Issue No.24, February 23, 2014 Sunday, February 23, 2014 1 Cor. 8:8-9:2 St. Matthew 25:31-46 1
Sunday of the Last Judgment Meatfare Sunday Schedule of Altar Boys for Sunday, March 2 nd : English Divine Liturgy: Group #2 Jonathan Parfejewiec, Michael Parfejewiec, Jonathan Greaves, David Greaves. Schedule of Ushers for Sunday, March 2 nd : English Divine Liturgy: Group #4 Mr. Emil Pavlyshyn, Mrs.Joey Mihnovets. On Sunday, March 2 nd, our parish will be honored to have His Grace Bishop Daniel lead us in worship at both Liturgies. Bishop Daniel will preside at the English Liturgy and deliver the sermon. His Grace will be the celebrant at the Ukrainian Liturgy and will deliver the sermon. Plan to attend and inform those parishioners who are not present at this morning s Liturgy. Sympathy and prayers go out to Mr. John Bilokonsky and family on the death of their beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Elfrida on February 17 th after a difficult illness. Funeral services were conducted from our church on Friday. May her memory be eternal! Vichnaya Pamyat! With the Federal HIPAA laws in effect at all medical institutions, it is difficult for the clergy to locate parishioners who have been transferred from the hospital to a rehab facility. Since some parishioners do not have families or their families are not known to the clergy, it is impossible to find out to which rehab facility they have been transferred. Since the ministry of visiting the sick is a very important one, please be sure that the clergy is contacted with the name and address of the new location. Please note that our Pyrohy Group has resumed work. Volunteers are always needed. Check the Calendar of Events for the work times. Last year, this dedicated organization donated $50,000 to the financial needs of the parish. We are very grateful for their labor of love. Always remember that volunteers are needed in order to make this a successful project in 2014. The Annual U.O.L. Essay contest is underway. The topics have been given to our Sunday School teachers. Parents please encourage your children to participate. For more information, contact Mrs. Mary Ann Sklaryk, Youth Minister. 2
Calendar of Events for the week of February 23 rd : Sunday (today)- Junior U.O.L. Coffee Hour following both Liturgies Monday - 4:30 p.m., Ukrainian dancing and art classes Wednesday - 8:30 a.m., Moleben for sick parishioners - 5:30 p.m., Ukrainian Dance School, Bandura School, & Art classes - 6:00-8:00 p.m., Library Hours Thursday - 7:00 a.m., Pyrohy project (peeling) - 12:30 p.m., Pyrohy project (scooping) - 4:00 p.m., Pyrohy project (making) Friday - 9:00 a.m. noon, Pyrohy sales Saturday - 9:00 a.m., Ukrainian school - 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Library hours - 4:45 p.m., Confession - 5:00 p.m., Vespers Sunday - 8:30 a.m., English Divine Liturgy - 9:45 a.m., Sunday School - Junior U.O.L. Coffee Hour following both Liturgies - 10:15 a.m., Ukrainian Divine Liturgy - 5:30 p.m., Vespers at Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Youngstown HELP!!! Lent is around the corner. Please volunteer to help on Fridays at the Fish Fry. Last year, we made over $3,000 after 1-time equipment costs and supply expenses. This year we hope to make a greater profit. We cannot do it without your help. Please contact Mrs. Mary Ann Skaryk (216) 642-9355, Mrs. Pauline Osad (440)773-0856 or Gene Boyko (440) 885-0468 for more information and to volunteer. Thank You! Memorial services (Sorokousty) began, as is the tradition in our parish, on the first Friday of Great Lent (March 7 th ) and will continue every Friday. If you would like your deceased family members remembered during this service, please notify the clergy. This request must be made annually. Special envelopes for Sorokousty can be found in the office. Please write the names legibly. The Fund to Aid Ukraine, through the generosity of our community, has raised over $1,000,000 for causes in Ukraine. Today the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio calls to action to support the needs of the Euromaidan. Your donations will provide funds for food, clothing, medicine, blankets and other necessities to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Donations are being accepted at Cleveland Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, account #6308. The Fund to Aid Ukraine is registered as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Contributions to Fund to Aid Ukraine are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Fund to Aid Ukraine s tax identification number is 34-1684139. 3
Please remember our sick and elderly parishioners in your prayers. Also, the clergy request that they be notified when parishioners are admitted to and/or discharged from the hospital and transferred to a nursing home and if a home visit is desired. Please mark the following dates in your calendar and plan to participate: Sunday, March 2 nd 5:30 p.m., Eve of Great Lent, Forgiveness Vespers at Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Youngstown. A Lenten meal will follow. Sunday, March 9 th - 5:00 p.m., Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers will be served at St. George Syrian Orthodox Church, West 14 th Street in Tremont. A Pan Orthodox choir is being formed to sing at the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers on Sunday, March 9 th. Choir rehearsals will be held at St. George Orthodox Church and St. Sava Cathedral in Parma. Everyone is invited to join the choir. For times of rehearsals, please speak to our choir director, Markian Komichak. The Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy has assumed the responsibility of soliciting donations to underwrite the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy and to support the Orthodox ministries that serve our area. We ask you to contribute to this effort by making a donation to the GCCOC. In return you will be listed as a Patron in the handout at the Pan Orthodox Vespers and the donations collected will be used to support local Orthodox charities. Please fill out the donation form in this morning s bulletin. All donations from our parish will be listed under the parish name. Attend Church every Sunday as a family and unite with Our Lord in Holy Communion. Yes, I would like to be a booster and support the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers on Sunday, March 9 th. The names of all donors will be printed in the commemorative booklet under St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Name (please print) Amount of donation $.. Please return this form to the parish clergy or church office by February 28 th. Make checks payable to: St. Vladimir Cathedral Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Office Phone: (440) 886-3223 4
