Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Sixth Sunday of Matthew Elijah s (Elias ) Journey

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1 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Sixth Sunday of Matthew Elijah s (Elias ) Journey Icon of Saint Elias -- July 20th 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 Edward Makdad Parish Council Chairperson Go to Church Say Your Prayers Don t Forget God! Fr. Don Home: frdon@stmaryaocc.org Office: PROPHET ELIAS (ELIJAH) THE TISHBITE & THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW + Sunday, July 20, 2014 Righteous ILIYA CHAVCHAVADZE of Georgia. Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory be to Him Forever! 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 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 Fr. Don and the Faithful of our St. Mary Parish Family for the health of His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH (Al-Zehlaoui), newly-elected Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America for our God-Protected Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. May God Grant Him Many, Many Years! PASCHAL CANDLES: Offered: (1) in beloved memory of father, Robert by The Josephine (Saloom) Colbert Family and (2) for the continued health & blessings of son & brother, Jonathan Thomas, as he celebrates his 22 nd Birthday this month, by Bob, Pam & Robert Audey. PROSKAMEDIA CANDLE: Offered in beloved memory of newly-departed cousin, Stephen Galayda by Christine Salem. PRAYERS OF LITURGICAL REMEMBRANCE: Offered: (1) for the health of mother, Genevieve, aunt, Betty & Cheryl (who is having an operation soon) by Carolyn Clark and (2) for the health, safety & quick release of: Metropolitan PAUL Yazigi (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo brother of our Patriarch, His Beatitude, John X of the Great City of God, Antioch and all the East) & Archbishop YOHANNA Ibrahim (Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo); and in beloved memory of their Driver, Rev. Dn. Fatha Allah Kabboud, by Fr. Don and the Faithful of our St. Mary Parish Family. TRISAGION PRAYERS OF MERCY (Naha): Offered in beloved memory of (1) mother, Mary Jane Agypt (+7/21/09) & Timothy Jacob McLoota, Jr. (+7/23/13) by Janice Agypt and Family and (2) Elaine (Shamas) Emeigh (+40 Days 6/09/14) by her Family (husband Bill, son, B.J. & spouse, Michelle and children, Ashley & Michael and son, Kevin & spouse, Theresa and children, Sadie & Noah). May Their Memory Be 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 Five) See Troparion of the Resurrection Below. AFTER THE LITTLE ENTRANCE: TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION: (Tone Five) Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and

4 the Spirit; born of the Virgin for our salvation. For He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh, to suffer death and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. TROPARION OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH: (Tone Four) (**Be quick to anticipate**) O angelic of body, pillar of the prophets and their cornerstone, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, the venerable and glorious Elias, thou didst send grace from on high to Elisha to dispel sicknesses and purify lepers. Wherefore, he overflows with healing to those who honor him. 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 unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, with assistance for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honor thee. EPISTLE: James 5:10-20 (Prophet Elias) HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 9:1-8 (The Sixth Sunday of Matthew) 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 Tone Eight): Refrain: Praise ye the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Alleluia! (Note: The Alleluia! is done at the end of the Refrain only after the last Verse has been sung.) Verse: Praise Him, all ye His angels; praise Him, all ye His hosts. (Refrain) Verse: Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light. (Refrain) Verse: Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and thou water that art above the heavens. (Refrain)

5 - THIS WEEK S EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - (Church Office: Angela will be in from 9 AM to 1 PM.) + Tuesday, July 22 DAILY ORTHROS 8 AM. + Wednesday, July 23 DAILY VESPERS 6 PM Followed by Discussion Group. + Thursday, July 24 DAILY ORTHROS 8 AM. + Saturday, July 26 GREAT VESPERS 5 PM. + Sunday, July 27 GREAT MARTYR & HEALER PANTELEIMON and SEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW 8:15 AM & DIVINE 9:30 AM Followed by Fellowship in our Social Hall 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 IMPORTANT NOTICE Fr. Don has been assigned by our Archdiocese to serve at the Antiochian Village Camp during the Fourth Session 7/27 8/8. There will be Sunday Orthros & Divine Liturgy at the normal times on August 3, Thank You! In case of a Pastoral Emergency, please call (Cell) or (Home). THOSE IN SPECIAL NEED OF OUR PRAYERS: CONEMAUGH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Good Samaritan Campus: David Abraham (#5210); ARBUTUS PARK MANOR: Mitchell Azar (#423) & Lottie Bertino (#D-325); CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN HOME: Bea Jaber (#251); LAURELVIEW VILLAGE: Very Rev. John (#104) & Matushka Olga Govrusik (#528), George Heider (#210) & Vivian Salem (#214) and IN TREATMENT, RECOVERING AND / OR SHUT- IN AT HOME : Becky Azar; Vivian (Saleeba) Curry; Renee D Ettorre; Dawn (Joseph) Hagins; Elaine Heider; Kelli Hines; Jill Jaber; Genevieve Milkie and Greg & Mary Evelyn (Finley) Smith and son, Simeon Lee. May God Be With All of Them & All of Those Who are Ill and / or in Need!

