Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

St. Nicholas Bulletin - August 14, 2022

Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo está entre nosotros!

Homily on Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

by Fr Philip LeMasters

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...


People view the church in many different ways. Some think of it as a private club for meeting the spiritual needs of its members in a way that is ultimately self-centered and insular. Contrary to popular opinion, the mission of Christ’s Body is not to help us ignore or escape from the world, but to manifest a sign of its salvation.  As members of the Savior’s Body and of one another, we must accept the challenge that St. Paul gave to the Corinthians to live as God’s fellow workers, God’s field, and God’s building. Those are all active images that require something of us. Jesus Christ is our one true foundation, but we must not simply rest content with having a foundation, any more than someone would lay the foundation for a building and then stop construction. As St. Paul wrote, “you are God’s temple and…God’s Spirit dwells in you.” Our calling is to build up the Body of Christ as a holy temple that will shine brightly in a darkened world as we journey toward the Kingdom, where the true spiritual state of our souls will be revealed.


The Apostle is not writing about a building made of wood or stone, of course, but about our common life in Christ. Both collectively and personally, we are temples of the Holy Spirit, which gives us a great obligation to cooperate with the presence and power of God in our lives. There is tremendous responsibility in having the freedom to work together with the Lord to share more fully in His life as we grow in holiness. No one will ever force us to do so, but the consequences of rejecting this high calling are profound. As St. Paul wrote, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” He is not speaking here of burning down a building, but of the consequences of refusing to offer ourselves to Christ, of rejecting our identity as the living temples of the Lord.


Today’s gospel lesson provides a vivid example of what happens when we turn away from Christ as the one true foundation of our lives.  St. Peter began to sink like a stone in a raging sea when he shifted his focus from entrusting His life to the Lord to being consumed with fear about the wind and the waves. By his own power, there was no way that Peter could have avoided drowning in this situation, but thankfully he retained the presence of mind to call out “Lord, save me!” That is precisely what the Savior did by reaching out to Peter and rescuing him as He said, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” The stress of the storm revealed the weakness of Peter’s faith, which is not surprising because he had gotten himself into this dangerous situation by putting Christ to the test, saying “Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.” By his prideful lack of trust, Peter literally got himself in well over his head.


Our calling is to become faithful coworkers with God by offering our lives to Him as we become holier and more beautiful temples of the Holy Spirit. That will never happen by allowing the storms of our lives to turn our attention away from the opportunities that they present for actively cooperating with God for the healing of our souls and the strengthening of the Church. Like Peter, we bring about many of our own struggles by our own thoughts, words, and deeds. Out of pride, we may be ashamed to acknowledge that we have put ourselves in a situation in which, left to our own devices, we will sink like stones. Some leave or become inactive in the life of the Church out of hurt pride when they realize the harm that they have done to themselves and their neighbors. It is easy to lose hope for building on the one true foundation of Jesus Christ when we know that we have fallen into an abyss of sin that threatens to wound us and others in profound ways.


We become too much like Peter when we relate to God based on getting what we want, which is really a way of saying that our faith is conditional. Our trust is then not actually in the Lord, but in ourselves. We may not ask to walk on the water, but we judge the importance of faithfulness to the Lord on whether He gives us the results that we want. When things do not go as we would like, the weakness of our faith becomes clear, for then we sink into doubt, despair, and a lack of commitment to find the healing for our souls. When that happens, we still have the choice of whether to drown spiritually or to come to our senses and call out “Lord, save me!” We have the choice between destroying God’s temple by further weakening our faith and separating ourselves from the Body of Christ or of calling out to the Lord in humble repentance from the depths of our hearts. Remember that He had compassion on St. Peter, the thief on the cross, and the tax collector, who could only say “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” We must trust that He will do the same for us when we approach Him with the same spiritual clarity as they did.


As Orthodox Christians, we never encounter the Lord simply as isolated individuals, but as members of His Body, the Church. We have put Him on in baptism, become temples of the Holy Spirit through chrismation, and received His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We are members of Him and of one another. He is the vine and we are the branches. If we find ourselves spiritually weak, confused, and uninterested, we should take a clear look at our relationship with Christ in His Body, the Church. It is through conscientious participation in the full sacramental and ascetical life of the Church that we will open ourselves to receive the strength to offer ourselves to God as His fellow workers, field, and building. If we take the life of the Church for granted or separate ourselves from it, we risk destroying our integrity as God’s temple. We step away from our one true foundation and put ourselves in a place where we can easily sink like stones.


