SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE

MARCH 21, 2021

Saturday, March 20 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

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

Sunday, March 21   FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE

8:30 AM Michael Hubiack – Wife Louise Hubiack

  Wednesday, March 24

      4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 

    Thursday, March 25 Annunciation of the Theotokos

9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

   Saturday, March 27 PALM SUNDAY

Blessing of Palms & Willow Branches, 

  4:00 PM Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil God’s Blessings, Health and Salvation for all Parishioners

Sunday, March 28 PALM SUNDAY

Blessing of Palms & Willow Branches, blessing with Holy Oil

      8:30 AM Helen Youells – Vera Hubick

St. Mary of EgypT

On the Fifth Sunday of Lent we remember St. Mary of Egypt, the repentant harlot.  Mary tells us, first of all, that no amount of sin can keep a person from God if the sinner truly repents.  In addition, St. Mary tells us that it is never too late, either in life to repent.  Christ will gladly receive all who come to Him, even at the last minute of their lives.  However, their coming must be in sincere repentance.

ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

This feast was established to commemorate the election of the Blessed Virgin Mary to bear the Only Begotten Son, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Mary consented freely to the proposal of the Angel who brought her the happy news in the name of the Blessed Trinity.

        The Christians should rejoice at the Incarnation of the Divine Word and the elevation of Mary to Theotokos (Birth-Giver of God), which raises her above the highest rank of the Angels.

 The Feast of the Annunciation 

was introduced in the early times of Christianity.

                                “Behold the handmade of the Lord! 

                                       Let it be done unto me according to Thy word!”

Faith is not a storm cellar to which we can flee for refuge

from the storms of life.

It is instead an inner force that gives us the strength

to face those storms with serenity.

John Climacus, Venerable 

MARCH 14, 2021

Saturday, March 13

4:00 PM  God’s blessings for Lorene Wozniak from Ulana Campbell

Sunday, March 14 

8:30 AM  FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Wednesday, Mar. 17

           4:00 PM   Liturgy of the Presanctified Gift

Saturday, Mar. 20  

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

Sunday, Mar. 21            FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

  MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE

           8:30 AM            ✞Michael Hubiack – Wife Louise Hubiack  

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St. John Climacus (St. John of the Ladder), the author of the work: The Ladder of Divine Ascent.  St. John was an abbot at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai in the sixth century.  His work encourages the faithful to persevere in their efforts; for, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved;” (Matthew 24:13).

Click to access TheLadderofDivineAscent.pdf

A Crown of Thorns

 A crown of thorns, not fit for a king,
A crown of thorns that would cut and sting,
A crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head.
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” the mockers said.
A crown of thorns so long and cruel,
Instead of a crown made of gold and jewels,
A crown of thorns worn by Jesus, God’s Son,
He bore the horrible pain for everyone.
A crown of thorns worn to the cross,
A crown of thorns worn for those, who were lost,
A crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head,
“He truly is God’s Son!” some were heard to have said.
A thorn of thorns is a reminder to all,That we can be saved if on His name we call,
A crown of thorns He wore in my place,
I’ll bow before Him when we meet face to face

Use what talents you possess. The woods would be extremely silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

 Ukrainian Easter Eggs are beautiful expression of mystery and love. Ukrainian ancestors believed that the Easter Eggs bring good fortune, wealth, health and protection from lightning and fire, possess curative power, a pre-figure of God’s Saving Plan.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent – John Climacus – Venerable

The Church reminds her fasting children that despite their natural weaknesses and passions they can become good Christians and images of the Son of God. She points out the example of St. John Climacus (525-605), the saintly abbot of a monastery on Mount Sinai. He became an “angel” in human flesh through fasting and prayer.  In following his example the faithful will attain a high degree of Christian perfection. 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,
May I remember the sacrifice You made for me, and the humiliation You endured when Your clothing was torn from Your bleeding body.  Strip me of every earthly possession and sinful way that hinders me from reaching union with You. This world has so many ways of clouding my sense of right and wrong and of making what is really important seem insignificant. Give me the grace I need to live a holy life. Instil in my heart the

