Icon of the Nativity of Jesus Christ

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Saints Peter & Paul UOC
8410 West 131st St. Palos Park, IL60464
Fr. Vasyl Sendeha - Rector
Deacon John Charest
Rectory Phone/Fax: (708) 361-5165
Hall Phone: (708) 448-1350
www.sspeterandpauluoc.net
[email protected]
Icon of the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Parish Council
President
Noreen Neswick
Sisterhood of St.
Anne President
Josephine Hobert
Church School
Director
Victoria Rak
Church Choir
Director
George Cepynsky
Sr. UOL President
Harry Oryhon
Caregiving Com.
President
Harry Oryhon
Seraphim Group
President
Howard Brooks
50/50 Club
President
Michael Gbur
Explanation of the Icon of
the Nativity
Continued from the Bulletin of Sunday
December 28
We see in the icon that Christ's birth is not
only for us but for all creation, including
voiceless animals. They too are victims of
the Fall. Christ's Nativity is for them as
well as for us.
There is something about the way Mary
turns away from her son that makes us
aware of a struggle different from Joseph's
struggle. She knows very well her child
has no human father, but she does not know
her child's future, only that it is clear from
the circumstances of his birth that his way
of ruling is in absolute contrast to the way
kings rule. The ruler of all rules from a
manger in a stable. His death on the cross
will not surprise her. It is implied in his
birth.
We see that the Christ child's body is
wrapped "in swaddling clothes." In icons
of Christ's burial, you will see he is wearing
similar bands of cloth, as does Lazarus in the icon of his raising
by Christ. In the Nativity icon, the manger looks much like a coffin. In this way the icon links birth and death. The poet Rilke
says we bear our death within us from the moment of birth. The
icon of the Nativity says the same. Our life is one piece and its
length of much less importance than its purity and truthfulness.
Some versions of the icon show more details, some less.
Normally in the icon we see angels who are worshipping Godbecame-man. Though we ourselves are rarely aware of the presence of angels, they are deeply enmeshed in our history and we
know some of them by name. This momentous event is for them
as well as us.
Often the iconographer includes the three wise men who have
come from far off, whose close attention to activity in the heavens
made them come on pilgrimage in order to pay homage to a king
who belongs, not to one people, but to all people, not to one age,
but to all ages. They represent the world beyond Judaism.
Then there are the shepherds, the simple people summoned by
angels to respond to Christ's birth. Throughout history it has in
fact been the simple people who have been most uncompromising
in their response to the Gospel, who have not buried God in footnotes. Not the wise men but the shepherds were permitted to hear
the choir of angels singing God's praise. On the bottom right of
the icon often there are one or two midwives washing the newborn baby. The detail is based on apocryphal texts concerning
Joseph's arrangements for the birth. Those who know the Old
Testament will recall the disobedience of midwives to the Egyptian pharaoh; thanks to one of them, Moses was not murdered at
birth. In the Nativity icon the midwife's presence has another still
more important function, underscoring Christ's full participation
in human nature.
Iconographers may leave out or alter various details, but always
there is a ray of divine light that connects heaven with the baby.
The partially revealed circle at the very top of the icon symbolizes God the Father, the small circle within the descending ray represents the Holy Spirit, while the child is the Second Person of
the Holy Trinity, the Son. At every turn, from iconography to
liturgical text to the physical gesture of crossing oneself, the
Church has always sought to confess God in the Holy Trinity.
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Today
31st Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 6
Sunday after Nativity. Afterfeast of the Nativity
of Christ. The 14,000 Infants (Holy Innocents)
slain by Herod at Bethlehem (1st c.). Ven. Marcellus, abbot of the monastery of the Unsleeping
Ones (485). Ven. Thaddeus, confessor, of the
Studion (818). Ven.
Gal. 1:11-19
Mt. 2:13-23
Reader of the Hours - open
Reader of the Eng. Epistle – open
Reader of Ukr. Epistle-Halyna Kashpar
Tuesday, January 13th at 9:00am Divine Liturgy by OCCA
clergy followed by the meeting in the church hall.
