; encouraging youth ministries; protecting the unborn; teaching the Faith; caring for the elderly and those in prisons, nursing homes and hospitals; helping to feed, house, and clothe the poor; and inspiring monastic vocations.

You can sign up to host the coffee hour or the church school snack. Sign-up sheets are available on the bulletin board by the elevator. Something simple is all that’s expected, though you’re welcome to do more if you want to share a special occasion.

LENT IS HERE!

Since Monday, we’ve been easing into Lent by eliminating meat but continuing to eat fish and dairy products (even on Wednesday and Friday).

We begin the Great Fast proper by eliminating cheese (i.e., dairy products and eggs) and fish as well after the service of Forgiveness Vespers tonight.

What: Ice Cream Social

Where: St. George Hall

Date: Sunday, February

Time: 6:00 PM

Cost: none

Come enjoy your last ice cream cone before Pascha on

Cheesefare Sunday

Summary of LENTEN SERVICES 2017

In Addition to the regular, weekly services: Saturday Vespers and Confession, 5 p.m. Sunday Matins: 8:50 a.m. • Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10 a.m.

Lent starts with Forgiveness — We start Lent at 7 p.m. Sunday, February 26. We celebrate the rite of mutual forgiveness as we start the journey to the Resurrection.

Mondays — On Mondays in Lent we will serve Great Compline at 7 p.m.

The first week of Lent, Great Compline is served on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights with portions of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Wednesdays — Join us at 6:30 p.m. for the Presanctified Liturgy. Bring one Lenten item to share for a pitch-in after Liturgy, so we can break bread together after fasting from all food and drink at least from noon. You are also invited to stay for a discussion on your questions, concluding by 8:45.

Fridays — Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos at 7 p.m. This will be preceded by a Lenten Supper at 6 p.m. prepared by one of our organizations or families.

On Friday, March 24, we will serve Vespers for the Annunciation with a portion of the Akathist Hymn.

Sunday Evenings — Vespers will be held at 5 p.m. at a different church each week (see the

calendar for location).

The First Saturday, March 4 — On the first Saturday of Lent, we serve the Liturgy in commemoration of St. Theodore and the miracle of the boiled wheat, including a memorial for All Souls: Matins 9 a.m./Liturgy and Memorial at 10:00 a.m. You are invited to bring koliva and a list of the names of your departed to be remembered.

The First Sunday, March 5 — We will concelebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, 5 p.m. at Holy Trinity. A dinner reception will follow.

HAVE YOU WONDERED WHY?

This is your chance to ask YOUR questions. For example:

What’s the right way to make the sign of the cross – why and when? What is a prostration? (Hint: not a male organ!)

Our Seminary graduates (Fr. Nabil and Kh. Elaine, Dn. James and Joseph Olas) will be a panel to answer your questions from 8:15-8:45 pm on Wednesdays in Lent, after Presanctified and Dinner.

COMMEMORATING THE MIRACLE OF KOLIVA AND ALL THE DEPARTED THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 4

All are invited to bring koliva and a list of the names of the departed to be remembered, Saturday, March 4: Matins 9 am; Divine Liturgy and Memorial 10 am.

As you see in the photo, it is traditional for each family to bring a small bowl of koliva on these Souls Saturdays.

Fr. Nabil and Kh. Elaine will prepare koliva on behalf of the departed of their own family and on behalf of all those who come to pray but cannot make the boiled wheat themselves this Saturday.

Koliva (also spelled kollyva or kollyba) is an ancient word meaning boiled wheat in the regions around Antioch. Because of the miracle by St. Theodore Tyro relating to it (see below), the term Koliva has become standard in every language through the Orthodox world, in the Middle East, Greece, Russia, etc.

The Orthodox offer Koliva for memorials of individual loved ones and on the All-Souls Saturdays. The wheat seeds symbolize the dead being planted in the ground and blossoming to new life: Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12.24).

Julian the Apostate Emperor, knowing that the Christians purify themselves by fasting most of all during the first week of the Fast -- which is why we call it Clean Week -- planned to defile them especially at that time. Therefore he secretly commanded that during those days the markets be filled with foods that had been defiled with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice to idols. But by divine command the Martyr Theodore Tyro appeared during sleep to Eudoxius, then Archbishop of Constantinople. The Saint revealed to

him the tyrant's plan, then told him to call the faithful together immediately on Monday morning and prevent them from purchasing those foods, but rather to make kollyva to supply their needs. The bishop asked what kollyva might be, and the Saint answered, "Kollyva is what we call boiled wheat in Euchaita." Thus, the purpose of the Apostate was brought to nought, and the pious people who were preserved undefiled for the whole of Clean Week, rendered thanks to the Martyr on this Saturday, and celebrated his commemoration with kollyva. These things took place in 362. Wherefore, the Church keeps this commemoration each year to the glory of God and the honour of the Martyr.