Our small parish is not simply an association of people who share a common faith. Neither are we merely a non-profit institution that owns land and a building and has programs of various kinds. As hard as it may be to believe, this community manifests the fullness of the Body of Christ and provides us with everything necessary for the healing of our souls. We enter mystically into the Kingdom of God in every celebration of the Divine Liturgy and participate personally in the healing divine energies of the Savior through the holy mysteries. We are members of His Body and temples of the Holy Spirit, both collectively and personally. Absolutely nothing other than our own prideful refusal can keep us from building a life of holiness on the one true foundation of Christ available to us in this parish.


Peter learned the hard way not to put Christ to the test, and we must not make our active participation in the Church conditional upon any preconceived notions of how religion should fit into our lives or what we want from God. The point is not that we fit God into our lives, but that we offer ourselves to participate more fully in His. People involved in construction or farming have to work hard if they are to produce anything worthwhile. Should it be surprising that the same is true of the members of the Church, for our goal is nothing less than to become radiant with the holiness of God as a sign of the salvation of the world?


Before this high vision of our life together in the Church, we should each cry out with the spiritual clarity of sinking Peter, “Lord, save me!” He will raise us up and provide us the strength to build upon Him as our one true foundation in a fashion that will withstand even the most dangerous winds and waves of our lives. When Peter later confessed “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” the Savior said, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16: 16-18) The one true foundation is Christ Himself, Who shares His victory over sin, death, and Hades with us through His Body, the Church. Let us unite ourselves to Him in the ministries of our common life in this parish. Remember what St. Paul wrote, “God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” Let us find the healing of our souls together as members of the Body of Christ.

 

~Hymnography of the Day~

Commemorating the Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, 7 Holy Maccabee Martyrs and their mother Martyr Solomonia and their teacher Martyr Eleazar,

9 Martyrs of Perge in Pamphilia


 

RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—TONE 8

You descended from on high, O Merciful One! You accepted the three day burial to free us from our sufferings! O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to You!


PROCESSION OF THE CROSS TROPARION—TONE 1

O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance! Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries. And by virtue of the Cross, preserve Your habitation!


HOLY MARTYRS, 7 MACCABEES TROPARION —TONE 7

Let us praise the seven Maccabees, with their mother Salome and their teacher Eleazar; they were splendid in lawful contest as guardians of the teachings of the Law. Now as Christ’s holy martyrs they ceaselessly intercede for the world.


RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—TONE 8

By rising from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam. Eve exults in Your Resurrection, and the world celebrates Your rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!


PROCESSION OF THE CROSS KONTAKION—TONE 4

As You were voluntarily crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Your name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace!

 

~Scripture Readings of the Day~

READERS:

Matins: Nicholas Ressetar  Epistle: Stefan Gligorevic

Matins Next Week: Milan Radanovic Epistle Next Week: Dasha Gencturk


EPISTLE: I Corinthians 3: 9-17

DEACON:     Let us pay attention. 

PRIEST:        Peace be unto all!

READER:      And with your spirit!

DEACON:     Wisdom.

READER:      The Prokeimenon in the Eighth Tone: Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God.

CHOIR: Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God.

READER: v: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.

CHOIR: Pray and make your vows before the Lord our God.

READER: Pray and make your vows ...

CHOIR: … before the Lord our God.

DEACON: Wisdom!

READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.

DEACON: Let us attend!

READER: Brethren, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!

READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

READER: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior!

CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

READER: Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!



АПОСТОЛ:  1 Коринћанима  3: 9-17

Ђакон:        Пазимо

Свештеник: Мир свима!

Читач:          I Духу Твоме!

Ђакон:              Премудрост

Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 8 Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.

Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.

Читач: Зна се у Јудеји за Бога, у Израиљу је велико име Његово.

Хор: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете Господу Богу нашему.

