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or receiving of sacraments. Visits can be any time.

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Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all! Reader: And with your spirit! Priest: Wisdom!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: Brethren, what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Priest: Peace be with you reader. Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior! Verse: Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him songs of praise!

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Thanks God that Michael Onsyko returned safely from Iraq. And let us pray that this war may end.

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Our prayers are with Mary Ford, with the passing away of her sister Anna Michalak. Memory to her eternal!

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Welcome Sr. and Jr. UOL national board. Yesterday they had their meeting and we hope you enjoyed your stay. Also thank you to our Jr. and Sr. chapter especially Pam Scannell, for organizing the preparation for this meeting.

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Dear Parishioners, it is great news that Philip Harendza started St. Stephen’s correspondent course of study in Orthodox Theology. Good luck to you Philip in your studies.

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Iconography Project: There are two icons left to donate. If you like to donate please see Bob Onysko. It is necessary for us to realize the importance of the holy images in our daily life. Through the icons we can see eternity, and glorify God through His saints.

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Viktor Klochko, head of the excavation, said the discovery was of international significance. "This is the first monument of its age and kind found in eastern Europe," he told the Guardian. "It changes our whole conception of the social structure and the level of development of the cattle breeders and farmers who were the direct ancestors of most European peoples."

There are about 100 pyramids in Egypt, and the remains of Mesopotamian pyramids are preserved in Iraq and Iran. Ziggurats are also found in Mexico, and the Nubians built pyramids as burial sites for monarchs in the Nile valley. But pyramid structures are rare in Europe. One of the few is a Roman-era pyramid near Nice, France, that may have built by legionnaires involved in an Egyptian cult.

Although graves have been found at the Lugansk site, archaeologists think it was used for sacrifice by burning, rather than as a burial ground. "People lived in the surrounding valleys and climbed up it to carry out their ceremonies," said Mr Klochko. "They had a pagan cult that bowed down to the sun, as did the ancestors of the Slavs."

P.S. This is a very interesting article, that such an ancient culture was found in Ukraine. But also what is important to us in this article, is that cremation is a pagan tradition, not Christian.

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Are We prepared? Are we prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven? Are we ready to meet our Saviour, Jesus Christ at His Second Coming, or at the hour of our death? These are questions that should not be taken lightly!

These are questions that we should be asking ourselves day in and day out, because today, in this torn apart, confused, delusion-filled world in which we live, many of us do not take seriously the road that leads to salvation-the road that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has promises of a better life, and Christ’s warnings about punishment, the gnashing of teeth, burning in Hades and eternal death.

Many orthodox Christians feel that there is enough time to make amends. We want to enjoy this life as much as possible. And what is really sad is that we have excuses for the things we do and don’t do.

The list of excuses for not following Christ and seeking salvation is a mile long. These are some common excuses one hears: it’s too hard to be Christian… my priest never told me about these things… my father and mother never took me to church or church school…There are too many other things more entertaining than church… the sermons are boring… the people who go to church are hypocrites… I pray, but my prayers are not answered… and so forth.

As long as the devil is in this world, we will continue to use excuses to satisfy our failures to follow Christ and the sins we commit. We didn’t take the time to prepare.

Many will miss out: Read the Parable of the ten Virgins in the gospel of St, Matthew 24:1-13. Then bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil. The other five maidens did not take enough oil in their lamps. So, when the bridegroom was delayed, five of the bridesmaids ran out of oil and had to run and purchase more. While they we gone, the bridegroom arrived, and those bridesmaids who were prepared entered the wedding feast with the bridegroom. The five who had to purchase more oil found the door to the wedding feast locked when they returned and therefore could not enter. Why? Because they were not prepared!

Many of us think that we have enough time to prepare for the time when our God and Savior the Bridegroom will come to call us to the wedding feast, Eternal Life. Do we? Today, look at the death records in the newspaper; we see friends, relatives and others of all ages dying untimely death. Death due

To accidents, cancer, heart attacks, and other causes. Don’t you ever wonder. Could I be next?

Because we are God’s chosen people, please don’t entertain the notion that we have some invisible shield around us protecting us from fate’s strange twists and turns. And just because we have been baptized orthodox and pay yearly dues to our parish, or do some work for the church, don’t think it is a protection from the unexpected. You and I are vulnerable. Life has played cruel jokes on far better people than you and me.

The Orthodox Church as mother: What I love about the orthodox Church is that she is the mother of our holy faith. From the time of our entrance into the Church, through Holy Baptism, she gives us her hand and leads us step by step to eternal life. She even sets aside periods of preparation during the year… the fasting seasons… just to remind us of our shortcomings. She asks us to pause and reflect upon out lives, and after doing so, to change. She instructs us to prepare ourselves, as though each day was our last. She tells us to pray, to fast, to read the Scriptures, to so acts of kindness. And she teaches us” “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, your mind, your strength and love your fellowman as yourself.” She tells us to repent and confess our sins and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Christ at every Divine Liturgy. She tells us to attend the Divine Services on other days of the week in addition to Sundays. The Church does this, so that, we will be prepared for the coming of Christ and our death. Begin today to prepare yourself, to put aside all those things that have no meaning, and to place your treasuries into God’s hands. Put your complete trust, hope and being into God’s Hands, and your lamp will be filled to overflowing. We will be prepared for whatever tomorrow will bring. ***************************************************************

Future Events. Please Mark Your Calendars.

