St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, IrvonaNativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Madera
orthodoxclearfield.org • (814) 862-8694 • info@
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTSFourteenth Week of PentecostAugust 31 – September 6daily Scripture readings
“What is true of persons is true also of communities. Some among us are new missions, meeting in rented halls, praying for a permanent home. Others are parishes marking their hundredth year, their hundred and twenty-fifth, and more, built by immigrants and by converts whose names are recorded on the walls. The task is the same in both cases, and in both cases it requires a real spiritual labor: to hold fast to what has been handed down, and at the same time to keep growing, to keep stretching, to keep learning, and not to mistake a mere habit for faithfulness. It is a good and necessary thing to say that we do a thing because we have always done it, when what we have always done is the tradition of the Church. It is a different thing when we say it because the alternative would require effort, or conversation, or risk. Discerning between the two is among the most delicate pastoral works we are given, and it cannot be done well without prayer, without patience, and without one another…”
– Metropolitan Tikhon
(Encyclical for the Church New Year 2026)
1. UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae
Saturday, September 5
- NO VESPERS
Sunday, September 6
- Third and Sixth Hours, 9:10am @ Madera
- Obednitsa w/ Communion, 9:30am (Dn. Mark Oleynik, Celebrant)
- Coffee Hour, following (Tammy S., Sponsor)
Monday, September 7
- Vesperal Divine Liturgy, 6:00pm @ Madera (Fr. Elijah Bremer, Celebrant)
- Festal Potluck to follow
- Click Here to Access Texts
——————————————————————————————————————————-
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Forefeast of & Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross
Commemoration of the Founding of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulcher) at Jerusalem
Saturday, September 12
- NO VESPERS
Sunday, September 13
- Third and Sixth Hours, 9:10am @ Irvona
- Divine Liturgy, 9:30am (Fr. Barnabas Fravell, Celebrant)
- Coffee Hour, following (McDonalds, Sponsors)
- Great Vespers w/ Litya, 7:00pm @ Irvona (Fr. Elijah Bremer, Celebrant)
2. SEPTEMBER (updated!) CALENDAR – An updated September 2026 calendar is attached.
3. WHAT IS OBEDNITSA? “Obednitsa” is a service that can be celebrated in place of a Divine Liturgy when a priest cannot be present, often called Typika in other places, which we have celebrated in our parish before. It is often led by a deacon, or a lay leader if a deacon is not present. Communion is able to be offered if a priest pre-consecrates lamb at a previous celebration of the Divine Liturgy (very similar to how the Presanctified liturgies during Great Lent use pre-consecrated lambs). Obednitsa contains many of the same elements of the Divine Liturgy, except for those elements that pertain to the consecration of the lamb itself.
Because communion is being offered, regular fasting is still practiced and observed. We are thankful, even in this way, that we can still gather as a community, celebrate the Lord’s day, and partake of His body and blood.
4. NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS – We are blessed this year to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, the patronal feast of our church in Madera, with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy at 6:00pm in Madera. Fr. Elijah Bremer, rector of Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Central City, will be joining us. As is tradition when a Vesperal Divine Liturgy is celebrated, please remember to fast following your noon-time meal if you plan to receive Holy Communion.
5. FESTAL POTLUCK – All are invited to partake in a festal potluck, in honor of our church in Madera’s patronal feast day, to take place following the celebration of the Vesperal Divine Liturgy! Please bring something to share!
6. MEMORIAL OPEN MIC/JAM NIGHT – Please see attached a flyer for an open mic/jam night, hosted by St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Dubois, in memory of Deacon Christopher Meholick, on Friday, September 25th!
7. 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.