St. John the Baptist, Parish Bulletin
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Parish Council President: Mr. Robert Onysko (607) 755-4085
Choir Directors: Mrs. Melodye Onysko (607)754-4085 melCNM@yahoo.com
Mrs. Nancy Tarcha (607)798-7591

Diocesan Website: www.uocofusa.org
Parish Web Page: www.stjohnuoc.org
Eparchial Archpastor: Archbishop Antony (732) 356-0090, Email: uocofusa@aol.com
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Zinoviy - John Zharsky (607) 797-1584, Email: stjohnuoc@yahoo.com

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for Ever! Ñëàâà ²ñóñó Õðèñòó! Ñëàâà íà ³êè!

Welcome all visitors of St. John’s. We are happy to see you again.

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

Today, Sun. May 27 - 8:20 - 8:50 am. Hours/Confession. 9:00 am. Divine Liturgy. Tone 7. Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples. Following Divine Liturgy, a Pentecost Kneeling Service. St. Leontius, patriarch of Jerusalem. Martyr Isidor of Chios. Following the Liturgy, we will meet at the cemetery for Panahida Services over the graves of your loved ones. This year we will start at the top of the cemetery. For those who cannot stand, we will serve Panahida over the graves of your loved ones first. Please park your cars as usual on the North side of Fairview St. same side as our cemetery. Prayer for travelers. Coffee Hour. 11:00-11:45 am. Sunday School. No Fast all week.

Mon. May 28 - Memorial Day. Saint Pachomius the Great. Saint Isaiah of the Kyiv Caves. Ephesians 5:9-19. Matthew 4:25-5:13

Tue. May 29 - 10:00 am. Akathist to St. John the Baptist. Saint Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of Saint Pachomius the Great. Saint Alexander, archbishop of Jerusalem. Romans 1:1-7, 13-17. Matthew 4:25-5:13.

Wed. May 30 - 10:00 am Akathist to our Lord. Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy and his fellow laborer Saint Julia. Romans 1:18-27. Matthew 5:20-26.

Thu. May 31 - 10:00 am. Akathist to the Mother of God. Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra and seven virgin-martyrs: Alexandra, Tecusa, Claudia, Phaine, Euphraisa, Matrona, and Julia. Romans 1:28-2:9.

Fri. June 1 - 10:00 am. Panahida in memory of Sophia Smyk. Hieromartyrs Patrick, bishop of Prusa, and his companions: Priest Acacius, Menander, and Polyenus. Romans 2:14-29. Matthew 5:33-41.

Sat. June 2 - 4:30 pm Great Vespers. Final day of Pentecost. Martyrs Thalelaeus at Aegae in Cilicia and his companions Alexander and Asterius. Saint Stephen, abbot of Piperi in Serbia. Romans 1:7-12. Matthew 5:24-48.

Sun. June 3 - 8:20 - 8:50 am. Hours/Confession. 9:00 am. Divine Liturgy. Tone 8. Sunday of All Saints. Holy Equals- - to the Apostles Emperor Constantine and Helen, his mother. The Meeting of the “Volodymyr” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Coffee Hour. Special Parish Meeting following Divine Liturgy. The purpose of the meeting is to determine how our parish will meet both its current and future financial obligations.

***************************************************************

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

Reader: And with your spirit! Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Prokimen on tone 7. The Lord shall give strength to His people / The Lord shall bless His people with peace!

Verse: Offer to the Lord, o ye sons of God! Offer young rams to the Lord!

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading from the Acts of the Apostle.

Priest: Let us be attentive

Reader: Brethren, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans, and how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Capadocia, Pontus and Asia. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What does this mean?

Priest: Peace be with you reader.

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

Verse: It is good to give thanks unto the Lord, to sing praises to Thy name, O Most-High!

Verse: To declare Thy mercy in the morning, and Thy truth by night!

***************************************************************

Happy Birthday: May 20 Dominic Marra celebrated his first birthday,

28 David Merkel, 28 Colin Ellsworth, 28 Josephine Baranyk, 31 Michael Jr. Byce. June 1 Andrew Tarcha, 1 Timothy Forbes, 2 Megan Ellsworth, 2 Laurel Shirk.

