Special points of interest: Epistle Reading: Colossians 1:12-18 Gospel Reading: Luke 13:10-17 Tone: 3 Liturgical Color: Purple S A I N T M A R Y ' S O R T H O D O X C H U R C H THE THEOTOKIAN December 9, 2018 61 Canada Road Painted Post, NY 14870 Schedule for Week Saturday, December 8, 2018 4:00pm Vespers/Confessions Sunday, December 9, 2018 9:30am Divine Liturgy Panachida memory of Stanley Lewek offered by Alan & Joan Shaw; Panachida memory of +Helen Matzkevich offered by Matzkevich Family; Panachida memory of +William Kerrick offered by Ted and Rodney Kerrick Coffee Social Saturday, December 15, 2018 4:00pm Vespers/Confession Sunday, December 16, 201 9:30am Divine Liturgy Panachida memory of +Michael Sovich, memory of Pani Joan s father, offered by Pani and Father Tuesday, December 18, 2018 4:30pm Vesperal Liturgy Feast of Saint Nicholas Wednesday, December 19, 2018 FEAST OF SAINT NICHOLAS NO LITURGY TODAY WELCOME! Welcome to all our visitors and guests who participate in our celebration of the Divine Liturgy today. We are glad you are here. While Holy Communion may only be received by prepared Orthodox Christians, our guests are welcome to join us in venerating the cross and receiving blessed bread at the conclusion of the Liturgy. We also hope you will join us for the Coffee Social afterward. Parish Contact Information Rev. Father Daniel Mahler Presiding Priest Rectory: 607-962-5285 Father s Cell: 607-377-0587 Father s Office:: 607-936-0689 Charles (Chuck) Coons Council President/Cantor: 607-368-1309 1
Page 2 Epistle Reading: Colossians 1:12-18 THE THEOTOKIAN Brethren, Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Hi is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, wheter thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all thiongs, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence Gospel Reading: Saint Luke 13:10-17 Let us attend, Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eightenn years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered hiom and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years bee loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were don by Him. 2
THE THEOTOKIAN Page 3 By Stanley S. Harakas SAINT BARBARA Q: Please give me some information about the life of Saint Barbara. A: A great martyr of the church, Saint Barbara is honored on December 4/17 each year. She is one of the most famous and beloved saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The traditions about her birthplace and birthdate are a bit confused, but is likely that she was born in Nicomedia of Asia Minor. It appears that she was 18 to 20 years old when she suffered martyrdom in the year 306 at the hands of her own father, Diosccoros, who had carefully educated her in pagan knowledge, when he learned that she had become a Christian in spite of his wishes. Her earliest known biographer is Saint John of Dacascos, whose memory is celebrated on the same day. Saint Barbara s story is a classic story of the teenager and a domineering father. She was the only daughter of a rich and well know pagan by the name of Dioscoros. He doted on his daughter, and wished to protect her from any importune contacts with unworthy persons, since she was born beautiful and quite intelligent. In order to do so, he constructed in his house a closed, tower-like room which he furnished in the most luxurious manner, providing it with every creature comfort. Barbara was kept in the room under close guard. Only her servants and well-known and highly respected teachers were allowed to visit her. He main occupation was study of the classical knowledge of Greece and Rome. In spite of all this precaution, Barbara learned of the Christian faith, as well. Apparently, her sharp mind was able to evaluate not only the pagan religious myths, but also the false teachings of the pagan philosophers. The tradition seems to indicate that she had studied the writings of early Christian writers and theologians, such as Origen. Many illustrious pagans sought her hand in marriage, but she steadfastly refused to accept any of them. Her father then changed tactics. He gave full freedom to go where she wished and to whatever she wanted to do. It seems that she came into contact with a group of lchristian women, who taught her that the Christian life was much more than just book learning and a world-view. She began to worship in the Christian Church as a catechumen, and was given formal instruction by a priest fro Alexandria. After her period of catechetical instruction she was baptized. This appears to have taken place when her father was on a journey. Dioscoros confronted his daughter with what he had heard about her. She fearlessly admitted that she had chosen to become a Christian. In order to force her to abandon her faith he began to beat and torture his daughter. Barbara remained faithful, however. Having managed to escape, Dioscoros chased after her, capturing her in a cave in which she had hidden. Dioscoros then turned her over to the pagan authorities to whom he dragged his daughter by the hair of her head. Barbara was subjected to fearful and bloody sufferings at the hands of the local Roman governor, but she still refused to deny Christ. All the while, her father watched the proceedings with increasing anger. Overcome by rage, he rushed forward and raising his sword, he cut off his own daughter s head. Thus, Barbara became a courageous martyr for Christ, and an example of loyal faith and commitment for countless generations of Christians. 3
