St. George Orthodox Church of Orlando, FL the Church from the Impossible
Dear E Mail Faithful:
GREETINGS in the Name of Our Lord, God and Saviour JESUS Christ! Please God this finds you and yours in the best of health and spirits. Thank God we are well.
Please keep in your prayers BETTY DURBETAKI who is in the hospital as well as a lady named DAWN who is related to Fran & Nick Ramacciatto.
This Sunday, being Valentine's Day, our monthly cook-off is 'foods of love,' but also being Cheese Fast Sunday [meaning only foods with no meat] it needs to be your best non-meat foods of love. Of course anything you make with love is a 'food of love.' The next day, Monday, February 15th in addition to being my darling daughter Alexandra's birthday is also the beginning of Great Lent. During the forty days of Great Lent we have two additional weekly services: the Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy on Wednesdays beginning at 6:00 PM [those desiring to receive Holy Communion are asked to fast from all food and drink from 1 PM;] and the Madeah/laudation Service in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos on Fridays beginning at 6:30 PM followed by our weekly pot-luck lenten dinner at 7:30 PM.
Our Discussion Table topic this coming Sunday, February 14th is 'How do we get our heart into the 'right place' with God?' The Discussion Table is held during the weekly luncheon and the per plate donation for the lunch is only $3.00.
Remember the weekly feeding of our homeless brothers and sisters-in-Christ in the Church parking lot on Fridays beginning at 5:00 PM. We are always needing good, clean clothing and other items to give to these beloved people; so if you have any, please either bring them on Friday or Sundays.
The Order of St. IGNATIUS of Antioch is looking for people who really and truly love our Holy Orthodox Church and the good work that the God-protected Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese [of which we thank God are a part] is doing both nationally and inter-nationally to spread the good news and love of Christ our God. To become a member, one must only pledge to give to the work of the Order an annual donation of only $500.00. I, and 26 other members of St. George's are already members and we would love to have you with us. Please contact me for more information. All new members are inducted by the Bishop and we would be thrilled to have you join when His Grace is here this month.
His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN, Bishop of Miami and the Southeast will be making his annual visit to St. George's the week-end of February 21st. We hope to have all of our faithful come to greet His Grace.
On Sunday afternoon, February 21st, St. George's will be hosting the annual Pan-Orthodox Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers beginning at 5:00 PM. Bishop ANTOUN will preside at the service. Following this annual gathering of all the Orthodox Churches in our area, there will be a special Lenten meal with food from all the participating Churches. Please make sure to be with us both in the morning and the afternoon.
If you would like to have your home blessed, please contact me at 407-740-8797. Thank you and May Almighty God continue to Bless you and your loved ones this day and everyday we are Blessed to be alive, Amen.
PARENTS please make sure to have your children in Sunday School every Sunday. We have a wonderful program as always and now are teaching the children in the four rooms on the third floor.
If you have any prayer requests please contact me either by telephone or e mail. Remember that we have a new web page for St. George's and the internet address is www.stgeorgeorlando.org. We shall be adding regularly to our site.
May Almighty God, the Father of us all continue to Bless you and your family and loved ones and surround you with a protecting host of Angels, Amen.