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The American CarpathoThe American CarpathoThe American Carpatho---Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.ARussian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.ARussian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLEECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLEECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Rev. Fr. Jeff L. Zias: 570-429-0670

Joseph T. Yarashus: 570-691-4143

(Parish Council President)

Website: www.stmichaelorthodox.org

+++ Please Remember St. Michael Orthodox Church in your Will Please Remember St. Michael Orthodox Church in your Will Please Remember St. Michael Orthodox Church in your Will +++

THE INVISIBLE SERPENT, the originator of evil, is inventive,

versatile and extremely skillful in contriving wickedness. He has means to hinder our good purposes and actions as soon as they begin. But if he fails to prevent them initially, he sets up other devices by which he can render them useless once they are underway. If he is unable to make them worthless when they are half way to completion, he knows other tricks and ways to in-validate them even once they are finished, and makes them a source not of reward but of harm to all but the most careful. First of all he points out how laborious and difficult it is to accomplish virtue. In this way he fills us with laziness and despair, as though we were attempting difficult and impossible things and were therefore incapable of putting our intentions into action. Then he engenders disbelief in the rewards which God has promised to those who struggle. But we, brethren, should rise above this trap by our soul’s courage, eager-ness and faith. We should bear in mind the fact that just as the earth cannot yield worthwhile fruit without labour, so the soul cannot acquire anything which pleases God or leads to salvation without spiritual struggles. But while it is possible to find earth which is unsuitable for cultivation, every human soul is naturally suited to virtue. As we are all unavoidably condemned, however, by the judgment given against our forefather, to live by labour and toil, let us turn necessity into an honour and willingly offer to God what is ours. Let us give up transitory things in exchange for things that endure, and receive what is beneficial in exchange for what is harmful, transforming short-lived toil into a means to gain eternal ease. If we labour here for the sake of virtue we shall certainly attain to the rest promised in the age to come. He who promised is trustworthy and is at hand to help all who readily take on the struggle for virtue. If He who can do all things gives us His help, is anything impossible to achieve?

—St. Gregory Palamas

THE ARCHANGELTHE ARCHANGELTHE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael Orthodox Church

St. Clair, Pennsylvania

August 27, 2017

Holy Prophet MicahHoly Prophet MicahHoly Prophet Micah Epistle: 1 Corinthian 15:1Epistle: 1 Corinthian 15:1Epistle: 1 Corinthian 15:1---111111

The Gospel of St. Matthew 19:16The Gospel of St. Matthew 19:16The Gospel of St. Matthew 19:16---262626

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~ St. Michael’s Calendar of Events ~~ St. Michael’s Calendar of Events ~~ St. Michael’s Calendar of Events ~

Sept. 11: Sept. 11: Sept. 11: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Beheading of St. John the Baptist, 9:00 a.m.Beheading of St. John the Baptist, 9:00 a.m.Beheading of St. John the Baptist, 9:00 a.m. Sept. 12: Cemetery Work at 9:00 a.m. Sept. 12: Cemetery Work at 9:00 a.m. Sept. 12: Cemetery Work at 9:00 a.m. Sept. 21: Sept. 21: Sept. 21: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Birth of the Theotokos, 9:00 a.m.Birth of the Theotokos, 9:00 a.m.Birth of the Theotokos, 9:00 a.m. Sept. 21: Sept. 21: Sept. 21: Parish Council Meeting,Parish Council Meeting,Parish Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m. Sept. 22: Stewardship Conference @ Camp Nazareth (22Sept. 22: Stewardship Conference @ Camp Nazareth (22Sept. 22: Stewardship Conference @ Camp Nazareth (22---24)24)24) Sept: 23: Citizen’s Club Sept: 23: Citizen’s Club Sept: 23: Citizen’s Club Bean Soup Sale!Bean Soup Sale!Bean Soup Sale! Sept. 27: Sept. 27: Sept. 27: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Elevation of the Holy Cross, 9:00 a.m.Elevation of the Holy Cross, 9:00 a.m.Elevation of the Holy Cross, 9:00 a.m. Oct. 24: Oct. 24: Oct. 24: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Protection of the Mother of God, 9:00 a.m.Protection of the Mother of God, 9:00 a.m.Protection of the Mother of God, 9:00 a.m. Oct. 28: Oct. 28: Oct. 28: The Wedding The Wedding The Wedding of Katie Verbitsky & Tyler Cawthernof Katie Verbitsky & Tyler Cawthernof Katie Verbitsky & Tyler Cawthern Oct. 28: St. Michael’s Food FairOct. 28: St. Michael’s Food FairOct. 28: St. Michael’s Food Fair Nov. 10: Citizen’s Club Nov. 10: Citizen’s Club Nov. 10: Citizen’s Club Lobsterfest!Lobsterfest!Lobsterfest! Nov. 19: Our Nov. 19: Our Nov. 19: Our St. Michael’s Patron Saint Banquet, St. Michael’s Patron Saint Banquet, St. Michael’s Patron Saint Banquet, following Liturgyfollowing Liturgyfollowing Liturgy Nov. 21: Nov. 21: Nov. 21: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Holyday Liturgy: Archangel MICHAELArchangel MICHAELArchangel MICHAEL, 9:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m.

