St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church

Transcription

1 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Sunday April 29, 2018 Sunday of the Paralytic Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42 Gospel: John 5:1-15 Weekly Schedule of Services/Events Sunday, April 29 9:00AM Divine Liturgy Epistle: Jennifer Morrison Tuesday, May 1 9:00AM + Frank Esuchenko 12:00PM St. John's Seniors Thursday, May 3 7:00PM Board Meeting Sunday, May 6 9:00AM Divine Liturgy Epistle: Liam Gerety 9:00AM + Skirkanich Children 10:30AM Church School Welcome Bishop Gregory We welcome His Grace, Bishop Gregory, our Shepherd in Christ, to our parish on this day. May God continue to bless your Episcopacy and grant you many happy and blessed years! Many years Master! Is polla eti despota!! Service Schedule Divine Liturgy 9am Weekday Eve Service 7pm General Information Street Address: 384 Mill Hill Ave., Bridgeport, CT Mailing Address 40 Beaver Dam Road Stratford, CT Contact Information Fr. David Cochran H: C: pauldcochran@gmail.com Carol Feduik, President carolcfeduik@yahoo.com John Galpin, Choir Dir. choir@stjohnsmillhill.com Diocesan Resources Diocesan Website: Camp Nazareth: Facebook: acroddiocese Twitter: You Tube: acroddiocese

2 Weekly Announcements CAMP NAZARETH FAMILY DAY RAFFLE: The Camp is once again holding the Family Day Raffle to raise money to support the Camp. Tickets are $20 each with a chance to win the $10, Grand Prize. Please see Eleanor Adzima to purchase your tickets. YOUNG WOMENS RETREAT: Information about this year s Young Women s Retreat is in the topic. If anyone is interested, please see Fr. David ALTAR BOY RETREAT: This year s Altar Boy Retreat will take place July 1-4. Registration information will be available next week. GOLF TOURNAMENT: Information about our annual golf tournament is in today s bulletin. Please get your foursome in as soon as possible. FOOD BANK: Our monthly food bank will be held May 20. Please give with your heart. R CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: Information about this years William T Soltis Memorial Scholarship offered by the R Club is in the bulletin. Please see Holly Mesavage for an application. R CLUB PROGRESSIVE DINNER: The R Club will be hosting a Progressive Dinner this Saturday, May 5. Any potential new members that are interested in attending, please see Lynne Goetz or Colleen Dobosz for more info Sunday of the Paralytic Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had. It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place

3 Scripture Readings for Sunday Epistle Reading The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42 In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Gospel Reading The Reading is from John 5:1-15 At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the

4 man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. OCMC Outreach The OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) will be supporting several youth and teaching mission teams to Kenya later in the year. The children of our Orthodox brothers and sisters need our help and we have an opportunity to do so. This is a time when many clothing and department stores are offering significant clearing sales on their winter clothing. The children of the Orthodox schools and orphanages are in desperate need of suitable clothing and I am asking you to consider purchasing a new pair of pants or new shirt to be brought over to these children by a mission team next time you are clothes shopping. For an $5 or $10 purchase at the store, you can make a significant difference in the well being of one of our fellow Orthodox brethren. Having personally walked with these children through the mud wearing ragged clothing and no shoes, I witnessed their need first hand and I implore you to consider sharing our good fortune with those innocent yet devoted children. Please contact Subdeacon Joel Pleban from St. John the Baptist - Silver Lane with any questions. Memorial Grave Blessings GRAVE BLESSINGS Grave blessing will take place on Sunday, May 27, starting at 1pm at our cemetery in Stratford If you would like your family s grave(s) blessed on that day, please submit the form below to the Church Office, or contact Father David Cochran at (203) or pauldcochran@gmail.com. Please indicate which section your loved ones grave(s) is/are located if you know it. Grave Blessing, Sunday, May 27 starting at 1pm Your Name: Phone: Cemetery: Section

