Saint Luke the Evangelist

Transcription

1 Saint Luke the Evangelist The Works of Jesus Icon of Saint Luke -- October 18th For more information on Eastern spirituality, visit Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box Fairfax, VA Ph: Fax:

2 St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church A Parish of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese (antiochian.org) and The Diocese of Charleston, Oakland & The Mid-Atlantic (antiochian.org/east) ( the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch! Acts 11:26) 111 Alberta Avenue Johnstown, PA stmaryaocc.org // office@stmaryaocc.org Most Rev. Metropolitan JOSEPH Archbishop & Primate Right Rev. Bishop THOMAS Auxiliary Bishop (Diocese of Charleston / Oakland & The Mid-Atlantic) Very Rev. Fr. Donald E. Shadid, M.Div. & D.Min. Archpriest & Pastor Rev. Fr. Anthony G. Roeber, M.A. (Theology) & Ph.D. Attached Clergy Renee D Ettorre Parish Council Chairperson Go to Church Say Your Prayers Don t Forget God! (+Fr. Tom Hopko s Mom) Fr. Don Home: frdon@stmaryaocc.org Office: THE HOLY APOSTLE & EVANGELIST LUKE Sunday, October 18, Apostle LUKE the Evangelist // Martyr MARINOS the Elder at Anazarbos // Venerable THEODORE & SIMEON // New-Martyr GABRIEL of Egypt // PETER of Cetinje Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory be to Him Forever! A Warm St. Mary Welcome to our Father-in-Christ, His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS and Diocesan Delegates! Please do not forget October is Youth Month! We welcome all of you, our Faithful and our visitors, to St. Mary Orthodox Church! It is a pleasure to have you with us as we glorify and praise the Name of our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Please sing along with our Choir during the Liturgy. Please note that the Sacrament of Holy Communion can only be given to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves by prayer, fasting, regular Confession (at least twice per year 7 Yrs. old & up), who attend Liturgy regularly & on time (at least 3 times a month) and are at peace with all people. When receiving Holy Communion, please fold your arms over your chest, open your mouth wide, tip your head back slightly and allow the priest to place the elements in your mouth. For our non-orthodox brethren, we welcome you to sing and pray with us, venerate the Cross and receive the Holy Bread at the end of the Divine Liturgy. Please join us again soon. May God Bless You Always!

3 HOLY OBLATION: Offered by: (1) Jeff & Pam Krinock for the health of their Children (Alex & Samantha, Matt & Christine, Greg and Gabrielle) // (2) Tony Abraham for the health of Robin Taylor. PASCHAL CANDLES: Offered for the health of husband, Jay, daughter, Maria and all within the Karas & Alex Families by Nitsa McClatchey. PROSKAMEDIA CANDLES: Offered in beloved memory of dear friend, Helen Jaber, by Christine Salem. PRAYERS OF LITURGICAL REMEMBRANCE Offered for the health of: Sophia, Dalal, Ciel & Ronnie by Yiorgos & Michelle Plakakis // Elaine Heider & Huda Martin, as they recover from their injuries, by Margie Hamaty & Family and Lottie & Larry Bertino // son, Christopher W. Shadid, as he celebrates his Birthday today, by Dad & Mom // Tiffany, as she mourns the loss of her newborn baby boy, by Daniel & Antonia Krestar and Offered in beloved memory of: Parents & Grandparents, Don & Marianne Plummer, David & Elizabeth Heider and Emmanuel & Mary Fronis by David & Nancy Heider and Family // Stylianos Plakakis & Johnny George, Jr. by Yiorgos & Michelle Plakakis // Infant Son of Tiffany, by Daniel & Antonia Krestar MEMORY ETERNAL!: Today, we will remember the following from our Parish Family who have Fallen-Asleep in the Lord during the month of October, praying that they have been transferred from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant : Andrew G. Andrews, Robert Audi, Sr., Mike Azar, Georgeann Curry, Khoureye Mary Curry, George A. Dayoob, Sr., Infant Emmy Lou Emeigh, Margaret Elchin, Kathryn Heider, Roberta Jaber Hockenberry, Marianna Hyder, Helen (Bizjack) Jaber, Charles Joseph, Geraldine Marie Joseph, Andrea Piera, Thelma Piera, Elizabeth (Abdalla) Roudabush, Mary Manna Salem, Mildred Salem, Nellie Salem, Mamie (Salem) Sebes and Victoria Shahade. Please pray for them and their Families. May Their Memory Be Ever Eternal! For The Living God Grant Them Many Years! and For The Departed May Their Memory Be Ever Eternal! VARIATIONS & NOTES ON THE LITURGY - THIRD ANTIPHON: (Troparion During The Little Entrance Tone Three) See Troparion of the Resurrection Below.

