Sundays of Great Lent

Transcription

1 327 Saints Peter & Paul UOC 8410 West 131st St. Palos Park, IL Fr. Vasyl Sendeha - Rector Rectory Phone/Fax: (708) Hall Phone: (708) Rev.vasyl@yahoo.com Parish Council Howard Brooks Sisterhood of St. Anne Josephine Hobert Church School Director Victoria Rak Church Choir Director George Cepynsky Sr. UOL Harry Oryhon Caregiving Com. Harry Oryhon Seraphim Group Howard Brooks 50/50 Club Michael Gbur Brotherhood of St. Constantine John Policzszuk Sundays of Great Lent FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - ST. MARY OF EGYPT (Mark 10:32-45). This Sunday commemorates the life of St. Mary of Egypt, who is a shining example of repentance from sin through prayer and fasting. She lived a sinful life for many years, but was converted to a Christian life. She went into the wilderness to live an ascetic life for many years, praying and fasting in repentance of her previous sinful life, and dying there. St. Mary's life exemplifies her conviction about Christ, which motivated the changing of her life from sin to holiness through repentance. Her understanding of repentance involved not a mere change from small things in her life, but an extreme change of her entire attitude and thoughts. The Church commemorates St. Mary for her recognition of her own sins as an example of how one can free oneself

2 from the slavery and burden of wrongdoings. This recognition of sin is imperative during Lent for the faithful as a means of selfexamination and preparation for a more virtuous life in anticipation of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ. Why Orthodox Young People Fall Away A Prophetic Word from Fr. Steven Salaris Last year, I attended a clergy gathering where we had several workshops discussing the importance of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), ministry to college students, and what I call The 60%. This term derives from a recent study revealing that 60% of college students never return to church after college. This sad data applies to Orthodox Christians, too. When discussing this with others, my brain wanted data to back up the claim. I wanted to identify the reasons why our youth leave. Bad idea! No one wanted to discuss the issues. It was easier to lament about the symptoms than to address the cause(s) head on. There was also a lot of finger-pointing at those workshops; however, when you point a finger at someone, three fingers point back at you! So why do 60% of our college youth leave Orthodoxy? This is a difficult question to answer. It requires some serious scientific investigation. In the discussion that follows, I have implemented the scientific method of which I am so familiar. After spending time making observations and asking some tough questions, I have come up with several hypotheses. Some will apply specifically to our Orthodox Church, others will apply to Christian churches in general. Most of the hypotheses are corollaries to the warning God gave in Exodus, I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments (20:5b-6). (We would do well preaching about that verse more!). Another hypothesis is related to how we educate our youth. Here are my hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: Linguistic. Be honest, we worship in dead liturgical languages that laity, chanters, priests, and bishops do not understand. Our insistence on using these language is like keeping a body alive on a ventilator long after brain death has occurred. Nonetheless, we continue to offer incense to the idol of spiritual language while not gaining a substantive understanding from what we hear. 2

3 327 Today Wednesday April 5 Friday April 7 Saturday April 8 Sunday April 9 Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent. Tone eight. Great Lent. Food with Oil Venerable Mary of Egypt. The Holy Fathers who were slain at the Monastery of St.Sabbas: Venerables John, Sergius, Patrick, and others (796). Martyr Photina (Fatima, Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman and her sons: Martyrs Victor named Photinos Hebrews 9:11-14 Galatians 3:23-29 (Venerable Mary) Mark 10:32-45 Luke 7:36-50 (Venerable Mary) Reader of the Hours - Sandra Hladky Reader of the Eng. Epist. Sandra Hladky Reader of the Ukr. Epist. Halyna Kashpar Pre-sanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm With potluck Akathist to the Mother of God 9:00am Lazarus Saturday Divine Liturgy 9:00am Spring clean up of the temple The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. St. Matrona of Thessalonica (4th c.). Martyrs Manuel and Theodosius (304). Venerable John the Clairvoyant of Lycopolis, anchorite of Egypt (394). Venerable Cyricus (Quiricus), monk, of Thrace. Prophet Hanani (Ananias). Venerable Paul, bishop of Corinth (ca. 925). Venerable Paphnutius, disciple of St. Anthony the Great. Philippians 4:4-9 John 12:1-18 Reader of the Hours Ray Fischer Reader of the Eng. Epist. Ray Fischer Reader of the Ukr. Epist. Natalie Cepynsky 3

