St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian

Orthodox G.C. Church 220 Mansfield Blvd. (mailing: PO Box 835), Carnegie , PA 15106

Very Reverend Fr. Steve Repa

Rectory: 412-279-2111; Emergency: 412-4 00-9782 Parish Hall: 724- 276-9718

President: Howard West 412-910-9627 www.orthodoxcarnegie.org

February 18February 18February 18February 18,,,, 2012012012018888

The Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church Bulletin is published weekly by The Senior Chapter of the Ukrainian Orthodox League

Editor: Michael Kapeluck Bulletin Submissions are due by 8:00 am Thursday morning. Written submissions can be: -hand delivered to the editor -placed in the Bulletin envelope in the church vestibule. -mailed to: 300 East Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106 -e-mailed to: kapeluck@verizon.net

2017 Parish Board of Directors President:

Howard West Vice President: Shelly Trondle Rec. Secretary: Cynthia Haluszczak Treasurer:

Sandra Rozum Asst. Treasurer:

Jason Olexa Financial Secy. Victor Onufrey Asst. Fin. Secy Natalie Turicik Trustees:

Sherri Walewski Steve Sawchuk Andrew Brennan Sandy Rozum

Alice O’Neil Vestrymen:

Cliff O’Neil Steven Sawchuk Jr.

Auditors: Michele Kapeluck Ron Wachnowsky Millie Good Hall Rental: Chris Mills 412-716-0562

Sunday, February 18Sunday, February 18Sunday, February 18Sunday, February 18THTHTHTH 9:30 am, Divine Liturgy

Sunday of forgiveness/ cheesefare, tone 4 Holy martyr Agatha

1 cor 8 : 8 – 9 : 2; mt 25 : 31 – 46 Parastas in memory of terry reinhart

Monday, February 19Monday, February 19Monday, February 19Monday, February 19thththth 6:30 pm Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Poklony,

Tuesday, February 20Tuesday, February 20Tuesday, February 20Tuesday, February 20thththth 6:30 pm Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Poklony

Wednesday, February 21Wednesday, February 21Wednesday, February 21Wednesday, February 21stststst 6:30 pm Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Poklony

Thursday,Thursday,Thursday,Thursday, February 23February 23February 23February 23rdrdrdrd 6:30 pm Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Poklony

Saturday, February 24Saturday, February 24Saturday, February 24Saturday, February 24thththth Divine Liturgy, 10:00 am - Theodore Saturday

Vespers 6:00 pm

Sunday, February 25Sunday, February 25Sunday, February 25Sunday, February 25THTHTHTH 9:30 am, Divine Liturgy

Sunday of orthodoxy, tone 5 Hebrew 11 : 24-26, 32–12 : 2; jn 1 : 43-51

This week’s Bulletin is sponsored by:

Bonnie reinhart &family in memory of terry reinhart on the 10th anniversary of his falling asleep

Vichnaya Pamyat memory eternal And

In honor of sarah dorning on her 39th birthday Mnohaya lita ! many blessed years !

Maria Warholak in honor and appreciation of

Michael welsh and Andrew brennan

We welcome you today

We would like to remind our visitors of the following;:

� All people are encouraged to participate in the sacred services of our Church. We hope that you will be able to worship as well as have fellowship with us. Should you wish any information about the Orthodox Faith or this parish in particular, please see the rector or any member of the church. We are able to place you on our mailing list.

� Only Orthodox Christians may receive the Eucharist (Holy Communion) in the Orthodox Church. In like manner, Orthodox Christians may not receive the sacraments in an non-Orthodox Church. While we hope that one day all Christians will find unity and be able to approach the chalice of our Lord together, we observe the teachings of the Church that the Eucharist is a gift of unity and not a means of unity.

We remind our faithful and visitors of the following guidelines concerning the Holy Sacraments in the Orthodox Church.

