The Bells of St. George

Transcription

1 The Bells of St. George Volume IV No. 8 Telеphone: frmilovan@stgeorgehermitage.org August 2007 August 1, 2007 Dear brothers and sisters, By now, we all know that things aren t always what they appear to be. This certainly is brought to mind when considering the upcoming feast of our Lord s Transfiguration which we will be celebrating in August. This year this feast will fall on a Sunday (August 19th). Someone once said that, instead of revealing Himself in this state for a brief moment in time, Jesus should have always been in this illuminated state. Our Lord revealed Himself to three of His disciples on Mount Tabor in order to strengthen them else they would surely fall into temptation during His passion, in seeing their Lord suffering, being beaten and nailed to a cross. When on the mountain, during His holy Transfiguration and His face shown like the sun He wasn t changing into something else, rather He was merely revealing Himself as He truly is the Son of God, light of Light, true God of God. What s more, when we think of our own selves, our own existence, we wonder what are we made of? Aren t we made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:1-3 & 26-27)? Aren t we to grow in the glory of God to go from one level to the next; to develop spiritually at all times? In other words, we can t say that we attended Church School as children and know everything there is to know; rather, we are called to always be aspiring for more. Doesn t Saint Paul teach us this when he writes to the Corinthians: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise (2 Cor. 3:18)? We are called to be radiant, so to speak, always working on our faith, perfecting it, always doing good deeds that it might be a testimony to God as Christ says, Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). In his epistles, St. Paul refers to the church as the body of Christ on a number of occasions. Just as Jesus led three of His disciples on the mountain to reveal to them His glory, imagine for a moment our own church, not made with cement and stucco, but shining in the glory of God. Image for a brief second our church, the body of Christ, standing on that hill and shining so bright that we have to cover our eyes from its radiance. Imagine that image standing in church during the Divine Liturgy, standing in the midst of that burning bush as the priest who censes not only the altar and the holy icons in the church, but also turns to the people and censes them - he censes that image inside each and everyone of us that we are called to bring out to shine before men. Having this image while we are in church we can all join the apostle Peter who, standing on that mountain and beholding the Lord in His radiant glory, exclaimed, Lord, it is good for us to be here. ews from the Parish The summer months are typically known for low attendance in church and the first Sunday of July was one of those Sundays. It was also the day we started our new campaign of raising money for our building fund with a special, second collection in church. Despite the low attendance we were happy to collect a little over $100. Little by little we hope to build this fund and as more of our people become aware of it we hope it might become just the resource we need for all future projects in our church. We d like to thank everyone for their donation and remind you that since next month there will be no church on the first Sunday (liturgy will be at Shadeland for the Diocesan Days) the special collection for the building fund will be on SUNDAY, AUGUST 12. Another very successful event in July was the golf scramble. Every year the annual golf scramble, sponsored by our Men s Club, is a big event. This year the Men s Club could not have been happier: they had beautiful weather (unlike last years downpour), a good number of teams, many helpers, good food and they made a net profit of $5,400! As always the success has a great deal to do with the chairperson, Ed Fabian. In turn, however, Ed recognizes that he could in no way have done everything needed to make this years event such a success by himself. Therefore, on behalf of the Men s Club, he wishes to thank all of those who either made a monetary donation or worked that See page 4

