SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

Saturday, Dec. 30 Christmation of Lynne Wescott
4:00 PM ✞Memorial for Arlene Jones – Ann Beshada

Sunday, Dec. 31 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Monday, Jan. 1 THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD
9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Myrovania

Saturday, Jan. 6 THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD – DAY OF OBLIGATION
9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Blessing of Water Myrovania
4:00 PM ✞Ronald Kachinko – Mary Ann Kachinko & Family
Sunday, Jan. 7 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

FEAST OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT

On the first of January, the beginning of the civil year, our Church celebrates the memory of the death of one of the greatest and most outstanding Fathers of the Church and doctors of the faith and of monastic legislators – St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea, Cappodocia, of Asia Minor. His person is in every respect extraordinary, noble, illustrious and worthy of praise. He was not only an aristocrat by birth, but also an aristocrat in spirit, character, learning and holiness. The mark of his deep faith, heroic love of God and neighbor, learning and holiness is stamped on the entire Church of Christ, on the monastic life in the East and on our people.

The holy Church justifiably gave him the title “the Great”. He is truly “Great” especially in three areas of his life; as a great archbishop of the Church, as a great legislator of monastic life, and as a man of great holiness.

His holiness, virtues and greatness are extolled by our Church in her services in honor of his feast. Here he is praised as “the holy tongue of Christ”, “the shepherd of Christ’s Church”, “the divine and holy bee of Christ’s Church”, “royal ornament of the Church”, “a rich treasure of learning”, and “invincible defender of the Trinity”. Addressing him, the liturgy proclaims, “You walked the rough road of the virtues”, “your word is angelic bread”, “you are a chalice of innocence”, “for monks a model of virtue”, “a light of piety”, and a “trumpet of theology”.

Immediately after Basil’s death, Holy Church began to venerate him as a Saint and to celebrate the day of death on the first of January. Because the feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord is celebrated on January 1, the Latin Church honors his memory on the 14th of June, on which day he was consecrated bishop in the year 370. The church service in honor of St. Basil was composed by Anatolus of Constantinople (5c), St. John Damascene and Germanus of Constantinople (8c).

Briefly outlined are a silhouette of the immortal figure of St. Basil the Great and his everlasting significance for our Church and Ukrainian monasticism. With the words of St. Paul, “Brethren, be imitators of me as I am of Christ”. St. Basil summons us all also to imitate his deep faith, his sacrificial and all embracing love of God and neighbor, and his great holiness.

On New Year’s Day
 and the whole year through, 

May the kindness
you’ve given to others
return many times to you.

May hope, love, and warmth
be in your heart’s possessing,
and may the New Year
bring you and yours 
many blessings.

HAPPY


May we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God’s love in every sunset, every flower’s unfolding petals,
every baby’s smile, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our hearts

SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 31, 2017

Christ is Born – Khrystos Razhdayetsia
Glorify Him – Slavyte Yeho

May God bless you and keep you always safe and happy: and blessings not only for today but for the rest of life ahead. May the year 2018 come as the best among the best you have ever imagined for you.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec.30 –Jan. 6 by John & Claudia Bosack in memory of Peter Bosack.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles will burn in the month of January for all services in memory of Anna Bosack requested by John & Claudia Bosack.

BUILDING FUND: Many thanks for the contributions of $530, made to our Parish Building Fund in memory of Ronald Kachinko- Charles & Catherine Halloway, Ed & Lela Emmett, Joseph Pirillo, Mrl & Mrs. Robbie Kachik & Family, Michael & Louise Hubiack, Anna Magill, Sony Dempsey, Ann Beshada, Dave & Mary Ann Youells, John & Michaelene Ostrum, Donna & Nelson Warren, Mary Ann Kachinko, Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kosek.

In Memory of Arlene Jones – $120 – by Albert Piston, John Malone, Rosemarie Kachinko.

THANKS: Through the year, many of the parishioners have volunteered for various projects. The services that you so willingly provide is greatly appreciated
Thanks to all for all you do. May God grant you a wonderful and blessed year 2018.

