Epistle Reading: 2 Timothy 4:5-8
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8
Tuesday, January 5Festal Vespers with Litiya 6 pmWednesday, January 6Divine Liturgy 9 am followed by Great Blessing of the Waterand at 12:pm the Great Blessing of the Susquehana River from the Nan-ticoke BridgeNo Wednesday Evening VespersNo Thursday Morning AkathistSaturday, January 9Great Vespers 4 pmSunday, January 10Divine Liturgy 9:30 am
St.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchSt.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchSt.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchSt.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvaniaOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvania
St.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvania
St.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchSt.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvania
St.John the Baptist Orthodox Church
Front & Welles Streets Nanticoke, PA 18634 www.stjohnsnanticoke.org ✢ [email protected]
Rev. Fr. Adam R. Sexton, Acting Rector570.735.2263 offi ce ✢ 570.702.9036 cell
Reader Joseph P. Paprota, Council President & Choir Director 570.829.4112
January 3, 2010
Schedule of Services
Theophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world Theophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by St. John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son by St. John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared
to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” (Mt.4:16), and to save the fallen race of mankind by grace. death” (Mt.4:16), and to save the fallen race of mankind by grace.
In the ancient Church it was the custom to baptize catechumens at the In the ancient Church it was the custom to baptize catechumens at the Vespers of Theophany, so that Baptism also is revealed as the spiritual illumination of mankind. The origin Vespers of Theophany, so that Baptism also is revealed as the spiritual illumination of mankind. The origin of the Feast of Theophany goes back to Apostolic times, and it is mentioned in The Apostolic Constitutions of the Feast of Theophany goes back to Apostolic times, and it is mentioned in The Apostolic Constitutions (Book V:13). From the second century we have the testimony of St Clement of Alexandria concerning the (Book V:13). From the second century we have the testimony of St Clement of Alexandria concerning the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, and the night vigil before this Feast.celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, and the night vigil before this Feast.
There is a third century dialogue about the services for Theophany between the holy martyr Hippolytus There is a third century dialogue about the services for Theophany between the holy martyr Hippolytus and St Gregory the Wonderworker. In the following centuries, from the fourth to ninth century, all the great and St Gregory the Wonderworker. In the following centuries, from the fourth to ninth century, all the great Fathers of the Church: Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, John of Damascus, Fathers of the Church: Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, John of Damascus, commented on the Feast of Theophany.commented on the Feast of Theophany.
The monks Joseph the Studite, Theophanes and Byzantios composed much liturgical music for this The monks Joseph the Studite, Theophanes and Byzantios composed much liturgical music for this Feast, which is sung at Orthodox services even today. St John of Damascus said that the Lord was baptized, Feast, which is sung at Orthodox services even today. St John of Damascus said that the Lord was baptized, not because He Himself had need for cleansing, but “to bury human sin by water,” to fulfi ll the Law, to not because He Himself had need for cleansing, but “to bury human sin by water,” to fulfi ll the Law, to reveal the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and fi nally, to sanctify “the nature of water” and to offer us the form reveal the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and fi nally, to sanctify “the nature of water” and to offer us the form and example of Baptism.and example of Baptism.
On the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Church proclaims our faith in the most sublime On the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Church proclaims our faith in the most sublime mystery, incomprehensible to human intellect, of one God in three Persons. It teaches us to confess and mystery, incomprehensible to human intellect, of one God in three Persons. It teaches us to confess and glorify the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and Indivisible. It exposes and overthrows the errors of ancient glorify the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and Indivisible. It exposes and overthrows the errors of ancient teachings which attempted to explain the Creator of the world by reason, and in human terms.teachings which attempted to explain the Creator of the world by reason, and in human terms.
