St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels - Bulletin 679

St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Bulletin 679 - January 9 / January 22, 2012

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

Phone 724-966-7428
Phone/Fax 724-966-7780
Cellular Phone 412-860-0944

No. 679
January 9 / January 22, 2012
Sunday after Theophany

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

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Recent Services

January 14: Matins and First Hour were read at St. George Church.; Third and Sixth Hours were read in Fairmont, W.Va.; Nine people came for Divine Liturgy to Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Fairmont, W.Va. One communicant.; Eleven people were present for the luncheon in Fairmont.; Akathist to the Theotokos was read at St. George Church.; Two people came for Ninth Hour and Vespers at St. George Church.
January 15: Matins and First Hour were read.; Twenty-seven people came for Divine Liturgy. Four communicants.; Akathist to the Theotokos was read.
January 16: Matins and First Hour were read.; Akathist to the Theotokos was read.; Vespers was read.
January 17: Matins and First Hour were read.; Akathist to the Theotokos was read.; Vespers was read
January 18: Three people came for Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Water.; Akathist to the Theotokos was read.; Two people came for the Akathist to the Cross.
January 19: Seven people came for the Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Water. One communicant.; Akathist to the Theotokos was read.

Services This Coming Week. Call to Confirm Weekday Schedule

Today: Matins and First Hour.; Third and Sixth Hour followed by Divine Liturgy.; Blessing of the Monongahela River.
Mornings: 5:30 AM on Friday.
Afternoons: 4:00 PM Vespers on Saturday.
Friday: 8:00 AM Divine Liturgy.

Akathists and prayers for special needs scheduled on request.

Remember Monastery Marcha with Prayers and Thanksgiving

Important Dates
Today, January 22 - Blessing of the Mon River following Divine Liturgy.
January 26 - Apodasis of Theophany
January 27 - St. Sava
January 29 - St. Sava Program and Covered Dish Dinner. Chains of Holy Apostle Peter.
January 31 - St. Athanasius the Great
February 5 - Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
February 12 - Holy Three Hierarchs. Sunday of the Prodigal Son.
February 15 - Presentation of the Lord

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

: All visitors are warmly welcome.
: Thank you to all parishioners staying for the Annual Assembly.
: Thank you for all officers of the Executive Board, Kolo, Choir and Audit Board.
: Thank you to all staying today for the River Blessing.
: Three people came for Adult Class this past week. Next class is February 1st.
: Plan to come for the St. Sava Program and Covered Dish Dinner next week.
: Tom and Debby Hunter have been very helpful to the St. George Church for many years.
: Remember the workers in mines, law-enforcement, corrections, probation and parole and firefighters, all working in dangerous occupations.
: Remember the men and women serving in the military and their families.
: Remember the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, those in rehab centers, the homebound, the mentally ill, their caretakers and the institution staffs.
: Prepare for Holy Confession and Communion regularly.
: Let the love of Christ guide all decisions and activities.
: World leaders should study the life of St. Genevieve to learn how to avert armed conflict.
: Honor your Slava each year.
: If you have a question about the Church practices or teachings, ask the priest.

A Thought from Protopresbyter Stavrofor Rade Merick

But no matter where or why they have gone, the Serbs have always taken their history, their traditions, their Orthodox faith and their Serbian Orthodox Church with them. As we in the Serbian disaspora struggle to come to terms with our new environments and challenges, we can look back with admiration to Patriarch Arsenius III Crnojevic and those who followed him as trailblazers who met the challenges of a new land so well.

( 1990 Calendar of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America and Canada. )

To Consider

The humility shown by Jesus to be baptized by St. John the Baptist.
The continuing renewal effect of Jesus being baptized in the Jordan.
The importance of water in our spiritual lives.

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

Recent Activities of Parish Priest
January 14 - Served Divine Liturgy in Fairmont,W.Va.
January 15 - Visited patient in UPMC, Presby, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Proverbs 10:1

A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

The Sunday after Theophany

Matthew 4:12-17

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

The current Gospel associates Jesus with the term “light.” Individuals living in darkness find their way by following the light of Christ. Individuals not knowing which way to turn in life, find direction by the light of Christ.

The Holy Prophet Isaiah lived centuries before Christ took on human flesh. The Holy Prophet Isaiah was gifted to speak about the Lord Jesus Christ. The words of the Holy Prophets continue to have relevancy.

The current Gospel provides believers with motivation to look with great care to the words of the Holy Prophets to learn more about God. Time invested in reading the Holy Prophets is time well invested.

The value of the Holy Prophets is revealed is the Gospel account of poor Lazarus and the rich man. When the rich man was suffering after his death, he was told his brothers could benefit from reading the Holy Prophets. (Lk. 16:19-31)

On the eve of feasts of the Church, prescribed readings regularly include references to the words of the Holy Prophets. Believes do well to use their mind to learn more about God by being attentive to the Holy Prophets.

Believers recite The Creed at Holy Baptism and profess belief in the Holy Spirit speaking by the prophets. Belief in the Holy Spirit speaking by the prophets is reaffirmed at each Divine Liturgy with the reciting of The Creed.

Believers are challenged to look beyond attractions of the current world having little to do with salvation. It is too easy for believers to become content with their state of Christian development and not seek further growth.

The Holy Apostle Paul said: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:2)

The life in Christ offers continued development. The Holy Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” (II Cor. 3:18)

Believers make decisions daily determining their faithfulness to Christ. Complete faithfulness to Christ is expected. Complete faithfulness to Christ brings the fullest development in Christ.

The current Gospel concludes with the words of Jesus on repentance. Repentance brings a person’s life into conformity with the way of Christ. Repentance is rejection of evil and embracement of the way of God.

Individuals determine the way daily life is lived. Decisions made each day either conform to the way of God or reject the way of God. Constant attentiveness to God is necessary to ensure choices are consistent with the way of God.