Saturday, Dec. 23
4:00 PM ✞Peter Phillips – Son Peter Phillips

Sunday, December 24 ~ Sunday Before Christmas – 8:30 AM
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Monday, December 25 ~ Christmas Day – NATIVITY OF OUR LORD – 9:00 AM
Divine Liturgy – Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Tuesday, Dec. 26 SYNAXIS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
9:00AM ✞8th Day Ron Kachinko – From the Parish

Wednesday, Dec. 27 ST. STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR
11:00 AM ✞John Phillips – Brother Peter Phillips
Saturday, Dec. 30 Christmation of Lynne Wescott
4:00 PM ✞Memorial for Arlene Jones – Ann Beshada
Sunday, Dec. 31 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Transfiguration of Our Lord
Saturday, December 23 – 6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy
Sunday, December 24 – Divine Liturgy Sunday Before Christmas 10:30 am Divine Liturgy
Sunday, Christmas Eve December 24 – 7:30 pm Great Compline and Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

What Christmas should Mean to Us

Christmas is a time for loving,
Holding in our hearts
All the magic and the wonder
That this blessed day imparts
It’s a time for letting bygones
Be just that, and nothing more,
Time for looking back and weighing
All we have been working for.

Christmas is a time for giving
Something more than store-bought goods,
Time for spending peaceful moments,
Walking through the quiet woods.
‘Tis a time for growing closer
While we have the time to spend,
Cherishing the precious moments
With relative or friend.

Christmas is a time for sharing
Hope and joy and sorrow,
Giving what is ours today,
But may not be…tomorrow.
‘Tis a time for recollection,
For the sands of time run fast,
Do not squander golden moments,
Do not grieve for what is past.

There’s a bright star in the heavens,
Over one small cattle stall,
And a Baby in a manger
Who has come to save us all.
And with love beyond all telling,
As He reaches out for us,
This hushed and holy moment is
What Christmas should mean to us.

The Coal Basket Bible


The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn out Bible.
His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.  One day the grandson asked, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand, I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?”
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water”
The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was “impossible to carry water in a basket,” and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all.
The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breathe, he said, “See Papa, it’s useless!”
”So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different.  Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean.
”Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.” That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son.
Take time to read a portion of God’s word each day, and remind a friend by sharing this story.

CHRISTMAS EVE

The feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ is among four of the greatest feasts. Therefore, Holy Church, mindful of the majesty and significance of this, encourages the faithful to prepare with prayer and fasting for Christ Is With Us.
The festal preparation reaches its peak on the Eve of the Nativity. It is a day of watching, prayer and fasting. The Messiah from heaven is about to arrive; therefore, it is necessary to prepare for his coming worthily. The Holy Eve of the Nativity has not only its own significant services; it is also rich in symbolic rites and customs, some of which go back to pre-Christian times.
The eve of Christmas brings the Forty Days Phillips Fast to a close. A strict fast is prescribed for the entire day on the Eve of the Nativity. The whole family knows that on that day a very important heavenly guest will arrive in the evening, and therefore, a deeply festal and spiritual mood pervades the home. Our ancestors highly respected and zealously observed the fast of this day until the appearance, of the evening star.
An old Slavonic Prologue for the 24th of December contains the following spiritual exhortation to the faithful in reference to greeting the feast of the Nativity of Christ: “Take note brethren, that there is a fast on the day before this feast of the Nativity of Christ. Therefore, on this day, at the Sixth Hour (12 o’clock noon), we gather together for prayer, with love; and purity, overcoming anger, purifying carnal desires, and renouncing all evil deeds so that we may be made worthy with pure lips and an undefiled heart to partake of the Body of the Lord, that same Body which the Lord took upon Himself and willingly became poor.”

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
AN UNFATHOMABLE MYSTERY
The greatest and most profound mystery of the Christian faith is the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. The eternal God becomes man, being born a little infant and does not cease to be God. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” – says St. John the Evangelist. Christ’s nativity is the cradle of our faith. Only faith is able to accept this unfathomable mystery, understand it and adore it.
In the first centuries, the holy Fathers of the Eastern Church accepted the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God with profound faith and great piety. Enraptured by this mystery, they have nothing but words of wonder for the most wonderful love of God, the sacrifice, humility, and poverty of the newly born Messiah and Savior. Like the holy Fathers, in her Christmas celebrations our Church also joyfully praises and glorifies the mystery of the birth of the divine Infant.
Today, he who is invisible by nature became visible in the flesh for man’s sake; hence, glorifying him, we cry: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will…”

MYSTERY OF CHRISTMATION (Sacrament) Ms. Lynne Wycott desires to be Ukrainian Catholic and will receive the Mystery of Christmation on Saturday the 30th of December as part of the Divine Liturgy.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 23 – 30 by John Claudia Bosack in memory of Mary & Elias Valadja.