COUNCIL OF BISHOPS OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA Violence Must Stop Immediately Dear Brothers and Sister in the Lord! The political situation in Ukraine is critical. In the city of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, armed forces make every attempt to captured Maydan by force, using grenades and other explosive weapons. Dozens of individuals are dead and hundreds of injured from both sides. In the cities of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Lviv people have seized city halls and demand that police and armed forces of the region join opposition. In Kyiv, opposition is asking the president to remove the violence of berkuts and resume peaceful negotiations. The president is still silent but blood shedding continues to escalate. Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is asking the government of Ukraine to stop assault of Ukrainian people and to begin peaceful democratic negotiations. We solemnly remind that the way to resolve conflict questions must be that of diplomacy and dialogue. What is needed is courage to go beyond the surface of the conflict and to consider others in their deepest dignity, so that unity will prevail over conflict and it will be possible to build communion amid disagreement. The political demagoguery and brutality and abuse must cease immediately. We share the concern of lawmakers and citizens for the safety of Ukrainian protestors and also of police and military personnel in these times of great uncertainty and danger. In this regard, the dialogue must prevail and become a positive sign of peace, and we express our hope that both - the government officials and leaders of Ukrainian opposition will resolve, with the support of the international community, to take courageous decisions aimed at finding a just and lasting solution to a conflict which urgently needs to end. Remember, the country's democratic future will depend on dialogue and the ability to listen to voice of Ukrainian citizens. It is essential that logic and calm prevail. No physical force will ever succeed in eliminating the free will and the voice of the citizens! All the leaders and citizens of the Ukrainian nation must, as Saint Paul reminds us, clothe themselves in heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. (Col. 3:12) With prayers in Christ, +Antony, Metropolitan of the UOC of the USA and Locum Tenens of the UOC in Diaspora +Daniel, Bishop and President of Consistory of the UOC of the USA 5
Special Services Scheduled for the First Week of Great Lent, beginning on Monday, March 3 rd Monday - 6:00 p.m., Canon of St. Andrew of Crete (English & Ukrainian) Tuesday - 6:00 p.m., Canon of St. Andrew of Crete (English only). The English choir is requested to sing the responses Wednesday - 6:00 p.m., Canon of St. Andrew of Crete (mostly English & Ukrainian). Youth Service. The responses will be sung by the parish youth. Thursday - 6:00 p.m., Canon of St. Andrew of Crete (Ukrainian only). The Ukrainian choir is requested to sing the responses. Friday - 6:00 p.m., Passion Service, Sorokousty (Ukrainian) and Confession Saturday - 8:30 a.m., Holy Confession - 9:00 a.m., Divine Liturgy - 4:30 p.m., Holy Confession - 5:00 p.m., Vespers Sunday - 8:30 a.m., English Divine Liturgy - 10:15 a.m., Ukrainian Divine Liturgy - 5:00 p.m., Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at St. George Antiochan Orthodox Church, W 14 th Street in Tremont. Children should meet at the church at 4:40 p.m. and bring their icons. As we begin this Lenten season, in preparation for the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Pascha as Orthodox Christians, we are called upon to make time for God and our spiritual well-being. We will all feel better for having done this. The following are Church regulations that you are asked to adhere to during this Lenten season: Attend Church every Sunday and participate in the special Lenten services that are scheduled. Participate sincerely in the Sacraments of Holy Confession and Communion every Sunday. Fast the entire first and last week of Lent, as well as on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. To those of stronger body and more willing spirit, it is wholeheartedly recommended that the practices of a sterner quality of the traditions and customs of our Holy Orthodox Church be followed, namely fasting the entire Great Lent from meat and dairy products. Practice deeds of charity; think of others; visit the sick, lonely and elderly. Participate in the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts every Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. Confessions will be heard at 5:30 p.m. Those desiring to receive Holy Communion at this evening Liturgy must begin fasting from food and drink at 12:00 noon. Parishioners who, because of age or ill health, are unable to attend services to receive Holy Communion in Church are asked to call the clergy to arrange to have the Sacraments brought to their homes. However, please do not wait until the last week to do so because that is when the clergy are most busy preparing for Holy Week and the Paschal services. Please note that the faithful are NOT required to fast from medicine they are taking. To those who have not actively participated in the services of our parish, what better time than now to make a change. Also, if for any reason you have not received the Sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion for a number of years and would like to discuss this matter with the clergy, please do not hesitate to call. Remember that to be considered a member in good standing in the Orthodox Church requires the believer to receive the Holy Mysteries of Confession and Communion a minimum of once a year. Great Lent is the appropriate time to fulfill this requirement. May God bless you with strength, wisdom, and a heart of prayer as we begin the Great Lent! In Christ s Love, Fr. John & Fr. Michael Having suffered the passion for us, O Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on us. 6
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