4 AFTER THE LITTLE ENTRANCE: TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION: (Tone Three) Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death and became the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy. TROPARION OF ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST: (Tone Three) O holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede with the merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of sins. TROPARION OF THE DORMITION: (Patron Feast Day - Tone One) In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death. KONTAKION OF THE THEOTOKOS: (Tone Six) O, Undisputed Intercessor of Christians, the Mediatrix who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, although we be sinners. Come to us with aid in time who cry unto thee in Faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honor thee. EPISTLE: Colossians 4:5-11 & (Apostle & Evangelist Luke) HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 10:16 21 (Apostle & Evangelist Luke) Concerning the Kiss of Peace, prior to the Nicene Creed, we encourage you to greet those around you with a handshake, saying: Christ is in Our Midst! the response being: He is and Always Shall Be! In this way, we express: (1) our Joy that God has acted to restore our Communion with Him and (2) our Hope in the Resurrection from the Dead that is offered to us by our Lord s own trampling down death by death! God is With Us ( Emmanuel )! KOINONIKON (Communion Hymn) FOR ST. LUKE: (Tone Eight) His proclamation hath gone out into all the earth; and his words to the ends of the universe

5 - THIS WEEK S EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - (Church Office: Tues. 9-10:30 & 12:30-5 / Wed. & Fri. 2:30-5:30 / Thurs. 9-5) + Tuesday, October 20 DAILY ORTHROS (Morning Prayers) 8 AM. + Wednesday, October 21 DAILY VESPERS 6 PM followed by Catechism in South Fork, PA. + Thursday, October 22 DAILY ORTHROS (Morning Prayers) 8 AM. + Saturday, October 24 NO GREAT VESPERS. + Sunday, October 25 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, SIXTH SUNDAY OF LUKE AND MARTYRS MARCIAN & MARTYRIOS THE NOTARIES 8:15 AM & DIVINE LITURGY TO 9:30 AM Followed by Fellowship & Adult Christian Education Please join us! THOSE IN SPECIAL NEED OF OUR PRAYERS: ARBUTUS PARK MANOR: Mitchell Azar (#423) & Lottie Bertino (#325); CAMBRIA CARE CENTER: Marie Hyde (#413); CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN HOME: Bea Jaber (#201); LAURELVIEW VILLAGE: Very Rev. John (#104) & Matushka Olga Govrusik (#528), George Heider (#210), Vivian Salem (#214) and Dorothy Wensel (#812); THE VILLA ASSISTED LIVING: Genevieve Milkie (#202) and IN TREATMENT, RECOVERING AND / OR SHUT-IN AT HOME : Becky Azar; Renee D Ettorre; David Farra, Sr.; Marjorie Hamaty; Elaine Heider; Jill Jaber; Huda Martin; Sandy Milkie; Peter Povich; William Shahade & Eugene Skala. May God Be With All of Them & All of Those Who are Ill and / or in Need! C O N F E S S I O N S C H E D U L E After All Weekday & Saturday Services and By Appointment Before Services. Due to Fr. s Commitment to Matins, Confession Will Not Be Offered On Sunday Mornings. ATTENTION LADIES JOIN US FOR A SCRIP LUNCH!: Please join the Ladies of St. Mary to fundraise while we eat! Second Tuesday of each month Nov Location = Harrigan s. Buy a Gift Card from Olga, Becky or Kelli (or share one with a friend) and St. Mary will earn 10 % of whatever you spend, including the Tip! WHO WANTS TO GO TO A HOCKEY GAME?!? The Greater Johnstown Orthodox Youth will be going to see the Johnstown Tomahawks play on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 3 PM at the Cambria

6 County War Memorial Arena (Hockeyville, USA!) tickets for Children 12 & under are just $6 tickets for those 13 & up just $12 (all seats are center ice seats!) this event is open to everyone, not just youth, so make plans to bring the whole family there is a sign-up sheet for the event it is on the Table under the Brochure Rack in the Hallway for any questions, please contact Fr. Miles Zdinak at he would like for us to sign up by Sunday, November 8. St. Mary Parish Financial Snapshot As of August 31, 2015 August 2015 Year to Date Parishioner Giving (Income) $ 9, $ 105, Expenses Paid $ 11, $ 105, Parishioner Giving vs. Expenses Paid $ - 1, $ *** OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH! *** Throughout our Antiochian Archdiocese, October is Youth Month! During this time, we pause to highlight the blessing that God has bestowed upon us through the ministry of our youth; and we ask God to guide us as we minister to our youth. With this in mind, let us pray for our young people as they continue to inspire us through their love for God. Today, we thank the following for their Service to our Parish Family Epistle: Simon Joseph Collection: Danielle & Joey Hines and Simon Joseph Fellowship: Special Meal with His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS May God Grant our St. Mary Teen SOYO, all within our Diocesan & Archdiocesan Teen SOYO and their Advisors Many Years!

7 + + + ST. MARY PARISH FAMILY WISH & NEEDS LIST Greetings to all who read this Announcement please read on. Our St. Mary Parish Family is developing a Wish & Needs List for our ministries within our Parish and our Community. If you can think of any items that you believe our Parish needs or could use, please see Fr. Don, Margie Hamaty or Larry Bertino. Currently, we are in need of the following: + Life-Size Icons on Back Wall of Altar Area American Hierarchical Saints + Remodeling of Parish Kitchen Project is 99% done come & Take a look! + Vestibule Icon Project Thematic Iconography in our Narthex / Candle Area + Replacement of Wooden Doors in Church Vestibule, Hallway & Social Hall Any donation that you can offer will be most appreciated. Thank You & God Bless! *** Parish Scrip Earnings Exceed $35, in 9 Yrs.!!! *** Please remember to use Scrip for all of your Household, Family & Holiday Shopping especially gas & groceries! Scrip is Fundraising while you shop! See Olga Hodge, Martha McLoota or Becky Azar for details. A Spiritual Gem (compiled by Fr. Noah Bushelli St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church Souderton, PA) Masters, Fathers, Mothers, Brothers & Sisters, Bless! The following is from the life of St. Luke (The Great Synaxaristes: October, Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, CO, 2002, p. 357). Saint Luke was a painter.acceding to the pious desire of the early Christians, was the first to paint the image of the all-holy Theotokos.On seeing the icons, she said: May the grace of Him Who was born of me, through me, be imparted to them. In Christ, +Fr. Noah

8 *** OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH! *** Throughout our Antiochian Archdiocese, October is Youth Month! During this time, we pause to highlight the blessing that God has bestowed upon us through the ministry of our youth; and we ask God to guide us as we minister to our youth. With this in mind, let us pray for our young people as they continue to inspire us through their love for God. Today, we thank the following for their Service to our Parish Family Epistle: Simon Joseph Collection: Danielle & Joey Hines and Simon Joseph Fellowship: Special Meal with His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS May God Grant our St. Mary Teen SOYO, all within our Diocesan & Archdiocesan Teen SOYO and those who serve them Many Years!

