st.john the baptist orthodox churchst.john the baptist

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 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


Debbie Maskalis

Gary Hasinus

Susan Breck


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

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