ST. MICHAEL'S RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH WELCOME VISITORS Our parish welcomes you and thanks you for joining us in worship and praise this morning. If you desire any information about our parish, our diocese, or the Orthodox Church and Faith, please contact Fr. John Memorich. Very Rev. Fr. John Memorich, Rector 5025 East Mill Road, Broadview Hts., OH 44147 Office # 440-526-5192 Home # 216-524-9795 Fr. Dn. Dennis Lucak: 440-230-9410 Mr. Ted Geletka, Choir Master: 440-526-2767 Mr. John Mindala, Council President: 440-582-0715 E-MAIL: Father John: frjohn@stmichaelscleveland.org Church Office: info@stmichaelscleveland.org Parish Website: www.stmichaelscleveland.org Christ is in Our Midst! February 1, 2009 THIRTY SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ZACHAEUS SUNDAY Forefeast of the Meeting of Christ in the Temple Epistle Reading: 1 Timothy 4:9-15 Gospel Reading: St. Luke 19:1-10 SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK Sunday, February 1 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Parastas: Frank Tesar Helen Matolyak Yappies Monday, February 2 MEETING OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy with Blessing of Candles 9:30 a.m. Interfaith Fellowship Day @ Woodside Tuesday, February 3 7:00 p.m. Cleveland R Club Meeting Thursday, February 5 10:00 a.m. Adult Education (Exodus 13-14-15) Friday, February 6 7:00 p.m. Pre-Teen Club Meeting FOCA Bowling Tournament Saturday, February 7 3:00 p.m. Sabrina Cojocaru Baptism 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers Sunday, February 8 PUBLICAN & PHARASEE 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Yappies
THE FIRST BELL TOLLS Zacchaeus Sunday Gospel Meditation St. Luke 19:1-10 It s hard to believe, but today is already the Sunday of Zacchaeus! This means that another Great Fast will soon be upon us, with yet another Holy Pascha looming just over the horizon. The Sunday of Zacchaeus is a first bell which sounds throughout the Holy Orthodox Church to announce the gradual coming of the Season of Great Lent. The timbre of this knoll is quite clear and distinct in its purpose. For the Orthodox Church, in all Her wisdom, does not begin the Great Lenten Season overnight as happens in the Western Church going from the feasting of Fat Tuesday to the solemn reality of Ash Wednesday at the stroke of midnight. But rather, She eases us into the Great Fast with preparatory Sundays designed to teach us useful lessons and values which we need to approach this most solemn and repentance-filled Season with purpose, dignity, and spiritual maturity. In this morning s gospel, the story of Zacchaeus teaches us about DESIRE; for if we truly desire Christ, He will indeed, most assuredly come into our lives and remain with us. Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and remain with him, and he with me (Rev. 3:20). My beloved professor, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, writes in his classic book Great Lent, that man follows his desire. Perhaps one of two concrete states for man is desire (the other being repentance). We cannot pray we can only desire to pray; it is God Who enables us to pray. We cannot fast we can only desire to fast, and so on... Our desire is our will; therefore to return to normal, to be what we were created to be, we must desire what God wills for us. Let us, too, look at this morning s Gospel lesson in a new light. Let us find the desire to see and meet Christ just as Zacchaeus did so many years before. And if we do make this effort, we will undoubtedly not only see our Lord and Savior, but He will enter into the house of our soul and bring about such a change of heart in us that will truly have closeness and communion with Him always! Prepare yourself for the coming of Great Lent by remembering that we must each prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ., Himself; for He reminds us, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (St. Matt. 4:17). With love in Christ, Very Rev. Fr. John Memorich 2
