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

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

Reader: And with your spirit!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Prokimen on tone 1. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us / as we have set our hope on Thee.

Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, o ye Righteous! Praise befits the just!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading from the Acts of the Apostle.

Priest: Let us be attentive

Reader: Brethren, through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and lain them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees and were filled with indignation. And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said; Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Priest: Peace be with you reader.

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

Verse: God gives vengeance unto me, and subdues people under me!

Verse: He magnifies the salvation of the king, and deals mercifully with Christ, with David and his seed for ever.

Happy Birthday: April 16 Anna Lewkowicz, 17 Tamara Chebiniak, 17 Ann Eagan, 17 Jean Sankowski, 18 Nadya Wasylko, 19 Benjamin Holicky,

20 Carol Nahorny.

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Dear parishioners on Easter Sunday, April 8 John Karaim asleep in the Lord. May his soul rest in peace. Memory to him eternal!

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Recycle for Charity is resumed again. Please bring your toners and ink cartridges to the copy room in the church. Thank you. The proceeds benefit All Saints Camp.

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Dear parents and youth. You can obtain applications and information for our All Saints Church Camp in Emlenton, PA. from Father. Church School Camp for ages 8-13 will be held from June 24-July 7. Teenage Conference will be from July 8-21, but you can go only for one week. Mommy and Me, Daddy and Me camp for little children is from July 30-August 3.

*************************************************************** THOMAS SUNDAY.

In the evening of the day of the resurrection, our Lord appeared to His disciples as they were gathered together. The doors were shut and yet, suddenly, Jesus was in their midst: thus He penetrates even into those souls that seem most shut away from Him. Twice He says to the disciples: “Peace be unto you.” There is a nuance between these two wishes. The first time, Christ brings peace to the troubled minds of the disciples themselves. The second time, He gives them peace so that they may transmit it to others, for he immediately adds: “So send I you …” Then He breathes on them: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them…” They have therefore already received the Holy Spirit, even though it is not yet Pentecost: the Spirit is in them, but as if latent; Pentecost will be its manifest coming, its coming with power. In the same way, the Spirit may lie quiescent in our soul without showing its working or its power: the soul still needs the grace of Pentecost. Thomas, however, was not there. The report of the Lord’s appearance that He hears later from the other disciples leaves him incredulous: “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.” A week passes, and Christ appears once again to the disciples. He invites Thomas to put his finger into the mark of the nails and to thrust his hand into His side. He exhorts him not to be faithless, but believing. Thomas answers with an act of faith and adoration: “My Lord and my God.” Jesus goes on to say: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

Christ, in truth, does not blame Thomas. Moreover, the other disciples were no less to blame, for neither did they believe the Resurrection until they had seen the Risen One. Jesus allows for the fact that the human spirit needs credible grounds for belief before it can make the act of faith. It is right that we should know how to convince others that our faith, even if it goes beyond reason, is not, in itself, unreasonable. This is theology’s task. It ’think out’ the revelation. But Christ proclaims the special blessedness of those who, without debate, believe as soon as they inwardly hear the word of the Master, for they have recognize a unique and loved tone of voice in this word.

Today’s gospel also puts us on guard against any presentation of the Christian message which seeks to eliminate the Cross and the crucifixion. The danger of such a falsification comes from two different sides. There are those who wish to soften sides. There are those who wish to soften and humanize Christ so that He becomes a mild and likable teacher of moral: the mystery of the Cross seems too harsh to them, and unacceptable to the ’modern spirit.’ Then there are gnostics and pseudo mystics who are so filled with ideas of Incarnation, of transfiguration, and of deification that, in their notion of salvation, there is no place for the Cross. Both the former and the latter - the humanistic, the theosophists, anthroposophist, etc. - share an aversion to what the Cross represents in practical life, that is to say to repentance, asceticism and sacrifice. We reject the false Christs that they set up, and shall insist on looking at and touching the wounds of our Lord. We known that a Christ who does not carry the imprint of the nails is not authentic, and we shall reserve our adoration for the Crucified One alone.

The episode with Thomas suggests another line of thought. Can we, today, touch the wounded flesh of the Saviour? Can we, who are granted ecstasies or visions, be sure that it is a living being and not a phantom that we worship? We can, and this possibility is given to everyone. Christ is invisibly, but really, alive in the flesh and blood creatures who exist all around us. We can estimate the wounds of the crucifixion today, and worship them in the sick, the poor, in all men and women who suffer, in all those who continue Jesus’s agony - members of the mystical Body who share in the Passion of their divine Head. Jesus says to us: “If thou dost doubt that I was crucified for thee and that I was raised from the dead, pay attention to the suffering members of my body. Touch me in stretching out a rescuing hand to them. Do something for them which is costly for thee, Sacrifice thyself fro them as much as thou canst. And, behold, in them thou shale discover Me. I shall answer thee with special grace, for thou shall experience the reality, the power of my Resurrection” It is not given to us to see the Blessed Face constantly, but like an evanescent vision, the face of Christ will appear to me behind the face of my brother, and through compassion, I shall meet the Passion I shall touch my brother who suffer, and say: “My Lord and my God”

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Wed. April 18 - 6:00 pm. Informational meeting for Ukrainian Dance Classes. All interested instructors, dancers and parents please attend this organizational meeting in the Memorial Center.

