P A S T I R Fair Oaks, California E October 2009...

SHEPHERD Monthly newsletter of the

Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption Fair Oaks, California

P A S T I R

October 2009 God be with you

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SHEPHERD

A monthly publication of the Serbian Orthodox Church Assumption of the Blessed

Virgin Mary

7777 Sunset Avenue Fair Oaks, Ca 95628

Very Rev. Stavrophor Dane Popovic

Rev. William Weir

Church: 916-966-5438 Fax: 916-966-5235

Priest: 916-966-6276 Cell: 916-606-8808

Shepherd Staff

Editor: V. Rev. Stavrophor Dane Popovic

Written contributions are welcome; Editorial discretion reserved. Please

Submit articles and ideas to:

V. Rev. Stavrophor Dane Popovic 7777 Sunset Ave

Fair Oaks, Ca 95628

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FOR SHEPHERD = $ 15 / YEAR / HOUSEHOLD

Please mail (or bring) to Church Office.

Many Thanks.

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Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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It is most likely that everyone

who reads this has shared an experi-ence similar to the one I'm about to relate. You are relaxing at home, and the doorbell rings. You answer the door, and you discover a group of well-mannered, clean-cut, young peo-ple on your porch, representing the Baptist Church or some similar de-nomination. They are on a mission to convert you. Their objective is to change your way of thinking in a reli-gious sense. They want you to accept Christianity according to their particu-lar point of view. They speak to you about being "born again". "Have you accepted Christ as your Saviour?", they want to know. "If you would die tomorrow," they ask, "would you be saved?" They, indeed, are persistant and knowledgable of what their church professes to be the truth. You may turn them away and brush them aside, but they will be back again! It is not surprising that many Orthodox fall victim to this type of door-to-door evangelism. In general, we Orthodox leave much to be de-sired in terms of what we know about

our Faith. Our knowledge of the Bi-ble is woefully inadequate, and there is a definite danger that many of us could be swayed in our thinking by someone who is well-versed in his own beliefs. Being "Born Again" How, then, do we deal with this problem? Let us examine some of the questions that are posed to us by those who preach to us on our doorstep. What does it mean to be "born again"? Christ tells Nicode-mus, a Jewish religious leader who comes to Him by night for instruc-tion: "Unless you are born again, you can never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." (John 3:4). He continues "Unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the King-don of God." (John 3:5). Each of us, as Orthodox Christians, is, in a sense, a "horn-again" Christian! We all experienced physical birth, and we all were bom again in a spiritual sense when we were baptized. Each time we come to the Sacrament of Confession, we are re-born — we are given a new beginning — a fresh start — a new life. The concept of


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being "born again" is hardly new or revolutionary in the Orthodox Church. Often, these "neighborhood missionaries" will quote the time and date that they accepted Christ as their Savior. "On September 4, 1984, I accepted Christ as my Savior", they will proudly proclaim. We can do this also by simply checking the date on our baptismal certificate! This is when we accepted Christ. When our godparents responded "Yes" to the priest's question: "Do you believe in Christ and do you 'promise to serve Him?" at our baptism, we, indeed, accepted Christ and proclaimed Him to be our Lord and Saviour. Answer From Scripture How do we respond, then, to those who tell us that we can be saved solely by our faith? "Believe in Christ," they tell us, "and salvation will be yours." The best answer to this can be found in the 2nd chapter of the Epistle of St. James: "Dear Brothers, what is the use of saying that you have faith and are Chris-tians if you are not proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? You must also do good to prove that you have faith. Faith that does not show itself by good works is no faith at all —. it is dead and useless."

St. James goes on to give the example of Abraham, explaining that Abraham was declared "good" be-cause of what he did — his willing-ness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. He did not just say he had faith in God, he proved it! Let us look also at the Gospel related on Meat-Fare Sunday. It is the story of Judgment Day. Those on Christ's left — the ones who are to be cast out into eternal punishment — acknowledge Christ as their Lord. "Lord,'' they cry, "when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not help you?" (Matthew 25:44). They believed, but they did not act! Christ Himself said: "Not all who sound re-ligious are really good people. They may refer to Me as 'Lord', but still won't get to Heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey My Fa-ther in Heaven." (Matthew 7:21) These are but some of the an-swers we can provide when we are put to the test by Christians of other persuasions. The Orthodox Church has proudly proclaimed the truth throughout the centuries. We must all strive to know what these truths are, and proclaim them just as proudly.


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Moja draga deco duhovna

Najverovatnje je da ve}ina od vas koji }e ~itati ove redove, prona}I }e sebe u sli~noj situa-ciji. Odmarate se u ku}I, I odjednom ~ujete

zvono na vratima, otvarate vrata I ugledate grupu ljubaznih maladi}a, urednih I doteranih koji pred-stavljaju Baptisti~ku ili neku drugu protestantsku crkvu. Njihov zadatak je da vas prevedu u svoju veru. Oni èle da promene va{e mi{ljenje u religijskom pogledu. Oni èle da prihvatite hri{}anstvo po njihovom u~enju I stavu. Govore vam o tome da }e te biti “ro|eni ponovo”. Dali ste primili Hrista u sebe kao Spasitelja oni èle da znaju! @ele da znaju ako “umrete sutra” dali }e te biti spa{eni a onda dodaju dali èlite da budete spa{eni. Oni su zaista uporni I na~itani o svojoj veri kako ih u~i njihova crkva da su oni pravi. Vi ih moète oterati sa vrata

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ali znajte da }e oni ponovo do}i. Nije iznena|enje da mnogi pravoslavci postanu `rtve ove vrata do vrata misije, zato {to vrlo malo znamo o svojoj veri. Na{e poznavanje biblije je nedovoljno I kada ~ujemo nekog ko tako dobro citira bibliju to nas zavede. [TA ZNAÎ “PONOVO RO\EN” Kako se suo~iti sa ovim prob-lemom? Obratimo pa`nju na neka od pitanja koja nam postavljaju u~itelji sa na{h vrata. [ta zna~I biti “Ro|en Ponovo”? Hristos je rekao Nikodimu Jevreskom vo|I koji je dolazio no}u kod Hrista I slu{ao njegova upustva: “Ako se ko nanovo ne rodi, ne moè videti carstvo Boìjega“ (Jn. 3:4), I onda nastavlja: “ako se ko ne rodi vodom I Duhom, ne moè u}I u car-stvo Boìje.” (Jn. 3:5). Svako od nas kao Pravoslavni hri{}anin je na neki na~in “ponovo ro|en”. Svi samo fizi~ki ro|eni, a onda “ponovo ro|eni duhovno kroz kr{tenje. Uvek kada do|emo na svetu ispovest, mi se ponovo ra|amo, ob-


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navljamo I po~injemo nov ìvot. Iz-raz “ponovo ro|eni nije ni{ta novo I revolucionarno u Pravoslavnoj Crkvi. Obratite pa`nju kako ~esto ovi misionari citiraju vreme I datum kad su primili Hrista kao svog spasitelja. Na primer septembar 4, 1984 primio sa Hrista kao spasitelja sve ovo je izgovoreno sa ponosom. Ne budite impresionirani I mi moèmo to govoriti za sebe treba samo pogledati kr{tenicu! To je da-tum kada smo mi primili Hrista. Kada su na{I kumovi odgovarali “da” na sve{tenikova pitanja” dali veru-jete u Hrista I obe}avate da }e te Mu slu`ti? Na na{em kr{tenju mi Zaista primamo Hrista I priznajemo Ga kao Boga I Spasitelja. ODGOVORI IZ JEVAN\ELJA Kako odgovoriti onima koji nam govore da moèmo biti spaseni samo verom? Verujte u Hrista, oni nam govore I bi}ete spa{eni. Najbolji odgovor na ovo }e te na}I u drugoj glavi Poslanici Jakovljevoj u kojoj se kaè: ” draga bra}o, kakva vam je vajda od govora da ste veruju}I hri{}ani ako to ne pokaète pomaù}i drugima? Dali }e takva vera spasti bilo koga? înite dobra dela da pokaète da imate vere. Vera koja se

ne pokazuje dobrim delima je mrtva I nekorisna stvar. Sveti Ja-kov nastavlja sa primerom Avrama koji je progla{en “dobrim” zbog dela svojih I volje da `rtvuje sina svoga Isaka. On nije samo govorijo da ima vere on je to I pokazao. Os-vrnimo se na Evan|elje mesopusne nedelje I price o stra{nom sudu. Oni sa Hristove leve strane }e biti ba~eni u ve~nu muku, priznavaju}i Hruista tada, oni }e plakati: “Gospode” kada smo te videli glad-nog, èdnog, golog, bolesnog ili u zatvoru i nismo ti pruìli pomo} ? (Mt. 25:44). Oni su verovali ali nisu ni{ta ~inili po tome! Hristos je sam rekao: “Ne svi koji zvu~e religiozno su dobri ljudi” Oni mo`da Mene nazivaju “Gospodom” ali ne}e u}I u carstvo nebesko. Klju~no pitanje je dali vr{e volju Oca moga na nebe-sima.” (Mt.7:21). Ovo su samo niki od odgo-vora koje moèmo upotrebiti kada smo testirani od drugih hri{}anskih vera. Pravoslavna crkva sa ponosom propoveda istinu kroz vekove. Mi moramo poznavati ovu istinu I tako|e je sa ponosom ispovedati. Protojerej-stavrofor Dane Popovic


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10-ti i 11-ti Oktobar

Va{a pomo} je potrebna !!!