� Orthodox Christians are urged to receive Holy Communion frequently. � Communicants should be at peace with others before approaching the chalice(Mt 5:23-24) � Realize the importance of making a thorough examination of sins and transgressions against God, ourselves and others and

having prayed for forgiveness before coming to Holy Communion. � Frequent communicants should come to Holy Confession at least four times a year (during the four fasting periods of the

year). and additionally when an examination of conscience reveals the necessity to do so in order to heal any sinful behavior. � Communicants should fast from all foods and liquids from the evening before receiving Holy Communion. � Communicants should read prayers in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. � All Orthodox Christians must receive the sacraments at least once a year. � Those who are late for Divine Liturgy ( after the reading of the Epistle and Gospel) should not approach the chalice. � Those who are ill or who have special physical needs are exempt from the above guidelines. � Infants and children (up to the age of seven) who are Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion and are exempt from

the above guidelines. Thank you for gathering to worship with us today. Together we have glorified the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May we be brought closer to one another and closer to God by following the eternal teachings of our Lord.

Нагадуємо нашлім гостям., що:

ми заохочуємо всіх до участі у Священній Літургії в нашій Церкві; ми сподіваємося, що Ви змажете не лише молитися тут, але й стати членом нашої громади. Якщо Ви хочете отримати якусь додаткову інформацію про Православну віру, чи, зокрема, про нашу парафію, звертайтеся, будь ласка, до отця настоятеля чи до будь-кого із членів нашої парафії. Ми можемо внести вашу адресу до парафіяльного списку розсипки; лише православні християни можуть отримати Євхаристію (Святе Причастя) у православній церкві І, відповідно, православні християни не можуть отримувати святого причастя у неправославній церкві Плекаючи надію на те, що у майбутньому всі християни досягнуть єдності і зможуть разом пити із чаші нашого Господа, ми дотримуємося вчення церкви про те, що Євхаристія - це дар єдності, а не засіб до єдності.

НАГАДУЄМО НАШИМ ВІРНИМ і ГОСТЯМ ПРО ПРАВИЛА, ЩО СТОСУЮТЬСЯ СВЯТОГО ПРИЧАСТЯ У ПРАВОСЛАВНІЙ ЦЕРКВІ:

ми спонукаємо православних християн часто ходити до Святого Причастя; ті, хто причащаються, повинні бути у мирі з іншими перш, нас підійти до євхаристичної чаші (Св.Матвій 5:23-24); перед тим, як прийти на Святе Причастя, дуже важливо ретельно осмислити гріхи і порушення, які було вчинено проти Бога, нас самих та інших і помолитися за їх відпущення; тим, хто часто причащається, слід приходити на святу сповідь принаймні чотири рази на рік (під час кожного із чотирьох щорічних постів); ті, хто причащається, повинні з вечора перед прийняттям Святого Причастя, припинити вживання всякої їжі і напоїв; ті, хто причащається, повинні шляхом молитов підготувати себе до прийняття причастя; всі православні християни повинні, принаймні, раз на рік отримати Святе Причастя; ті, хто спізнився на Божественну Літургію (прийшов після того, як було прочитано Апостол і Євангеліє) не можуть підходити до чаші; хворі, і ті, хто має обмезсені фізичні моеисливості, звільняються від вище викладених вимог; немовлята та діти до семи років, які належать до Православної християнської віри, можуть отримувати Святе Причастя і звільняються від вшиє викладених вимог; Дякуємо за те, що Ви прийшли помолитися з нами сьогодні у церкві Ісуса Христа. 'Разом з вами ми віддали славу Єдиному Господу, Отцеві, і Синові, і Духові Святому. Нехай дотримування вічного вчення нашого Господа наблизить нас один до одного Боh

Cheesfare and Forgiveness Sunday

Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

Troparion to the Resurrection – Tone 4

When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous

message of Thy Resurrection; they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the apostles: Death is overthrown! Christ God is risen, granting the world

great mercy.