The Holy Prophet Micah The Holy Prophet Micah The Holy Prophet Micah was a companion of the holy prophet Elias. He prophesied the ruin of King Ahab in a war with the Assyrians, for which he was cast into prison. Set free after the downfall of Ahab (3 Kings 22: 8-22), the holy prophet Micah died as a martyr in the ninth century B.C.

—Orthodox Wiki

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Liturgical Schedule

August 27, SUNDAYAugust 27, SUNDAYAugust 27, SUNDAY Prophet MicahProphet MicahProphet Micah

10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomThe Divine Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomThe Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Great Vespers Great Vespers with Litija with Litija with Litija (Blessing of Flowers!)(Blessing of Flowers!)(Blessing of Flowers!)

August 28, MondayAugust 28, MondayAugust 28, Monday Dormition of the Mother of GodDormition of the Mother of GodDormition of the Mother of God 9:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 9:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 9:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Blessing of Flowers!)(Blessing of Flowers!)(Blessing of Flowers!)

August 30, WednesdayAugust 30, WednesdayAugust 30, Wednesday +++Harry & Sally ZiasHarry & Sally ZiasHarry & Sally Zias 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by the Zias Family 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by the Zias Family 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by the Zias Family

September 02, SaturdaySeptember 02, SaturdaySeptember 02, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone---4)4)4)

September 03, SUNDAYSeptember 03, SUNDAYSeptember 03, SUNDAY Apostle ThaddeusApostle ThaddeusApostle Thaddeus

9:00 a.m. ConfessionsConfessionsConfessions 9:30 a.m. Hours of PrayerHours of PrayerHours of Prayer 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomThe Divine Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomThe Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

September 05, TuesdaySeptember 05, TuesdaySeptember 05, Tuesday +++Ronald HomaRonald HomaRonald Homa 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by Jack & Stephanie Shandor 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by Jack & Stephanie Shandor 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by Jack & Stephanie Shandor

September 07, ThursdaySeptember 07, ThursdaySeptember 07, Thursday +++John HolobetzJohn HolobetzJohn Holobetz 9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by John & Lydia Malusky9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by John & Lydia Malusky9:00 a.m. Memorial Liturgy, offered by John & Lydia Malusky

September 09, SaturdaySeptember 09, SaturdaySeptember 09, Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone6:00 p.m. Vespers (Tone---5)5)5)

September 10, SUNDAYSeptember 10, SUNDAYSeptember 10, SUNDAY Venerable Moses the EthiopianVenerable Moses the EthiopianVenerable Moses the Ethiopian

9:00 a.m. Confessions 9:30 a.m. Hours of Prayer 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomThe Divine Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomThe Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

CONGRATULATIONS to Amanda Sura, newly received into Holy Orthodoxy.

Amanda was Baptized Baptized Baptized and Chrismated Chrismated Chrismated yesterday, and received the Holy Eucharist Holy Eucharist Holy Eucharist

today. May God bless you, Amanda— May you see the good things of the Heavenly May you see the good things of the Heavenly May you see the good things of the Heavenly

Jerusalem all the days of your life. Jerusalem all the days of your life. Jerusalem all the days of your life. Many Years and God’s Choicest Blessings!