Христос Међу Нама! Christ is in our midst! Cristo esta' entra nosotros! | | |
Homily on the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
St. Anthony of Sourozh (Metropolitan Anthony Bloom)
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
In one of the Psalms we can read the following words: Those who have sown with tears will reap with joy… If in the course of weeks of preparation we have seen all that is ugly and unworthy in us mirrored in the parables, if we have stood before the judgement of our conscience and of our God, then we have truly sown in tears our own salvation.
And yet, there is still time because even when we enter into the time of the harvest, God gives us a respite; as we progress towards the Kingdom of God, towards the Day of the Resurrection, we still can, at every moment, against the background of salvation, in the face of the victory of God, turn to Him with gratitude and yet, broken-heartedness, and say, ‘No, Lord! I am perhaps the worker of the eleventh hour, but receive me as Thou promised to do!’
Last week we have kept the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the day when the Church proclaimed that it was legitimate and right to paint icons of Christ; it was not a declaration about art, it was a deeply theological proclamation of the Incarnation.
The Old Testament said to us that God cannot be represented by any image because He was bottomless mystery; He had even no Name except the mysterious name which only the High Priest know. But in the New Testament we have learned, and we know from experience that God has become Man, that the fullness of the Godhead has abided and is still abiding forever in the flesh; and therefore God has a human name: Jesus, and He has got a human face that can be represented in icons. An icon is therefore a proclamation of our certainty that God has become man; and He has become man to achieve ultimate, tragic and glorious solidarity with us, to be one of us that we may be one of the children of God. He has become man that we may become gods, as the Scripture tells us.
And so, we could last week already rejoice; and this is why, a week before, when we were already preparing to meet this miracle, this wonder of the Incarnation, softly, in an almost inaudible way, the Church was singing the canon of Easter: Christ is risen from the dead! – because it is not a promise for the future, it is a certainty of the present, open to us like a door for us to enter through Christ, the Door as He calls Himself, into eternity.
And today we remember the name of Saint Gregory Palamas, one of the great Saints of Orthodoxy, who against heresy and doubt, proclaimed, from within the experience of the ascetics and of all believers, proclaimed that the grace of God is not a created Gift – it is God Himself, communicating Himself to us so that we are pervaded by His presence, that we gradually, if we only receive Him, open ourselves to Him, become transparent or at least translucent to His light, that we become incipiently and ever increasingly partakers of the Divine nature.
This is not simply a promise; this is a certainty which we have because this has happened to thousands and thousands of those men and women whom we venerate as the Saints of God: they have become partakers of the Divine nature, they are to us a revelation and certainty of what we are called to be and become.
And today one step more brings us into the joy, the glory of Easter. In a week’s time we will sing the Cross – the Cross which was a terror for the criminals, and has become now a sign of victory and salvation, because it is to us the sign that God’s love has no measure, no limits, is as deep as God is deep, all-embracing as God is all-embracing, and indeed, as tragically victorious as God is both tragic and victorious, awe-inspiring, and shining the quiet, joyful light which we sing in Vespers.
Let us then make ourselves ready to meet this event, the vision of the Cross, look at it, and see in it the sign of the Divine love, a new certainty of our possible salvation; and when the choir sings this time more loudly the canon of the Resurrection, let us realize that step by step God leads us into a victory which He has won, and which He wants to share with us.
And then we will move on; we will listen to the Saint who teaches us how to receive the grace which God is offering, how to become worthy of Him; and a step more – and we will see the victory of God in Saint Mary of Egypt and come to the threshold of Holy Week. But let us remember that we are now in the time of newness, a time when God’s victory is been revealed to us, that we are called to be enfolded by it, to respond to it by gratitude, a gratitude that will make us into new people – and also with joy!
And joy full of tears in response to the love of God, and a joy which is a responsible answer to the Divine love. Amen!
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Commemorating St John IV Catholicos of Georgia, Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus of Amasea, Saint Piamoun, Saints Zenon and Zoilus, Venerable Shio Mgvime
RESURRECTION TROPARION - TONE 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
In truth 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.
ST GREGORY PALAMAS TROPARION — TONE 8
O light of Orthodoxy, teacher of the Church, its confirmation, O ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians, O wonderworking Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved!
ST. GREGORY PALAMAS KONTAKION—TONE 8
Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, joyful trumpet of theology, together we sing your praises, O God-inspired Gregory. Since you now stand before the Original Mind, guide our minds to Him, O Father, so that we may sing to you: "Rejoice, preacher of grace!"
