St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 489 - May 19 / June 1, 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
May 19 / June 1, 2008
Sunday of the Blind Man
No. 489
Remember to listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 12:15 on WMBS, 590 AM, Uniontown.

Services This Past Week
May 25
Midnight Office, Matins, First, Third and Sixth Hour were read.
Twenty-eight people came for Divine Liturgy. Three communicants.
May 27
One person came for Akathist to the Tomb and Resurrection.
Two people were present for the Akathist to the Resurrection.
May 28
Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read. Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
May 29
Midnight Office, Matins were read. One person came for Matins.
May 30
Midnight Office was read. One person came for Matins and First Hour.
Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
May 31
Midnight Office was read. One person came for Matins and First Hour.
Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.

Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule

Today
Midnight Office, Matins, First, Third and Sixth Hours. Divine Liturgy.
Akathist at the Cross in the St. George Cemetery.

Saturday Evening
Vespers at a time to be announced. Call for exact time.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions

Important Dates

June 1 - Sixth Sunday of Pascha, Sunday of the Blind Man
June 1 - Parish Outdoor Religious Program and Picnic
June 4 - Leave-taking of Pascha
June 5 - Feast of Ascension
June 7 - Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist.
June 8 - Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
June 14 - Memorial Saturday
June 15 - Pentecost
June 16 - Pentecost Monday
June 16 - Holy Trinity Mission Slava, Fairmont, W.Va. 5:30 PM.
June 17 - Pentecost Tuesday, St. Mitrophanes First Patriarch of Constantinople
June-23 - Apostles Fast begins.
June 28 - Vidovdan

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 parishioners and friends of St. George Church helping with the picnic and religious program today.

· A lot of work for the picnic is done in preparation and clean-up and is known only to God. May God bless everyone helping with the picnic.

· Sympathy is expressed to Very Reverend Dr. John Abdullah and his family of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Khouriyee Joann departed this life this past week.

· The Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops has designated this Sunday as Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday.

· Mildred Bezjak is recognized for her work with the Pennsylvania Prison Society in the jails and prisons in this area.

· Three people came to Adult Class this past Tuesday.

· 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.

· This weekend especially remember the men and women serving in the military and their families. Remember the living and departed veterans from previous years of service.

· Do you listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday or on the internet during the week? Do you tell your friends and relatives?

· If you do not celebrate your Slava, it is time to start.

· If you have not been to Holy Confession and Communion recently, it is time to prepare.

A Thought from Father Aleksa Micich

Even though Christ is no longer physically present on the earth, we still maintain that access through His chosen vessel, the Church. His tangible presence, we experience through the Holy Sacraments administered by the Church, and His teaching continues through the ages.

( St. Luke Newsletter, December, 2007 )

To Consider

· The man born blind and healed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
· Our spiritual blindness.
· Having our eyes open to see Christ in everyone we meet.

Recent Activities of Parish Priest

May 25 - Attended graduation party.
May 26 - Attended Memorial Day Pilgrimage at St. Tikhon's Seminary and Monastery.
May 29 - Attended class on "Leaving a Legacy" held by West Virginia University in Clarksburg, W.Va.
May 29 - Attended the funeral of Khouriyee Joann Abdullah at St. George Church in Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 30 - Went to Morgantown, W.Va. for printing purposes.

Wisdom of Sirach 7:29

With all your soul fear the Lord and honor his priests.

Sunday of the Blind Man

John 9:1-38

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him saying: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam"(which is being translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" Some said, "This is he. Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he." Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened? He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash' So I went and washed, and I received sight." Then they said to him, 'Where is He?" He said, "I do not know. They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Other said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind?" How then does he now see?" His parents answered them and said, "We know that his is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." His parent said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." So they again called the man who was blind and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!" Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe! And he worshipped Him.

The present Gospel describing the healing of the man blind from birth is a beautiful account of the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus performed a miracle in the healing of the blind man.

Jesus Christ continues to perform miracles in the lives of individuals to the present day. Miracles occur in the lives of believers whose lives are transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everyday individuals become "new" in Christ by opening their hearts, minds and souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. Society has many people who are skeptical about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Society has many individuals who are direct opponents of the Lord Jesus Christ. Society has individuals who choose religions and have beliefs which have nothing to do with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The real way to experience the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ is simply to believe in Him. The real way to experience the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ is simply to pray to Him in all sincerity.

Individuals baptized into Christ and Chrismated experience the Lord Jesus Christ. Individuals partaking of the Precious Body and Blood of Christ experience the Lord Jesus Christ.

Individuals married in the Church, ordained in the Church, anointed at the Service of Holy Unction experience the Lord Jesus Christ. Individuals repenting and confessing sins in the Church experience the Lord Jesus Christ.

Individuals living in Christian homes experience the Lord Jesus Christ. Individuals knowing their sins are forgiven experience the Lord Jesus Christ.

Individuals hearing the Holy Gospel and feeling the power of the Gospel in their lives experience the Lord Jesus Christ. Individuals coming to the Church on Pentecost and sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit know the power of God and the completeness of the Holy Trinity.

Christ is Risen and His Resurrection puts to rest the power of death. Christ is Risen and His Resurrection puts to rest the notion that evil is greater than Good.

The healing of the man blind from birth is celebrated each year following Pascha. The blind man became "new" in Christ with eyes to see the Living Christ before his eyes.

Today and everyday of every century, individuals have the power to experience the Crucified and Risen Christ in their lives. Individuals need only believe in Him. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.
May 19 / June 1, 2008
Sunday of the Blind Man.
Priestmartyr Patricius.

Fr. Rodney Torbic

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