Happy Anniversary: May 28 Nicholas & Nancy Tarcha, 31 Charles & Annette Sarnoski. June 1 Steven & Lisa Ferrante.

***************************************************************

Dear parishioners, the road in the cemetery is in bad condition. The road will be fixed soon. But today, for your safety it may be better not to attend the memorial service. However, if you do go, please be careful. If you cannot go, you can ask Father to serve a Panahida service over the grave of your loved ones.

***************************************************************

Thank you Jeff Hatala for doing landscaping on the Church grounds. Also, thank you Gary and Catherine Dobransky for planting flowers at the Church entrance. Thank you also Marry Ann Klish and Ann Lewkowicz for planting flowers near the Church and the Memorial Center.

***************************************************************

WE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS OF THE VETERANS OF OUR PARISH. GRANT REST ETERNAL, O LORD, AND BLESSED REPOSE UNTO THY SERVANTS AND MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL! THANK YOU VETERNAS! William Baranyk, George Bogdan, Michael Bojack Jr., William Burke, Gerald Buckingham, John Byce, Joseph Byce, Peter Byce, Telma Byce, John Ceklinski, Michael Charnetsky, Peter Charnetsky, Frank Chebiniak, William Chebiniak, Nicholas Chebiniak, Andrew Chipella, Andrew Chubinsky, John Chubinsky Jr., Joseph Chubinsky, Charles Chubinsky, John Chyle, Peter Dobransky, George Dudik Jr., Robert Echnoz, John Evanchoff Jr., Bohdan Farynyk, Harvey Finch, Charles Ford, Paul Gormish, John Gural, Albert Gooley, John Halushka, Nicholas Hatala Jr. Joseph Hatala, Andrew Hryck, Michael Hryck, Louis Jurena, Paul Kanazewich, Walter Kanazewich, John Kanazewich, Peter Kanazewich, John Karaim, Joseph Karaim, John Kaspryk, Cypryan Klish, Joseph Klodowski, Theodor Klysh, William Kosik Jr. John Kosik, Michael Kocik, Peter Kocan, Nicholas Kocan Jr. John Kolsun, Peter Kolsun, John Kostyun, Michael Kulik, John Kulyk, John Kravec, William Kravec, William Kuzemka, Fr. Franko Lawryk, Michael Lesko, William Lubinec, Michael Maslak, Peter Maslak, Daniel Matias, Peter Maliwacki, Michael O’krepki, Walter Okrepkie, Charles Olmstead, Nicholas Oranchak, Michael Patrician, Nicholas Palowitz, Charles Palso, Milan Petras, George Pryhoda, Daniel Sass Jr., John Sadowitz, Stephen Sadowitz, Peter Sadowitz Jr., Steven Smyk, Peter Smyk, Nicholas Stasko, Walter Stasko, Samuel Stasko, Peter Stasko, Walter Stasko, Michael Stasko, John Stasko, Andrew Stasko, Edward Stasko, Walter Stetzko, Nicholas Jr. Ther, Olya Travis, William Uhrinec, Andrew Wasylyshyn, Nicholas Wasylyshyn, Michael Wasylyshyn, Steven Wereczinski, Lubo Zelechivsky, Melvin Zelechivsky.

***************************************************************

Future Event. Please mark your calendars.

Sun. May 27 - Memorial Day weekend. Following the Liturgy, we will meet at the cemetery for Panahida Services over the graves of your loved ones. This year we will start at the top of the cemetery. For those who cannot stand, we will serve Panahida over the graves of your loved ones first. Please park your cars as usual on the North side of Fairview St. same side as our cemetery.

Wed. May 30 - 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Ukrainian Dance Practice. Warm ups will start at 5:45 PM.

Tue. June 5 - 6:30 pm. Choir rehearsal.