2 Page 2 THE BELLS OF ST GEORGE Donations Milorad Lunich donated $25 for the bulletin. Special thanks to all those who joined us in making a donation for the repairing of the damaged church in Drniš, Dalmacia. The following made a donation Local Movement of Serbian Chetniks $100 M/M Bosko Vucenovic $50 M/M Jovan Vucenovic $50 M/M Dmitar Vucenovic $25 Milos Miodrag Sr. $25 M/M Tihomir Japundza $20 We sent a total of $270. May Almighty God always reward those who do good. Decorative candles donation: Borka Gracanin, donated 2 candles for Altar Table for the health of her family. Milos Miodrag Sr. donated 5 liters of olive oil in memory of parents Pantelija and Jovanka, wife Ingeborg, brothers: Nikola and Stevan Miodrag, grandson Michael, son in law George Simons, nephews Nikola and George Miodrag. Vecnaja Pamjat! The local SNF Vidovdan Lodge No. 68 would like to thank Desa Vucenovic who made the koljivo (wheat) for the parastos service which was held on Sunday, July 1, As of Јuly 2007 we have in Our Fresco Fund: $10, Ad book prices on 8 1/2 x 11 size pages: Full Page $100 Half Page $50 Quarter $30 Booster $5 Trophy Donations The first two trophy categories will be donated by the church and the SNF respectively. The list below is of the remaining categories from #3-#9. If you would like to donate the cost of one of these trophies please contact either Bowling Tournament Committee Chairman John Kasich or Treasurer Francine Fabian. Please make checks payable to ST GEORGE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, memo: BOWLING TOUR- NAMENT Doubles Champ - 4 total (2 men, 2 ladies) - Donor cost $80 each Doubles Runner up - 4 total (2 men, 2 ladies) - Donor cost $60 each Singles Champ - 2 total (1 men, 1 ladies) - Donor cost $120 each AUGUST 2007 VOLUME IV UMBER 8 Singles Runner-up - 2 total (1 men, 1 ladies) - donor cost $100 each All-event winner - 2 total (1 men, 1 ladies) - donor cost $80 each Hi-single game - 2 total (1 men, 1 ladies) - donor cost $50 each Hi 3 games - 2 total (1 men, 1 ladies) - donor cost $80 each Next Bowling Tournament Meeting Sunday August 19th After Liturgy - Men s Club Meeting to be held immediately afterwards. A few months ago we published names of students who were inducted in the ational Honor Society, and need to add one more person to that list: Tyler, grandson of George and Violet Kusich. Congratulations! We also congratulate George and Violet Kusich who will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in August! NOTICE TO ALL PARISHIONERS: As most parishioners already know we have opened our social center to catering events through a caterer. Since catering events such as weddings are planned in advance we unfortunately cannot know if those dates will interfere with other doings. All dates are final. For example, when planning a dacha after a funeral please see with Valerie Backo to make sure the date is open. Thank you for your understanding.

3 ST. GEORGE SERBIA ORTHODOX CHURCH - D u e s a n d o t h e r F e e s - Annual Membership Dues: Married Couple $100 Single Individual $ 75 Retired Married Couple $ 60 Single Retiree $ 40 Note: 1. Retirees are those 65 years of age or older 2. The Church Board may also waive or reduce the dues for those experiencing financial problems. Other Fees Members: Picnic Grounds Rental $50.00 Hall Dachas Hall Baptisms Hall Parties Cost of food plus $3.00 per person surcharge. Contact the Kola Sestara (Circle of Serbian Sisters) for arrangements. $200 plus food* $200 plus food*. Hall rental for private parties is only available for members in good standing. Please see Valerie Backo when booking your event. No profit making active ties, gambling, and/or other inappropriate behavior. *In renting the Church Hall it is PREFERRED that food be prepared by the Kolo Sestara. If members wish to prepare food themselves, food must be brought to the hall already prepared with only minimal use of the kitchen. The hall rental price does not include coming in the day prior to cook. Other Fees on Members: Church Baptism No fee Church Wedding $500 Burial from Church $500 Burial from Funeral home $250 Hall Rentals Baptisms, Weddings or Parties $500 Hall Rentals Dachas $100 Picnic Grounds Rental $175 Please note: In renting the hall non-members must contact Medure s Catering, our exclusive caterer and put a $250 down payment. All food arrangements are made through the caterer.

