St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels - Bulletin 483

St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 483 - April 7 / April 20, 2008

Chronicle of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
Diocesan Bishop - His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN
Parish Priest - Fr. Rodney Torbic
296 Old Route 21
Carmichaels, Pennsylvania 15320
April 7 / April 20, 2008
Feast of Jesus Christ's Entry into Jerusalem
No. 483

Remember to listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 12:15 on WMBS, 590 AM, Uniontown.

Hebrews 11:17-18

By faith, Abraham when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendents be named."

Recent Services

April 13: Midnight Office, Matins, First Hour were read.; Twenty-six people came for Divine Liturgy. Eight people came for Communion.; In the evening one hundred and sixty people came for Vespers. His Grace Bishop Dr.MITROPHAN, Protopresbyer Stavrofor Dragoljub Malich, Protopresbyter Stavrofor Stevan Stepanov, Protopresbyter Stavrofor Rade Merick, Protonamesnik Rajko Kosic, Reverend Father Milan Pajic and Father Deacon Dragoslav Kosic served. Proto Malich preached. The Tsar Lazar Choir under the direction of Mark Doncic sang the responses
April 14: Midnight Office, First Hour and Third Hour with Kathisma were read.; Great Compline was read
April 15: Midnight Office, First Hour and Third Hour with Kathismas were read.; Great Compline was read.
April 16: Midnight Office, First Hour and Third Hour with Kathismas were read.; Three people came for Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts. Two communicants.; Great Compline was read.
April 17: Midnight Office, First Hour and Third Hour with Kathismas were read.; One person came for Akathist to Jesus Christ and Akathist to the Cross.
April 18: Midnight Office, First Hour and Third Hour with Kathisma were read.; Three people came for Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts. One communicant.; Great Compline was read.
April 19: Fifteen people came to Divine Liturgy. Six communicants.; Baptism of Kesenya Sivak was held.; Ninth Hour and Vespers read.

Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule

Great and Holy Monday at 5:30 AM - Hours with Reading of Gospels. 4:00 PM - Ninth Hour

Great and Holy Tuesday at 5:30 AM - Hours with Reading of Gospels. 4:00 PM - Ninth Hour

Great and Holy Wednesday at 5:30 AM - Hours with Reading of Gospel.

Great and Holy Thursday at 5:30 AM -Service

Great and Holy Thursday at 8:00 AM - Great Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil.

Great and Holy Thursday at 6:30 PM - Reading of Twelve Passion Gospels.

Great and Holy Friday The Royal Hours, YWCA, Fairmont,W.Va. at 9:00 AM.

Great and Holy Friday Vespers and Matins of Holy Saturday at 6:00 PM.

Great and Holy Saturday - Divine Liturgy at 8:00 AM.

Great and Holy Saturday - Reading of Acts of Holy Apostles at 6:30 PM

Pascha - Resurrection Matins on Pascha (next Sunday) will be at 5:30 AM.

Pascha - Paschal Divine Liturgy will be at 9:00 AM.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions

Important Dates

April 20 - Palm Sunday, 5:30 PM, Vespers, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh.
April 23 - Holy Unction, 7:00 PM, Holy Trinity Cathedral-Pittsburgh

If you are too busy to pray...you are too busy!

Pray for the Suffering Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohija

Parish Life

: · Thank you to all hardworking and contributing parishioners helping with the Lenten dinner last Sunday.
: · Annointing at the Holy Unction service on Holy Wednesday is for Orthodox Christians who go to Holy Confession and partake of Holy Communion during the year.
: · Three people came for Adult Class this past week. No class this week.
: · Prepare to come to Holy Confession and Communion before Pascha.
: · Monetary donations are being accepted immediately and will continue to be accepted to help the needy in Kosovo. When donating, please designate the contribution for Diocesan Relief Fund. The situation is urgent and of great importance.
: · Remember the men and women working in dangerous occupations including those in the mines and criminal justice agencies, the police, correctional officers and parole agents.
: · Remember the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, those in rehab centers, nursing homes, jails and prisons. Remember the staff members and caretakers.
: · Remember the men and women serving in the military and their families.
: · Do you listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday or on the internet during the week? Do you tell your friends and relatives about it.
: · Invite a friend or relative to church the next time you come.
: · Do you read your Bible daily?
: · Pittsburgh area Dean, Protopresbyter Stavrofor Stevan Stepanov came to the parish to perform the annual review on Wednesday, April 16, 2008.

A THOUGHT FROM HIS GRACE BISHOP DR. MITROPHAN

The disclosuere of the divine life of the Holy Trinity is accomplished in the Church through the Holy Mysteries. But it goes through the Son, the Head of the Church, in the divine energies, the grace-filled powers which are given by the Holy Spirit.

(The Teaching of Saint Apostle Paul on the Church. Translated by Protopresbyter Stefan Zaremba. Sremski Karlovaci, 2001, p. 21 )

Remember the Students at St. Sava School of Theology, Libertyville, Illinois

To Consider

· Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem.
· Jesus Christ entering our hearts.
· Jesus Christ remaining in our hearts throughout life.

Recent Activities of Parish Priest
April 14 - Visited parishioner at hospital in Waynesburg.
April 17 - Went to Diocesan Center in Mars, Pa.
April 18 - Took non-profit management classes at West Virginia University on "Leadership with Emotional Intelligence" and "Ethics in the Non-profit Environment."

From the Wisdom of Sirach

Childlessness with virtue is better than this, for immortality is in its memory; because it is known both by God and by man. When virtue is present, people imitate it, and when it goes away, hey long for it. Throughout one's lifetime, virtue leads the struggle for undefiled prizes, wearing a crown and conquering. But the prolific multitude of the ungodly are useful to no one. (SAAS)

The Feast of Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

John 12:1-18

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!" -Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:-"Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold your King is coming sitting on a donkey's colt." His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign

Jesus demonstrated humility by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt. Jesus showed humility when He took on human flesh. Jesus showed humility when He washed the disciples' feet. (Jn 13:5)

In this contemporary world, how many believers choose to be active servants of Christ? How many choose to serve Christ's Church for an extended period of time and with a significant commitment of time? How many choose to serve Christ's Church in a spirit of Christian love and cooperation?

In the past hundred years, many Orthodox churches have been built in America. How many are vibrant and filled with young Orthodox Christians willing to work hard as did their parents and grandparents?

Today is a major feast of the Lord. Today is a time of great joy as Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is celebrated. Jesus Christ brings joy to each heart and home willing to receive Him in faith and love.

Joy in Christ comes through working for Christ. Joy in Christ come through learning about Christ. Joy in Christ comes through repentance and Holy Confession, partaking of Christ's Body and Blood.

Individuals choose who and what is most valuable in their lives. Wise individuals choose Christ consistently throughout life. Wise individuals return to Christ whenever they realize they have strayed.

Jesus and the risen Lazarus were the center of attention when Jesus' entered Jerusalem. How could Lazarus not be a focal point of attention when he had been in the grave for several days?

Jesus revealed His power over death.

With the celebration of Lazarus Saturday and the arrival of the Feast of Jesus Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, the Resurrection of Christ is certainly on the minds of believers.