LENTEN TRIODION KONTAKION — TONE 4
Now is the time for action! Judgment is at the doors! So let us rise and fast, offering alms with tears of compunction and crying: “Our sins are more in number than the sands of the sea; but forgive us, O Master of all, so that we may receive the incorruptible crowns!”
HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS (Instead of “It is Truly Meet…”)
All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace: the assembly of Angels and the race of men. O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, the glory of virgins, from whom God was incarnate and became a Child – our God before the ages. He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace. Glory to you!
| | ~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | | |
READERS:
This Week: Matins: Nicholas Ressetar Epistle: Ruby Cangialosi
Next Week: Matins: Lenny Tepsich Epistle: Natasha Milanovich
EPISTLE: Hebrews 1:10-2:3
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Fifth Tone: You, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
CHOIR: You, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
READER: v: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer any that is godly.
CHOIR: You, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
READER: You, O Lord, shall protect us ...
CHOIR: … and preserve us from this generation forever.
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brothers and Sisters, and again, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your truth from generation to generation.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: For You have said: “Mercy will be established forever; My truth will be prepared in the heavens.”
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Јеврејима 1:10—2:3
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 5 Ти ћеш нас Господе, одбранити и сачувати од рода овога до вјека.
Хор: Ти ћеш нас Господе, одбранити и сачувати од рода овога до вјека.
Читач: Помилуј ме Господе, јер неста Светих.
Хор: Ти ћеш нас Господе, одбранити и сачувати од рода овога до вјека.
Читач: Ти ћеш нас, Господе, одбранити
Хор: и сачувати од рода овога до вјека.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање из посланице Св. Апостола Павла Јеврејима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Ти си Господе, у почетку основао земљу, и небеса су дјело руку твојих; Они ће проћи, а ти остајеш, и све ће остарјети као одијело, и савићеш их као хаљину, и измјениће се, а ти си увијек исти, и године твоје неће минути. А коме од анђела икад рече: Сједи мени са десне стране док положим непријатеље твоје за подножје ногама твојим? Нису ли сви они духови за служење, који се шаљу да служе онима који ће наслиједити спасење? Због тога морамо веома пазити на оно што чусмо, да не скренемо. Јер ако је ријеч казана преко анђела потврђена, и сваки преступ и непослушност доби заслужену казну, како ћемо је ми избјећи ако не маримо за тако велико спасење, које отпоче проповиједати Господ, а потврдише га међу нама они који су чули.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Милости Господње пјеваћу увјек, од кољена на кољено јавићу истину Твоју устима својим.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Јер си рекао: Милост ће бити основана заувјек, на Небесима си утврдио истину Своју.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL: Mark 2:1-12
At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ: МАРКО 2:1-12
У вријеме оно, уђе Исус у Капернаум; и чу се да је у кући. И одмах се скупише многи тако да не могаху ни пред вратима да се смјесте; И казиваше им ријеч. И дођоше к њему са узетим, кога ношаху четворица. И не могући приближити се к њему од народа, открише кров од куће гдје он бијаше, и прокопавши спустише одар на коме узети лежаше. А Исус видјевши вјеру њихову, рече узетоме: Синко, опраштају ти се гријеси твоји! А ондје сјеђаху неки од књижевника и помишљаху у срцима својим: Што овај тако хули на Бога? Ко може опраштати гријехе осим једнога Бога? И одмах разумјевши Исус духом својим да они тако помишљају у себи, рече им: Што тако помишљате у срцима својим? Шта је лакше? Рећи узетоме: Опраштају ти се гријеси; или рећи: Устани и узми одар свој, и ходи? Но да знате да власт има Син Човјечији на земљи опраштати гријехе, рече узетоме: Теби говорим: Устани и узми одар свој, и иди дому своме. И уста одмах, и узевши одар изиђе пред свима тако да се сви дивљаху и слављаху Бога говорећи: Никада тако што не видјесмо.
