Ñåðäå÷íî â³òàºìî íàøèõ ãîñòåé, ÿê³ ìîëèëèñü ñüîãîäí³ ç íàìè. Áóäåìî ðàä³ áà÷èòè Âàñ ó íàñòóïíó íåä³ëþ. Íåõàé Âàñ îáåð³ãຠÃîñïîäü.

Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all!

Reader: And with your spirit!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Prokimen on tone 5. Let all the earth worship Thee and sing unto Thee / let them sing unto Thy Name.

Verse: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: sing forth the honor of His Name; make His praise glorious.

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading from the letter of Apostle Paul to Galatians.

Reader: Brethren, when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father.” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ

Priest: Peace be with you reader.

Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament shows His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

Verse: Day unto day uttered speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.

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Thank you children, Beth and Jody for the Beautiful Christmas concert. Also thank you Sister Nuns from Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Monastery in Otego, NY. for coming, praying and celebrating Christmas with us, and for bringing a surprise. We really enjoyed it and may next year there be even more children in our Christmas play.

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Dear parishioners, thanks to God the icons in the altar are almost finished. This project was made possible because of the hard work and creativity of iconography committee members, the support of the parish board, the fundraising committee, and all of you the parish body. Indeed it is a great Christmas gift for all of us and the future generations of St. John’s. Also a great thank you to our Iconographer Vladislav Andrejev, for his talented work. For the last few days, he has been working very late at night to finish his Christmas gift to St. John’s Parish painting the highest orders of the angles hierarchy, Seraphim and Cherubim.

The parish board and the iconography committee will soon invite the Hierarchs to come and bless the Icons. Also the Iconography committee would like to continue to beautify the church with this iconography project.

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Thank you Melody Onysko and the members of our church choir, for the

beautiful singing during the Divine Liturgies and Christmas carols.

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Thank you Senior UOL and Bill Scheider for making it possible to professionally record our Christmas Divine Liturgy today. Merry Christmas!

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Dear brothers and sisters, you are cordially invited to come sing kolady (Christmas carols) today with our choir at the Church rectory at 2:30 PM.

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Dear parishioners, thanks to God the time is here again for the blessing of our homes. All those who wish to bless their homes and those living there, please let Father know.

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Dear parishioners and guests, you have a chance to buy baked goods at coffee hour that were made by our sisterhood.

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Please let Father know who is in need of visiting, prayers

or receiving of sacraments. Visits can be any time.

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Let us contemplate with faith the mystery of the Divine Incarnation and in all simplicity let us simply praise Him who in His great generosity became man for us. For who relying on the power of rational demonstration, can explain how the flesh generated without seed? How did a mother after giving birth remain a virgin? How did He who was supremely perfect develop as He grew up? How did He who suffered dispense healing? How did He who was dying bestow life? And to put the most important last, how did God become man? Faith alone can embrace these mysteries for it is faith that makes real for us things beyond intellect and reason. /Saint Maximos the Confessor/

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Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Dear brothers and sisters, our hearts are filled with joy. Our Lord came down to earth from heaven, to open the road to heaven and eternal life. Let us unite with the angelic choir, and together rejoice and worship our Messiah, Jesus Christ. We need the God-man Jesus Christ, who was born for our sakes out of love, to bring us up from mere existence to the fullness of Life Everlasting. We need someone Who knows how to love us unconditionally yet with full knowledge of our being, even our mistakes and imperfections. We need this loving God to come down to us, enliven us, and give us the peace that no man can take away. Lord is full of loving kindness and will not disdain our uselessness if only He sees sincere desire to be corrected. In the mystery of His incarnation, His earthly and redemptive death, our Lord has shown us an example of true love. On this festive day of Christmas, let us embrace one another with joy and love in our hearts.

When the redeemer was born things were somewhat different. The angels of heaven sang His glory and the shepherds bore witness. Later Wise Men came from the east to honor this “King of the Jews” and brought Him gifts. The gifts they brought Him were not the kind of gifts you would normally associate with a child - they were unique, strange and full of meaning. A meaning that only later would be understood.

