St. Andrew s Outreach Newsletter

Transcription

1 1 December 2018 January 2019 St. Andrew s Outreach Newsletter St. Andrew s Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor Parish Street Edmonton, AB. T6A 2Y8 Rev. Fr. Yuriy Church Office st.andrews-uocc@telus.net Our Journey to Bethlehem Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) We are about to take a journey. Whether one is a devout Christian or doesn t know Christ at all, we are all about to take a journey that will see Christmas decorations go up, lines at the malls get long, and stress levels go up. Such is the modern celebration of Christmas. But there is another journey, a journey of faith that some choose to take and others choose to ignore. The journey of faith is a daily choice to follow Christ. Each year on November 15, as we begin the Orthodox Christian season of Advent that journey takes on a new focus. For forty days, we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Christ. We fast. We pray. We worship. When the Feast of the Nativity comes, there is something to celebrate. Most important, however, is that when the Feast of the Nativity has passed, there is something more than gifts to return, decorations to take down, and credit cards to pay off. There is joy and joy is what overcomes sadness. There is hope and hope is what overcomes sorrow. So, I invite you to share a meaningful journey to Bethlehem this year. Over the next fifty-four days I invite you to immerse yourself in the scriptures and services. We have the opportunity to study the characters in the Christmas story in a way that perhaps you haven t thought of them before. In studying and praying over the scriptures, having identified fifty distinct topics from only a few chapters of scripture, I saw things in scripture that I never before slowed down to appreciate. The hustle and bustle of the season has even permeated how I ve read these most important passages. People greet the feast of Christmas in different ways some are happy to see it come, and others dread its coming. And when Christmas is over, some are sad to see it go, while others are relieved. I feel blessed that, as an Orthodox priest, I celebrate Christmas all year round. Each time I celebrate the Liturgy and prepare the Gifts that will become the Body and Blood of Christ, I gaze upon an icon of the Nativity at the table of preparation (Prothesis) in the Holy Altar of the church. The first prayer of the service of the Preparation of the Gifts (the Proskomide) at every Eucharistic service (and we celebrate the Eucharist in a service called the Divine Liturgy over one hundred times a year) is a hymn of Christmas: O Bethlehem, prepare, Eden is opened unto all. And be ready, Ephrata, for the Tree of life has in the grotto blossomed forth from the Virgin. Indeed her womb is shown to be spiritually a Paradise, in which is found the God-planted Tree. And if we eat from it we shall live, and shall not die, as did Adam of old. Christ is born, so that He might raise up the formerly fallen image. (Trans. Fr. Seraphim Dedes.) As I cover the Bread on the Paten with a metal covering asterisk, which looks like a four-point star, I offer a prayer based on the Gospel of Matthew 2:11: And the star came and stood over where the child was with Mary His mother. (The prayer is found in The Order of the Divine and Holy Liturgy by Holy Cross Seminary Press). The service concludes with the dismissal from the Nativity services, May Christ our True God who was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation... So, it s always Christmas in the church. The lessons of the Nativity are things we should meditate on all the days of our lives. ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ! СЛАВІМО И ОГО! Christ is Born! Let us Glorify Him!

