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 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.”
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.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 