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

Reader: And with your spirit! Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: Brethren, let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

Priest: Peace be with you reader.

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

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Dear parishioners please pray for Nicholas Corba, he had a very serious car accident. Nicholas is the godson of Connie and Andrew Baranyk.

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A great thanks to Mary Ann Klish, who over the past several years, has worked to prepare food for the holy supper after service. Thank you also Lesia Klish, Nancy Tarcha and William Klish for helping and setting up the tables.

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You asked: When to drink the holy water, blessed on the Eve of the feast of Theophany and the water blessed the next day at the end of Divine Liturgy. First and foremost, we should drink the holy water on an empty stomach after fasting. We keep a strict fast until we serve the Great Compline service on the Eve of Theophany following the service we are able to drink the holy water. Also, the next day on the day of the Feast Day, we fast before Liturgy and can drink holy water at the end of the Liturgy. We can’t drink the blessed water to compliment a meal. Before drinking the holy water, we cross ourselves. Christians take this holy water home and drink it throughout the year for the healing of the soul and body. Also, our homes are blessed with the same holy water. The holy water is used for the blessing of the faithful, holy icons and other objects.

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You asked: Is it necessary for Christians to wear a Cross around their neck. The Cross is not simply a piece of jewelry. It is the life, light and salvation. After baptism the Cross is put on us, we live with the Cross ( both the visible and the invisible Cross) and we will die with the Cross. And we should meet God with the Cross. Yes it is necessary for us followers of Christ to wear a Cross all the time

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You asked: The meaning of the Christian symbol of the eight point star. The eight point star represents perfection, time without end, the day of everlasting life and the day when according to the teaching of Church Fathers the end of time will come. The eight step is a symbol of the life of the world to come. In ancient iconography, in cities like Ravenna in Italy, you can see the eight point stars. Our ancestors had a deeper understanding of the Church mysticism.

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From the National U.O.L. As Orthodox Christians we are all called to serve in love and charity to all. We would like to once again assist our sister church organization of St. Andrew’s Society in these efforts in care giving and missions. In 1991 Saint Andrew’s Society was established to support the spiritual rebirth of the people in Ukraine and the efforts in charitable outreach. For many tears, St. Andrew’s Society has maintained soup kitchen at various cities in Ukraine providing warms meals, Monday through Friday, for needy elderly people. The Society finances visits on Saint Nicholas day with gifts poor children and orphans every December. On Sun. Feb. 4 people all across the country will gather to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. This is the perfect opportunity to give to those less fortunate. We are requesting that all U.O.L. Chapters and parishioners take a collection to support St. Andrew’s Society’s Soup Kitchen. With the blessing of your pastor, consider collecting funds in a soup pot. Our collection will be taken at the parish annual meeting, Sunday February 4. Thank you!

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The holy Angels in our faith and life. The Angelic world has existed from the beginning when God created earth, or even before the creation of earth. Before any countries existed. We have to comprehend God’s teachings the way that they are, and except His creature. In the first book of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible, in chapter two we read about the angels “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all the host of them” (Genesis 2:1). Later in the book of 1 Kings, chapter 22 verse 19, we read about the angelic host again “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His thrown with all the hosts of heaven standing around Him, on His right and His left.”

About the Angels Cherubim, we can read in the third chapter of the book of Genesis verse 24, “After God drove the man out, He placed on the East side of the Garden of Eden Cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Also Exodus 25:19-20, 37:8. 1 Kings 6:24, 26, 27. 2 Chronicles 3:11-12. Psalm 18:11. Ezekiel 9:3, 10:4, 10:14.

About the Angels Seraphim we can read in the book of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 6:2. “Above it stood the Seraphim: each one had six wings with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” About the Angels Thrones we can read in the book of Colossians, chapter 1:16 “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.”

This is also a ancient iconography tradition and a Ukrainian tradition as well, to write (paint) the angels Cherubim and Seraphim to the right and left of the Virgin Mary Mother of God. Below you see a photo from our Memorial Church Museum, one of the treasures of the Ukrainian Church of the USA. icon of the Mother of God from XIV or XVth century. On the left and right of the Theotokos you see the Seraphim and Cherubim.

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With the blessing of the Council of Bishops, the Office of Youth & Youth Adult Ministry and Mission and Christian Charities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA announce its Missionary trip to St. Sophia Seminary in South Bound Brook NJ. for High School aged teenagers. The High School Mission Trip to St. Sophia’s will take place August 5-12, 2007. St. Sophia Seminary was established in 1976. The Seminary is in major need of remodeling and has been under constriction for over a year. Application Due Date: March15, 2007. For application please see Father. We are pray that you will be able to join us on this ground-breaking trip to act upon the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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During Great Lent the Jr.U.O.L. members will individually pray for parishioners who are sick. They will pray daily for them and pray together as a group once a week.

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

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

or receiving of sacraments. Visits can be any time.

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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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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.

Sun. Feb. 25 - 4:00 pm. Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, at our Church. On this Sunday the Jr. UOL will be selling carnations $1.00 to benefit the iconography fund at All Saints Camp in Emlenton PA. Great Lent give - away project.

Mon. Jan. 26 - 7:00 pm. Parish Board Meeting.

March 9 - 11, 2007 - U.O.L. Retreat. Bethlehem, PA. The retreat will focus

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

Sun. April 22 - Hierarchal Divine Liturgy and blessing of the icons in the altar

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Ukrainian Orthodox League of the U.S.A. We are very pleased to announce that the UOL has reprinted the Hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which was originally published in 1966 under the direction of Fr. Hallick of blessed memory. The Hymn Book has been updated to include Ukrainian verses for each song. The books are available for the nominal fee of $5.00 each. UOL published a limited number of copies so we encourage you to please your orders quickly. For orders please contact Father.

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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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