Kontakion of Forgiveness - Tone 6

Master, Teacher of wisdom, Bestower of virtue,

you teach the thoughtless and protect the poor: Strengthen and enlighten my heart.

Word of the Father, let me not restrain my mouth from crying to you:

Have mercy on me, a transgressor, O merciful Lord!

Kontakion to the Resurrection – Tone 4

My Savior and Redeemer as God rose from the tomb and delivered the earth born from their chains. He has shattered the gates of hell, and as Master, he

has risen on the third day!

As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam's expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they were created. Both they and their descendents became heirs of death and corruption. Let us consider the benefits of fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in church services, and partake of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ. At Forgiveness Vespers we sing: "Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit…." www.oca.org

Martyr Agatha of Palermo in Sicily

Troparion to st agatha — Tone 4

Your lamb Agatha, calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: “I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. In baptism I was crucified so that I

might reign in You, and I died so that I might live with You. Accept me as a pure sacrifice, for I have offered myself in love.” Through her prayers save our souls, since

You are merciful.

Kontakion to st agatha — Tone 4

May the Church be robed today in a garment of glorious porphyry, dyed by the pure blood of the martyr Agatha, and let us cry out: “Rejoice, pride of Catania!”

The Holy Virgin Martyr Agatha was the fifteen-year-old daughter of rich and respected Christian parents from the city of Palermo (formerly Panormos) in Sicily. During the persecution under the emperor Decius (249-251), the city prefect of Catania, Quintianus, having heard about Agatha’s wealth and beauty, sent his soldiers after her to bring her to trial as a Christian.

At Catania they housed the saint with a certain rich woman, who had five daughters. They all attempted to tempt Saint Agatha with fine clothes, amusements and entertainment, urging her to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the saint disdained all these things. The more they tried to move her, the more resolute she became. She prayed that she might soon face martyrdom. During her interrogation under Quintianus, the holy martyr was swayed neither by the flattery, nor by the threats, and she was subjected to cruel torments. They also tried to remove her breasts with metal tongs, and when this failed, they used knives. The holy Apostle Peter appeared to her in prison and healed her wounds. Saint Agatha was led to torture again, and Quintianus was astonished to see her completely healed, with no trace of cutting. Then the torture began once more. At this moment an earthquake took place in the city, and many buildings were destroyed. Among those killed were two of Quintianus’s advisors. The terrified inhabitants rushed to Quintianus, demanding an end to Agatha’s tortures. Fearing a revolt by the people, Quintianus sent Saint Agatha back to prison. There the martyr, offering thanks to God, peacefully surrendered her soul to the Lord.

Prokiemon

Sing to our God, sing to our King, to our King sing. Verse: O clap your hands together, all ye people; O sing unto God with the voice of melody.

Forgiveness Sunday- Cheesefare

Lesson from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans (c. 13, v. 11-14; c. 14, v. 1-4)

Brethren, our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed in the Gospel. The night is nearly over, and the day is approaching. Therefore, let us abandon all the practices of benighted paganism and let us take up the weapons of enlightened Christianity. Let us live decently as in the ful1light of the day. Turn away from revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, licentiousness, dissension, and rivalry. Put on the armor of our Lord Jesus Christ, and forget all about gratifying the passions of the flesh. Welcome the man, who is weak in faith without arguing about his scruples. Some men believe in eating everything. Others, who are scrupulous, eat only vegetarian food. The man, who eats meat, must not look down on the man, who abstains from it. Likewise, the man, who abstains from meat, must not criticize the man, who eats it. For God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? Whether he stands or falls, concerns only his ,master. To be sure, he will stand on his feet. For God is able to make him stand.

