SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

Saturday, Jan. 4
4:00 PM ✞Rosemary Piston – Mary Shumbris
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Sunday, Jan.5 SUNDAY BEFORE THE THEOPHANY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Mondday, Jan. 6 THE HOLY THEOPHANY – BLESSING OF WATER
9:00 AM Anointing with Holy Oil and Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, Jan. 11
4:00 PM ✞Nellie Wdowiak – Robert Redinski & Family

Sunday, Jan. 12 SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Glass of Milk

     One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
     He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
     Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?’
     You don’t owe me anything,’ she replied. ‘Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.’
     He said … ‘Then I thank you from my heart.’
     As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
     Many years’ later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
  Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
  Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.  Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would
take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.
She read these words … ‘Paid in full with one glass of milk’ (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: ‘Thank You, God,
that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands.’
    
There’s a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time.  If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place – And, after all, isn’t that what life is all about?

WATER BLESSING
Closely connected with the feast of the Theophany is the Great Water-Blessing of Jordan Water. 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 the Theophanies. 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.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week January 4 – 11 by Dolores & Mike Sinko in memory of mother Helen Kurkoski

HOLY BLESSING OF WATER: The blessing of Holy water will be held on the Theophany, Monday, January 6th at 9:00 AM. Please remember to bring your containers for the Holy Water to take home.

NOVEMBER LOTTERY: Mike Sinko reported the profit. Profit for this project was used for the new pavements of the parking lot.

Saturday, Dec. 28 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
4:00 PM ✞Peter Phillips – Son Peter Phillips

Sunday, Dec. 29 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

wednesday, Jan. 1 THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD
9:00 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
✞Michael & Ksenia Shaughnessy – Ulana Campbell
Anointing with Holy Oil and Myrovania

Saturday, Jan.4 Sunday before the Theophany
4:00 PM ✞Rosemary Piston – Mary Shumbris
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Sunday, Jan. 5 Sunday Before the Theophany
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Monday, Jan. 6 THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD
9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Blessings in the New Year

CLOSENESS WITH THE DIVINE
Let’s consider what we all run into from time to time in our spiritual journeys. It’s the feeling that we no longer seem able to pray or that our prayers don’t really mean much. Perhaps it’s because we, for some reason, feel distant from God.
Perhaps we struggle with old sins that make us feel unworthy of the Lord. Not at all. It is unfortunate that we so often feel we must move away from God before we sit down and talk with Him.
We have to remind ourselves that prayer is simply talking to God. Prayer is not determined by grammar or vocabulary; it is not measured in terms of length and creativity. It is simply speaking to God no matter what condition we are in! It may be a simple cry: “Help me, God, I’m in trouble and in need of Your help!” It may be a simple plea: “Lord, I need you.” It may be a simple word of thanks and gratitude for something good that has happened; it may be an awareness of some blessing we have forgotten. It may be an expression of gratitude; “God, you are so good to me.” All those simple expressions come from the heart, can be spontaneous, and are indeed prayers. Remember, God made us for himself. He knows we need Him. We can’t be happy without Him. Wealth, fame, pleasure, or power can never satisfy us.
At Divine Liturgy or even in private times when we may sit and talk with the Lord, we can find our minds filled with distractions. We can be discouraged because even though we intend to pray we seem weak in our efforts. Remember, prayer is in the heart, not the head. When we find ourselves distracted, we don’t fight it, we simply “drop away” and try again to be conscious of God’s presence in us. The times we are distracted do not mean that our prayer time is wasted. God is always looking at our hearts.
Perhaps you’ve felt unable to pray because you fear you can’t do it perfectly or think your efforts aren’t pleasing to God. As we begin a new year, don’t lose sight of this: Your desire is itself pleasing to God. God can read and understand your heart perfectly. That is love.
My Prayer
My Jesus, I love You with all my heart. I grieve for having so many times offended Your infinite goodness. I promise with Your grace never more to offend You in the future. 
Now, miserable and unworthy though I be, I consecrate myself to You without reserve; 
I give You my entire will, my affections, my desires, and all that I possess. From now on dispose of me and of all that I have as You please. All that I ask of You and desire is Your holy love, final perseverance, and the perfect accomplishment of Your will. I recommend to You the souls in purgatory; but especially those who had the greatest devotion to the most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I also recommend to You all poor sinners.
My dear Savior, I unite all my affections with the affections of Your most loving Heart; and I offer them, thus united, to Your eternal Father, and beseech Him in Your name to vouchsafe, for Your love, to accept them. In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 give glory to You, I pray in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