4 AUGUST 2007 VOLUME IV UMBER 8 The Fool Says in His Heart... In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate. The case was brought before a wise judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared "Case Dismissed." The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, "Your Honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah...yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays." The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said "Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate, his own atheists holiday!" The lawyer pompously said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?" The judge said, "Well it comes every year on exactly the same date...april 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as April Fools Day, consider that Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53 states, The fool says in his heart, there is no God. Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture he is a fool, thus April 1st is his holiday!" Pray that some day our courts will be full of these kinds of judges...maybe then, we can put God back where He belongs...in everything we do... Coincidence? When the Mother of God mourned her Son on the cross, she recognized the two thieves crucified with Him. When Jesus was an infant and the Holy Family was fleeing to Egypt, two thieves accosted them. Dismus, now known as the Good Thief, prevented the bad thief, Getus, from harming the family. The Mother of God had told Dismus, My Son will bless you for this. He did, around 31 years later, when He answered Dismus request to join Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven by saying: Truly I say to you. Today you will be with Me in paradise. (Luke 23:43) St. Dismus is commemorated on April 7/March 25 and serves as an example to those who return to the Faith. Page 4 THE BELLS OF ST. GEORGE ews from the Parish..,,,,.continued from page 1 day. Special thanks goes to all those that helped out: Gojko Grkinich, Brian Tatomirovich, Mico Vucenovic, George Raich, Mike Gagich, Milos Miodrag, Djuro Jelich, David Spanja, Bertha Gracanin, Catherine Jankovich, Helen Mirkovich, Bran & Honey Vuich, Violet Venetta, Nick, Angie & Jonathan Orras, Ed, Francine, Matthew & Natasha Fabian, Jennifer Latsko, Milan Shumkaroff, Bob Vucenovic, Vuko Dragicevich. Please accept our apologies if we ve forgotten anyone! We d like to also thank all of those who came out after the golf scramble weekend to paint the picnic pavilion: Mico & Desa Vucenovic, Ed & Francine Fabian, Milos Miodrag, Vuko Dragicevich; Bozo Grkinich, Bran Vuich. Special thanks to Bob Darby who stopped by to help out by sanding the doors at the pavilion free of charge. ЗАХВАЛНОСТ Велико хвала брату Лази Ракетићу који је замолио свог доброг пријатеља Милана Личину да нам направи машину за печење јагањаца. Милан је машину направио и поклонио. Много му хвала. Захваљујемо се брату Бошку Вученовићу који је са троком свога оца Миће Вученовића ишао у Чикаго да довезе машину. Много хвала Бошку и Мићи. Наша захвалност браћи: Ђури Јелићу и Мићи Вученовићу који су направили да нови ражњеви пашују на машину. Управа и чланови Српског Добротворног Друштва Видовдан бр. 68 Српског Народног Савеза, захваљују се сестри Деси Вученовић која је направила кољиво за парастос оснивачима и умрлим члановима Друштва, који смо одржали у недељу 1. јула г. ХВАЛА СВИМА БРАЋИ И СЕСТРАМА КОЈИ НА БИЛО КОЈИ НАЧИН РАДЕ И ПОМАЖУ СВОЈУ ЦРКВУ И СРПСКЕ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЈЕ У МЕСТУ. WE THA K ALL BROTHERS A D SISTERS WHO I A Y WAY WORK A D HELP OUT THEIR CHURCH A D THE LOCAL SERBIA ORGA IZATIO S.

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6 St. George Serbian Orthodox Church 80 S Keel Ridge Road Hermitage, PA Place Stamp Here Chetnik Picnic Sunday, August 12, 2007 sponsored by the local branch Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore Beginning at noon Music by Djuro Klipa Orchestra 4-9 pm BBQ Lamb Pork Chicken Advance order by phone: and or Welcome - Добро нам дошли! A UGUST 2007 Распоред Богослужења Schedule of Services August 2007 Below is a list of only the services during the week. The Sunday Liturgy begins at 10am and Vespers on Saturdays and on the Eve of Feasts is at 6pm unless otherwise noted. Fr. Milovan will be at Shadeland from July 29th - August 5th. o liturgy on Thursday, August 2nd for St. Elijah. Tuesday, August 28 - Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos Liturgy 9am - Успеније Пресвете Богородице, Велика Госпојина Upcoming Events: Diocesan Days: August 4-5 at Shadeland Chetnik Picnic, Sunday, August 12th Bowling Tournament Committee Meeting Sunday, August 19th 63rd Annual SNF Bowling Tournament: October 5-7th Big helpers, both on the golf course and later in the hall, Natasha Fabian and friend Jennifer Latsko, pose for a picture during the 4th Annual Golf Scramble held on Saturday, July 21, 2007.