Ako mozete da pomognete molimo vas da se javite

Milanu Tici na 530-218-1712 ili Zlatku Theodorovich 681—7007 Nevenka Kordic na 916-532-0325

We are preparing for our

October 10th and 11th

WE NEED YOUR HELP !!! If you can offer any kind of help Please call

Milan Tica at 530-218-1712 or Zlatku Theodorovich at 681—7007 or

Nevenka Kordic at 916-532-0325


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У данашње либерално време све више се шири учење о томе да човек може да се спаси својим добрим делима, а да је Исус Христос за хришћане само образац и поучан пример моралног и духовног усавршавања, али никако и Искупитељ света. Следи да је спасење могуће за људе свих религија и конфесија, који се труде да поступају по гласу своје савести. У том учењу у поређењу са православним богословљем не само да су замењени и померени акценти, већ су поткопане и саме основе догматике. Хришћани су увек веровали да Бог спасава човека; а савремени модернисти доследно и плански убацују у свест верних мисао, да човек спасава себе самог, а да му Бог даје вечни живот као обавезну награду за труд. Ако питате савремене хришћане шта је вечни живот и спасење, многи ће рећи: то је рајски живот, то је место дивне лепоте и вечне радости, где су уништени свако зло и страдање, где нема трулежности и несклада, где ништа не помрачује људску душу, то је место где пребивају Анђели и Свети и где силази Божанство Својом неизрецивом светлошћу. На први поглед тај одговор може да се учини правилним, али у стварности овде је пропуштено нешто веома важно, то јест, да Бог човеку не даје само Своје, иако је и то непостижно људском уму и превазилази све напоре и подвиге, већ даје много више - Себе Самога и чини човека "богом по благодати". Пред тим делом сва људска

дела се

показују као бесконачно мала. Господ је обећао да ће вратити за дела милосрђа стоструко, али Он даје хришћанину оно, чему нема поређења и слика, оно што превазилази сва схватање и мере: даје Себе Самога. О каквим човековим заслугама се овде може говорити? Како је могуће зарадити Бога? Како је могуће задобити Бога као награду? Ако би спојили сва добра дела свих људи заједно, то ће бити мање дело од вечног спасења једне душе. Спасење је - тајна мистичне љубави Бога према људској души; све остало потребно је да би се тај зов љубави био чуо и био прихваћен. Трагедија савремених хришћана састоји се у томе што они траже град Божији, тобож своје законито наследство, али не траже Самога Бога, као извор вечног живота. Њима је несхватљива светоотачка реч "обожење", њима је несхватљиво шта значи постати богом по благодати. Не схватајући то, они то и не желе. Они желе враћање изгубљеног Раја, где цветају у миришу небески цветови, где нема старости и смрти, где нема страдања. Али тајна Оваплоћења Сина Божијег и силазак Духа Светога, Тајна Искупљења и Спасења - није само враћање човека, палог у Адаму у првостворено, безгрешно стање, већ и пут душе према Богу, кроз примање Његове божанске светлости, кроз усхођење и озарење, кроз улазак у божански живот, пут вечног и бесконачног богоуподобљавања - показује се за наше савременике као скривена испод вела магле.


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На Крсту нас Господ замењује Собом; Дух Свети припрема људску душу за нови живот. Спасење - је велики дар Божији, а савремени човек је склон да на њега гледа као на нешто сагласно и обавезно човековом достојанству. Коначан и у исто време бесконачни циљ човека је - обожење; оно се остварује само кроз благодат - силу и деловање Божанства. Благодат је дана Цркви. Цркве је поље вечне, божанске светлости, која узајамно делује са људском душом, која је послушна благодати и која је невидљиво просвећује (у неким случајевима то просветљење и преображење душе одражава се и на материјалном плану и може да се види чак и визуелно). Тајне Цркве имају за своју основу Искупитељну Жртву Христа Спаситеља. Црква је заснована на Његовој пречистој Крви. Господ, заволевши нас још пре нашег стварања, испунио је све да би нам даровао не само Своја неизрецива блага, већ и Себе. У спасенима Он види одраз Свог образа, Своје божанске лепоте; у спасенима Он пребива као у живим, бесмртним, нерукотвореним храмовима. За њих је Христос - све: живот и суштина вечности, почетак и бесконачни крај. Без искупљења и освећења спасење је немогуће. Они, који говоре о спасењу само кроз добра дела, самим тим стављају некакав знак једнакости између њих и дарова Божијих. Добра дела - јесу услов за пројављење вере и љубави, јер је љубав према Богу и људима сједињена једна са другом. Човек који се нада да ће добити спасење за своја добра дела, налик је на сиромаха, који сакупивши неколико

God is both our judge and our sav-ior. Consider the following:

There was a man on a crowded city street who, while distracted, stepped right in front of moving truck. Another man grabbed his arm and pulled him back to the sidewalk. Shaken, the first man thanked the other pro-fusely. The rescuer accepted the thanks and dis-appeared into the crowd. The man who had been pulled to safety, however, had been on his way to rob a convenience store. Now safe, he saw no reason not to continue. He did, but within hours, he was apprehended by the police and taken into court. As he faced the bench, he was surprised to see that the judge was the man who had saved his life earlier in the day. When the judge asked him if he had anything to say, the man said, “Your Honor, you know me. You saved my life this morning. Can’t you help me now?” The judge responded, “This morning I was your sav-ior. Now I am your judge.” Both relationships were valid and applicable.

гвоздених новчића, уображава да је за њих могуће купити царски дворац. За спасење је неопходно обожење човека, које почиње у земној Цркви, прелази и наставља се у небеској и никада се не завршава. Само кроз Крсну Жртву Христа и благодат Духа Светога, који делује у Цркви, човек може да оствари своје истинско предназначење - да у вечности постане бог по благодати.


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Oduvek je crkva proslavljala Presvetu Bogorodicu kao pok-roviteljku I za{titnicu roda hri{}anskoga, koja svojim hodatajstvenim molitvama umilostivljava

BOga prema nama gre{nima. Bezbroj puta pokazala se o~igledno pomo} Presvete Bogorodice kako pokjedinaca tako I narodima, kako u mieru tako I uratu, kako u mona{kim pustinjama tako I umnogoljudinm gradovima. Doga|aj koji je crkva danas spo-minje I praznuje edokazuje samo to postojano pokroviteljstvo Presvete Bo-gorodice nad rodom hri{}anskim. 1. Oktobra 911. god. U vreme cara Lava

Mudrog (ili filosofa) bilo je sveno}no bdenije u Bogorodi~inoj crkvi Vlaherne u Carigradu. Naroda je bila puna crkva. U pozadini crkve stajao je Sv. Andrej Jurodivi sa svojim u~enikom Epifani-jem. U ~etvrti sat no}I pojavi se Pres-veta Bogorodica iznad naroda sa rasprostrtim omoforom na rukama, kao da tom ode|om pokriva{e narod. Be{e obu~ena u zlatokrasnu porfiru I sva blista{e u neiskazanom sjaju, okruèna apostolima, svetiteljima, mu~enicima I devicama. Sv. Andrej vide}I to javljanje pokaza rukom Epifaniju blaènom, I upita ga: “vidi{ li, brate, Caricu I go-spo}u nad svim, kako se moli za sav svet?” Odgovori Epifanije: “vidim, o~e, I uàsavam se!” Zbog toga se ustanovi ovo praznovanje, da nas podseti kako na taj doga|aj tako I na stalno pok-roviteljstvo Presvete Bogorodice, kad god mi to pokroviteljstvo, taj pokrov njen molitveno i{temo u nevoljama.

POKROV PRESVETE BOGORODICE


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HRISTOS REFORMATOR SUBOTE

NASTAVAK … SUBOTA U BOGOSLU@ENJU CRKVE Crkva je u svojoj bogoslu`benoj praksi zadràla po{tovanje ~etvrte zapovesti Boìje ostaju}I pri svetkovanju svakog sedmog dana, zadràv{I sed-micu. Po{to je vaskrsenje doga|aj od daleko najve}e va`nosti za spasenje roda ljudskoga, ono je zavr{etak ponov-nog stvaranja I po~etak op{teg vask-rsenja, to je praznovanje toga dana pomenuto samom ~injenicom vaskrsenja I njegove prevelike va`nosati (1 Kor. 15:14-19). U Pesmama vaskrsnog bo-gosluènja opeva se zna~aj doga|aja vaskrsenja Hristovog. No, po{to je subota bila staro-zavetni prazni~ni dan, po{to je toga dana, na Veliku subotu, Hristos bio u carstvu mrtvih, (1 Petr. 3:18-20), to crkva po{tuje I taj dan na taj na~in {to je subota tako|e radostan dan, dan kad je zabranjem post (osim na veliku subotu) I kad sluìmo slu`be I prinosimo molitve Bogu za pokojnike. Dakle, Crkva se nije ogre{ila 0 4. zapovest Boìju. OSTALI HRI[]ANSKI PRAZNICI Sekta{I skoro svi, odbacuju svaki hri{}anski praznik osim nedelje, a subotari I

Jehovini svedoci odbacuju I nedelju. Protiv praznovanja praznika nazaren, na primer, navode ~etvrtu Boìju zapovest koja nare|uje da se {est dana radi. Prema tome nema mesta ni vremena za ikakve praznike Praznovati praznike to je prema njima isto tako greh protiv ~etvrte zapovesti Boìje kao I raditi nedeljom ili - prema subotarskom merilu–subotom. A Jehovini svedoci pi{u u svojim bro{urama protiv praznovanja Uskrsa, Boì}a I svih drugih praznika I svetiteljskih dana - do-daju}I tu ro|endane, a ne spominju}I jedino dràvne praznike nije po volji Je-hovi nego su to sve sami mnogoboà~ki obi~aji koje treba {to pre odbaciti jer su protivni Bibliji. Za ta~nost svojih tvrdnji pozivaju se na izvesne ~lanke iz “Britanske Encik-lopedije” u kojima se govori o pojedinim praznicima, posebno o Uskrsu I Boì}u da nisu hri{}anskog porekla nego mnogoboà~kog, I da prvi hri{}ani nisu praznovali te praznike. Dalje se pozivaju na izvesne citeate iz Svetog pisma, I to: Del. Ap.10:25-26; 14:11-15;Rim.1:25;I Otkr. 19:10. Nije nu`no nagla{avati da svi sekta{I koji su nekada bili pravoslavni Srbi, a naro~ito Jehovini svedoci, odlu~no odbacuju krsnu slavu smatraju}I

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- Dr, Lazar Milin PITANJE O SUBOTI, NEDELJI I OSTALIM PRAZNICIMA


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to mnogobo{tvom I pozivaju}I nas da im pokaèmo gde u Svetom pismu pi{e da treba slaviti krsnu slavu! PROKONTROLI[IMO NJIHOVE DOKAZE Po|imo od ovog poslednjeg njiho-vog razloga I tvrdnje da u Svetopm pismu nije nigde zapove|eno da se pro-slavljaju praznici koje ima Pravoslavna Crkva, a I drugi hri{}ani. Zaista, treba staviti ruku na srce I kazati: U Svetom pismu nisu nigde nabro-jani praznici koji su u pravoslavnom kal-endaru obeleèni crvenim slovom. Ali, vratimo im loptu: neka oni nama pokaù gde je u Svetom pismu zabranjeno da se to ~ini? Ho}e li I oni staviti ruku na srce pa bar iskreno priznati da u celom Sve-tom pismu nema nigde nikakve zabrane kojom bi se to zabranjivalo? Oni citati koje smo napred spomenuli ne zabranjuju slavljenje praznika I svetiteljskih dana, nego oboàvanje ikoga ili i~ega umesto Boga. A na{e praznovanje nije nikakvo oboàvanje svetitelja ili nekih prazni~nih dana. To je ono {to je krajnje nepo{tenokod sekta{a, {to nam stalno podme}u nekakvo mnogobo{tvco I idolopoklonstvo iako znaju da Crkva nije ni jednog svetitelja proglasila za Boga! No, radi potpune ilustracije ipak navedimo te citate na koje se pozivaju Jehovini svedoci, a I ostali sekta{I, kad ho}e da opravdaju svoje odbacivanje praznika I po{tovanje svetitelja. “Jedan ~ovek u Kesariji po imenu Kornelije, kapetan ~ete koja se zvala