9 *** OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH! *** Throughout our Antiochian Archdiocese, October is Youth Month! During this time, we pause to highlight the blessing that God has bestowed upon us through the ministry of our youth; and we ask God to guide us as we minister to our youth. With this in mind, let us pray for our young people as they continue to inspire us through their love for God. Today, we thank the following for their Service to our Parish Family Epistle: Simon Joseph Collection: Danielle & Joey Hines and Simon Joseph Fellowship: Special Meal with His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS May God Grant our St. Mary Teen SOYO, all within our Diocesan & Archdiocesan Teen SOYO and their Advisors Many Years!

10 *** OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH! *** Throughout our Antiochian Archdiocese, October is Youth Month! During this time, we pause to highlight the blessing that God has bestowed upon us through the ministry of our youth; and we ask God to guide us as we minister to our youth. With this in mind, let us pray for our young people as they continue to inspire us through their love for God. We would also like to thank Khouria Janet and those who assist her with our Teen Ministry, especially Dn. David & Tatiana Jacobs and Sub-Dn. Todd Mokhiber. May God Grant Them All Many Years of Health, Joy, Peace (John 1 4: 27) & Happiness! Today, we thank the following for their Service to our Parish Family Epistle: Simon Joseph Collection: Danielle & Joey Hines and Simon Joseph Fellowship: Special Meal with His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS May God Grant Teen SOYO, all of our Youth and their Advisors Many Years!

11 + How to Prepare for the Holy Eucharist + To all those who partake of the Body & Blood of Christ when they participate in the Divine Liturgy: As Orthodox Christians, we are called to the Chalice each and every time that we celebrate the Divine Liturgy; however, it is most essential that we prepare ourselves to receive the Lord, so that we will not approach unworthily and risk experiencing the consuming, rather than the purifying fire of the Eucharist. With this in mind, the following guidelines will help us in our preparation: +++ No excessive partying or socializing on Saturday evening we should keep ourselves in a quiet & prayerful atmosphere, reading the gospels and epistles of the New Testament and praying the Prayers of Preparation before Communion (these latter prayers can also be done on Sunday Morning if there is time); +++ Maintain a prayerful atmosphere on Sunday morning (difficult with children, yes, but not impossible try it!); +++ No consumption of food or drink past a reasonable bedtime the night before (preferably no later than Midnight) this includes no coffee, no smoking and no chewing gum on Sunday morning as well; +++ If you need your medicine in the morning, please take it if you are supposed to eat or drink something with it, then do so as moderately as possible; +++ As always, we should partake of the Sacrament of Confession at least 2-4 times a year if we are taking Communion frequently (hint: use the 4 fasting periods of the liturgical year Advent, Great Lent, Apostles Fast & Dormition Fast) if we are not frequent communicants (3-4 times per month), then Confession before Communion is necessary each time we partake; +++ At the very least, attend the Sunday cycle of prayer Saturday Evening Vespers, Sunday Morning Matins (Morning Prayers) and Sunday Divine Liturgy if we attend Sunday Liturgy irregularly (e.g. missing more than once a month), then we should not be taking Communion each time we attend, unless we have had Confession in the recent days prior; +++ Be on time to the Divine Services and be at Peace with all people if we arrive at Church after the Little Entrance with the Gospel, we should not receive Communion on that day it is truly a sign of disrespect when we enter the services late and / or when we leave the Liturgy early (before the Dismissal) and our Lord tells us that we cannot love God and hate our brother for whoever is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; (Matthew 5:22) and +++ Fellowship Hour is not to be started until after the Divine Liturgy is completed! Please strive to practice these Spiritual Disciplines and at the very least, observe the guideline above concerning regular Divine Liturgy attendance.

12 *** Parish Scrip Earnings Over $35,000.00!!! *** Our Scrip Coordinator, Olga Hodge, is pleased to report that since the inception of our Scrip Program in December of 2005, we have raised over $35, for our Parish! Remember, our Parish Family benefits each and every time that you shop with Scrip, because instead of paying with Cash or Credit, you use pre-paid Gift Cards from your favorite and most trusted local & national retailers. Please remember to use Scrip for all of your Holiday, Household & Family Shopping Food, Gas, Gifts, Dining Out, Appliances, etc. Scrip is Fundraising while you shop! Please See Olga Hodge, Martha McLoota or Becky Azar after Church to get your Scrip. As always, Becky Azar has Scrip at her Home during the Week Thank You & God Bless! + + +

13 Priest: Let us attend. Epistle Reader: His voice has gone out into all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God. Priest: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians (4:5-11 & 14-18) Priest: Let us attend. BRETHREN, conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Tychicus will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions if he comes to you, receive him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, See that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you. Amen.

