Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese

903 Ann Street Homestead, PA 15120

Rectory Office Phone: (412) 461-3264

Church Office & Auditorium: (412) 461-9437

Web Site: www.stnichomestead.org

E-mail Address: STNICKHOMESTEAD@GMAIL.COM

E-mail Address: frmzak@gmail.com

Pastor – Very Rev. R. Michael Zak, Cell phone:(412)-804-8865

Deacons: Fr. Deacons Artemius Stienstra & Dr. Marc Wisnosky

Sub- Deacon: Andrew Halapin, Jr.

Cantor/Choir Director: Danielle Bartko

Assistant Cantors: Donald Bodnar, Jr. & Michele Tomko

Parish Council President: Tom Pingor Vol. 7; No. 26

Sunday, June 30, 2019

2nd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST & SUNDAY OF THE

SAINTS OF CARPATHO-RUS Service of the Third Hour: 8:20 A.M.

Divine Liturgy: 9:00 A.M.

Epistle: Romans 2:10-16; Resurrection Tone: 1; Gospel: Matthew 4:18-23

Tropar & Kondak: Blue Book: 81-83 / Red Book: 95-99

11:30 A.M. Holy Mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation & Holy Communion administered to Lillian Mary Fucsko, daughter of John & Sarah Fucsko of

Cranberry, PA

Altar Candles’ Sponsor: In honor of the Baptism of: Lillian Mary Fucsko, offered by Stephen

& Carol Fucsko.

Birthday prayers intoned for: Dacia Paganico (7/2/’19) and Kaitlyn Thorn (7/5/”19), offered by

the Family.

Panachida Service conducted for the repose of the soul of God’s departed servant, father

+Michael Labik, Sr., offered by Andrea Labik.

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Saturday, (July 6)… 7:00 P.M. Great Vespers on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John

the Baptist, with the Blessing of Bread, Wheat, Wine & Oil.

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Sunday, July 7, 2019

3RD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST & FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF ST.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

Service of the 3rd Hour: 8:20 A.M

Divine Liturgy: 9:00 A.M.

Epistle: Romans13:11-14:4;Resurrection Tone: 2;Gospel: Luke 1:1-25,57-69,76,80(for the Feast)

Romans 5:1-10 Gospel: Math. 6:22-33 (for the Sunday)

Tropar & Kondak: Blue Book: 84-86, 160-161 / Red Book: 99-102, 180-182

Birthday prayers intoned for: Kyle Fischer (7/9/’19), offered by the Family.

Panachida Service conducted for the repose of the souls of God’s departed servants, +Michael

Harris, Sr., +Suzanne Harris, +Ann Timko and +Mary Dandar, offered by the Family.

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FATHER MICHAEL SHALL BE DEPARTING TODAY FOR JOHNSTOWN, PA TO

PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL ALTAR BOY’S RETREAT UNTIL WEDNESDAY OF

THIS WEEK. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WHERE AN ORTHODOX PRIEST IS

NEEDED, PLEASE CONTACT REV. FR. DAVID URBAN AT (412) 748-0148.

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Matthew 4:18-23 –

4:18-22 – These first disciples had already heard the preaching of John the Baptist and were

prepared to accept Christ immediately. Though illiterate and unlearned in religion, these

“people of the land” whom Jesus calls will be revealed at Pentecost to be the wisest of all.

4:23-25 – Note that the crowds do not swarm Jesus when He commands repentance (v. 17), but

only when He begins to heal and work miracles. This fact shows that the people misunderstand

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the true nature of His Kingdom. It also shows Christ’s concession “to give credibility to what He

teaches” among the fickle multitudes. (St. Theopilus).