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE

As we fast, we always need to remember the poor.

Please take a Food for Hungry People offering box from the narthex, and make it a practice to put something into it as you sit down for every

meal.

THE LADIES ARE MAKING SPINACH PIES IN TIME FOR LENT

The Ladies of St. George are taking orders today for spinach pies.

Please see Vicki Mesalam or Cindy Rinehart during today’s lunch to place your order. You can then pick them up fresh out-of-the-oven Saturday afternoon, March 4, or frozen after church next Sunday, March 5.

ABSOLUTELY LAST DAY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Please double check with Fr. Nabil TODAY that he has your children on the camper list, so that the church will send in $350 toward their 2-week camp tuition. Anyone who has further need of assistance should speak to Fr. Nabil privately, as we don’t want any child left out.

LENTEN SUPPER HOSTS WANTED

We need a family (or a group of families) to host the Friday Lenten Suppers on March 10, 24 and 31. Please see Kh. Elaine Hanna for information and to sign up.

FESTIVAL MEETING

Our Festival Committee is already at work preparing for this year’s Festival, planning to try out some new ideas. Everyone is invited to get involved. Come to the Festival meeting on Monday, March 6, following the Great Compline service (which starts at 7 pm).

FALAFEL NIGHT BY THE KNIGHTS OF ST. GEORGE

As a fund-raiser toward their project of completing the bell tower, the Knights will prepare falafel sandwiches to eat here or to pick up to go from 5:30-7:30 pm Thursday, March 23. Mark your calendars, and tell your friends.

PARISH PRAYER LIST

Please include in your daily prayers the following—those struggling with acute illness and those newly departed this life—from our parishioners and those for whom they have requested our prayers. (Names are kept for 40 days, the date indicated after the name, and may be renewed upon request of the patient/family.)

LIVING Metropolitan Paul and Archbishop John

Fr. Thomas Kazich, friend of Natalie Ashanin, 4/4

Nelly Ghaoui, 3/26

Kenneth George, 3/12

Elias Al Tawil, Comm. N. Hospital, 3/8

Brian McDonald, friend of Natalie Ashanin, 4/4

Alex Chobany, David’s cousin, 3/30

Karla FitzSimons, niece of George Freije and Elaine Eckhart, 3/23

Harold Sabbagh, Kathy Tingwald’s Uncle, 3/22

Michelle Gibson, David Sumner’s niece, 3/18

Joann Bandy, David Sumner’s sister, 3/18

Nicholas Beauchamp, Kh. Patty’s grandson, deployed in Kuwait

Messai Belayneh, on medical mission in Ivory Coast

All those suffering from illness, violence or want throughout the world

DEPARTED John Roman, former NAC President, 3/24

Mark Mesalam, cousin of Suzanne and Vicki, 2/13

Rizkallah Mercho, Moussa Khoury’s uncle, 3/16

Carol Jalbert, Brad Tingwald’s aunt, 3/12

Mat. Juliana Schmemann, 3/10

Cora Campbell McLane, Rick Gann’s grandmother, 3/9

Billy Belt, friend of Dn. James, 2/28

All Victims of violence around the world

ST. GEORGE PARISH CALENDAR

February 2017

Sun. 26

Forgiveness Sunday

Matins, 8:50 am

Choir practice, 9 am

Divine Liturgy, 10 am

Church School

“Souper Sunday” lunch by Ladies

Ice Cream Social, 6 pm

Forgiveness Vespers, 7 pm

Beginning of Lent, the Great Fast

Mon. 27 Great Compline, 7 pm

Tue. 28 Great Compline, 7 pm

March 2017

Wed. 1

Presanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm

Pitch-in Dinner

“Have you Wondered Why” panel

Thu. 2 Great Compline, 7 pm

Fri. 3 Lenten Supper, 6 pm

Little Compline with Akathist, 7 pm

Sat. 4

Matins, 9 am

Divine Liturgy, 10 am, with All Souls Memorial

Ladies make Spinach Pies, 11:30

Great Vespers and Confessions, 5 pm

Sun. 5

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Matins, 8:50 am

Choir practice, 9 am

Divine Liturgy, 10 am

Church School

Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, 5 pm at Holy Trinity (3500 W. 106th Street, Carmel) – dinner reception follows