SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

January 26, 2025 A. D.

SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 25 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             4:00 PM           ✞Stanley Giza- Stanley & Renee Giza

Sunday, January 26 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, February 1 SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS

ENCOUNTER OF OUR LORD WITH SIMEON

Blessing of Candles

*****1^st Saturday of the month Liturgy at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church at 8:00AM*****

             4:00 PM           God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, February 2 SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS

ENCOUNTER OF OUR LORD WITH SIMEON

Blessing of Candles

             8:30 AM            ✞Paul & Marian Rose- Stephen Udiski

✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠

Transfiguration of Our Lord:

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father, first, I must say I do not go to communion on a regular basis. How often should one go to communion? I feel “incorrect” not going to communion without going to confession.  Confession however, seems to be like “Sin, Confess, Repeat”…. and seems to lack a depth of repentance.  Can you help me with this?  Perhaps I have the wrong perspective on this?  Is the forgiveness I hope to receive something I give myself?  I understand Absolution, the problem seems to be with me, not the sacrament.  PRIEST:  WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF ABSOLUTION?  PARISHIONER:  Forgiveness of sins.  Perhaps, an adjustment in your perspective would help.  Absolution is not merely a forgiveness of sins, but literally means from the Latin, “to untie you from the devil or to unchain you from the devil” which is the result of sin.  Perhaps, your feeling incorrect is from a viewpoint on your life and your sins as a sense of not taking serious your behaviors-in other words- to take a sincere approach to your Sacramental Life.   If you truly believe in God, and truly try to follow His commandments, and recognize that the devil and his fallen angels (demons) have been watching you intently all your life, and they know your weaknesses and will tempt you to break the commandments even in the most minor way either directly or through the interaction with other people.  So yes, you might feel like your life is a revolving door and once you are at peace after having sinned you then recognize your action as a sin- which perhaps in that moment you did not desire or intend to do.  So you grasped this when you reflect back on your day, week, or life in examining your conscience and perhaps you feel frustrated or hopeless, but this is truly not the case with the sacraments.  The devil will tempt you even with these feelings.  The question to ask when you examine your conscience and you live your life and even in the confessional (with the priest), is “Are you truly sorry for these sins?” and “Are you actively trying to NOT repeat these sins?”  If the answer is “Yes” then you have truly received forgiveness from God.  So the question is “Do you lack a depth of repentance or is there something else going on?”  The answer to this could be that you might need a spiritual director, we all need a spiritual director in our lives, especially the clergy.  I am guessing by our discussion so far, you need a spiritual director in your life.  I have not heard my entire life and I doubt many others people have as well, that a spiritual director was even an option.  Your spiritual director does not have to be a priest or nun, but someone who is further along the path of holiness than you are.  In training for a sport, you seek out someone who has mastered that sport, so you too, should we seek a spiritual director who excels in the path of holiness.  The point of this is, your spiritual director would assist you with your prayer and devotional life to help you grow in closeness and love of God so that you don’t feel so much that you are in a revolving door of Sin, Confess & Repeat.  Your spiritual director will give you “prayer exercises” to help you.  Yes, you might commit the same sins again but hopefully less often and with a greater resolve you will remain sin-free.  Now about receiving communion, we should receive communion as often as possible and we should do this with a clear conscience.  The simple reason is the receiving of Holy Communion is the action that finishes Confession and prepares you for heaven.  If you should die today… you would desire a clean conscience for none of us knows the hour of our calling.    “All have sinned.  All have fallen short of the glory of God.”-Roman 3:23

(The above account is true.  The question was asked by a parishioner.  The names have been changed to protect the sinner.  Any resemblance to the Parishioner sitting next to you is a coincidence.)

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 MYOSOPUSNA 2025:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church is pleased to announce that dinner tickets are now available for our Annual Myasopusna Festival, held at the church’s banquet hall, 240 Center Street, Nanticoke, on Sunday, February 23, from noon to 4 pm.  The Myasopusna (Meatfare) Festival is the parish’s pre-lenten celebration, preceding the Great Fast.  Dinner (a platter of holuptsi, kobasi, pyrohy, borscht, black bread and butter, and a homemade dessert) will be served from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, followed by live Ukrainian dance performances by Kazka and Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Dancers.  A variety of Ukrainian crafts will be on display and for sale.  Dinner tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance, no tickets will be sold at the door.  Tickets can be purchased by calling Helen (735-4654) and leave a message  or Lisa (574-1016).  Invite your friends and neighbors!

