April 13, 2025 A. D.
Saturday, April 12 PALM SUNDAY (w/ Myrovania)
4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Sunday, April 13 PALM SUNDAY (w/Myrovania)
8:30 AM Christine & Mary Ann Youells – Youells Family
Tuesday, April 15 HOLY TUESDAY
5:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy (Confessions Before/After)
Thursday, April 17 HOLY THURSDAY
3:00PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord
Friday, April 18 GOOD FRIDAY
1:00 PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud
Saturday, April 19 HOLY SATURDAY
2:30 PM Blessing of Food
4:00 PM God’s Blessings for America- Tom & MaryAnn Potsko
Service at the Grave, Vespers, Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great /Blessing of Artos, Myrovania
Sunday, April 20 PASCHA-EASTER SUNDAY (w/Myrovania)
11:00 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos, Myrovania
Monday, April, 21 BRIGHT MONDAY (w/Myrovania)
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Transfiguration of Our Lord Church – 2025 A. D.
240 Center St, Nanticoke, PA
Holy Monday, April 14
6:30 PM The Presanctified Liturgy. Confessions Before/After
Holy Wednesday, April 16
5:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy with General Anointing
Holy Thursday, April 17
6:30 PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord
Good Friday, April 18
5:30 PM Vespers with Placement of the Holy Shroud
Holy Saturday, April 19
1:00 Blessing of Food
PASCHA, Sunday, April 20
7:30AM Service at the Grave, Resurrection Matins,
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy (approximate time)
Blessing of Artos, Myrovania
Bright Monday, April 21
10:30 AM Divine Liturgy, Myrovania
HOLY WEEK
ANOINTING OF THE SICK ON HOLY WEDNESDAY
The General Anointing of the Sick is done for all baptized Christians present at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts on Holy Wednesday. If there are two blessings, the first blessings is done at the end of The Litany of Peace and the second is after the Litany of Supplication. If more than one priest is present the people should be anointed by each of the priests present, up to seven priests in total. The Prayer of Anointing is said first for all present, then each is anointed on the forehead, cheeks and palm of the hands with the formula, “The servant of God is anointed for the healing of soul and body, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.” This is the one time each year that this Mystery (Sacrament) is provided to all the faithful in attendance and forgives all sins so that even one who has not “gone to confession” is now freed from sin and if the person remains free from sin, is free to receive of the Eucharist, the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Service at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 16.
PALM SUNDAY- THE LORD’S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM
APRIL 13, 2025
Pick up your Palms as you enter the church. Hold your Palms when Father Walter incenses the church-following that Father will bless the Palms while you hold them.
| “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.” (John 12:13) TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF OUR LORD INTO THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM The Sunday preceding the joyous celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord is known as Palm Sunday. Christians throughout the world celebrate, commemorate, and in some places re-enact the triumphant entry of Our Lord into the holy city of Jerusalem. On this day in the earthly life of Our Lord, the prophecy of Zechariah was fulfilled: “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Behold; YOUR king is coming to you, a just Savior is He, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (9:9) Jesus had travelled throughout all Galilee teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The crowds would come to hear Him teach in parables and often would bring the sick and infirm to be cured of every sickness and disease. The crowds were amazed at the visible signs of Jesus’ divinity, His divine power, especially the wondrous miracles performed. When Jesus had raised the only son of a widow from the dead, the crowd was truly amazed: “Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, ‘A great prophet has risen in our midst’ and ‘God has visited His people.’” (Luke 7:16) Once again Jesus raises someone from the dead. This time it was His friend Lazarus who was dead for four days. Martha had wondered if only Jesus would have come earlier her brother Lazarus would not have died. Jesus tells Martha: “I am the Resurrections and the Life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) Jesus goes into the tomb where His friend Lazarus was buried. Mary was weeping over the loss of her brother. A crowd had gathered to give comfort to Martha and Mary over the loss of their brother. St. John the Evangelist writes that Jesus “was deeply troubled…And He wept.” (11:33, 35) Jesus directed them to remove the stone from the entrance to the tomb and prayed: ““Father,* I thank You for hearing Me. I know that You always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” (V. 42) The Lord then cried out: “Lazarus, come out.” (v. 43) Lazarus, who was dead, had come out and they untied him from the burial cloth he was wrapped in. Many had come to believe in Jesus because of this great miracle. Some of those who had offered comfort to Mary and Martha and witnessed the miracle went to inform the Pharisees. The chief priests and Pharisees held a special session of the Sanhedrin. They felt that something had to be done regarding Jesus. “If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come* and take away both our land and our nation.” (11:48) Caiaphas, who was high priest that year,* said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (vv. 49-50) The Evangelist John tells us that from that day on, they planned to kill Jesus. Initially, Jesus did not walk within Jewish public areas. He withdrew into a deserted region, to a town named “Ephraim.” He remained there with His Apostles. The Feast of the Passover was approaching. Usually, Our Lord and the Apostles would celebrate the Feast in the holy city of Jerusalem. Many of the Jews came to “purify themselves” before the Feast to the holy city. (v. 55) They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That He will not come to the Feast?” The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He (Jesus) was, he should inform them, so that they might arrest Him. (vv. 56-57) The very next day after the Lord’s feet were anointed, Jesus enters the Holy City of Jerusalem in humble fashion: seated on a young donkey, colt. The Icon of “The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem” vividly shows us the importance and significance of this event in the earthly ministry of Christ and in salvation history. The Entry is a joyous celebration of Triumph. It is a moment of glory. The great crowd took palm branches in their hands to welcome the Lord with the greeting: “Hosanna, blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!” Palm branches have for a long time been a symbol or sign of victory, triumph, and peace. This goes back to the ancient East, as well as in the Mediterranean region. A palm branch was awarded to a victorious athlete in ancient Greece. It indeed was a great day in the saving history of the Chosen People of the Old Testament, Israel. The Messiah, the Anointed, the One of Whom the Prophets foretold enters the holy city. The atmosphere was one of exuberant jubilation. Although not pictured in the icon, there were also present opponents of Jesus who witnessed the event. The Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world*has gone after Him.” (12:19) These opponents of Jesus looked and waited for an opportunity to kill Him. May we acknowledge Jesus for Who He is : the Son of God, the One Who offers us deliverance from sin, death, and all the powers of darkness and evil yet prevalent into today’s world. May our faith in the Lord be deeply-rooted, strong, and constant. My we never waver but keep our eyes fixed upon Him and our future inheritance – eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Let us cry out: “Hosanna!” which translated from Aramaic means: Save us, deliver us! Father D. George Worschak |
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.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL: Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
The Sanctuary Light for this week was requested by Rebecca Molecavage IMO Frances Bencho.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The sanctuary light sign-up sheets are located on the table in the vestibule. A $15 donation enables the light to burn for your intention throughout the week. Many weeks are still available.
CONFESSION: Let us prepare our souls by making a good Confession and receiving Communion. Holy Confession will be held before Divine Liturgy or after Divine Liturgy, if necessary. Confessions will be held before the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and by appointment. Reminder, the Church decrees that you make at least one good confession a year before Easter. Reminder there is no confessions after Holy Wednesday.
BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL:
The Lives of the Desert Fathers
Norman Russell/Benedicta Ward ISBN: 978-0879079345
The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis ISBN: 979-8343951851
ADORATION SCHEDULES: Adoration schedules are in the back of the church. Please plan to spend time with Christ.
SOROKOUSTY SERVICE: The fifth Sorokousty is Saturday, June 7th at 8:00 am.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 