14 Holy Gospel The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke (10:16 21) THE LORD SAID: He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. The Seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Thy Name! And Jesus said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the spirit and said, I thank Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was Thy gracious will. May God Be With You!

15 The Saints Of The Day October 18, 2015* The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke Luke was born in Antioch. In his youth, he excelled in his studies of Greek philosophy, medicine and art. During the ministry of the Lord Jesus on earth, Luke came to Jerusalem, where he saw the Savior face to face, heard His saving teaching and was witness to His miraculous works. Coming to belief in the Lord, St. Luke was numbered among the Seventy Apostles, and was sent out to preach. With Cleopas, he saw the resurrected Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Luke returned to Antioch and there became a fellow worker of the Apostle Paul and traveled to Rome with him, converting Jews and pagans to the Christian Faith. Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, writes the Apostle Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 4:14). At the request of Christians, he wrote his Gospel in about the year 60. Following the martyrdom of the great Apostle Paul, St. Luke preached the Gospel throughout Italy, Dalmatia, Macedonia and other regions. He painted icons of the Most-holy Theotokos-not just one, but three-and icons of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Hence, St. Luke is considered to be the founder of Christian iconography. In old age, he visited Libya and Upper Egypt. From Egypt he returned to Greece, where he continued to preach and convert many with great zeal despite his old age. In addition to his Gospel, St. Luke wrote the Acts and dedicated both works to Theophilus, the governor of Achaia. Luke was eightyfour years old when the wicked idolaters tortured him for the sake of Christ and hanged him from an olive tree in the town of Thebes, in Boethia. The miracle-working relics of this wonderful saint were transported to Constantinople in the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of Constantine. REFLECTION Can a sinner repent of his sins in ten days? According to the immeasurable compassion of God he can. During the reign of Emperor Maurice, there was a well-known bandit in the vicinity of Constantinople. He inspired fear and trembling both within the capital and without. One day, the Emperor Maurice himself sent the robber a cross as a sign of faith that he would do him no harm if he surrendered. The robber took the cross and surrendered. Arriving in Constantinople, he fell before the feet of the emperor and begged for forgiveness. The emperor kept his word, had mercy on him and released him. Immediately after that, the robber became gravely ill and sensed that death was drawing near. He bitterly repented of all his sins and tearfully prayed to God that He forgive him, as the emperor had forgiven him. He shed so many tears at prayer that his handkerchief was completely soaked. After ten days of weeping and praying, the repentant man reposed. The same night he passed away, his physician saw a wondrous vision in a dream: when the robber had given up his soul, there gathered around him black, manlike demons with pieces of paper on which were written all his sins. Two radiant angels also appeared. The angels set a scale between them, and the joyful demons placed all those papers on it, weighing down their side of the scale; but the other side was empty. The angels held counsel: What shall we place on it? Let us seek something good in his life!'' And then that handkerchief soaked with tears of repentance appeared in the hands of one angel. The angels quickly placed it on their side of the scale and it outweighed all the demons' papers. Then the black demons fled, howling sorrowfully, and the angels took the soul of the repentant thief and carried it to Paradise, glorifying the man-loving God. To God Be Glory and Praise Always! Amen.

16 Venerable Hilarion the Great October 21, 2015 On the Benefits of Knowing Holy Scripture Psalm 118:16 - On Thy statutes will I meditate; I will not forget Thy words. St. Basil the Great bears witness that in his time children were made to memorize some psalms and parables. Do we do anything like that now? Is anything like that done by those who have taken up the yoke of asceticism? Yes, in many ways we have fallen behind the salutary practices of old. This, however, does not diminish the value of what is described in this verse. It means the following: Memorize verses of Scripture considered in the preceding text, and repeat what was memorized whenever the mind and speech are free. The Hebrew word corresponding to will meditate means to turn over with delight in the mind and on the tongue as one might a piece of candy, for instance. Such an occupation could be offered to all who sincerely seek to please God in all. Among us, amy of those living ascetic lives read the Psalter at home in their cells. This partly fulfills the lesson of our verse. And perhaps home prayers, personal and monastic, could be regarded as this type of activity. But more directly it means: to intentionally choose passages of the Holy Scriptures for memorizing and then repeating them in our minds. Through this last practice, the commandments, having already occupied all the faculties of the soul, shall occupy the memory and sanctify it. The blessing from this is indescribable! The same thing happens to the soul as to poor fruit when it is sugared. The sugar penetrates its pores, making it sweeter and protecting it from spoiling. Similarly the soul, saturated with memorized words of God, rejects the corruption of shameless and empty thoughts and is filled to sweetness with the memory of things divine. If we accept this, then here is a rule for beginners as to how to deal with evil thoughts. Memorize as many passages of the Scriptures as possible, in particular the words of and deeds of Christ the Savior, and repeat them often. by St. Theophan the Recluse ca Psalm 118, A Commentary by St. Theophan the Recluse, pp Troparion Tone 8 By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / Our Father Hilarion pray to Christ God to save our souls! Kontakion Tone 3 Podoben: Today the Virgin... / Today we gather to praise you with hymns, / O unfading light of the Spiritual Sun; / for you illumined those in the darkness of ignorance, / leading all to the heights of God, as they cried: / Rejoice, Father Hilarion, rampart of ascetics.