FEAST OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT
On the first of January, the beginning of the civil year, our Church celebrates the memory of the death of one of the greatest and most outstanding Fathers of the Church and doctors of the faith and of monastic legislators – St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea, Cappadocia, of Asia Minor. He is in every respect extraordinary, noble, illustrious and worthy of praise. He was not only an aristocrat by birth, but also an aristocrat in spirit, character, learning and holiness. The mark of his deep faith, heroic love of God and neighbor, learning and holiness is stamped on the entire Church of Christ, on the monastic life in the East and on our people.
The holy Church justifiably gave him the title “the Great”. He is truly “Great” especially in three areas of his life; as a great archbishop of the Church, as a great legislator of monastic life, and as a man of great holiness.
His holiness, virtues and greatness are extolled by our Church in her services in honor of his feast. Here he is praised as “the holy tongue of Christ”, “the shepherd of Christ’s Church”, “the divine and holy bee of Christ’s Church”, “royal ornament of the Church”, “a rich treasure of learning”, and “invincible defender of the Trinity”. Addressing him, the liturgy proclaims, “You walked the rough road of the virtues”, “your word is angelic bread”, “you are a chalice of innocence”, “for monks a model of virtue”, “a light of piety”, and a “trumpet of theology”.
Immediately after Basil’s death, Holy Church began to venerate him as a Saint and to celebrate the day of death on the first of January.
Because the feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord is celebrated on January 1, the Latin Church honors his memory on the 14th of June, on which day he was consecrated bishop in the year 370. The church service in honor of St. Basil was composed by Anatolus of Constantinople (5c), St. John Damascene and Germanus of Constantinople (8c).
Briefly outlined are a silhouette of the immortal figure of St. Basil the Great and his everlasting significance for our Church and Ukrainian monasticism. With the words of St. Paul, “Brethren, be imitators of me as I am of Christ”. St. Basil summons us all also to imitate his deep faith, his sacrificial and all embracing love of God and neighbor, and his great holiness.

Khrystos Razhdayetsia – Christ is Born
Slavyte Yeho – Glorify Him

A brand new year 2020 to begin here,
Open your heart and be of good cheer.
A year full of promise and good things to come.
In your list of resolutions, let good deeds be one.
Help one another and give of your love,
for that will be pleasing to the Father above.
May Your New Year Be Blessed
Happy New Year

A New Year Prayer
Holy Father, God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.
We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.
Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.
Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.
To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.
To teach others to love by loving them.
Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.
So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.
That we could share Love with others.
Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,
in the chirping of sparrows in our backyards,
in the stories of our old folks, and the dreams of our children.
Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,
so that we may know You better and better.
We rejoice in the world You loved into being.
Thank You for another year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown New Year knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what’s ahead, depending on You to help us do exactly what You want..
I say it again, we rejoice!
In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec.28 –Jan. 4 by Michael & Dolores Sinko in memory of Mother Mary Sinko.

THANK YOU: Through the year, many of the parishioners have volunteered for various projects. The service that you so willingly provide is greatly appreciated – whether it be the cleaning of the Church, snow removal on the sidewalks, being there for funerals to open and arrange the necessary bells etc., the baking of the Holy communion & Myrovania breads, working at our fund-raising projects, choir singing and all other service to help the Church. Your volunteer hours keep us in good running – Keep up the good work with God’s Blessings. We cannot forget to also thank the non-parishioners who come in to help with our Projects. Thanks to all for all you do. May God grant you a wonderful year 2020.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers all those who are in Nursing Facilities, sick at home and all who are unable to attend the Divine Liturgy. Also we pray that we could have a better attendance in our parish.

Christ is Born!  Glorify Him! Christos Razhdajetsia! Slavite yeho!