The Down Syndrome Information Network's 9th annual Buddy Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006 from 12:00 to 4:30 PM at Highland Park, Endwell. The day includes a one mile walk to help promote community awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome. There will be carousel rides, face painting, free food, raffles, characters (Barney/Tiger/etc...) and great entertainment by the Pathfinder Village Bell Ringer Choir, Mark Rust and other local bands. I hope you can all make it to this great family day. Tshirts will be for sale for $5.00. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kathy Devine at 754 754-9225.

Sat. Oct. 14 - Bill Flynn Dinner Dance.

Sun. Oct. 15 - The 24^th Annual CHOW Hunger Walk, at Binghamton University, is seeking volunteer walkers to help raise money to stock the CHOW Warehouse. For more info please call 724-9130.

Mon. Oct. 16 - 7:00 pm. Parish board meeting.

Wed. Oct. 18 - 4:00 pm. College Day Dinner.

Fri. Oct. 27-10:00 am Panahida in memory of Ivan Moroz, departed on Oct 27

Sat. Nov. 18 - 11 am - 1:00 pm Sisterhood Bake Sale.

Wed. Nov. 28 - Nativity Fast Begins. Sat. Jan. 7 - End of the Nativity Fast.

Wed. Oct. 22 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Craft Fair at St. Cyril and Methodius Church Community Center Hall. 14 St. Cyril Ave. Binghamton. Theme basket raffles. Hand-made quilt raffle. Ethnic food and refreshments.

Sat. Nov. 4 - U.O.L. Fall Retreat: South Bound Brook, NJ. Contact Daria Pishko (973) 635-8124

Sun. Nov. 5 - 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Ethnic Dinner at Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 210 Hill Ave. Endicott. Take outs are available. Cost is $7 per Adult, and $3 for Children

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Pray for those who in the service of our country and especially: Chief Warrant Officer Scott Ketchuck (Serving in Iraq), Sgt. Michael Onysko, Major Gerald C. Mulhollen, Seaman Nathaniel Kulikowski, Aviator Mechanic Enoch Braisher, Sabrina Schimmelfing. Pray for world peace

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Pray for the sick. The Lord said: “Do unto others as you would want them do unto you.” So if we will be sick, we will ask help from God, we will ask priests and people to pray for us. In order for the Lord to listen to us when we are sick, we need to pray for those who are sick. O Lord our God, Who by Your Word alone healed all diseases; Who cured the Mother-in-law of Apostle Peter of fever; Who chastises with pity and heals according to Your goodness; Who are able to put aside every malady and infirmity: Do You the same Lord, now relieve Your servants: Fr. Michael Michalopolos, Fr. Steven Dutko,

Fr. Mirone & William Klish, Scott Shirk, Nancy Kanazawich, Paul & Steven Kocich, Kevin Terpak, Connie Baranyk, Emilia Lewkowicz, John Karaim, Mildred Charnetsky, Mary & Walter Gulachok, Catherine Gelinger, Mary Gormish, Olga Gooley, Mary Ford, Mary Mihalko, Margaret & Marlyn Klish, Sophia Malowicky, Helen Charnetsky, Genevieve Sadowitz, Michael Sr. Duby, Anne & Karen Girnis, Paul Laszko, Julie Sadowitz, Catherine Dobransky, Maria Dudack, Pelahia Kit, Charles Stasko, Stephania Moroz, Mildred Bogdan, Natalia Boser, Wasyl Krawecki, Meghan Scannell, Olga Drost, Mary Evanchoff, Marion Kaspryk, and cure them of the sicknesses which grieves them; lift them up from their beds of pain, sending down upon them Your mercy; and if it be Your will, give to them health and a complete recovery. For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.

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Sun. Oct. 22 - Ukrainian Fall Festival from 11am - 6:00pm. Ukrainian Culture Center. 135 Davidson Ave. Somerset, NJ. 08873 Voloshky Dance Ensemble from PA; Barvinok Dance Group from NJ. Amber and Beaded Jewelry, Ukrainian Embroidery, Ceramics, Pysanky, Glass Art, Scarves, Ukrainian Crafts & Souvenirs. Varenyky, kapusta, kovbasa, holubtsi, blintsi, baked goods. Raffle & Museum Tours. Admision $5.00; children free. Proceeds to benefit the construction of the Museum in Memory of His Holiness Patriarch Mstyslav I, which will showcase our faith, and cultural artifacts currently owned by the UOC of the USA, and the Permanent Famine Memorial and Exhibit which will be engraved with names of victims who lost their lives during this Ukrainian tragedy. For more info call Ms. Sofia Bilinsky 610-925-4772

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March 9-11, 2007 - U.O.L. Lenten Retreat. Bethlehem, PA The retreat will focus on the Major Feast Days of the Orthodox Church. Contact: Natalie Bilynsky (610) 982- 7315

March 16-18, 2007 - U.O.L. Lenten Retreat. All Saints Camp Contact: Melanie Nakonachny (440) 842-3820

Sat. April 15, 2007 - (Saturday of St. Thomas Sunday) U.O.L. Educational Seminar. South Bound Brook, NJ Contact: Natalie Bilynsky (610) 892-7315.

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Dear brothers and sisters for those who do not attend confession (repentance)

and Holy Communion, please participate in these sacraments. This is for your own salvation, for the remission of sins and life everlasting. Please do not wait till the last minute, it could be too late. We never know when God will call us. Today we are here tomorrow we will go into eternity, and will stand before God’s judgment.