2 Liturgical Scripture Readings December Sunday, 2nd 27th Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-17 Gospel: St. Luke 12:16-21 Tuesday, 4th 28th Week after Pentecost Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple Epistle: Hebrews 9:1-7 Gospel: St. Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Sunday, 09th 28th Sunday after Pentecost Our Patron St. Apostle Andrew Khram Celebration Epistle: Col 1:12-18 Gospel: St. Luke 13:10-17 Thursday, 13th St. Apostle Andrew the First Called service at Selo Epistle: 1Corinthians 4:9-16 Gospel: St. John 1:35-51 Sunday, 16th 29th Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: 1Timothy 1:15-17 Gospel: St. Luke 18:18-27 Wednesday, 19th 30th week after Pentecost St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Epistle: Hebrews 13:17-21 Gospel: St. Luke 6:17-23 Sunday, 23rd 30th Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Col 3:12-16 Gospel: St. Luke 17:12-19 Sunday, 30th 31st Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Col 3:4-11 Gospel: St. Luke 14:16-24 Our next Pyrohy supper December 7, 2018 February 1, :00 pm to 7:30 pm Liturgical Scripture Readings January Sunday, 6th 32nd Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, Gospel: St. Matthew 1:1-25 Monday 7th 33rd week after Pentecost Epistle: Gal 4:4-7 Gospel: St. Matthew 2:1-12 Tuesday 8th 33rd week after Pentecost Epistle: Gal 1:11-19 Gospel: St. Matthew 2:13-23 Sunday, 13th 33rd Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Gal 1: Tim 4:5-8 Gospel: St. Matthew 2:13-23 St. Mark 1:1-8 Monday 14th 34th week after Pentecost Epistle: Hebrew 7:26-28 Gospel: St. Luke 6:17-23 Thursday, 18th 34th week after Pentecost Epistle: 1Cor 9:19-27 Gospel: St. Luke 3:1-18 Friday, 19th 34th week after Pentecost Epistle: Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7 Gospel: St. Matthew 3:13-17 Sunday, 20th 34th Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Ephesians 4:7-13 Acts 19:1-8 Gospel: St. Matthew 4:12-17 St. John 1:29-34 Sunday, 27th 35th Sunday after Pentecost Epistle: Col 3:12-16 Gospel: St. Luke 18:18-27 *please note all Epistle and Gospel readings were provided by our Parish Priest Here are some meal ideas to help carry you through fasting seasons: Breakfasts toast with nut butter and honey banana or apple slices with nut butter dried fruit and nuts oatmeal with nuts, pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon, fruit of choice coconut milk-based smoothie Lunches and Dinners avocado and tomato sandwich, alongside nuts and dark chocolate taco salad with pinto beans, lettuce and vegetables of choice, topped with salsa and served with corn chips or a tortilla fried rice with vegetables, summer rolls and cashews lentil soup with a tomato and cucumber salad coconut milk-based soup with vegetables and rice olive tapenade sandwich with fruit and dark chocolate hummus and bread with a side of carrots, bell pepper and nuts maki roll with soybeans and a seaweed salad, served with tea black bean soup with sweet potato and pineapple alongside roasted beets, sweet potatoes and carrots with nuts and coconut milkinfused rice vegetable soup with bread, nuts and dark chocolate tempeh, rice (or other grain of choice) and vegetables avocado with wasabi and soy sauce, served with rice (or other grain of choice) The primary goal of fasting is to help us keep the commandments of God so that we may be able to enter His Kingdom 2

3 3 In Memoriam St. Andrew s Sobor Family extends their sincerest condolences to: Pauline Lysak on the repose of her Sister-in-law, Maria Hryhor of Nipawin, Sk. Вічная пам'ять We apologize in advance if any family members were missed in our expressions of condolence of the reposed above. We encourage you to contact the office if you've been missed and we will be sure to include your name in next month's Outreach. REMEMBERING THE LIVING & DEPARTED During every Liturgy the Priest says prayers for the living and the departed. At the entrance to the church, please fill in special Remembrance Cards and submit them to the celebrant priest so that prayers may be offered. Our Patron St. Apostle Andrew Feast Day Celebration Sunday, December 09, :00 am - Divine Liturgy Followed by Dinner Donations for the Dinner will be Graciously accepted Please contact the church office of your attendance or st.andrews-uocc@telus.net ST. ANDREW S GOLDEN AGE CLUB This Outreach is for the next two months so let s review what is planned. Club will continue to meet every Tuesday at 9:30 A.M. for fellowship and games, but with the exception of Christmas Day. We will get together on Tuesday, January 1 st, 2019 We welcome new members (over the age 55) to join us for fellowship and enjoyment. The first Tuesday is usually Soup and Sandwich (or equivalent). For the second Tuesday we will have our coffee, cookie, and card game or shuffle board. Third Tuesday is Birthday cake to celebrate with those that have Birthdays in the month, the fourth Tuesday we visit the tenants at St. Andrew s SELO ( Avenue). The SELO tenants are organizing a bus tour to see the Christmas lights on Candy Cane Lane. They have invited our members to join them. Contact Suzanna or John to register your intent on going. Tuesday before Christmas let s enjoy Christmas goodies. You are welcome to bring something for the group to show off your cooking skills. More details of up coming events are available at our get together on Tuesday. Eugene Luchka, President St. Andrew s Club.

