St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels - Bulletin 520

St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 520 - December 22, 2008 / January 4, 2009

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
December 22, 2008 / January 4, 2009
Sunday of the Holy Fathers
No. 520

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

Romans 11:20

Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

Recent Services

December 28: Protopresbyter Djokan Majstorovic served the Divine Liturgy. Ten people attended. One communicant.
January 2: Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read. Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.

Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule

Today: Midnight Office, Matins, First Hour. Third and Sixth Hour before Divine Liturgy.
Monday: 5:30 AM Midnight Office, Matins, First Hour. 4:00 PM Ninth Hour and Vespers.
Tuesday, January 6: Eve of Nativity of Christ-Divine Liturgy at 8:00 AM; Blessing of Badjak at 7:30 PM followed by Vigil.
Wednesday, January 7: Christmas Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM.
Thursday, January 8: Divine Liturgy at 8:00 AM.
Friday, January 9: Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM.
Saturday: Services at 5:30 AM and 4:00 PM.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions

Important Dates

January 6 - Nativity Eve, Burning of Badnjak-Vigil
January 7 - Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ
January 8 - Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos
January 9 - Third Day of Christma, St. Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon.
January 11 - The Parish Annual Meeting, Rescheduled from today.
January 13 - Leave-taking of Nativity.
January 18 - Eve of Theophany, Blessing of the River
January 19 - Theophany
January 20 - Synaxis of St. John the Baptist.
January 25 - St. Sava Program
January 27 - St. Sava

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

Pray for the Suffering Serbian People Throughout The World

Parish Life

: · 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.
: · Every parishioner is a missionary for the St. George Church.
: · Tell your relatives and friends to listen to the parish radio broadcast on WMBS or on the Internet. The Christmas Divine Liturgy will be rebroadcast on Christmas night following the 7:00 PM news on Uniontown's radio station WMBS.
: · Come to the Divine services for the Feast of the Nativity.
: · Celebrate the joy of Christmas in your heart, your home and you community.
: · Make a difference wherever you are as a serious Christian.
: · Let the joy of Christian radiate in your life.
: · Battle sin each day.
: · Repent when you sin.
: · Dr. Andre Popa of Bakersfield, California recently visited the St. George Church.
: · Read your Bible daily.
: · Prepare for Holy Confession and Holy Communion.

A Thought from St. Athanasius

You must understand, therefore, that when writers on this sacred theme speak of Him as eating and drinking and being born, they mean that the body, as a body, was born and sustained with the food proper to its nature; while God the Word, Who was united with it, was at the same time ordering the universe and revealing Himself through His bodily acts as not man only but God.

(On the Incarnation. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood, New York.) )

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

To Consider

· The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
· The cumulative impact of the festal celebration.
· The lives changed by Christ's birth.

Recent Activities of Parish Priest
December 27-January 1 - Travelled to and remained at St. Sava Camp, Shadeland for Nativity Fast Retreat and Clergy Family Gathering. Served Divine Liturgy on December 27 at Shadeland. Returned. January 1 to parish.

From the Wisdom of Sirach
38:9-10

My son, when you are sick do not be negligent but pray to the Lord and He will heal you. Give up your faults and direct your hands aright, and cleanse you heart from all sin.

The Sunday of the Holy Fathers 2008
Matthew 1:1-25

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abija begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jeshoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth after her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

The Gospel of St. Matthew provides a genealogy of Jesus Christ from Abraham to Joseph the husband of Mary, to the birth of Jesus. The list of names is extensive and impressive.

The recording of the genealogy has been preserved through the centuries. The Church deems it necessary and appropriate for the reading of the genealogy each year on the Sunday before Christmas.

The virgin birth and the identification of Jesus as "God with us" is significant for continued contemplation. The Nativity of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changed the world and the way the world is viewed.

Adversaries of Christ, government regulation and rampant commercialism make efforts to overshadow and dilute the message of the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Serious believers look to the Holy Gospel to learn about Christ. Serious believers recognize the names in the genealogy provided in the Gospel of St. Matthew and rejoice in the names being preserved.

The Christian mind will think carefully about the importance of each name in the genealogy and the intention of the Evangelist Matthew to record each name.

Historical records are important. Specific names and places establish credibility and serve as evidence. Time passes. The Lord Jesus Christ remains the same. (Heb. 13:8)

The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a celebration of "God with us." God is always with us. The feast speaks of the coming the Lord Jesus Christ in human flesh while remaining fully Divine.

Christian minds benefit from keeping Christ in the forefront. Christian hearts benefit from always giving the Lord Jesus Christ the primary place. St. Matthew's genealogy is a record of divine fulfillment.

Believers are fulfilled on the Feast of the Nativity. The celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ warms the hearts of believers. Hope and peace radiate on the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ.