Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost | |
Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! | |
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Giving God to Your Enemy
by Fr. Anthony Coniaris
Glory to Jesus Christ!
The acid test of love is not whether we love our friends, but whether we love our enemies. A great Russian Saint asked, “How do we know whether a person abides in God and is sincere in his Christian faith? There is no other way of ascertaining this than by examining the person’s life to see if he loves his enemies. Where there is love for one’s enemy, there also is God.” That is the great test of whether we are in tune with God; for that is what God Himself does. He sends His rain on the just and the unjust. Chesterton said once, “Love means to love that which is unlovable, or it is no virtue at all.”
Impractical?
But to love our enemies in a world like ours seems highly impractical. To love your enemy — some object — is to allow him to take advantage of you. To love your enemy is to let him step all over you.
So we thought, until psychology and psychiatry came along and taught us a few things about hostility and hostile people. Specifically, they told us that a hostile person hates because he fears you will strike him; so, to protect himself, he strikes first. He is hostile because he expects vilification and hatred from you. The last thing he expects is love. So if, instead of hatred, you give him love, you will disarm him. Love is what he craves more than anything else. Love is the only thing that can destroy his hostility.
“Give him the devil!” said someone to a friend who had suffered an injustice at the hands of a third party. The reply he received was truly inspired, “He’s already got the devil. I’d like to give him God.” To love your enemy is to give him God.
But does God expect us to love the sin and the evil people do? Of course not. He expects us to hate the sin but to love the sinner. But isn’t this splitting hairs? How can one distinguish between the sin and the sinner? Yet we make this same distinction every day with ourselves. We do terrible things; we commit egregious errors. We hate the errors we commit, but we continue to love ourselves. Do the same with others, said Jesus. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Hate the sin; love the sinner. Someone expressed it this way, “To love one’s enemy does not mean to love the mud in which the pearl lies, but to love the pearl that lies in the mud.”
Why?
Why must I love my enemy? That I may be a child of the Father. “Love your enemies … and you will be sons of the Most High.” God wants me to be what He is. He loves His enemies. He does good to those who hate Him. He prepares green pastures for us when our just reward would be a desert. He leads us by still waters when we might have expected a land of drought. While we were yet sinners, God loved us and died for us. Shortly before He died Jesus told His disciples: “A new commandment I give unto you; that you love one another, even as I have loved you.”
“Love your enemies.” The man who makes your misery his policy, who dogs your steps, who sets snares for your feet, who twists your words, who is always pointing out the fly in the ointment, and who is never happier than when he is slowly dropping bitterness into your cup; your enemy, love him. Love him for My sake, says Jesus. Love him “even as I have loved you.” But love him also because your enemy is first of all an enemy to himself. The bitterness which he drops into your cup has, first of all, poisoned his own cup. Forget the superficial injury he inflicts on you and think of the fatal injury he is inflicting upon himself. On your part he creates bitterness; on his part he commits suicide.
As the great Russian priest Father John of Kronstadt writes in his inspiring book “The Life of Christ:” “Every person that does any evil, that gratifies any passion, is sufficiently punished by the evil he has committed, by the passions he serves, but chiefly by the fact that he withdraws himself from God, and God withdraws Himself from him: it would therefore be insane and most inhuman to nourish anger against such a man; it would be the same as to drown a sinking man, or push into the fire a person who is already being devoured by the flame. To such a man, as to one in danger of perishing, we must show double love, and pray fervently to God for him; not judging him, not rejoicing at his misfortune. For My sake, says Jesus, but for their sakes, too, ‘love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.
We are to love people not because they are attractive but because they need love. The very fact that a person dislikes you may mean that he needs you. His soul is warped by his hatred of you, and you alone can warm him and free him. Ashley Montagu has written, “Show me a hardened criminal, a juvenile delinquent, a psychopath or a ‘cold fish’ and in almost every case I will show you a person resorting to desperate means in order to attract the emotional warmth and attention he failed to get but which he so much desires and needs. ‘Aggressive’ behavior when fully understood is, in fact, nothing but love frustrated, a technique for compelling love — as well as means for taking revenge on society which has let that person down, disillusioned, deserted and dehumanized him. Hence, the best way to approach aggressive behavior in children is not by further aggressive behavior towards them, but with love. And this is true not only for children but for human beings of all ages.”
