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. 32

Sunday, August 11, 2019

8th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Service of the Third Hour: 8:20 A.M.

Deacon’s Service, with distribution of Holy Communion: 9:00 A.M.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Resurrection Tone: 7; Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22

Tropar & Kondak: Blue Book: 99-101 / Red Book: 114-117

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Tuesday, (August 13)… 9:00 A.M. Divine Liturgy for the repose of the soul of God’s

departed servant, +John Rudosky, offered by Rose Mary Roscoe (Sister).

Wednesday, (August 14)… 9:00 A.M. Divine Liturgy for the repose of the soul of God’s

departed servant, the priest, +Protopresbyter Paul Herbert, offered by the Herbert Family.

7:00 P.M. Saint Nectarios Service with the Anointing of the sick in body and soul.

Thursday, (August 15)… 9:00 A.M. Divine Liturgy for the repose of the souls of God’s

departed servants, +Members of St. Nicholas Rosary Society, offered by the Society.

Friday (August 16)… 9:00 A.M. Divine Liturgy for the repose of the soul of God’s

departed servant, +William Pingor, offered by Rose Pingor (Wife).

Saturday, (August 17)… 10:00 A.M. Divine Liturgy & Ordination of Protodeacon

Michael Sochka to the Holy Priesthood at the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, in

Ellwood City, PA.

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Sunday, August 18, 2019

9th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Matins: 8:00 A.M

Divine Liturgy: 9:00 A.M.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:9-17; Resurrection Tone: 8; Gospel: Matthew 14:22-34

Tropar & Kondak: Blue Book: 102-104, / Red Book: 117-119

Altar Flowers’ Sponsor: In memory of +Dolores Pingor, on the 12th Anniversary of her falling

asleep in the Lord, offered by the Family.

Birthday Prayers extended to Ed Brugos, on his 90th Birthday (Aug. 20th), offered by Cheri, Bill,

Brittanie, Brianna, Debbie, Garrett, Christopher and Heather.

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

Pingor, on the 12th Anniversary of her falling asleep in the Lord, offered by the Family.

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

Yuhasz, offered by George Matey.

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Matthew 14:14-22

14:14-21 – This miracle, reported by all four evangelists, shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people as He fed the Israelites in the desert. The Church Fathers see in this an image of the Eucharist, an idea made clear in John 6. In 15:32-39, another miracle is mentioned in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish. While certain modern scholars have attempted to say that these are merely the same story, the witness of the gospel is clear that they are two distinct accounts, with Christ Himself referring to both of them separately (16:8-10). Moved with compassion is used frequently concerning the Lord (20:34; Mark 1:41; 6:34; Luke 7:13), showing that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer. A spiritual interpretation given by the Fathers teaches that the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and thus feed the universe. The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen. The gathering of the leftovers by the apostles (v. 20) shows that the teachings the faithful are unable to grasp are nevertheless held in the consciousness of the Church. 14:19 – Jesus shows us that we should never eat without first giving thanks to God. The terminology points to the Last Supper (26:26) and leads to a eucharistic interpretation of this miracle. Just as the disciples distribute the bread to the multitudes, so also Christ feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters.

********************************************************************************* 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 219

Just as it is impossible to cross the sea without a boat, so it is impossible to

repulse the provocation of an evil thought without invoking Jesus Christ

St. Hesychios the Priest, “On Watchfulness and Holiness” p.

186

CROSSING THE SEA

THE WORLD IS SHRINKING. I can take a plane to see my friends across the country

or across the ocean. At one time, we were limited by our transportation options. It took

months to get from one place to another, and so most people stayed where they were

born; they lived and worked and dwelt in the known places. It was the explorers and

adventurers who took to the ships to sail to the unknown places.

Now the impossible is possible. Now we have the means to reach places that were

once inaccessible. It still takes courage to board the plane, the boat, but we have the

means.

The coming of Christ into our midst has had the same effect. What once felt

impossible to cross, to bridge, to reach, is now possible. The name of Jesus is available

to us; we have the means. We can be transported. We can be changed.

