Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

December 13, 2009

The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’ The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'” (Luke 14:22-24)

The Holy Forefathers were the Saints of the first period of the Old Testament, such as Abel, Enoch, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedech, and Joseph, who served God before the proclamations of the written Law of Moses. These are also known as Patriarchs.
By honoring them our Church reminds its faithful that God is always watching over them who keep His law and serve Him.  (My Divine Friend)

DIVINE LITURGY / SERVICES SCHEDULE
Sat. Dec. 12 – 4:00 p.m. †Nicholas Kozicki – Verna Kozicki
Sun. Dec. 13 – 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy – God’s Blessing for Parishioners
Mon. Dec. 14 – NO SERVICES
Tues. Dec. 15 – NO SERVICES
Wed. Dec. 16 – NO SERVICES
Thurs. Dec. 17 – 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy – No Intention Offered
Fri. Dec. 18 – 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy – No Intention Offered
Sat. Dec. 19 – 4:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Prosfora Breads, Myrovania †John & †Mary Waslasky – Hall & Waslasky Families
Sun. Dec. 20 – 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy – God’s Blessing for Parishioners
Thurs. Dec. 24 – 10:15 p.m. Christmas Eve – NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Compline, God is with us, Blessing of Bread & Oil Solemn Divine Liturgy, Myrovania with Holy Oil Divine Liturgy – Deceased of the Mykulyn& Proch Families – Mykulyn Family
Fri. Dec. 25 – 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day – Divine Liturgy, Myrovania Divine Liturgy – God’s Blessing for Parishioners
Divine Liturgies for St. Vladimir (Edwardsville)
Saturday 6:00 p.m. English – Sunday 10:30 a.m. Slavonic

WELCOME – To all who are tired and need rest; to all who mourn and need comfort; to all who are friendless and need friendship; to all who are discouraged and need hope; to all who are hopeless and need sheltered love; to all who sin and need a Savior; and to whomsoever will, this Church opens wide its doors in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ To all who are worshipping with us today – WELCOME!
LITURGY REQUESTS – We ask that if you have dates on which you would like a liturgy offered that you make those requests as early as possible. Request for liturgy dates will be assigned in the order in which they are received. Contact the rectory office to make your requests.
STAYING IN TOUCH – If there is anyone who is regularly unable to attend liturgy but would like to keep in touch with what’s going on in the parish, please contact the rectory office about receiving a copy of the bulletin through the mail.
PROSFORA BREADS – These small loaves, meant to be divided and shared at your Holy Supper (Sviaty Vechir or Villia), will be blessed and distributed at liturgies next weekend.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS – Birthday Greetings to Tina Kolitiva (12/14) and Alexander Mykulyn (12/18). May God grant them long life, good health and happiness. MNOHAYA BLAHAYA LITA!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Religious Education Classes will have their final session before Winter Break on Saturday, December 19th in the church school building from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Classes will resume again in February 13, 2010.
CHRISTMAS CAROL SING ALONG – Our Choir’s Annual Christmas Carol Sing-Along will be held this Sunday, December 13, 2009, starting at 2:00p.m. All are invited to join in the joyous singing of our traditional Ukrainian Koliada (carols) as well as many other, in anticipation of Christmas. Carols will be sung in the church followed by a cold buffet reception in the lower level of the church. Please feel free to contribute salads and or desserts for the event. Saint Nicholas will also pay a visit.
PARISH SIGN DONATIONS – Plans are being finalized for our new parish sign. The sign will be roughly 2 feet by 5 feet, double sided and installed in front of the church. Renderings of the sign are posted on the bulletin board in the back of the church. If you’d like to make a donation to help defray the cost, please place your donation with the collection using a Supplemental Envelope from the back of the Church and label it “Parish Sign”.
GIVING FOR 2009 – With only a few weeks left in 2009, there is limited time to make your donations for this fiscal year, and to make sure that your dues have been paid. Please take this opportunity to bring your dues and yearly giving up to date either by dropping an envelope in with the collection in the next few weeks or by mailing them directly to the rectory office.
ANNUAL VOTIVE CANDLES – Donations are now being accepted for Annual Votive Candles. If you wish to donate to defray the cost for a votive candle for 2010 please contact the rectory office.
RUMMAGE SALE – Our Annual Rummage Sale will be held in March 2010. Items are now being accepted. Please bring your sellable items to the school hall before or after liturgies.
CEMETERY RULES & REGULATIONS – Out of respect for all parish families and their deceased members, these rules and regulations were designed for the uniform appearance, ease of maintenance, safety, and cleanliness of our cemetery. Please give your full co-operation. Thank you.
All decorations, including unplanted and artificial flowers, must be removed before March 31 or be subject to removal. Christmas decorations must be removed by January 31. All stone, metal, and other borders around monuments or memorials are prohibited. Only low borders, one inch above ground level, are permitted in front of hillside graves in order to prevent erosion. No shrub or tree planting is allowed. Loose stone and / or gravel are prohibited on any grave plot. Persons causing any damage to cemetery property will be liable. No dumping on the cemetery grounds or beyond the perimeter. No walking pets through the cemetery. No trespassing on cemetery property after hours. Cemetery hours are 7:00 AM to sundown. These Rules Effective Immediately.
MALANKA 2010 – The 6th Annual Ukrainian New Year Dinner Dance – MALANKA – will take place on Friday evening, January 15, 2010, 6:00pm to 1:00am at St. Vladimir Parish Center, 428 North Seventh Avenue, Scranton. Michael Trusz and Kathleen Izak are serving as chairman and cochairman respectively. Tickets are $40 and can be obtained by calling Dr. Michael Labuda at 820-7105. Dinner buffet will include borchsh, holubchi, chicken Kyiv, kobasa, pyrohy and more, along with a cash bar. Dancing to the internationally known orchestra Fata Morgana and a late night champagne toast are also included.
SLOATSBURG JUBILEES – During the next two years the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate will be celebrating two milestones in their history. December 8th will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the American Province, under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception and during the coming year 2010, they will celebrate 75 years of ministry in the United States. The celebration of this double jubilee will take place during the weekend of December 11-13, 2009, being highlighted by a special Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving and a banquet. Adds are being sold for a remembrance book, please pick up a copy of the ad form in the back of the church. In addition the Sisters are embarking on a project to build a shrine to Blessed Josaphata (their foundress) on the grounds of their home in Sloatsburg. The small chapel will be a place of prayer, open year round, where people could come to light candles and pray to Blessed Josaphata for her intercession before God. Memorial Pavers for the walkway leading to the chapel will be sold to help defray the costs of the construction. Forms to sponsor those pavers are also available in the back of the church.
CATHEDRAL CAROLS – Annual Festival of Christmas Carols will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. Choirs from different parishes will participate. Everyone is welcome.
PRINTED COPIES OF ‘THE WAY’ ARE AVAILABLE IN THE VESTIBULE
RENOVATION FUND – Should you wish to make a contribution to this fund please use the “Special Collection for Renovations to the Church Complex” envelopes that are available in the back of the church.

Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka)
From earliest times, the feast of Christmas was given equal rank with the feast of the Resurrection (Easter). For this reason the Typicon looks upon the Nativity of Christ as another Pasch (Easter). In old typicons and liturgical Psalters, under the 25th of December, there is this note: “The Pasch, a three day feast.” Thus, just as the faithful prepared themselves for the feast of the Pasch with prayer and fasting, so too, they prepared themselves for the coming of Christ the Savior with the Christmas fast. (Julian J. Katrij, OSBM, A Byzantine Rite Liturgical Year)