Sunday Before the Nativity of Our Lord - Icon of the Holy Ancestors
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Sunday Before the Nativity of Our Lord
Icon of the Holy Ancestors
-2-
December 19, 2021: Sunday Before Christmas
Epistle: Col. 3: 4-11 Gospel: Lk. 14: 16-24
Mon., Dec. 20 9:00 + Christine Danylak (Leo Danylak)
Tues., Dec. 21 9:00 + Debbie Altier (Shirley Jacobs)
Wed., Dec. 22 9:00 + Nicholas Marcinko, Sr. (Andrea Novak & Family)
Thurs., Dec. 23 9:00 Special Intention
Fri., Dec. 24 Christmas Eve
10:00 pm For Vocations
Sat., Dec. 25 Christmas: Birth of Our Lord
10:00 am For Christmas: For Our Parishioners
4:00 pm For Sunday: For Our Parishioners
Sun., Dec. 26 10:00 + Dorothy Chezik (Mary Ann & John Turko)
Christ Is Born!
Glorify Him!
Христос Рождається!
Славімо Його!
Another Christmas is here. Let
us reflect on the true meaning of this
celebration. We will receive gifts,
many will receive more than others.
But we will receive one gift equally.
That is the gift of the Incarnate God.
Let us acknowledge this unique
gift by participating in as many of
the special Christmas Services as
possible and remembering the real-3-
reason for the season, and to pray for
Peace on Earth! Christ is Born! -- Glorify Him!
May the Incarnate Christ, be with Христос Рождається! Славімо
each and everyone of you during Його!
this holiday season and throughout
the year 2022. My prayers for your Father Nestor
continued health and happiness.
It’s Okay to Say “Merry Christmas”
Every Christmas, anti-Christian liberty and love for our fellow man
groups such as the American Civil are deeply rooted in the Traditions of
Liberties Union, the American the Apostolic Church which includes
Communist Party, various Islamic the Bible, particularly in the life,
groups and Atheist groups sue some death and resurrection of Our Lord
city for erecting a nativity scene on God and Savior Jesus Christ. That’s
public property. Likewise, fearing why America has been a light among
they may be perceived as politically the nations in the world.
incorrect, a handful of retailers Like the angel who appeared
replace the word “Christmas” with to the shepherds saying: “I bring
“Holiday” in their marketing. you good news of great joy,” we
It may seem like a small issue, but Christians have a story to tell about
these things are significant because the blessings of honoring the true
they diminish the importance of the God. Telling the story can start with
Christian foundations of our society. simply not patronizing stores that use
Our ideas of justice, mercy, “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry-4-
Christmas” and by reminding those okay to say Merry Christmas.”
who say “Happy Holidays” that “It’s
Trees And Poinsettias
The Christmas tree tradition was Pennsylvania, in 1830. Early trees
started in Germany in the late 1400s. were decorated with fruits, nuts,
At that time a popular theatrical per- popcorn, toys and candles. Today
formance, the Paradise Play, depict- more than 80 percent of American
ed the expulsion of Adam and Eve families buy and decorate a tree at
from Paradise and was represented Christmas.
by a fir tree hung with apples. Soon The tradition of poinsettias in
the tree was placed in the homes of churches and homes at Christmas
Christians, who inter- traces back to a village
preted it as a symbol of in Mexico. According
the coming Savior. The to the legend, it was a
apples were replaced custom for villagers to
with small white wafers place gifts before the
representing the Holy Nativity scene at the
Eucharist or Commu- church on Christmas
nion. Later the wafers Eve. A small boy, too
were replaced by pieces poor to give anything,
of pastry cut into shapes of stars, an- knelt to pray in the snow outside. On
gels, hearts, flowers and bells. the ground where he knelt, the leg-
Pennsylvania Germans claim to end says, a beautiful plant with scar-
have brought the Christmas tree cus- let leaves grew immediately.
tom to America. The first Christmas The boy took it into the church
tree is recorded under the date De- and presented it as his gift to the
cember 20, 1821, in the diary of a Christ Child. Mexicans call the col-
Matthew Zahm of Lancaster, Penn- orful plant Flor de la Nocha Buena
sylvania. The first known exhibition (Flower of the Holy Night), and it
of a Christmas tree was held in York, is thought to resemble the Star of-5-
Bethlehem. The poinsettia plant is amateur botanist. He discovered
named after Dr. Joel Roberts Poin- the beautiful plant there in 1828
sett, the first United States ambassa- and brought it to the United States,
dor to Mexico and an accomplished where it was named in his honor.
Come Home For Christmas!