Sun. June 10 - 12:30 - 4:00 pm. St. John’s Social Club “Party in the Park” Adults - $7.50. Children - (12 & under) $3.75. Preschoolers Free. Menu

½ Chicken, BBG, Roll, Tossed Salad, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Coffee, Dessert, Beer & Soda on tap. For reservations call: 729-0078 (after 5pm) or 797-7008. Deadline Wednesday, June 6.

Sat. June 16 - Ukrainian Day pirohy session. We need your help.

Mon. June 18 - 7:00 pm. Parish Council Meeting.

Sat. July 21 and Sun. July 22. St. John’s 2007 Ukrainian Day Festival.

Sun. Sep. 9 - 12:30 - 4:00 pm. Party in the Park.

Sat. Sep. 22 - Annual Golf Tournament.

***************************************************************

Please let Father or Parish Board President Robert Onysko /607/ 754 - 4085 know who is in need of visiting, prayers or receiving of sacraments.

***************************************************************

Please give Father any information or announcements that you would like to publish in the Sunday’s bulletin, before Friday of that week.

***************************************************************

THE MOST CONFESSED SINS

During our life we are call upon to repent of our sins and reveal them to our spiritual father in the mystery of Holy Confession. It is most unfortunate that the Sacrament of Holy Confession, and with it Holy Communion, have come to be seen as a “duty” rather than the pillar and groundwork of the spiritual life.

This formalism continue to rob many people of the experience of God because they come to Confession unprepared, taking only a few brief moments to examine their conscience with the help of a sin checklist in their prayer book.

With such a brief and shallow preparation, many people come to Confession not knowing what to say - and so, rendering an account of their sins for the previous six month or longer, their spiritual father hears that most confessed sins: “I ate meat on Friday,” and its brother, “I took the name of the Lord in vain.”

One would expect that with such depth of sins being confessed that our churches would be models of sanctity, attracting new members through the holiness of the average churchgoer. But the sad truth is that these two sins are the most confessed because most of us don’t understand what Confession is, let alone what sin is. Having gone through the checklist we exonerate ourselves from all but these two sins.

The real problem is that many of us never experience spiritual growth. We revert back during Confession to that eight-year-old child who had the Confession Prayers drilled into him or her which people automatically recite without knowing the meaning of a single word!

In the world of the eight-year-old, murder and adultery, hatred and jealously, lying and lewdness etc. are normally far removed from the experience of day to day life. It is sad and difficult to realize that as we grew physically and emotionally, our spiritual growth was often stunted. The truth is that we have no idea of how to approach Holy Confession as adults. We are often oblivious to what sin is and what we must look for within ourselves to confess.

The famed Orthodox spiritual writer, Saint Isaac of Nineveth, some fourteen hundred years ago said: “The person who can see his own sin is greater than someone who can raise the dead.” More common, however, is the attitude pointed out in the example of Abba Moses in the above story: our own sins run out behind us unseen but we are always ready to judge the sins of others. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us, “Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5)

There are several methods that we can use to correct this spiritual blindness that is within us. The first is to realize that Confession must be an ongoing process that takes place everyday! The Orthodox prayer book contains a “Confession of Sins” to be prayed during the morning or evening prayers. At the end of the day, we need to examine our lives and ask the Lord and ourselves where we fell short, what we could have done better and the state of our relationship with those around us. This small act is the foundation and the beginning of a true spiritual life.

In our prayers we must ask the Lord to both reveal our sins to us and grant us the desire to confess them. We pray in the Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian: “Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge those of my neighbor.”

Will continue in next Sunday’s Bulletin

***************************************************************

Internet based Orthodox and Ancient faith radio. Timeless Christianity 24 hours a day: music, teaching, interviews, features, convert, testimonies conference recording and more www.ancientfaithradio.com ***************************************************************

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.

***************************************************************

To find a church near you, learn more about the True Faith, visit Orthodoxy in America! www.orthodoxyinamerica.org

***************************************************************

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.

***************************************************************

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, 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.

***************************************************************

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.

***************************************************************

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.

***************************************************************

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

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

Banquet and Ball Favor $500.00

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

Alexis Oryhon, Vice-Chair, 341-3748
********************************************************************

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.

**************************************************************