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 2. The Lord is my strength and my song. / He has become my salvation.

Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over death.

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading from the Acts of the Apostle.

Priest: Let us be attentive

Reader: Brethren, now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Priest: Peace be with you reader.

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

Verse: The Lord answer thee in the day of trouble! The Name of the God of Jacob protect thee!

Verse: Save the king, o Lord, and hear us on the day we cal!

Happy Birthday: April 23 Diane Merkel, 24 Pauline Rucky, 27 Helen Zellers, 27 William Klish, 28 Beth Harendza.

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Dear parishioners a year ago April 22, Dorothy Skellett passed away. May her soul rest in peace. Memory to her 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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*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.

* $5.00 Patron ads for the 2007 UOL Convention in Carnegie can be given to Pam Scannell. Your name will appear in this years Convention Yearbook as a Patron supporter. Responses are due to Pam by April 29

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The pages of the Ukrainian Orthodox Word back in 1999, shared with the faithful of our Church the disturbing news about the major flooding issues that the Metropolia Center of the UOC of the USA dealt with at that time.

For many parishioners of St. Andrew Memorial Church at the Metropolia Center and of the general membership of our Church, the second Sunday of Pascha, St. Thomas Sunday/Provody weekend was a sober reminder of that flood eight years ago.

On Bright Saturday evening, April 14, 2007 a powerful rain storm that swept across the entire Eastern Coast of the USA arrived in the area of our Church’s administrative and spiritual center. Thousands of faithful visit the center on an annual basis for the St. Thomas Sunday Weekend Pilgrimage each year – the vast majority on Sunday.

Due to the advance predictions of the magnitude of the storm, approximately 1,000 people visited on Saturday this year. Only a few hundred braved the storm on Sunday. The rain began to fall at around 2 a.m. on Sunday and had not completely stopped throughout the day on Monday as this press release is being prepared.

The Raritan River poured over its banks and it is not selective about where or what it invades. It slowly moved toward the Memorial Church, flooding the driveway, St. Andrew Cemetery entrance gates and surrounding the monument to St. Olha, Equal to the Apostles and Baptizer of Ukraine. Several of our homes located on Center property are under water. They are all along Main Street surrounding the Memorial Church and include the historic Hendrick Fisher home, the oldest historical building in Somerset County, NJ (1688) and a valued treasure of not only our community, but the entire state of New Jersey and the Revolutionary War period of America’s history.

Four families – all of them members of our Metropolia Center staff – have lost valued personal items. These homes - or at least portions of them - will remain uninhabitable until major repairs are completed, with the work being accomplished by those very staff members, as was the case in 1999.

The Consistory is appealing to all parishes and faithful of our Church to contribute to the Flood Damage Repair Fund as we immediately begin the rebuilding process. So many were so generous in our last appeal of this nature – that very deluge of 1999 – that we were able to make all the repairs necessary without borrowing finances. May the Holy Spirit guide you all in your decision to assist. Hopefully, your generosity will cover all our repair costs. If your response is so overwhelming that it exceeds our needs, the extra funds will be placed in a special fund for future such needs.

Please send contribution to: Consistory of the UOC of the USA. Attention: Flood Damage Repair Fund. PO Box 495 South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

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BINGHAMTON, NY. One of the oldest and still functioning Orthodox priests in the diocese, in the United States is the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Stephen Dutko, pastor emeritus of St. Michael's church here. Having marked his 90th birthday on January 3, he is now celebrating the 65th anniversary of his Ordination to the Holy Priesthood.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, will join faithful at St. Michael's on Sunday, May 6th to share in the joy of this historic jubilee.
Father Stephen will be the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy that morning, which will begin at 10 AM. Metropolitan Nicholas will preside, and will deliver the homily, as well as archpastoral greetings from His All Holiness, Ecumencial Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America and exarch of the Ecumenical Throne. A Jubilee Banquet honoring Father Stephen will begin at St. Michael's Recreation Center at 12 Noon. Reservations must be made by calling the church office at (607) 729-0261 by April 30. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and no charge for children eight and younger.
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What is it? If you go into an Orthodox Church during Bright Week, the week following Pascha/Easter, you will notice that the Holy Doors in the iconostas are open. And on the table (tetrapod) before the Holy Doors is a round loaf of bread. If you look closely you will note that on this bread is the icon of the Resurrection of our Lord. This bread is call the Artos.

“Artos” is a Greek word meaning bread made with yeast. It is blessed at the end of the Paschal Divine Liturgy and the faithful kiss it after they receive the antidotal/prosfora at the end of the Liturgy. It is interesting that at the blessing, the priest chants: …”may we who offer it (this bread) and those who shall kiss it and shall take of it, may be partakers of Thy heavenly benediction; and by Thy might root out from us all sickness and infirmity, granting health to all. For Thou are source of blessing, and the bestower of health…”

The Apostles had a custom of setting aside a loaf of bread at their supper in memory of their risen Lord. The Artos is put before us as a symbol of Jesus Christ the Bread of life, Who nourishes us with the food of His divine mercies. This is somewhat reminiscent of the Shewbread mentioned in Exodus 25:30, Numbers 4:7, 1 Samuel 21:6, Nehemiah 10:33, Matthew 12:4; and Hebrew 9:2. However Artos is leavened bread, alive with yeast symbolizing life and is to be eaten by all believers who are alive in the Lord.

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Future Event. Please mark your calendars.

Today - 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.

Wed. April 25 - 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Ukrainian Dance Practice. Warm ups will start at 5:45 PM.

Sat. April 28 - 5:30 pm. Dinner.

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

Sat. May 5 - 7:00 pm. G.A.S. convention dinner.

Thu. May 10 - 7:00 pm. 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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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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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 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.

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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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