St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 484 - April 14 / April 27, 2008

The Orthodox Faith

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 14 / April 27, 2008
Pascha
No. 484
Remember to listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 12:15 on WMBS, 590 AM, Uniontown.

Recent Services
Palm Sunday
Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
Thirty-one people came for Divine Liturgy with Procession.
Nine people came for Communion.
Great and Holy Monday
One person came for Midnight Office, First and Third Hours with reading of Holy Gospel. Third Hour was read including Holy Gospel.
Two people came for Ninth Hour with reading of Holy Gospel
Great and Holy Tuesday
One person came for Midnight Office, First and Third Hours with reading of Holy Gospel. Third Hour was read including Holy Gospel.
Two people came for Ninth Hour with reading of Holy Gospel.
Great and Holy Wednesday
One person came for Midnight Office, First and Third Hours with reading of Holy Gospel.
Third Hour was read including Holy Gospel.
Great and Holy Thursday
One person came for Midnight Office and Canons for Holy Communion.
Three people came for Divine Liturgy. One communicant.
Eleven people came for reading of the Twelve Gospels.
Great and Holy Friday
Seven people came to Holy Trinity Mission in Fairmont, West Virginia for Royal Hours.
Twelve people came to St. George Church for Vespers and Matins with Procession
Great and Holy Saturday
One person came for the Canon of Repentance and Order of Preparation for Communion.
Twelve people came for Divine Liturgy. Eight communicants.
Eleven people came for reading of Acts of the Apostles.

Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule

Today
Resurrection Matins and Paschal Divine Liturgy.

Mornings
Thursday, Friday, Saturday. at 5:30 AM.

Afternoons
Monday, Friday and Saturday at 4:00 PM.

Monday
Divine Liturgy at 8:00 AM.

Thursday
6:30 PM followed by class at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, May 3rd
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM, Holy Trinity Mission, Fairmont, W.Va.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions

Important Dates

Today - Pascha
April 28 - Bright Monday
April 29 - Bright Tuesday
May 6 - St. George

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

Pray for the Suffering Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohija

Parish Life

· May all parishioners have a joyous Pascha.

· May the joy of this Feast of Feasts permeate each home.

· May those who cannot come to church experience the Risen Christ.

· Share the joy of the Resurrection with everyone you meet.

· 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?

· Thank you to parishioners traveling to Holy Trinity Cathedral on Palm Sunday and Holy Wednesday.

· Send your Slava dinner responses in this week.

The Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

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

Recent Activities of Parish Priest

Palm Sunday - Went to Holy Trinity Cathedral for Vespers.
Holy Wednesday - Went hospital in Waynesburg for to see parishioner.
Holy Wednesday - Went to Holy Trinity Cathedral for Holy Unction service.
Holy Thursday - Visited family of parishioner.
Holy Friday - Went to Holy Trinity Mission in Fairmont.

From the Wisdom of Sirach

My son, accomplish your works with gentleness, and you will be loved by people the Lord accepts. The greater you are, the more humble you must be, and you will find grace before the Lord. Because great is the power of the Lord, and he is honored by the humble.
(3:17-19 SAAS)

Pascha-The Feast of Feasts

John 1:1-17

Pascha has arrived. The Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Feasts. After a long period of preparation, the waiting is over. The joy of the Risen Christ permeates Churches around the world.

Hearts and homes rejoice. Christ is Risen! Death is defeated. Life and light are proclaimed by the empty tomb. Believers come to church in great anticipation. Believers return to their homes to proclaim: Christ is Risen!

Communities change because of Pascha. People change because of Pascha. Families change because of Pascha. Work environments change because of Pascha. The short but powerful Paschal Greeting: "Christ is Risen" lifts the spirits of people far and wide and in ways never anticipated.

Never become tired of hearing the Paschal greeting. Never become tired of knowing that Christ is Risen. Never become numb and insensitive to the Risen Christ.

Centuries have passed. The Risen Christ is ever contemporary. The Risen Christ continues to reshape and change the world. The Risen Christ continues to be the hope for the downtrodden, the depressed, the sinful,

The Risen Christ is the hope for those who have had loved ones departed this life. The Risen Christ is the hope for those who have repented of sin. The Risen Christ is the hope for believers

Hearts open to Christ rejoice in the joy of the feast. Hearts open to Christ radiate the joy throughout the body. Hearts open to Christ burst with enthusiasm. Darkness fades. Light shines forth.

Death is no longer. Love abounds. Love is manifest through the Risen Christ. Thanksgiving has a place on Pascha. Thanksgiving has a place everyday. He Who suffered on the Cross went beyond death to rise from the tomb.

Christ demonstrated for those willing to believe that never is the day so dark, never is the tragedy so great that it cannot be remedied by the Risen Christ. Jesus suffered death upon the Cross.

On Great and Holy Friday the remembrance of Christ's death is vividly marked in the Church. On Great and Holy Friday, the darkness of death is prevalent in the atmosphere.

He Who deigned to be born to Mary, grew to adulthood and voluntarily ascended the Cross. He went to His death that we might have life.

We determine how we will transform this joy into everyday living. We determine if we are open to the Risen Christ influencing the remaining days of our lives.

We determine whether the Risen Christ will always be welcomed in our hearts and homes and workplaces. Pascha changes lives. Believers determine whether to have their lives changed by the way they react to the Resurrection.

This is a time to savor the joy. This is a time to savor the light of Christ. This is at time to savor the Empty Tomb. This is a time to savor the love of Christ.

Each day affords the opportunity to begin anew. Each day affords the opportunity to contemplate the Risen Christ. Each day believers can be united with the Risen Christ.

No greater joy exists than unity with Christ. No better way exists to live than to be united with Christ. No greater protection exists than unity with Christ. Pascha is the major marking point of the year. The year changes with the arrival of Pascha. The Church takes on a new aura. Joy emanates in ways different than other times of the year.

The Paschal services are rich in content. The preparation of Pascha is extensive. The liturgical celebration of Pascha is well beyond the single day of the feast.

The Risen Christ welcomes believers. The Risen Christ shines the way for believers. The Risen Christ provides enduring hope for believers. Coming to Christ provides the truth believers need.

Hunger for Christ is satisfied in the Risen Christ. Thirst for Christ is satisfied in the Risen Christ. Individuals studying the Risen Christ have more than enough material to last a lifetime.

Pascha fulfills prophesies. Pascha lifts spirits. Pascha draws people to church that often do not come. The Risen Christ changes the way individuals see death. The Risen Christ changes the way people view life.

Individuals view and understand Christ differently because of the Resurrection. Believers never fully understand or comprehend Christ. At the same time, believers can experience the joy of Christ and can open hearts to welcome Christ.

Individuals and families and communities can change as a result of the way Christ is received. Change comes when the Risen Christ is central to each individual life, each family and each relationship.

Believers value the news that Christ is Risen! The value ascribed to the Resurrection is beyond human calculation.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.
April 14 / April 27, 2008
Pascha 2008.

Fr. Rodney Torbic

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