SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

Saturday, Dec. 29
4:00 PM ✞Bernard Kachinko – Kachinko Family

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

Tuesday , Jan. 1 THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD
9:00 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
✞Ann Phillips – Son Peter Phillips
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
Thursday, Jan. 3
✞Peter Phillips – Son Peter Phillips

Saturday, Jan.5 THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD – Blessing of Holy Water
4:00 PM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
✞John Phillips – brother Peter Phillips
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Sunday, Jan. 6 THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

The Christmas Card List

There is a list of folks I know
All written in a book,
And every year at Christmas time
I go and take a look,
And that is when I realize
Those names are all a part
Not of the book they’re written in,
But deep inside my heart.

For each name stands for someone
Who has touched my life sometime,
And in that meeting they’ve become
A special friend of mine.
I really feel that I’m composed
Of each remembered name,
And why my life is so much better
Than it was before they came.

Once you’ve know that “someone”,
All the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word
Or of a friendly face.
So never think my Christmas cards
Are just a mere routine
Of names upon a list that are
Forgotten in between

For when I send a Christmas card
That is addressed to you,
It is because you’re on that list
Of folks I’m indebted to.
And whether, I have known you
For many years or few,
The greatest gift that God can give
Is having friends like you!

A NEW YEAR PRAYER
God grant us this year a wider view, so we see others’ faults through the eyes of You.
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue, neither the adult … nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure and a stronger faith so we feel secure.
Instead of remembering, help us forget the irritations that caused us to fret.
 
Freely forgiving for some offence and finding each day a rich recompense.
In offering a friendly, helping hand and trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are …are trying to reach an unreachable star.
For the great and small … the good and bad, the young and old … the sad and glad
 
Are asking today; is life worth living? The answer is only in, loving and giving.
For only Love can make man kind and Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can help this year to lift the clouds of hate and fear.
May Your New Year Be Blessed
Happy New Year

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec.29 –Jan. 5 by Vera Hubick in memory of her husband Peter Hubick.
ALTAR CANDLES: The monthly candles that will burn at all services during the requested month is available. The donation is $40. The chart is in the vestibure for your intentions.

ENVELOPES: If you could possibly distribute envelopes to anyone you know, please help in this matter. Sometimes the parishioner is unable to attend Divine Liturgy but would like to have their envelopes. Any one in your neighborhood or family, try to make sure they get their envelopes. Thank You…

THANKS: Through the year, many of the parishioners have volunteered for various projects. The services that you so willingly provide is greatly appreciated – whether it be the cleaning of the Church, snow removal on the sidewalks, being there for funerals to open and arrange the necessary bells etc., the baking of the Holy communion & Myrovania breads, working at our fund-raising projects, choir singing and any other service that is connected to the Church duties. Your volunteer hours keep us in good running – Keep up the good work with God’s Blessings. We cannot forget to also thank the few non-parishioners who come in to help. Thanks to all for all you do. May God grant you a wonderful year 2019.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers all those who are in Nursing Facilities, sick at home and all who are unable to attend the Divine Liturgy. Also we pray that our parish may grow and we have more people. Christmas Eve and Christmas day was very sparse and we have such a beautiful Church. Where is everyone???

CHRISTMAS EVE – 4:00PM – Vigil of the Natavity Liturgy
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Christmas Day – NATIVITY OF OUR LORD – 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷✷

Wednesday, Dec. 26
11:00 AM SYNAXIS OF THE THEOTOKOS
✞Michael Hubiack –Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Sabol
Thursday, Dec. 27
9:00 AM Feast of St. Steven, Protomartyr
✞Anna Fedorchak – A Friend

Saturday, Dec. 29
4:00 PM ✞Bernard Kachinko – Kachinko Family

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

Tuesday, January, 1 Circumcision of Our Lord
9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

THREE GIFTS
God gave us our greatest gifts,
Not tied in ribbons of blue or red.
Gifts designed for our inner one,
God gave us life, peace, and His Son.
Sometimes the days get awful long,
We might wonder if we’ve done wrong.
God shows His love in gifts one by one,
God gave us life, peace, and His Son.
God’s other gifts are faith, hope, and love.
Jesus has gone to prepare us a home above.
God’s rest awaits us when our work is done.
God gave us life, peace, and His Son.