| | ~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | | |
~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
Newly Illumined Jon & Jacob Charles Bebeau, their parents and sponsors, Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, V. Rev. Protostavrofor Ilija Balach, V. Rev. Protostavrofor Joseph Fester, 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, the child Penelope and her parents, Alex and Michelle Dowd, Catherine Lewis and the newborn Caleb Ereno, Jessica Crowe and the newborn Maverick Archer, Emma Howell and the child to be born of her, Bethany Peterson and the child to be born of her, Louise, Tony & infant of God Zayne, Michelle Adams, Addy Andy, Lori Bare, Elijah Barnett, Christina Berchock, Dori & Doug Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Maria Chigrintseva, Susan & Jim Cibort, Leann Cox, Victoria Cox, Tommy & Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Edward Dry, JoAnn Filepas, Anaya Garvin, Eric 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, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Slobodan Jovicic, Tony Kepp, Myong Sook Kim, Caryn Kiraly, Dorothy Krnjaich, Dragica Kuzmanovic, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Sue Leis, Jovan Lemajic, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Boro Lojpur, John Luksic, Stephen Lundingrin, Penny MacDonald, Dianne & Jim Martin, Jean & Paul Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, George Milakovic, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Rosanda Mitrovic, Diane & Slobodan Momic, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Jenny Moore Oliver, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Kobe Petrovich, Duke & Sue Petrovich, Tracy Petrovich, Milena Pilipovic, Christopher Radanovic, Marilynn “Chi Chi” Rapasky, Logan Roszkowski, Chloe Ruff, Michael Schaffner, Maryann Seiders, Greg Selman, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheaffer, Milan Shumkaroff, Branko Smitran, Zorka Starcevich, Tim Stefan, Michael Stepanovich, Stevan & Mary Stojic, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Linda Szeerba, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Savka Trivun, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Michael Vishnesky, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Tosh Yanich, Dewey Yetter, Mila “Millie” Yezdimir, Marija Zabrodnaya, Jason Zeigler, Ashley Ziobrowski, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski, the unworthy presbyter Christopher Rocknage
Those Who Need Special Care
ECUMENICAL (COUNTRY MEADOWS) Jane Rush, HOMELAND: Draga Donato; MASONIC HOME: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic
Those to be Baptized
Caleb Ereno Lewis, Barrett Scott, Nora & Maeve Van Huysen, Sloane & Šeren York
Our College Students
Sophia Adams, Cameron Barber, Kyle Barber, Michael Geppert, Anastasija Gligorevic, Natalija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Kalei Howard, Faith Kingsbury, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Luis Antonio Radanovic, Madison Vorkapich, Anastasija Vukalo
Our Seminary Students
Elizabeth Bare
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Archbishop Anastasios, Peter Mrgich, Katherine Radoicich, Vladimir Djordjic, Vasil Mihailoff, Fyodor Kochnev, Donald Semic, Alexandra “Soni” Dimond Martorano, Julian Naumenko, Eleni Ziogas, Miloš Balać
~Vigils Offered~
TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offered in celebration of her 91st birthday TODAY (March 16). With prayers for her health and well being. Given with love and friendship from Joyce. Mnogaja Ljeta!
DOROTHY KRNJAICH Offered in celebration of our Kuma Tootsie’s birthday (March 16). May you be blessed with many more years! Ziveli! Mnogaja Ljeta! Love from Kata, Dori, Nikki, Paula, Stephanie and families.
PETER RADCZENKO Offered in joyful celebration of his birthday (March 17). May God grant you many years of good health and happiness. Offered with much love by Steve & Nellie and the Radczenko family. Mnogaja Ljeta!
DONNA CARRICATO Offered in joyful celebration of our Donna’s birthday (March 18). With God’s blessings for good health and much happiness for many years. Mnogaja Ljeta! Given with all our love, your precious children and grand-children, Babi and the whole family.
DANIELLE VAN HUYSEN Offered in joyful celebration of her birthday (March 21). God’s blessings for many more! Mnogaja Ljeta! Much love from Baba and the whole 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.
MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.
†ZARKO ‘JIM’ MATICH Offered in loving memory of my father (27 years—March 16) with prayers that God shelters him in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, a place of rest, where there is no sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting. Sadly missed by daughter Joyce. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†KATHARINA RADCZENKO Offered in loving memory of our mother’s birthday (March 17). We love you so very much and miss you every day. Offered with much love by Steve, Peter & Nellie and the Radczenko family. Vjecnaja 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Egypt, 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.
We also pray for the Orthodox clergy in Alaska, that the Lord might grant them more than enough to feed their families.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 3/9/2025
Collection: $4,653.00
Date 3/2/2025
Collection: $8,508.00
Date 2/23/2025
Collection: $2,799.00
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March Birthdays
Ruth Yovanovich (Mar 1), Gregory Yanich (Mar 1), Karen Stefan (Mar 2), Matea Jovic (Mar 3), Dasha Gencturk (Mar 4), Alex Bazdar (Mar 5), Nick Ressetar (Mar 7), Eric Garvin (Mar 8), Kirsten Geib (Mar 10), Monroe Semic (Mar 10), Sylvia Velencia (Mar 11), Stephani Yanich (Mar 13), Millie Trayer (Mar 14), Vega Stevenson (Mar 14), Tootsie Krnjaich (Mar 16), Donna Carricato (Mar 18), Tosha Yanich (Mar 19), Natalija Gligorevic (Mar 19), Rohan Radanovic (Mar 19), Palmer Semic (Mar 19), Mileva Jovic (Mar 21), Danielle Van Huysen (Mar 21), Protinica Carole Balach (Mar 22), Val Radosevich (Mar 26), Anastasija Vukalo (Mar 27), Ava Kingsbury (Mar 28), Zorka Starcevich (Mar 29), Beba Yanich (Mar 30), Blagica Raic (Mar 30), Clark Filepas (Mar 30), Mya Rose Petrovich (Mar 30), Mitch Matovich (Mar 31)
March Anniversaries
Igor & Brankica Skinder (Mar 21)
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SWEARING IN OF ALL OFFICERS (TODAY)
Officers of all organizations will be sworn in TODAY, Sunday, March 16 at the end of Liturgy.
LENTEN RETREAT—APRIL 5
Our parishioners have early access to sign up for the Lenten Retreat on April 5. There will be onsite childcare available and lunch will be provided. Starting this week, registration will open up to all other parishes. Call or email the office at 717.939.3872 or office@stnicholassteelton.org to reserve. Space is first come, first served, so please reserve your space today!
SOTAYA PB & COCONUT CHOCOLATE COVERED EGGS FUNDRAISER
SOTAYA is once again selling chocolate covered eggs for Easter. The eggs come posno/vegan (dark or white chocolate only) or regular (coated with choice of milk, dark or white chocolate). The sale starts Sunday, March 23 and ends Sunday, April 13. The price is the same as last year, $3 per egg. To order contact Sladjana at 717-538-2073.
EASTER LILIES & PASCHA ITEMS
If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily to help decorate the Lord’s Tomb on Great & Holy Friday, please contact Daria in the church office. Cost is $10.00. Also contact Daria if you would like to make donations for red candles, wine, incense, rose oil or olive oil. If you would like the item for the health of someone or in memory of someone, please have your request/money in by April 11 for it to appear in the Pascha bulletin.
SOTAYA GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER
Thinking of a gift for someone, a special occasion, birthday or a reward for yourself? Gift cards are a good choice! And there is no need to go to the store, SOTAYA is selling Texas Roadhouse and Darden Restaurant Group cards (which includes Olive Garden, Longhorn, Cheddar’s, Yard House, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52) at a face value of $50. Just see any SOTAYA member or Sladjana for a purchase. Thanks for your support!
MAINTENANCE MINISTRY MEETING
Next Sunday, March 23, we will have a Maintenance Ministry Meeting after Liturgy. The meeting is open to all who can help with projects at the Church, including repairing the Lobby ceiling, work on the grounds with branch and fallen tree removal, installing a new mailbox, and many other projects.
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PLEASE HELP - BETHESDA MISSION WOMEN’S SHELTER OUTREACH
On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers from our four Orthodox churches prepare and serve lunch for shelter residents. We also help with various projects and activities that assist with shelter operations. If anyone would like to volunteer or learn more about this important program, please contact Andrea Gunther.
2025 ORGANIZATIONAL DUES
To pay your 2025 dues (or if you still owe 2024 dues) please see Daria Milletics for KSS/Mothers Club, Jovanka Shaffer for Seniors, Jason Milletics for Choir and Protinica Andreja for Serb Club.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 9 am until noon. You may call the office during these hours at (717) 939-3872 or come by the office in person. Office hours will be adjusted when services are occurring during those hours.
BULLETIN DEADLINE
Please send all Bulletin Requests to the Church Office at office@stnicholassteelton.org
You may also call (717) 939-3872
SHADELAND COLLECTION
The operation of our St. Sava Shadeland Camp has been subsidized by the Diocesan Endowment for the Future. This endowment was based upon the royalties we received from natural gas and oil wells and is now depleted. Currently, we no longer have any reliable income from these wells. Camp fees have been kept artificially low due to these royalties. This means that there is a deficit of $150,000 to run the camp each year. Additionally, there are approximately $225,000 in repairs and maintenance that will be necessary in the next 3 years. The Diocese is asking for donations to offset the operating costs. These donations may be given directly to the Diocese, to our local church here at St. Nicholas, by renting Shadeland Camp for your event, or purchasing a hunting license, thus increasing annual revenue.
Checks can be made payable to St. Nicholas Church with Shadeland in the memo and given to our Church, or go to easterndiocese.org to donate directly to the Diocese.