Thus, two major reasons why we should love our enemies is first that they need love; and, second, love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
A third reason is fairly obvious. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate. Only love can break the vicious circle. A man once bought a farm and was walking the bounds of his new property when he met his next door neighbor. “Don’t look now,” said the neighbor, “but when you bought this piece of ground, you also bought a lawsuit with me. Your fence is ten feet over on my land.”
Now this is a classic opening for a feud that could go on for centuries and create generations of enemies. But the new owner smiled and said, “I thought I’d find some friendly neighbors here, and I’m going to. And you’re going to help me. Move the fence where you want it, and send me the bill. You’ll be satisfied and I’ll be happy.”
Well, the fence was never moved, and the potential enemy was never the same again. He became a friendly neighbor. Love quenched the fire of hatred.
The ultimate reason why we should love our enemies is expressed in the words of Jesus: “Love your enemies … and you will be sons of the Most High.” We are all potential sons of God. Through love that potentiality becomes actuality. We must love our enemies because only by loving them can we know God and experience the beauty of His holiness.
How?
How is it possible to love one’s enemy?
1. It is not possible unless one first loves God. Jesus gave us the clue when He said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength and with all thy soul, and thy neighbor as thyself.” If you love God with your whole being, then you will love your neighbor, even though he be an enemy. Such love is a gift of the Holy Spirit abiding in us.
2. “Do good to them that hate you,” said Jesus. St. Paul says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink… . overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:20-21). Do something good for your enemy and it will surprise you to find how much easier it will be to love him. It will help him remove the bitterness from his heart. But overcoming evil with good means that we must take the first step; we must begin by doing some kind act. “That enemy is best defeated who is defeated by kindness.”
A wise physician said once, “I have been practicing medicine for 30 years, and I have prescribed many things. But in the long run I have learned that for most of what ails the human creature, the best medicine is love.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” he was asked.
“Double the dose,” he replied.
3. Jesus says, “Pray for them who … persecute you.” Remember them on your knees. Name them quietly and kindly in the most secret place. Offer them the highest privilege it is in your power to grant — the privilege of being remembered when you are face to face with God. No person can pray for another and still hate him. One of the best ways of killing bitterness is to pray for the man we are tempted to hate.
4. Look for some good in your enemy. There is good as well as bad in the worst of us. Fr. John of Kronstadt writes: “When your brother sins against you in any way — for instance, if he speaks ill of you, or transmits with an evil intention your words in a perverted form to another, or calumniates you — do not be angered against him, but seek to find in him those good qualities which undoubtedly exist in every man, and dwell lovingly on them, despising his evil calumnies concerning you as dross, not worth attention, as an illusion of the Devil. The gold-diggers do not pay any attention to the quantity of sand and dirt in the gold-dust, but only look for the grains of gold; and though they are few, they value this small quantity, and wash it out of heaps of useless sand. God acts in a like manner with us, cleansing us with great and long forbearance.”
5. Do good, pray, look for the good in your enemy, and finally develop the capacity to forgive. Without forgiveness it is impossible even to begin the act of loving one’s enemies. This forgiveness must begin with the one who has been wronged. Only the injured person can pour out the warm waters of forgiveness. Here is an example:
On April 9, 1968 — the day of Martin Luther King’s funeral — a white bus driver named Martin Whitted was pulled out of his bus in San Francisco by eleven black youths who savagely beat him and left him mortally wounded. He died shortly thereafter. Tension rose in the black and white communities. Rumors of violence began to spread. Then Dixie Whitted, the bus driver’s widow, appeared on television. Her reaction to her husband’s murder was something moving, something extraordinary, something not of this world. Quietly she spoke of her love for her husband and her faith in Christ. She told the people to refrain from violence, to be peacemakers instead. Through the power of Christ, she said, she had no bitterness or hate. She asked that a memorial fund be established not for herself but for all the young people in the area where her husband was killed.
The results of her compassionate act were electric. Cynical television crewmen cried. A Stanford coed called in to say that her whole life was changed by this Christian witness. A prisoner, who identified himself as a negro, wrote to Mrs. Whitted: “I owe you a debt. You have never known me but because of your way, your deep understanding, the beauty of your refusal to hate … I’ll never be able again to hate collectively all white men. What a monument you and your children are to your husband’s memory.”
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
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Commemorating Hieromartyr Cyprian, Virgin Martyr Justina and Martyr Theoctistus of Nicomedia, Martyrs David and Constantine Princes of Georgia, Blessed Andrew the Fool-For-Christ at Constantinople, Repose of the Holy Right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin, Venerable Cassian of Uglich, Righteous Admiral Theodore Ushakov of the Russian Naval Fleet
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead. And when from the depths You raised the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
HOLY ANDREW, FOOL FOR CHRIST TROPARION—TONE 4
You did choose foolishness for the sake of Christ and did make the crafty one foolish. You did persevere with your struggle in the midst of turmoil; and Christ has brought you to paradise.
Intercede with Him, O Andrew for those who honor you.
RESURRECTION KONTAKION—TONE 2
Hell became afraid, O Almighty Savior, seeing the miracle of Thy Resurrection from the tomb! The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with Thee! And the world, O my Savior, praises Thee forever.
HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD KONTAKION—TONE 6
Steadfast Protectress of Christians and constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the cry of us sinners, but come speedily to help those who call on You in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for You always protect those who honor You!
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | |
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READERS:
This Week: Matins: Milan Radanovic Epistle: Marijana Rocknage
Next Week: Matins: Lenny Tepsich Epistle: Natasha Milanovich
EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Second Tone: Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation.
CHOIR: Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation.
READER: v: For You are just in all that You have done for us!
CHOIR: Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation.
READER: Lord is my strength and my song,
CHOIR: and He is become my salvation.
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Second Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: The Lord, the God of gods, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Gather to Me, My venerable ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: 2 Коринћанима 11:31-12:9
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 2 Господ је снага моја и пјесма; Он ми постаде спасење.
Хор: Господ је снага моја и пјесма;Он ми постаде спасење.
Читач: Карајући покара ме Господ, али ме смрти не предаде.
Хор: Господ је снага моја и пјесма;Он ми постаде спасење.
Читач: Господ је снага моја и пјесма;
Хор: Он ми постаде спасење.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање је од друге посланице Светог апостола Павла до Коринћанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, Бог и Отац Господа нашега Исуса Христа, који је благословен ва вијек, зна да не лажем. У Дамаску намјесник цара Арете чуваше град Дамаск желећи да ме ухвати, и спустише ме кроз прозор у котарици преко зида те избјегох из његових руку. Не користи ми да се хвалим, јер ћу доћи на виђења и откривења Господња. Знам човјека у Христу који прије четрнаест година – да ли у тијелу, не знам, да ли изван тијела, не знам, Бог зна – би однесен до трећега неба. И знам да тај човјек – да ли у тијелу, да ли изван тијела, не знам, Бог зна – Би однесен у рај и чу неисказане ријечи које човјеку није допуштено говорити. Таквим ћу се хвалити, а самим собом нећу се хвалити, осим ако немоћима својим. Јер кад бих се и хтио хвалити, не бих био безуман, јер бих истину казао; али се уздржавам, да не би ко помислио за мене више од онога што види у мени, или чује од мене. И да се не бих погордио због мноштва откривења, даде ми се жалац у тијело, анђео сатанин, да ми пакости, да се не поносим. За њега трипут Господа молих, да одступи од мене; и рече ми: Доста ти је благодат моја; јер се сила моја у немоћи показује савршена. Зато ћу се најрадије хвалити својим немоћима, да се усели у мене сила Христова.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог над боговима, Господ, говори и дозива земљу од истока сунчанога до запада.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Сакупите ми свеце моје који су учинили са мном завјет на жртвама
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Luke 5:1-11
At that time, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Лука 5: 1-11