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 

MARCH 7, 2021

Saturday, Mar. 6

           4:00 PM              ✞ Eugene Slabinski – Walter, Debbie, Johnathan & Michael 

                                                                                                            Boyson 

Sunday, March 7    THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

  VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 

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

Wednesday, Mar. 10

           4:00 PM       Liturgy of the Presanctified Gift

Saturday, Mar. 13  

4:00 PM   God’s blessings for Lorene Wozniak from Ulana Campbell

Sunday, Mar. 14            FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

  John Climacus Venerable

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

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

Saturday 6:00 PM – Sunday 10:30 AM 

PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX

Ever loving God, bring light 

to the darkness of my heart.

Give me right faith, 

certain hope, and perfect love.

God, give me insight and wisdom,

so I might always discern

Your holy and true will. 

St. Francis of Assisi

SOUP & HOAGIE SALE: St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon, is sponsoring a sale of Vegetable Soup $7 a quart and either Turkey or Italian Hoagie $7 each. Pick up on March 18, from 11am to 4pm in the church hall. Orders placed by March 14 by calling Debbie at 570 736 6908. Support our local churches. 

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

The season of the Great Fast is a special time for mortification and penance, both internal and external. Because this spiritual struggle lasts a longer time, it often happens that we begin the first days or weeks of fasting with great zeal and resolution, but then gradually we become physically and spiritually exhausted, weakened and discouraged. Holy Church knowing well the weakened and instability of our human nature, places before our eyes the holy Cross in the middle of the fast – an extraordinarily powerful incentive to motivate us to persevere in our spiritual struggle. 

On the third Sunday, or mid-Lent, holy Church encourages us to venerate the Cross of our Lord in a very special manner, so that we may be strengthened in spirit. This Sunday, therefore, is called the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. 

The holy Cross is designed to remind us of God’s infinite love for us, Christ’s suffering for our sake and our obligation to carry our daily cross courageously. Jesus Christ addressed these words to all of us, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me…He who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 9,23 and 14-27).

The services of this Sunday almost make no mention of the Cross as being a symbol of suffering, penance, or humiliation, but rather extol the holy Cross as a symbol of joy, victory and triumph, which are brought to fullness through the glorious Resurrection.

The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, indeed, teaches us to understand the great significance the Holy Cross has for us, not only during the Lent, but also throughout our whole life. This Sunday tells us that wherever we find the Cross, there will we find strength, victory, salvation and the pledge of resurrection to eternal life of bliss.

FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Saturday, February 27

4:00 PM ✞ Fr. Frank Patrylak – The Patrylak Family

Sunday, February 28   SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

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

   Wednesday, March 3

4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts  

    Saturday, March 6

4:00 PM ✞ Eugene Slabinski – Walter, Debbie, Johnathan & Michael Boyson

    Sunday, March 7 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

        8:30 AM VENERATION OF THE CROSS

                                          God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

The Second Sunday of Lent is called “Sunday of the Palsied Man.” Men must repent for their sins, if they want to be forgiven. Christ cannot heal our soul if we do not repent for having offended God by our iniquities. The Church leads us in pious exercises of prayer and fasting because our weakness can be healed by them. 

CHURCH AND CEMETERY GROUNDS: Our grounds keeper, Jeremy, informed the parish that he will not be available to do the church grounds and the cemetery maintenance this year. If you know of any one that does this type of work and would be interested, please notify the office. Estimates are necessary from 3 different companies. 

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

Today is the Second Sunday of Lent in which we commemorate St. Gregory Palamas the Archbishop of Thessalonika (his regular feast is November 14). He lived in the 14th century, became a monk and eventually the champion of Hesychasm. What is “hesychasm”? It comes from the Greek word hesychia, meaning silence and solitude. The Hesychasts were the monks and nuns who regularly and frequently practiced silence as part of their prayer life. Their practice centered on the Prayer of the Heart and especially the Jesus Prayer. Many of these hesychasts talked about their direct experience of God through seeing His uncreated Light.