************************************************************************************ 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, August 26th at 7:00 P.M. Auditors will meet at 6:30 P.M. and all parishioners have the privilege to attend the meeting. ************************************************************************************************************************** ROOFING PROJECT UPDATE! We are nearing the completion of our church and parish house roofing project. Before the project started we had to make an initial down payment of $27,500. We were able to cover this payment with the money left in the Pointing and Painting fund and the Capital improvement fund. This is reflected on our project chart in the church hall. The church was recently blessed to receive $37,000 from the estate of our dear friend Sue Semancik. This money is being put into the roof project fund. To date we have collected from your generous donations of $7,250 to put toward the final payment. As you can see we are still short almost $20,000 from our goal of $90,000. This past week we received a $20 donation delivered to the office by one of our young boys. It made us all feel good that our youngest church members care enough about our church to donate to this project. We in the office hope and pray you will all continue to support this project.- Financial Officers – Cheryl Tomko, Andrea Zober, Andrea Labik ************************************************************************************************************************** A SPECIAL DIOCESAN PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH 24TH DIOCESAN COUNCIL-SOBOR! All high school juniors and seniors as well as college students are invited to participate in writing an essay, maximum 1,500 words, about the Orthodox Christian perspective on one of the following topics: Abortion, End of Life Issues, Same-sex Marriage, Wealth and Poverty, and Violence, Conflict and War. All submissions will be printed in the Sobor Journal which will be issued at the Council. Students are asked to submit their essays as a WORD document to the Chancellor at fpmiloro@atlanticbb.net, no later than August 31st. Please note: applicants names should not be included on their essays so that essays can be judged without bias. Six monetary awards will be given as follows: (2) First Place - $500; (2) Second Place - $400; (2) Third Place - $300. Our young people should give their best effort in this special project. ************************************************************************************************************************** ST. NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH – ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC! Our annual church picnic will be on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at the Park in West Mifflin. The Church Board is currently seeking someone to act as chairperson of the picnic committee. If you are interested, please see our church council president, Thomas Pingor as soon as possible. Thank you… regards, Tom. ************************************************************************************************************************** ST. NICHOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH – ANNUAL FALL FOOD FESTIVAL MEETING – There will be a meeting of the Annual Fall Food Festival committee on Wednesday, August 14th at 6:00 P.M. prior to the St. Nectarios service at 7:00 P.M. All interested persons should attend this meeting to support our festival. Please look for volunteer sign-up sheet the first Sunday in September. Thank you… regards, Tom. ************************************************************************************************************************** DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE CAMP NAZARETH CLASSIC IS AUGUST 17TH AND PURCHASE THE $5 RAFFLE TICKETS FROM OUR FINANCIAL OFFICERS TO WIN A VISIO 55” SMART TV! Our ladies in the auditorium office has all the info. about the Tournament at Traditions at the Glen Resort in Johnson City, N.Y., benefiting the Science and Nature Camp at Camp Nazareth. The 2nd Annual Camp Nazareth Classic Golf Tournament shall take place on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Support the Science and Nature Camp even if you don’t play golf. The women parish leaders have the ducats to sell. ************************************************************************************************************************** BUY $15 RAFFLE TICKETS FROM OUR LADIES IN THE CHURCH OFFICE TO WIN TWO TICKETS TO THE CLEVELAND BROWNS VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS FOOTBALL GAME IN CLEVELAND, OHIO! One of the parishioners of our diocesan parish of St. Nicholas Church in Erie, PA graciously donated two tickets to the November 14, 2019 Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers football game. The parish is raffling off the tickets as a fundraiser and we have received 15 ducats for our church. The grand prize includes a) two tickets in section 127, row 3 to watch the game at the First Energy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio; b) a coach purse with matching wallet & wristlet; and c) $100.00 cash to be used as spending money for game day. Tickets are $15.00 and will be drawn on Sunday, August 25 at the parish picnic. All tickets, both sold and unsold, and the money must be returned to Erie by August 15 to ensure that the tickets will be included in the drawing. Thank you for your help in supporting your sister parish! ************************************************************************************************************************** GARAGE SALE AT THE NORTHSIDE PITTSBURGH PARISH ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH AND 7TH FROM 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M. EACH DAY! St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church (2688

California Ave., Pgh., PA 15212) will have their Annual Garage Sale on Friday & Saturday, September 6th & 7th from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. each day. Tax-deductible clean donations for the sale are now being accepted through August 18th. Please contact Fr. Dave (OrthodoxPittsburgh1932@gmail.com / 412-748-0148) to arrange dropping off your extra items that another will treasure. ************************************************************************************************************************** ************************

YOUR PASTOR AND 3 DELEGATES OF ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE XXIV DIOCESAN COUNCIL, OCT. 13TH -16TH, 2019 IN JOHNSTOWN, PA! On Tuesday, October 15, the Grand Banquet will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Downtown. Hosted by the

Johnstown Deanery, Presiding at the Diocesan Council (Sobor) is His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory at Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Johnstown Holiday Inn Downtown and the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center. Banquet Tickets are $50.00. Banquet choice: Choose One: Filet Mignon or Salmon. Please notify the church financial officers if you plan to attend the Grand Banquet of the Sobor and wish to secure ducats.

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church