6 MEMORY ETERNAL!: It is with a bright sadness that we announce that our Beloved Nicholas Karam (Lebanon) has Fallen-Asleep in the Lord. We pray that our Lord will grant him Rest in His Heavenly Kingdom where all of His Blessed Saints do Repose; and we ask Him to grant His Mercy & Peace (John 14:27) to the Karam Family, and us, as we all mourn his Passing with the Hope of Christ in our Hearts (1 Thessalonians 4:13). May His Memory Be Ever Eternal! +++ It s Graduation Time! +++ Fr. Don is pleased to announce that Jordan Heider has graduated from Ligonier Valley High School. We pray that our Lord will bless his every endeavor that is pleasing to Him! We thank Him for guiding Jordan to the completion of his studies and we congratulate him for a job well done! May God Grant Jordan Many Years of Health, Joy, Peace (John 14:27) & Happiness! A SPECIAL THANK-YOU!: On behalf of our entire St. Mary Parish Family, Fr. Don would like to offer a special Thank You! to all who helped with our recent Ministry at Saturday s Kitchen downtown it is always such a Blessing to assist those who are in need for it is then that we serve our Lord Himself, as He has told us! May God Grant All Of Our Parishioners Who Are So Giving Many, Many Years! St. Mary Parish Financial Snapshot*** As of June 30, 2014 June 2014 Year to Date (YTD) Parishioner Giving (Income) $ 10, $ 54, Expenses Paid $ 10, $ 69, Parishioner Giving vs. Expenses Paid $ $ -15, * * * This Report has not been accepted by the Parish Council as of yet. These figures are true, yet they are to be considered tentative, until approved by the Council. IMPORTANT REQUEST: Steve Shadid has received a Graduation Card & Gift with no reference to who it is from. He would like to send a Thank You to that person. If you gave him a card & cash gift, please see Fr. Don or Janet. Thank You & God Bless!

7 + 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.

8 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: St. Nicholai of South Canaan (Homilies, vol. 2 p. 54 & 55) on our Gospel Reading from Matthew 9:1-8. Lord, Help us to be found at Your Right Hand when You come again in glory! Christ is like a watershed. Wherever He appears, men are immediately divided into two camps: those who rejoice in good and those who do not. It is so today with men, and it was so in the days when the Lord walked the earth, clad in human flesh. Today s Gospel gives an account of this fearsome division among men in the presence of the Revealer of good, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Christ! +Fr. Noah Please Do Not Forget 2014 PASCHAL ALMSGIVING PROJECT: IOCC HEALTH CARE KITS! We are collecting personal hygiene items and / or $$$ Donations to be used towards these Kits Please Help Us! See Insert in this Bulletin-you may also talk with Khouria Janet or Maria Plakakis. The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is a world renowned & respected Humanitarian Organization which seeks to share God s Love with all those who are in need.

9 +++ Our Graduates +++ Fr. Don is pleased to announce the Graduate Information that was turned in to the Office. The following students have graduated and we pray that our Lord will bless their every endeavor that is pleasing to Him! We thank Him for guiding these special individuals to the completion of their studies and we congratulate them for a job well done! May God Grant Them All Many Years of Health, Joy, Peace (John 14:27) & Happiness! HIGH SCHOOL Samuel Curry Kyle Devich David Farra Jordan Heider Isaac Joseph Gregory Krinock Westmont Hilltop High School Westmont Hilltop High School Westmont Hilltop High School Ligonier Valley High School Westmont Hilltop High School Westmont Hilltop High School COLLEGE / GRADUATE LEVEL Nathan Catanese University of Notre Dame Juris Doctor Stephen Shadid Duquesne University Doctor of Pharmacy