 UKRAINIAN PYSANKY CLASSES:  Classes are being offered by St. Cyril’s Church in Olyphant.  March 2nd and March 16th, with two classes each day:  12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m.  Students will learn about this beautiful Ukrainian tradition.  The cost is $25 per person, with supplies included.  Class size is limited, and registration is required.  Contact:  Tammy Budnovitch 570-766-1919 to register for this parish fundraiser held at St. Cyril’s Parish Hall, 207 River St., Olyphant.

James 3:1-10,  Mark 11:11-23

The Lesson on the Fig Tree

The Lord took away His Blessing from the fig tree which was rich with leaves but had no fruit, and it dried up.  This is a lesson in action.  The fig tree represents people who in appearance are in a good state, but in essence are not worthy of approval.  Who are these people?  They are those who eloquently discourse about faith, but do not have that faith; they hold the objects of faith in the intellect only.  They are those whose outward behavior is proper but their feeling and dispositions are very improper, and they manifest proper works only to hide their impropriety from people.  Whenever possible, they do not do these works.  For example, such a person give alms when someone asks them him in front of people, but ask him in private and he berate you.  He goes to church to pray to God, prays in sight of everyone, and prays at home as well, so as to not bring shame upon himself before his household.  But as soon as he is alone, he does not even make the sign of the Cross on his brow.  He does not have any idea about turning to God with the mind and the heart.  Let us pray that God will not allow us to be like that, for then we will not escape the judgement pronounced over the fig tree.  

-St. Theophan the Recluse

The Altar Candles for the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

There is no Sanctuary Light requested for this week.

*****The next several weeks are available if someone would like to offer a

Sanctuary Light petition.******

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. 

PARISH FORMS:  Our Parish is updating our Parishioner Forms.  The forms are in the vestibule.  Please complete the form and return it.  There will be a folder you can put it in on the table. 

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have their home blessed, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

In one of his homilies the holy Hiero-Confessor Luke of Crimea noted, “Why did Christ curse the fig tree? To teach us that we should tremble when we hear about it… We should not be deceived by the thought that our Lord is infinitely merciful and good and will surely forgive our sins. Many, many deceive themselves with this hope, and in this parable, and above all through the cursing of the fig tree, we learn that the Lord is not always infinitely merciful.”  {i. e. the Lord will not forgive the unrepentant sinner.}

SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 18 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             4:00 PM           God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, January 19 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             8:30 AM            ✞Anizia Slobodian- Steven & Gloria Udiski

Saturday, January 25 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             4:00 PM           ✞Stanley Giza- Stanley & Renee Giza

Sunday, January 26 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

  Father, I have been listening to the Epistles for years…. Who are the Corinthians, the Colassians, Ephesians, the Phillipians, the Hebrews, the Galatians, the Romans, and the Thessalonians?  Who are Timothy, Philemon, James, Titus, John, Peter and Jude?  Why are they relevant?   

Let us begins with the word “Epistle,” which  is Greek meaning “letter.”  St. Paul wrote letters to the people that were following the teachings of Christ whom he taught and converted (or others) in Corinth, Galatia, to those in Ephesus, Thessalonica, Colossae, and to Romans in various places of the kingdom–but specifically Rome.  That is, these letters  are to the established churches and believers, some of whom were having troubles, some were doing well.  The Epistles of St. Paul pre-date the Gospels.  Timothy was a fellow worker and evangelizer with St. Paul.  In some difficult situations when Timothy was alone, and St. Paul was evangelizing elsewhere, St. Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him.  Titus was a gentile who converted to Christianity and became a disciple.  He also was with St. Paul on one of his missionary journeys.  St. Paul wrote to Titus to help him evangelize others.  Philemon was a man of means of Colosse and because of his situation ONE letter is written to him by St. Paul.  In the Epistles, the next people were Apostles who wrote these letters;  St. James, St. Peter, St. John, St. Jude who wrote letters to faithful people- not to St. Paul or from St. Paul.  Now there were many other letters written among the Apostles and the faithful that were not included in the Holy Scriptures, what you know as the Bible.  The reason these letters are included in the Canon is because we have something to learn from them in our lifes that these same followers of Christ needed to learn in their lives.  In other words, these letters are productive for our edification and the whole Church.  