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

Saturday, February 20 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM ✞ Alex Szumskyj – Ulana Campbell

Sunday, February 21 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

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

    Wednesday, February 24

4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 

    Saturday, February 27

4:00 PM ✞ Fr. Frank Patrylak – Patrylak Family

    Sunday, February 28 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST 

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

As it is not possible to walk without feet or fly without wings, so it is impossible to attain the Kingdom of Heaven without the fulfillment of the commandments.”

St. Theophan the Recluse

The First Sunday of the Great Fast is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. What do we mean by “orthodoxy”? The word “orthodoxy” is from the Greek word “ortho-doxia”, ‘ortho’ meaning straight and ‘doxia’ meaning belief; hence, straight-belief, or correct-belief.  The orthodoxy that we celebrate this Sunday is truth that we can represent God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ in image, against the heresy of Iconoclasm.  The Sunday of Orthodoxy is a festival for the whole Church, both Eastern and Western. It is the festive celebration of the decisive victory over Iconoclasm which sought to destroy all images of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom is God.

Building Fund: The Parish appreciates the donation received in memory of Father Patrylak from Chet and Phyllis Kempinski.      

Signing with the cross – Lord Jesus,

I sign my heart with the sign of the cross, reminding myself of your love for each person.

I ask that I may grow in faithfulness as your friend. 

I sign my lips with the sign of the cross, that I may speak as you would speak.

I sign my hands with the sign of the cross asking that you enable me to do your work,

and be your hands in our world which you love so much

I sign my eyes with the sign of your cross that I may really see, Lord, and be aware of all that is around me.

I sign my ears with the sign of your cross that I may listen and really hear the communication that comes to me in different ways-

from you and from the people you place into my life.

I sign my shoulders, Lord, with your cross, knowing that you call me

to carry my own cross each day and support others in the burdens and

difficulties that they have.

All that I do today I set out to do in the name of the Father (+)

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This is the First Sunday of Lent

On this Sunday the Church

exhorts the faithful to purify

the image of their souls by a

true repentance.

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Saturday, February 13 

4:00 PM God’s blessings for Gary Poullard – The Poullard family.

Sunday, February 14 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

8:30 AM God’s Blessing and Good Health for all parishioners. 

Wednesday, February 17  

4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts   

Saturday, February 20 

4:00 PM             God’s blessings for Alex Szumskyj – Ulana Campbell

Sunday, February 21  FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30AM God’s Blessing and Good Health for all parishioners

THE GREAT FAST BEGINS MONDAY

Monday, February 15, 2021 marks the beginning of The Great Fast (Lent). The Great Forty-day Fast is a time when we intensify our prayers and work more to grow spiritually, and work on spiritual excersies through fasting, praying, and almsgiving (acts of charity [corporeal works of mercy]).  Only through proper preparation, serious effort, can we hope to grow spiritually and properly prepare for our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection and we need the Priest for this.  Do not do this alone!  The first day of The Great Fast and Good Friday are days of strict abstinence for Ukrainian Greek Catholics – we are not to eat any meat or dairy products all day long, and we should strive to limit our consumption of food.  All Wednesdays and Fridays during The Great Fast are days of mandatory abstinence from all meat products.  Our fasting regulations are optional only for persons older than 59 and younger than 7.  Everyone else is obliged to follow the rules of abstinence of our Church.

ALTAR CANDLES – The Altar Candles have burned and will burn during the month of February for all services in memory of Michael Sirak, Olga Uhas & Fred Uhas requested by Michaelene Ostrum

BUILDING FUND: Our thanks for the donations to our Parish Building & Improvement fund in memory of Father Frank Patrylak from: The Lacey Family, Randi & Jeff Neff, Rosalie Bigus, Karen Harper and Joseph & Victoria Dilazzaro. 

The donations are greatly appreciated. 

Forgiveness is a wonderful way to lift yourself up and it is the best way to encourage yourself and others to do better. 