Читач: Молите се и извршујте своје завјете

Хор: Господу Богу нашему.

Ђакон: Премудрост

Читач: Читање је од Прве посланице Светог апостола Павла до Коринћана

Ђакон: Пазимо

Читач: Браћо, ми смо Божији сарадници, а ви сте Божија њива, Божија грађевина. По благодати Божијој која ми је дата, ја сам као мудар неимар поставио темељ, а други зида на њему; али сваки нека гледа како зида. Јер темеља другога нико не може поставити осим постојећег, који је Исус Христос. Ако ли ко зида на овоме темељу злато, сребро, драго камење, дрва, сијено, сламу, свачије ће дјело изићи на видјело; јер ће дан показати, јер ће се огњем открити, и свачије ће се дјело огњем испитати какво је. Ако остане чије дјело што је назидао, примиће плату; Ако чије дјело изгори, биће оштећен, а сам ће се спасти, но тако као кроз огањ. Не знате ли да сте храм Божији и да Дух Божији обитава у вама? Ако неко разара храм Божији, разориће њега Бог; јер је храм Божији свет, а то сте ви.

Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!

Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Читач: Ходите, запјевајмо Господу, покликнимо Богу Спаситељу нашем.

Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Читач: Изађимо пред лице Његово с хвалом, ускликнимо му у пјесмама.

Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

 

LITURGY GOSPEL:  

Matthew 14: 22-34


Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.


ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:   

Матеј 14: 22-34


И одмах принуди Исус ученике своје да уђу у лађу и иду прије њега на ону страну док он отпусти народ. И отпустивши народ, попе се на гору да се насамо помоли. А наста вече и бијаше ондје сам. А лађа бјеше већ насред мора, угрожена од валова, јер бијаше противан вјетар. А у четврту стражу ноћи отиде к њима Исус ходећи по мору. И видјевши га ученици гдје иде по мору, узнемирише се говорећи: То је утвара; и од страха повикаше. А Исус им одмах рече говорећи: Не бојте се, ја сам, не плашите се! А Петар одговарајући рече му: Господе, ако си ти, реци ми да дођем теби по води. А он рече: Ходи! И изишавши из лађе, Петар иђаше по води да дође Исусу. Но видећи јак вјетар уплаши се, и почевши тонути, повика говорећи: Господе, спаси ме! И одмах Исус пруживши руку ухвати га, и рече му: Маловјерни, зашто посумња? И кад уђоше у лађу, преста вјетар. А они у лађи приступише и поклонише му се говорећи: Ваистину си ти Син Божији. И прешавши дођоше у земљу Генисаретску.


~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~

9th Sunday after Pentecost


August 14, 2022

Procession of the Cross

DORMITION FAST BEGINS

I Corinthians 3:9-17

Matthew 14:22-34


8am Matins

9am Liturgy


SOTAYA Meeting


Fr Chris on retreat this week



Monday

August 15, 2022

I Corinthians 15:12-19

Matthew 21:18-22


Tuesday

August 16, 2022

I Corinthians 15:29-38

Matthew 21:23-27


Wednesday

August 17, 2022

I Corinthians 16:4-12

Matthew 21: 28-32


Thursday

August 18, 2022

II Corinthians 1:1-7

Matthew 21:43-46


6:30 pm Festal Vespers


Friday

August 19, 2022

Transfiguration of Christ

2 Peter 1:10-19

Matthew 17:1-9


9 am Liturgy


Saturday

August 20, 2022

Romans 15:30-33

Matthew 17:24-18:4


5pm Vespers


10th Sunday after Pentecost

August 21, 2022

I Corinthians 4:9-16

Matthew 17:14-23


8am Matins

9am Liturgy


"Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos"



Composer: Michael Salih


Director: Gregory Solak

St. Vladimir's Seminary Octet, 1983

MATINS GOSPEL:   

Ninth Resurrection Gospel: John 20: 19-31


At that time, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

     

