St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels - Bulletin 537

St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 537 - April 20 / May 3, 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
April 20 / May 3, 2009
Sunday of the Myhrrbearers
No. 537

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

Hristos Voskrese! Vaistinu Voskrese!
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Recent Services

Bright Saturday: Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read. Vespers was read
Thomas Sunday: Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.; Forty-one people came for Divine Liturgy. One communicant. Parostos held.
April 27: Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.; Two people came for the Akathist to the Resurrection.
April 28: Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
April 30: 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 Hours immediately before Divine Liturgy. Blessing of Slavski Kolach and Koljivo.
Mornings: 5:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Afternoons: 4:00 PM on Monday, Thursday, Saturday.
Tuesday: 6:30 PM followed by Adult Class.
Wednesday: St. George Day Divine Liturgy at 8:00 AM.
Thursday: 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church, Fairmont, W.Va.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions

Important Dates

Today, May 3 - Parish Slava celebration. St. Nikolai of Zhicha, Ven Joasaph of Serbia.
May 6 - St. George.
May 10 - Burning of Relics of St. Sava.
May 12 - St. Vasilje of Ostrog.
May 15 - St. Athanasius the Great
May 19 - Transfer of Relics of St. Sava.
May 22 - Transfer of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
May 24 - Sts. Cyril and Methodius. St. Nicodemus, Archbishop of Serbia.
May 27 - Leavetaking of Pascha
May 28 - Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.
June 6 - Memorial Saturday, Grave Blessings.
June 7 - Feast of Pentecost, Parish Outdoor Religious Program and Picnic.
June 8 - Second Day of Pentecost
June 9 - Third Day of Pentecost
June 13 - Leavetaking of Pentecost

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

Remember the Suffering Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohija

Parish Life

: · Our parish is blessed to be a part of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church with His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN as the Diocesan Bishop.
: · Thank you to all coming for the parish Slava celebration.
: · Congratulations to Aaron Carson, faithful member of St. George Church, honored Kum for the Slava celebration.
: · Mike "Mac" Rogish became one hundred years old on April 29, 2009. He has been a part of the St. George Church from the very beginning.
: · In addition to the parishioners appreciating the St. George Choir, visitors to the church always are complimentary and appreciative of the Choir.
: · April 26, to May 2 , 2009 was Crime Victims Awareness Week. We need to pray for the suffering victims of violent crime.
: · Today is the beginning of National Corrections Officers Week. Retired federal corrections officer Louis Zorman and current Pennsylvania state corrections officer Mike Dephillips deserve recognition.
: · Two people came to Adult Class on Monday evening to view a video on Mt. Athos. Class on this coming Tuesday evening following the 6:30 service.
: · Continue to rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
: · Share the joy of the Resurrection in your home and neighborhood.
: · Remember the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, those in rehab centers, the homebound, the mentally ill, their caretakers and the institution staffs.
: · Remember the men and women serving in the military and their families.
: · Remember the workers in mines, law-enforcement, corrections, probation and parole and firefighters, all working in dangerous occupations.
: · Learn the calendar of the Church and use it to structure your daily life.
: · If you have a question about the Divine services or other questions ask Father Rodney and come to the Adult Classes. Class on Monday night this week at 7:00 PM.
: · Every parishioner is a missionary for St. George Church.

Troparion of St. George

Being a deliverer of the captives, and the protector of the poor, a healer of those who are sick, a combatant of the kings, O victor and Great-Martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, to save our souls.

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

To Consider

· The continuing effect of the Resurrection of Christ.
· The Risen Christ in each heart.
· The Risen Christ in each home.

Recent Activities of Parish Priest
April 25 - Attended Hundredth Birthday celebration for Mike Mac Rogish
April 30 - Stopped at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Johnstown, Pa.

From the Psalms 4:1

Hear me when I call, O god of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
(NKJV Orthodox Study Bible )

Sunday of the Myrrhbearers
Mark 15:43-47. 16:1-8

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid. Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away----for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed, you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.. But go, tell His disciples---and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ changed the world forever. The defeat of death revealed the presence and power of God. Believers of every century have reason to hope even in the darkest of circumstances and conditions.

The Risen Christ reveals the power of God to change death into victory. When a person believes conditions in life are at the worst, strength and comfort are available in the Risen Lord.

Turning to God in faith brings with it the responsibility to live in ways pleasing to God. Expectations of hope carry with them the responsibilities of prayer and actions consistent with the teachings of Christ.

A changed heart for Christians means following Christ with love. Putting sin behind and embracing the love of Christ is necessary for the Christian. The time of Great Lent and Holy Week brings the joy of Pascha.

Believers are renewed in Christ through Holy Confession and Holy Communion. The Feast of Pascha and the Paschal celebration continuing until the Feast of the Ascension are filled with the joy of the Risen Christ.

Believers having taken Great Lent and Holy Week seriously experience the Resurrection of Christ in their hearts and minds. Each Paschal celebration is new and a time of renewal.

"Christ is Risen!" is the joyful greeting in the current tense. Believers taste of the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. Believers taste of the Fountain of Immortality.

The women at the Empty Tomb were honored among women of all the centuries to hear the message: " Do not be alarmed, you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here." (Mk. 16:6)

Believers in God's Holy Church hear the Gospel message of the Resurrection each year. The proclamation of the Resurrection is forever new. The message of the Resurrection has restorative powers.

Lives are changed by the greeting: "Christ is Risen!" Societies are changed by the greeting: "Christ is Risen!" Believers have the responsibility of incorporating the Resurrection into their lives.