CHRISTMAS EVE – 4:0 PM – Great Compline – Z Namy Boh
Litia Service – Divine Liturgy
Anointing with Holy Oil Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Christmas Day – NATIVITY OF OUR LORD – 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Thursday, Dec. 26 SYNAXIS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
11:00 PM Ann Phillips – Son Peter Phillips
Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Friday, Dec. 27 ST. STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR
7:30 AM Divine Liturgy at Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke, PA

Saturday, Dec. 28
4:00 PM ✞Peter Phillips – Son Peter Phillips
Sunday, Dec. 29 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

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

It is easy to love the people far away.
It is not always easy to love those close to us.
Bring love into our home,
for this is where our love for each other must start.

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS
Khrystos Razhdayetsia – Christ is Born
Slavyte Yeho – Glorify Him

MAY THE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTMAS –
THE PEACE, JOY AND CHEER,
REMAIN WITH YOU ALWAYS,
EACH DAY IN THE YEAR.

THREE GIFTS
God gave us our greatest gifts,
Not tied in ribbons of blue or red. Gifts designed for our inner one, God gave us life, peace, and His Son.
Sometimes the days get awful long,
We might wonder if we’ve done wrong.
God shows His love in gifts one by one,
God gave us life, peace, and His Son.
God’s other gifts are faith, hope, and love.
Jesus has gone to prepare us a home above.
God’s rest awaits us when our work is done.
God gave us life, peace, and His Son.

Saturday, Dec. 21 SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – ANCESTORS
4:00 PM Ihor Pasicznyk – Olympia Pasicznyk
Sunday, Dec. 22 SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – ANCESTORS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Tuesday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve – VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS – 4:00 PM
Znamy Boh – Great Compline Litia Service with Divine Liturgy
Anointing with Holy Oil Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Wednesday, December 25 ~ Christmas Day –NATIVITY OF OUR LORD – 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil and Myrovania
John Phillips from Peter Phillips

Thursday, Dec. 26 SYNOXIS OF THE THEOTOKOS
11:00 PM Ann Phillips – Son Peter Phillips
Divine Liturgy with Myrovania

Friday, Dec. 27 ST. STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR
7:30 AM Divine Liturgy at Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke, PA

Saturday, Dec. 28
4:00 PM ✞Peter Phillips – Son Peter Phillips
Sunday, Dec. 29 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Transfiguration of Our Lord Saturday DivineLiturgy is 6:00 PM ~
Sunday Divine Liturgy is 10:30 Tuesday, Dec. 24 ~ Christmas Eve 8:00 PM; Wednesday,
Dec. 25 Christmas Day 10:30 AM; Friday, Dec. 27 St. Stephen 7:30 AM

What Christmas should Mean to Us

Christmas is a time for loving,
Holding in our hearts
All the magic and the wonder
That this blessed day imparts
It’s a time for letting bygones
Be just that, and nothing more,
Time for looking back and weighing
All we have been working for.

Christmas is a time for giving
Something more than store-bought goods,
Time for spending peaceful moments,
Walking through the quiet woods.
‘Tis a time for growing closer
While we have the time to spend,
Cherishing the precious moments
With relative or friend.

Christmas is a time for sharing
Hope and joy and sorrow,
Giving what is ours today,
But may not be…tomorrow.
‘Tis a time for recollection,
For the sands of time run fast,
Do not squander golden moments,
Do not grieve for what is past.

There’s a bright star in the heavens,
Over one small cattle stall,
And a Baby in a manger
Who has come to save us all.
And with love beyond all telling,
As He reaches out for us,
This hushed and holy moment is
What Christmas should mean to us.

CHRISTMAS IS LOVE
Christmas is for love. True joy comes from giving. Out of a giving heart people desire to reunite with family and friends and celebrate with tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love, for God so Loved the world He sent His only begotten Son. I had not believed this until a small student with a wide-eyed innocence and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas. Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister’s son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn’t been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child. I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day (at the risk of arousing his aunt’s anger, I later found) to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him. As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?” I explained how he had been my best helper. “I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially. “It’s for Christmas.” With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn’t stay after school any more after that. Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. “I have your present,” he said timidly when I looked up. “I hope you like it.” He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box. “Its beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?” I asked opening the top to look inside. ” “Oh you can’t see what’s in it,” He replied, “and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you’re all alone.”
I gazed into the empty box. “What is it Mark,” I asked gently, “that will make me feel so good?” “It’s love,” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.” And he turned and quietly left the room. So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them that there is love in it. Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is Love.
Author Unknown