  PIGGIE DINNER:  “Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Wilkes- Barre will hold a take-out Piggie / Holubtsi Dinner on Saturday, January 25^th, 2025.  Dinners may be picked up between 12:00 (noon) and 4:00 pm in our school hall, corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, Wilkes-Barre.  Dinners include; Piggies (meat & rice stuffed cabbage), mashed potatoes, vegetable, bread and butter and dessert.  Dinners will be $15.00 for adults and $9.00 for children (12 and under).  Walk-in customers will be welcomed, but reservations are Strongly Encouraged, (570) 829-3051.”

 MYOSOPUSNA 2025:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church is pleased to announce that dinner tickets are now available for our Annual Myasopusna Festival, held at the church’s banquet hall, 240 Center Street, Nanticoke, on Sunday, February 23, from noon to 4 pm.  The Myasopusna (Meatfare) Festival is the parish’s pre-lenten celebration, preceding the Great Fast.  Dinner (a platter of holuptsi, kobasi, pyrohy, borscht, black bread and butter, and a homemade dessert) will be served from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, followed by live Ukrainian dance performances by Kazka and Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Dancers.  A variety of Ukrainian crafts will be on display and for sale.  Dinner tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance, no tickets will be sold at the door.  Tickets can be purchased by calling Helen (735-4654) and leave a message  or Lisa (574-1016).  Invite your friends and neighbors!

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.  O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding 

God face to face for endless ages.  Amen.

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Dear Lord, We thank You for sending your messenger – John the Baptizer – to introduce the Messiah to us.  Help us to prepare the way for Him as He seeks to enter our lives today.  Let us remove the mountains of pride and prejudice, and make straight our crooked and deceitful ways through repentance.  For He who comes to make His home in us is the Lamb of God.  He comes to take away our sins and make us the tabernacles of His presence in the world.  Amen.

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father………… How do you prononounce and what is Sabboath?  Is that the Sabbath-OR different?    Firstly, the “correct” spelling is Sabaoth.  It is pronounced  Greek “Saba’-oath” or “Sab’-a-oth” or “Sab’-a-yoth”.  The prayer we pray on page 30 of the little black book says “Lord of Sabaoth” and this is a name for God.  Sabaoth literally means heavenly hosts, the angels, and the angels are God’s Heavenly Army.    Yes, this is different from the Sabbath.  The Sabbath is the seventh and last day of the week, same as the seventh day of creation when the Lord rested.  This is the Holy Day of prayer that when God tells us to keep Holy the Lord’s day- this is the day.  Both words are transliterated from Hebrew.  Keeping the Sabbath Holy means to put first amongst all things- God.

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father………… What does “Amen” mean?  Is it just the end of the prayer?  Like “The End?”  “Amen” is a Hebrew word (אָמֵן) that we do not translate into English because it has a few meanings that are all intended at one time when we say the Hebrew word “Amen.”  Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word of the same sound, meaning true, correct, it is certain.  In Strong’s Numbers the word Amen is referred to as meaning “verily” or “truly.”    Strong’s Numbers is an identifier of every Greek word in the Scriptures from Septuagint(the Old Testament translated into Greek) and New Testament.  Each Hebrew word by the Strong’s Number has an etimology around it that helps us to understand the original intended meaning in each of the books of the Bible.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers all who are in need of God’s help.  Remember those in the nursing facilities, hospital and at home, all the sick and the suffering.  Please say a special prayer for all of our nation’s soldiers and their families at home and abroad.

The Altar Candles for the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene IMO Juliann O’Brien.

*****The next several weeks are available if someone would like to offer a

Sanctuary Light petition.******

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. If you do not see any with your name, please let David Youells or Michaelene Ostrum know and they will get them for you. 

FORMS:  There are papers on the table in the vestibule for everyone to take and fill out: family name, address, phone, etc.  Please complete the form and return it.  There will be a folder you can put it in on the table. 

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have their home blessed, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS:  The Christmas decorations will be taken down Sunday Jan 19th at 12PM.  Your help will be greatly appreciated.

SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 11 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

             4:00 PM           ✞Ann Beshada- Anna Magill

Sunday, January 12 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, January 18 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             4:00 PM           God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, January 19 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             8:30 AM            ✞Anizia Slobodian- Steven & Gloria Udiski

 Father, what is meant by the “Winter Pascha”?  I read that term online and was confused.     “Pascha” literally means passover, lamb and bread.  The term winter paska is phrase used in modern times, coined by Fr. Alexander Schmemann of the Orthdox Church.  “The liturgical services of Christmas are patterned after the services for the Festival of Pascha of the Lord, the Holy Resurrection.  There is a forty day fast.  There are pre-feast preparations.  There are the special Royal Hours with their prophecies, Epistles, Gospels, and hymns on the eve of the feast.  Followed by the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.  There is the solemn all-night Vigil, crowned by the Matins, Canon and Hymns.  And finally, after the Eucharistic celebration of St. John Chrysostom on the day of the feast itself, the celebration continues to it’s completion in the MEETING OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE forty days later.  At the center of the festal season, remains the original “Festival of Lights,” the Holy Theophany of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.  The liturgical verses and hymns for Christmas and Theophany, the Pascha of Christ’s incarnation and manifestation in the flesh, repeat those of Easter, the Pascha of Christ’s death and resurrection.  The Lord’s birth and Baptism are directly connected to His dying and Rising.  He was born in order to die.  He was baptized in order to be raised.  The Con-Holy Theophany, the harmony between the events is overwhelming.  The beauty of it is almost more that believer can bear.”- excerpt from The Winter Pascha by Thomas Hopko

 Why does the Processional Cross have a seeming star burst or rays of light coming from it?  Simply put you are seeing the Star of Bethlehem announcing Christ’s birth and the Cross which Christ was crucified on both at one time, how Jesus Christ entered and exited this world.  Because God exists outside of time, all the works of salvation are one and the same work, even though we experience them on different days and in different ways.

 

  ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father, when you prepare The Gifts in preparation for communion, I was told there is a “particle” or square for the deceased or living person that we have a Liturgy Intention for…….Why?   I thought it was the Body of Christ? Who gets THIS particle?  Yes, there is a particle during the Preparation of “The Gifts” for the person whom the Liturgy is Intended, as there are for all the parishioners, many of the Saints as well as the Theotokos and Jesus Christ.  We pray as we believe and part of our prayer of Holy Communion is that we become “like” Christ.  So that we the Church are the Body of Christ.  This is part of the symbolism of the prayer of Holy Communion.  Because we truly believe and follow Christ’s Word, “that he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in him.”  Those who partake of Holy Communion truly receive Christ and become like Christ.  The food we partake of changes us.  This is recognized in all of the prayers around Holy Communion.  As to who receives that particle, as those of you who come to the adult discussion group learned, one of the parishioners will receive this particle, because it is co-mingled with all the particles in the chalice.  All the particles originate from the one loaf that IS the Body of Christ.

PIGGIE DINNER:  “Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Wilkes- Barre will hold a take-out Piggie / Holubtsi Dinner on Saturday, January 25^th, 2025.  Dinners may be picked up between 12:00 (noon) and 4:00 pm in our school hall, corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, Wilkes-Barre.  Dinners include; Piggies (meat & rice stuffed cabbage), mashed potatoes, vegetable, bread and butter and dessert.  Dinners will be $15.00 for adults and $9.00 for children (12 and under).  Walk-in customers will be welcomed, but reservations are Strongly Encouraged, (570) 829-3051.”

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Altar Candles for the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO her brother Michael Sirak.

*****The next several weeks are available if someone would like to offer a

Sanctuary Light petition.******

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. If you do not see any with your name, please let David Youells or Michaelene Ostrum know and they will get them for you. 

THANK YOU:  Thank you to all who generously gave donations to the church this Christmas and throughout the year. God bless everyone with good health and many blessings in the New Year.

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have their home blessed, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

FESTIVAL OF THE CAROLS:  Festival of Ukrainian Christmas Carols to be held at the Cathedral in Philadelphia on January 12, 2024, at 3:00pm.  

SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 4 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY

             4:00 PM           ✞ Mary Ann Kachinko-Michael & Dolores Sinko

Sunday, January 5 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

VIGIL OF THEOPHANY

            4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

****8:00 PM  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church****

Monday, January 6 THEOPHANY (w/Myrovania)- obligation

            8:30AM ✞Geri Kolotelo- Yanoshak Family

Saturday, January 11 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

             4:00 PM           ✞Ann Beshada- Anna Magill

Sunday, January 12 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have Father Walter bless their home, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

FESTIVAL OF THE CAROLS:  Festival of Ukrainian Christmas Carols to be held at the Cathedral in Philadelphia on January 12, 2024, at 3:00pm.  