До римлян 13:11-14, 14:1-4

Виконуйте все це, бо ви знаєте, в який час ми живемо. Ви знаєте, що час прийшов вам прокинутися від сплячки, бо спасіння наше зараз ближче до нас, ніж тоді, коли ми вперше повірили. Ніч уже майже минула, і день наближається. Тож звільнімося від вчинків, що належать темряві. Зодягнімося у зброю світла. Живімо ж пристойно, як люди живуть при денному світлі: не в гульні та пияцтві, не в перелюбі й розпусті, не у сварках та заздрощах. Краще будьмо подібні до Господа нашого Ісуса Христа, і не потураймо нашому гріховному людському єству і його бажанням.

Щиро приймайте тих, чия віра слабка, та не задля суперечки про погляди ваші. Один вірить, що може їсти все , а інший, слабкий у вірі своїй, їсть лише овочі. Тому ж, хто споживає будь-яку їжу, не слід зверхньо ставитися до іншої людини, яка не їсть усього. І навпаки: той, хто не їсть деякі страви, нехай не осуджує першого, оскільки Бог прийняв його.

Чому ти осуджуєш чужого слугу? Лише в очах свого господаря слуга може бути виправданий або покараний. Слугу ж Господнього буде виправдано, бо Господь владу має виправдовувати.

The Gospel According to Saint MatthewThe Gospel According to Saint MatthewThe Gospel According to Saint MatthewThe Gospel According to Saint Matthew ( c. 6, v. 14-21)

The Lord said: "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." "Moreover when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. For they distort their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Verily I say to you, they have already received their reward." "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father in secret. Then your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly." "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For wherever your treasure is, your heart will be also."

Від Матвія 6:14-21

Якщо ви прощаєте людям гріхи їхні, то Отець ваш Небесний також простить вам. Та коли ви не прощаєте, то й Отець не простить вам гріхи ваші”».

«Коли ви поститеся, не прибирайте сумного вигляду, як лицеміри, які прикидаються, аби людям стало ясно, що вони постяться. Істинно кажу вам: вони вже сповна мають свою винагороду. Коли ви поститеся, зачешіть своє волосся та вмийте обличчя своє, щоб люди не побачили, що ви поститеся, щоб побачив лише Отець ваш, Якого ніхто не бачить. І Той, Хто бачить таємне, віддячить за це».

«Не складайте собі скарбів на Землі, де міль та іржа знищать їх, де злодії можуть вдертися й викрасти їх. Краще збирайте скарби для себе на Небі, де ні міль, ні іржа не понівечать їх, де злодії не вдеруться й не викрадуть їх. Бо де багатство ваше, там і серце ваше буде.

Prayer List

Heavenly Father, Who sent Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be the Physician of our souls and bodies, Who came to heal

sickness and infirmity, Who healed the paralytic, and brought back to life the daughter of Jairus, Who healed the woman who had been sick

for twelve years by the her mere touch of the hem of your robe, visit and heal also your beloved servants:

Olha Cherniavska Tetiana Kozak Rose Zinski Victor Saganey Reggie Warford

Rose Zalenchak Jane Allred Sarah Dorning Kieth O’Donnell Peter Zinski

Helen Wilwert Pearl Homyrda Kathryn Ostaffy Jackson Janosek James Horowitz

Eva Stasko Max Rozum Ronda Bicke Sandy Rozum Sebastian Leis

Elissa Lopez Jeanette Gill Irene Palahunik Mary Ellen Heitzman Patty Valentino Dave Harrison Sam Jarovich Tallulah Headrick Grace Lipscomb Christopher Tim Cromchak Andrew Brennan Jabrell Angie Zatezalo Jennifer Marley

from all physical and spiritual maladies by the power and grace of Your Christ. Grant them the patience that comes from believing that

You are always at work in our lives to bring good out of evil. Grant them strength of body, mind and soul. Raise them up from the bed of

pain. Grant them full recovery. May they experience the same surge of healing power flow through their bodies ,as did the sick woman

who touched your robe. For we, too, are touching your robe today, dear Lord, through this our prayer. We approach you with the same

faith she did. Grant them the gift of health. For You alone are the source of healing and to You we offer glory, praise and thanksgiving in

the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen

Mnohaya Lita - Many Blessed Years

Names Days February 21 Great Martyr Theodore

Theodore Garbera, Theodore Nixon February 21 Prophet Zechariah Zachary Kapeluck, Zachary Haluszczak Anniversaries Birthdays February 18 Acrilla Walewski February 19 Iryna Reiterovych February 19 Lois Buggan February 19 Rebecca Mills February 19 Sarah Dorning February 19 Kathy Peyton February 21 Greg Woznak

Feast Days of:

February 18 Martyr Agatha February 19 St. Photius of Constantinople February 21 Great martyr Theodore Stratelates February 21 Prophet Zechariah Pray for our friends and relatives serving in the armed forces. Patrick Kluyber, Catherine Sheerin, Gregory Markiw Pray for our Catechumens Pray for our parishioners in vocational studies Deacon Cliff O’Neil, , Ethan Nixon

FYIFYIFYIFYI

• PYSANKY : The egg writers will be meeting most Sundays from now till the Pysanky Sale. Sessions will start right after coffee hours. We would love to have some new people come and join us. It is wonderful fellowship and it benefits the parish. If you don’t know how to make a pysanky, no worries, we’ll teach you. If you think your eggs aren’t nice enough, not true, every egg finds and owner who loves it! So we hope to see you this afternoon.

• BECOMIMG TRULY HUMAN :-A spiritual experience for our parish. I would be most appreciative a few minutes of your time during coffee hour over the next few weeks to speak to all of you in small groups about this endeavor that I have undertaken. Yours in Christ-Deacon Evan

• SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY: Next week as we proclaim our Faith, we ask all parishioners to bring an icon

to Divine Liturgy. During Liturgy place your icon on one of the window sills to create a “great cloud of witness” !

• THANK YOU: My mom, Anna Sekelik would like to thank all the wonderful people who made her

unexpected surprise birthday party happen at the church hall on the 11th of February. She wants to thank everyone for all the monetary gifts, gift cards, beautiful flowers, balloons, good food, the many lovely cards & the awesome cake! If she has forgotten to mention something please accept her apology. It was such a touching surprise it brought tears to her eyes! Also I would like to thank everyone who took the time to make this wonderful day happen for a very special lady who I love so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for you made her feel like a queen! Dyan Sekelik-Jones

• EPIPHANY DINNER: Thank you to all our parishioners, friends and sisterhood members who attended our

Epiphany Dinner and donated so many delicious dishes for all of us to enjoy. Keeping this traditional alive and growing has been an important mission for our St. Matrona Sisterhood. Cindy & Alexis Dinner Co-chairs

• LENTEN BOOKSTORE: Stop by our Lenten Bookstore at the hall. Pick up some wonderful reading for the

Lenten season, some great kids’ books for Lent and Pascha, greeting cards and more.

*************************************************** ****************************

*************************************************** *********************************************

KITCHEN WORKERS SCHEDULE

Winter/Spring, 2018

• Mar 12, Monday 7:30 am Potato prep (NO ORDERS) plus 1 (possibly 2) batch pierogies • Mar 13, Tuesday 9:00 am 2 batches pierogies (NO ORDERS – ALL FOR PYSANKY SALE) • • Mar 19, Monday 8:00 am Cabbage Preparation (for Pysanky Sale) • Mar 20, Tuesday 9:00 am Holupchi Rolling (for Pysanky Sale) • Mar22, Thursday 8:00 am Paska baking (for Pysanky Sale – no orders) • Mar 23, Friday 8:00 am Paska baking (for Pysanky Sale – no orders) • Mar 25, Sunday Pysanky Sale • • Apr 23, Monday 7:30 am Potato Preparation plus 1 batch peirogies • Apr 24, Tuesday 9:00 am 2 batches pierogies • • Jun 11, Monday 7:30 am Potato preparation plus 1 batch pierogies • Jun 12, Tuesday 9:00 am 2 batches pierogies (NO ORDERS – all for Ukie Fest)

*************************************************** **********************************

“Clean Monday” Here We Come!