~Prayers for the Faithful~


In Our Prayers

Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protopresbyter Srboljub and Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, Popadija Sara Golic, Matushka Barbara Ealy, the child Katie Elizabeth and her parents Mileva and Michael Repasky, the child Metodija and his parents Fr. Dn. Milan and Mira Damljanovic, the child Danijela and her parents Mark and Jennifer Belo, Melissa Thomason and the child newly born of her, Clare Jurkovic and the child newly born of her, Lauren Spangler and the child to be born of her, Mara Bebeau and the child to be born of her, Jazmin Cruz and the child to be born of her, Addy Andy, Louise Bare, Dori Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Darlene & Larry Black, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Leann Cox, Joseph Derk, Art Dils, Draga Donato, Tommy and Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Anaya Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, Mark Gruin, Dan Haizlett, Basil Havalchak, Cayden Healy, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Tijana Jaksic, Slobodan Jovicic, Spencer Klinge, Ljuban Kosovac, Dorothy Krnjaich, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Catherine Lewis, Maggie Livingston, Stephen Lundingrin, Sandy Marijan, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, Annabelle McLaughlin, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Infant of God Ryan Leigh Moffitt, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Eva Orr, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Ljubomir Pejanovic, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Tracy Petrovich, Logan Roszkowski, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Michael Semic, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, Pat Shoemaker, Branko Smitran, Tracey Stanovich, Tim Stefan, Josephine Svitchan, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Dewey Yetter, Mileva “Millie” Yezdimir, Demetrios & Eleni Ziogas, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski

           

Those Who Need Special Care 

COUNTRY MEADOWS HERSHEY: Eva Stimac; COUNTRY MEADOWS MECHANICSBURG: Florence Ivanoff; MASONIC HOME ELIZABETHTOWN: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic; SPRING CREEK: Chuck Belic


Those to be Baptized

Sloane Ivey & Berkeley Blythe Semic, Emilia Renee Peterson, Barrett Scott, Divna and Danica Mitrovic, Nora Katherine Van Huysen, Sloane York, Logan Michael Livingston, Misha Aleksander Bowser 


Our College Students

Anastasija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Kyranna Radanovic, Maxim Reznitchenko, Madison Vorkapich

 

Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones

Hieromonk Nektarios, Matushka Anna Hopko, Protinica Miryana Trbuhovich, Protinica Donna Merick, Elizabeth Rupich, Margaret Radanovic, Nenad 'Nesho' Pantelich

 

~Parastos Offered~


†SVETLANA BESSALOVA Offered today after Divine Liturgy in loving memory of her repose (1 year—August 12) by the Reznitchenko family. 

 

~Vigils Offered~


STEPHANIE & MIKE YORK Offered in celebration of their Wedding Anniversary (August 20). With love from Mom and the family. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!


DARLENE BLACK Offered with love by the Barber & Geib Families for God’s Blessings during her recovery. We pray that He will bless her with good health. Our Love & Prayers are with her.


MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.


†EVELYN RUSSIN Offered with love and in remembrance of her repose (14 years—Aug 11) by Frank & Marie Brescia and family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!


†SVETLANA BESSALOVA Offered in loving remembrance of my mother’s departure from us one year ago (August 12). O Lord, grant eternal rest to your departed servant and make her memory to be eternal! Vjecnaja Pamjat! From Tatyana, Vadim, Inna & Maxim Reznitchenko.  


†HOPE ‘TSETSIE’ KLIPA Offered in loving memory of her repose (7 years—today, August 14). Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!


PEOPLE OF UKRAINE – Offering prayers for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation for all who are suffering, wounded, imprisoned, grieving, hungry or displaced because of the war in Ukraine. Praying for soldiers who courageously protect their land from enemy invasion. Praying for all believers to find comfort, peace, wisdom and strength in Our God Jesus Christ and share their source of strength with others. Praying for all countries, organizations, communities and individuals helping Ukraine in many ways. Praying for all those who have lost their lives, that the Lord our God may look upon them with mercy, and give them rest where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, but life everlasting.


~Flowers in front of the Theotokos Offered~


ANDELIJA KOBAC MRAOVIC & †LJUBICA MRAOVIC YANICH Offered with love for Grammom & Grammy who arrived at Ellis Island 101 years ago (Aug 12) after traveling by wagon from Bovic to Zagreb, then by train to Belgrade, and a second train to Trieste, and then by ship to Ellis Island. We praise God for granting them unwavering courage, boldness of spirit and abiding faith to make such a journey. We are profoundly grateful. Given with love and respect by 4 generations of the family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!