Lord, grant me greater understanding and wisdom so that I can move past my problems into a new day.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021 IS ALSO CALLED FORGIVENESS SUNDAY

Forgiveness of Sins

The forgiveness of sins can be viewed from many different aspects. The spirituality of the West tends to accentuate man’s activity in receiving the sacraments, performing good works and believing in Christ. These are all part of the total response; but Byzantine spirituality has the peculiar emphasis of seeing the forgiveness of sins effected through praise of God in repentance.  Christ’s act of love in His passion and resurrection is a victory over the forces of evil and over sin itself when we turn away from sin. We share in this victory when we acknowledge it and praise the Victor. We actually enter into the Kingdom as we recognize Him, in praise, to be the source of our sanctification, and we participate in His glory and holiness when joyful praise cleanses our hearts while celebrating His victory:

We beg forgiveness for our stumbling, Christ God; because you chose, of your own free will, to ascend upon the cross in the flesh in order to deliver from the enemy’s yoke those you had created. For this reason we cry out to you in thanksgiving: ‘You our Savior have filled all things with joy when you came to save the world.’  (Feast of the Ikon of Christ)

Ss. Basil and Chrysostom, and many other Fathers of the Church, often repeat that one of the effects of praising God is to “forgive sins” “purify the soul,” “bring down the grace of God.” St. Cyril of Jerusalem insists that “by our spiritual hymns our sins are forgiven, and we sanctify ourselves.” St. Basil says “when the day is breaking (his community) sings together with one mouth and one heart the psalm of confession (Ps. 51) to the Lord, each making his own words the words of repentance and thus having his sins forgiven him.” St. John Chrysostom explains, “Psalm 141 has the effect of purifying a soul and forgiving sins.  By stirring up the soul it enkindles a desire for God and a desire to turn away from sin, i.e. repentance. Once the soul has burst into flame and overflows with joy and love, sins are forgiven, go and sin no more. Where there is love, every evil vanishes from the soul. When God is thus remembered, sins are forgiven and evil destroyed.”
Confession, therefore, is not only an acknowledgement of man’s misery and of his need for help, it is a untying from the Devil and his demons, it is also (and perhaps more so) a joyful proclamation of God’s saving goodness; it is an act of worship:

My heart is ready, O God,
My heart is ready!

A day without the Lord – Is a day wasted.

Prayer for the Beginning of Lent

Jesus, beloved friend, you call us to a season 

of growth and repentance.

You have high hopes for us; may we not

disappoint you.

May we see your face ahead of us,

beaming at the end of our Lenten Journey.

Give us strength and energy to run 

toward you during this season. 

Give us integrity and generosity in each

new challenge.

We ask this of You who lives and reign

with God the Father

In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,

for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord said:

“If you forgive men their offences (against you), your heavenly Father will also forgive you (your offences). But if you do not forgive men their transgressions, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your transgressions (against Him).”

Un-forgiveness

Nothing is as painful, as un-forgiveness to the soul;

A heart that’s torn asunder, with forgiveness becomes whole.

A single kind word spoken means more than countless words;

The three words, “I forgive you,” are all that need be heard.

To a soul that has been wounded, like a healing, cooling balm;

Forgiveness soothes and comforts, Till at last the soul is calm.

For the soul that seeks forgiveness, when forgiveness can’t be found;

It struggles vainly everyday, to hear that simple sound.

The power in those three kind words, can heal a heart that’s broken;

But that heart cannot begin to heal, as long as words remain unspoken.

Compassion in its purest sense, reside in those three words;

The three words, “I forgive you,” Are all that need be heard.

Compassion in its purest sense, reside in those three words;

The three words, “I forgive you,” Are all that need be heard.

FEBRUARY 7, 2015

MEATFARE SUNDAY

MEATFARE SUNDAY

SUNDAY OF MEAT – FARE

FEBRUARY 7, 2015

Saturday, Feb. 7

4:00 PM God’s Blessings for Mary Hoolick – Hoolick Family

Sunday, Feb. 8               SUNDAY OF MEATFARE 

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

Saturday, Feb. 14

4:00 PM  God’s blessings for Gary Poullard – The Poullard family.

