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 21 / August 3, 2008
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
No. 498
Remember to listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 12:15
on WMBS, 590 AM, Uniontown.
II Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Recent Services
- July 27
- One person came for Midnight Office.
One person came for Matins and First Hour.
Third and Sixth Hour were read prior to Divine Liturgy.
Twenty-Nine people came for Divine Liturgy. Three communicants.
- Twenty-nine people came for Divine Liturgy. One communicant.
- July 28
- One person came for Midnight Office.
One person came for Matins and First Hour. Vespers was read.
- July 29
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
One person came for Akathist to Jesus Christ and Akathist to St. George.
- July 30
- Midnight Office was read.
One person came for Matins and First Hour.
Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- July 31
- Midnight Office was read.
One person came for Matins and First Hour.
Ninth Hour and Vespers were read. One person came.
- August 1
- Midnight Office was read.
One person came for Matins and First Hour.
Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- August 2
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule
- Sunday
- Church closed for Diocese Day celebration at Shadeland.
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Most Holy Mother of God Monastery Church.
- Mornings
- 5:30 AM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Midnight Office with Matins and 6:30 AM.
- Afternoons
- 4:00 PM Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
- Tuesday
- 6:30 PM with Adult Class immediately thereafter.
Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions
Important Dates
August 3 - Diocese Day at Shadeland, Diocesan parish churches closed.
August 9 - St. Panteleimon
August 10 - Parish Nurses' Office Slava Celebration,
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
August 19 - Feast of Transfiguration
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 going to Shadeland for Diocese Day.
- · Congratulations to Andrea Janson, Melissa Miciotto and Naudia Miciotto
for winning awards at the Fayette County Fair.
- · Congratulations to Greene Country First Assistant District Attorney
Linda Chambers being chosen to present at an FBI conference on Crimes
Against Children in Dallas, Texas.
- · Congratulations to Petar and Gordana Kodic, friends of St. George Church
on the birth of daughter Angelina.
- · Congratulations to St. Ellien's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Brownsville
on the recent celebration of the Ninetieth Anniversary.
- · Congratulations to St. Elijah Church in Aliquippa
for the Ninety-Fourth Slava celebration.
- · 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.
- · Give a bulletin to someone that might be interested in coming
to the St. George Church.
- · Each parishioner is a missionary for the St. George Church.
- · One person attended Adult Class this past Tuesday. Class again this week.
- · Plan to attend the two Healthcare Days celebrations.
A Thought from Father Rade Merick
Most of us don't have the power to change the world. But every one of us has the power
to change ourselves. By allowing Christ to be born within us, and conforming ourselves
to Him, each of us becomes a little Christ; a true Christian. When we say no to the
fallenness of the world of the world and say yes to Christ, we declare our independence
from the slavery of delusion and idolatry of self. We may not noticeably change the world,
but the world is changed in how we relate to it. And that can have a powerful impact upon
the world. It is said in the Orthodox tradition: "Save yourself, and thousands around you
will be saved."
(The Path of Orthodoxy
January 2000
)
Remember the Students at St. Sava School of Theology, Libertyville, Illinois
To Consider
· The Lord Jesus Christ.
· The power of prayerfully repeating the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
· Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Recent Activities of Parish Priest
July 21 and August 1 - Went to Uniontown Hospital.
July 28 - Went to Diocesan Center, Mars.
July 30 - Went to Fayette County Fair. Went to Morgantown for printing purposes.
From the Wisdom of Sirach
16:12-14
As great as is his mercy, so great is also his reproof; he judges a man according to his deeds.
The sinner will not escape with his plunder, and the patience of the godly will not be
frustrated. He will make room for every act of mercy; every one will receive in accordance
with his deeds.
The Lord Jesus Christ
Isaiah 9:5 - For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government
will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called the Angel of Great Counsel,
for I shall bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health by Him. 1
The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was greatly anticipated. The birth of the Lord
Jesus Christ ushered in an era of new hope. The era of hope continues until the present.
Believers find firm and irrevocable hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the most important relationship we have.
All other relationships are affected by our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The way we relate to the Lord Jesus Christ, the way we pray to the Lord Jesus Christ,
the way we worship the Lord Jesus Christ affects all of our relationships.
Our stability, integrity and identity are affected by our relationship with the Lord
Jesus Christ. The way we look at the world and the way we define happenings in the world
are influenced by our view of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The relationship we have with the Lord Jesus Christ deserves great care. The relationship
is formalized at Holy Baptism. Prior to baptism, the appropriateness of formalizing the
relationship is determined.
With adults, the decision to be baptized is conscious and made of the person's own free
will. Infants are baptized based upon the actions of the parents and/or guardians.
At some point in life, individuals determine whether to confess the Lord Jesus Christ as
King and as God. At some point individuals determine whether they will denounce Satan and
spit upon him. 2
Confessing Jesus Christ as King and as God sets the person apart from other individuals
not making the confession. A person confessing Christ can put him or herself in harms ways
in certain environments.
While Christians are expected to be ambassadors for peace, not everyone will welcome
firmly identified Christians. Committed Christians uphold the teachings of Christ and
spread the Gospel of Christ.
The Gospel is not always welcome. Preaching the Gospel can be met with resistance.
Committed Christians provide a contrast in environments which acquiesce to sinful activity.
John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Christians are expected to live in Christ. Christians are expected to be united with
Christ. Christians are expected to abide by the ways of Christ.
Unity with Christ comes through Holy Confession and Holy Communion. Confession restores
the relationship with Christ. Alienation from Christ is ended with repentance. Partaking of
the Precious Body and Blood of Christ brings unity with love.
The Cross is central to the relationship with Christ.
Death to sin and life with Christ requires a willingness to give up sinful ways.
Life with Christ requires a willingness to be disciplined.
Individual gifts are multiplied when the ways of Christ are followed. The Lord
Jesus Christ said: "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance,
but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."
(Mt. 25:29) Believers are expected to be good stewards.
Stewardship is a governing and management of the talents and gifts given by God.
Life is a gift from God. Time is a gift from God. Material and financial resources are
gifts from God. The mind is a gift from God.
The ways individuals use creative talents determine whether they are pleasing to God.
Recognition that all good things come from God and are gifts from God is a major first
step in the Christian life.
The Epistle of St. James states: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
(James 1:17)
When we recognize our dependency on God, the relationship becomes more understandable.
Jesus said: "without Me you can do nothing."
(Jn. 15:5) Attempting to live without Christ puts a person in poverty.
The prodigal son soon found out he was at a great disadvantage in life when he left his
father and wasted his inheritance. When the wayward son returned, he was greeted by the
father and was enriched. (Lk.15:11-31)
Sinners distance themselves from Christ. Eventually, the distance will be felt.
Sooner or later, the individual will face Christ for judgment.
(Mt. 25:31-46) Standing before Christ,
the deeds of each will be laid bare.
The wise person makes conscientious use of talents from God. The wise person makes
conscientious use of the time of life. Appreciation to God is expressed in the way a
person uses his or her talents.
Individuals receive different talents. How he or she uses the talents is the
determining factor. The widow who gave all she had received greater acclaim from
Christ than others who gave a larger amount but a lesser percentage of what they
actually possessed. (Mk. 12:42-43)
1Biblical quotes from The Orthodox Study Bible.
OT. (SAAS) NT. Thomas Nelson, 1982/2008.
2Baptism. Department of Religious Education, New York, New York, 1972, pp. 39-40.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.
July 21 / August 3, 2008
Fr. Rodney Torbic
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