5 May Memorial Service - May 19th 9am John, Elizabeth, Joseph, Helen, George, Mary, Stefan, Susan by Susan Kimak Elizabeth, Alexander, Joseph, John, Michael, Catherine, Mary, Anna by the Swatt Family Louis and Veronica by Tom, Ken, Robin & Pattie Peter and Katherine, Katherine by Pani Sedor Alexander, Helen Adzima; Richard by the Adzima Children and Grandchildren Michael, Elizabeth, John, Julia by Andrew Pulchak Michael, Anna; Michael, Susanna, Michael, Peter by Anna Demchak Stephen, Susan, Albina, Jennie by the Varholak Family Walter; Gary, Mae by the Budnick Mary, Thomas, John, Andrew; Child: Anna by the Strich Family Anna & Michael, George by the Gabor family Catherine Galpin by John Galpin and Family John and Anna; John by the Bashar and Gulish families Parish Announcements Lucky 52 Winners: April: 4/1 Faith Pommier (IL) #16 4/8 Mary Lesko #8 4/15 Michael Saltis #11 4/22 Cathy Talone #22 4/29 Eleanor Demchak #28 Rescue Mission Volunteers: May 13: Helen, Greg, Jennifer and Lynne Food Bank: May 20. The season for giving has passed, but the need remains. Please give with your heart. School Supplies: As you are doing your Christmas, please remember to pick up some school supplies! The R Club will be collecting school supplies throughout the year. Please bring in any supplies that will help children succeed in school. We will be setting up kits next June to send to the IOCC. Supplies needed: pencils, crayons, markers, spiral notebooks, rulers, pens, etc. this is the time of year that these things are on sale.

6 Birthdays and Anniversaries Happy May Birthday to: Eleanor Demchak 1 Greg Vasil 1 Frank Jenci 5 MerriEllen Pekata 7 Joseph Adzima 8 Carl Maxwell 10 Will Fazekas 13 John Strich 14 Nicole Semanchik 16 Debbie Cadley 17 Brody Mesavage 17 Joyce Riccitelli 18 Abigail Saltis 20 Laura Bashar 21 Jake Cochran 21 Andrea Buchanan 21 Sue Babey 21 Jonathan Gulish 23 Nick Symochko 27 Keith Jenci 28 Paula Mudre 30 Happy May Anniversary to: Kevin & Margaret Moorer 11 David & Debbie Tvardzik 14 Ken & Marianne Hendren 18 Gary & Carole Adzima 27 Chuck & Mary Hall 30 May God grant you many more years! Please Alix your birthday or anniversary!!! amsdrs@optonline.net Kids Stormey Ford is finishing her 6 th year at dance. She and her cousin Kenzie will be performing in their recital in May. Justin Gorske has his brown belt in martial arts and is on on S.T.O.R.M. team plus the Demo team. He also teaches a martial arts class. Nicole Semanchik was named, by the teachers at Orchard Hill School, Parent of the Year. Congratulations!!

7 Parish Prayer List Please prayer for parish family and friends Bob Carolyn Susan Greg Mary Edward Laurie Ann Dan Ed Helen Lorraine Michael Barbara Jack Alyssa Stasia Nancy Trish Janice Anne John Tom Noreen Victoria Sharon David David Bryce John Sean Breanna Deborah Bill Pappa Paula Arleen Taito Rhett John Alexander Lillian Reenie Jodie Debby Joe Mary Jane Anna Alan David Steve Rick Irene Margurite Korie Mary Ann Katie Helen Sarah Sophie Ellen Leslie Lauren Craig Father Stephen Brittany Edward Bernadette Kristen

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9 th R Club Scholarship Information The 46 Annual St. John s Sr. R Club/William T. Soltis Memorial Scholarship applications are now available. Applicants must meet the following requirements: (1) Be a member and communicant of our church; (2) Attend undergraduate college, technical or nursing school; and (3) Are considered full time students in their respective institutions. Awards are limited to four per person. Deadline date for applications is May 25, No electronic submissions please submit a hard copy. Applications can be obtained from Mrs. Holly Mesavage, 125 Kings Row, Stratford, CT Tel. (203) or on the church s website: stjohnsmillhill.com/2.html Basis of judging: The Scholarship Award Committee is anonymous to the club membership. It uses a point system decided upon by the committee which encompasses church, school and community activities and answers to questions written by the applicant. Outside impartial judges are also members of the committee. Family financial status is not intruded upon nor requested. The scholarship awards are funded by individual donations, Memorial donations and the sale of religious items.

