Sunday Before Theophany

January 3, 2010

“… I have baptized you with water;
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
(Mark 1:8)

THE FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY – January 6th
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
(Matthew 3:17)

Before the feast of the Theophany, the Holy Church in her services exhorts her faithful: “Leaving the glorious miracle of Bethlehem, let us quickly hasten to the Jordan with an ardent spirit; there we shall witness an awesome mystery…” (Exapostilarion of Matins of the 3rd of January) .
That awesome mystery is the mystery of the Theophany of the Lord, the self-revelation of God at the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the river Jordan. In this mystery Jesus Christ reveals himself as the Messiah and Saviour. As Christ is baptized, the voice of his heavenly Father bears witness to the divine mission of Jesus: “You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1, 11) The Holy Spirit bears witness to him by descending upon him in the form of a dove. St. John the Baptist also bears witness as he points to him, saying: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1, 29) (Julian J. Katrij, OSBM, A Byzantine Rite Liturgical Year)

Христос Раждається! – Славіте Його!
Christ is Born! – Glorify Him!

DIVINE LITURGY / SERVICES SCHEDULE
Sat. Jan. 2 – 4:00 p.m. †George Mudrak – Mary Anne Mudrak
Sun. Jan. 3 – 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy – God’s Blessing for Parishioners
Mon. Jan. 4 – NO SERVICES
Tues. Jan. 5 – Vigil of Theophany
FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD Obligation
6:30 p.m. Divine Liturgy, Water Blessing , Myrovania – Health of Archbishop Stefan
Wed. Jan. 6 – 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Water Blessing , Myrovania (ST. VLADIMIR – EDWARDSVILLE,PA)
Thurs. Jan. 7 – NO SERVICES
Fri. Jan. 8 – NO SERVICES
Sat. Jan. 9 – 4:00 p.m. †Mary & †George Mudrak – Mary Anne Mudrak
Sun. Jan. 10 – 8:30 a.m. 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

We Greet You with the Holy Birth of Christ, Wishing that you spend these holidays in Good Health, peace and happiness May God grant you life to the New Year; From the New Year to the Epiphany; From the Epiphany to the Resurrection; From the Resurrection to the Ascension; From the Ascension to the Pentecost; From the Pentecost to a hundred years Until God wills your life! Christ is Born! – Glorify Him!
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.
SERVICES FOR THEOPHANY (a Holy Day of Obligation) – Liturgy and Blessing of Water for Theophany will be held on the Eve of the Theophany, Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 6:30 PM. A second liturgy and water blessing will be conducted at St. Vladimir in Edwardsville at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009. Blessed water will be distributed after liturgy, remember to bring your containers.
BLESSING OF HOMES – For the parishioners this will be taking place, weather permiting after the Feast of the Epiphany. Father Orest will see those who are home-bound first, making a pastoral visit with the Holy Sacrament and blessing their homes. Please call Father Orest at the rectory to make arrangements to have your home blessed as well.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS – Birthday Greetings to John Kolativa (1/9). May God grant him long life, good health and happiness. MNOHAYA BLAHAYA LITA!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Religious Education Classes will be on Winter Break. Classes will resume again in February 13, 2010.
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”.
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.
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.
2010 ENVELOPES – The church envelopes for 2010 are available in the lower level of the church. Please take a moment to pick-up your envelopes. We apologize for any errors that may have been made regarding the list for envelopes. If you were omitted please contact the parish office.
CALENDARS AVAILABLE – Calendars for 2010 are available in the lower level of the church. Please pick up your copy before or after liturgy. Our thanks to Simon S. Russin Funeral Home, Inc. for sponsoring the calendar again this year.
PRAYERS NEEDED – We are asked to keep in our prayers Metropolitan Stefan for his health and recovery of his prostate cancer. A decision will be made soon as to the course of action to be taken.
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.
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.
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.
BEQUESTS TO YOUR PARISH – Please remember SS. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church with memorial gifts and in your will.
PRINTED COPIES OF ‘THE WAY’ ARE AVAILABLE IN THE VESTIBULE
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.
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.
ICONOSTAS TO BE BLESSED – On Sunday, January 31, 2010, The Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church community will mark the completion of extensive interior renovations to its church building located at 1564 Allentown Road, Lansdale, PA. The blessing and dedication will take place during a Pontifical Divine Liturgy that the spiritual leader of all Ukrainian Catholics in America, Archbishop Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, will celebrate at 11:00 A.M. in the church. Rev. Vasil Bunik, the pastor, and other priests of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, will concelebrate the services. Presentation Church’s pastor, Father Vasil Bunik, extends a cordial invitation to everyone to attend the Liturgy and the banquet. Tickets for the banquet are only $25 per adult and $10 for children under 12. The Church will be open during the time of the banquet for a view of the interior. For further information or to order tickets, call Mike at (215) 715 – 4871 (evenings), send an email to PresentationUCC@gmail.com.
125 YEARS – TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH SHAMOKIN – Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church of Shamokin, is celebrating its 125th anniversary on Aapril 25, 2010. To celebrate this historic event, they will be publishing a DVD. This DVD will detail the rich history of the parish and its founders. To be part of this DVD, please consider placing an ad, which could be a congratulatory or memorial wish for the parish. The deadline for ad submission is February 1, 2010. For further information please call; Mary Ann Charnosky, Adt Manager at (570) 648-7155.
SLOATSBURG JUBILEES – During the next two years the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate will be celebrating two milestones in their history, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the American Province, under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception and 75 years of ministry in the United States. As part of these celebrations 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. Construction is well underway and paver space is limited, so get your form in soon.