Italijanska, poboàn I bogobojazan sa svim svojim domom, koji je davao mnoge milostinje nrodu I stalno se molio Bogu, vide oko devetog ~asa jasno u vi|enju an|ela kako u|e k njemu I re~e mu: Kornelije,….tvoje molitve I tvoje milostinje uzdigo{e se do Boga I on ih se se}a. I sad po{alji ljude u Jopu I pozovi nekoga Simona koji se zove Petar. On je gost kod nekog Simona koàra, ~ija je ku}a kraj mora.” (Del.apost.10:1-6). Kornelije je u~inio {to mu je an|eo rekao. Istovremeno je I aapostol Petar imao jednu viziju i Duh Sveti mu je rekao da treba da po|e sa tim ljudima koji ga traè (Dela. Apo.17:7-23). Kad je Petar do{ao u Kornelijevu ku}u ovaj jo{ pod utiskom otkrivenja koje mu je an|eo Bo`ji bio sop{tio, a mo`da I misle}I da je Petar neko nad~ove~ansko bi}e, pade pred Petrom na zemlju I pok-lonI se. Petar vide da bi Kornelije mogao pasti u zabludu smatraju}I ga za nad~ove~ansko bi}e, podi{e da I blago re~e: “ustani, I ja sam samo ~ovek” (Del.apos.10:26). To je sve! Pozivamo svakog objektivnog ~itaoca neka prona|e gde se u ovome tekstu zabranjuje slavljenje Uskrsa, Boì}a, I ostalih praznika I svetiteljskih dana?! I jo{ ne{to! Neka u pravoslavnim bo-goslu`benim knjigama u kojima je izloèna slu`ba da dan Svetoga Petra prona|u jednu jedinu re~ gde to Pra-voslavna Crkva progla{uje apostola Petra za Boga! Drugi primer. Apostol Pavle I var-nava su na svome misionarskom put-

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ovanju do{li u grad Listru. Tu je Pavle nai{ao na ~oveka hroma od ro|enja I is-celio ga ~udesno jednom jedinom zapove{}u: uspravi se na svoje noge. “I sko~I te hoda{e naokolo. Kada pak mno{tvo naroda vide {a u~ini Pavle, podiè svoj glas govore}I likaonski: bo-govi posta{e kao ljudi I si|o{e k nama. Tako Varnavu nazivahu Zavsom, a Pavla Hermesom, jer je on vodio glavnu re~. A sve{tenik Zevsovog hrama, koji se nalazio pred gradom, dovede junce I donese vence pred vrata I htede s narodom da prinese `rtvu. ûv{I to apostoli, Varnava I Pavle, razdera{e svoje haljine, sko~i{e me|u narod vi~u}I I govpore}i: ljudi, {ta to ~inite? I mi smo ljudi - kao I vi, propovedamo vam evan|elje - da se od ovih ni{tavnih stvari obratite ìvom Bogu, koji je stvorio nebo, zemlju I more I sve {to je u njima (Del. Ap.14:8-15). Opet imamo isti slu~aj kao I malo pre. Pavle I Varnava ne dozvoljavaju da ih mnogobo{ci smatraju za bogove. Pa, kakve to veze ima sa slavljem Uskrsa I Boì}a I drugih prazni~nih I svetiteljskih dana? I gde pi{e da je Pravoslavna crkva proglasila apostole Varnavu I Pavla za bogove?! Tako drsku I o~iglednu klevetu mogu samo sekta{I da izmisle, a samo duhovno slep ~ovek da u nju poveruje I odbaci prazni~ne le-pote! Evo I tre}eg slu~aja! Apostol Pavle u Poslanici Rimljanima opisuje na kako niske grane je bio pao moral u mnogoboà~kom dru{tvu, pa kao vrhu-

nac svega kaè da su oni “la`ju zamenili bo`ju istinu, po{tovali I klanjali se tvorevini umesto tvorcu, koji je bla-gosloven do veka. (Rim.1:25). Opet ista situacija! Greh mnogobo{tva sekta{I drsko pripisuju crkvi, iako znaju da Crkva nikog I ni{ta drugo ne oboàva osim Boga! Najzad I u Otkrovenju Javanovom imamo sli~an slu~aj gde apostol Jovan u viziji pada pred noge an|ela da bi otklonio svaku pomisao Jovanovu da li vidi pred sobom Boga, obave{tava ga da je on an|eo, sluga Bop`ji (Otkrovenje 19:1). Pa Crkva ni an|ele nije proglasila za Bogove! Prema svemu izloènom, vidi se o~igledno lukavost sekta{ke taktike: stvoriti kod neobave{tenog sveta utisak da je Crkva zapala u mnogobo{tvo, da si crkveni praznici isto {to I mnogobo{tvo I da su oni zabranjeni tobo` re~ima Sve-tog pisma. Posle ovakvih drskih podmetanja navo|enja citata iz Biblije, mi imamo pravo jo{ jednom da traìmo od njih prave citate kojima Bog zabranjuje praznovanje. I gle, ponekad navedu jo{ jedan citat. Pravo je ~udo kako su Jehovini svedoci propustili da ga I oni navedu. U Starom zavetu Bog preko proroka Isaije govori Izrailjskim gre{nicima “Na mladine va{e I na praznike va{e mrzi du{a moja, dosadi{e, dodija mi podnositi. Zato kad [irite ruke svoje zaklanjam o~I svoje od vas; I kad mnoìte molitve, ne slu{a; ruke su va{e pune krvi” (Is.1:14-15, Amos. 5:21). Eto, dakle, po{to Bog mrzi na praznike, to je greh praznovati ih, zaklju~uju sekta{i! NASTAVI]E SE…...


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By Dexter H. Faulkner

At times teens think their problems are more than they can handle. Family, friends, even your own feelings can

get you down. Read this arti-cle for some encouraging,

positive solutions.

WHAT’S so great about being

a teenager? Your teachers tell you

that the world is your oyster, that

you can be anything you want to be.

You wonder, don't you? Your par-

ents tell you that you should enjoy

these, the "best years of your life."

That would be a good trick— since

you may be the shortest kid in your

class, have acne and add to your

chances of becoming a candidate for

lung cancer every time you walk

into the smoke-filled school lava-

tory. If these are the best years of

your life, you can imagine what the

rest will be like!

You're right. Being a teenager isn't

easy. It's a time of change— change

in your body, in your mind, in your

outlook.

Books and magazines throw

around the issues of hormonal ad-

justments, peer pressure, sex, drugs

and academic pressure so much that

you get the impression the teen

years are like the chicken pox—

something everybody has to endure

once.

But look at it another way.

The changes, pressures and conflicts

in your life are not necessarily bad.

They are just circumstances. And,

circumstances can affect us posi-

tively or negatively, depending on

how we respond to them.

The Proverbs in the Bible tell

us to make the most of our lives

while we have the chance. So let's

take another look at being a teen-

ager, from a more positive point of

view.

Your Health

Perhaps you know that, at least

in the early part of the teen years,


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hormones are signaling the changes

that turn your body into an adult's.

These chemical changes can also

contribute to moody spells, stimu-

late the oil glands in your skin and,

among boys, cause growth spurts

that make your limbs feel too long

for your body and your trousers rise

treacherously off the floor.

Seems like your body is play-

ing a mean trick, doesn't it? But

don't forget, even in the midst of

this hormonal activity, you proba-

bly still have excellent overall

health. Years of work and stress

have not taken their toll. Your body

has not had time to absorb many of

the poisons society produces. You

can probably work hard all day and

still feel ready to go out at night,

while your parents collapse into the

near-est easy chair.

Your body is like a new car,

just out of the factory, its engine

revving to go! Your health allows

you to do wonderful things that

other people might not succeed at so

eas-ily: break athletic records, stay

on your feet through a fast dance

med-ley, study and keep a part-time

job at the same time, or just enjoy

life without the worries and handi-

caps of illness.

Your Dreams

Ever see a middle-aged man or

woman talk about a dream, like sail-

ing around the world or writing a

novel or visiting the Himalayas?

You might have noticed a wistful

look in the eyes, and an "if only" at-

titude. But when a teenager talks

about the same kind of dream, he or

she's not wistful—he or she's mak-

ing plans!

What's the difference? Mid-

dle, aged people, more often than

not, have obligations. They have

spouses and children and jobs they

cannot ignore. With determination

and hard work, a dream trip is pos-

sible for one person, but taking a

whole family can require an excep-

tional amount of long-range plan-

ning and budgeting.

Also, since it is likely that

nobody depends on you for support,

what better time to plan and pre-

pare for what you want to do with

your life? An older person might

have to take any job he can get just

to put bread on the table, but you're

probably still living with your par-


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ents.

Now is your chance to get the ed

-ucation you'll need for the kind of job

you'll enjoy. If you want to know how

much of a privilege that is, ask some-

one who had to leave school early to

get married and support a family.

Of course, preparing can be dif-

ficult if you have no idea what you

want that future occupation to be.

Funny, isn't it, how everybody wants

you to choose your life's vocation when

you have not had a chance to do much

of anything but sit in a classroom and

study?

Take advantage of all opportuni-

ties, be they school courses, higher

education or on-the-job training, of-

fered to you now. How? First, think

about what you already do well and ex-

plore the occupations that fit your

abilities.

For instance, if people like you

and trust you, you might look into the

field of sales. If you like your part-time

job at the library, ask the librarian

about her career in library science.

Second, corner relatives and

adult friends and get them to talk about

their jobs—ask them what kinds of ap-

titudes and training they needed and if

and why they like the work they're in.

Don't overlook your own parents. Re-

member there's no law against follow-

ing in Father's foot-steps, if that is

what you want to do, and he might be

able to give you the extra help (like a

summer job with his company or as an

apprentice) to start you on your way.

Third, try to get all the hands-

on work experience you can right now.