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RECTORY OFFICE HOURS are 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Monday thru Friday. EMERGENCY SICK CALLS can be made anytime. Please notify your Pastor when someone is taken to the hospital; Sacred Scriptures remind us to call the presbyter to anoint the sick. MARRIAGES are celebrated on Saturdays and Sundays. Consult the Pastor at least 6 months in advance and before wedding reception plans have been made. Marriages cannot be celebrated during Lent or Advent, or on Fridays. BAPTISMS are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 A.M. Two God-parents are required; at least one of whom must be an Orthodox Christian by Faith, and the other a practicing Christian. An infant’s first or middle name must be a saint’s name. CHURCH FUNERALS are provided for parishioners who are current in their spiritual and financial obligations to the Parish. Otherwise, burial is from the funeral home. The Church does not permit cremation. ****************************************************************************** FOLLOW OUR DIOCESE ON-LINE! Diocesan Website: http://www.acrod.org Camp Nazareth: http://www.campnazareth.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acroddiocese Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrodnews You Tube: https://youtube.com/acroddiocese **************************************************************************************************************************

THE WILDERNESS JOURNAL 365 Days with the PHILOKALIA

By: Angela Doll Carlson Day 173

Take up the weapons of righteousness that are directly opposed to them: mindfulness of God, for this is the cause of all blessings: the light of spiritual knowledge, through which the soul awakens from its slumber and drives out of itself the darkness of ignorance, and true ardor, which makes the soul eager for salvation. St. Mark the Ascetic, “Letter to Nicholas the Solitary” p. 159

MINDFUL

I try to use a computer program to narrow my focus when I need to get work done. I tell it what I need to see and what I don’t want to see. It’s a sort of digital “Do Not Disturb” sign. The message is for no one else but me. I have to force myself into that narrow focus; otherwise I’ll travel all kinds of rabbit trails. I often wish I had a program in my brain to do this for me when I’m praying. I wish I could narrow my focus, look only to God, think these words, utter them with my lips moving, breathing deeply. The moment I begin, though, sirens blare outside, car engines roar, kids call from downstairs, the phone rings, and even if I ignore all those things, thoughts still pester me – great new ideas, lines from poems, song titles I’ve been trying to remember for weeks, the name of the doctor I need to contact, the permission slip I neglected to fill out, the dishes that can’t wait, the laundry that is bound to mildew if I don’t move it now. My soul is eager for salvation, my mind is eager for productivity; my body is exhausted from the struggle. I may only glean one or two good minutes in prayer, moments in which I can touch my fingers and then my lips to my icons, moments in which I can whisper the Jesus Prayer, my mind in complete agreement with my soul. ********************************************************************************** LET’S EQUIP THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN THE DUQUESNE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH BACKPACKS FULL OF WRITING INSTRUMENTS! Working with the national Orthodox F.O.C.U.S. organization, our parish desires to double the amount of backpacks supplied to the young students in the Duquesne School District this year. Offer to help a needy pupil in a depressed school district with the basic learning materials that he or she will gratefully receive in their early scholastic careers. Submit a contribution of $20 to cover the expense of the backpack and all the educational supplies that it contains. George Matey and Jean Colantoni are presently receiving all monetary gifts toward this project. Let us endow the young children with the tools to spark their educational intuitiveness. ************************************************************************************************************************** THE NEXT ST. NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH BOARD MEETING! The Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church Board Session is scheduled for Monday, July 22nd at 7:00 P.M. Auditors will meet at 6:30 P.M. and all parishioners have the privilege to attend the meeting. **************************************************************************************************************************

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AS OUR “YOUNG CHURCH LEADERS” BEGAN TO REGISTER ON LINE TO PARTICIPATE AT THE DIOCESAN CAMPING SESSION (JULY 14-20, 2019), SEND ALL OF OUR CHILDREN OF CAMPER-AGE TO THEIR “HOME AWAY FROM HOME” BY OFFERING A CAMPERSHIP! The registration fee for Diocesan campers this year is $320.00 per youth. Any monetary contribution towards the campership is certainly appreciated by our young campers and their parents. Return the children to “Paradise!” ************************************************************************************************************************** TAKE HOME WITH YOU THE WINE-COLORED LITURGICAL BOOK IN THE PEWS, SO THAT THEY MAY BE REPLACED BY THE NEWEST EDITION OF THE DIOCESAN “BLUE BOOK”! ************************************************************************************************************************** PLAN NOW TO ATTEND NEXT MONTH’S “CHRISTMAS IN JULY” VENDORS’ SHOW IN THE PARISH AUDITORIUM ON THE 20TH DAY (SATURDAY) FROM 10 A.M. UNTIL 2 P.M.! Café Nikolaj will be open for business, featuring the mouth-watering and delectable Pirohi and additional Slavic foods and pastries that will cause everyone to stop over for lunch. Volunteer to make the delicacy on a Tuesday evening before the show if we decide to replenish the supply that is already in the chest freezer in the stage area. ***************************************************************************************************************************** *********************