The Nativity

Once Upon A Christmastime

Once upon a Christmastime, the angels sang with joy,
To herald the coming of a precious Baby Boy.
Their shouting filled the heavens and shook the mighty earth,
And sent the shepherds searching for the place of His glorious birth.
And when they found the manger and gazed upon His face,
They knelt in adoration in that low and holy place.
Oh, Father, fill me with the love that filled the earth that night,
A love that reaches throughout the world, and fills it with Your light.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
AN UNFATHOMABLE MYSTERY

The greatest and most profound mystery of the Christian faith is the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. The eternal God becomes a vulnerable infant and does not cease to be God. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” – says St. John the Evangelist. Jesus’s nativity is the cradle of our faith. We are called to reflect on this great and unfathomable mystery, to grow in understanding.
In the first centuries, the holy Fathers of the Eastern Church accepted the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God with profound faith and great piety. Enraptured by this mystery, they have nothing but words of wonder for the most wonderful love of God, the sacrifice, humility, and poverty of the newly born Messiah and Savior. Like the holy Fathers, in her Christmas celebrations our Church also joyfully praises and glorifies the mystery of the birth of the divine Son as an infant.
Today, he who is invisible by nature became visible in the flesh for man’s sake; hence, glorifying him, we cry: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will…”
⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂

Feast of the Holy Fathers

The holy Fathers were the eminent Saints of the Old Testament that had some relation to the earthly origin of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. They lived after the proclamation of the Decalogue by Moses.
Some of them were great Saints, and some besides being Saints were also prophets. The Church honors Moses, Joshua, King David, Susanna, and all the great prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah.
The feast presents some admirable models of faith and hope from the Old Testament that her faithful may follow them in loving and serving the Savior for Whom the Saints of the Old Testament were waiting.

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄

May the music of the season bring hope and peace of mind
As you sing familiar carols and pray for all mankind.
May the birthday of our Savior remind you, “God is love!”
As you deck the halls and gaze upon the Christmas Star above.

NATIVITY SET UP: Thank you to all the faithful who came out to set up the Nativity. Help with the Church projects are always appreciative to those who lend their help. The tree is one project set up by Dolores & Mike Sinko and David Youells. Thanks for the beauty of the season.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 21 – 28 by Sonya Dempsey & Family in memory of Frank Dempsey, Sr.

SYMPATHY: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Nellie Wdowiak who was called to her eternal rest. May her memory be eternal! Vychnya Pomyat!

ENVELOPES: The 2020 Church envelopes are in the vestibule. Please use your envelopes to be credited in the Church Data Base. Your generous contributions is what will make the Church function and continue to progress. As you know the cost of all utilities are rising and rising and it does take money to furnish the parishioners with heat, air conditioning, water and all the necessities for keeping the Church going. If there is any change of address or telephone please put it on your envelopes so the data can be updated. If you can deliver envelopes to your friends, family or neighbors, please help to distribute them. Thank you. Do not use until the New Year.

Schedule for Christmas
Tuesday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve – 4:00 PM
Compline Lytia Service – Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Wednesday, December 25 ~ Christmas Day – 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Thursday, December 26 -11:00AM
Synaxis of the Holy Mother of God
Liturgy with Myrovania

Saturday, Dec. 14 ~ 4:00 PM ✞Ronald Kachinko – Rosemarie Kachinko

Sunday, Dec. 15 ~ 8:30 AM SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, Dec. 21 ~ 4:00 PM ✞Ihor Pasicznyk – Olympia Pasicznyk