Even if you don't intend to spend your

life frying fish or volunteering your

services for the handicapped, you

might learn useful things about your-

self: you perhaps don't like to work too

closely with a boss, you learn difficult

manual skills quickly, you like (or

don't like) dealing with the public.

Any direction you choose now,

even if it isn't one you plan to follow

indefinitely, will get you started to-

ward your goal in the world of work.

Who knows whether you might meet a

future employer while selling popcorn

in a movie theater or caddying on the

golf course? The world really can be

your oyster-provided you hunt for the

pearls.

Cultivating Yourself

As important as career and fi-

nancial preparations are, there's more

to life than money. The teenage years

are the perfect time to start discovering


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some of the excitement and rich experi-

ence life holds.

Start by cultivating yourself.

Cultivating yourself means mak-ing

yourself more valuable and productive.

It requires wide reading, some knowl-

edge of the arts—the finer accomplish-

ments of humanity—and social experi-

ence.

Wide reading can start in the class-

room and the library. If you're unsure

about where to start, ask your teachers

about the classic lit-erature of your lan-

guage. Don't neglect current events and

history. Such reading will give you a

deeper understanding of why the world

is the way it is.

While at the library, don't overlook

the record and tape collections. You

probably have a keen interest in music.

Why not take advantage of it by devel-

oping your taste in various kinds of mu-

sic? Visit museums and be on the alert

for cultural events. A wealth of beauty

and understanding is ready for you to

explore.

Get involved in social activities

and service projects to develop your

skills in that area. As a teen you have an

advantage: You are expected to make a

few mistakes socially. People aren't so

kind when adults commit social

blunders.

Try to gain experience talking

with people of different ages. And

don't neglect the opposite sex! If you

can learn to talk to a fellow or girl

while stringing up crepe paper for a

dance or participating in a track

meet, you'll find yourself much less

self-conscious in a more formal dat-

ing situation.

The Biggest Advantage

Finally, we come to the big-

gest advantage of your teenage years.

The fact that you're reading this

magazine suggests that you are inter-

ested in right ways of living.

That's great! Because God is inter-

ested in you and your success in life.

He created the world with certain

laws built in, which, if fol-lowed,

will guarantee you a worth-while,

profitable life.

These laws are to keep us from

making the mistakes that cause, sor-

row, suffering—every evil in the

world. Add this to your advantage:

Because you can learn about these

laws early, you can avoid the pain-

ful mistakes that have caused others

so much unhappiness.


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NASTAVAK.. @ivimo u vreme velikih eko-nomskih migracija. Njih je bilo u svim vremenima. I one migracije koje se smatraju politi~kim danas, name}u pitanje: Za{to se onaj koji se ne slaè sa politi~kim ube|enjem svoje zemlje, do{ao u ekonomski sna`ne zemlje? Jer ima I siroma{nih zemalja sa dru{tvenim ure|enjem druga~ijim od zemlje iz koje je oti{ao. Zato dolazak u zemlju eko-nomskog prioriteta, od-mah name}e roditeljima jednu du`nost koju bi trebalo uskladiti sa pravoslavnim hri{}anskim vaspitanjem a to je da se “unucima spremi busija”. To je èlja da se materijalno obezbedi potomstvo, po{to “ja to ni-sam imao, pa neka bar on ima”. Tom prilikom se zaboravlja na Hristovu poruku: “Kakva je korist ~oveku ako sav svet zadobije a du{I

svojoj na{kodi?” Jer ko je du{u svoju zarobio I na{kodio joj, u~inio je to neoporavljivo I na ve~nost. Ne sme se

zaklju~iti da je Crkva protiv sticanja materijalnih dobara. Ne ona samo traÌ od svojih ~lanova, da ta dobra nepret-postavljaju duhovnom ìvotu I vred-nostima I da ih {to pravilnije raspore|uju, gledaju}I na njih kao na sredstvo pomo}u koga se ostvaruju vi{I ciljevi. Da se sa prolaznim dobrima zadobije ona neprolazna “gde moljac I

r|a ne nagrizaju I gde lopovi ne potkopavaju I ne kradu”. Isto tako, ovde treba napomenuti da sa vaspitanjem nema od-laganja. “Samo jo{ da ot-platim ovo, pa }u se pos-vetiti deci”. A vreme

nepovratno odlazi I mi smo sli~ni ovoj majci koja je nakon 6 meseci dovela bebu pedijatru I pitala kada da po~ne sa vaspitanjem, a on joj odgovorio: “Gospo|o, ve} ste zakasnili, trebalo je da po~nete od prvog dana”. Zna~I, sve treba da bude podre|eno vaspitanju I oblikovanju tih mladih du{a, a du{u ni


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~emu ne podrediti. “I{tite najpre carstva nebeskoga I pravde Njegove, a ostalo }e vam se sve dati” - kaè Hristos. Teret vaspitanja dece, oduvek je ve}im delom padao na majku. Zato pesnik I konstatuje: Jeste, vaspita~, to je majka, kokjoj svako dete sledi, vi{e od sto u~itelja, jedna dobra majka vredi. One su te koje poput kvo~ke sabiraju decu pod svoje toplo krilo. Ali odgovornost pred Bogom za du{u detinju, podjednaka je za oboje roditelja. Jer ako sve{tenici, kao du-hovni pastiri odgovaraju za svaku poverenu im du{u, koliko tek odgovaraju oni koji su u~estvovali I preko kojih je kreiran taj mladi ìvot. Od topline doma}eg ognji{ta zavisi koliko }e dete upiti ìvotnih sokova u sebe. Ne bi trebalo da nas brine, {to }e se na{a deca, ako ìve pra-voslavnim ìvotom, razlikovati ot druge dece koja ih okruùju I sa kojim ìve. Ako plemenitost I do-brota njihova budu zavidne, ove

razlike bi}e pozitivno prihva}ene. Oni }e biti pravoslavci ako se ba{ po toj pravoslavnosti budu razlik-ovali od drugih. Jer ne moè se ìveti hedonisti~kim ìvotom a biti pravoslavan. Samo jezik srpski, vera Pravoslavna I obi~aji vezani uz hri{}ansku tradiciju, bi}e istinski zalog identteta na{e dece u ovom stranom svetu. Ako ona budu natucala srpski u srpskim {kolama, ponekad od ro-ditelja prisiljeni bili u hramu I u obi~ajima u~estvovali, a omogu}imo im automobile poznate marke I ~uvene etikete na obu}I I ode}I, budimo sigurni da }e zaboraviti ko su I {ta su I postati lak plen raznih sekti I na~ina ìvljenja protivnih pra-voslavnom. Sloìti se sa vaò{}u ovoga problema, ne}e doprineti I njihovom razre{enju. Treba raditi na ja~anju duha pobo`nosti I vere u porodici. “Vaspitajte decu svoju u strahu I nauci Gospodnjoj” (1. Kor. 14:35). Nare|uje sveti apostol Pavle. Ili kako pesnik re~e Majke, srpske majke, vaspitajte srpska ~eda, amanet vam od potomstva ima Boga, Bog vas gleda. Prota Milo{ Milovanovic


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CHARGES FOR RELIGIOUS RITES - TREBE Steward Non-Steward Wedding $50 $500 Baptism Donation Donation Church Funeral Donation $300 Chapel $50 $300 Parastos—Panihida $25 $100 Pomen $15 $ 50 Certificates $10 $ 20

Thanks to all those who help to

assembling Shepherd for

September 2009. Luba Karnaookh, Silvia Kentera,

Danica Ryder Gojkovich, And-jelka Gojkovich, Ana & Ilija Bra-

daric, Mike Jovovich, Betty Moomey, Helen Vukasovich,

Elsie Mrvos,

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Parish Statistics WEDING: September 5, 2009 Nenad Popovic & Shauna Bruscino Congratulations and best wishes to the newly wed BAPTISM: August 29, 2009 David Cvjetkovic son of Zoran & Veliborka Cvjetkovic Congratulations and best wishes to the NEWLY BAPTIZED, the

parents and kumovi,! @iveli! Na mnogaja ljeta!

FUNERAL: September 8, 2009 John L Sullivan Grant rest eternal and make his memory to be eternal. PARASTOS: August 23, 2009 Katherina Brune

Vjecnaja Pamjat – Memory eternal !

KRSNA SLAVA;— August 2, St. Ilijan – ILIJINDAN

SENIOR CITIZENS On September 8, 2009, we held our Senior Citizens meeting in the church hall. The members decided not to hold a meeting in October because of the church festival planned. In November we will go to Placerville to sightsee and to have lunch at a local restaurant. Because of health issues four of our long-standing members were made honorary members. They are Milos Kovac, Daisy Freeman, Mary Smilanich and Milena Budie. A delicious potluck luncheon followed the meeting. Georgina Setencich Stevenson Secretary


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Irene Butyrin Aiello Radomir Antovich Agnes Atkinson Don & Carmen Bowen Ilija & Anna Bradaric Milena Budie Margaret Chernay Joe & Annette Chinn Anne Cippa Dragana & Paul Cooper Ilija & Sharon Cvetich Kristina Cvetich Michael Cvetich Nikolas Cvetich Pavo & Bosiljka Cvjetkovic Dragoljub & Andja Cvjetkovic-Biserka Delich Jovanka Dunham Daisy Freeman Leo & Aleksandra Glebov John Gojkovich Robert & Zorka Gojkovich Joanna & Horia Groza Don & Nada Halkovic Ankica Jaksic Djordje Janjic Chris & Yuliya Johnson Dimitri & Luba Karnaookh Eva Katich Gladis Katsikis C.B. Ken Kinnaman John & Nevenka Kordic

Paula Kordic Steve & Gail Kosach Nadezda Koseva Milos Kovac Mihail & Ljuba Kruska Anna Lisnich Bosko & Greta Ljubisavljevic Bil & Marta Mamika Mirjama Markovic Ilinka Meglemre George & Valeria Melnikov Carolyn Metzka Djoko Micanovic Dragan & Martha Mihailjcic Robert Miller Savka Mileusnic Stevo Mileusnic Marie & Miroslav MilovanovicSlobo & Tanya Mitic Desa Mojsic Stanley & Vesna Mojsich Betty Moomey Elsie Mrvos Vladimir & Ljiljana Otashevich Aleksandar Krapcevic-Pavlovic Pavle Krapcevic-Pavlovic Velika Pejovich Aco & Zorana Petrovich Boris & Draginja Petrovich Savo & Bosiljka Petrovic Gene Plecas Kevin Pokrajac

Zoran Popazivanov Fr. Dane & Protinica Popovic Nenad Popovic Milos & Mileva Radmanovic Milanka Radosavljevic Milivoje & Cveta Radovanovich Todor & Milena Rajak Joe & Helen Rodriguez Danica Gojkovich Ryder Savo Simic David G. Sokitch Ivanka Stefanovic Milivoje & Cecilia Stefanovic Milica Marsha Stefanovich Stanislav & Milica Stefanovich Zorka Stijakovic Zarko Stojanovich John Sullivan Milos Supica Milan & Betty Tica Jovan & Mileva Tica Jovo Tica Nikola & Zorka Tica Bozidarka Theodorovich Zlatko & Kimberly Theodorovich Slavko & Milica Turjacanin Dragan & Michell Vidovich Helen Vukasovich Fr. Bill & Popadija Weir Connie Ziacan

Through our financial commitment our Parish will be able to carry on its programs for all its parishioners. Please fill your Stewardship card and mail it to the Church office. "God has given us everything we have. He expects from us a generous portion of our blessings for the needs of His Church."