 

Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Sudan, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for all of those suffering from the pandemic, for those who minister, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no race.  


LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!

Stewardship Offering Information


Date 7/31/2022

Collection: $2,125.00


Date 7/24/2022

Collection: $2,595.00


Date 7/17/2022

Collection: $5,175.00




August Birthdays

Ross Spangler (Aug 1), Tim Hook (Aug 1), Father Ilija Balach (Aug2), Kaitlyn Hook (Aug 2), Jela Nonkovic (Aug 3), Ted Yanich (Aug 4), Mike Healy (Aug 5), Chris Radanovic (Aug 7), Cathy Fagan (Aug 7), Dieter Geib (Aug 7), Igor Pejcic (Aug 7), Heather Heilman (Aug 9), Russ Hewitt (Aug 9), Bo Venesevich (Aug 11), Ioanna Radanovic (Aug 11), Theodore Sukernik (Aug 11), Victoria Fithian (Aug 11), Tracey Stanovich (Aug 15), Eva Sutkliffe (Aug 15), Marina Skinder (Aug 20), Stefan Gligorevic (Aug 21), Chase Hewitt (Aug 23), Chuck Belic (Aug 25), Vaciona Petrovich (Aug 25), Ferris Atty (Aug 27), Maryann Seiders (Aug 28), Chuck Miller (Aug 30), Florence Ivanoff

 

August Anniversaries

Chris & Beth Ann Radanovic (Aug 1), Duke & Sue Petrovich (Aug 9), Chuck & Jean Miller (Aug 9), Mike & Stephanie York (Aug 20), Dn. Bojan & Sladjana Gligorevic (Aug 31)

~Bulletin Board~

EMERGENCY CONTACT

In case of a Pastoral Emergency this week (August 15 thru August 22), contact Fr Ilija Balach (425.736.3016)


FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

On Thursday, August 18, we will begin our celebration of the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord with Festal Vespers at 6:30 pm, followed by Divine Liturgy on Friday, August 19 at 9 am. As one of the 12 Great Feasts of the Church, we should do everything possible to worship the Transfigured Lord during this feast.


MOTHERS CLUB 65TH (plus 1) SLAVA

Please join the St Nicholas Mothers Club for their 65th (plus 1) Slava on August 28th to celebrate the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God. Everyone is invited to a Slava brunch after church.


SERB FEST (HELP NEEDED)

Our Annual Serb Fest is quickly approaching. The date is Saturday, September 17th starting at 11am. Plan on a wonderful day of good food, music and fun! A mailer has gone out with more information. Sign up sheets are in the lobby. And fliers are available for distribution to local establishments in the church lobby (help yourself) or see Daria.


ST NICHOLAS SENIORS BOOK DRIVE DEADLINE APPROACHING

Please bring any unwanted books to the Church for a book sale to take place during SerbFest to benefit the Seniors. Boxes will be on the table in the lobby for your books. You may take boxes home to pack up your books to bring to church. Please no romance novels. Children’s books, fiction and nonfiction, cookbooks, cocktail table books, self-improvement, DIY/how to books are welcome! Deadline for dropping off books is Sunday, August 28.


COAT ROOM CLEANUP

Please look in the Coat Room for any personal items of yours that may have been left. Any items left after August 31 will be donated.


BETHESDA MISSION DONATION DEADLINE

Donations should be here no later than Sunday, August 28 as we will be delivering them that week. Our goal is to fill the suitcases and duffle bags with much needed supplies requested by the Mission. Please help us help local women in need. Thank you to all those who have so generously donated. These are the items most needed:


· Paper products (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels)

· Nylon knee high stockings

· Hygiene products (tampons, pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs, brushes)

· Stamps

· Headphones/earbuds

· Phone chargers

· Bus passes

· Gallon size baggies

· Backpacks and Suitcases



SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE

Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $15/pack (2 pounds, 32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic or call the office at 717-939-3872


SENIORS MEETING

The next meeting of the Senior’s will be held in September. Anyone 50+ is invited to join. Monthly luncheon meetings are held. Dues are $5 per year. Please consider joining us… Come and see!