10 Epistle Priest: Let us attend. Reader: Thou art a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Verse: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou on my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. Priest: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is taken from Epistle of St. James (5:10-20) Priest: Let us attend. BRETHREN, take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord. Behold, we call those blessed who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by Heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be yes and your no be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elias was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (OVER)

11 Holy Gospel The reading is taken from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 9:1-8 AT THAT TIME: Jesus got into a boat, crossed over and came to His own city. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith He said to the paralytic, Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven. And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man is blaspheming. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins He then said to the paralytic Rise, take up your bed and go home. And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they marveled, and they glorified God, Who had given such authority to men. May God Be With You!

12 The Saints Of The Day July 20, 2014* THE HOLY PROPHET ELIJAH Saint Elijah, one who saw God, a miracle-worker and a zealot for faith in God, was born of the tribe of Aaron from the town Tishba for which he was called the Tishbite. When St. Elijah was born, his father Savah saw an angel of God hovering around the child, wrapping the child in fire and giving him a flame to eat. That was a foreshadowing of Elijah's fiery character and his Godgiven fiery power. He spent his entire youth in godly thoughts and prayers withdrawing frequently into the wilderness to contemplate and to pray in solitude. At that time the Jewish kingdom was divided into two unequal parts: the kingdom of Judah consisting of only two tribes, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin with their capital in Jerusalem and the kingdom of Israel consisting of the remaining ten tribes with their capital in Samaria. The first kingdom was governed by the descendants of Solomon and the second kingdom was governed by the descendants of Jeroboam, the servants of Solomon. The greatest confrontation that the prophet Elijah had was with the Israelite King Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel. For they, Ahab and Jezebel, worshipped idols and were turning the people away from serving the One and Living God. Before this, however, Jezebel, a Syrian, persuaded her husband to erect a temple to the Syrian god Baal and ordered many priests to the service of this false god. Through great miracles Elijah displayed the power and authority of God: he closed up the heavens, so that there was not any rain for three years and six months; he lowered a fire from heaven and burned the sacrifice to his God which the pagan priests of Baal were unable to do; he brought down rain from heaven by his prayer; miraculously multiplied flour and oil in the home of the widow in Zerepath, and resurrected her son; he prophesied to Ahab that the dogs will lick up his blood and to Jezebel that the dogs will consume her flesh, all of which happened as well as many other miracles did he perform and prophesy. On Mount Horeb, he spoke with God and heard the voice of God in the calm of a gentle breeze. Before his death he took Elisha and designated him as his successor in the prophetic calling; by his mantle he divided the waters of the Jordan river; finally he was taken up into the heavens in a fiery chariot by flaming horses. He appeared on Mount Tabor to our Lord Jesus Christ together with Moses. Before the end of the world St. Elijah will appear again to put an end to the power of the anti-christ (Revelation 11). REFLECTION Writing about the life of his sister St. Macrina, St. Gregory of Nyssa hesitates to enumerate her miracles, "that I not be," says he, "responsible for the sin of unbelief among helpless men." He calls helpless, those who do not believe. Truly, there is nothing more helpless than a man without faith. The man without faith believes in the power of dead things and dead elements of nature and does not believe in the power of God or in the strength of the men of God. That is spiritual dullness and that dullness is equated with spiritual death. Thus, the living souls believe and the dead souls do not believe. Living souls believe in the powerful miracles of the Prophet Elijah. These miracles give them courage and joy, for they know that they are a manifestation of the might of God. When God manifests His might through lifeless things and elements of nature, why then would He not manifest it through living and holy men? That which especially gives joy to the faithful is that the Prophet Elijah appeared alive on Mount Tabor at the time of the Transfiguration of the Lord. During his life on earth, this great prophet gave proof of the existence of the One and Living God and, after his death, and even after several hundred years, by his appearance on Mt. Tabor, he gave to mankind visible proof of life after death. To God Be Glory and Praise Always! Amen. *Taken from The Prologue from Ochrid by Saint Nicholas (Velimirovich)