Saturday, December 22
4:00 PM ✞Steven Havran – Sandra Sydnor

Sunday, Dec. 23 SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – SUNDAY OF THE ANCESTORS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Monday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve – VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS -4:00 PM
Compline Lytia Service – Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil and Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
8:00 pm at Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke
Tuesday, December 25 ~ Christmas Day – NATIVITY OF OUR LORD – 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy – Anointing withHoly Oil and Myrovania
✞Ronald Kachinko – Kathy Elko
10:30 am at Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke
Wednesday, Dec. 26 SYNAXIS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
11:00 AM Anointing with Holy Oil and Myrovania
✞Michael Hubiack –Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Sabol
Thursday, Dec. 27 ST. STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR
9:00 AM SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Anointing with Holy Oil and Myrovania
✞Anna Fedorchak – A Friend
Saturday, Dec. 29
4:00 PM ✞Bernard Kachinko – Kachinko Family

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

The Meaning of the Candy Cane
The fascinating story behind the candy cane … 
The birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ are signified through the elements of the candy cane ~

JESUS CHRIST is … 
Our Good Shepherd (staff shape) ~ 1 Pt. 5:4
Our Rock (hard candy) ~ 1 Cor. 10:4
Our Sinless Savior (white) ~ 2 Cor. 5:21
Our Sacrificial Lamb (red) ~ Eph. 1:7
The STRIPES symbolize pain inflicted upon Jesus before his death on the cross and a bold stripe to represent the blood he shed for mankind. The three stripes can also represent the power and presence of the Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The smell and taste of PEPPERMINT relate to the herb hyssop. Psalm 51:7 states, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” The candy cane is meant to be shared — broken into pieces for all to share. That reminds us of Jesus’ words, “This is my body which is broken for you” (1 Cor. 11:24). What a sweet way to share the Gospel! And you just thought it was good candy

Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money.  ~Author Unknown

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself…
Let Every Day Be Christmas

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.

BLESSINGS FOR A
MERRY CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS EVE

The feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is ranked among the greatest feasts of our Church Year. Holy Church, mindful of the majesty and significance of this feast, encourages the faithful to prepare by prayer and fasting for this encounter with our Savior.
The festal preparation reaches its peak on the Eve of the Nativity. It is a day of watching, prayer and fasting. God 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 Christmas fast to a close. A strict fast is prescribed for this entire day. The whole family feels 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 Eucharist, then the Incarnation of the Son of God. The eternal God becomes 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 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…”

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 22 – 29 by Ann Beshada in memory of her mother Mary Conniff.

THANKS: Our thanks to those who gave their time to came out to set up our beautiful Nativity. God’s blessing on you always. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

ANGELS: There are some beaded Angels that are available for you donation. They were once used on our Church tree and that was changed. If you wish to have any please see one of the women before or after the Divine Liturgy.

At this time of year we are reminded that Love, Jesus Christ the Son of God who is God (agape, a giving love) entered the world to teach men how to love as He loves. God entered the world in the most vulnerable way, as an infant, so that the faithful could return God’s love to him, in the giving of ourselves back to God. May this message of love resound in your hearts throughout the year.

God bless you all this Christmas Season.

Fr. Walter Pasicznyk

Saturday, Dec. 15 ~ 4:00 PM ✞ Ronald Kachinko from The Parish (1 Year)

Sunday, Dec. 16 ~ 8:30 AM SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, Dec. 22 ~ 4:00 PM ✞Steven Havran – Sandra Sydnor

Sunday, Dec. 23 – 8:30 AM SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY OF THE ANCESTORS
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Bishop Andriy Rabiy informed the Archeparchy that our sister parish of St. Mary’s in Carteret, NJ has suffered a fire on Monday the 26th of November. The fire began in the boiler room and spread into the sacristy, sanctuary and the nave. The firemen even broke out multiple stained glass windows. At this time the amount of loss is unknown and several priests and parishes have donated items to the parish of St. Mary’s so that they are able to hold their Divine Liturgies at the Ukrainian-American Citizens Club on Roosevelt Ave, Carteret, NJ. Fr. Vasyl Vladyka is grateful to those who have been generous to the parish in this time of great need. If anyone would like to donate to assist the parish you can submit your donation to the Chancery. If you write a check it needs to made out to Ukrainian Catholic    or    Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese and bishop Andriy promises to keep the funds in a special account and released to the parish as needed. As always please keep the parishioners of St. Mary’s in Carteret and Fr. Vasyl in your prayers.