2019 NATIONAL ACRY CONVENTION! St. George Church, ACRY Chapter #21 of Taylor, PA is pleased to be your host for the 75th Senior and 36th Junior Convention, August 30 – September 2, 2019. The highlights of the weekend will be an ethnic night, Divine Liturgy with veneration and anointing of the myrrh-streaming icon of the Kardiotissa, and the Grand Banquet entertainment provided by Ariana Lem Joy Trio. Chapter #21 has been working hard to keep the costs low and put together a weekend everyone will enjoy. We hope you will make the trip to The Greater Scranton, PA area for a fun and enjoyable weekend! Host hotel for the weekend will be the Spring Hill Suites, located in Moosic, PA. Room rates are $109 + tax per night. Room reservations must be made no later than Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in order to obtain the convention rate. Those who prefer may call the hotel directly at 570-207-1212 and reference “ACRY Convention” to obtain the special convention rate. To allow everyone the opportunity to visit the area, Spring Hill Suites will honor the above room rates for early arrivals on Thursday. ************************************************************************************************************************** WHEN THE TIME COMES, GIVE TOWARDS THE ACRY CONVENTION COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET! In conjunction with this Labor Day Weekend event, an informative journal is being compiled. They are seeking donations in the form of advertisements, patrons, and boosters. Additionally, they will have an “In Memoriam” section to honor the memory of loved ones. The respective costs are as follows: Full Page Advertisement - $75, Half Page Advertisement - $35, Quarter Page Advertisement - $20, Patrons - $10, Boosters - $5, Memorial Listings - $5. Photographs may be included in full and half page ads. They should be scanned at the highest resolution and put into a jpeg format. Deadline for all submissions is Tuesday, July 30, 2019. ************************************************************************************************************************** COME AND HELP US MAKE THE PIROHI FOR THE UPCOMING “CRAFTS SHOW” ON TUESDAY, JULY 9TH AT 6 P.M. IN THE AUDITORIUM! Patrons look forward to coming to our church whenever a fund-raising event is being held and our delectable Slavic foods are being sold. Such will be the case at our “Christmas in July” Crafts Show on Saturday, July 20th from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. in the parish hall. Café Nikolaj shall draw many hungry and eager diners for the luncheon meal at the exhibitors’ displays and we desire to properly prepare for their “onslaught” by making the mouth-watering potato-cheese dumplings to satisfy their appetite. Plan to join us on Tuesday, July 9th as good stewards in the Orthodox Christian Faith, enjoying the fellowship and camaraderie that we share with one another, while performing a labor of love for Christ and His Church. May your time and talents benefit our sacred temple, whose members are the CHURCH, consecrated to stand out as children of the Light (Christ) of the world. Also, our skilled bakers are encouraged to offer a pastry of their choice for the Show. People like their “sweets” and will be anxious to partake of an enticing dessert. Browse through your cookbooks and decide what baking confection you’ll be offering. ************************************************************************************************************************** ST. NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH – ANNUAL FALL FOOD FESTIVAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 10TH AT 6:00 P.M.! There will be a meeting of the Annual Fall Food Festival Committee on Wednesday, July 10th at 6:00 P.M. in the parish hall, prior to the Saint Nectarios service at 7:00 P.M. All interested persons should attend this kick-off session to our festival, which is our major church fundraiser for the year. Please volunteer and support this vital activity. Come with your ideas and suggestions to enhance the experience for our attendees. Thank You! Kindest Regards, Tom Pingor. ************************************************************************************************************************** THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS MONETARY GIFTS TOWARD THE NEW ROOF OF OUR CHURCH; CONTINUE TO GIVE WITH A JOYOUS HEART AS GOOD STEWARDS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD! Close to $2,000 was liberally donated to our church by considerate faithful and parish organizations during the month of May for the new roof installed on our church edifice. This was a huge financial undertaking for our parish where the total expense amounted to $82,500. Fortunately, and by the grace of Almighty God we will able to fulfill this outstanding debt. And we have members of the Church Triumphant and Church Militant to thank. We are deeply grateful for your support and charitable response. Please continue to give of your treasures toward this project, maintaining this holy site of the People of God

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

http://www.stnichomestead.org/