Page 4 THE THEOTOKIAN GRATITUDE OPENS DOORS As he was drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. He answered, I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation. Lk 19-37-44 Today I want to be with those who rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for the mighty works they had seen, and not with those who are blind to His might works, because they haven t recognized the time of their visitation. Today Christ draws near and visits my little world, whenever I open my eyes and heart to His life-bringing, perspective-changing Presence in our midst. When I let myself be grateful, and to bless the Lord, His Spirit opens my life up to (even more) blessings from Him. When I just grumble, on the other hand, as did some of the Pharisees mentioned in the passage above, then I become blind to all the doors Christ has opened for me. And then my selfinflicted isolation, along with its ensuing fears, can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, leaving me embanked and surrounded by enemies, as the Lord warns the Pharisees. Thank You, Lord, for drawing near today, and lighting up my life. I am the door, I hear You say to all of us this morning, If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (Jn 10-9) 4
T HE T HE O T O KI A N Page 5 This week s Bulletin and Eternal Light is sponsored by CONTACT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Church Website: Saintmarysorthodoxchurchcorning.org Follow our Diocese On-Line Diocesan Website acrod.org Camp Nazareth campnazareth.org Facebook: facebook.comacroddiocese Twitter: twitter.com/acrodnews YouTube youtube.com/archdiocese CAROLE HERRLICH In honor of MARY BENYO On her birthday And for the health of MAE ANTOS May our God grant his servants good, health, and salvation for many blessed years! Mnohaja I Blahaja Lit a! 5
Page 7 THE THEOTOKIAN December 9 Tezta Birbirsa 11 Anna McKane 11 Katherine McKane 13 Mary Benyo 14 Nancy Coons 14 Diane Rodrigues 14 Chase Mackiewicz December 20 Rodney Kerrick 23 Natasha Hartmann 29 Myra Svyrydenko God grant your servants good health, peace, and salvation for many blessed years! His Eminence, Metropolitan GREGORY; Protopresbyter Frank Miloro; Protopresbyter John Duranko; Protopresbyter Jim Dutko; Protopresbyter Luke Mihaly; Protopresbyter Lawrence Barriger; Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky; V. Rev. Thomas Kadlek; Very Rev. John Baranik; V. Rev. Michael Psenechnuk; Rev. James Gleason; V. Rev. Jason Kappanadze; Rev. Basil Hutsko; Deacon Charles Ellis; Deacon Donald Koch; Mother Ralphaela; Pani Joan; Pani Kathleen Dutko; Pani Patricia Duranko; Pani-Matka Julia Romanchak; Sally Ellis; Judy Koch; Michael Banik; Helen Verno; Eleanor Adzima; Michael & Delores Kundrat; Vasyl & Lyudmyla Hayova; Helen Coons; Mary Benyo; Anna Chudanic; Michael Matzkevich; Marlene Wheet; Mae Mary Shonak; Helen Molson; Donna Blazosky; Art Gallant; Nancy Murphy-Teed; Joyce Nissen; Chelsea Roman; Gloria Ewsuk; Andrew Chudanic; Tammy Pierson; Jeanne Zimmer; Denise Topichak; John Cowherd; Sylvia Serdula; Stephen Brancho; Carole Herrlich; Gary Herrlich; Daniel Donnelly; Jean Cox; Mae Antos; Marianne Grabenhofer; Dimitri Wallick To Jonathan Share who is serving in the United States Navy; Tyler Colburn serving in the United States Army; Douglas Linsey serving in the United States Army, Jordan Worobey serving in the United States Navy and to all of our men and women who are serving and protecting our country both at home and abroad. SOMETHING TO PONDER.. If each of us would add just $1 to our week offering it would total $50 a year per person; Add $2 per week that s $100 per year; add $5 per week that s $250 a year per person. Imagine how great it would feel to help our Church by just giving up a coffee or two a week. Let s give a try! 6
CHURCH ITEMS FOR DONATION/CONTRIBUTION ITEM PROPOSED COST ($) SPONSOR(S) Vestibule Etched, Glass Doors (2) 15,000 Church Nave Lighting 5,000 The Topichak Family - Paul, Denise, Joseph & David In Memory of: Metro, Anna, & John Topichak Tetrapod/New Altar* 10,000 Andy Kerrick Memorial Tomb* 2,000 Small Dome with Cross on Dormers (2) 8,000 each 1. The Mertus Family 1. In Memory of Paul Mertus Altar Linens Tetrapod Linens TBD TBD Cantor Stand 500 Audio System 2,000 $200 donated by June and Marion Kulik Shrubs/Landscaping $15,000 donated Front Patio Construction 15,000 Electronic Entrance Sign 4,000 Items to be taken & used: Bell Pews (until new ones needed) Outside Shrine Restoration Carole & Gary Herrlich *Items made from wood If you have an interest in donating or contributing to any of the above items, please fill in the information and return to Nancy Gabel. Thank you. 7
SAINT MARY S NATIVITY FAST CHARITY During this season of preparation before the Nativity of Christ, as we turn our thoughts to those less fortunate than us, Saint Mary s will be sponsoring a BABY BOTTLE DRIVE in support of the Pregnancy Resource Center of the Valleys. We hope that you will take a bottle home with you and drop your loose change in it as you give thought to those your coins will help. Please bring your bottle back on Christmas, January 7th! WHAT WILL YOUR BOTTLE DO? Provide an ultrasound? Pay the electric bill? Buy diapers for a struggling family? Filling a bottle helps fund the Pregnancy Resource Center of the Valleys so that together we can save lives of the unborn and meet the physical and spiritual needs of men and women who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy. PICK UP YOUR BOTTLE TODAY! RETURN YOUR BOTTLE ON JANUARY 7TH (CHRISTMAS DAY) Memory Eternal +MAE MARY SHONAK Mae Mary Shonak, beloved mother of Kristine Garner fell asleep in the Lord on the evening of Saturday, December 1st. Mae Mary s funeral took place on Saturday, December 8th in Springfield, Mass. Our deepest condolences are extended to Kristine, Steve and the Shonak & Garner families. May our Lord grant his servant Mae Mary a place of rest where all the Saints and Just repose. May her memory be eternal! Vichnaja jema Pamjat! 8