St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels - Bulletin 497

St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 497 - July 14 / July 27, 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
July 14 / July 27, 2008
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost / Sunday of Holy Fathers
No. 497

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

Matthew 9:2

And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

Recent Services

July 20: One person came for Matins and First Hour.; Third and Sixth Hours were read.; Twenty-nine people came for Divine Liturgy. One communicant.
July 21: Midnight Office was read.; One person came for Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour.; Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
July 22: Matins and First Hour were read.; Two people came for Akathist to Jesus Christ and Akathist to St. George
July 23: Midnight Office was read.; One person came for Matins and First Hour.; Ninth Hour and Vespers were read at Holy Trinity Church in Fairmont, W.Va.
July 24: Midnight Office was read.; One person came for Matins and First Hour.
July 25: Matins and First Hour were read.
July 26: The Vespers service was read.

Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule

Today: Midnight Office, Matins, First, Third and Sixth Hours. Divine Liturgy.
Mornings: 5:30 AM, Midnight Office - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Tuesday: 6:30 PM followed by Adult Class.
Saturday: 6:30 AM - Matins and First Hour.; 10:00 AM - Holy Trinity Church, Fairmont, W.Va.
The St. George Church will be closed next Sunday.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions

Important Dates

August 2 - Holy Prophet Elijah
August 3 - Diocese Day at Shadeland-Diocesan parish churches closed.
August 9 - St.Panteleimon
August 10 - Parish Nurse's Office Slava, Blessing of Kolach and Kolijvo, Parish Healthcare Day Program, Blessing of Ambulances.
August 11 - Parish Healthcare Day Seminar on Organ Transplants.
August 14 - Dormition Fast begins

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

Pray for the Suffering Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohija

Parish Life

: · Plan to go to Shadeland next Sunday for Diocese Day.
: · It is important for parishioners to come to church as often as possible on Sundays and whenever possible for the Divine Liturgies of major feasts during the week.
: · If you have not been to Holy Confession or Communion recently, it is time to prepare.
: · If you do not celebrate your Slava, please begin this year.
: · You help the parish when you follow the fasts of the Church.
: · 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.
: · Bring a friend or relative to church the next time you come.
: · Tell your neighbors to listen to the parish radio program.
: · Take a bulletin to give to someone that might be interested in the St. George Church.
: · Each parishioner can be a missionary for the St. George Church.
: · Two people attended Adult Class this past Tuesday. Class again this week.
: · Many people participate in the Adult Class through the internet.

A Thought from Very Reverend Protos Stavrofor Vojislav Dosenovich

When we give ourselves to God then our cheer is complete in which case our poverty becomes the real riches. On the other hand when the riches get hold of our heart and soul the poverty is complete. Many are preventing themselves from finding joy in what they have. The cheer that comes from the world and the things of the world are temporary and deceitful, while lasting cheer comes from God only.

(Spiritual Reminder p. 20 )

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

To Consider

· The existence of the Ecumenical Councils.
· The lasting effects of the Ecumenical Councils.
· The participants in the Ecumenical Councils.

Recent Activities of Parish Priest
July 20 - Went to Holy Trinity Picnic Grounds, Castle Shannon.
July 22 - Went to Morgantown, W.Va. for printing purposes.
July 23 - Went to Western Pennsylvania Hospital.
July 23 - Went to Holy Trinity Church, Fairmont, W.Va.
July 24 - Went to Diocesan Center and Antiochian Village.
July 25 - Went to Diocesan Center, Shadeland and Monastery Marcha.
July 26 - Went to Monastery Marcha

From the Wisdom of Sirach
15:18-20

For great is the wisdom of the Lord; He is mighty in power and sees everything; His eyes are on those who fear Him, and He knows every deed of man. He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and He has not given any one permission to sin.

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew 9:1-8

Se He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, 'This Man blasphemes!" But Jesus, knowing their thoughts said, 'Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise and walk'? "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-then He said to the paralytic, 'Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils

John 17:1-13

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

The Lord Jesus Christ provides each person with the opportunity to begin anew. The new beginning comes when the person repents of sin and turns to Christ for forgiveness.

The present Gospel of St. Mattew (9:1-8) speaks of Jesus having the power to forgive sins. The forgiveness of sins lifts a great burden from the heart of the sinner. The repentant sinner is strengthened by Christ to follow Christ.

Joy comes in the forgiveness of sins. The love of Christ for the believer is evident in the forgiveness of sins. Believers do well to contemplate the love of Christ. Believers do well to focus on Christ every minute of every day.

Many images come before individuals during the course of a day. Often the images are not good images. Keeping Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints of the Church in our thoughts, hearts and minds is a means to protect our souls.

We can ward of evil thoughts, we can ward off temptations by thinking about Christ as much as possible. We can ward off attacks against the heart, mind and soul by repeating the name of Christ and praying constantly.

Reading the Holy Gospel, saying the Akathist to the Lord Jesus Christ, and saying the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" are three ways to keep the name of Christ constantly in our thoughts.