Sunday, Feb. 15          CHEESEFARE SUNDAY 

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

      SUNDAY OF MEAT-FARE

 The Sunday of Meat-fare is also called the Sunday of the Terrible Judgment. In the Gospel today, Christ speaks of the Terrible Judgment, of the reward of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked. By recalling the manner in which the Terrible Judgment will be carried out, this service is designed to fill us with salutary fear, sorrow for our sins, and to stress the importance of good works, especially works of mercy.

No one shall escape this Judgment. All our deeds will be exposed and rewarded or punished. This is clear from the following stichera, “The books will be opened and the acts of men will be revealed before the unbearable judgment seat; the whole vale of sorrow shall echo with the fearful sound of lamentation, as all the sinners, weeping in vain, are sent by your just judgment to everlasting torment.

Therefore, we beseech you, O compassionate and loving Lord: Spare us who sing your praise, for you alone are rich in mercy.”

“The trumpets shall blow, the graves shall be opened and all mankind shall rise trembling greatly, moaning and shaking, as they are separated from the elect and sent to suffering. Therefore, O Lord of glory, be compassionate toward us and make us worthy to be counted among those who love You.”

Everyone shall appear at the Terrible Judgment where there shall be no respect for persons, as the following hymn of the canon of the Matins service of that Sunday makes clear: “The day is approaching, already at the door is the judgment! O Soul, where kings and princes, the rich and the poor gather, where all people shall be judged and receive according to their deeds.”

What do we mean by “meatfare”?

The week following the Sunday of the Prodigal Son is called Meatfare week and it terminates on the Sunday called Meatfare Sunday . Meatfare Sunday is the last day on which it was still permissible to eat meat before the Great Fast. Meatfare means “farewell to meat.” Hence, the name “meatfare” Sunday. Of course, we are speaking here of the time when the Great Fast was observed in all strictness. 

sATURDAY, JANUARY 30 IS THE FIRST ALL SOULS SATURDAY

 Although the Church remembers the souls of the departed faithful in her daily prayers and services, nevertheless, like a good Mother, she still assigns special days in the Liturgical Year on which she commemorates and prays for them. These days are called Souls’ Days or Memorial days. 

All-Souls Saturdays

On Saturday, God rested after He created the world and Jesus Christ rested in the tomb, after having accomplished the salvation of the world; hence, Saturday became the symbol of eternal rest and happiness in God. For this reason, the Church dedicates Saturday to all the souls, who have gone into eternity, but have not yet entered into eternal rest with the Blessed in heaven

    Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, on the way to Calvary, in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the terrible torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in paradise. Amen.

JANUARY 24, 2021

Saturday, Jan. 23                 

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

Sunday, Jan. 24                      SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN & THE PHARISEE

            8:30 AM         Helen Youells – Louise Hubiack

Saturday, January 30

            4:00 PM                    ✞Robert Bath, Jr. – Joanne Rovinski, Stacy Hart & family.

Sunday, January 31                SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

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

The four Sundays (Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican, 

Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Sunday of Meat-Fare and 

Sunday of Cheese-Fare) form a pre-Lenten period, 

preparing us for the Lenten season 

Faith might not be as precise as logic,

but it is much more comforting.

Khrystos Razhdayetsia – Christ is Born

The Publican and the Pharisee

Before the soldier goes to battle, he undergoes a long period of military training to prepare himself physically and psychologically for combat and to enable him to bear the burdens and inconveniences of military life.

