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 25th, 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.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 