Sat. April 21 and Sun. April 22 - Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Monastery in Otego, NY. invited us to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary.

Saturday 10:00 am. Divine Liturgy. 1:30 pm. Akathist. 3:30 pm. Healing Service. Bishop Tikhon of South Canaan presenting. 6:00 pm. Vespers.

Sunday 10:00 am. Divine Liturgy. 2:00 pm. Healing Service. 4:00 pm. Vespers. 144 Bert Washburn Road. Otego, NY 13825. /607/ 432-3179

Sun. April 22 - We will collect the contest entries.

Sun. April 22 - Bring a friend to Church day. The Jr. UOL is once again delighted to sponsor our “bring a friend to Church Day” As Orthodox Christians, it is our responsibility to spread the word of God, to act as missionaries. This is your opportunity to show those you know what Orthodoxy is all about: the chance to open them up to a place they probably never would have experienced; to show them the part of you they don’t know

Mon. April 23 - 7:00 pm. Parish board meeting.

Sun. April 29 - Special parish meeting, following the Liturgy. How do we address the financial needs?

Thu. May 10 - 2008 U.O.L. Convention Meeting.

Sat. May 12 - 12: Noon, Jr. U.O.L. Meeting at Scannell’s family house. Lunch will be served followed by a game of bowling.

Sat. May 19 - 5:00 pm. 72^nd Anniversary Dinner-Dance sponsored by the Czechoslovak Moravan Club, at Polish Community Center. For tickets call 757-0475 Aggie Dekar or 797-3351 Blanche Vrablic.

Sun. May 20 - Sacrament of First Confession.

Thu. May 24 - 7:00 pm. Sr. UOL Meeting.

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*Would you like to volunteer at a Sarah Jane soup kitchen? The Sr. UOL is trying to get enough volunteers to send 3-4 people on one Tuesday each month. If you are interested please give your name to Beth Harendza.

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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, 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, Pelahia Kit, Charles Stasko, Stephania Moroz, Mildred Bogdan, Wasyl Krawecki, Meghan Scannell, Olga Drost, Marion Kaspryk, Nicholas Corba, 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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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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Please let Father know who is in need of visiting, prayers

or receiving of sacraments. Visits can be any time.

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The 61st Ukrainian Orthodox League (UOL) Convention will be held at the Holiday Inn Arena in downtown Binghamton from July 30-August 3rd, 2008.

St. John the Baptist Sr. and Jr. UOL chapters are hosting several hundred conventioneers from all over the nation. This is a great financial undertaking. We are inviting you to consider sponsoring one of the funding opportunities listed on the attached sheet. General contributions are also welcome.

All sponsors will be recognized in the Convention Yearbook and on St. John The Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church website. Your sponsorship will help us to host a wonderful convention for these special visitors to our community. If you are sponsoring through your business, it will provide your business with increased visibility on local, regional and national levels.

The UOL is a national organization that promotes and strengthens the Orthodox faith and its Ukrainian culture. It also provides charitable donations to local, national, and worldwide organizations and funds for seminarians and young adults attending college. In addition, our local chapter members serve in leadership roles in our church, do mission work, and participate in community affairs. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support of our organization. Please contact me at the above number for more information or to coordinate your sponsorship or gift today

Sincerely, Pam Scannell Convention Chair

2007 Opportunities

Promotional Convention Advertisement $300.00

Hospitality night $300.00

Promotional Banquet Favor $200.00

2008 Opportunities

Welcoming Gift $300.00

Nametags and Lanyards $150.00

Wednesday Hospitality Night $500.00

Holiday Inn Arena

Thursday Brunch $1720.00

Holiday Inn Arena

Thursday Event-Ukrainian Picnic $2700.00
On the 18th floor of the State office bldg

Thursday evening beverages

St. John’s Social Club Friday Event-TBD $4700.00

Holiday Inn Arena

Saturday Banquet and Ball $7500.00

Holiday Inn Arena ballroom

Sunday Farewell Luncheon St. Mary’s Sisterhood

At St. John’s Memorial Center

Convention Yearbook Printing $1000.00

A group of individuals or businesses can join together to sponsor an event or convention expense. All donations can be mailed to the above address.

Checks are payable to 61st UOL Convention.

Senior and Junior UOL Chapters

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian

Orthodox Church, Johnson City, NY.

61st Ukrainian Orthodox League Convention

July 30th-August 3rd, 2008 “THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ILLUMINES ALL” /Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts/

Pam Scannell, Convention Chair 754-1554. 2000 Clover Dr Vestal, NY 13850

Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

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. 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. For application please see Father.

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