August 2022 Calendar

Homily on the Transfiguration of our Lord, Jesus Christ

St Nikolai of Zica

In the third year of His preaching, the Lord Jesus often spoke to His disciples of His approaching passion but at the same time of His glory following His suffering on the Cross. So that His impending passion would not totally weaken His disciples and that no one would fall away from Him, He, the All-wise, wanted to partially show them His divine glory before His passion. For that reason, He took Peter, James and John with Him and, with them, went out at night to Mt. Tabor and there was transfigured before them: “And His face shone as the sun and His garments became white as snow” (Matt. 17:2). There appeared alongside Him, Moses and Elijah, the great Old Testament prophets. And, seeing this, His disciples were amazed. Peter said: “Lord, it is good for us to be here: if You will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matt. 17:4). While Peter still spoke, Moses and Elijah departed and a bright cloud overshadowed the Lord and His disciples and there came a voice from the cloud saying: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear Him” (Matt. 17:5). Hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground on their faces as though dead and remained that way, lying in fear, until the Lord came near to them and said: “Arise and be not afraid” (Matt. 17:7).


Why did the Lord take only three disciples on Tabor and not all? Because Judas was not worthy to behold the divine glory of the Teacher, Whom he will betray and the Lord did not want to leave him [Judas] alone at the foot of the mountain so that the betrayer would not, by that, justify his betrayal. Why was our Lord transfigured on a mountain and not in a valley? So as to teach us two virtues: love of labor and godly-thoughts. For, climbing to the heights required labor and height represents the heights of our thoughts, i.e., godly-thoughts. Why was our Lord transfigured at night? Because, the night rather than the day is more suitable for prayer and godly-thoughts and because the night, by its darkness, conceals all the beauty of the earth and reveals the beauty of the starry heavens. Why did Moses and Elijah appear? In order to destroy the error of the Jews, as though Christ is one of the prophets; Elijah or Jeremiah or some other that is why He appears as King above the prophets and that is why Moses and Elijah appear as His servants. Until then, our Lord manifested His divine power many times to the disciples but, on Mt. Tabor, He manifested His divine nature. This vision of His Divinity and the hearing of the heavenly witness about Him as the Son of God, should serve the disciples in the days of the Lord’s passion, in strengthening of an unwavering faith in Him and His final victory.

Stewardship Reflection


Reflection from St. John Chrysostom...


When a tailor makes and sells a garment, only one service is performed, that of putting clothes on the body. The same is true of the cobbler making and selling a pair of shoes; the only service in this case is to put shoes on the feet. But when a person makes a gift to another person, of money or some object, a double service is performed. First, the receiver derives a material benefit from the gift. Second, the giver derives a spiritual benefit because this act of generosity would have brought a blessing to his soul.

 

Од Светог Јована Златоустог ... 


Када кројач искроји и прода одело онда је само једна служба учуњена , облачење некога. Када обућар направи пар ципела и прода их једнина услуга је начињена ономе који их носи. Али када нека особа даде нешто некоме , новац или било шта друго онда је учињена двострука услуга. Прво онај који добија , добија материјалини поклон и чини га срећним . Друго онај који даје добија духовни добитак јер чин даривања доноси благодат души. 

 


August Charity

Zoe for Life

 

Many women are fortunate to have the love and support structure to lead them to marriage, children, and a meaningful life. Others, however, are from different circumstances, and may find themselves in crisis because of an unplanned pregnancy. Their situation may have them in turmoil and panic, where healthy decisions are difficult to make. ZOE for Life!® serves as a conduit, guiding women to a wider range of support organizations, providing an attractive set of options and a promising outlook on their situation. There is counseling, housing referral assistance, referral for prenatal care, adoption and other services available for which most women in distress are unaware. It is the goal of ZOE for Life!® to offer more opportunities to women in unplanned pregnancies, and to empower them to make decisions everyone can live with. ZOE for Life!® is a pan-Orthodox outreach of Orthodox Christians. It is funded privately, and has received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. All gifts are tax-deductible as specified by law.