Kroz na{a nov~ano obavezivanje na{a paro-hija bi}e u mogu}nosti di ispuni sve njene pro-grame prema svim parohijanima. Molimo vas popunite KARTU STARATELJSTVA i po{aljite je u crkvenu kancelariju. “Bog nam je dao sve {to imamo. On i o~ekuje od nas dobar deo od bla-goslov nam dati za potrebe Njegove crkve”.

THE FOLLOWING PARISHIONERS HAVE RETURNED THEIR 2009

STEWARDSHIP COMIMITMENT CARDS

Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sunday Nedelja

Monday Ponedeljak

Tuesday Utorak

Wednesday Sreda

Thurs^etvrt

4 17th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.

17-ta Nedelja po Duhovima Gospel. Matt.15:21-28; Mk.8:34-9:1; Epistle: Cor.6:16-7:1; Gal.2:16-20;

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Concep. of John the Baptist

Za~e}e Sv JOVANA Liturgy at 9:00a.m.

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11 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. 18-ta Nedelja po Duhovima

Gospel. Lk. 5:1-11; Epistle: 2 Cor. 9:6-11;

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13

14 The PROTECT

of Virgin Mary POKROVICA

Liturgy at 9:00a.m.


19-ta Nedelja po Duhovima Gospel. Lk.6:31-36;

Epistle: 2.Cor. 11:31-12:9;

19 St. Thomas Sv. TOMA Liturgy at 9:00a.m.

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20-ta Nedelja po Duhovima Gospel. Lk. 7:11-16; Jn.17:1-13;

Epistle: Gal. 1:11-19; Heb.13:7-16;

26 27 Ven. Parasceva

SV. PETKA Liturgy at 9:00a.m.

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CH

If you’re plannAko `elite da

Write

O C T O B E R 2009 O

SERBIAN FESTIVAL - SRPSKI FESTIVAL OCTOBER 10-11

MEMDD


ALL ALTAR BOYS ARE ASKED TO SERVE WHEN ATTENDING CHURCH

Reader Schedule

Message to all readers: Please make note of the days you are to read and make plans to come to church before 10:00 a.m.

October —Oktobar 4

Reader: Rade Radulovic Gospel. Matt.15:21-28; Mk.8:34-9:1; Epistle: Cor.6:16-7:1; Gal.2:16-20; October —Oktobar 11

Reader: Jovan Tica Gospel. Lk. 5:1-11;

Epistle: 2 Cor. 9:6-11; October —Oktobar 18

Reader: Dimitri Karnaookh Gospel. Lk.6:31-36;

Epistle: 2.Cor. 11:31-12:9; October —Oktobar 25 Reader: Mirjana Susa

Gospel. Lk. 7:11-16; Jn.17:1-13; Epistle: Gal. 1:11-19; Heb.13:7-16;

November —Novembarbar 1 Reader: Dusan Radosavljevic Gospel. Matt.15:21-28; Mk.8:34-9:1; Epistle: 2. Cor. 6:16-7:1;Gal.2:16-20;

INFORMATION FOR NOVEMBER SHEPHERD

If anyone has anything they would like to add to the Shepherd, the last day to send

information is October 15th. INFORMACIJE ZA NOVEMBARSKI PASTIR Ako imate ne{to da bi `eleli da date za mese~ni Pastir, zadnji dan za to je 15 Octobar. Nazovite Protu Dana ili

po{aljite po{tom.

ursday etvrtak

Friday Petak

Saturday Subota

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2 3 NO

Vespers- Ve~ernje 6:00 p.m.

Confession—Ispovest-

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9

10 Memoryal Saturday

ZADU[NICE Liturgy at 9:00a.m.

Vespers- VE^ERNJE 6:00 p.m.

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17 Vespers- Ve~ernje

6:00 p.m. Confession—Ispovest-

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Vespers- Ve~ernje 6:00 p.m.

Confession—Ispovest- -

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31 St. Luke Sv. Luka

Liturgy at 10:00a.m.

CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? - MENJATE ADRESU planning to move, please let us know before changing your address. e da se preselite na drugu adresu obavestite nas pre nego se preselite. Write to –Pi{ite nam na Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

7777 Sunset Ave. Fair Oaks, Ca. 95628

O K T O B A R

MEMORIAL SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 DAN MRTVIH - ZADU[NICE DIVINE LITURGY at 9:00a.m.

Follow with PARASTOS

25th Anniversary Celebration of the Consecration

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There comes a point in life when you decide to go to church simply because you want to do so. You walk into the church building. You admire the strong structure, the beautiful Icons and furnishings. You hear the prayers of the priest, the chanter, and the choir, while several people are serving there whose aim is to help you in addressing any needs and concerns you may have. The amazing fact is that this is all free - no charge other than a free-will offering. This is different than going into a museum, a concert, a theatre or a movie that all have a specified entrance fee. In the latter examples, we go to be entertained. But while in church we go to participate and receive God's blessings. How wonderful it was of our forefathers to make such sterling sacrifices in order to build so many of these magnificent older structures that we have found ready made for our worship. We didn't have to sacrifice. We didn't have to give generous donations for years as the Church was built. Many of our forefathers came to this country and struggled for years, giving 10 percent and 15 percent of their pay to help establish the Church in America. Some who owned homes took out a second mortgage in providing monies for the church to be built. Yet, there the building stands, and I can walk in without contributing a nickel... and it's mine! But as I think on the history of the establishment of the Church I wonder what would have happened if my forefathers thought as I do. I imagine that there would be only a few churches if no one decided to sacrifice. So, as I find the Church ready made for me, with an educated clergy and dedicated lay people, with services and outreach programs, I feel that somehow I

am not doing my part. How can I expect to just walk in, give a small do-nation and do justice to all the sacrifices that were made by others in providing me with this opportunity to worship Almighty God in such a beautiful Church? As I think on these things I realize that our forefa-thers were not concerned with themselves but with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren... they cared about me! And if they cared about you and me, then don't we also have to be concerned about the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who follow us 10 ,20, 50 and 100 years from now? We are Orthodox. Will they be Orthodox? Will they be Christian? We already know that these children will face many challenges that the world has never seen before due to terrorism, AIDS and environmental concerns. Who will be there for them? What Church pro-grams will they have that nurture their lives? Will they have a Church or even a priest there for them? All of a sudden you realize that you are the decid-ing factor here. Your involvement and support of the Church will determine whether or not they have Churches to wor-ship in, youth programs, religious education programs, and an Orthodox identity. Whenever we have a problem we expect God to come through for us 100 percent...and God also expects to receive 100 percent from you - 100 percent of your heart and soul, then your outreach to others and also your stellar support of His Church, i.e., 100 percent of your whole self, whatever you can give to others and even just 1 percent or more of our income to support His ministries. The next time you walk into YOUR old Church, know that the building is yours - a gift from our forefathers. They only expect of you that you help to maintain it as an overseeing custodian. They expect that you will hand it down to others as they handed it down to you! Fr. Demos


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Peter & Donna Djukanovich………..$ 50.00 David G. Sokitch…………………....$ 50.00 Donald & Nada Halkovich………....$ 50.00 Steven & Gail Kosach …………... $ 50.00 Stevana Ausban ………………...…..$ 50.00 Stevan & Dusica Pirocanac ……$ 50.00 Eve Katich ……………… ..….. $ 50.00 Stevo Mileusnic ……………………. $ 50.00 Milan Selakovic …………….$ 50.00 Louis & Melba Golovich……... ……$ 25.00 Daniel Visnich …………………....$ 25.00

Rafael Gosovich…………………..$ 50.00

Milivoje & Cveta Radovanovich …$ 150.00 Milos & Mileva Radmanovich ….$ 125.00 Elia & Milena Kentera ……….....$ 125.00 Saratoga, CA St Michael's SOC … $ 125.00 Lazar & Milojka Saraba ……….....$ 125.00 Silvia Kentera ………………..…$ 125.00 Milan & Betty Tica ………….. $ 125.00 Nikola & Zorka Tica …………...$ 125.00 Eli & Anna Bradaric …………...$ 125.00 Svetomir Kosanovic …………..$ 100.00 Jackson, CA St Sava SOC ….$ 100.00 Dragan & Michelle Vidovich ….$ 100.00 Gene Plecas …………………...$ 100.00

Circle of Serbian Sisters St Petka KSS ………………………………….$ 100.00 Ken Kinnaman ………………..$ 100.00 John & Mary Gojkovich ……….$ 100.00 Phoenix, Arizona St.Sava Serbian Orthodox Church ………………………....$ 100.00 George & Valerie Melnikov…….$ 75.00 Larisa Zlatic …………………$ 75.00 Mihail & Ljuba Kruska ………...$ 75.00 Dusko & Tatjana Susa …………$ 75.00 Slavko & Milica Turjacanin…….. $ 75.00 Angelia Jovanovic………………..$ 75.00 Inna Telford …………………..$ 75.00 Biserka Delich …………………... $ 50.00 Issaquah, WA St Sava SOC……….$ 50.00 Helen Vukasovich …………. $ 50.00 Milanka Radosavljevic ………….$ 50.00 Milan Selakovic …………$ 50.00 Ronald & Mildred Radakovich ....$ 50.00 Dorothy Milosovich …………..$ 50.00 Serbian Eastern OC Holy Resurrection ……………………….....$ 50.00 Danica Du Bois ………………...$ 50.00 Zagorka Radulovich ………..$ 50.00 Ronko Omcikus ………………...$ 50.00 Nebojsha & Slobodanka Toshich ..$ 25.00 Elsie Mrvos …………………..$ 25.00 Will & Patricia Vujovich ………...$ 25.00 Chris & Yulia Johnson ………….$ 25.00 Thomas & Danica Paul ………… $ 25.00 Daisy Freeman ………………....$ 25.00 Igor Alekseyev …………………..$ 10.00 Lilia Bliner ………………….$ 10.00