THANKS: Our thanks to those who gave their time and effort to come last Sunday to prepare the Nativity for the coming Christmas. Also our thanks to Dolores & Mike Sinko and Dave Youelles for the setting up of the lovely Christmas Tree. May God bless our volunteers with good health.

BUILDING FUND: Our thanks to Audrie & Michael Dubinsky for their donation 0f $100 to our Building Fund in memory of the Family of Leon Woss.

SYMPATHY: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Ron Kachinko who was called to his eternal rest. May his memory be eternal.
Our sympathy to our parish in the death of Arlene Jones. May she rest in Peace.
Vichnya Pomyat!

ENVELOPES: Many envelopes are still ready to be picked up. If you know anyone who has not taken theirs, please inform them. If you can deliver any of the envelopes it would be appreciated.

Saturday, Dec. 16 ~ 4:00 PM ✞Sandy Elko – Ron & Rosemarie Kachink
Sunday, Dec. 17 ~ 8:30 AM SUNDAY OF THE HOLY ANCESTORS
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Christmas Eve December 24
No Christmas Eve Vesperal (evening) Liturgy
Monday, Christmas Day, December 25
9:00 AM– Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
Tuesday, December 26 Synaxis of the Mother of God
9:00 AM– Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
Wednesday, December 27 Feast of St. Stephen
11:00 AM– Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish Christmas Schedule
Saturday, December 23 – 6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy
Sunday, December 24 – Divine Liturgy Sunday Before Christmas 10:30 am Divine Liturgy
Sunday, Christmas Eve December 24 – 7:30 pm Great Compline and Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
Monday Christmas Morning December 25 No am Liturgy
Tues., Dec 26, 2017 Synaxis of the Mother of God 11:00 am Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
Wed., Dec. 27 Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr 9:00 am Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOUREFATHERS
DECEMBER 17, 2017

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 16 – 23 in memory of Julia Wido by her daughter Denise & Ed Kuklewicz.

PRAYERS: Please pray for Arlene Jones who is hospitalized and all the people in need of prayers.

Saturday, Dec. 9
4:00 PM ✞Ihor Pasicznyk – Olympia Pasicznyk

Sunday, Dec. 10 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Thursday, Dec. 14
Today is Aliturgical (means a day without Liturgy)

Saturday, Dec. 16
4:00 PM ✞Sandy Elko – Ron & Rosemarie Kachinko

Sunday, Dec. 17 SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

OUR PARISH CHRISTMAS DIVINE LITURGIES SCHEDULE:

Saturday, December 23
4:00 pm Vesperal Divine

Sunday, December 24 – Divine Liturgy Sunday Before Christmas
8:30 am Divine Liturgy

Sunday, Christmas Eve December 24
No Christmas Eve Vesperal (evening) Liturgy

Monday, Christmas Day, December 25
9:00 AM– Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Tuesday, December 26 Synaxis of the Mother of God
9:00 AM– Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Wednesday, December 27 Feast of St. Stephen
11:00 AM– Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
240 Center Street
Saturday, December 23
6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy

Sunday, December 24 – Divine Liturgy Sunday Before Christmas
10:30 am Divine Liturgy

Sunday, Christmas Eve December 24
7:30 pm Great Compline and Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Monday Christmas Morning December 25
No am Liturgy

Tues., Dec 26, 2017 Synaxis of the Mother of God
11:00 am Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Wed., Dec. 27 Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
9:00 am Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

True Meaning of Christmas
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
”What are you doing?” I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
”TEACH THE CHILDREN!” I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, “Teach the children!
Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. “Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. “Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven.” 
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. “Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.” 
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. “Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.”
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. “Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.”
He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. “Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. “Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son.” Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Continues

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Dec. 9 – 16 by Arlene Jones God’s Blessings for good health on Albert & John M.

Thank you for purchasing and selling tickets. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks again to Mike & Dolores Sinko for managing this fund-raiser. The ticket sales are as follows: Deposit $5000, Paid out to winners $1700, Expenses $100, a profit of $3200.

SING ALONG: YOU ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 24th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre,  this Sunday, December 10th, 2017 starting at 2 p.m.  Join in the singing of some very sacred, joyful and inspiring Christmas Carols.  Afterwards, please join us in the lower church hall for a Christmas Fellowship Social.  Please bring a friend or family member, and share the joy of Christmas with them, as we all prepare to welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.

Saturday, Dec. 2
4:00 PM ✞Donald Magill – Anna Magill & Family

Sunday, Dec. 3 TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
1:00 PM Women’s Society Christmas Party

Tuesday, Dec. 5 The Feast of St. NicholAs
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
4:00 AM ✞Fr. Thaddeus Krawchuk – Ron & Rosemarie Kachinko

Friday, Dec. 8 CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNE
9:00 AM Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
✞John Phillips – Son Peter Phillips

Saturday, Dec. 9
4:00 PM ✞Ihor Pasicznyk – Olympia Pasicznyk

Sunday, Dec. 10 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Please remember Ron Kachinko in your prayers. He is in Geisinger Hospital.
May God Grant him a speedy health back to us.



The Feast of St. Nicholas

The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 6th day of December.
Pope Nicholas, the first Pope bearing this name – erected a church in Rome in honor of St. Nicholas around the year 860. The Latin Church also celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas on the 6th of December. In France and Germany over two thousand churches are dedicated to his name; an additional four hundred such churches are found in England.
The cult of St. Nicholas came to our native Ukraine along with the Christian faith. There were numerous churches in honor of St. Nicholas. The Church of St. Nicholas in Lviv, which dates back to the thirteenth century, is one of the oldest. Our Ukrainian Encyclopedia says the following about the veneration of St. Nicholas among our people: “In a great number of oral traditions, Nicholas protects people from disasters caused by the elements; mostly he protects those who sail on the sea. Hence, the Black Sea fishermen, when going out to fish, take the icon of St. Nicholas with them. Songs about St. Nicholas are among the earliest examples of Ukrainian poetry and include such popular ones as “O Whoever, whoever loves St. Nicholas…”
In our Church, St. Nicholas not only has two separate feasts in his honor, but ever Thursday is also dedicated to his name.
We do not know very much about the life of St. Nicholas, and what we do know is somewhat embellished with various legends. We know for certain that St. Nicholas was a bishop for many years in Myra, a city in the province of Lycia, in Asia Minor; that he took part in the First Ecumenical Council in 325 at Nicea; and that he died around the year 345. His whole life was dedicated to works of mercy, both corporal and spiritual. Even during his lifetime he was called the father of orphans, widows, and the poor. After his death, the Lord glorified him with the gift or working miracles, for which he received the title “Great Wonder-worker”.
St. Nicholas saw Jesus Christ in his neighbor and that is why he quickly and generously hastened to help him in every need. The Holy Gospel says that at the Last Judgment the Lord will judge us by our works of love and mercy. Christ assures us of this when He says: “Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it for Me”.
Nicholas’ tomb in Myra became a popular place of pilgrimage. Because of the many wars and attacks in the region by Muslims, some Christians were concerned that access to the tomb might become difficult. For both the religious and commercial advantages of a major pilgrimage site, the Italian cities of Venice and Bari vied to get the Nicholas relics. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Dec. 2 – 9 by John and Claudia Bosack in memory of Anna Bosack.

MONTHLY CANDLES: The Altar Candles are requested to burn during all services in the month of December by Albert Piston in memory of his parents Jennie & Mike Piston.

FLOWERS: We appreciate the donations of flowers for this week: donated by Anna Magill in memory of Donald Magill.

THANKS: Our thanks to the men & women who volunteered their time and energy to help clean and decorate the Church Hall. God Bless you all.

NY BUS TRIP: Last Call for Christmastime Bus Trip – 53 seats has been reserved on the Saturday, December 9th trek to New York City leaving 2 seats still available. Call Paul Ewasko of Scranton’s St. Vladimir parish to reserve the remaining seats.

SING ALONG: YOU ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 24th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre,  Sunday, December 10th, 2017 starting at 2 p.m.  Join in the singing of some very sacred, joyful and inspiring Christmas Carols.  Afterwards, please join us in the lower church hall for a Christmas Fellowship Social.  Please bring a friend or family member, and share the joy of Christmas with them, as we all prepare to welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.