~~ Father Stephen's Message to the Faithful ~~

Liturgical Schedule
August /September 2009

~ Holy Transfiguration

• August 6 (Thursday) - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

~ Dormition of the Theotokos

• August 15 (Saturday) - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

~ Exaltation of the Holy Cross

• September 14 (Monday) - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

Schedule of Other Services

~ Bible Study

• Every Wednesday 7 PM - 8:30 PM in the Church Hall. Bible Study led by Dn. Gregory. The title for the Bible Study is "Seeking the Treasure of Christ Throughout Scripture." The study will use the new Orthodox Study Bible of the Old and New Testament as a base. The first topic of discussion will be the meaning of the story of Adam and Eve and the discussions will proceed with a journey through the Hebrew Bible.

Church News & Reminders

~ Icon Pledges
Icon Pledges can be paid at any time to the treasurer, James Schaeffer.

~ Membership Dues 2009
Please note: the Church Fiscal Year ends September 30th; if at all possible, please have your dues of $125 per person paid by that time. Dues can be paid at any time to James Schaeffer, our Treasurer. Thank you!

~ Church Council Meeting
The 1st Monday of each month, 7 PM. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

~ No Smoking/No Cell Phones
Please remember that SS Peter & Paul has a no smoking policy in the building and that ringers on cell phones should be off during the Divine Liturgy.

~ Special Services
If you are planning to have a special service in the Church, please be considerate and notify either Father Stephen or the Church Committee one week in advance. When you are planning for a Baptism, Wedding, Funeral, or any other Prayer Service in the Church, please speak with Father Stephen in advance to determine if there is any way you can contribute to help the Church in helping others. Thank you. Please note: if the services of the Church Choir are required, please notify the Choir Director, Christina Murianka, as soon as possible.
Memorials: Any help in setting up and cleaning up from the families involved is truly appreciated and welcomed by the Ladies Society.

The Joy of Giving

~ Casseroles for the Homeless
Please continue to help feed the hungry. Frozen casseroles are collected by Harry Halkedis. A $10 donation for casseroles can be given at any time. Please Note: The hospice is still in need of disposable razors and individual/small tubes of hand lotion. Thank you!

~ Church Library Donations
We are greatly in need of monetary donations for buying books to establish our Church Library to help all of us continue to learn about the Orthodox Faith. Any amount is truly appreciated and can be given to our Treasurer, James Schaeffer, at any time. May God bless you for your generosity!

~ Pastoral Fund Box/Poor Box
Please note: There are now 2 collections boxes in the back of the church, the Poor Box AND a Pastoral Fund Box. Please donate generously!

~ Orthodox Herald Collection
Collections for the Orthodox Herald will take place every 2nd Sunday of the month. Please donate generously.

~ Collection for the Poor
A special collection for the poor will be held on the 1st Sunday of every month. Please plan to give generously every month to those whose lives are less fortunate than ours. Donations can also be placed in the Poor Box at any time.

~ Donations of Wine and Oil
Altar wine and virgin olive oil for the altar lamps are always needed. The name of the altar wine is Mavrodaphne of Patras and it is available at most PA State Stores. Please help make sure that we always have a plentiful supply.

The Joy of Giving (continued)

~ Pastoral Fund Collection
On the 3rd Sunday of every month SS. Peter & Paul will hold a collection for the Pastoral Fund, which needs to grow. Please plan to give generously every month so the Pastoral Fund can be available for the Church's future. "Pastoral Fund" donation envelopes are found in the Church foyer, on the left side of the glass partition, should you wish to donate at another time.

~ Pop Tab Collection Prgram for Ronald McDonald House
RJ (and his parents, Debbie & Bob Krimetz) is collecting flip tabs from any aluminum cans to donate to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Help by bringing your tabs! Thank you!

Ladies Society News

~ A Request...

• if you have borrowed any containers, trays, bowls, coffee carafes, etc. from the kitchen, please return them as soon as possible. These items are used for many of the functions held in the Church Hall and they are needed. Thank you!

Other Events at SS Peter & Paul

~ SS Peter & Paul Annual Clam Bake

• September 19, 2009
• The date has been set for our most fun-filled & delicious event of the year. Make sure to keep Saturday, September 19, open for a super great time!

~ Founders Day Celebration

• Planned for the Fall of 2009
• A celebration of 30 years for the Consecration and Dedication of our current building and 90 years for the Dedication and choosing the name of SS Peter and Paul.
• More information to follow shortly!

General Interest

~ Albanian Forum on the Internet ( Forumi Shqiptar)

• has a section on: Komuniteti Orthodhoks. It has extensive offerings on Orthodoxy in the Albanian language. They are divided into many themes, i.e. "The Birth of Christ," "The Church is One," a catechism and includes Fr. Thomas Hopko's entire Rainbow series.
• Ne gjuhen shqipe: per te dhena informative mbi Kishen Orthodhokse, klikoni "Komuniteti Orthodhoks" ne uebsajten Forumi Shqiptar me poshte:
• The url is: http://www.forumishqiptar.com/forumdisplay.php?f=186

~ Ancient Faith Radio

• This is a 24 hour a day Orthodox radio station providing high quality internet-based Orthodox programming. Here you will find music, teaching, interviews, features, convert testimonies, conference recordings, and much more! The URL is: http://ancientfaithradio.com

Miscellaneous

~ SS Peter & Paul Has A New Website
The new url is: www.sspeterpaulalbanianorthodox.org
We will be gradually phasing out the current website. If you have any news or annoncements that you would like to see up on the new website, please e-mail David at davidbiando@verizon.net and he will post it ASAP. Suggestions are always welcomed.