LOTTERY: Mike Sinko reported the lottery ticket sales for Nov.
Tickets sold $5000, Paid out winners $1650. Expenses $95.
Profit of $3255. Thank you Mike
ll things, and lives in all of us.

A Touching Christmas Story

I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them.
I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered whom the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, “Are you sure I don’t have enough money” She replied a bit impatiently, “You know that you don’t have enough money for it. The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll.
After a bit I asked the boy whom the doll was for. He said, “It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it.” I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said “No, Santa can’t go where my sister is…I have to give the doll to my Momma to take to her”. I asked him where his sister was.
He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, “She has gone to be with Jesus”. My Daddy says that Momma is going to have to go be with her. My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, “I told my Daddy to tell Momma not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store”. Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he’d had taken at the front of the store. He said “I want my Momma to take this with her so she don’t ever forget me.” “I love my Momma so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me”. “But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister.”
I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, “Shall we count that money one more time?” He grew excited and said, “Yes, I just know it has to be enough”. So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it.
(Continued)

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 15 – 22 in memory of by Albert Piston in memory of Arlene Jones.
Last week the Sanctuary Light was in memory of Mike and Mary Sinko. My mistake, I had only Mary Sinko. Sorry.

NATIVITY SET UP: The Nativity set up is scheduled for THIS Sunday, December 16 at 1:00 PM. We are asking for all the help we can get to do this beautiful scene. The more help we get the faster it will be accomplished. Please try to be at the church about 1:00 PM.

☺BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: The Parish Family wishes Happy Birthday to our youngest parishioner, Jude Schappert who will celebrate his 3rd Birthday on Sunday, December 16th, requested by all of his family. God’s blessing on Jude on his day and always.

CHURCH: The men and women who came out to clean the church last Thursday did a great job. May God bless you for your time and energy to keep our church in good condition.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father, Why are there two Gospels? Are there two Epistles?  When a major Holy Day falls on a Sunday, the priest has the option to celebrate both the feast of Resurrection, because every Sunday is a “little” Resurrection, and the Feast Day OR to simply celebrate the Resurrectional Sunday.  It is most proper to celebrate both.  In celebration of both Feasts, all of the church propers, (Tropar, Kondak, Prokimen, Alleluia Verses, Epistle, Gospel, Irmos, Communion Verse), which are unique to each Sunday and each major Feast are both sung.  You will notice that it is not only two Epistles and two Gospels, but there are two themes in all of the proper’s.  I am guessing that your past experience has been that the priest has only taken one Epistle and one Gospel on most or all of the Holy Days that fell on a Sunday.  Your past priest was probably always taking the option of celebrating the Resurrectional Sunday.  The church rule is this:  Because every Sunday is a “little” Resurrection, the Resurrectional propers which include the Epistles and Gospels always take higher precedence on such days.  The priest is afforded the option of either celebrating both Feasts – Resurrection and the major Feast Day OR just the Resurrectional/Sunday.  I, Father Walter, choose to celebrate both Feasts on all these occasions, because I feel it is most fitting and glorifying to God to thank Him for all the Feast Days.  This affords us the option of reading one Epistle or both.  Sometimes space does not allow us to “fit” both Epistles due to their length, so we read the one Epistle of Sunday. 

