LAWRENCE — This weekend is a special one for members of St. George Orthodox Church.
John Abdalah, who was elected Bishop of Worcester and New England for the Antiochian Orthodox Church in December, will visit the church at 8 Lowell St.
The highlight of his visit is to ordain Deacon Philip Begley to the priesthood during the 10 a.m. service tomorrow.
"It's going to be a wonderful event," said the Rev. Edward Hughes, pastor at St. George for the past 22 years. "Any time we call in the Holy Spirit, it brings blessings all around. We do that in the liturgy and ordination is so much like that because we're all blessed and renewed through the sacrament sharing in the joy and blessings," he said.
Hughes is excited about the bishop's visit, whom he has known since 1977 while they were studying at St. Vladimir Seminary in Crestwood, N.Y.
Hughes said the visit will also give priests, deacons and subdeacons a boost.
"He has known most of us for many years, but hasn't been near us. He wants to see how we've grown spiritually and professionally," Hughes said.
During his visit to St. George, Abdalah will have pizza with Sunday School children and teenagers today, then preside over vespers at 5 p.m.
"He's very engaging and very much a people person," Hughes said. "He's really gifted in dealing with people, is very sensitive to people's feelings, and enjoys talking and listening to them
Hughes was among 60 people from the United States who travelled to Lebanon for the consecration on Dec. 11.
"It was more than I ever hoped for," he said. "The experience showed the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit and how it makes us feel alive."
Hughes said he was renewed by attending the consecration.
"When you minister in a parish, you get use to what you do day in and day out, but when you have an experience like this it's so much clearer to see why we do the things we do and the reality of God's love for us becomes so much more vivid, which is what I'm hoping my parish experiences this weekend," Hughes said.
St. George is one of 11 parishes in the Worcester/ New England diocese. The church has 150 families, most of whom come from Methuen as well as Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Reading, Newburyport, Boxford as well as Salem, Kingston and Atkinson, N.H.
Begley is married to Hughes' daughter, Sarah. A native of Iowa, Begley was raised in Sioux City where his father, the Rev. Thomas Begley, was pastor and now lives in St. Paul, Minn. Begley graduated from Morning Side College in Sioux City and studied at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Brookline.
This is the first ordination at the church since Leonard Ferris in the 1990s.
Religion listings
Christ Church, 25 Central St., Andover: Epiphany Learning Series is on Wednesdays through Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Topics include "The Episcopal Church," "An Introduction to the Bible," "Anglican History," "An Introduction to the Prayer Book" and "Anglican Spirituality." Convivium, a Boston-based Renaissance choir performs Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. Workshop exploring Art and God is Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Participants discuss praying with icons and drawing meditations. The Men's Ministry meeting hosts Norm Scarpulla Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. He will have a presentation and discussion on "Story of an Old Prayer Book."
Groveland Congregational, 4 King St., Groveland: Candlelit Taize service featuring ecumenical Christian prayer centered on scripture, silence and song is Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.
Julian Stopyra Post, 23 Monmouth St., Lawrence: Members of the former Holy Trinity Parish are hosting an "Oplatek" dinner reunion Jan. 15 from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and deadline is Jan. 10. For tickets, contact Halina Czarnecki, Irene Klepka, Maria Padykula or the Stopyra club.
Our Lady of Good Parish, 22 Plymouth St., Methuen: Marianne Luthin, director of the Pro Life Office for the Archdiocese, speaks on "Respect for Life" Jan. 9 from noon to 2 p.m. This is part of the monthly luncheon speaker series for seniors. Free, but donations accepted.
St. Augustine, 43 Essex St., Andover: Noted scripture scholar, author and speaker, Dr. Scott Hahn leads a one-day retreat Jan. 14. Doors open at 9 a.m., and program is from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hahn speaks on "Signs of Life, Letter and Spirit, The Hour is Coming." Cost is $15.
The annual Archdiocesan-wide Holy Hour for Life will be held Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
St. Anne, 26 Emerson Ave., Hampstead, N.H.: Elementary school students perform Christmas pageant based on Max Lucado "The Crippled Lamb" tomorrow at 4 p.m. An ultreya will be held Jan. 13 for people who have made curcillo or are interested in learning more about the movement in the Catholic Church.
St. James, Winter St., Haverhill: Carols and Cookies Christmas concert, tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
St. John the Baptist, 110 Lincoln Ave., Haverhill: Epiphany pageant is tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Rev. John Walsh leads a course on the autobiography of St. Therese of Liseux, "The Story of a Soul," Jan. 17 and 31 at 7:30 p.m., and Jan. 18 and Feb. 1 at 9:45 a.m.
St. Luke the Evangelist, 8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow, N.H.: Women meet for recitation of the Rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, potluck breakfast and Bible study "Courageous Love." Catholics who have been away from the church are invited for coffee and fellowship Jan. 15 after the 11 a.m. Mass.
St. Luke the Evangelist, Newton, N.H.: Christmas evening prayers are recited tomorrow and Monday at 6 p.m. Catholics who have been away from the church are invited for coffee and fellowship Jan. 15 after the 9 a.m. Mass.
St. Mark the Evangelist, 1 South Road, Londonderry, N.H.: Catholics are invited to fast Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. in penance for abortion, ending with a Rosary vigil and benediction Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
South Church, 41 Central St., Andover: The Rev. John Zehring leads an eight-part study on "The Sermon on the Mount," beginning tomorrow. Duncan Pyle facilitates "Ever-Present God" as illustrated by Hollywood, Tuesdays Jan. 10 to 31 at 7 p.m. Movies to be shown are "Phenomenon and Communion," "Hook and Epiphany," "Meet Joe Black," "God's Love," "Starman" "God's Presence," "Evan Almighty," "Prayer" "Cool Hand Luke" and "Getting What You Pray for." People considering joining the church are invited to a meeting Jan. 22 after the 10:30 a.m. service.
Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover: Rabbi Robert Goldstein and Cantorial Soloist Jodi Blankstein will lead Pulpit Exchange and Sabbath Eve Service with members of South Church Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The comedy "A Matter of Size" will be shown Feb. 12 at 5 p.m., as part of deli dinner and movie discussion night. The film is about four overweight men who learn to love themselves through Japanese sumo wrestling. Cost is $15 per person and reservation must be received by Feb. 9.
Temple Emanu-El, 514 Main St., Haverhill: This year's Martin Luther King Jr. interfaith tribute will be a musical celebration of freedom, faith and inspiration Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Members of the Haverhill Clergy Association will participate along with Rabbi Ira Korinow and Rev. Gregory Thomas. Performing will be the Calvary Baptist Sanctuary Choir and the temple's choir. Thomas preaches and there will be reflections on freedom written by Haverhill children. Bible study class discusses issues concerning Israel and the Middle East Jan. 21 at noon after the shabbat service. The temple's book club will discuss Milton Steinberg's "As a Driven Leaf" Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Trinitarian Congregational, 72 Elm St., North Andover: "Gospel Music Sunday" honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. All hymns and music will be spirituals.
Trinity Episcopal, 26 White St., Haverhill: A day for motherless daughters is Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Universalist Unitarian, Haverhill: The Book Group discusses "Bad Girls of the Bible (And What We Can Learn from Them)" by Liz Curtis Higgs tomorrow at 9 a.m. The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast with members of Calvary Baptist Church is Jan. 15 at 8 a.m. The church is hosting a three-session class for newcomers Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 4 from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Participants will learn Unitarian history, theology and the congregation.