17 Feast From The East Saturday, October 31, 2015 ORDER DEADLINE: Sunday, October 25, 2015 Pick-Up Date and Time: Saturday, October 31, 2015; 1:00 3:00 p.m. St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 111 Alberta Avenue, Johnstown, PA stmaryaocc.org Menu LEBANESE BREAD $3.00 Qty = $ MEAT PIE $3.50 Qty = $ (6 Large Thin Loaves) PITA BREAD $3.00 Qty = $ SPINACH PIE $3.50 Qty = $ (10 slightly thicker & smaller loaves) KIBBEE $25.00 Qty = $ SPINACH PIE $3.50 Qty = $ (Tray) (with Feta Cheese) HUMMUS $6.00 Qty = $ SHUNKLISH $8.00 Qty = $ (Chick Pea Dip) Homemade Lebanese Cheese covered with a blend of aromatic spices GRAPE LEAVES w/o Meat $7.00/lb Qty = $ (Lentils, Rice & Seasonings) GRAPE LEAVES with Meat $8.00/lb Qty = $ (Meat, Rice & Seasonings) BLACK-EYED PEAS & CELERY $5.00 Qty = $ STRING CHEESE $9.00 Qty = $ IMJADARA-ROOZ (Lentils with Rice & Onions) $5.00 Qty = $ Assorted Middle Eastern Desserts Available at pickup ======================================================================= TOTAL ORDER $ Must order by Sunday, October 25, 2015 and make checks payable to St. Mary Orthodox Church. Place your order by phone ( and leave message); by (office@stmaryaocc.org), or by regular mail (St. Mary Orthodox Church, 111 Alberta Avenue, Johnstown, PA ). DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FAX YOUR ORDER! New! Cookbooks available for purchase! // Church Tours available during Pick-Up Hours! Name Address Phone Do you want to be added to our mailing list? Check here. Thank you for your support!

18 + ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY ONLINE! + His Grace, Bishop THOMAS is pleased to announce a new Orthodox Christian Bible Study that is available each week online Ancient Faith Bible Study, a weekly commentary on the Wednesday Scripture Readings! Each Tuesday, a new Study will be available just point your browser to: Please questions and comments you may have to Fr. Stephen De Young, Fr. Bogdan Bucur, and Michael Simmons. Their Links are found at the bottom of the Bible Study. Thank You & God Bless! + IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE WEEKLY BULLETIN + In your Prayer Requests, please indicate whether each person is an Orthodox or non-orthodox Christian, so that Fr. can properly commemorate your Orthodox Christian Loved Ones on the Holy Paten, and thus in the Chalice. Please know that all names that you submit are commemorated in the Holy Services throughout the Week. It is indeed an awesome responsibility & great Joy to offer your Prayers before God! Thank You & God Bless! NEW HISTORY PROJECT WILL HIGHLIGHT MIDDLE-EASTERN BUSINESS OWNERS! Our own Dr. Matthew Stiffler, son of Bob & Helene, is excited to announce the start of a new History Project through the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Michigan. He wants to document the history of business ownership among the Lebanese & Syrian Community here in Johnstown, PA. As Matt says: The Lebanese & Syrian immigrants, as well as their children & grandchildren, have made a tremendous impact on the city over the last 100 years. This history will soon be lost if we do not preserve it. He is hoping that people in Johnstown will donate digital copies of some of their photos & documents (they will keep the originals) showing this history of business ownership. Thus, their family photos would be preserved in the AANM s digital collections, and would help to tell this important history. If people are interested and have photos & documents to share, please Dr. Matthew Stiffler at mstiffler@accesscommunity.org. You can see an example of the AANM s digital collections by visiting Thank You & God Bless! OUR PARISH OFFICE NEEDS ADDRESSES: If you will give us your address, we can keep in touch with you concerning Parish News, Events, etc. We will not share your information with anyone. If there is anything that you would like to see on our Parish Website, please contact Fr. Don. Thank You!

19 HILLTOP SENIORS THIS IS FOR YOU!: The Hilltop Seniors Association invites you to join us. Dues are $5 per year and our Meetings are held at The Grove. Join and meet your neighbors and have an opportunity to participate in fun activities & bus trips. For information, please contact: Lois or Nora You may mail Due to Nora 545 Goucher St., Apt. 81, Johnstown, PA Thank You! WE NEED YOU AT THE FAMILY KITCHEN LET S SERVE THE LORD!: Our Lord tells us that when we serve those in need, we serve Him! Our Parish Family has been helping to serve Weekend Meals at The Family Kitchen downtown at 231 Bedford Street for several years. This year, we have been asked to help on 3 Weekends the remaining date is: Saturday, October 17. We meet at the Kitchen at 11 AM and are done by about 1 PM. We have also been asked to make a Donation of $ each time to help defer the expenses of each meal. If you can help us down at The Kitchen and/or with a Donation, please contact Fr. Don or our Parish Office ( ). We have always taken away from our experience more than we have given please help us out if you can! Thank You & God Bless! Ten Commandments for a Happy Church! 1) Speak to people. Speak to everyone, especially to those whom you don t know. There is nothing quite so nice as a cheerful word of greeting. 2) Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. Your smile is one of your finest assets. Use it! It doesn t cost a thing!! 3) Call people by name. The sweetest music to any person s ears is the sound of his or her own name. If you don t know the person s name, introduce yourself and likely the person will respond with his or her name. 4) Be friendly & helpful. If you want friends, learn to be a friend. Everyone needs them. No one has too many. 5) Be cordial. Try to speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure. 6) Be genuinely interested in people. Try to like everybody and everybody will like you. Do not limit yourself to a few friends when there are so many likable people about you. 7) Be generous with praise. And be just as sparing with criticism. 8) Be considerate of the feelings of others. Usually, there are three sides to a controversy: yours, the other person s and the right one. 9) Be alert to give service. What we do for others counts most in life. Try giving yourself away. It s fun! 10) Develop a sense of humor. To this good sense of humor, add a generous dose of patience and a dash of humility. Then get ready to receive many blessings. They re sure to come!