13 Icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev July 23, 2014 If You Desire to Become Equal to the Apostles, There is Nothing to Hinder You Wherefore, if you desire to become equal to the apostles, there is nothing to hinder you. For to have arrived at this virtue only suffices for your not at all falling short of them. Let no one therefore wait for miracles. For though the evil spirit is grieved, when he is driven out of a body, yet much more so, when he sees a soul delivered from sin. For indeed this is his great power (Acts 8:10). This power caused Christ to die, that He might put an end to it. Yea, for this brought in death; by reason of this all things have been turned upside down. If then thou remove this, you have cut out the nerves of the devil, you have bruised his head, you have put an end to all his might, you have scattered his host, you have exhibited a sign greater than all signs. The saying is not mine, but the blessed Paul s. For when he had said, Covet earnestly the best gifts, and yet show I unto you a more excellent way; (1 Corinthians 12:31) he did not speak next of a sign, but of charity, the root of all our good things. If then we practice this, and all the self-denial that flows from it, we shall have no need of signs; even as on the other hand, if we do not practice it, we shall gain nothing by the signs. Bearing in mind then all this, let us imitate those things whereby the apostles became great. And whereby did they become great? Hear Peter, saying, Behold we have forsaken all, and followed You; what shall we have therefore? Hear also Christ saying to them, You shall sit upon twelve thrones, and, every one that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or father, or mother, shall receive an hundredfold in this world, and shall inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:27). From all worldly things, therefore, let us withdraw ourselves, and dedicate ourselves to Christ, that we may both be made equal to the apostles according to His declaration, and may enjoy eternal life; unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom be glory and might forever and ever. Amen. St. John Chrysostom, Homily 46 on St. Matthew's Gospel Troparion Tone 5 Those who pray before your holy icon, O Lady, / Are vouchsafed healing and receive the knowledge of the true faith, / And they repel the attacks of the Hagarenes. / Therefore entreat remission of sins / For us who fall down before you. / Enlighten our hearts to thoughts of piety, / And raise a prayer to your Son to save our souls. Kontakion Tone 1 Your icon of Pochaev, O Theotokos, / Is become a source of healing and the confirmation of the Orthodox Faith. / Therefore deliver us who have recourse to you / From calamity and temptation. / Preserve your monastery unharmed. / Confirm Orthodoxy in the surrounding lands, / And forgive the sins of those who pray to you; / For you can do as you will.

14 OUR ADULT DISCUSSION / STUDY GROUP HAS BEGUN COME & JOIN US! Fr. Don is pleased to announce that our Adult Discussion / Study Group will start up again on Wednesday, April 30, after Daily 6 PM i.e. Group meets at approximately 7:00 PM. Thus far, we have listened to & discussed a number of Podcasts on such subjects as An Introduction to God: Encountering the Divine in Orthodox Christianity by Fr. Andrew Damick, Angels & Demons by Fr. Tom Hopko and The Contours of Christian Love by Fr. Dn. Matthew Steenberg. All those present are encouraged to provide input as to what our Group discusses & studies. It is our Prayer that through this time together, we will grow in our Faith & Fellowship! Please pray about this, so that we might accomplish God s Will in all that we do! Take Care and God Bless! 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. MONTHLY CANDLES: The 2014 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 LET US GIVE ALMS! This year s Project for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America is Help the Orphans of War in Syria. The Antiochian Women have been asked to raise $200, towards this worthwhile project. Stay tuned for further information Fr. Don would like our Parish to participate. Remember, every Woman in our Parish is an Antiochian Woman!

15 *** Parish Scrip Earnings Exceed $30,000.00!!! *** 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 $30, 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! 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! 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.

16 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 and you get their name, please 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! *** Parish Scrip Earnings Exceed $30, in 7 ½ 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. 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. ifthe 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 will resume again on Tuesday, September 3. Our Schedule is as follows: Tuesday & Thursday Mornings Daily Matins (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!

17 + + + 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. Due to Fr. s Commitment to Matins, Confession Will Not Be Offered On Sunday Mornings. 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! WE NEED YOU AT THE FAMILY KITCHEN C MON & HELP US!: Our Lord tells us that when we serve those in need, we serve Him! Our Parish Family has been asked to help serve Weekend Meals at The Family Kitchen downtown at 231 Bedford Street. This year, we have been asked to help on 3 Weekends Saturday, June 28, Sunday, November 16 & Saturday, December 6. 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! "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

18 + + + 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 Father & Metropolitan PHILIP when he created The Order of St. Ignatius. 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-six 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 Tony Abraham, Larry Bertino, Lisa Catanese, Albert Ghantous, George & Elaine Heider, Norman Joseph, Ed Makdad, Jr., John Ritter, 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 + + +

19 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 for more information, please see Fr. Don, Tony Abraham or any of our other parishioners who have joined). 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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21 + + + 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).