У вријеме оно, Исус стајаше крај Генисаретског језера, и видје двије лађе гдје стоје украј језера, а рибари бијаху изишли из њих и испираху мреже. И уђе у једну лађу, која бијаше Симонова, и замоли га да одмакне мало од обале; и сједе и учаше народ из лађе. А кад преста говорити, рече Симону: Хајде на дубину и баците мреже своје за лов. И одговарајући Симон рече му: Учитељу, сву ноћ смо се трудили, и ништа не ухватисмо; али на твоју ријеч бацићу мрежу. И учинивши то уловише велико мноштво риба, те им се мрежа поче цијепати. И дадоше знак друштву које бјеше на другој лађи да дођу да им помогну; и дођоше, и напунише обје лађе тако да се оне потапаху. А кад видје Симон Петар, припаде кољенима Исусовим говорећи: Изиђи од мене, Господе, јер сам човјек грјешан. Јер запрепашћење обузе њега и све који бијаху с њим због лова рибе што ухватише, a тако исто и Јакова и Јована, синове Зеведејеве, који бијаху другови Симонови. И рече Исус Симону: Не бој се, од сада ћеш људе ловити. И извукавши обје лађе на земљу оставише све, и отидоше за њим.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | |
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~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
Newly Illumined Ana Lynn Howell and Avery Catherine Baker, their parents and sponsors, Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, 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 Louise Bare and her parents Zachary & Elizabeth, Shayle York and the newborn Šeren Lily, Kaitlyn Hook and the child to be born of her, Michelle Adams, Addy Andy, Ferris Atty, Lori Bare, Dori & Doug 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, JoAnn Filepas, Anaya Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, George Gutshall, Dan Hazlett, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Kay Himes, Edward Hojnicki, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Slobodan Jovicic, Myong Sook Kim, Spencer Klinge, Dorothy Krnjaich, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Catherine Lewis, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Boro Lojpur, Stephen Lundingrin, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Infant of God Ryan Leigh Moffitt, Dave Morris, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Kobe Petrovich, Sue Petrovich, Tracy Petrovich, Linda Rodgers, Logan Roszkowski, Chloe Ruff, Nathan & Jane Rush, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Maryann Seiders, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Pat Shoemaker, Branko Smitran, Zorka Starcevich, Tim Stefan, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Savka Trivun, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Dewey Yetter, Mileva “Millie” Yezdimir, Marija Zabrodnaya, Jason Zeigler, Ashley Ziobrowski, Demetrios & Eleni Ziogas, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski
Those Who Need Special Care
COUNTRY MEADOWS MECHANICSBURG: Florence Ivanoff; MASONIC HOME ELIZABETHTOWN: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic; SPRING CREEK: Chuck Belic
Those to be Baptized
Sloane & Berkeley Semic, Barrett Scott, Divna & Danica Mitrovic, Nora & Maeve Van Huysen, Sloane & Šeren York
Our College Students
Sophia Adams, Kyranna Baker, Cameron Barber, Michael Geppert, Anastasija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Kalei Howard, Faith Kingsbury, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Madison Vorkapich, Anastasija Vukalo
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Protopresbyter Alexander Veronis, John J Milakovic, Mileva Maran, Eva Orr, Helen Kapac, Basil Havalchak, Dragoljub (Don) Maransky, Marshall Vujasinovich
~ Our Deepest Sympathy ~
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Marshall Vujasinovich, who reposed in the Lord on Thursday, October 5th. May his soul dwell with the righteous and be numbered among the just! Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
~Vigils Offered~
YOVANKA HOOVER Offered in joyous celebration of our Yovanka, on her birthday today (Oct 17) and to thank her for all she does for all of us, you are God’s blessing to all of us. May God bless her with many more happy and healthy birthdays. We love you very much, Matthew, Babi and the whole family. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
NINA GILROY Offered for my Goddaughter in celebration of her 40th birthday (Oct 19)!! May God grant you many more years! Ziveli! Mnogaja Ljeta! Love Kuma Nikki & Putz & family.
TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offering vigils and prayers for our Kuma Tootsie. May God’s blessings be with her during her rehab period. From her Godchildren, Kat and families.
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.