20 Ten Commandments for a Happy Church! 11) Speak to people. Speak to everyone, especially to those whom you don t know. There is nothing quite so nice as a cheerful word of greeting. 12) Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. Your smile is one of your finest assets. Use it! It doesn t cost a thing!! 13) Call people by name. The sweetest music to any person s ears is the sound of his or her own name. If you don t know the person s name, introduce yourself and likely the person will respond with his or her name. 14) Be friendly & helpful. If you want friends, learn to be a friend. Everyone needs them. No one has too many. 15) Be cordial. Try to speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure. 16) Be genuinely interested in people. Try to like everybody and everybody will like you. Do not limit yourself to a few friends when there are so many likable people about you. 17) Be generous with praise. And be just as sparing with criticism. 18) Be considerate of the feelings of others. Usually, there are three sides to a controversy: yours, the other person s and the right one. 19) Be alert to give service. What we do for others counts most in life. Try giving yourself away. It s fun! 20) Develop a sense of humor. To this good sense of humor, add a generous dose of patience and a dash of humility. Then get ready to receive many blessings. They re sure to come! *** Parish Scrip Earnings Exceed $35, in 9 Yrs.!!! *** Please remember to use Scrip for all of your Household, Family & Holiday Shopping especially gas & groceries! Scrip is Fundraising while you shop! See Olga Hodge, Martha McLoota or Becky Azar for details. *** DO NOT FORGET TO BUY YOUR SCRIP AFTER CHURCH TODAY! WE HAVE ALL THE BRANDS YOU NEED GIANT EAGLE, SHEETZ, ETC.! ***

21 OUR BULLETIN IS ONLINE!: Did you know that thanks to the wonder of the Internet and our Webmaster, Jay McClatchey, our Weekly Bulletin is now Online! All you have to do is go to: stmaryaocc.org and then click on Weekly Bulletin (on the left menu). Please check out the Bulletin before you come to Church that way you will be prepared to fully participate in the Liturgical Worship & Praise of our Lord! A special Thanks! to Jay for his ministry! WEEKDAY LITURGICAL SERVICES AT ST. MARY PARISH: One of the purposes of our precious Church, as given to us by our Lord Himself, is to serve as the Meeting Place of Heaven & Earth and this is beautifully fulfilled via our Liturgical Services. Indeed, it is when we are in our Congregational / Corporate Liturgical Prayer that we are participating in the Eternal Worship of God s Heavenly Kingdom! Complementing this, the Holy Mothers & Fathers of our Church have always attested to the belief that our Life in Eternity will simply be the Utmost Fulfillment of our Life here on Earth i.e. if the priority of our Earthly Life is seeking Communion with God, then our Eternity will be a Fulfillment of that Communion and conversely, if the priority of our Earthly Life is spent in the pursuit of earthly things, thus separating us from God, our Eternity will be one of separation from God i.e. Hell! In light of this, Fr. Don is pleased to announce that our Daily Services have resumed. Our Schedule is as follows: Tuesday & Thursday Mornings Daily Orthros (Morning 8 AM and Wednesday Evening Daily Vespers (Evening 6 PM. Please join us as we begin & end our days with Prayer let us gather together as the Family that God has called us to be! REMINDER: RELIGIOUS GIFT ITEMS AVAILABLE: Just a reminder we do have some religious items available for sale in our Social Hall just see Margie Hamaty, Kathy McMillan, Rita Azar or Renee D Ettorre. Thank You!

22 + + + FINANCIAL NOTES As it has been noted during the last several years, our Archdiocese has been moving towards a Tithing system of giving in regards to our parishes and their contributions for our Archdiocesan Ministries thus, in 2006 we were asked to give 8% of our Parish s Income to the Archdiocese, in 2007 it was 9% and since 2008 and forward, it has been 10% this was approved at the 2005 Archdiocesan Convention in Dearborn, MI in the Holy Scriptures, our Lord asks for our Tithe (10%) our returning 10% of what He has blessed us with so that His Work may be done so, let us offer our thanks to God for the wise guidance of our Hierarchical, Clergy & Lay Leadership as we seek to always fulfill His Will for His Vineyard, the Church; Also, please be reminded that the Archdiocese Obligation is $50.00 per baptized person in your family and as in the past, our Parish Council asks that you please submit your contribution towards this, by the Sunday before Christmas, using the Blue Archdiocese Envelope that came in your January Packet of Envelopes; Along with all of this, please know that the Archdiocese Budget has been increasing yearly due to our rapid growth over the last several years, Thanks be to God! and today, an estimated 350,000 faithful of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America are served by nine hierarchs and over four-hundred and fifty clergy in 238 churches throughout the United States & Canada For years now, other Orthodox jurisdictions have been assessing their membership almost double this amount ($50.00 per baptized soul) per year, not to mention their Diocesan assessments There will be no Diocesan Assessments within the Antiochian Archdiocese please plan for this as you prayerfully plan your stewardship for 2015; Lastly, note that only those offerings which are received by last Sunday, December 28, 2014, will be recorded as 2014 Contributions. The End of the Year Statements will be mailed out in January if you do not get yours, please call the Parish Office and If you have any questions about this part of your stewardship, please see Fr. Don, Kathy McMillan or Renee D Ettorre. Thank You!