Saturday, Dec. 8 CONCEPTION BY ST. ANNE
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
4:00 PM ✞Steve Kowalick – Michael Kowalick

Sunday, Dec. 9 CONCEPTION BY ST. ANNE
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Tuesday, Dec. 11
9:00 AM ✞John Phillips – son Peter Philips

Friday, Dec. 14
9:00 AM ✞Ronald Kachinko from The Parish
Saturday, Dec.15
4:00 PM ✞Ronald Kachinko from James & Darlene Swaboski

Sunday, Dec. 16 SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

THE FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNE
December 9
The feast of the Conception of St. Anne in ancient times was known by several different names. One of the oldest is “The Annunciation of the Conception of the Holy Mother of God”. In the constitution of feasts, Emperor Manuel Comnen calls this feast the “Conception of our Most Holy Mother of God.” The Slavonic Typicons generally refer to it as the “Conception of Blessed Ann” or “The Conception of Holy Ann, when she conceived the Most Holy Mother of God.”
In our Ukrainian Catholic Church the Synod of Lviv gave this feast the official title “The Immaculate Conception of the Most Pure Virgin Mary”. However, the Roman revision of our liturgical books restored the pristine title of the feast – “The Conception of Holy Anna, when she conceived the Most Holy Mother of God.”
Her parents rejoice over the wonderful conception of the Most Holy Mother of God; the prophets rejoice; heaven and earth rejoice. The Church calls upon the Old and New Testaments to join in the rejoicing: “Come, people of all classes and ages, let us celebrate with the Angels the all-glorious conception of the Mother of God; patriarchs sing praises to the Mother of the King of all; you, prophets, praise her whom you preached; you, forefathers, praise your descendant – the Mother of God; you aged, praise the ancestor of God; you, faithful, praise the root of your faith; you, priests, praise the all-holy temple of God; you, choirs of saints, praise the cause of your assembly; you, armies of angels, praise the Mother of the Lord of all creation, and Savior of our souls.
Today we celebrate her immaculate conception whereas nine months later on the 8th of September she appears among us in her glorious Nativity.

PRAYER TO ST. ANNE
O Glorious Saint Ann, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special protection [here mention silently your intentions] Please recommend it to your daughter the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the Throne of Jesus so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Please continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face and with you and Mary and all the Saints praising and blessing Him for all eternity. Amen.
Three Times
Good Saint Ann, Mother of Her who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray to Her for us and obtain our requests.
One Hail Mary
Good Saint Ann * Pray for us

What is Prayer?

Prayer is doxology, praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession to God. “When I prayed I was new,” wrote a great theologian of Christian antiquity, “but when I stopped praying I became old.” Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy. Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of the soul, a foretaste of the bliss of God’s kingdom.

How is one to pray? Only the Holy Spirit can guide us to pray as we should. Just as a child learns to walk by walking, one can best learn to pray by praying, trusting in the help of God. Put your whole soul into your prayer. Think about the meaning of every word you pray. Make it your own personal prayer. Be persistent in prayer. Do not yield to carelessness or neglect. Strengthen your prayer through a lively faith in the Lord, a spirit of forgiveness toward others, and genuine Christian living.

As we pray deeply within our hearts we grow in prayer. By the grace of God we suddenly catch a glimpse of the miracle of the presence of the Holy Spirit working within us. At first it is only a spark but later it becomes a flame freeing and energizing our whole being, provided we do nothing to grieve the Holy Spirit; and if we do sin we repent of our sin immediately and ask for God’s forgiveness. To experience the fire of God’s holy love, to give it space within us to do its cleansing and healing work as a breath of the Holy Spirit, and to use it as light and power for daily living — such are the goals as well as the fruits of true prayer.

People need people and friends need friends
And we all need love, for a full life depends not
on vast riches or great acclaim, not on success
or on worldly fame,
but just in knowing that someone cares and holds us
close in their thoughts and prayers

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Dec. 8 – 15 by Mike & Dolores Sinko in memory of Mary Sinko.

We wish to thank all who participated in purchasing and selling of the lottery tickets. A special thanks to Mike & Dolores Sinko for handling this project.

SING ALONG: You are invited to join SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 25th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre,  Sunday, December 9th, 2018 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.

SYMPATHY: Bishop Andriy sadly informs you that Father Edward N. Levandusky, 79, a retired priest of our archeparchy, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, December 1, 2018. Father Levandusky was ordained on April 10, 1965 and served the faithful until his retirement in 2010.
Father Levandusky served in our parish many years ago. Vichnaya Pamyat.

.

Saturday, Dec. 1
4:00 PM ✞Donald Magill – Anna Magill

Sunday, Dec. 2 TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners


Thursday, Dec. 6 NICHOLAS OF MYRA ARCHBISHOP
Anointing of Holy Oil – Myrovania
9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for Anna Dankiw –
Olympia Pasicznyk

Saturday, Dec. 8 CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNE
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
4:00 PM ✞Steven Kowalick – Michael Kowalick

Sunday, Dec. 9 CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNE
8:30 AM Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

SAINT NICHOLAS, THE WONDERMAKER
FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS
December 6

Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, is one of the most popular Saints, especially among Eastern Christians. He won great esteem through his numerous works of mercy during his life and through great zeal in defending the divinity of Christ against the heretic Arius at the Council of Nicaea in 325. He is regarded as the Patron Saint of children and sailors. He was popularized in America by the Dutch puritans who disguised the “popish” Saint as a Nordic magician, called “Santa Claus” from their name Sinterklaas.
In 1087 Italian merchants brought St. Nicholas’ body to Bari in Italy from Asia, to protect them from Muslims. A perfumed oil is still flowing out of his holy relics.
Our prince Vsevolod Yaroslavych introduced his feast into Ukraine under Pope Urban II (1088-99). Saint Nicholas is very popular among our people, both Catholic and Orthodox.

A Prayer to Saint Nicholas of Myra
O good St. Nicholas, you who are the joy of the children,
put in my heart the spirit of childhood,
which the gospel speaks, and teach me to seed happiness around me.
You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas,
open my faith to the mystery of God made man.
You good bishop and shepherd,
help me to find my place in the Church
and inspire the Church to be faithful to the Gospel.
O good Saint Nicholas, patron of children, sailors and the helpless,
watch over those who pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs,
as well as over those who humble themselves before you.
Bring us all in reverence to the Holy Child of Bethlehem,
when true joy and peace are found. Amen.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Two thousand years ago the King of Kings was born.
’The Lamb of God’ later made to feel the thorn,
If his words are accepted and not scorned,
They will make us all reborn.

Though God’s grace, Joseph and Mary presented
A gift to the world that day, which we can all repay,
by living the ten commandments each and every day.

Try to remember and keep in your heart and mind
Jesus’ gospel while here on Earth,
Redemption not a life lived in constant mirth. 
Peace on Earth, good will toward man
Everyone should try it, whenever they can.

The Lord gave us the option and choice of ‘free will,’
Now it’s up to us to fit the bill.

So when you’re Christmas shopping for family and friends,
and money is tight at both ends,
Remember that the greatest gift of all,
Is your love of Jesus in the manger stall.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week, Dec. 1 – 8 – by Rosemarie Kachinko in memory of daughter Sandra Elko.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar candles are requested to burn during the month of December at all services by Albert Piston in memory of his parents Michael & Jennie Piston.

HELLP NEEDED: The cleaning of our Church will be on Thursday, Dec. 6th at about 10:30 AM. Help is needed from all men and women who can be available to do a good job. Please, if you are able, come out and join in this project.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers our parishioners who are in hospitals, nursing facilities and at home.

Saturday, Nov. 23
4:00 PM ✞ Dorothy Pstrak Wujcik – Leonard Wujcik

Sunday, Nov. 24 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

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Thursday, Nov. 29
9:00 AM ✞Andrew Beshada – Ann Beshada

Saturday, Dec. 1
4:00 PM ✞Donald Magill – Anna Magill

Sunday, Dec. 2 TWENTY EIGHTTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