4 4 CHURCH GREETERS December 02: Johanna Dzenick and Lesia Perritt January 06: Vivian and Ernest Skakun 09: Vivian and Ernest Skakun 13: Sergiy and Lesia Yakovenko 16: Gordon and Marion Ostapchuk 20: Michael and Carol Zukiwsky 23: Nick and Gloria Pundick 27: Bruce and Astrid Prytuluk 30: Michael and Gloria Gilyshyn Call our Church office for more information Special Event for Youth: Parish Christmas Tree St. Andrew s Ukrainian Orthodox Parish will continue its Christmas Season collection for the Food Bank until January 31, If you are able to donate any nonperishable food items, please place them in the Food Bank box kept in the atrium. Thank you for your continued support of those in need. St. Nicholas will be arriving on Decorating Sunday Для молоді: Прикрашення ялинок Saturday, December 15, 1:00 p.m. December 23 Feast of Jordan on the Eve of Theophany Friday, January 18 Great Compline with Litia, 5:00 p.m. Great Blessing of Water, 6:00 p.m. Holy Supper, following If you have a kolach to share, please deliver it to the kitchen before the church services. We welcome donations at supper to offset our meal costs. Please call the office at if you plan to attend, as we need to know how much food to prepare. Thank you kindly. Йорданська Свята Вечеря перед Богоявлення У П'ятницi, 18го січня Літія, в 5:00 годині Водосвячення, в 6:00 годині Свята Вечеря після Водосвячення Ми вдячністю приймемо будь-які пожертви під час вечері. Якщо Ви будете присутні, прошу подзвоніть до церковного офісу на число Маємо знати скільки їжі приготовляти. Щиро дякуємо.

5 5 Our annual Pre-Christmas and Khram Church Cleaning was held on Friday, Nov. 23rd: Thank you to the following: Mary Boratyn ec, Iris Bl ower, J ohann a Dzeni ck, Phyl lis Ko zak, Marie Mailman an d W all y Mailman, Steven Mur rr ell, G eo rgina Orles ki, Marion and Go rdo n Os tapchuk, Marg ar et W ozi mirs ky Ladies Auxiliary Our Pre Christmas Bazaar and Bake sale is scheduled for Friday December 7th at 5:00 pm, the same time as our Parish Pyrohy Supper. The ladies have already prepared cabbage rolls and pyrohy for this sale. Thank you to all the men and ladies that came and helped. We still have pies to make for our sale, this will occur on December 5th (Wednesday) fillings for pies, December 6th (Thursday) making & baking pies. The Ladies will be preparing dinner for our Patron Saints Day Dinner on December 9th and Theophany on January 18th. If you can come and help for any of these that would be great. Please the office st.andrews-uocc@telus.net or contact me Our next general meeting will be Monday December 17. After our meeting we will get together with the Men s club for snacks and a toonie auction. Ladies & men remember to bring a snack to be shared and a donation for this auction. The funds raised along with a donation from the Ladies Auxiliary are given to the Edmonton Christmas Bureau. If you are not a ladies or men s member you are still welcome to join us. There is NO Ladies meeting in January. The ladies first meeting of 2019 will be February 18th. As you travel over the Christmas season may you have a safe journey. To all of you I wish you a very blessed Christmas and may your New Year continue to be filled with our Lord s blessings. Yours in Christ Kathy Buchanan NOTE FROM THE TREASURY We encourage Parishioners to complete their 2018 donations before the last Sunday in December. This dead line allows the Treasury to deposit the donations into the bank and record the donation for income tax purposes. Complete your donations either by Sunday Envelope or mail/deposit at the Church Office. This is also the last chance to make or complete your donation to the Church Roof Replacement. Thank you for your donation!

6 December Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Fellowship 02: Lessia Slipchuk 09: St. Andrew s Ladies Auxiliary 16: Vivian Skakun 23: Deona Serna 30: Kathy Buchanan pm Great Vespers With Litia 4 Entrance of Holy Theotokos into the Temple Divine Liturgy 9:30am club 9:30 am 5 Pie filling 6 Baking pies 7 Bake sale 5 pm Pyrohy Supper 5-7:30 pm 8 9 Khram Patron Saints Day 28 Sunday after Pentecost Divine Liturgy 10 am - 12 pm festal reception Club 9:30 am St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called Pro - Selo 10 am Tree decorating 1:00pm 16 29thSunday after Pentecost Divine Liturgy 10 am 17 Men s/ladies meeting 7 pm -Toonie auction LENTEN snack 18 Selo 9:30 am 19 St. Nicholas Day th Sunday after Pentecost Divine Liturgy 10 am 12 pm St. Nicholas celebration pm Akathistos reading

7 7 January 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Fellowship 06: No Fellowship 13: Rose Marie Danyliuk 18: St. Andrew s Ladies Auxiliary 20: Marion Ostapchuk 27: Diane Pysyk 1 Club 9:30 am Eve of Nativity 10 am Divine Liturgy 7pm Great Compline with Lita 7 Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Різдво Христове 10 am Divine Liturgy 8 Synaxis of the Theotokos Selo 10 am Pro Liturgy Club 9:30 am Sunday before Theophany 10 am Divine Liturgy New Years Eve 14 Circumcision of the Lord St. Basil the Great Feast Day 15 Club 9:30 am Eve of the Theophany Йорданський Свят Вечір 5pm Great Compline with Litia Great blessing of the water 6 pm Holy Supper 19 Theophany Богоявлення 10am Divine Liturgy Great Blessing of the Water Sunday after Theophany Synaxis of St. John the Baptist 10am Divine Liturgy Club 9:30 am@selo February am Divine Liturgy Club 9:30 am Food Bank Collection Pick up Pyrohy Supper 5 7pm

8 Glory to Jesus Christ! Слава Ісусу Христу! Dear Parish Members; President s Report Once again, it is a privilege to greet all of you. With the beginning of the flu and cold season, hopefully, all of you have enjoyed good health during the past month and continue to do so in the coming months. Before continuing with the report, on behalf of the Board Management, a sincere thank you to all of you for your continuing financial support of the Parish and your dedication to volunteering your time to the many activities and tasks required for the operation and maintenance of the Parish. This report consists mainly of announcements and clarifications. 1) Patron Saint Day Celebration: We will be celebrating our Patron Saint, Saint Andrew, the First Called Apostle, on Sunday, December 9 beginning at 10:00AM with a Divine Liturgy, followed by dinner, and a short program. Normally, there would be a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy but with His Grace, Bishop Ilarion still on assignment in Ukraine, such is not the case. 2) Call for Nominations for the Centenary Awards of St. Andrew presented by the UOCC: The deadline has been extended to December 31, Lesia Perritt and William Dymianiw, who have volunteered to coordinate the nominations, have provided information at the Fellowships for the past two Sundays. If you require assistance with or require more information about a nomination, contact either Lesia or William. 3) Casino Eligibility Licence Application: Thanks to Sandra Hohol and Mary Boratynec for volunteering to help me with the application. The three of us will meet shortly to work on the application. 4) Board of Management Meetings: Please note that regular monthly meetings of the Board, which are held every second Tuesday of the month, beginning at 7:00 PM, are open to all members. All that is required is for you to notify me that you will be attending. Agendas, Minutes, and relevant correspondence of meetings are contained in a binder in the Parish Office. If you want to read this information, you have full access to it at the Office. However, the binder containing the Agendas, Minutes, and relevant correspondence must remain in the building, that is, you cannot take them home to read. 5) Special General Meetings: Meetings of the Parish members fall into one of three categories Annual General, Special General (Extraordinary), or Informational. To date, we have had two Special General Meetings. We hold these meetings to continue the practice of open lines of communication between the Parish Board and the Parish members. The distinction between a Special General and an Informational meeting is that decisions or motions made at an Informational meeting are not binding unless ratified at either an Annual General or Special General meeting. It is for that distinction, that the Board will continue to hold Special General meetings. As you well know, this issue of the Outreach Newsletter is a combined issue for the months of December and January. During these two months, there are a number of important and significant celebratory events beginning with Patron Saint Day Celebration on December 9; English Christmas and New Years on December 25 and January 1; the festive season of the Nativity of Jesus Christ beginning on January 6 and continuing onto January 7; New Year s Eve on January 13, New Years on January 14; 2019; Eve of Theophany on January 18, and the Holy Theophany of Jesus Christ on January 19. Regardless of which you celebrate, the Board of Management wishes you a Very Merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and in our tradition ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ! СЛАВІМО И ОГО! Christ is Born! Let us Glorify Him! In Christ; Ernest N. Skakun President ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE & BAZAAR AND PYROHY SUPPER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7TH 5:00 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. AT ST. ANDREW S UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX SOBOR PARISH COMPLEX STREET, EDMONTON, AB 8