February 14, 2018 · Fr. Barnabas Powell

I was sitting right next to it! And then it went off! And I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was an alarm that let you know when someone was “breaking into the house.” I didn’t realize I was that close when they were going to test it and it scared me to death. But I guess that’s what an alarm is supposed to do: get your attention.

Nowadays, though, most alarms are just ignored. When I was a police office, our department had to institute a fine system for businesses when their alarms went off and we responded to a “false alarm.” It was happening so often at some businesses that we simply began to ignore the alarms. That’s not very helpful.

What is true with alarms is also true in our lives when there doesn’t seem to be an effective way to shock someone’s life out of a dangerous pattern. We have multiple warnings on this or that package, all meant to warn us of health problems. We have good intentioned relatives “warning” us to avoid this or that relationship. We even have priests and preachers that warn us of spiritual dangers to our lives and yet, we sleep through the warnings.

Look at our lesson today in Joel (yep, “Joel.” He’s one of the minor prophets in the Old Testament) 2:12-26:

“Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'” (Joel 2:12-17, please read the rest. You’ll really love it)

This Sunday is Forgiveness Sunday and we will step into Great Lent on our annual spiritual labor toward Pascha. So, how do we do Lent well? We do Lent well by not trying to do it on our own. We do Lent well by paying attention to the wisdom the Church gives us in all the tools provided to prepare us for this journey. And one of the main tools is the wake up call of Fasting! Fasting is tied closely to repentance because the heart of repentance is finally waking up to the wrong way of thinking in our lives that produces wrong actions, choice, and behaviors. And what makes them “wrong” isn’t some violation of a rule as much as it is a revelation of a lack of love for God and too focused a love on myself. So, what’s the remedy for unhealthy self-focus? Deprive the stomach of every little thing it wants! Learn to discipline my desires and to channel the power of desire towards a healthy spiritual life. The path to doing this is the gift of fasting and a purposeful Lent.

All too often it’s easy to miss the warnings in my life because my life, my soul, my mind is flooded with my own “voice.” The selfish wants drown out that “still, small voice” that is screaming at me that I am going down a wrong path. I am only going to wake up to those loving warnings if I stop the routine of spiritual deafness and listen to wisdom that calls me to another path.

Today, are you planning right now how you and your family will keep a spiritually profitable Great Lent? Have you gone through the frig and the pantry to make sure “Clean Monday” is really clean? Don’t let this beautiful alarm of Great Lent be ignored because you’ve heard it so often before. Step up to a more purposeful Orthodox life by hearing the call in your soul from your Church to approach with love and confidence the gateway of Great Lent on Forgiveness Sunday!

https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/faithencouraged/2018/02/clean-monday-come

he Lord said: “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Today is now the fourth week in our ten-part series on the priesthood as understood through the themes of Great Lent and the pre-Lenten season. One of the more well-known yet also most-misunderstood facets of priestly life is bound up with this theme of forgiveness that we focus on today on this, the Sunday of Forgiveness.

It is a priestly act to forgive. This is part of why we have the ordained priesthood, to help us to connect with God’s forgiveness. This theme also winds its way through this season—even in the preceding Sundays, with the parables of the Publican and Pharisee and the Prodigal Son, as well as this past Sunday of the Last Judgment. In all of these, forgiveness is a key doorway through which we enter into the Gospel message.

But today we especially contemplate forgiveness and try to enter into it as best as we can, particularly with the act of mutual repentance we will share tonight at Forgiveness Vespers. This is how we enter into Lent, through the doorway of forgiveness.

We heard from Jesus in the Gospel that if we forgive others, then the Father will forgive us. And if we do not forgive others, then the Father will not forgive us. This is pretty straightforward and is also represented in the Lord’s Prayer which we pray constantly in our Christian life: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

To forgive is something that priests do.