We can only approach the holy altar and receive our Lord in Holy Communion if our
our soul is not in a state of mortal sin.  Otherwise, we must first go to Confession, where we confess all our sins to the priest and receive absolution from him.
In the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the proper way to receive Holy Communion is as follows: make the sign of the cross and a small bow as you approach the priest reverently.  When you are in front to the priest, simply tilt your head back and open your mouth wide (do not stick out your tongue).  The priest will place the Most Precious Body and Blood in your mouth using the communion spoon.  You should hold the linen under your chin if there are no Alter servers to do it for you.  Do not close your mouth on the spoon until the priest has removed the spoon from your mouth.  There is no response because the priest says the whole prayer.  Each communicant receives the sacred species in the form of bread and wine and the priest says: ”The servant of God (Name) partakes of the most precious and all holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting. Amen.”  As you leave, make the sign of the cross again with a small bow and return to your pew.  Say a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus for coming into your soul in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Feast of St. Nicholas, December 6th
St. Nicholas followed the words of our Lord, to “lay up treasure for yourself in Heaven,” by praying every day, by fasting, and by performing good deeds. God was so pleased that he worked many miracles through Nicholas. People began to call him a “wonderworker”. They were so inspired by his life of service to others that many of them, too, began to lead holy lives, filled with good deeds.
As a faithful bishop (shepherd), St. Nicholas was revered as a saint even before his death because of his great holiness and tender care of his flock. After the Blessed Mother and St. John the Forerunner (Baptist), Nicholas was the most revered saint in the early church. He is most honored in the East, especially among Ukrainians and other Eastern Europeans. Throughout the world many churches are named for him—more than for any other saint. His ministry continues to this day as a powerful intercessor for the protection and advancement of the Church.
In the weekly liturgical cycle of the Church, Thursday is dedicated to the Holy Apostles and to Saint Nicholas, who stands as a model for all the great hierarchs, the successors to the Apostles and teachers of the Church. To be given a place in the weekly cycle indicates the great veneration the Church accords him.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION? Father, if I go to communion- how long before communion should I fast?  One hour before church?  One hour before communion?
When it comes time in preparation for encountering Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, from the time of the Apostles, the tradition had been to eat and drink nothing, even water, from dinner time (sundown) until we present ourselves for Holy Eucharist.  Now the bishops of the church, over time, “relaxed” the requirement of what should be done as a minimum in preparing for receipt of Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion).  First was to reduce the time from going to sleep until receiving Eucharist.  Then later, for at least 3 hours before the Diving Liturgy begins and then the latest, in the 1960’s, was a reduction to 1 hour before the Divine Liturgy begins.  These times of 3 and 1 hour were done when the church had grown so large that everyone could not attend a single Divine Liturgy early in the morning and liturgies were added so that some did not receive Eucharist until well after mid-day.  Today the bishops permit the minimum of 1 hour.  Notice; this is 1 hour before the liturgy begins not 1 hour before the time at which the Eucharist is distributed.    Also, of importance is to understand that these prescriptions are for people of good health and are able to actually follow these prescriptions.   For the very young, aged and infirm this rule is relaxed.  The Church understands the need for worldly food and Spiritual Food, to nourish the body and the soul, and as the child is too young to grasp the understanding of how fasting is a spiritual growth, of being in control of one’s appetites, it is acceptable for them to be permitted to eat.  For the aged and infirm the rule is relaxed for material needs.  When a person thinks about this issue like that of an athlete training for competition, fasting is then understood to be like training the muscles to succeed in the athletic event.  Fasting, being in control of one’s own appetite, is training the self to be in self-control of decision by free will.  This is spiritual training to succeed in virtue over sin when a temptation presents itself.  If a person never trains then that person is setting themselves up for failure.  Failure to plan is planning to fail.
How to receive Holy Communion in an Eastern Catholic Church?
If you are Catholic, have maintained the one hour fast before Holy Communion and are in a state of grace (free of conscious mortal sin), you may receive Holy Communion, the saving Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as you normally would. The faithful are called to “Approach with the fear of God and with Faith.”
As Catholics, we believe that the highest form of prayer is the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and that the most sacred part of the Liturgy is the Consecration where bread and wine are changed into the Most Precious Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Nov. 23 – 30 by Charles Drazb in memory of Marie Drazba.

BIRTHDAY WISHES: We sincerely wish Helen Youells a very Happy, healthy 99th birthday. Helen will celebrate her birthday on Thursday, November 29th. God’s blessing for many more good and healthy years. mynohya lita!

Cleaning the church: The men and women of the parish will be cleaning the church for the Coming Season. Anyone and everyone is welcome to lend a hand to make the church shine. Please, those who can come and help, come on Thursday, December the 6 at 10:00 AM. Your help is needed. Your reward will be in heaven.

The Women’s Society will celebrate their Christmas Party at Theo-Metro in Kingston, PA. Those who will be attending, Please meet at the Church parking Lot at 1:00 PM on Sunday, December 2nd.