4 Even we do use English, many Orthodox Churches speak in what I call liturgical ebonics an old variant of Shakespearian English that uses Thee, Thy, Thou, Thine pronouns and archaic verb tenses. Imagine the relief our youth feel attending a non-orthodox church service that uses proper modern English. Dost thou not get it that this silly talk edifieth not our children! Sts. Cyril and Methodius understood using the language of the people! The evangelists to the Alaskan Native American people understood it. Why don t we? Hypothesis 2: Enmity in our churches is contributing to The 60% Enmity is a word that means positive, active, and mutual hatred or ill will. Churches are full of it! including the Orthodox. It would be great if we hated evil, sin, and the devil; instead we hate each other. Jesus tells us that we are to love one another as he has loved us. Too often we fail. When we fail we are hypocrites. How can Johnny learn about Christian love when mom has not spoken to that person in the parish for fifteen years? Yes, mom says, Jesus teaches that we have to love our neighbor as ourselves and that we must forgive seventy times seven, but how dare that person change grandmother s baklava recipe at the Church festival! Years ago, I stood in a food line at a Greek festival and watched two men of that parish cursing and yelling at each other while nearly coming to fisticuffs. Great witness for the Gospel, huh? Add to this parish splits, gossip, back-biting, the way personality disordered parishioners treat the priest, vituperative general assembly meetings, etc., is it any wonder that our youth flee once they are free? To be continued in the next bulletin Sisterhood of St. Anne God bless our volunteers! Easter Season is always busy for us. Please come and help us prepare for April 6 sale. Next Perogy/Vareniky days are: Sunday April 2 Make Cheese balls Monday April 3 From 8:00am-11:00am Filling cheese Pierogies make SK balls Tuesday, April 4: From 8:00am 12:00 pm make Pot balls fill SK Pierogies From 6:00 pm? Bake Bread evening crew Wednesday April 5: From 9:00 am-1:00pm filling Potato Porgies Thursday April 6 Sale Noon 4:00pm. Tuesday April 11 4:30 pm Bake Pascha Bread 4

5 327 Sunday School Blog Glory to Jesus Christ Thank you to all the children who came to church even though we started Spring Break. Family is important and I hope you all had a great time. I have been absent from church for personal reasons and to help Miss Aileen with watching Hazel so she can teach the First Confession Class. I will be absent for the next 2 weeks due to my obligation with Miss Amber at her School. I am hoping that all the teachers will work together with Father Vasyl for Palm Sunday Processions and Blessing of the Palms and Willows. Good Friday we will still decorate the Tomb and then of course Pascha Services Saturday Evening. I look forward to seeing you all on Good Friday. Have a great couple of weeks. Loves, Miss Vicki Sunday School Teachers Corner Glory Be to Jesus Christ! Recap from this past Sunday School Lesson: We continued our "window" theme by talking about the windows in our church building. I had pictures and information about each window and saints so we matched those together. Some went home with the students and a few are on our bulletin board. Thank you, Fr. Vasyl, for all the pictures and information. We sometimes don't notice the beautiful windows we have or who is represented so here is a list of the saints pictured on our windows: St. Olga, Princess of Ukraine; St. Anne, Mother of Theotokos; Archangel Gabriel; St. Nicholas the Wonderworker; St. Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland; Archangel Michael; St. Mary of Magdala; St. John the Baptist; St. Volodymyr, Enlightener of Ukraine; St. Paul and St. Peter the Apostle. Blessings, Miss Debbie Yours in Christ~Miss Debbie & Miss Karen 5

6 Seven Day Vigil Candles Janet Milton for the health & healing of Aunt Barbara Patronik. For the health and God s blessings of Family Members by Alvine & Mike Gbur For the health of Maria Omelian by PM Olenka For the health and quick recovery of Fr. Clooney by Fr. Vasyl For the health of Katheryna Czerniak by Fr. Vasyl Janet Milton in blessed memory of Monte on the year anniversary of his repose. Memory Eternal. In memory of Lubomyr by Lillian Cepynsky, wife In memory of my family: Stefurak, Platsok, Matweev, Marteklas, Bahry, Yaniv, Urchik, Zerebny, Scherba by Maria Yaniv Zerebny Prayer Corner for the Month of April We ask all of you to remember in your prayers the following individuals, who are in need of God's healing and grace: Dean Manson, Vera Beggs, Pavlo & Polina, Barbara Patronik, Elias, Roxana, Irene, Katheryna Czerniak, Lilian Cepynsky, Josephine Hobert, Anthony Bendy, Katie Bruce, Maria Omelian, Patti Faye, Toni Marie Klavin, Hazel Gardiner, Michael Kimak, Yuriy Zmysly, Paul Jr & Dorothy Seliga, Wolodymer Kashpar, Nick Kapusta, Priest Vasyl Dovhan, Priest David Clooney, Frankie, Zachary, Alexander, Paul, Dolores. If there is anyone who is in need of prayers, and you want to add them to the prayer corner, please notify Fr. Vasyl. If you would like me to visit with the Sacraments of the Holy Confession and Eucharist during this Great Lent, please call the rectory to set up an appointment. I will gladly visit everyone Fr. Vasyl Love one another as I have loved You. By this they will know you are my disciples. John 13:35 6

7 327 Essay Contest 2017 St. Thomas Sunday Lamb & Chicken Roast Sunday, April 23 served at Noon Donation: Only $10-adults $6-students (8-18) No charge children under 8 Pysanka Auction. (Creations of Anatol Omelian) Free Children s Egg Hunt Over 3000 Eggs to hunt for!!! Please see Noreen Neswick or PM Olenka or call the Rectory Second Annual Children Pascha Bread Baking Children of all ages are invited to make, decorate and bake their own Easter/Pascha bread creations on Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017 after the Divine Liturgy. Parents are encouraged to bring their children and participate at the tradition learning event. For more information, please see PM Olenka. Declare among the nations His work Psalms 104:1 We ask parents to make sure their children do take part in this year s Essay contest. Let s make our parish family proud with 100% participation of our children! Children will be introduced to the essay at school, but we strongly recommend to work on the essays at home! It doesn t take long for your child to complete it, but it gives a lot back to the grows of your child s faith. Adults can participate as well! For topics and more information please see the Essay Flyer Please bring the completed assays to church no later than April 22, 2017 Memorial Panahyda TODAY In memory of Monte Milton on the First year anniversary of his repose in the Lord. Requested by Janet Milton In memory of Wasyl Wanshula on the anniversary of his passing into eternity. Requested by Liliana Roviaro and family. 7

8 Coffee Hour Schedule Today -- Pierog, Zmysly & Larson families (Lenten) April 9 -- PALM SUNDAY BRUNCH UOL April PASCHA April St. Thomas Sunday LAMB & CHICKEN ROAST April Mary Lamantia and Maria Iordanov If you would like to volunteer for the Coffee Hour or need to change your scheduled date, please see Dr. Harry Oryhon call or harrymolars@aol.com Orthodox Events in the neighborhood "The Deaconess in the Orthodox Church" Speaker Dr. Helen Theodoropoulos Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 6:00 pm SS. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church 1401 Wagner Rd. Glenview, IL Presanctified Liturgy Lenten meal and lecture immediately following Registration is not necessary. Free will donation. Pan Orthodox Akathist Pan-Orthodox Akathist Hymn this Tuesday April 4 at 7:00 pm. The Northside Akathist will take place at the New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery of the Protection of the Theotokos, Route 45, 1 mile south of Rt 132 in Grayslake, Illinois. Sponsored and served by Sr. UOL Chapter Lenten Fish Fry on Friday April 7, 2017 from 5:00pm- 7:00 pm Fried Fish or coconut shrimp or calamari, tatter tots, great homemade coleslaw, bread, beverage and desert. Donation - only $13.00 adult Children -$6.00 Children 10 year & under - Free 8