Sunday, Dec. 22 – 8:30 AM SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

CHRISTMAS EVE

The feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ is ranked about sixth of the great feasts of our Church. Therefore, holy Church, mindful of the significance of this feast, encourages the faithful to prepare by prayer, fasting and alms giving for this encounter with our Savior.
The festal preparation culminates on the Eve of the Nativity. It is a day of watching, prayer and fasting. Our God from heaven is about to enter our midst; therefore, it was necessary to prepare for his coming worthily. The Holy Eve of the Nativity has not only its own significant services; it is also rich in symbolic customs, some of which go back to pre-Christian times, for Jesus is the New Man, (Adam the old man).
The eve of Christmas brings the Forty Days Philips fast to a close. A strict fast is prescribed for this entire day. The whole family knows that on that day God of heaven will arrive, and therefore, a deeply festal and spiritual mood pervades the home. Our ancestors highly respected and zealously observed the fast of this day until the appearance, of the evening star which marks the New Day.
An old Slavonic Prologue for the 24th of December contains the following spiritual exhortation to the faithful in reference to greeting the feast of the Nativity of Christ: “Take note brethren, that there is a fast on the day before this feast of the Nativity of Christ. Therefore, on this day, at the Sixth Hour (12 o’clock noon), we gather together for prayer, with love; and purity, overcoming anger, purifying worldly desires, and renouncing all evil deeds so that we may be made worthy with pure lips and an undefiled heart to partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord, that same Body and Blood which the Lord took upon Himself and willingly became poor.”

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 14 – 21 by Albert Piston in memory of +Arlene Jones.

NATIVITY SET UP: Wednesday, December 18th has been planned to have the Nativity set up. We are asking for all the help we can get to do this beautiful scene. The more help we get the faster it will be accomplished. Please try to be at the church about 11:00 AM.

CHRISTMAS SING ALONG: Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish is sponsoring their 26th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, this Sunday, December 15, 2019 starting at 2 p.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 prepare to welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.

CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, 240 Center Street. Nanticoke will hold their last Christmas Flea Market on Saturday: December 21; from 9AM to 2PM weather permitting.  Come and add to your Christmas decorations or buy “new” ones at a great price!  We have trees, managers, ornaments, lights, etc

BUILDING FUND: Our thanks to Mary Shumbris for her donation to our parish building fund in memory of Rosemary Piston.

Saturday, Dec.6
4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Dec. 8 TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessing for Helen Youells

Monday, Dec. 9 CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNA
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
11:00 AM ✞Rose Mary Piston – Stephen & Cathy Piston

Wednesday, Dec. 11
9:00 AM ✞John Phillips – Peter Phillips

Saturday, Dec. 14
4:00 PM ✞Ronald Kachinko – Rosemarie Kachinko

Sunday, Dec. 15 SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

CHUCH ENVELOPES: pLEASE do not use your 2020 Church Envelopes until the first of the year, so that you can be credited for that year. The Envelopes are very expensive to print and the use of the contents of envelopes is your duty as a parishioner. We all know the cost of utilities and the Church is a very expensive house of worship to heat, air, electric, water etc. Only a few of the parishioners are using the extra envelopes, so if at all possible use all your envelopes to support your Church.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week Dec. 7 – 14 by Rosemarie Kachinko in memory of Ronald Kachinko.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The Women’s Society will celebrate their annual Christmas Party this Sunday at Pasqualies restaurant at 1:30 PM.

NATIVITY: The setup of our beautiful Nativity will be Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 11:00 AM. This is a lot of work and we need the help to do the preparing of the coming of Our Lord. PLEASE try to give a hand in this project, especially the men who are available.

This was the last week for the Lottery tickets. We would like to thank all who helped in any way with this project. Mike & Dolores Sinko did a fine job of managing the project and our thanks to Mike especially for all the traveling he did to different areas to sell the tickets. To all the winners we congratulate you. If you did not win or have a winner our hopes of better luck next time.

Saturday, Nov. 29
4:00 PM ✞Andrew Beshada – Ann Beshada

Sunday, Nov. 30 TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Friday, Dec.6 FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS
9:00 AM ANOINTING WITH HOLY OIL – MYROVANIA
Michael & Ksenia Shaughnessy – Ulana Campbell
Saturday, Dec. 7
4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Dec. 8 TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessing for Helen Youells