First, this forgiveness flows from the High Priest Jesus Christ. His incarnation, His life, death and resurrection—this act of His priesthood is what makes forgiveness possible at all. God the Father extends His forgiveness to us through His Son Jesus Christ. We are sinners, but we can be forgiven sinners by participating in Christ’s own life, by accepting the free gift of salvation and by truly incorporating it into ourselves.

How does this priestly act of forgiveness work? To forgive is to make space for another person despite his sins, his imperfections, his dysfunction, and to decide that I will not find him a threat to me. It is to accept him just as he is, not to react, not to take revenge or demand recompense.

It does not mean that I pretend that I’m not hurt or pretend that the other person is perfectly trustworthy if he betrayed me. But it does mean that I’m not going to expect that he will make it up to me. And I will also not try to hurt him back.

This can be hard, especially if we feel really hurt. Especially if it’s a serious betrayal. Especially if it’s a long term pattern of being hurt. Yet Jesus says explicitly to us that if we do not forgive then we will not be forgiven. There is no getting around the necessity to forgive if we want to be forgiven. Our salvation depends on this. And if we don’t forgive, it messes us up even in this life.

So how can we do it? The key is to remember that we are part of the royal priesthood. While the ordained priesthood has through apostolic succession been given the gift of binding and loosing sins, the royal priesthood we all belong to has been given a similar gift of forgiveness.

We can also choose to bind sins by not forgiving or to loose sins by forgiving, and the binding and loosing happens within ourselves and within our relationships. When we forgive, we loosen up our lives and our relationships, giving them greater freedom and love. And when we do not forgive, we bind not only the relationship but even ourselves, restricting life.

In seeing ourselves as priests who forgive, we can also think of the act of confession. When a priest stands as confessor to one who is penitent, it is his job to ask God for forgiveness for that person. In most cases, he is not asking for forgiveness for something that has hurt him personally. Even if he is, he takes himself out of the picture and serves only as the channel for God’s forgiveness.

When we see ourselves that way with other people, even if they have hurt us personally, then we will find it easier to forgive. When we remove our own ego from the picture and see that other person as a suffering creature of God, a distorted creation who needs forgiveness and healing, then we will find it easier to be forgiving. After all, it is not truly my own forgiveness that I am giving, but God’s.

The problem so often when we try to offer forgiveness is that we make it about ourselves, about our own feelings. But that’s not what forgiveness is. I do not forgive by trying to feel something different about the other person. I forgive by seeing him as a hurting creature of God who is broken and distorted, in need of healing. And then I make space for him in my heart, even if it can only be a space in my prayers.

But there is an even deeper sense in which forgiveness is a priestly act.

The priesthood ultimately resolves into one central act, whether we are talking about the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ, the priesthood of our ordained clergy, or the royal priesthood of the People of God. What is the ultimate priestly act? It is sacrifice.

To sacrifice is to offer something up to God. And when the offering is given, God acts upon that offering. And then the offering is returned to us for our participation. And in participating it, we are changed. We are sanctified. We are cleansed and made holy, set apart for God’s service.

It’s probably easiest to see this dynamic in the Eucharist, where the bread and wine are offered, changed by God into His Body and Blood, and then received by the faithful for their sanctification.

But did you know that forgiveness is also a sacrifice, also an offering? In forgiveness, we offer up our brokenness to God. We offer up our hurt. We offer up our need for revenge. We offer up our incompleteness. We offer up our dysfunction. What we are finally offering is ourselves, including that other person. We are offering him to God.

And when this sacrifice is made, and all our pain is placed on the altar of God by speaking it in confession, by seeing another’s sins and not taking revenge in word, deed or even thought, it is in that moment that God is invoked. In that

moment, He reaches down from Heaven and receives what is offered. And He sends His Holy Spirit to cleanse it with the fire of life, the fire of forgiveness, the fire of refinement and perfection.