23 IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PARISHIONER ENVELOPES & ARCHDIOCESE OFFERING Please be reminded that our St. Mary Parish Council has, after prayer, discussion & review of our current Envelope System and Financial Offerings to the Archdiocese, approved a few changes to our current Envelope System: a) we have gone back to the Boxes of Envelopes, rather than having the Envelopes mailed out each month please pick up your Box of Envelopes on the Front Pew; b) regarding the Archdiocese Assessment that was collected per baptized soul a few years ago, our Antiochian Archdiocese moved into a system of proportionate giving to provide an example to us all and to take away some of the time consuming record keeping that was involved with the system of assessments thus all parishioners are reminded that, in keeping with the Holy Scriptures, our St. Mary Parish Family submits 10% of our Annual Receipts (minus Fundraiser Expenses, Donations, and a few other deductions) to the Archdiocese, whether we receive this amount from our Parishioners or not therefore, all of our Faithful are asked to please submit their Archdiocesan Offering, which has been increased to $50 per Baptized Soul in your Family, to our St. Mary Parish as soon as they are able; c) in light of the above, we have gone back to using the blue Archdiocese Envelope it is in the January section of your Box of Envelopes again, please submit this with the appropriate Offering (now $50 per Baptized Soul) and, if you wish to spread this Offering out over a short period of time, please do so, and indicate this on your Envelope and d) lastly, note that only those Offerings that were received by Sunday, December 28, 2014, will be recorded as 2014 Contributions. The End of the Year Statements will be mailed out in January if you do not get yours, please call the Parish Office. If you have any questions about this part of your Calling to Christian Stewardship, please see Fr. Don, Kathy McMillan or Renee D Ettorre. Thank You! Thank You and God Bless You & Your Families During 2015 and Always! THE WELCOMING OF OUR GUESTS!: Fr. Don would like to ask all within our St. Mary Parish Family to help him with the Welcoming of Guests to our Liturgical Services. If you have a Family Member or Friend who is visiting that you would like publically welcomed, or if you see someone new, please get their name and inform Fr. Don of this before, or if need be, during the Service via a note. Remember, Fr. Don is leading us in our Liturgical Prayer and his concentration and attention are directed towards the proper celebration of the Divine Services. Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank You and God Bless!

24 NEW MISSIONS IN OUR DIOCESE Fr. Don has received the following from His Grace, Bishop THOMAS: Beloved in Christ, The Diocese of Charleston, Oakland & the Mid-Atlantic, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, is pleased to announce that we are beginning to establish two new missions. The first is a Mission Station in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is a fruit of our FOCUS Ministry in Pittsburgh. For information about this mission endeavor, you should contact Sub-Deacon Paul Abernathy (see Fr. Don). The second mission ministry is being attempted in Talbot County, Maryland. An advertisement is attached (see Fr. Don if you are interested), offering information about our first meeting, which I plan to attend. May God Bless These Missions as they seek to grow in membership and glorify Him through their ministry within their respective communities! WE HAVE A WEBSITE CAN WE HAVE YOUR ADDRESS? Did you know that our Parish has a Website and our Parish Office is connected to the Internet?!? Yes, we are catching up with Technology and we have some interesting things on our Site (e.g. a video of the 1960s Groundbreaking and Consecration of our Church). Jay McClatchey is our Web Master. If you will give us your address, we can keep in touch with you as well. Lastly, if there is any news that you would like posted on our Site and / or if you have any ideas, please contact Fr. Don and Jay. FAMILY KITCHEN WISH / NEEDS LIST: The Family Kitchen (Clinton Street Downtown) has issued a new Wish & Needs List Coffee, Flour, Brown Sugar, Sugar & Creamer Packets, Sweet & Low / Equal Packets, Salt & Pepper, Parsley Flakes, Garlic Salt, Paprika, Poultry Seasoning, Onion Salt, Allspice, Lemon Pepper, Rosemary, Italian Seasoning, Chili Powder, Pepper Flakes & Meat Tenderizer. If you can help by donating any of these, or perhaps a SCRIP Card for Giant Eagle, etc., that would be greatly appreciated! Thank You and God Bless! "Find out how much God has given you. From it, take what you need. The remainder which you do not require is needed by others. The excesses of the rich are the necessities of the poor." Blessed Augustine

25 ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY ONLINE!: His Grace, Bishop THOMAS is pleased to announce a new Orthodox Christian Bible Study that is available each week online Ancient Faith Bible Study, a weekly commentary on the Wednesday Scripture Readings! Each Tuesday, a new Study will be available just point your browser to: Please questions and comments you may have to Fr. Stephen De Young, Fr. Bogdan Bucur, and Michael Simmons. Their Links are found at the bottom of the Bible Study. Thank You & God Bless! MONTHLY CANDLES: The 2015 Monthly Candle Prayer Sheets are now on the Brochure Table in the Hallway. The three candles available are the Paschal Candles (2 large candles in front of the Iconostasis and on each side of the Holy Doors), the Proskamedia Candle (candle on the Holy Altar) and the Seven-Branched Candle (7 branched candle at the back of the Holy Altar). Please note that the requested Donation for each Candle is $20.00 per month. Also, please note that there can be more than one sponsor per candle per month, and unless a candle is being sponsored for more than one month, the sponsorship will expire at the end of the month, no matter when it is started in that month A Prayer for Peace Almighty God and Creator, You are the Father of all people on the earth. Guide, I pray, all the nations and their leaders in the ways of justice and peace. Protect us from the evils of injustice, prejudice, exploitation, conflict and war. Help us to put away mistrust, bitterness and hatred. Teach us to cease the storing and using of implements of war. Lead us to find peace, respect and freedom. Unite us in the making and sharing of tools of peace against ignorance, poverty, disease and oppression. Grant that we may grow in harmony and friendship as brothers and sisters created in Your image, to Your honor and praise. Amen.