Monday, Dec. 9 Maternity of Saint Anna
11:00 AM

The Feast of St. Nicholas
December 6
The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 6th day of December.
Pope Nicholas, the first Pope bearing this name – erected a church in Rome in honor of St. Nicholas around the year 860. The Latin Church also celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas on the 6th of December. In France and Germany over two thousand churches are dedicated to his name: an additional four hundred such churches are found in England. He is the most favorite saint in all of Europe, East and West.
St. Nicholas’ memory came to our native Ukraine along with the Christian faith. There are numerous churches in honor of St. Nicholas. The Church of St. Nicholas in Lviv, which dates back to the thirteenth century, is one of the oldest. Our Ukrainian Encyclopedia says the following about the veneration of St. Nicholas among our people: “In a great number of traditions, Nicholas protects people from disasters caused by the elements; mostly he protects those who sail on the sea. Hence, the Black Sea fishermen, when going out to fish, take the icon of St. Nicholas with them. Songs about St. Nicholas are among the earliest examples of Ukrainian poetry and include such popular ones as “O Whoever, whoever loves St. Nicholas…”
In our Church, St. Nicholas not only has two separate feasts in his honor, but every Thursday is also dedicated to his name.
We do not know very much about the life of St. Nicholas. We know for certain that St. Nicholas was a bishop for many years in Myra, a city in the province of Lycia, in Asia Minor (present day Turkey); that he took part in the First Ecumenical Council in 325 at Nicea; and that he died around the year 345. He dedicated his whole life to charitable works of mercy, both corporal and spiritual. Even during his lifetime he was called the father of orphans, widows, sailors, travellers and the poor. Mary miracles were worked by St. Nicholas in his life. After his death, the Lord glorified him with the gift or working miracles, for which he received the title “Great Wonder-worker”.
St. Nicholas saw Jesus Christ in his neighbor and that is why he quickly and generously hastened to help him in every need. The Holy Gospel says that at the Last Judgment the Lord will judge us by our works of love and mercy. Christ assures us of this when He says: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it to Me”.

St. Andrew
November 30
Andrew, like his brother Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Andrew understood that Jesus was the Messiah. At once! he left John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, he asked, “What do you seek?” When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, “Come and see.” Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that this was truly the Messiah.
From then on, he chose to follow Jesus. Andrew was thus the first called of Christ (Eastern Church tradition calls St. Andrew “First Called”. Next, Andrew brought his brother Simon (St. Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His disciple. (John 1: 35-42) At first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord called them to stay with Him all the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time, they left their nets for good. After Our Lord ascended into Heaven, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel and the Pope of Constantinople is Successor to St. Andrew. It is said he was put to death on a cross in shape of an “X”, to which he was tied, not nailed. He lived two days in that state of suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle. Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron – Russia and Scotland.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! To hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain the favor that is asked.)

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 7 by Becky Molecavage in memory of Dimitri Bencho.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles will burn in the month of December at all services in memory of Ronald Kachinko by his wife Rosemarie Kachinko.

CHRISTMAS SING ALONG: YOU ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 26th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, Sunday, December 15, 2019 starting at 2 p.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 prepare to welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.

CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, 240 Center Street. Nanticoke will hold A Christmas Flea Market on Saturday: November 30; December 7; December 14; December 21; from 9AM to 2PM weather permitting.  Come and add to your Christmas decorations or buy “new” ones at a great price!  We have trees, managers, ornaments, lights, etc. 

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Our Women’s Society will celebrate their annual Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec. 8th at Pasqualies Restaurant, Hanover Twp. PA at 1:30 PM. If you are in need of a ride please call one of the members.

Saturday, Nov. 23
4:00 PM ✞Donald Magill – Anna Magill

Sunday, Nov. 24 TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Thursday, Nov. 28 THANKSGIVING DAY
9:00 AM IN NANTICOKE, pa AT TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

Saturday, Nov. 30
4:00 PM ✞Andrew Beshada – Ann Beshada

Sunday, Dec. 1 TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

The King’s Highway 

Once a king had a great highway built for the members of his kingdom. After it was completed, but before it was opened to the public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many as desired to participate. Their challenge was to see who could travel the highway the best.
On the day of the contest the people came. Some of them had fine chariots; some had fine clothing, fine hairdos, or great food. Some young men came in their track clothes and ran along the highway. People traveled the highway all day, but each one, when he arrived at the end, complained to the king that there was a large pile of rocks and debris left on the road at one spot and this got in their way and hindered their travel.
At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line wearily and walked over to the king. He was tired and dirty, but he addressed the king with great respect and handed him a bag of gold. he explained, “I stopped along the way to clear a pile of rocks and debris that was blocking the road. This bag of gold was under it all. I want you to return it to its rightful owner.”
The king replied, “You are the rightful owner.”
The traveler replied, “Oh no, this is not mine. I’ve never known such money.”
“Oh yes,” said the king, “you’ve earned this gold, for you won my contest. He who travels the road best is he who makes the road smoother for those who will follow.”