~ SS Peter & Paul Church Store

• Open every Sunday at 9:30 AM (1/2 hour before Divine Liturgy)
• Items available: Divine Liturgy Books; Icons; Crosses (Baptismal, lapel pins, Georgian style, orthodox); Prayerbooks (Georgian and English); Censors; Unique and different wearing apparel; CDs and cass.ettes; Religious Books

~ Web Page/E-mails
SS Peter & Paul Webpage: http://homepage.mac.com/aliciaj17/sspeterpaulhome1.html. New bulletins can be viewed the Saturday before distribution by 7 PM (just click on the top link, "Church Bulletin"). If you would like to be kept up-to-date by e-mail or to be removed from our "paper" mailing list, please send me an e-mail at: aliciaj17@mac.com Thanks very much!

~ Announcements/News about Parishioners
If you have any items that you would like to see included in next month's Bulletin, please call Alicia at 215-742-0492 or e-mail: aliciaj17@mac.com. The deadline for the next Bulletin is Sunday, August 23. Thank you! Parishioners will be able to pick up the Bulletins at the Church on Sunday 8/30/09. Bulletins will be mailed to any Parishioners unable to attend. Please remember to let Alicia know the names of our members who are ill or in need of prayer so that they can be included in our Bulletins.

~ Thank You
To all members of the Parish who have helped out or volunteered in any way with their time and efforts, and a very special thank you to anyone whose name was inadvertently omitted from the Bulletin.

~ A Very Happy Birthday
is wished to the following parishioners and friends of SS Peter & Paul who are celebrating July Birthdays: Helen Banushi, Andrew Cappo, Charles Daka, John Douris, Matushka Linda Dudash, Michelle Murianka, Marie Muzekari, Ted Muzekari, Sr., John Rubis, Viktor Skuratovskiy, Jennie Speero, Lester Speero, Silvia Yankova Yovtcheva. May God grant them all many, many years!

~ A Very Happy Birthday
is wished to the following parishioners and friends of SS Peter & Paul who are celebrating August Birthdays: Al Antony, Sophie Bacon, Imogene Costas, Rdr. Daniel Drobish, Denise Gormley, Catherine Hondros, Anna Jeka, Evanthia Jeka, Valentina Maskuti, Marion Merkle, Eteri Okropiridze, Oleg Petrenko, Christina Reeves, Christina Schaeffer, Rdr. Gregory Shaloka, Jayne Siniari, Sandy Speero, John Vesho, Connie Vrato. May God grant them all many, many years!

~ Gregory Vrato, Sr.
is at John Neumann Nursing Home, at the intersection of Haldeman & Tomlinson Road (make a right on Tomlinson and the parking lot is immediately on your right). Gregory is in Room 726 and visitors are welcome anytime from noon to 8:00 PM. Please continue to keep Gregory in your prayers. May God grant him good health!

+Spiro Costas fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 88 on June 15, 2009. Born in Albania, he came to the U.S. with his family as a child. Spiro was a U.S. Army Veteran of WW II.

He was an active church member and a kind and gentle man with a smile that would light up the world and a kind word and touch for everyone.

Spiro's faith and his caring nature, his warmth, and his generosity are what family, friends and parishioners of SS Peter and Paul will always lovingly remember, cherish and greatly miss.

~~ Please continue to pray for the full and speedy recovery of: Gregory Vreto, Sr., Nina Horowitz, Matthew Murianka, Joyce Dorsey, Andi Steffa, John Palmerick, Thimi Daka, Al Rifkin, Sophie Bacon, Angie Kozlowski, James Vesho, Margot Craig, Eteri Okropiridze, Katherine Halkedis, Martha Murianka, Christina Murianka, Mary Ann Clark, Paulette Steffa, Alexandra Pana, Nicholas Desloges

God knows the names and ages of all who need His love and mercy...

O Christ, Who alone art our Defender: Visit and heal Thy suffering servant _____________, delivering him (her) from sickness and grievous pains. Raise him (her) up that he (she) may sing to Thee and praise Thee without ceasing, through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

It was called "No Excuses Sunday" at a church in Carlisle, PA, where the minister dealt with the excuses of persons who don't come to services. There were cots for persons who like to sleep late, hard hats for those who feared "the roof might fall in if I come to church," scorecards for those who claim the church is full of hypocrites, and poinsettias and lillies for those who come to services only on Christmas and Easter. Attendance was up.

--- Ralph Frattura

 ~~ Feast Day of the Month ~~

(This section will be included from now on so that the internet folk know what the rest of the Parishioners are reading. This is the part that is found right below the "Holy Days & Name Days" page in the Bulletin.)

The Reading for July is: Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah

To access the Reading and Icon, go to: www.oca.org/FSlives.asp?SID=4 Change the date to July 20, click on "search" and scroll down to "Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah"

The Reading for August is: Translation of the Image "Not-Made-By-Hands" of our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople, the Third "Feast of the Savior in August"

To access the Reading and Icon, go to: www.oca.org/FSlives.asp?SID=4 Change the date to August 16, click on "search" and scroll down to Translation of the Image "Not-Made-By-Hands" of our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople, the Third "Feast of the Savior in August"