26 + + + ORDER OF ST. IGNATIUS Today, we express our appreciation for the various ministries of The Order of St. Ignatius. Thus, we say Thank You! to the Members of this Service Order. May God Bless Them All & Grant Them Many Years! In light of this, please also consider the following! OUR CALLING, ORTHODOX PHILANTHROPIST? Philanthropist a beautiful sounding word. Philanthropist a word even more beautiful in meaning. Philanthropist lover of mankind! We are all called to be philanthropists to love each other to take care of each other but how? In our Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, a vehicle of Orthodox Philanthropy was called into existence by our beloved Chief Shepherd & Father of Thrice-Blessed Memory, Metropolitan PHILIP, when he created The Order of St. Ignatius (1976). May Saidna PHILIP s Memory Be Ever Eternal! As you have heard for many years, the Order serves our Archdiocese as her philanthropic arm through its support of the Antiochian Village, our educational programs, our missions, our retired clergy, and many, many other worthy ministries. For the past thirty-eight years this has been accomplished through a body of people, now over four thousand in number, who have been willing to serve God through committed giving. If you have considered the Order before and didn t join, there are always opportunities to learn more just ask any one of our parishioners who are members of the Order Anonymous, Tony Abraham, Jim Azar, Larry Bertino, Lisa Catanese, Renee D Ettorre, William & Lindsay (Heider) Fennell, Albert Ghantous, George & Elaine Heider, Norman Joseph, Dr. Adib Khouzami, Ed Makdad, Jr., Sandy Milkie, Sub-Deacon Todd Mokhiber, Christine Salem, Fr. Don Shadid, Loretta Shahade & William Shahade. You are invited to discover how God s abundance toward you may be thankfully returned to Him through generosity toward His People. Come and See! God may be calling you to serve Him in this way OVER PLEASE + + +

27 Some Thoughts on the Order of St. Ignatius (His Grace, Bishop THOMAS & Fr. Don ask that you please consider learning about and joining this worthy ministry of our Archdiocese His Grace would be very happy to induct you into The Order at a time & place convenient for you for more information, please see Fr. Don or any of our other parishioners who have joined see list on front of this Insert). Why you should join the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch? Service and commitment to the Church Teach the Orthodox way by utilizing your talents. Involvement in the life of the Church, willingly and joyfully, being instruments of peace. Grateful to Almighty God for His many blessings. Never say No when the Lord and the Church call for a job to get done. Acknowledgement of our sinfulness and weakness; realizing the need for growth through the Sacraments of the Church. Totally committed and dedicated to the growth of the Archdiocese and the realization of its programs and goals. Inner satisfaction and fulfillment by being part of a dynamic, dedicated and visionary group of faithful, where love and friendship grow. Unselfish giving and living for the glory of God not only on the parish and regional level but on the Archdiocese level as well. Donate to the Order through Electronic Fund Transfer QUICK, EASY, SIMPLE AND NO CHARGE FOR THE SERVICE. For the rank of Knight or Dame, which is a $500 donation per year, $41.67 is deducted around the 5th of each month. For the rank of Commander, which is a $1,000 donation per year, $83.34 is deducted around the 5th of each month. Life Members ($15,000 either in one donation or spread over three years) can also have a monthly deduction. Please contact the Administrator at the Archdiocese for more info. Complete an Order application and include a signed authorization form (available for print at or from the Administrator) which authorizes The Order to begin deductions the following month. Include the required $60 induction fee with the application and the banking information will be taken from the check. Members can upgrade at any time. Members on the EFT system never receive a dues reminder or have to be concerned about writing a check and finding a stamp. Now The Order can be more accessible to members of the Archdiocese through the Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFT). Many people pay their utility bills, rent, mortgages, car payments and gym dues through automatic deductions. It is far more time efficient and cost effective to eliminate checks, stamps, and having to remember to pay invoices.

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29 + + + VOLUNTEER MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Do you enjoy helping people? Looking for a way to give of yourself in a positive way? You can serve our Lord by serving others! Community Nursing Hospice Care Home Care Volunteers Provide socialization by visiting with the patient & respite for the Caregiver. Bereavement Volunteers Follow up with the primary caregiver after the patient dies through phone calls, cards, letters or a visit once a month. Spiritual Care Volunteers Provide spiritual support with prayer, offering Communion or Bible Reading and are involved in our Annual Memorial Services. This group consists of Pastors, as well as lay people. Reference & Criminal Background Checks and Training Required. For more Information Home Nursing Agency Hospice Volunteers show compassion, are emotionally present and listen, write letters, read, talk or listen, provide administrative support, work as part of the Hospice Team, are responsible & dependable, etc. Healing Patch offers a soft place to fall for children & their families who have lost a loved one here they can discover they are not alone in their grief by interacting with others who have encountered similar losses some of a volunteer s qualities: compassion, empathy, acceptance of others, flexibility, dedication & commitment must be at least 21 years of age volunteers do not fix what has happened they bring Hope & Healing back into the life of a child! For more Information (ext Patty or 4110 Melody).