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
June 7 / June 20, 2010
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
No. 596
Remember to listen to the parish radio broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 12:15
on WMBS, 590 AM, Uniontown.
Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed,
"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel."
Recent Services
- June 7
- One person came for the Akathist to St. John the Baptist
and blessing of Slava Kolach and Koljivo.
- June 11
- Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- June 12
- Matins and First Hour were read. Two people came for Ninth Hour and Vespers.
- June 13
- Matins and First Hour were read. Third and Sixth Hours were read
followed by Divine Liturgy. Thirty people attended. Seven communicants.
- June 14
- Matins and First Hour were read. Ninth Hour and Vespers were read.
- June 15
- Matins and First Hour were read. Athathist to Jesus Christ was read
followed by Adult Class. Two people came.
- June 16
- Matins and First Hour were read.
Services This Coming Week - Always Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule
- Today
- Matins and First Hour. Third and Sixth Hours followed by Divine Liturgy and Parastos.
- Mornings
- 5:30 AM Matins and First Hour on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
- Afternoons
- 4:00 PM Ninth Hour and Vespers on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
- Tuesday
- 6:30 PM Akathist followed by Adult Class
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church, Fairmont, W.Va.
- Sunday, June 27
- Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM
Akathists or Special Prayer services can be scheduled on weekdays when requested.
Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Contributions
Important Dates
June 27 - Parish Vidovan Covered Dish Dinner and Program
June 28 - Vidovdan
July 7 - Birth of St. John the Baptist
July 12 - Sts. Peter and Paul
July 25 - St. George Parish Outdoor Religious Program and Picnic
July 26 - Synaxis of St. Archangel Gabriel
August 2 - St. Elijah Day
August 8 - Diocese Day, Parish churches closed. Consecration of church at Shadeland.
August 9 - St. Panteleimon
If you are too busy to pray...you are too busy!
Remember the Suffering Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohijia
and All Suffering People Everywhere
Parish Life
- · Mitzie Hunchuck attended the Pittsburgh Deanery meeting on Christian Education
of June 12 at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Pittsburgh.
- · Two people came for Adult Class on Tuesday. Class again this Tuesday.
Discussion will continue on Holy Communion. Plan to attend.
- · If you do not celebrate your Slava, plan to start this year.
- · If you have a question about the services of the Church or Church practices
or teachings, ask Father Rodney.
- · Plan to stay for the Vidovdan covered dish dinner and program next 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.
- · Honor the Apostles Fast until July 12-Sts. Peter and Paul.
- · Bring a friend or relative to church.
- · Decide to attend a service during the week.
- · Read your Bible each day.
A Thought from His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN
But we are not united by blood alone, but also by flesh. The Holy Body, which is given in
the Holy Eucharist, unites us with His Most-Holy Body Incarnate. The Holy Eucharist unites
us with Him and with all members of the Church.
(The Teaching of Saint Apostle Paul on the Church.
Translated by Protopresbyter Stefan Zaremba. Sremski Karlovac 2001, p. 48
)
Remember the Students at St. Sava School of Theology, Libertyville, Illinois
To Consider
· Our faith in action.
· Our faith applied in prayer.
· Our faith in times of difficulty.
Recent Activities of Parish Priest
June 5 - Attended wedding dinner for Christopher and Danielle Rodavich Whipkey.
June 9 - Went to Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Fairmont, W.Va.
for Ninth Hour and Vespers. Ten people attended.
June 10 - Visited patient at Washington Hospital.
June 11 - Went to Morgantown, W.Va. for printing purposes.
June 14 - Visited one parish home.
June 12 - Went to Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Pittsburgh for
Christian Education meeting.
June 15 - Blessed one home in Vestaburg.
Psalm 64:65: 4
Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 8:5-13
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying,
"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him,
"I will come and heal him." The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that
You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
For I am also a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one,
'Go,' and He goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,'
and he does it." When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed,
'Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.
And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into
outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Then Jesus said to the
centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done to you."
And his servant was healed in that same hour.
The centurion coming to Jesus seeking help for his servant had great faith.
The centurion's faith was so great as to impress Jesus. The centurion's faith is
an example for believers today centuries after it was first made known.
Individuals choose the degree of faith they place in God. Faith in God has power
to move mountains. Faith in God makes possible what many would consider impossible.
The Lord Jesus Christ said: "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to
this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move:"
(Mt. 17:20).
Jesus also said: "With God, all things are possible."
(Mt. 19:26)
Believers do well to consider the words of Christ regarding faith and to act upon them.
Believers will face moments of uncertainly. Believers will face times of stress and distress.
Moments of crisis can be turned into moments of joy and opportunity. Christ can be fully
experienced in moments of great personal difficulty.
The centurion's servant was healed by the Lord Jesus Christ. The servant certainly
had reason to be grateful to God and to the centurion. The centurion had reason to be
grateful to God. Countless believers through the centuries have learned of the value
of faith due to the example of the centurion. Many believers have acted in boldness
of faith due to the present Gospel and they have realized the benefits of faith.
The Epistle to the Hebrews states: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
(Heb. 13:8)
The message of the Gospel is alive and relevant for every generation.
The body, mind and soul are nourished and improved by the Gospel.
The Gospel is authentic nourishment for the body, mind and soul.
Believers valuing the Gospel will cherish the message and the opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Each word in the Gospel has power and meaning. Each word of the Gospel is linked with
centuries past and influences the current century. Attentive believers hunger for the
Gospel and will have their hunger satisfied. Attentive believers benefit from each
reading of the Gospel and the benefits are multiplied as they live out their daily lives.
The soul is of primary value for believers. Believers choose daily whether to care for
the soul in a manner worthy of its primary value. Many interests and activities complete for
the believer's attention each day. Believers do well to heed the words of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ said: "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?"
(Mt. 16:26).
In this world when acts of greed and abuse of power dominate the daily news, it is good to
keep in mind the lesson of the compassionate and caring centurion who was worried about his
servant and came to the Lord Jesus Christ for help.
In the workplace today are their acts of concern and compassion for the sick and
suffering employees or do the employers interests in profits dominate? In the workplace today,
how many individuals in authority look to the centurion in the present Gospel as a model
to emulate? If today's Gospel and each Gospel reading was put into full practice by everyone
privileged to hear them, the world would be a different and better place. The world begins
to change for the better when current believers have faith as the centurion in the present
Gospel.
Time is limited for each generation of believers. Each believer has a finite amount of
days in life. Each believer determines how he or she will make use of the finite days of
earthly life. The centurion made good use of his daily life exhibiting exemplary faith and
showing compassion for his servant. More daily acts of compassion would go a long way to
reducing the hostility and conflict common in today's world.
The Lord Jesus Christ ascended the Cross, suffered, died and was buried for the benefit
of individuals throughout the world and throughout the centuries. Individuals blessed to hear
the message of the Gospel are informed and have a basis for making decisions regarding their
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Informed believers have a sound basis for the faith
they employ.
Many obstacles exist in the world to put personal faith in peril and to the test.
The wise individual will be strong and resolute in faith. Faith reduces problems to
manageable portions and increases the ability of believers to deal with any crisis arising.
The joy of Christ is a resounding hope leading believers through moments when darkness
comes unexpectedly. The light of Christ shines the way for believers in moments of doubt
and ensures that a passage to peace is opened.
Today's Gospel gives reason to give thanks to God for the healing power available to
individuals tormented and in need. Thanks be to God for being ever-present and loving,
forgiving and compassionate.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.
June 7 / June 20, 2010
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.
Holy Hieromartyr Theodotus of Ancyra.
Fr. Rodney Torbic
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