In like manner, holy Church, our good Mother, prepares us, her children, spiritually for the struggles we must undergo before she imposes upon us the strict Great Fast (Forty-Days Fast). This is precisely the aim of the four pre-Lenten Sundays, which begin with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and end with Cheese fare Sunday. In the Church services of those Sunday’s, holy Church places before our eyes several biblical scenes: the proud Pharisee and the humble Publican, the conversion of the Prodigal Son, the scene of the Last Judgment and the expulsion of our First Parents from Paradise. These dramatic scenes have the power to move us to the depths; they reveal God’s mercy and justice, and convince us of the need for conversion and penance for our salvation. Meditation on these events should evoke in us a serious attitude toward fasting; convincing us of its necessity and benefit as it gradually prepares us for the Fast itself.

PIGGIE/HOLUBTSI DINNER: Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Wilkes-Barre will hold a take-out Piggie / Holubtsi Dinner on Sunday, January 31^st, 2021.  Dinners may be picked up between 12:00 (noon) and 3:00 pm in Our Parish Parking Lot, corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, Wilkes-Barre.  Dinner includes; Piggies (meat & rice stuffed cabbage), mashed potatoes, vegetable, bread and butter and dessert.  Dinners will be $12.00 for adults and $7.00 for children (12 and under).  Drive-up customers will be welcomed, but reservations are Strongly Encouraged, (570) 829-3051.

GROW WITH GOD

Grace is a gift from God that enables us to live more fully in union with Him. It strengthens our desire to choose good over evil. It also helps us to manage difficulties in our lives better. When we feel humility, compassion, forgiveness we’re putting others’ needs before our own. These are signs of God’s graces working within us. 

When we let Him work through us, we help Him to do the same for others. We can show His love for others in how we treat them and in how we pray for them. 

Sympathy: Our sincere sympathy on the news that Father Frank Patrylak was called to his eternal rest on Wednesday January 20, 2021. Details were not available at this time. 

JANUARY 10, 2021

aturday, Jan. 9

4:00 PM ✞Eugene Slabinski – Ron & Dortha Bienick

Sunday, Jan. 10 SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY

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



Saturday, Jan. 16 

4:00 PM           ✞Frank Cembrock – Ellen Demchak  

Sunday, Jan. 17 THIRTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

⬥⧫⬥⧫⬥⧫⬥⧫⬥⧫⬥

Transfiguration of Our Lord Weekend Liturgy

Saturday 6:00 PM    Sunday 10:30 AM

I cannot change yesterday…

I can only make the most of today…

And look hopefully toward tomorrow

Khrystos Razhdayetsia – Christ is Born

Slavyte Yeho – Glorify

 Live A Happier Life

Next time you wake up, instead of dreading the day ahead,
rise and shine and expect something wonderful to happen today!

When you go outside, notice people going about their lives,
and wonder to yourself what they’re thinking, and if they’re happy.

Feel the rain or wind on your face, don’t hide from it.  Isn’t it refreshing?

Smile at everyone you meet. It is a fact that people tend to
respond to the look you are wearing on your own face!

Wiggle your toes if you are bored. Be happy that you have toes to wiggle!

Be polite, and say please and thank you.
That girl taking your order at the fast food place
is a human being, too – be nice to her.

When you are eating, really slow down and enjoy every bite of what you are eating!
It’s good … well, and even if you don’t like it, isn’t it great that you have food?

Never underestimate yourself! You are always growing and learning.
Just because you didn’t succeed at something
in the past doesn’t mean you can’t get it right this time around!

Stop complaining about your life. Never take for granted all the joys and freedoms
you have. Remember those who have less. Tell everyone who is important to you how you feel about them! You do not ever want to spend your days regretting things you never told them.

And last but never least; remember that life is about love.
Give love when you can, and it will be given to you!

THIS NEW YEAR

Give us through this New Year quietness of mind
Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.
Give us reassurance when everything goes wrong
So our faith remains unfaltering and our hope and courage strong.
And show us that in quietness we can feel Your presence near
filling us with joy and peace throughout this New Year.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: A new chart is available for your request to have a Sanctuary Light burn for your loved ones either in honor of or in memory of. This light burns for the week starting on a Saturday and ends on Friday. Requests have been very sparse so please try to consider having a light shine by your request. 