Author Unknown

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Live with gratitude for all that you are and all that you have because often what looks good on the outside is not really what it seems.
Lord, remind me to spend a few moments each day appreciating my life and becoming aware of how good it really is

Our motto should be to begin everything with love for God,
increase in love for Him as that action increases,
and end that act with the truest love for God of which we are capable.

EUCHARIST

Recall a time when you were extremely hungry or thirsty. After your thirst or hunger was satisfied did your desire for food or drink ever return again? Hunger and thirst are natural to us. We readily can identify, not only with the need to satisfy them with food and drink, but know that our longings for them will continue to return.
Christ also recognized this need in us. The experience of hunger gives us a key to understanding why Jesus gives us His body and blood in the Eucharist as a way of satisfying our hunger for Him. Jesus Himself becomes our Nourishment and our Nourisher: the Bread that comes down from heaven and the One Who continues to nourish us so that we may fight the Devil and Evil in our day and enter Heaven.
When we come together for the Divine Liturgy we are taken back to that death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that happened once for all mankind. “As often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup you proclaim My death and confess My resurrection.” (Liturgy of St. Basil) In the Eucharist the bread is broken and shared, and the cup is emptied. This is a sign that Jesus permitted Himself to be broken and drained for us.
We continue to celebrate and participate in the Divine Liturgy over and over again, that we may grow closer to Christ. Each time we participate in the Liturgy, we receive the person of Christ. We come back again because we love Our Blessed Lord and Savior want to be with Him.
As we return to the Divine Liturgy each Sunday, we also grow our relationship with the Church, the people, also. We are one with these others because we are all sharing the One Who unites us with Himself and with each other. Together we continue to share the Lord.

Jesus calls us to strengthen the life in us by taking Him as our food.
In the Eucharist He gives us Himself as the Nourisher of believers.
When we receive the Eucharist as He commanded, the Life is Him and our Baptismal promise is strengthened and our robe made new.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested the week Nov. 23 – 30 by Geri Kolotelo in memory of Anna Kolotelo.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: There is a special Lady in our Parish who will celebrate a very special Birthday on Friday, November 29th. Helen Youells is the Birthday girl who will be 100 years young. May God grant her many more Happy, Healthy years, Mnohya Lita!

Parish Envelopes: The year 2020 envelopes will be ready shortly. If you have any change in address or information, please place such in the collection or call the office.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers all those in nursing facilities, shut in at home or in the hospital.

Saturday, Nov. 16
3:00 PM ✞Thomas Sydnor – Sandra Sydnor

Sunday, Nov. 17 TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Thursday, Nov. 21 Entrance of the Theotokos
Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania
9:00 AM Tanya Blanco – Ulana Campbell
God’s Blessings and Good Health

Saturday, Nov. 23
4:00 PM ✞Donald Magill – Anna Magill

Sunday, Nov. 24 TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

DIVINE LITURGY REQUESTS: If you have a request for a Divine Liturgy, you will please call Father Walter at the rectory in Nanticoke. The number is – 570-735-2262 or his cell phone 202-603-2607. Father has his book for the listings and the Divine Liturgy can be entered as you call. Thank you.

THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST MATTHEW
 Saint Matthew was a young man when Jesus called him. Before this time he was known as “Levi”. One man having two names was not unusual among the Jews. He was the son of Alpheus (Mark 2:14) and was Galilean. St. Matthew was a tax-gatherer for Herod Antipas and therefore despised by the Pharisees (an ancient Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance to the Mosaic Law) who hated all ‘publicans’ (those who collected taxes and tolls for the Romans).
 In the holy scriptures we read that St. Matthew not only followed Jesus but provided supper for him at his home along with other tax-gatherers. When the Pharisees saw they asked in protest, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:9-11). Jesus replied, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy and sacrifice.’ I did to come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Matthew 9: 12-13).
 Little more is said of St. Matthew’s life in the Gospels. The Apostle Matthew is listed as an Apostle who followed Christ in Galilee and was present at the time of his Passion and witness to his Resurrection. He was also present at Christ’s Ascension and again on Pentecost. He is spoken of ten times in the New Testament. One, in Matthew 9:9 when called to follow Jesus and four more times on the list of the Apostles. The seventh time is he is spoken of is in Luke 6:15 and Mark 3:18. And finally his name is included in Matthew 10:3 and Acts 1:13. Church tradition tells us Matthew preached the Gospel in Egypt and Ethiopia.
Church Tradition teaches that he preached the Good News for many years after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. The Church tradition says while in Ethiopia St. Matthew was killed before the altar by a soldier of the king he had rebuked.
Spreading the word of the ‘good news’ was a daunting task. There was no form of mass media. The only way of travel was on foot from village to village preaching to a people who were often merely tolerant at best. Yet, St. Matthew was one of the twelve who successfully spread the good word until it has become the single greatest achievement in the history of mankind. Saint Matthew’s place near divinity is amplified by the fact that his written account of Jesus life and ministry is placed first among the known works of the Apostles.
 In his final description of Jesus ‘Commissioning of the Disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the ends of the age,” (Matthew 25: 19-20) Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist wrote his epitaph.
 The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthew on September 21. The Greek Church celebrates on November 16. One symbol of St. Matthew is that of a winged man carrying a lance. Matthew the Evangelist is depicted with an angel with the face of a man on the Holy Doors with the other three Evangelists.

THE LORD LISTENS
The Lord doesn’t listen just to the strong,
Or to only the brave and the wise;
But He seeks out the needy, and broken and poor,
And those who have tears in their eyes.
He loves all His saints who give praise to His Name,
And all those who are faithful and just,
But He also loves sinners who call on His Name,
And He longs for their faith and their trust.
He patiently calls all the lost ones to come
And drink from the fountain of life.
He’ll forgive every sin, and He’ll heal every wound,
And give peace midst all troubles and strife.
For He knows every heart, and He hears every cry,
And He always is there when we call,
He’ll provide all our needs from His boundless supply,
When we love Him, and give Him our all.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week Nov. 16– 23 in memory of Peter Hubick by his wife Vera Hubick.

CHURCH CLEANING: Our thanks to the men and women who came together to clear our church last week and the Hall this past week. This is all volunteer services by our parishioners and two of our friends. God’s blessing to those who care and help in the house of the Lord.

FLOWERS: Ketler Florist has been contacted and they are willing to take our orders for flowers ranging from $30 and up – whatever you request. They will deliver free of charge. If you would like a small vase it can be arrange at different prices. Your request for the flowers can be made by signing the chart in the vestibule.

Saturday, Nov. 9
4:00 PM ✞ Priscilla Kowalick – Michael Kowalick

Sunday, Nov. 10 TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners


PLEASE NOTE

Saturday, Nov. 16 Time change for this Divine Liturgy – Penguins hockey game.
3:00 PM ✞Thomas Sydnor – Sandra Sydnor

Sunday, Nov. 17 TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and

Knowing about God and knowing God are very different things. 
Lord, may I recognize Your workings in my life so that I may really know You.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of November 9 – 16 by Rosemarie Kachinko & Family in memory of Sandra
SOBORCHYKY: A Deanery Level Sobor will be held on Saturday, November 16 at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Plymouth. The Archeparchial Sobor theme of “Community and Unity” will continue on the Deanery Level.  Registration will be from 9:30-10:00AM followed by the “Introduction” and break-out into discussion groups. We will break at noon to celebrate the (Liturgy of) The Sixth Hour, followed by lunch. The plan is to close the Soborchyky at 1:00PM. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The regular monthly meeting of the Women’s Society will be held in the church hall on Tuesday, November 12th. The time will be 10:30 AM because after the meeting the cleaning of the Hall will be acquired. All members, please be in attendance.