December 14, 2025
DIVINE LITURGY for PHILLIPS FAST(11/15-12/25)
Saturday, December 13 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Sunday, December 14 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM UMary Ann & Christine Youells-Youells Family
Saturday, December 20 TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
4:00 PM UEd Schwartz- Ann Beshada
Sunday, December 21 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Gospel of Luke 14:16-24
The Lord told this parable: “A certain man gave a great supper, and he invited many. And he sent his servant at supper time to tell those invited to come, for everything is now ready. And they all with one accord began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a farm, and I must go out and see it; I pray you hold me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them; I pray you hold be excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ And the servant returned, and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house was angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, and the crippled, and the blind, and the lame.’ And the servant said, ‘sir, your order has been carried out, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you that none of those who were invited shall taste of my supper. ‘For many are called but few are chosen.”
Overcoming Evil Thoughts: The Battle of the Mind
One of the most significant challenges in spiritual combat is dealing with evil thoughts that constantly influence our minds. These thoughts can be either good or evil, impacting our spiritual lives in diverse ways. The account of Adam and Eve’s fall in the book of Genesis serves as a poignant reminder of the power of temptation. The devil deceived our ancestors by suggesting that they could become like God if they rejected His commandment. This temptation resulted in personal responsibility for sin. Likewise, in our lives, we face continuous temptations to sin, but it is our response that defines the outcome.
The stages of dealing with evil thoughts are a progression: suggestion, internal conversation, struggle, assent, and passion. It begins with a suggestion, which can manifest through images, fantasies, or recollections, and if not dismissed, the evil thought proceeds to penetrate our hearts. The internal conversation with the thought presents us with a choice – to succumb or resist. The struggle to dismiss the thought requires effort, relying on the Word of God and prayer and fasting to achieve victory. If we give assent to the evil thought, accepting and intending to act on it, we have already sinned, even if the action is not realized. This sequence culminates in the state of passion, where a person becomes enslaved by their sinful desires if we do not constantly pray and fast.
The Altar Candles for the month of December are given by the Youells Family in loving memory of Mary Ann Youells.
The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Anna Magill for her deceased parents and siblings.
SAINT NICHOLAS TEA: Thank you to everyone who made the Saint Nicholas Tea a success. We are grateful for Saint Nicholas making an appearance!
THE ENGLOT SISTERS CHRISTMAS CD: You can now listen to the Englot Sisters CD “An American Ukrainian Christmas “on YouTube and Spotify. [ CD’s are also still available for purchase- you can find them in the back of the church for a freewill donation.] To locate the account on You Tube search by “THE ENGLOT SISTERS” and it will bring up the account. (Joanne & Christine are parishioners of Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. They sing with their sister, Mary a selection of Ukrainian Christmas Carols.)
Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: Jewel Johnstone, John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Kathrine Halloway, Charles Halloway, & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.
PYROHY SALE: Transfiguration of Our Lord Church is having a potato pyrohy sale. The cost is $12.00 per dozen. Contact the church rectory or call Lisa at 570-574-1016.
WYOMING VALLEY BAND COINCERT: The Wyoming Valley Concert Band presents “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, a concert of Christmas music, on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro Cathedral, Franklin Street in Wilkes Barre. Admission is free. A non-perishable food item for the food pantry is appreciated. This concert is a gift of the musicians to you to celebrate the holidays. Donations to the band are always welcome.
CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG: “YOU ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 31st Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church at 635 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, Sunday, December 28th, 2025 starting at 2:00p.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.
BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER:
ST. EPHREM THE SYRIAN
Hymns on Paradise
ISBN: 978-0881410761
James 1:19-27; Mark 10:17-27
Someone turned to the Lord with a question: Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?(Mark 10:17) What neccessitated this question? Was there no Scripture? Was the law not read every Saturday for everyone? There was everything—both the Scripture and its interpreters—but differences of opinion went around in society and muddled everyone. The Pharisees said one thing, the Sadducees another, the Essenes had their own opinion, and the Samaritans theirs. In Galilee, perhaps even pagan teachings were heard, and each side put forth its own teachings with a tone of conviction. Anyone who was zealous for salvation naturally came to the question: What should I do? What should I follow, so as to not lose my soul? Our situation now is very similar to that of those times. How many teachings are circulating in our schools, in society, and in literature! For the indifferent it is nothing, but those concerned over which teaching to follow cannot help but seek a resolution; “What should I do?” And so what is the solution? The one which the Savior gave: Believe and live as God commanded, and do not listen to people’s talk; let them talk. The talk of scholars too is like rumors and fashion; today one thing, tomorrow another. But you should heed only God’s Word, which abides onto the ages. What Lord commanded, no philosophizing can revoke. Everything must done, and cannot be put of. The Judgement indeed will be according to the Word of the Lord, and not according to our philosophizing.
– St. Theophan the Recluse
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TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
December 14, 2025 A. D.
Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Viki!
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
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 in this world, as is Your Will. 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.
Liturgy Schedules
Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke
Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve
8:00 PM Great Compline and Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
Thursday, December 25 – Christmas
10:30 AM Liturgy with Myrovania
Friday, December 26 – Synaxis of the Holy Mother of God
10:30AM Liturgy with Myrovania
Saturday, December 27 Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
8:00 AM Liturgy with Myrovania
Ss. Peter and Paul (Plymouth)
Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve
4:00 PM Great Compline and Divine Liturgy with Myrovania
Thursday, December 25 Christmas
8:30AM Liturgy with Myrovania
Friday, December 26 Synaxis of the Holy Mother of God
8:30AM Liturgy with Myrovania
Saturday, December 27 Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
8:00 AM At Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke.
Christ is coming…Are you ready?
DID YOU GO TO CONFESSION? SET ASIDE TIME TO PRAY…. PLAN TO ATTEND SERVICES? TEACH YOUR CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT CHRIST?? There’s still time.
“You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” (Luke 12:20)
The rich man in today’s Gospel was indeed “foolish”. He concentrated on the acquisition of temporal, earthly goods. No matter how good or needful it may be for our earthly sustenance or survival, our focus should remain on what lasts forever, on what is eternal. Our personal relationship with Our Lord. God and Savior. Jesus Christ is to be our first and primary concern. The final and eternal destination of one’s soul depends upon that.
The rich man most definitely had his priorities all messed up. He wasn’t preparing himself for Heaven as his future destination, but was overly concerned and spent his time and effort on the acquisition of the temporal goods of this earthly life. He was looking to acquire a surplus of harvest so that he’d be able to take it easy and say to himself: “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” (Luke 12:19) And in order to store that surplus of grain, the plan was to “tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods.” (12:18) St. Augustine comments on this selfish outlook of the rich man who gathered much material goods for only himself. He was planning for himself to eat, drink, and be merry. St. Augustine shares his insight: “At the same time, many (thousands of) people around him suffered from hunger. The rich man never understood that the bellies of the poor, the houses of the widows and the mouths of orphans were much more reliable granaries than those he planned to build.”
The rich man in today’s parable and the rich man in the parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus is presented to us as one who is totally centered on himself. There is no thought, no compassion, no plan of action to do something to alleviate the hunger, the suffering, of another. And if we recall another parable, that of the Last Judgment, we are instructed that if a person fails to help “the least of the brethren in need,” one fails to do it for Christ.
These parables are calling us to recognize that we all have a Heavenly Father. We all are children of God whom He created in His own image and likeness. We Christians are called to do the good deed in a timely manner. For none of us knows how many tomorrows remain before being called before Christ, the Just Judge. Hopefully, we all have celebrated Thanksgiving Day with loved ones and given thanks to the Almighty Lord God for all the blessings and good things that we have thus far received this year and throughout one’s life. May we have the spirit of Christ within us as we continue to prepare to gloriously celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord, His Incarnation among us. May this same spirit of love, compassion, and a desire to make previous wrongs right guide and protect us. This we do so that we may all live in peace and harmony with one another, giving the Lord God continual thanks, glory, and praise.
– Father D. George Worschak
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 