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11 On Stewardship - Part 82 - Count the Cost (Hannah) was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow (1 Samuel 1:10-11 RSV) Jesus reminds his followers that it is always necessary to count the cost. Listen to His words: For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:28 RSV). Good stewards understand what it costs to be good stewards. Hannah, mother of the Holy Prophet Samuel, also knew what it costs to be a good steward. Hannah was without children. This was a source of not only personal sorrow for her, but also a cause for others to mock her childlessness. It was not socially acceptable in those days for a married woman to be childless. So Hannah prayed fervently to the Lord for a child. So fervent were her prayers, that those prayers included a vow, a promise that Hannah would keep in exchange for a child. And what was that promise she made to God? She promised God that she would dedicate her child to the Lord s service. In time God granted Hannah s prayer. She bore a son whose name was Samuel. Hannah then kept her part of the bargain. Hannah counted the cost and completed what she had vowed to do. She offered her only son to the God who had given him to her in the first place. It seems that most parents sacrifice their children so some god or another. Would that we faithful stewards offer our children to the God to Whom they belong anyway. Would it not be better to offer our children to a life of service to God and His Church than to try and nurture them in the ways of this world the ways of materialistic buying and selling? Hannah recognized in what had to have been a very emotional moment, the truth that David the Psalmist would later write: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:10 RSV). Good stewards count the cost of their stewardship and then make a response in faith. That stewardship includes much more than what we do or don t do with our money. Faithful parents who are also good stewards know that their children, though generated by them, do not belong to them. Their children are gifts of God that are to be cherished, nurtured, cared for, and brought up in the fear of the Lord. God offers us children with the knowledge that we will give them back to Him. This weekly series of brief thoughts on stewardship and Orthodox life is brought to you by your Diocesan Stewardship Commission.

12 The Tenth Annual Charles Gullotta-William Soltis Memorial 9 Hole Golf Tourney Tournament to honor the memory of Charles Gullotta and William (Uncle Bill) Soltis, two men who contributed greatly to our Church. All proceeds from the tournament will go to programs sponsored by St John s The tournament will be a nine hole, scramble format Highland Golf Club Shelton, CT Saturday, June 2, 2018 Tee times start at 2:00 Cost of $80 per golfer Hamburger and Hot Dog Cook out to follow immediately at the conclusion of golf For more information or to register, please contact: Greg Dobosz at Please make your check out to St John s Senior R Club and return them to 360 Ashwood Terrace Stratford, CT Deadline to enter is Friday, May 25, 2017

13 Charles Gullotta / William Soltis Golf Tourney Registration Form The following people intend to participate in the Charles Gullotta / Bill Soltis Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by the St. John s Senior R Club. The tournament will be held at Highland Golf Club on Saturday, June 2, Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Groups of less than four will be accepted and will be paired with others to fill out a foursome. The cost of the tournament will be $80 per player. All proceeds will go to benefit programs at St. John s. Hole Sponsors Hole Sponsorship for the tourney will be sold for $ If any individual and/or business would like to participate, please fill out the form below. Name to appear on the sign Contact person Phone number

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15 Daily Scripture Readings for May 2018 Prayer before Reading Scripture Illumine our hearts, O Master Who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and lifecreating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. 1. Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms Kings 1-4 Memory Verse Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law - Psalm 119:18 * Reading plan courtesy of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

16 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:00am Holy Day Divine Liturgy 9:00am Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 Samaritan Woman Reader s Service 9am Epistle: L. Gerety EP Skirkanich fam Church School 13 Blind Man Divine Liturgy 9am Epistle: H. McKane EP Semanchik fam. Rescue Mission 20 Frs. 1st Council Divine Liturgy 9am Epsitle: C. Greenhill AP + Duranko Family Church School Food Bank 27 PENTECOST Divine Liturgy 9am Kneeling Prayers Epistle: J. Greenhill Grave Blessings 1pm 7 Choir Rehearsal 7pm 1 + Frank Esuchenko 9am St. John s Seniors 8 St. John s Seniors St. John s Seniors 21 Choir Rehearsal 7pm 28 Holy Spirit Day Liturgy 9am 22 St. John s Seniors 29 St. John s Seniors May Board Meeting 7pm 4 5 R Club Progressive Dinner EL by Ann Louis 9am Great Vespers for Ascension 7pm 17 Ascension Divine Liturgy 9am Pirohi Prep 10am Officers Meeting 7pm 18 Pirohi 9am R Club Scholarship Deadline Golf Tournament registration deadline EL by Thomas Polascik 9am EL & AL Divine Liturgy 8am Evening Services 7pm 19 Monthly Memorial Service & Confession 9am 26 Great Vespers for Pentecost 5pm Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!