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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian

Church237 Long Hill Rd

Little Falls, NJ 07424

Parish Office: (973)256 8961Pastor Office (973)256-9475

Church Website: www.stgeorgenj.comChurch Office Email:

jsalotti@stgeorgenj.com

The Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH

Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All

North America

His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS OZONE

Bishop of Brooklyn and Resident assistant to the

Metropolitan

V. Rev. Father Dimitri Darwich, Pastor

Rev. Father Michael IbrahimRev. Father Deacon Scott Miller

Parish Council Officers

David Tadros (Chairman)

Elie Saade (Vice Chairman)

Michael Nafash (Treasurer)John Chalet

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Sunday of St. Thomasتوما أحد

Altar Servers Alex Ghani, Stephen Ghanim, Nicholas Matkiwsky, Robert Matkiwsky, Steven Sabbagh, Rami Saliby, Steven Ayoub,, George Saad.

Happy Mother’s Day Christ is Risen. Truly He is Risen!!!On behalf of St. George Church, the Parish Council and all the organizations, I would like to wish all the mothers of our parish a blessed Mother's Day. May the Lord continue to bless and strengthen you all as you continue to show

your love and support to not only your own families but to your bigger family St. George Church. For there is no greater love than the love of a mother and you must always look to Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos), as your prime example. She is the Mother of all who unceasingly intercedes for us, protects us, and above all, comforts us in all that we do. As our parish's patroness we must never cease to run to her aid just as your children rush to you for love. In this we pray, "Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us."V. Rev. Father Dimitri

TO BE CHANTED RIGHT BEFORE THE LITTLE ENTRANCEPASCHAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVEChrist is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in

the tombs bestowing life!

طروبارية الفصح المسيح قام من بين األموات. ووطئ الموت بالموت. ووهب

.الحياة للذين في القبورLet God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him

flee from before His face.

ليقم الله وتتبدد أعداؤه و ليهربمبغضوه من امام وجهه

As smoke vanished, so let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire

كما يباد الدخان يبادون، وكما يذوبالشمع من أمام وجه النار

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.

(Refrain)

هذا هو اليوم الذي صنعه الربفلنتهلل ونفرح به

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death…

طروبارية المسيح قام من بين

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األمواتTHE ENTRANCE HYMN OF THE

FEASTIn the great congregations bless God the Lord, from the springs of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia.

الدخول ترنيمة من الرب، الله باركوا الكنائس في

يا الله ابن يا خلصنا. المؤمنين ينابيع نحن األموات، بين من قام من

هللوييا لك المرتلين

TO BE CHANTED AFTER THE LITTLE ENTRANCEAPOLYTIKION FOR ST. THOMAS

(TONE 7)While the tomb was sealed, Thou didst shine forth from it, O Light. While the doors were closed, Thou didst come in to Thy Disciples, O Christ God, Resurrection of all, renewing in us through them an upright spirit, according to the greatness of Thy mercy.

طروبارية أحد توما إذ كان القبر مختوما أش��رقت من��ه أيه��ا الحي��اة. ولم��ا ك��انت األب��واب مغلقة وافيت التالميذ أيها المس��يح اإلله قيامة الكل. وج��ددت لن��ا بهم روح���ا مس���تقيما بحس���ب عظيم

رحمتك.

APOLYTIKION OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST IN TONE TWO

O Apostle John, speaker of divinity, the beloved of Christ God, hasten and deliver thy people powerless in argument; for He on Whose bosom thou didst lean accepteth thee as an intercessor. Beseech Him, therefore, to disperse the cloud of the stubborn nations, asking for us safety and the Great Mercy.

طروبارية القديس يوحناباللحن الثاني

حبيب الالهوتي الرسول ايها اسرع وانقذ االله المس��يح ع��ذر ال ش��عبا

ب��أن وقبل تن��ازل ال��ذي ف��ان. ل��هكىء يقبلك صدره على تت ل��ه باخعا

س��حابة يب��دد ان فاس��أله. بالسؤال .يقاوموننا ال�������ذين الكثيفة األمم

وعظيم الس������������الم لنا واطلب.الرحمة

TROPARION OF SAINT GEORGE (TONE 4)

As deliverer of captives, as defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, Victorious, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ our Lord, intercede for the soul’s

طروباريccccccccة القccccccccديسجاورجيوس باللحن الرابع

��ق، ر ومعت ك للمأسورين محر بما أند وللفق����راء والمس����اكين عاض���� وناصر، وللمرضى ط��بيب وش��اف، وعن المؤم��نين مك��افح ومح��ارب.هداء ه�������ا العظيم في الش������� أي

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salvation. ج���اورجيوس المظفر. تش���فع إلىالمسيح اإلله في خالص نفوسنا.