Some people say “Let go and let God,” as though praying and then trying to forget about something is the key to forgiveness, the key to Christian life. It’s not. We don’t “Let go and let God.” No, we offer up our lives to God, and we offer up each other to God. And we don’t forget about it. We wait to receive back what has been sacrificed. We wait to receive it so that we can do something with it. We wait on God to receive what has been transformed by Him, what is being given back not for our spiritual spectation but for our priestly participation.

We are called not to be spectators in God’s work of forgiveness but participants. And we participate as priests. We are here to loosen sins with His grace. We are here to set ourselves and others free with His grace. We are here to offer suffering souls health and transformation with His grace. We are here to forgive.

This is the priesthood of forgiveness. It is a priesthood we all share as baptized and forgiven souls cleansed by the grace of the High Priest Whose actions on this earth are what grace is made of.

To the High Priest Jesus Christ Who forgives therefore be all glory, honor and worship, with His Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/roadsfromemmaus/2017/03/01/lent-priesthood-4-priesthood-forgiveness/ *************************************************** *******************************

This Sunday, February 18th, the last day before Great and Holy Lent begins, known as Forgiveness Sunday, is also Mission Sunday.

As we begin our journey toward Christ’s glorious Resurrection, please remind the faithful in your community that the salvation He made possible is to be shared with the world.

Please share the work of Orthodox missions and ask prayers for those who hunger and thirst for Christ and those who have answered the call to carry the truth of the Orthodox Faith to the world. If anyone would like to be a part of the mission ministries of the Church, please have them reach out to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) by phone at 1-877-463-6784 or online at www.ocmc.org.

Volunteers for short-term mission teams and long-term missionaries are needed, but so are those who will make their work possible through their financial support.

Calendar of Events

February 23-25 Pan-Orthodox Retreat, Bethany Center , Florida March 3 Pan-Orthodox Retreat, Villa Maria, OH

March 17 Pysanky Workshop March 25 51 st Annual Pysanky Sale June 24 – July 7 Diocesan Church School Camp July8-21 Teenage Conference July 25-29 UOL Convention, South Bound Brook

July 28 Centennial Anniversary Celebration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

July 30 – Aug 3 Mommy & Me/ Daddy & Me Camp

Parish Weekly Schedule

Monday

Kyiv Ukrainian Dance Ensemble & School Rehearsals begin every Monday at 6:00 pm. Classes for all ages.

For more info call Director Natalie Kapeluck or just stop down any Monday.

Thursday Morning

Senior Coffee Hour You’re invited to our FREE coffee and donuts, and sometime pancakes, French toast or waffles every Thursday from

10:00 AM to 11:30 . . .or whenever it’s over. At the parish hall. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BRING ANYTHING!!! However, bring a Friend!!! Need A Ride, Call: Steve Sivulich, (Hall Phone: 412-276-9718) SPONSORED BY:

Sts. Peter & Paul Kitchen Workers

3rd Sunday of the Month

St John & Martin’s Closet Clothing for men, women and children. Bedding & towels

Trade something old for something new, leave a donation. or just take what you need.

Donations of clean, gently used or new clothing/bedding accepted when the closet door is open. Call 279-9718 to schedule a donation.

BULLETIN SPONSOR DATES March 4______Sponsored

March 11_____________________________ February 18__________________________ March 18_____Sponsored

February 25____Sponsored March 25_____________________________

*************************************************** *****************************************

BULLETIN SPONSOR FORM Sponsor______________________________________________________________________ In Honor of___________________________________________________________________ In Memory of_________________________________________________________________ Date of Bulletin you wish to sponsor______________________________________________ Donation ($20. minimum suggested)______________________________________________ (Please make checks payable to “Sr. UOL Chapter”) ____

SS. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church PO Box 835 Carnegie, PA 15106 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED