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
October 5 / October 18, 2009
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
No. 561
Remember to listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 12:15
on WMBS, 590 AM, Uniontown.
Romans 12:6-8
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in
our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives,
with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Services Recently
- October 10
- Vespers was read.
- October 11
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
- Third and Sixth Hours were read followed by the Divine Liturgy.
- October 12
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read. Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- October 13
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read. Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- October 14
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
- One person came for Divine Liturgy.
- One person came to pray in the church after Divine Liturgy was completed.
- Three people came for the Akathist to the Protection of the Mother of God
and blessing of their Slava Kolach.
- One person came for the Akathist to Jesus Christ.
- October 15
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read. Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- October 16
- Midnight Office, Matins and First Hour were read.
Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule
- Today
- Midnight Office, Matins, First Hour. Third and Sixth Hours followed by Divine Liturgy
- Mornings
- 5:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
- Afternoons
- 4:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday.
- Wednesday
- 6:30 PM followed by Adult Class.
Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions
Important Dates
October 18 - Today-Parish Executive Board Meeting
October 19 - Holy Apostle Thomas
October 27 - Venerable Mother Parasceva of Serbia-St. Petka
October 31 - St. Luke
November 1 - Parish Anniversary Dinner
November 8 - St. Demetrius
November 16 - Translation of Relics of St.George
November 21 - St. Archangel Michael and Other Bodiless Powers
If you are too busy to pray...you are too busy!
Remember the Serbian People Who Are Suffering and All Suffering People.
Parish Life
- · Sympathy extended to Rich Porter's family.
Rich's uncle Robert departed this life this past week.
- · Three people came for Adult Class on Wednesday. We continue to discuss the
Divine Liturgy. All parishioners are welcome to attend this Wednesday.
- · An article was published in the New York Times on October 13, 2009 about the
Hatfield Ferry Power plant. A picture of the St. George Church was in the article.
- · Stan Brozik and Milosh "Serb" Krewasky are in the New York Times
video accompanying the written article.
- · Congratulations to Aaron Carson. Aaron is teaching online classes to nursing
students at Waynesburg University.
- · Grover and Wilma Milosevich were accompanied by a cousin from out-of-state
at last Sunday's Divine Liturgy. Thank you for bringing him.
- · Virginia Pataskie has reason to feel good when she sees many members of her
family present at the Divine Liturgy.
- · Stephen Popovich always remembers the St. George Church.
- · Swetko Davidovich always remembers the St. George Church.
- · The Kolo continued to bake this past week. Helpers are needed each week.
- · 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.
- · If you have a question about the services or the Church, ask Father Rodney.
- · Each parishioner should take time to observe his or her Slava.
- · If you have not been to Holy Confession and Communion recently,
it is time to prepare.
A Thought from His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN
Finally, by this term(church) the Apostle signifies the community of all the followers
of Christ, whose parts are of the local church but are inseparable from her as a part
of the whole. They cannot be separated from the Mother Church, for no part can exist
of itself if it is separated from the whole
(The Teachings of Saint Apostle Paul on the Church.
Translation Protopresbyter Stefan Zaremba. 2001, p. 2
)
Remember the Students at St. Sava School of Theology, Libertyville, Illinois
To Consider
· The Holy Apostle Thomas
· The lasting significance of the life of the Holy Apostle Thomas.
· The lives influenced by the Holy Apostle Thomas
Recent Activities of Parish Priest
October 9-10 - Was at Sewickley Hospital.
October 10 - Went to Morgantown for printing purposes.
Psalm 30:12
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2009
Luke 6:31-36
And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those
who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even
sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back,
what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to receive as much back. But love
your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great,
and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father who is merciful
In the present Gospel Jesus asks believers to be good in ways that are challenging.
Believers are asked to lend without hoping for a return and to love their enemies.
Living as Christ would have us live is difficult. Believers are expected to live
according to the teachings and example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are to learn
from the lives of the saints and always be faithful to Christ.
Believers are to be charitable and give of themselves. Christ gave His life on the Cross.
Christ does not ask more of us than He gave of Himself.
The Gospel speaks about God's kindness to the ungrateful and the evil. When speaking
about the kindness of God, Jesus said: "He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
(Mt. 6:45)
Believers do well to measure their current thoughts and behaviors against the standards
and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers do well to measure their behavior against
the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The lives of the saints demonstrate and provide convincing evidence that faithfulness
to the Lord Jesus Christ is possible and desirable. Being a Christian is for the resolute
in Christ.
Christians are tested and tempted throughout life. The joy of Christ is experienced in
the Cross of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ. The joy of Christ is experienced in the
Precious Body and Blood of Christ.
The joy of Christ is experienced in reading and listening carefully to the Holy Gospel.
Believers serious about the life in Christ will recognize their personal sinfulness and seek
forgiveness and help from Christ.
Repentance is necessary throughout life. Prayer and fasting are beneficial for beginning
anew in Christ. Reading the Holy Scriptures strengthens believers. Believers may get tired
of the constant effort required. Believers may get depressed or discouraged because of
problems, difficulties and stresses. The Holy Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians:
"Do not grow weary in doing good."
(II Thess. 3:13)
Everyday is a day to begin anew in Christ. Everyday is a day to continue the Christian
journey. Everyday is a day to seek first the Kingdom of God.
(Mt. 6:33).
God will not forsake the believers committing their lives to Him. Believers faithful
to their baptismal commitment will draw strength from God. Believers faithful to their
baptismal commitment will be resolute in hope.
Hardships in life tests a person's faith. Century after century, martyrs for Christ
demonstrate that in the face of the persecutions, Christ provides a greater strength to
deal with the persecutions.
Every Holy Saturday as believers prepare to celebrate Christ's Resurrection, believers
are reminded of the faithfulness to God of the three youths in the fiery furnace.
Faced with the threat of death but confidant in God, the three youths said:
"There is a God in the heavens, Whom we serve, and He is able to save us from the
burning fiery furnace..."
(Dan. 3:17-SAAS)
The faith in God of the three youths in the furnace is an inspiration for every
generation. The Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, St. George, St. Demetrius,
St. Panteleimon and countless other martyrs are called to mind as convincing witnesses
for Christ.
Believers examining the history of the Serbian Orthodox Church will find records of
hierarchs, clergy and faithful through centuries who lost their lives while remaining
steadfast in Christ. Vidovdan is a remembrance of Serbian martyrdom.
Current believers do well to constantly look to Christ for internal peace.
Internal peace from Christ comes when one sheds ways that are contrary to Christ.
The Holy Apostle Paul identifies peace as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
(Gal. 5:22)
In the current Gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ once again establishes that Christians
are to be different. Christians are to be as Christ would have them to be. Christians
are expected to honor and live up to their Christian identity.
No greater honor exists in life than to be a Christian. Each person embracing the
Christian life does so freely and willingly. The choice to become a Christian carries
with it the responsibility to live as a Christian in the fullest sense.
Becoming a Christian is a serious undertaking offering the greatest possible fulfillment
of life as God intended. Each believer is hindered in Christian growth only by the personal
limits established by the believer.
God will help every believer reach the fullest possible experience of Christian growth.
The choices a believer makes will either draw the person closer to Christ or distance the
person from the life in Christ.
The current Gospel indicates that Christian growth is measured and reflected in our
relationships. Wise believers heed the way of Christ and make every effort to follow Christ.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.
October 5 / October 18, 2009
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
Holy Martyr Charitina of Amisus; Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria
Fr. Rodney Torbic
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