†SISTERS OF THE KSS Offered in loving memory of all of our Kolo Sisters departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection to eternal life. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†MARY KAUFFMAN Offered in loving memory of Kuma Linda Wolf’s mother on what would have been her 111th birthday (Oct 12) with prayers for her peaceful repose. Given by the Yanich & Matich family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†MILLIE OBRADOVICH RADOVICH Offered in loving memory of †Kuma Millie (10 years—Oct 16) of her repose, with prayers she rests where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting. Given by the Yanich & Matich families. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†NATJA KESSLER Offered in loving memory of my beautiful wife Natja, on what would have been her 77th birthday on Tuesday, October 18. How blessed I was to have had her in my life, sadly missed by her husband Paul. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†NATJA KESSLER Offered by Daria, Dave, Jason & Sarah in loving memory of her birthday (Oct 18). Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†NATJA KESSLER offered in loving memory of my Kuma Natja for her birthday October 18th. Sadly missed by Godson Matthew Hoover. Vječnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†JAMES RUSSIN Offered in loving memory of Marie’s brother’s repose (26 years—Oct 18) by Frank and Marie Brescia and family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†JAMES RUSSIN Offered in loving memory of his repose (26 years—Oct 18) by his Godchildren Alexis Brescia & Frank Brescia III. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†MARSHALL VUJASINOVICH offered in loving memory by his loving family for Marshall who was taken from us way too soon. Vječnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
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Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Morocco, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, 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!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 10/8/2023
Collection: $3,750.00
Date 10/1/2023
Collection: $2,471.00
Date 9/24/2023
Collection: $1,951.00
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October Birthdays
Caroline Donato (Oct 2), Dave Milletics (Oct 2), Sonora Viola Mae Cruz (Oct 2), Marko Milanovic (Oct 3), Adeline & Peter Meadow (Oct 3), Marcia Breinich (Oct 4), Kate Nation (Oct 4), Madison Vorkapich (Oct 5), Lenny Tepsich (Oct 6), Craig Heilman (Oct 6), Alex Filepas (Oct 6), Owen Kingsbury (Oct 8), Dejan Raic (Oct 11), Arlene Barber (Oct 12), Dennis Ruff (Oct 12), Milan Yovic (Oct 15), Yovanka Hoover (Oct 17), Andrea Govelovich (Oct 17), Nicole Petrovich (Oct 18), Anastasija Gligorevic (Oct 18), Nina Gilroy (Oct 19), Mira Lukic (Oct 26), John Nicholas Hernjak (Oct 27), Carole Radosinovich (Oct 29), Jimi Werner (Oct 29), Marijana Rocknage (Oct 30), Brad Kingsbury, David Christ, Ognjen Pejanovic
October Anniversaries
Bobbi & William Wenner (Oct 1), Katya Kotchnyeva & Eric Garvin (Oct 10), Jean & Paul Martin (Oct 11), Angie & Jim Bagley (Oct 12), Daria & Dave Milletics (Oct 16), Josh & Emma Howell (Oct 16), Mackenzie & Stefan Lazarevic (Oct 21), Janis & Greg Meadow (Oct 29)
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OCTOBER 2023 CALENDAR CORRECTIONS
1) Fast Days during this month are only Wednesdays and Fridays, not a two week fast as the calendar mistakenly indicated.
2) No Strategic Vision Committee meeting.
3) No Festal Vigil on Friday, October 20.
A new and updated calendar has been distributed via email. Copies may be obtained in the office if needed.
ADULT EDUCATION CLASS
As we begin the new Liturgical year, we also begin our Adult Education classes after Vespers on Wednesday evenings (starting in October). This year, at your suggestions, Father Chris will be focusing upon the lives of the Holy Apostles. We will begin with the twelve, then learn of the 70.
CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION
It is that time again, getting ready for a new academic year. Please follow this link to register your children for our Church School program. All children, ages 3—18 are expected to attend classes each Sunday to grow in the Faith and in fellowship.
https://forms.gle/SGWWhv3iBLWqJfHd7
FOOD PANTRY BOX
Just a reminder we are still collecting non perishable items for Bethesda Mission and the Food Pantry. They may be placed in the collection box in the lobby.
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ANNUAL KSS PULLED PORK & PALACINKE SALE
The Kolo Srpskih Sestara/Circle of the Serbian Sisters will hold their annual fundraiser on Sunday, October 22. All sales are PRE-ORDER by Oct 15. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches for $6, cheese palacinke for $2, strawberry and applebutter palacinkes for $1.50. Pick up will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on October 22. Forms are available on the tutors stand, or call Linda Yandric at 717-939-5309 or Daria Milletics at 717-939-3872
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October Charity
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
OCF celebrates October as Orthodox Awareness Month and is the official campus ministry program established by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) to support Orthodox Christian student organizations on university and college campuses. OCF offers support to 270 campus chapters in the US and Canada, convenes conferences and service projects, and encourages students to develop deeper connections to our faith. Visit the OCF website at www.ocf.net to learn more about their worship, service, and fellowship programs and to check on specific campus chapters. Penn State University at State College formed one of the earliest OCF chapters and continues to have an active agenda. Other Pennsylvania chapters include Hershey Medical School, F&M College, Millersville, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Penn, Pitt, and Bucknell. There are also chapters at Delaware and Ohio State. Encourage college students in your family to participate with the OCF chapter on their campuses or to contact OCF for assistance in organizing a chapter. Participation is a great pan-Orthodox experience.
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