DONATION FOR AUGUST

Shepherd Donations

25th Anniversary Book Ad

Church Slava Donations


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Lazar & Milojka Saraba ………….$ 25.00

Fr Bill & Pj Mary Anne Weir …. $ 50.00 Eli & Anna Bradaric …………...$ 25.00

Fr Bill & Pj Mary Anne Weir ….. $ 25.00

Fr Bill & Pj Mary Anne Weir ….. $ 50.00

Mildred Lombardi ………...$ 100.00 Patricia Culjak ………………....$ 50.00 Vera Malkovich …………………$ 15.00 George & Valerie Melnikov……..$ 10.00 Zorka Stijakovic ………….$ 5.00 Michael Melnikov ………… $ 5.00 Zorka Stijakovic ……...…$ 5.00 Paul Siakov ………………….$ 5.00

Lazar & Milojka Saraba ……….$ 150.00 John & Nevenka Kordic ………..$ 150.00

We are sorry for the omission and are grateful for the donations. Nevenka

Ken Kinnaman………………….$ 100.00

Ronald & Belle Guelden……..….$ 100.00

Elsie Mrvos………………..…….$ 25.00

Bill & Martha Mamika……..…...$ 100.00

Elsie Mrvos……………………..…$ 25.00 Thank you for understanding

In Memory of Ljubica Janjic

In memory of Anna Plefka

In Memory of Borka Toshich

In Memory of Katerina Brune

Other Church Donations

Prior Month Corrections for Drazin Dan Donations

Penny Drive August 2 to December 27

Kolo Srpskih Sestara

are sponsoring a fund raiser to help orphaned Serbian mothers and children.

Please Give what you can to help those less fortunate.

The penny jar is located in the Hall entryway.

Every Penny Counts!

Church Door donation plaque In Memory of Gina Kinnaman

Corrections from September Shepherd should be like this.

In memory of Anna & George Hudischeasky

In memory of Cecilia Stefanic

In memory of Katerina Brune

In memory of Sam Sabanovich


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FINANCIAL REPORT for June & July 2009

Plate……………… ………………$ 721.00 Candles……………………………$ 1041.00 Stewardship……………………….$ 2373.00 Easter Donations ………………. $ .00 In Memory & other donations …...$ 4215.00 Hall Rental…………………….....$ 2400.00 Church Fees………………………$ 350.00 Apartment Rental.. ……………....$ .00

Interest Income……………………$ 1.62 Banquets Event …………………...$ 420.00 Other………………………………$ .00

Wash Account for June…………...$ 30.00

Total Income for August $ 11.521.62

EXPENSES Diocese Fees……………...….$ 1048.92 Priest’s Salary… …………….$ 3129.00 Payroll Taxes……………… . $ 239.37 Administration…… ……….. .$ 1045.76 Priest’s Benefits………….… .$ 2384.05 Charitable Giving…………....$ 1522.52 Education…………………….$ 0.00 Socials/Banquets …………….$ 1.693.49 Service Rendered…………… $ 0.00

Church Worship…… .$ 809.23 Building & Grounds…$ 3955.26

Total Expenses for August…$ 15.827.60

Excess of Income over Expenses for August (4305.98)

General Account Balances: Balance as of July 31, 2009………….……………………….......$ 42.711.73 Deposits in August 2009……………...…………………………..$ 11.551.62 Expenditures in August 2009……………………………….…….$ 16.906.46

Balance as of August 31,2009 = $ 37,356.89 Wash Account………………………...$ 1078.86


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РЕПУБЛИКА СРБИЈА

Министарство за дијаспору

17.08.2009. године,

Dragi prijatelji

Осећам се помало нелагодно што у својству министра, у петој демократској Влади након петооктобарских промена, имам обавезу да Вам се обратим овим поводом. Желим на самом почетку да нагласим да је исправљање историјских неправди насталих као последица братоублачког грађанског рата, а касније тоталитарне власти, приоритетан задатак Министарства за дијаспору и мене лично. Сва ова питања морала су бити решена још 2000.године. Ипак, боље икад него никад. Овом приликом имам задовољство да Вас са великом радошћу обавестим о новостима које су многи од Вас и ваших предака чекали дуже од пола века. Испоставља се да је правда ипак достижна иако је понекад недопустиво спора.

Пре пет година отпочели смо процес исправљања историјских неправди. Уз велики напор, и много отпора, усвојен је Закон о изједначавању права припадника партшанског и равногорског покрета чиме је од стране државе Србије признато постојање два антифашистичка покрета за време Другог светског рата. Стотине хиљада потомака оних који су дуже од педесет година неправедно носили белег наследника државних непријатеља могли су да одахну, и да са радошћу констатују да је нешто коначнотгочело да се мења.

Након тога, уз велике муке усвојен је Закон о рехабилитацији жртава

политичког прогона након Другог светског рата. У оно време успостављени систем једноумља није признавао право на различитост и другачије мишљење. У поремећеном систему вредности, најпрогресивнијим деловима друштва одузимана су грађанска права, имовина, част и господство. У градовима су убијани интелектуалци и сви они који су чинили средњу класу која је мотор развоја и која се у Србији данас тек полако обнавља. У селима су систематски убијани најбољи домаћини, они који су вековима чували нашу културу, веру и традицију. Овим масовним ликвидацијама започела је ера наше историје која је завршена крвавим распадом земље, националним поразима, стотинама хиљада избеглица, сломом националне економије и Србијом на маргинама модерне цивилизације.


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Пре два месеца на нашу иницијативу формирана је државна комисија која истражује околности под којима је скончао министар војни, ђенерал Југословенске војске у отаџбини Драгољуб Дража Михаиловић. Очекујем и верујем да ће комисија у врло кратком року утврдити место на коме је ликвидиран и покопан. То значи, да се можемо надати да ће до краја године, достојанствено и у складу са православним обичајима бити сахрањен човек према коме је учињена једна од највећих историјских неправди.

На предлог Министарства за дијаспору, пре месец дана Влада Србије формирала је

и Комисију за откривање свих тајних гробница у којима се налазе посмртни остаци грађана који су ликвидирани од стране револуционарних власти. Дошло се до података да је убијено 100.000 недужних грађана Србије између 1944. и 1946. године. Наша цивилизацијска обавеза је да попишемо жртве и да обележимо ове масовне гробнице које ће бити неми сведоци злог времена и историјско упозорење нашем народу да то никада више не сме да се понови. На крају, желим да додам да ће процес историјског помирења и исправљања државних неправди из прошлости бити завршен када поред свих ових задатака усвојимо и Закон о реституцији чиме ћемо дефинитивно ставити тачку на грађански рат који је оставио несагледиве последице на наш народ и државу, а те последице, на жалост, још увек осећамо. Очекујем, а то ће бити моја иницијатива као министра, да Скупштина Србије коначно до краја године усвоји Закон о реституцији односно повраћају или правичној накнади насилно одузете имовине, а то је и један од услова за прикључење Европској унији што је наше стратешко опредељење.

Унапред се извињавам свакоме од Вас ко се на било који начин, евентуално, могао

наћи повређеним због садржине овог писма. Осетио сам потребу да вам се обратим овим поводом, јер дубоко верујем даје решавање ових питања од нашег државног и националног интереса и да за сва времена морамо ставити тачку на поделе из прошлости да би смо се коначно могли окренути ка будућности.

Srda~no Va{,

Васе Чарапића 20,11000 Београд Тел: +381 11 2638 033, Факс: +381 11 2636 815

министар

мр Срђан Срећковић


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АРХИМАНДРИТ РАФАИЛ КАРЕЛИН

Идентитет Цркве

NASTAVAK…

Завршио бих указујући на опасност која постоји ако не будемо довољно опрезни као Црква. Та опасност је двојака. Прва опасност је од секуларизације (посветовњачења) Цркве. Другим речима, ради се о опасности да Црква заборави на свој есхатолошки идентитет, то јест да исцрпи свој идентитет у својим историјским активностима, да буде апсорбована од стране ових активности толико да заборави да се Црква не исцрпљује у границама историје. Укратко, друштвено ангажовање, ангажовање на пољу мисионарства, чак и да искоренимо своје страсти и духовно узнапредујемо, како кажу, све то, ако не буде прошло кроз Цркву која ће све ово поставити под призму не историје већ есхатологије, Царства Божијег, остаће само прапорци који звече.

Друга опасност је оно што бисмо могли назвати поистовећењем историје са есхатологијом. То је, на неки начин, друга

крајност у односу на секуларизам. Тако у овом

случају постоји наиме опасност да се Црква задовољи оним што има у историји, својим Тајнама, својим духовним искуством, те да престане да ишчекује долазак Царства Божијег. У питању је врло велика опасност, присутна код многих православних. Наиме, чини се да данас као да заборављамо да не можемо ми преокренути историју у Царство Божије. Царство Божије ће доћи када Бог то буде хтео, "неочекивано", не можемо рећи кад и како, и зато све што имамо и што поседујемо у Цркви, духовна блага, нису никад довољна.

Потребно је дакле да ишчекујемо Царство Божије. Но, на жалост, ми смо изгубили ту димензију нестрпљивог очекивања Царства Божијег, изгубили смо оно што се садржи у речима "маран атха", то јест "дођи Господе, када ћеш доћи". Није нам стало ни до чега више, свега имамо, и то посебно ми православни који често мислимо да још од сад живимо у Рају, те да зато уопште није потребно да се збуде Други Долазак. То су понеке од девијација које може свако да уочи ако добро загледа куда и како смо се упутили.

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CHILDREN’S CORNER


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Дакле, од секуларизма можемо доћи у другу крајност, у ону у којој је историја већ од сада Царство Божије, те да тако заборавимо да је Црква, њен идентитет, једна непрестана борба, да је оно за шта је Кулман рекао "већ јесте, али још не". Ово заправо значи да је црква стешњена између историје и есхатона, те да све што чини, чини управо у ишчекивању свога пуног идентитета који ће се открити у Царству Божијем.

Коначно, овакав начин гледања на идентитет Цркве утемељиће у нама један другачији однос и приликом нашег случења у Цркви. Он ће нам, дакле помоћи да не мислимо да ћемо, радећи за друштво или на духовном пољу, ми створити Царство Божије у историји, то јест да не мислимо да смо урадили нешто велико. Треба, наиме, увек да осећамо да све што чинимо, чинимо ад ферендум, у односу на Царство Божије које ће установити једино Бог. Конкретно, ово чини релативним и делатност Цркве, чинећи је заправо смиренијом у свету, али истовремено и сигурнијом да неће никада бити понешена историјским струјама, струјама овога света.