We all know fam- Just remember that Je-
ily members, friends, sus experienced the
neighbors, co-workers, same kind of reception
or school friends, who and He did not give up.
are Catholic and no lon- So if your invitation re-
ger attend the Divine ceives no response or a
Liturgy. Christmas is a negative one, just wait
great time to invite them a few weeks and ask
to come home to the again. In the meantime,
Church. Think about it, pray for that person, but
pray about it, and invite someone to don’t give up on them no matter how
come to Church with you during the long it takes. It is hard to persevere
Christmas Season. There is always a and it is hard to be rejected, but just
chance that you will be rejected or be patient and kind and trust in the
your invitation will fall on deaf ears. Lord.
Christmas Stewardship
During this Christmas season we children to understand what it means
think about giving and receiving to be wise stewards of Jesus and His
gifts. But as Christians we are called Good News for the world. Google
to be stewards, and stewardship goes the word “Steward or stewardship”
beyond just giving objects. It entails and come to understand what the
giving gifts of the heart, mind and word “steward” really means. Many
soul, as well as our time, talent and times we use words in conversation
treasure. This year let us help our- but not know what they really mean.
selves and our children and grand- Part of being faithful followers of-6-
Jesus means we continue to educate faith to give, we can’t give what we
ourselves spiritually. In order to be don’t have. May God made man in-
good stewards, we must first have spire us to grow in knowledge and
the message of hope and love and faith!
Properly Receiving Holy Communion
When approaching to receive unsteady on your feet, please feel
Holy Communion, do not be afraid free to use the first pew in front of
to approach the Priest. Father’s arms the icon of the Mother of God. We
are only so long and when you stand don’t want anybody to get hurt. Fa-
too far away, it is difficult to distrib- ther will come up and give you Com-
ute Holy Communion. munion.
We also remind everyone to tilt Now finally, a little about the red
your head back and open your mouth Communion Cloth. Sometimes the
WIDE. Please keep your tongue in Altar Servers hold it; sometimes Fa-
your mouth. Please do not bite down ther holds it. When the Altar Serv-
on the communion spoon. There is ers hold, simply approach (i.e., come
no need to say anything since the close to the Priest). If Father is hold-
priest says the prayer. There is no ing it, simply lift it up to your chin.
need to say AMEN as is done in the The purpose of the Communion
Roman Catholic Church. Cloth is to help prevent accidents.
For those faithful who are a little
2021 Parish Dues
With the end of 2021 quickly remind our Parish Family Members
approaching, we offer this gentle that Parish Dues are now $50.00 per
reminder to make sure that your adult per year. There is no increased
2021 Parish Dues are paid. Also, we planned for 2022.
Christmas Bake Sale Reminder
For those who ordered items from the Christmas Bake Sale, pick up is-7-
Monday, December 20th between 207 River St.
3:00 and 7:00 at the Church Hall at
Andrew’s Pence
The Synod of Bishops of the Many settled on another continent,
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church where church buildings of the
(UGCC) has decided to hold a UGCC are not everywhere, so that
collection, called Andrew’s Pence, the faithful could not attend services
to support faithful of the UGCC in their native Church. Wishing to
abroad where there is no permanent provide all faithful of the UGCC
ecclesiastical structure. with spiritual care, the bishops call
More than 100 years ago upon all to support the faithful of
Ukrainians started to leave their the UGCC abroad in prayer and
native land in search of a better financially, collecting the so-called
life, material welfare, and freedom. Andrew’s Pence.
2022 Church Calendars
The 2022 Church Calendars are Church. The Calendars are free, but
available in the Vestibule of the any donations will be appreciated.
Festival of Christmas Carols
The annual Festival of Ukrainian are invited to attend this annual
Christmas Carols will be held on celebration to praise our new-born
Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 3:00 pm King and our Lord Jesus Christ at
at our Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral this Christmas time.
of the Immaculate Conception. All
Collection Processing Team...
The Collection Processing Team Team #4: Ron Barkofsky and Joe
for the month of December 2021 is Smagula.
Sunday Collection for Dec. 11 & 12, 2021: $2,206.10-8-
Ss. Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church
135 River St., Olyphant, PA 18447-1435
Telephone: 570-291-4451 Fax: 570-489-6918
Web Site: stcyrils.weconnect.com
E-Mail: sscyrilandmethodius@comcast.net
Rev. Nestor Iwasiw, Pastor
The Story of the Origin of Jesus Christ, Son of David, and the Rest of the Names
Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box 3909 -- Fairfax, VA 22038-3909 www.ecbulletin.com Ph: 703-691-8862 Fax: 703-691-0513You can also read