22 Think About This In light of the recent Sandy Hook School Shooting, and in remembrance of the Amish School Shooting of 2006, we reprint this reflection by our own Terry Mattingly. Please keep the young Victims and their Families in your Prayers. (This column was syndicated by Scripps Howard News Service on October 4, 2006.) The helicopters kept making circles in the air so that the cameramen could keep showing the dairy farms and country roads, the bonnets and wide-brimmed straw hats, the horse-drawn buggies and the one-room schoolhouse framed in yellow police tape. Soon the facts started going in circles as police recited a litany about 600 rounds of ammunition, a shotgun, a semiautomatic pistol, a stun gun, explosives and, later, the killer s sick collection of chains clamps, hardware and sexual aids. Witnesses said Charles Carl Roberts IV was angry with God, angry with himself, haunted by guilt, fed up with life and driven by a hellish grudge. Then journalists began asking questions that went in circles, the questions that nag clergy as well as state troopers. Why? Why the Amish? How could God let this happen? How can justice be done now that the killer is dead? Like everyone else, I could not believe what I was seeing on my television, said Johann Christopher Arnold, senior elder of the Bruderhof communes. While sharing many beliefs with the Amish and Mennonites, the Bruderhof ( place of the brothers ) embrace some modern technology. Still these movements share European roots in pacifism, simple living and an emphasis on the sanctity of human life. The Amish are our cousins so I know some of what they must be feeling, said Arnold, in his thick German accent. I know these parents are hurting, I know they are asking questions, but I know that they know the answer is forgiveness. Tragedy and pain can soften our hearts until they break. But if we trust God this will help us to feel compassion. The gunman s stunned wife released a media statement that showed her understanding of her Amish neighbors and their beliefs. She knew she could appeal for prayers and forgiveness, even though outsiders might find her words hard to fathom Over + + +

23 Our hearts are broken, our lives are shattered, and we grieve for the innocence and lives that were lost today, said Marie Roberts. Above all, please pray for the families who lost children and, please, pray, too, for our family and children. Some of the Amish went ever further. One woman told the Los Angeles Times: I am very thankful that I was raised to believe you don t fight back. You should forgive. To grasp the Amish point of view, it s crucial to understand that they truly believe God desires justice, but also shows mercy and they believe that these are not contradictory things, said Arnold. They know that God said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay. The Amish certainly believe that this killer will not go without punishment, but they also believe that his punishment is in God s hands. These are hard words in an age when many Americans hold one of two competing beliefs about eternity and God s judgment. Millions of believers lukewarm and fervent alike assume that the really bad sinners are the people who commit the really bad sins, those spectacular sins tied to violence, drugs and sex. These really bad people are condemned to hell. Meanwhile, many other people believe that all people are automatically going to heaven, no matter what they believe or what they do. According to this point of view, the massacre inside the West Nickel Mines Amish School will have no impact on the eternal destiny of Charles Carl Roberts IV. Once again, the Amish believe that God knows all and that God, and only God, can judge. What the Amish emphasize, stressed Arnold, is that forgiveness is the only way that humans can break a cycle of violence and sin. In this case, the gunman left suicide notes that showed that he was driven by guilt and a grudge that he would not surrender. It appears that Roberts could not forgive God and could not forgive himself. In the end, this killed him and through him this grudge killed others. If you hold a grudge, it will live on in your heart until it leads to violence of some kind, said Arnold. If you do not forgive, then you cannot be healed. Forgiveness can heal the forgiver as well as the one who is forgiven. This is what the Amish believe. It will be hard and it will take time, but this is what they now must strive to live out for all the world to see. Terry Mattingly ( directs the Washington Journalism Center at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. He writes this weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service. Terry is also a member of our sister parish, Holy Cross Orthodox Church, in Linthicum, MD.

24 *** Parish Scrip Earnings Exceed $30,000.00!!! *** 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 $30, 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! + + +

25 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Sixth Sunday of Matthew Elijah s (Elias ) Journey Icon of Saint Elias -- July 20th Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box Fairfax, VA Ph: Fax: