St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, Irvona
Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Madera
orthodoxclearfield.org • (814) 862-8694 • info@orthodoxclearfield.org
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTSEleventh Week of PentecostAugust 10 – August 16 daily Scripture readings
“Mary is the first of the divinely re-created to enter the kingdom of the heavens, standing at the right hand. She enters because she is The Church, the deified Body of Christ. If she were not welcomed before the throne of God, body and soul, then neither could those identified with her as children to their virginal mother stand before Him in the age to come. What has been done for the saved in the age to come has been accomplished in the Theotokos. She has passed into the Church Triumphant. Thus, now she is beyond death, beyond the general resurrection of all mankind, and beyond the Last Judgement.”
– St. Andrew of Crete ( Third Homily on the Dormition)
1. UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS
Saturday, 8/15 – NO VESPERS
Sunday, 8/16 – Divine Liturgy @ 9:30am in Irvona – Fr. Edward Hughes, celebrant
We WILL bless flowers and herbs this weekend, in honor of the feast of the Dormition.
Saturday, 8/22 – NO VESPERS
Sunday, 8/23 – Divine Liturgy @ 9:30am in Madera – Fr. Barnabas Fravell, celebrant
Great Vespers will be served at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Dubois this Saturday at 5:00pm. Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in State College will also have Vespers at 6:00pm.
2. UPDATED CONFESSION PROTOCOL – Visiting priests who are able to celebrate Great Vespers on Saturday evenings will be available at 5:30pm to hear confessions. Per Fr. Mark’s request, each church will have a notebook, where parishioners will be asked to write down their name, date, and to whom they said their confession. Please take advantage of our visiting priests!
3. BLESSING OF FLOWERS THIS SUNDAY – Following the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Nicholas will bless flowers and herbs, as is customary to do for the feast of the Dormition. Please bring your vases!
4. DORMITION – The feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God is Saturday, August 15th, thus marking the end of the fast. Here are some options close to us if you would like to attend services for the feast:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church – Dubois, PA
August 14th – Vespers @ 6:00pm
August 15th – Divine Liturgy @ 10:00am
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church – State College, PA
August 14th – Vigil @ 6:00pm
August 15th – Divine Liturgy @ 9:00am
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church – Altoona, PA
August 14th – NO VESPERS
August 15th – Divine Liturgy @ 10:00am
Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church – Osceola Mills, PA
August 14th – Vespers @ 6:00pm
August 15th – Divine Liturgy @ 9:00am
5. ARCHDIOCESAN FAMILY RETREAT – Families from across our Archdiocese are invited to gather at Camp Nazareth in Mercer for the Second Annual Family Retreat, taking place August 14-16. This year’s theme is “Heart Full of Light” and the weekend will include the festal Divine Liturgy for the Dormition of the Theotokos on Saturday, the Sunday Divine Liturgy, reflection, fellowship, and family-centered activities for all ages. Registration opens July 1 at ocadwpa.org. The cost includes lodging, meals from Friday evening through Sunday brunch, and all retreat activities. Children age five and under attend free. Space is currently limited to eighteen families, so interested families are encouraged to register early. For additional information, pricing, and registration details, please contact the retreat coordinator at kyra@ocadwpa.org.6. STAY CONNECTED – If you or someone you know would like to meet with Fr. Mark, please call or text the parish number at (814) 862-8694, email him at
frmark@orthodoxclearfield.org, or use the online contact form at
orthodoxclearfield.org. Please do not hesitate to reach out or schedule a visit.
If illness prevents you from attending church, please let Father know so that he can add you to the parish prayer list and, if needed, arrange to bring the Holy Mysteries to you.