ENVELOPES:  If you know of a parishioner who did not pick up their envelopes for 2021, please see if you can deliver them if they are your neighbors or friends. Thank you.

A Year of Time. .

    …Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is not a bad idea—especially at the beginning of a new year.

As we look into 2021  we look at a block of time. We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all is a gift from God. We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchased it. Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life.

    The gift of time is not ours alone. It is given equally to each person. Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak—every man, woman and child has the same twenty-four hours every day.

    Another important thing about time is that you cannot stop it. There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it. Time marches on.

    And you cannot bring back time. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yesterday is lost forever. If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain. We may look ahead at a full year’s block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it.  Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions. We can waste it. We can worry over it. We can spend it on ourselves. Or, as good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God.

    The New Year is full of time. As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the window, or will you make every minute count?

JANUARY 3, 2021

Saturday, Jan. 2

4:00 PM ✞ Anna Giza – Kathleen Miick 

Sunday, Jan. 3 SUNDAY BEFORE THE THEOPHANY

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



         This brand new year

            As now you humbly pray

      You had secure in our dear Lord

     Each step along the way.

Lord I have no idea what’s going to happen in this New Year but all I pray is that you will guide me, and help me! Please help me to look to you always, and through everything that I do, May I bring praise and glory to Your name, I thank you Lord for another year. Amen.

Wednesday, Jan. 6 THE HOLY THEOPHANY – BLESSING OF WATER

10:00 AM Great Compline – Z Namy Boh – Litia Service – Divine Liturgy 

 Anointing with Holy Oil 

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners 

Saturday, Jan. 9

4:00 PM ✞Eugene Slabinski – Ron & Dortha Bienick

Sunday, Jan. 10 SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY

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

Transfiguration of Our Lord Weekend Liturgy

Saturday 6:00 PM     –        Sunday 10:30 AM

Recipe for a Happy New Year.

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past sins—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time. Into each day put equal parts of prayer, fasting, faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, kindness, love, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), contemplation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Anonymous

THE EPIPHANY

FEAST OF LIGHT

JANUARY 6^TH

On this day, Dear Savior,

Your light shines brightly in our midst.

You are the Light of the World, the Light in our darkness, ever with us, ever showing us the way.

On this great feast of Light, when the Magi came guided by a star, 

may we, like them, offer You gifts that symbolize our love for You.

May we offer You the gold of our faith, the myrrh of our repentance

 and the frankincense of our devotion.

May we bow before You, Holy Savior,

 as the three Wise Men did, with great and abiding joy.

On this day, may we, too, stand in Your light 

and so give glory to our God. Amen.

Give a Kind Word

Do you know a heart that hungers for a word of love and cheer?

There are many such about us; it may be that one is near.

Look around you, if you find it speak the word that’s needed so,

And your own heart may be strengthened by the help that you bestow.

Never think kind words are wasted, bread on waters cast are they

And it may be we shall find them coming back to us, some day.

WATER BLESSING

On the feast of Theophany is the Great Water-Blessing of Jordan Water, for Jesus was not baptized by the Jordan but Jesus Christ who baptized the whole world through the Jordan.  This sacred tradition of the Eastern Church can be traced back to the first centuries of Christianity. In the course of time, different rites developed for the Great Water-Blessing on the feast of Theophany. From earliest times our people have greatly cherished the custom of the Great Water-Blessing (Blessing of Jordan Water). The people attached great significance of the Blessed Jordan Water which they kept in their homes as something possessing great sanctifying powers. 

From very ancient times the Eastern Church has regarded the sanctified Jordan water as a great sacramental, possessing miraculous powers for healing both soul and body. In a sermon on the feast of Theophany St. John Chrysostom says: “This is the day on which Christ was baptized and blessed the substance of water. For this reason, at midnight of this feast, the faithful take water home and keep it throughout the year. It is interesting to note that this blessed water is not spoiled for a long time; it remains fresh even for two or three years, and after such a long period its quality does not differ from the water recently brought from the well.” The Greek Church calls the Jordan water “mega hagisma” which signifies “something very sacred.