The Church shows the necessity of Baptism for believers in Christ, and it inspires us with a sense The Church shows the necessity of Baptism for believers in Christ, and it inspires us with a sense of deep gratitude for the illumination and purifi cation of our sinful nature. The Church teaches that our of deep gratitude for the illumination and purifi cation of our sinful nature. The Church teaches that our salvation and cleansing from sin is possible only by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, therefore salvation and cleansing from sin is possible only by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, therefore it is necessary to preserve worthily these gifts of the grace of holy Baptism, keeping clean this priceless it is necessary to preserve worthily these gifts of the grace of holy Baptism, keeping clean this priceless garb, for “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27).garb, for “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27).
✢On the day of Theophany, all foods are permitted, even if the Feast falls on a Wednesday or Friday.On the day of Theophany, all foods are permitted, even if the Feast falls on a Wednesday or Friday.
St.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchSt.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvania
St.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvania
St.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchSt.John the Baptist Orthodox ChurchOrthodoxChurchinAmericaAParishoftheDioceseofEasternPennsylvania
St.John the Baptist Orthodox Church
Front & Welles Streets Nanticoke, PA 18634 www.stjohnsnanticoke.org
Rev. Fr. Adam R. Sexton570.735.2263 offi ce
Reader Joseph P. Paprota570.829.4112
✢Feast of the Theophany of our Lord ✢Feast of the Theophany of our Lord CommemoratedonJanuary6
Feast of the Theophany of our Lord
Festal Vespers with Litiya 6 pm
by Great Blessing of the Waterand at 12:pm the Great Blessing of the Susquehana River from the Nan-
No Wednesday Evening VespersNo Thursday Morning Akathist
Jan.7beginningat10:00am
HanoverSectionofNanticoke
Jean Barney
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Chernikovich
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Wroblewski
Anna Guravich / Daria Yackimowicz
Jack Wolfkiel
Helen Waichulis
Jack Sarochinsky
Marge Sokol
Mary Zupko (Birchwood)
Mary Zaleta (Birchwood)
LowerAskam:
Julia Rishkofski
Susan Shiposki
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Zupko
Cieslak, Christine
House Blessing Schedule
ContinuedonInside
WarriorRun/
TruesdaleTer.:
Frank Fedock
UpperAskam
Stephen Brezna Jr.
Harold Lazo
Stephen Brezna
Nancy Cunard
Paul Cunard, Lori
John & Mary Ann Kreminic / Helen
Solinski
Mr. & Mrs. George Kreminic
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kreminic
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Cunard
Tom & Lori Readler
Barbara Pascoe
Olga Sulewski
Paprota, Joseph & Mary
Announcements ✢Intercessory Prayer ✢TheLiving
✢ All of our shut-ins and those in nursing homes:
Mary Staniorski MaryAnn Kremenic
John Kremenic Mary Ruduski
Mary Zaleta Margaret Mesh
Helen Kasian Mary Zupko
Paul Ecrote
✢ Those who lie in sickness:
John Lipinski Daria Yackimowicz
John Zelinski Matushka Olga
Michael Calabro Maryann Dubee
Melanie Hoats Smith Karen Schinski
Cheryl Connaghan Helen
Vera Campbell Jeffrey Lasoski
Andrea Godomski Resa Ellison
Elena Amy Issa
Joseph Doku George & Nikki MotikaGeorge & Nikki Motika
✢ Those who have asked for our prayers: All staff, volunteers All staff, volunteers
and residents at the Birchwood and the Catherine McAuley
House, Missionary Christina, Rev. Deacon Daniel & Rachael, House, Missionary Christina, Rev. Deacon Daniel & Rachael,
This God-protected City of Nanticoke and the Hanover Section, This God-protected City of Nanticoke and the Hanover Section,
our Mayor, City Council, Police and Fire Companies
ForOurCollegeStudents
✢ Justin Cunard Jessica Yackimowicz
Charlotte Ebert Devon Wolfkiel
✢ All who attend LCCC at the end of our Street
TheNewlyDeparted
✢Stephen Rudawski ✢Child Jonathan
✢His Emminence, Archbishop Job
TheFaithfulDeparted
✢ January 3 Anna Patrician (1964)
Michael Kostka (1988)
January 5 Helen Rudawski Wanchisen (1970)
Birthdays
✢ January 3 Helen Waichulis (1922)
January 6 Mary Ann Oram (1930)
January 7 Julia Rishkofski (1921)
Jan.8Beginningat10:00AMNanticokeArea
Helen Dargiewicz
Mary Kuprionis
Diana Koepke
Helen Connor
Joann Uhas
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Wolfkiel
Byron (George) Mosser
Jan.11Beginningat10:00AM
LeePark/W-BTwp.