Митрополит пергамски ЈОВАН Зизиулас

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morn-ing while they are eating breakfast, The young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, The young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a Nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.." The husband said, "I got up early this morning and Cleaned our windows." And so it is with life.. What we see when watching others De-pends on the purity of the window through which we look.


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This glorious saint was of Serbian descent, and was born in the town of Epivat between Selymbria and Constantinople. St. Parasceva's parents were wealthy, devout Chris-tians. They also had a son, Euthym-ius, who was tonsured a monk dur-ing his parents' lifetime, and later became the famous Bishop of Madytos. The virgin Parasceva always yearned for the ascetic life for the sake of Christ. After her parents' repose, she left her home and went first to Constantin-ople, then to the wilderness of Jordan, where she lived the ascetic life until old age. Who can express all the labors, suf-ferings and demonic temptations that St.

Parasceva endured in the course of her many years? In her old age, an angel of God once appeared to her and said: ``Leave the wilderness and return to your homeland; it is necessary that you render your body to the earth there, and

your soul to the habitation of the Lord.'' St. Parasceva obeyed, and returned to Epivat. There she lived for two years in ceaseless fasting and prayer, then gave up her soul to God and took up her abode in Paradise. St. Parasceva entered into rest in the eleventh century. Over the course of time

her relics were translated to Constantin-ople, to Trnovo, again to Constantin-ople, and then to Belgrade. Her relics now repose in Romania, in the town of Iasi. In Belgrade, the well of St. Petka mi-raculously heals the sick who draw near with faith in God and love for this saint.

Saint Peter of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro He entered the monastic order at the age of twelve. Following the death of Metropolitan Sava in 1782, Peter became the Metropolitan and ruler of Monte-negro. This glorious man dedicated his entire holy life to his people. He worked

with all his strength to reconcile the quarreling clans of Montenegro, and strove mightily to de-fend the land and people from greedy aggressors. He succeeded in both tasks. He is especially glorified for his victory over Napoleon's army in Boka and Dalmatia. He was very strict with him-self, and with everyone else he was just and condescending. Peter lived in a small cell like a sim-ple monk even though he was a prince over the people. He reposed on October 18, 1830. His miracle-working relics repose, incorrupt, in the Monastery of Cetinje. The Lord glorified him in the heavens and on earth as His faithful and long-suffering servant.

THE VENERABLE PARASCEVA (Petka)


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Part I: History The Church of the Seven Councils The Great Schism CONTINUED…...

The twentieth century, Greeks and Arabs

The Orthodox Church of Finland owes its origin to monks from the Russian monastery of Valamo on Lake Ladoga, who preached among the pagan Finnish tribes in Karelia during the Middle Ages. The Finnish Orthodox were dependent on the Russian Church until the Revolu-tion, but since 1923 they have been under the spiritual care of the Patriarchate of Constantin-ople, although the Russian Church did not accept this situation until 1957. The vast majority of Finns are nominally Lutheran, and the 66,000 Orthodox comprise only ***1.5 percent of the population. There is an Orthodox seminary at Kuopio. "With its active youth, concerned with international and ecumenical contacts, anxious to appear a western and European community, while at the same time safeguarding its Orthodox traditions, the Church of Finland is perhaps destined to play an important role in the western witness of Orthodoxy" (J. Meyendorff, L 'Eglise orthodoxe hier et aujourd'hui, Paris, 1960, p. 157).

The Patriarchate of Alexandria has been a small Church ever since the separation of the Monophysites in the fifth century, when the great majority of Christians in Egypt rejected the Council of Chalcedon. Today there are about 10,000 Orthodox in Egypt, and perhaps 150,000-250,000 elsewhere in Africa. The head of the Alexandrian Church is known officially as "Pope and Patriarch": in Orthodox usage, the title "Pope" is not limited solely to the Bishop of Rome. The Patriarch and most of his clergy are Greek. The whole of the African continent falls under the charge of the Patriarch, and since Orthodox are just now beginning to undertake missionary work in Central Africa, it may well be that the ancient Church of Alexandria, however attenu-ated at present, will expand in new and unexpected ways during the years to come. (On missions in Africa, see Chapter 9.).

The Patriarchate of Antioch numbers some 320,000 Orthodox in Syria and the Lebanon, and perhaps a further 150,000 in Iraq and America. (Roman Catholics, Uniate and Latin, num-ber about 640,000 in Syria and the Lebanon). The Patriarch, who lives in Damascus, has been an Arab since 1899, but before that time he and the higher clergy were Greek, although the major-ity of the parish clergy and the people of the Antiochene Patriarchate were and are Arab.

by Bishop Kallistos Ware

Orthodox Church

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Some thirty years ago a leading Orthodox in the Lebanon, Father (now Bishop) George Khodre, said: "Syria and the Lebanon form a dark picture among Orthodox countries." Indeed, until recently the Patriarchate of Antioch could without injustice be taken as a striking example of a "sleeping" Church. Today there are signs of an awakening, chiefly as a result of the Ortho-dox Youth Movement in the Patriarchate, most remarkable and inspiring organization, originally founded by a small group of students in 1941-1942. The Youth Movement runs catechism schools and Bible seminars, as well issuing an Arabic periodical and other religious material. It undertakes social work, combating poverty and providing medical assistance. It encourages preaching and is attempting to restore frequent communion; and under its influence two all but outstanding religious communities have been founded at Tripoli and Deir-el-Harf. In the Youth Movement at Antioch, as in the "home missionary" movements of Greece, a leading part is played by the laity.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has always occupied a special position in the Church: never large in numbers, its primary task has been to guard the Holy Places. As at Antioch, Arabs form the majority of the people; they number today about 60,000 but are on the decrease, while before the war of 1948 there were only 5,000 Greeks within the Patriarchate and at present there are very much fewer (? not more than 500). But the Patriarch of Jerusalem is still a Greek, and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, which looks after the Holy Places, is completely in Greek control.

Before the Bolshevik Revolution, a notable feature in the life of Orthodox Palestine was the annual influx of Russian pilgrims, and often there were more than 10,000 of them staying in the Holy City at the same time. For the most part they were elderly peasants, to whom this pil-grimage was the most notable event in their lives: after a walk of perhaps several thousand miles across Russia, they took ship at the Crimea and endured a voyage of what to us today must seem unbelievable discomfort, arriving at Jerusalem if possible in time for Easter (See Stephen Gra-ham, With the Russian Pilgrims to Jerusalem, London, 1913. The author traveled himself with the pilgrims, and gives a revealing picture of Russian peasants and their religious outlook). The Russian Spiritual Mission in Palestine, as well as looking after the Russian pilgrims, did most valuable pastoral work among the Arab Orthodox and maintained a large number of schools. This Russian Mission has naturally been sadly reduced in size since 1917, but has not entirely disappeared, and there are still three Russian convents at Jerusalem; two of them receive Arab girls as novices.

The Church of Greece continues to occupy a central place in the life of the country as a whole. Writing in the early 1950s, a sympathetic Anglican observer remarked: "Hellas, when all is said as to the spread of secularism and indifference, remains a Christian nation in a sense of which we in the west can have but little conception" (Hammond, The Waters of Marah, p. 25). In the In were 112,665 Mohammedans, 6,325 Jews, 29 persons of other religions, and 121 atheists. Today

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there is much more indifference than in the 1950s, and the Socialist government elected in 1981 began to take steps towards a separation of Church and State; but the Church remains deeply influential.

Greek dioceses of today, as in the primitive Church, are small: there are 78 (contrast Russia before 1917, with 67 dioceses for 100 million faithful) and in north Greece many dio-ceses contain less than 100 parishes. In ideal and often in reality, the Greek bishop is not merely a distant administrator, but an accessible figure with whom his flock can have personal contact, and in whom the poor and simple freely confide, calling daily in large numbers for practical as well as spiritual advice. The Greek bishop delegates far less to his parish clergy than a bishop in the west, and in particular he still reserves to himself much of the task of preaching, though he is assisted in this by a small staff of monks or educated laymen, working under his direction.

Thus by no means all the married parish clergy of Greece in the past preached sermons; nor is this surprising, since few had received a regular theological training. In pre-Revolutionary Russia all parish priests had passed through a theological seminary, but in Greece in the year 1920, of 4,500 married clergy, less than 1,000 had received more than an ordinary elementary school education. Hitherto the priest of the Greek countryside has been closely integrated with the local community: usually he is a native of the village which he serves; after ordination, as well as being priest, he still continues with his previous work, whatever that may be — carpen-try, shoemaking, or more commonly farming; he is not a man of higher learning than the laity round him; very possibly he has never attended a seminary. This system has had certain undeni-able advantages, and in particular it has meant that the Greek Church has avoided a cultural gulf between pastor and people, such as has existed in England for several centuries. But with the rise in educational standards in Greece during recent years, a change in this system has become necessary: today priests clearly need a more specialized training, and it seems likely that hence-forward most, if not all, Greek ordinands will be sent to study in a seminary.

The two older universities of Greece, at Athens and Thessalonica, both contain Faculties of Theology. Non-Orthodox are often surprised to find that the great majority of professors in both faculties are laymen, and that most of the students have no intention of being ordained; but Orthodox consider it entirely natural that the laity as well as the clergy should take an interest in theology. Many students afterwards teach religion in secondary schools, and it is usually the local schoolmasters whom the bishops choose as their lay preachers. Only a few of these stu-dents become parish clergy; a few others are professed as monks, though it is likely that only a minority of these graduate monks will live as resident members of a monastery: in most cases they will work on the bishop's staff, or perhaps become preachers.

Will Continue…..


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BECOME A SHEPHERD

SPONSOR FOR 2009

Please consider becoming a Shep-herd Sponsor. For$ 25 you will become a bronze Sponsor, for $

50 a Silver Sponsor an for $ 100.00 a gold Sponsor.

Parishioners hospitalized, sick at home or in nursing homes… Mihajlo Kruska Zorica Popovic Georgina Stevenson Nikola Dragovic Ana Bozinovic Milli Maticic Dusko Pesevic Protinica Nina Garic Horia Ion Groza Persa Dragovic Dejan Trailovi Sandy Tobe Dorothy Gojkovich Nada Kosanovic Milos Kovac Ana Mileusnich Daisy Freeman Belko Yovanovich Olga & Irina Butin Ivan Popazivanov George Melnikov Alexandra Fitzpatrick Boris Petrovich

Dear Brothers and Sisters, please remember these people in your daily prayers. If you know anyone who is sick please let Father Dane know. He would like to visit them and pray for them. His telephone number is 966-6276 or 606-8808. We pray for your return to health and well-being.