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Synaxarion
St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonika
This Sunday was originally dedicated to Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (February 23). After his glorification in 1368, a second commemoration of Saint Gregory Palamas (November 14) was appointed for the Second Sunday of Great Lent as a second “Triumph of Orthodoxy.”
Gregory's father was an eminent official at the court of Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus. The gifted Gregory, completing his secular studies, did not want to enter the service of the imperial court, but withdrew to the Holy Mountain and was tonsured a monk. He lived a life of asceticism in the Monastery of Vatopedi and the Great Lavra. He led the struggle against the heretic Barlaam and finally defeated him. He was consecrated as Metropolitan of Thessalonica in the year 1347. He is glorified as an ascetic, a theologian, a hierarch and a miracle-worker. The Most-holy Theotokos, St. John the Theologian, St. Demetrius, St. Anthony the Great, St. John Chrysostom and angels of God appeared to him at different times. He governed the Church in Thessalonica for thirteen years, of which he spent one year in slavery under the Saracens in Asia. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 1360, and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ. His relics repose in Thessalonica, where a beautiful church is dedicated to him.
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Stewardship Reflection
Today is the second Sunday of Great Lent, which commemorates St. Gregory Palamas. The Epistle reading for today is Hebrews 1:10-2:3
10 He also says, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." 13To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet" 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? 1We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
There are several themes found within these verses... St. Dorotheos of Gaza says "who will give us back this present time if we waste it?" 1 Corinthians 2:9 says "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." In order to see what God has prepared for us, we must work towards our salvation and do what is necessary to enter the eternal Kingdom. God will judge us by our works. To fit into Heaven, we must be prepared during this life here on earth - in our daily existence, body, soul and spirit and this requires a change... a change that is the primary focus of the period of Great Lent. St. John Chrysostom says, "after our time on earth, there are no more opportunities for change so this leaves our life on earth as the only time during which change is possible."
· Change, with our focus on Church
· Change, with how we interact with people
· Change, with all of those bad habits we have
· Change, with the Stewardship of our Time, Talents and Treasures
This change is necessary for our salvation, for we know that God will judge us by our works, we just don't know when! We pray that this time of Great Lent provides you with the opportunity for reflection and the contemplation of change in your life.
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Старатељска Порука
Данас је друга Недеља Великога Поста у коју се слави Свети Григорије Палама. Апостол који се данс чита је Јеврејима 1:10-2:3
10. И опет: Ти, Господе, у почетку основа земљу, и небеса су дјело руку твојих;11. Они ће проћи, а ти остајеш, и све ће остарјети као одијело, 12. И савићеш их као хаљину, и измјениће се, а ти си увијек исти, и године твоје неће минути. 13. А коме од анђела икад рече: Сједи мени са десне стране док положим непријатеље твоје за подножје ногама твојим? 14. Нису ли сви они духови за служење, који се шаљу да служе онима који ће наслиједити спасење?1. Због тога морамо веома пазити на оно што чусмо, да не скренемо. 2. Јер ако је ријеч казана преко анђела потврђена, и сваки преступ и непослушност доби заелужену казну, 3. Како ћемо је ми избјећи ако не маримо за тако велико спасење, које отпоче проповиједати Господ, а потврдише га међу нама они који су чули.
Овде можемо наћи неколико битних идеја..... Свети Доротеј из Газе каже"ко ће нам дати назад ово време ако га сада потрошимо узалуд?" 1 Коринћанима 2:9 се каже" Него као што је написано: Што око не видје, и ухо не чу, и у срце човјеку не дође, оно припреми Бог онима који га љубе."
Ако желимо да знамо шта је Бог припремио за нас , ми морамо да радимо на нашем спасењу и да урадимо шта је неопходно да уђемо у Царство Небеско. Да ућђемо у Царство Небеско , ми се морамо припремати током оваог нашег живота на земљи- у нашем свакидашњем постојању , телу, души и духу и ово тражи промену ... промену која је главни циљ овог Великог Поста.
Свети Јован Златоуси каже:" после нашег живота на земљи , нема више шанси за промене , што значи да је овај наш живот на земљи једино време када је промена могућа."
· Променимо се , како гледамо Цркву
· Променимо се , како се односимо према људима
· Променимо се , све оне лоше навике које имамо
· Променимо се , са Старатељством о нашем Времену , Талентима и Новца
Ова промена је потребна за неше спасење , јер знамо да ће нам Господ судити онако како радимо , само незнамо када! Ми се молимо да ово време Великога Поста вам буде на корист и на размишљање о промени и вашем животу.
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