Mr. & Mrs. James Oram
John Paprota
Helen & Doreen Cherkis
Betty Sarochinsky
Helen Kasian (Nursing Home)
Dorothy Speary
Candice Mesh
Jan.12Beginningat10:00AM
Debbie Maskalis
Gary Hasinus
Susan Breck
Jan.13Beginningat10:00AM
MountainTop
Mr. & Mrs Attillio Panzitta
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Truszkowski
Bonnie Yurkon
✢ OpenHouseattheRectory:the Open house at the rectory on New Year’s Day was a wonderful time! Thanks to all who showed up and made it a terrifi c visit. What wonderful singing, fellowship and plenty of food and good company we enjoyed together. Looking forward to next time!
✢ AkathistServiceisMovingtoThursdaysat10:am,followedbyPastor’sbreakfast!-Beginning Thursday January 14th, we will gather to ask for the intercession of the saints for the building up of the Body of Christ here in Nanticoke. If we do not exist for the life of the world and its salvationn, then we should not exist! Come hungry and let there be bacon!
✢ TheophanyHouseBlessings:We begin on Thursday to travel all over creation blessing homes, dedicating ourselves and our homes to the service of Christ and His Holy Gospel. Have a look at the enclosed schedule to see when Father Adam will be in your village. If this time doesn’t work for you, he’ll come back again and again until you open the door! J ***Please Note*** It is neither expected nor is it necessary for you to offer a fi nancial gift for this service. Father Adam requests instead that if you should like to make an offering for the house blessing, that you do so in the form of a #10 size can of food to be delivered to a local food bank. See enclosed info regarding these and where you can get them.
✢ ShallWeGatherattheRiver?:we have a unique and untapped opportunity to do what many parishes have done over the last 2 millenia. We’re blessin the Sausquehana ! On Wednesday, January 7th, we will bless the waters here in Church, then we will travel into town and park at the ball fi eld by Nanticoke Bridge and bless the majestic Susquehana . Please come and be there with us. Let’s plan on being there right around noon. ✢ GotE-mail?:If you use a computer and have an e-mail address please let Fr. Adam know what your e-mail address is. It is a useful tool for communicating important parish information. Either send Father an e-mail at [email protected] or write it down and give it to him. It will be a big help.
✢ Un-decoratingforChristmas: on Monday your help will be especially appreciated in removing the Christmas decorations from inside the Church in preparation for the Feast of Theophany. See Joe Paproata with questions.
✢ FebruaryLottoNumbersTickets:Please pick up your Lottery tickets in the back of the Church if you have not done so already. The drawing is for the whole month of February - Returns in by January 17th. See Jim or Mary Ann Oram with Questions.
✢ SwearinginofParishCouncilMembersfor2010:Tentatively scheduled for next Sunday, January 10th. It is essential that each member of the parish council partake of the sacrament of confession & communion prior to this if they have not already done so recently. To serve on the council is a spiritual function, as much as or even more so than an administrative one. For this reason sacramental preparedness is understood by Church law, Parish by-law , your Bishop and thereby your priest, to be the minimum criteria to hold this offi ce. No exceptions. You may partake of the mystery of Confession after Vespers on Saturday, or at any other time by arranging it with Fr. Adam.
✢FellowshipCoffeeHourTodayis offered by Pete Wasenda. Thanks Pete!
HouseBlessingScheduleContinued