SHEPHERD SPONSOR for 2009

BRONZE SPONSORSHIP In memory of

V. Rev. Milivoje Djordjevic by

Family Djordjevich


GOLD SPONSORSHIP In memory of my parents

George & Julia Cuckovich By

Danica C. DuBois

Can you be a Sponsor?


GOLD SPONSORSHIP In memory of my Brother

Emil Evasovic by

Mike Evasovic


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Calendar of Events We are publishing a calendar of events so that you and your family

can join us for these events. All are welcome and we hope to see you at Church, as well as these events. More details will follow.

October 10-11 Serbian Festival October 31 -25th Anniversary celebration of the Consecration of our Church

November 15 Stewardship Sunday November 22 KSS Slava. November 26 Thanksgiving Day November 27 Nativity Fast begins

Your Church Board Welcomes you.

When your are making a donation to our Church, please note on the check

(under the memo field) what it is for. This is because we have no way of knowing

your intent for the donation. Otherwise, if there is no such notation, and if you are al-

ready a steward, the donation will automatically apply towards your stewardship. If you

are not a steward, it will be applied as a church donation.


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that we had truly celebrated “the old way – three days”. Following the Vespers service, approximately 40 of us gathered at the hall. George Mileusnic had prepared a delicious evening meal for all to share. At the conclusion of the meal, Bishop Justin freely answered questions posed to him by those in at-tendance. Questions ranged in topics from fishing for new stew-ards to how to pray; from how to en-tertain two languages in the same com-munity to how to include everyone; from how to serve God to how do we know we are doing the ‘right thing.’ Vladika Justin quietly and prayerfully answered each question posed to him with a kindness to the person posing the question and a deeper insight as to who we Orthodox Christians really are and how we should further ourselves in our devotion to our Lord. We culminated our weekend of

…and God said: “When two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be also.”

We gathered together all weekend this year to celebrate our Slava. Friday, August 28 was the official Holy Day and we gathered for Divine Liturgy. On Saturday, August 29, our own Bishop Maxim brought Bishop Justin of Ti-mok to serve the evening Vespers service with us. Sun-day, August 30, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served with both Bishop Maxim and Bishop Justin presiding.

For those who at-tended all three days, the shared feeling was


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services with a most beautiful Hierarchi-cal Divine Lit-urgy. Long before the two hierarchs ar-rived, the parking lot was full of cars. Chris-

tina and Brankica Mojsich and Daniella Vidovich held bouquets of flowers in their arms. They were waiting to joy-fully greet our two honored guests. Fr. Miladin Garic (our retired Priest), Fr. Dane Pop-ovic, Fr. William Weir and Fr. Jovan Babic (assistant to Bishop Maxim) quietly stood watch at the doors of the Church. The abundance of Alter Servers surrounding the Priests was a true witness of love. Inside the Church, as each person quietly entered, they lit

candles and then waited patiently for the first blessings to be be-stowed

as the two Vladi-kas walked down the cen-ter of

the Church. The Slavki Kolach and Zhito had been placed on the Memorial Table by our Kumovi, Rade and Adri-ana Radulovich. They also sat and prayed while waiting for the Bishops’ first blessings. The feeling one has of expectant joy cannot be described by anyone who attends an hierarchical Di-vine Liturgy – it can only be experi-

enced. We know in those moments that we will be welcoming our Bishops and that later during the service we will be blessed by the presence of our Lord Himself. The awesomeness of those quiet moments are well worth the extra time in Church we spend on those few days each time our Vladika is in our midst.


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At the conclu-sion of the Divine Liturgy, we had a

Procession around the Church. Then, the hall quickly filled with all of us as many hugged and greeted each other with the wonderful greeting of “Sretna Slava”, “Blessed Slava, Holy Day”. Again the delicious meal had been pre-

pared with George Mileus-nic as head chef and Zaga Radu-lovich

(Rade’s Mother) as second in charge. Many willing hands served the meal to our happy community. Rade Radulovich commented, “I felt the pressure of being the representa-

tive for our Parish for the day. I have to admit, the day moved too quickly – it was like my Wedding Day. All the preparation before the day, then the event is over too soon. Adriana and I would like to thank all who assisted in making the day wonderful. We wish everyone a Blessed Sretna Slava – to all who came and to all who could not be with us. As is customary, Bishop Maxim


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invited Bishop Justin to of-fer the Ser-mon. Fol-lowing are some insights offered to us.

Many people in society today are trying to discredit the Gospel. For example, the man came to the Lord asking what was most important. ‘How can I inherit life eternal?’ Jesus did not just teach us the law. Being born by the Theotokos,

He became one of us. So we recognize that through the Lord’s sacrifice, na-ture was re-stated to its fullness and

healed. The Lord is the Savior of the world and of our souls. He promised us eternal life. Thus, we ask ‘O, Lord, what shall I do to inherit life eternal?’

This tradition is noted through time – young people going to blessed elders are still asking this same question to-day. The Church with our entire tra-dition teaches us: 1.) Keep God’s Com-mandments; and 2.) True grace and power abide in all His (Jesus’) Words. This God chose his collaborators, His

workers. It would be unwise if we re-ject this communion with Him. Above all, He wants us to know and recognize Him as our Savior. He loves both the righteous and the sinner. We need to recognize and know Him. We need to allow His way to be ours. St. Paul said it best, “It is no longer I who lives, but the Lord who lives in me.” When Christ abides with us, all bad thoughts and deeds do NOT abide with us. May the Lord with His Mother, the Lady Theotokos, help us come to know Christ and to accept Him into our hearts.

Happy Krsna slava and Ziveli na Mnogaja Ljeta !!!

…

Luba Karnaookh and Ilija Bradarich celebrated their birthdays together on Sunday, August 2nd, St. Ilija’s Day. Cakes (yes, that

means more than one choice) and cookies, fruit and drinks were shared by all. May God Grant his Servants, Luba and Ilija, Many Years

Nenad Popovic and Shauna Bruscino were united in Holy Matrimony on Saturday, September 5, 2009. Nenad con-fided that he was nervous until the reception had been going on for an hour. “I worried that our guests might break out into ap-plause before they were outside the doors of the Church.” (They

didn’t.) “I worried that it was too warm inside the Church.” (It wasn’t.) “I wanted everything to be perfect for Shauna.” (It was.) “I was very happy with the involvement of everyone at the recep-tion. Shauna’s Father got into the Kolo line right behind my Mother and Father and everyone else joined in! Everyone seemed to have a good time. My major Thank You is to all the people who helped make this a wonderful day with wonderful memories.” Shauna’s immediate thought when she entered the Church was: “What a lot of peo-ple! I picked out Madison’s (Milovanovich) smile and throughout the service whenever I was nerv-ous, I looked for that smile! I remember thinking that the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses looked

so well with the beautiful colors of our Church. Our favorite picture from the service is absolutely gor-geous! The photographer captured Fr. Dane and Fr.

William looking at the service books and the icons in the background. The colors are so vibrant and the looks on everyone’s faces are beautiful. All is a wonderful whirlwind of memories of the day.” May God Grant His Newly Married Ser-vants, Nenad and Shauna, Many Years Nenad Popovic graduated from Kaplan Uni-

versity on September 10, 2009. He was

awarded a degree as a Computer Service

Technician. He will be looking for a job

when he returns from his honeymoon!

May God Grant His Servant, Nenad

Popovic, Many Years

Boris Petrovich is now home from his ex-tended stay at the hospital. He reports that there will be further hospital visits, but that he is feeling better and getting stronger daily. Please remember him in your prayers. We wait for the day that our beloved brother in Christ will again be greeting us as we enter the Church for ser-vices. May God Grant His Servant, Boris Petrovich, Good Health and Many Years Alexandra FitzPatrick (Sassy) has been chosen by the ‘Make A Wish’ Foun-dation to have a wish fulfilled. This 8 year old little girl has met with the representa-tives of the Foundation and has given them her 3 wishes. One of the wishes will be fulfilled “the way the organization” de-cides to honor it. Her 3 wishes show the maturity God has granted to this child. We can learn from her wishes. They are:

1. Sassy would like to meet Miley Cyrus


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(a young teen age musician and actress). She wants to tell Miley about her disease. Miley has a younger sister close to Sassy’s age. Sassy wants Miley to know how to treat her own sister in case she ever gets ill. 2. Sassy would like to fly 1st class to Dis-

ney World in Florida. She has been told that flying first class is a real treat. She has also been told Disney World is wonderful.

3. Sassy loves New York City and all things associated with the city. She wants to have dinner with the New York Giants team. She especially wants to talk with Ely Manning, the Quarterback. She wants to tell the team members about her disease and encourage them to tell others. She also would like a New York Giants t-shirt for her brother, William, and herself. Please remember Alexandra in your prayers.

May God Grant His Servant, Alex-andra, Health and Many Years Our Serbian Food Festival will be held on Sat., Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. Please consider helping – the more hands that are offered, the lighter the load for all. Each person’s contribu-tion is needed. The 25th Anniversary celebration for the Con-secration of our Church will be held on Octo-ber 31, 2009.

Please notify me of any corrections in any of the above. If anyone knows of events that should be included in …from our Village…,

Please see Stan Mojsich to offer assistance. He has been working diligently to make this a lifetime event. Hwould appreciate YOUR assistance.

please feel free to notify Popadija Mary Anne. 916-488-0827.

John Sullivan Fell Asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, Septem-ber 1, 2009. Our beloved Brother in Christ, John, was our Parish’s Immediate Past President and a past Tutor. All of us, who knew him,

loved him. John’s warm smile embraced all of us as we would enter Church. He lived our Faith as a true servant of the Lord. While he served as our President, he often encouraged us to turn to God and pray more diligently. He led us even as he prayed for us. He also led others in the community. He was the President of the Sun City Association in Roseville where he lived after he moved to our com-munity. He was born in Portland, OR, but lived for many years in San Fran-cisco, CA. While in San Francisco, he was the President of the Symphony Asso-ciation. John’s life was one of service to others. When his beloved wife, Milly, Fell Asleep in the Lord, he moved one last time to be with us. As we say farewell to our beloved friend, John, we know he will continue to remember us before the throne of our Lord. We offer our sincer-est condolences to his family and his many friends. May God Grant His Servant, John Sullivan, Memory Eternal

Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption

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1

P A S T I R Fair Oaks, California E October 2009...

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