KNOWN TO BE ILL OR HOSPITALIZED: William Gaborick and Anna Kisha at Parma Hospital; Pauline Harley at the Cleveland Clinic. Please remember them in your prayers. PLEASE NOTE: Jim and Pauline Kolberg have moved to a nursing home and assisted living, respectively. If you wish to send them cards or letters, please do so in care of their son, Michael Kolberg, at 2010 Parker Road, Hinckley, OH 44233. LOST & FOUND: A women s black glove was found and is in our Lost & Found basket in the Church Lower Level. It will remain there until February 22 nd to be claimed. STREAM ORTHODOX MISSION NEWS on Your Parish Website by subscribing to OCMC's New RSS Feed. Orthodox mission news can now be syndicated on your parish website when you subscribe to OCMC's new RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feed. Subscribing to this new feature of OCMC.org means that the members of your community will have access to the latest Orthodox mission news directly from your parish's website. Once OCMC's RSS Feed has been added to your site it will be updated automatically and in real-time. To share the call to missions with your community by subscribing to OCMC's RSS Feed please visit http://www.ocmc.org/rss/ocmcnews.xml. HOUSE FOR RENT: The renter at one of our church properties has moved out and we are looking for a new occupant. The house, located on Wallings Road, is available for immediate move-in. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, split level, semi-finished basement. Monthly rent is $1,150. Perhaps you are planning on moving or know someone who is. Contact John Mindala at 440-582-0715 for details. LEGACY OF FAITH: The Carpatho-Rusyn Cleveland Chapter is sponsoring a Sunday Afternoon at the Movies on February 8, 1:30 p.m., at the Brecksville Library, 9089 Brecksville Road. The documentary is about New York City s St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church, focusing on the religious history of Rusyns and the struggles of the immigrants to build a church in America, while trying to preserve their ethnic and cultural heritage. Contact Joe Sekerak at 216-524-5823 if interested in attending. MONASTERY EVENING: On Tuesday, February 10, 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m., V. Rev. Fr. John Ojaimi will give a presentation on St Ephram His Prayer & Spiritual Loyalty. The presentation is at Monastery Marcha, 5095 Broadview Road, in Richfield. All are welcome. 3
PAN ORTHODOX LUNCHEON: The Eastern Orthodox Women s Guild of Greater Cleveland cordially invites you to the 6 th Annual Pan Orthodox Luncheon, to be held Saturday, February 21, 12:00 p.m., at St. Andrew Eastern Orthodox Church, located at 16069 Maple Park Drive in Maple Heights. Cost is $12. Helen Ksenyak (330-467-5571) has tickets. Please see flyer for additional information. I.O.C.C. We have scheduled the next meeting for February 24 at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, 33532 Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights. We will have tickets to the May 11 th Banquet, taking place also at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church. To meet our church s annual budget for expenditures we must collect $29,850 each month. This amount includes offerings and dues. Last month we collected $31,149, leaving us $1,299 over our monthly requirement. This is your church; your support is needed, so please give generously. Thank you! FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF: Robin Lucak on her birthday by Bob & Mary Jane Lucak. May God grant her health, healing, happiness and a long life. May He continue to bless her, keep her and preserve her for Many Years! Mnogia i Blagia Leta! FOR THE REPOSE AND BLESSED MEMORY OF: Helen Emrick by St. Michael s Choir; Helen Matolyak by Mary Bohurjak. May God beatify them and number them among the just; for He is a good God and lovest Mankind + Memory Eternal! + Vechniya Pamyat! FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF: Therese Bohurjak on her birthday by Mother-in-Law Margaret Bohurjak; Elizabeth Wienclaw on her birthday by the Family. May God grant them health, healing, happiness and a long life. May He continue to bless them, keep them and preserve them for Many Years! Mnogia i Blagia Leta! FOR THE REPOSE AND BLESSED MEMORY OF: Helen Emrick by Joanne Emrick Daniel; Helen Emrick by Anne L. Kormos; Frank Tesar by Donna Tesar and Family; Frank Tesar, our beloved brother-in-law, on this 1st anniversary of his passing by Marie & Jerry, Judi & Phil, and Karen & Rick; 'Uncle' Frank Tesar on this 1st anniversary by Michelle, Cathy, Liz and Adam; Frank Tesar on this 1st anniversary by Mother-in-Law Pauline Harley. May God beatify them and number them among the just; for He is a good God and lovest Mankind + Memory Eternal! + Vechniya Pamyat! 4
CANDLES: The Table of Oblation Candles are given in loving memory of Fr. Dn. George Virosteck on his ninth anniversary of falling asleep in the Lord, by Matushka Claudia, children, and grandchildren. 5
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