KONTAKION (TONE 8)Though you descended to the tomb, O immortal One, you overthrew the power of Hades. O Christ God, you rose victorious from the dead! You greeted the ointment-bearing women, gave peace to your disciples, and resurrection to those who had fallen.

قنداق على اللحن الثامن ولئن ن����زلت إلى ق����بر ي����ا من الك درس����ت ق����وة يم����وت، إال أن الجحيم، وقمت غالبا، أيها المس��يح اإلل��ه. وللنس��وة الح��امالت الطيب قلت افرحن واهبا لرسلك الس��الم

يا مانح الواقعين القيام.

THE EPISTLEHis sound hath gone forth into all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of

God.The Reading from the First Epistle of St. John. (1:1-7)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us – that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

الفصل الرسائلي ألحد توماذي اهدناه، الذي بعيوننا، رأيناه الذي سمعناه، الذي البدء، من كان ال ته ش�� ولمس��

��اة ف��إن. الحياة كلمة جهة من أيدينا، هد رأينا وق��د أظه��رت، الحي ��ركم ونش�� ونخبة بالحياة تي األبدي معناه رأيناه الذي. لنا وأظهرت اآلب عند كانت ال ��ركم وس�� نخب

��ه وم��ع اآلب م��ع فهي نحن شركتنا وأما. معنا شركة أيضا لكم يكون لكي به، ابن فرحكم يكون لكي هذا إليكم ونكتب. المسيح يسوع ��ر هو وهذا. كامال الذي الخب

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��ركم منه سمعناه ��ه ونخب ��ور الل��ه إن: ب ة ظلم��ة في��ه وليس ن لنا إن: قلنا إن. البتلكنا إن ولكن. الح��ق نعمل ولسنا نكذب الظلمة، في وسلكنا معه شركة في س��ور ور، في ه��و كما الن ركة فلنا الن نا ش�� وع ودم بعض، م��ع بعض� يح يس�� ��ه المس�� ابن

ة كل من يطهرنا .خطي

THE GOSPEL ( John 20:19-31) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the Disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the Disciples were glad

when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other Disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, His Disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the Disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name.

(أحد توما - أحد التجديدات) اإلنجيل فصل شريف من بشارة القديس يوحنا البشير

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لما كانت عش��ية ذل�ك الي��وم، وه��و أول األس�بوع، واألب��واب مغلق��ة حيث ك��ان التالميذ مجتمعين خوفا من اليهود جاء يس��وع، ووق��ف في الوس��ط. وق��ال لهم س��الم لكم. فلما قال هذا أراهم يديه وجنب�ه. فف�رح التالمي��ذ حين أبص��روا ال�رب. فق�ال لهم يسوع ثانية السالم لكم كما أرسلني األب كذلك أنا أرسلكم، ولما ق��ال ه��ذا نفخ فيهم��ترك لهم ومن أمس��كتم خطاي��اهم وقال خذوا ال��روح الق��دس. من ت��ركتم خطاي��اهم ت أمسكت، فأما توما أحد االثني عش��ر ال��ذي يق��ال ل��ه الت��وأم فلم يكن معهم حين ج��اء يسوع، فقال له التالميذ اآلخرون قد رأينا الرب. فقال لهم إن لم أعاين أثر المس��امير في يديه وأضع إصبعي في أثر المسامير وأضع ي��دي في جنب��ه ال أومن. وبع��د ثماني��ة أيام ك��ان تالمي��ذه أيض��ا داخال وتوم��ا معهم ف��أتى يس��وع واألب��واب مغلق��ة ووق��ف في الوسط وقال السالم لكم، ثم قال لتوما هات إص��بعك إلى ههن��ا وع��اين ي��دي. وه��ات يدك وضعها في جنبي. وال تكن غير مؤمن بل مؤمنا. أجاب توما وقال له: ربي وإلهي، قال له: يسوع ألنك رأيتني آمنت، طوبى للذين لم يروا وآمنوا، وآيات أخر كثيرة ص��نع يسوع قدام تالميذه لم تكتب في هذا الكتاب، وأما هذه فقد كتبت لتؤمنوا ب��أن يس��وع

هو المسيح ابن الله. ولكي تكون لكم إذا آمنتم حياة باسمه.Saint Thomas the Apostle

Thomas is mentioned as an Apostle in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, but it is in John's gospel that his significance is revealed. First, he is heard encouraging the other disciples to go to Judea with Jesus. Then, by asking Jesus what he meant when he talked about where he was going, Thomas learned that Jesus himself is the Way. He is best known for being the Apostle who doubted reports of the resurrection, causing Jesus to show him the marks in his hands and feet and side. He then proclaimed, "My Lord and my God." Thomas encourages many who feel guilty for doubting, as his doubts led to the blossoming of a strong faith. Traditionally it is believed that he went to India, where he died a martyr.

Today’s Thoughts "Is the soul by itself a man? No, it is but the soul of a man. Can

the body be called a man? No, it can but be called the body of a man. If, then neither of these is by itself a man, but that which is composed of the two together is called man, and God has called man to life and resurrection, He has called not a part, but the whole, which is the soul and the body…The resurrection is of the flesh which died; for the spirit does not die." -- St. Justin Martyr

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"For in the baptismal rite, death ensues through the slaying of sin; threefold immersion initiates the lying in the tomb three days, and the raising out of the water is like him that rose again from the tomb. The very nature, therefore, of the act teaches us that that is the recognized day for the general reception of the grace, on which the power of the gift and the character of the action originated." -- St. Leo the Great

"And we in receiving baptism, in imitation of our Lord and teacher and guide, are not indeed buried in the earth (for this is the shelter of the body that is entirely dead, covering the infirmity and decay of our nature), but coming to the element akin to earth, to water, we conceal ourselves in that as the Savior did in the earth: and by doing this thrice we represent for ourselves that grace of the resurrection which was wrought in three days." -- St. Gregory of Nyssa

“Just as it is easy for us to be immersed and to lift up our heads again, so it is easy for God to bury the old man and show forth the new. This takes place three times, that you may know that the power of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit brings all these things to

fulfillment." -- St. John ChrysostomFestival, June 10, 11 & 12, 2016

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The Festival is a church project and we need everyone’s help and support, so please see David Handal, Amin Amireh or any Festival Chairperson to volunteer. Thank you.

Festival Work DaysMonday, May 9th, 6:00pm, Grape Leaves, Wednesday, May 11th, 6:00pm, Grape Leaves, Saturday, May 14th, 10:00am, String Cheese, Tuesday, May 17th, 6:00pm, Kibee, Monday, May 23rd, 6:00pm, Spinach & Sfeeha, Wednesday, May 25th, 6:00pm, Kaak, Wednesday, June 1st, Knafeh & Warbat, Friday, June 3rd, 6:00 pm, Baklawa & Swart El Sit & Tuesday, June 7th, 6:00pm Ghraybeh.

Holy BreadThe Holy bread is being offered today by Joseph Conti, his children and their families for the good health of Fran Conti on Mother’s Day.

The Spirits of the Righteous Made PerfectMichael Kouljana, Anton Chalet, Fahed Chalet, Eva Nasif, Anthony Mamary, Florence Juzdan, Linda Sabbagh, Araham Maloof, Anis Homsi, Henry Shababb, George Chalet, Michael Andalaft, Charles Ballan, Michaell Nafash, Elias Doumar, Linda Mamary, Hannah Nahass, John Nasra, Lillian Kabbbash, Michael Kabbash, Albert Kabbash, George Chalet, Ronald Nahass, Philip Azar. May the Lord God rest their souls in peace and grant comfort to their families.

DonationsAsma Ayoub in memory of Jamil Saba & Fadel Ayoub.

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Nazih & Sana Ayoub in memory of Philip Fadel, Seham & Fadelallah Ayoub. Gabriel & Diane Sabbagh and family in memory of Linda Sabbagh. Olivia Kabbash for the good health of her children.

Adult Bible StudyEnglish and Arabic Bible Study will resume on Monday May 16, 2016. An Adult English Bible study on Mondays at 7:30pm. And an adult Arabic Bible study on Thursdays at 7:30pm. Come join us.

Parish Council MeetingParish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at 7:30 pm. The meeting is open to all our beloved parishioners.

Capital Campaign FundThe Capital Campaign Fund has reached $114,000, we are $6,000 short of our goal, you can still loan your Church $1,000 and get it back. Our plans for a new Heating and Air conditioning system is inching forward, we are putting the final touches on a final decision.

Parish Life Conference Diocese of Charleston/New YorkSt. Mary Church, Johnstown, PA and St. Michael Church, Greensburg, PA

(To be held at the Antiochian Village)

June 29-July3, 2016

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On Death and Resurrection in Christ

Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him. Yesterday I died with Him; today I am made alive with Him. Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him.Yesterday I died with Him; today I am made alive with Him.

Yesterday I was buried with Him; today I am raised up with Him.Let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us . . . ourselves, the possession most precious to God and most proper.

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Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us.Let us become Divine for His sake, since for us He became Man.He assumed the worse that He might give us the better.He became poor that by His poverty we might become richHe accepted the form of a servant that we might win back our freedom.He came down that we might be lifted up.He was tempted that through Him we might conquer.He was dishonored that He might glorify us.He died that He might save us.He ascended that He might draw to Himself us, who were thrown down through the fall of sin.Let us give all, offer all, to Him who gave Himself a Ransom and Reconciliation for us.We needed an incarnate God, a God put to death, that we might live.We were put to death together with Him that we might be cleansed.We rose again with Him because we were put to death with Him.

We were glorified with Him because we rose again with Him.A few drops of Blood recreate the whole of creation!

11Ladies SocietyIkhlas Munayyer 973-228-1927.

Teen SOYODonna Starke(609) 426 0429

PTASanaa Hindeleh

973- 981 1343

Sunday SchoolRima Bandeli973-872-1382

Katanda577@gmail.comm

Organizations and Committees Contact Information

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St George Church welcomes all her visitors today.

And He rose again from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures . . .

Christ is risen from the dead! This is the main proclamation of the Christian faith. It forms the heart of the Church’s preaching, worship and spiritual life. “. . . if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15.14).

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ChoirChristine Lynch973-256-8961

Capital Campaign FundSouhel Shehady908-272-4666

Ladies SocietyIkhlas Munayyer 973-228-1927.

PTASanaa Hindeleh

973- 981 1343

Stewardship CommitteeJohn Chalet

John.chalet@gmail.com Paul Juzdan

pjuzdan@gmail.com

Hall RentalMaher Louis

(201)5386784 hallrental@stgeorgenj.com

Charity CommitteeJulie Abboud

973-812-0444 immalbert@aol.com

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In the first sermon ever preached in the history of the Christian Church, the Apostle Peter began his proclamation:

Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man attended to you by God with mighty works and signs and wonders which God did to him in your midst, as you yourself know—this Jesus delivered up according to a definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised Him up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it (Acts 2.22–24).

Jesus had the power to lay down his life and the power to take it up again:

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again; this charge I have received from My Father (Jn 10.17–18).

According to Orthodox doctrine there is no competition of “lives” between God and Jesus, and no competition of “powers.” The power of God and the power of Jesus, the life of God and the life of Jesus, are one and the same power and life. To say that God has raised Christ, and that Christ has been raised by his own power is to say essentially the same thing. “For as the Father has life in himself,” says Christ, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (Jn 5.26). “I and the Father are one”(Jn 10.30).

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The Scriptural stress that God has raised up Jesus only emphasizes once more that Christ has given His life, that He has laid it down fully, that He has offered it whole and without reservation to God—Who then gave it back in His resurrection from the dead.

The Orthodox Church believes in Christ’s real death and His actual resurrection. Resurrection, however, does not simply mean bodily resuscitation. Neither the Gospel nor the Church teaches that Jesus was lying dead and then was biologically revived and walked around in the same way that He did before He was killed. In a word, the Gospel does not say that the angel moved the stone from the tomb in order to let Jesus out. The angel moved the stone to reveal that Jesus was not there (Mk 16; Mt 28).

In His resurrection Jesus is in a new and glorious form. He appears in different places immediately. He is difficult to recognize (Lk 24.16; Jn 20.14). He eats and drinks to show that He is not a ghost (Lk 24.30, 39). He allows himself to be touched (Jn 20.27, 21.9). And yet He appears in the midst of disciples, “the doors being shut” (Jn 20.19, 26). And he “vanishes out of their sight” (Lk 24.31). Christ indeed is risen, but His resurrected humanity is full of life and divinity. It is humanity in the new form of the eternal life of the Kingdom of God.

So it is with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raked in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.

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Thus, it is written, the first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam [i.e. Christ] became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, then the spiritual.

The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man from heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have home the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (1 Cor 15.42–50).

The resurrection of Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection of all humanity. It is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, “according to the Scriptures” where it is written, “For Thou doest not give me up unto Sheol [that is, the realm of death], or let Thy Godly one see corruption” (Ps 16.10; Acts 2.25–36). In Christ all expectations and hopes are filled: O Death, where is your sting? O Sheol, where is your victory? (Hos 13.14).

He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces . . . It will be said on that day, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Is 25.8–9).

Come, let us return to the Lord: For He has torn, that He may heal us; He has stricken, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him (Hos 6.1–2).

Thus says the Lord God: Behold I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people . . . And you shall know

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that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live . . . (Ezek 37.12–14).

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