Why did Jesus seemingly abandon John the Baptist to his captors and leave for Galilee?  God’s ways are not man’s ways, God’s ways i.e. Jesus’s ways, are for the salvation of mankind.  He did not abandon John, but rather is heading out to save the lost.  Also, Jesus looking forward to salvation, knows that what must pass is His judgement of the whole world.  What we call Judgement Day.  On that day when John the Baptist is judged for heaven, and everyone who refused John’s preaching of repentance earns for themselves the judgement of hell and they when they complain to Jesus, Jesus will point to John the Baptist and say, “You refused his teaching, which is My teaching, and have earned for yourself hell by not repenting from your sins.”  As we prepare for the Great Fast this is what we are called to do and it is critical that it is to be done well, to honestly look in the mirror at our actions, emotions, and spirit, do we truly follow Jesus’s teaching or do we reject it?

From St. John Chrystostom’s Homily on Theophany…..

First of all therefore, it is necessary to say that there is not one Theophany, but two: the one actual, which already has occurred, and the second in future, which will happen with glory at the end of the world. About this one and about the other you will hear today from Paul, who in conversing with Titus, speaks thus about the present: “The grace of God hath revealed itself, having saved all mankind, decreeing, that we reject iniquity and worldly desires, and dwell in the present age in prudence and in righteousness and piety” — and about the future: “awaiting the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit 2:11-13). And a prophet speaks thus about this latter: “the sun shalt turn to darkness, and the moon to blood at first, then shalt come the great and illuminating Day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31). Why is not that day, on which the Lord was born, considered Theophany — but rather this day on which He was baptised? This present day it is, on which He was baptised and sanctified the nature of water. Because on this day all, having obtained the waters, do carry it home and keep it all year, since today the waters are sanctified; and an obvious phenomenon occurs: these waters in their essence do not spoil with the passage of time, but obtained today, for one whole year and often for two or three years, they remain unharmed and fresh, and afterwards for a long time do not stop being water, just as that obtained from the fountains.

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 Father I have a question, how long should I fast before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy in order to receive communion?  Let me begin by asking you a question, “How strong do you desire to be spiritually?”  Do you desire to be weak when the devil and demons attack or do you desire to strong enough  to resist on that evil day as St. Paul tells us?  If you desire to be strong you will exercise, just like an athlete exercises- by lifting heavier & heavier weights as you become stronger?  So God gives us three methods of exercising to grow in strength spiritually in the battle against Lucifer and demons-these exercises are prayer, fasting, and alms-giving.  So if you desire to be strong and you are fasting before the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy you would have nothing to eat or drink after dinner time Saturday evening.  If you desire to be weak, you will do nothing-simply eat breakfast before church Sunday morning.  In decades past, you have heard from Bishops that a minimum of three hours before the Liturgy is sufficient, and then a short time after you may have heard that one hour is sufficient.  The Bishops reduced it to this, claiming that fasting for the whole night was too difficult and they had to make it easier for people.    Even God is merciful and desires good things for you, he does not ask you to hurt yourself, He is instructing you how to live well.  If you are aged and need to eat or drink a small breakfast in order to take medicine, insulin, etc. out of necessity, then it is okay to do so.  Now that you are reminded that fasting is a way to grow in self- control and grow in virtue, you can choose for yourself, based on what you are able to do.  Just as a young athlete cannot lift the heaviest weights on the first day, neither can a person who has tried to fast in the past or exercise this practice, they will have difficulty fasting from the evening before, but if they begin to practice this, they would be able to accomplish it.  So I close with my opening question, how strong do you desire to be?

The Altar Candles for the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Mariya Palashchuk  IMO Evhen Slobodian. 

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. If you do not see any with your name, please let David Youells or Michaelene Ostrum know and they will get them for you. 

THANK YOU:  Thank you to all who generously gave donations to the church this Christmas and throughout the year. God bless everyone with good health and many blessings in the New Year.

BLESSING OF WATER:   On Sunday, January 5^th at 4:00PM  in the evening, we will have the Vesperal Liturgy with the Blessing of Water in celebration of Theophany Eve. The Feast of Theophany is Monday, January 6th. Please remember to bring your containers in order to bring water home. Please note this is a Holy Day of Obligation.

CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG:IT’S THIS SUNDAY!  ” YOU ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish (WB) for their 30th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church at 635 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre,  Sunday, January 5th, 2025 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 welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.”