Gold was given to Him. This was a rare and priceless commodity at that time, reserved for Kings. And this gift acknowledged Him as king - the King of the Jews - the King of Kings. Later His followers would proclaim - “and His Kingdom shall have no end” (The Creed)

Frankincense was given to Him. This is an aromatic gum harvested from very rare trees in the Middle East and burned for its aroma. It was used by Old Testament priests in the Temple of Jerusalem in their censors (kadylo) Why give a child incense? This gift acknowledged Him as the Priest of Priests. Later, St. Peter would write to the Hebrews: “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” (Heb. 8:1)

Myrrh was given to him. This is the spice used by these who prepare bodies after death by anointing them with this most pleasant smelling substance. Why give this to a child? Because this is the One sent to redeem mankind. This is the incarnated Love of God; this is the last blood sacrifice of the Old Testament. St. John the Forerunner proclaimed when he saw the Saviour approach: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1;29) We know what followed.

Now let’s get back to our headache. We pose the question -why? Why keep doing what we’ve done for so many years. Let’s re-think this process. What are we celebrating? Are we celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Lord - or are we celebrating our debt load. Aren’t gifts given to the one celebrating the birthday? Obviously! So why not do it. Let’s bring Him our gifts - first and foremost! What we give each other has to be considered as secondary. *************************************************************

Mon. Jan. 8 - 7:00 pm Revenue Generating and Finance Committee Meeting.

Tue. Jan. 9 - 7:00 pm 2008 UOL Convention Committee Meeting, to discuss promotional gifts, favors and convention bags. Please come with ideas. Everyone is invited.

Sat. Jan. 13 - 7:00 pm to 12:30 am. Malanka at the Memorial Center. Call 797-7008, 798-7591, 729-0079. Tickets $15.

Thu. Jan 18 - Feast of the Holy Theophany, Baptism of Our Lord. 4:30 pm. Great Compline with the blessing of water. Following the Service holy supper at the Memorial Center. $ 6.00 per adult, $3.00 per student, pre school free. For tickets please see Mary Ann Klish.

Mon. Jan. 15 - 7:00 pm. Parish Board Meeting.

Sun. Jan. 21 - Jr. UOL Meeting following Sunday School.

Sat. Jan. 27 - 1:00 pm. Social Club-Annual Meeting.

Mon. Jan. 29 - COME AND ENJOY 5:30 pm or 6:30 pm Texas Roadhouse Dinner at St. John’s Memorial Center. Menu: 6 oz. Sirloin or 8 oz. boneless chicken breast, child size 4 oz. sirloin or 4 oz. chicken, baked potato with sour cream and butter, fresh roll with cinnamon honey butter, salad with Italian or Ranch dressing, brownie alamode with chocolate sauce. Coffee, tea, or soda. Beer and wine for sale. Adult $ 14.00 Child price $ 7.00

Jr. UOL will have a candy bar sake to help offset medical bills for a student Luke Zuber struggling with cancer. Please buy candy.

Sun. Feb. 4 - Church Annual Meeting.

Sun. Feb. 11 - Sisterhood Annual Meeting.

Sun. Feb. 18 - Following the Liturgy prayer for the new elected officers of the Social Club, Parish Board, and Sisterhood. Please prepare yourself with the sacraments of confession and communion.

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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, Scott Shirk, Audrey Klym, Valerie Melnychenko, Kevin Terpak, Emilia Lewkowicz, John Karaim, Mildred Charnetsky, Mary & Walter Gulachok, Mary Gormish, Olga Gooley, Mary Ford, Mary Mihalko, Margaret Klish, Marlyn Klish, Cypryan Klish II , Sophia Malowicky, 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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Pray for those who in the service of our country and especially: Chief Warrant Officer Scott Ketchuck (Serving in Iraq), Major Gerald C. Seaman Nathaniel Kulikowski, Aviator Mechanic Enoch Braisher, Sabrina Schimmelfing. Pray for world peace

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March 9 - 11, 2007 - U.O.L. Retreat. Bethlehem, PA. The retreat will focus on the Major Feast Days of the Orthodox Church. Speakers His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine and His Eminence Archbishop Antony. Contact: Oleg or 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.

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