Wednesday, January 14th at 9:30am Divine Liturgy. New Year
Sunday,
January18
9:30 am
6:00pm
32nd Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 7
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Sunday before Theophany
Strict Fast Day
Eve of the Theophany Vespers and Great
blessing of the water
2 Tim. 4:5-8; Mk. 1:1-8
Vesp.: 1 Cor. 9:19-27 ; Lk. 3:1-18
Blessing of Water: 1 Cor. 10:1-4; Mk. 1:9-11
Reader of the Hours - Jeremy Oryhon
Reader of the Eng. Epistle – Jeremy Oryhon
Reader of Ukr. Epistle-PM Olenka
Monday, January 19 at 9:30 am Divine Liturgy and blessing of
the water. The Holy Theophany.
The Baptism of Our Savior Jesus Christ
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“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect.
It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.”
Seraphim Group
Next Meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Divine Liturgy at 9:00am lead by OCCA Clergy
Luncheon at Noon
Become a part of Seraphim Group of Seniors at our parish. Great
opportunity to make friends, have nice time in the circle of peers.
Different group activities: games, lunches, trips. Meetings ones a
month. Home cooked meals. Warm and pleasant atmosphere.
For more information see the president of Seraphim Group
Howard Brooks
Adult Bible & Faith Study Group
The next meeting is schedules for January 21,
2015 at 6:30pm. If you are interested in studying the Bible, learning about Orthodox Faith
you are welcome to attend. Fr. Vasyl
Prayer Corner for the Month of January
We ask all of you to remember in your prayers the
following individuals who are in need of God's healing
and grace:
Rich Bendy, Helen Wolsko, Stephanie, Nick Kocelko, Dean
Manson, Toni Marie Klavin, Noreen Neswick, Daria Masur,
Michael Kimak, Yuriy Zmysly, Monte Milton, Gloria
Kuzemka, Paul Jr & Dorothy Seliga, Wally Naumenko, Wally
Thompson, Michael, Sherry Howard, Wolodymer Kashpar,
Nick & Mary Kapusta, Frankie, Rose, Zachary, Michael, Paul
and Alexander. If there is anyone who is in need of prayers,
and you want to add them to the prayer corner, please notify
Fr. Vasyl.
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Parish Council News
My Dear Parish Family! Thank you for not being
afraid of bitterly cold weather and coming over
to our temple of Sts. Peter and Paul to celebrate
the Nativity of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ!
Special thank to all of the parents for brining the
kids over. Their angelic voices always brighten the
celebration.
Our thanks go to Karoline O’Neill, Lori Zvonek and
Pat Ciapinski for organizing and running the Nativity Dinner.
Also, we would like to thank Soukal Floral Company of Chicago for once again donating beautiful Poinsettias to our church for the Feast of the Nativity
of our Lord and God Jesus Christ. They have
been so kind to our parish for several years
now. Therefore, if you would need flowers or
floral arrangements for any occasion, please
turn to them. Soukal Floral Co. 6118 S. Archer Ave. Chicago,
IL 60638 Phones (773)767-7055 or 1-(800)397-5632.
www.soukalfloral.com
Christ is Born! Let us Glorify Him!
Fr. Vasyl
Sunday School Blog
Christ is born – Glorify Him.
Wow we had a wonderful Sunday Service and
Beautiful Nativity Service. It was great to have so
many of you kids in church on Wednesday. You all did such a
great job with singing. Since it was my Birthday you all made
it very special. Lets continue to keep the spirit of joy and
friendship throughout this year and always. I am not here today
since I tool Miss Amber back to college. I thank everyone for
helping out in my absence and I look forward to seeing you
next week. God Bless You.
Love, Miss Vicki (director)
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Seven Day Vigil Candles
Thanks to God for answered prayers for my sister
Laura’s successful surgery by Yvonne L Oryhon
For the health of family members in Belarus by Ludmila and
Alexander Piskoun
For the health of my husband Volodimer , son Mykola, daughter Iryna with family by Halyna Kashpar
For the health of Fr. Vasyl, PM Olenka, David & Antony by
Kashpar Family
For the health & quick recovery for Rich Bendy by Katie &
Barbara Bruce
For the health and God’s blessing of family members by Katie
& Barbara Bruce
For the health of my parents Pavlo & Polina in Ukraine by Halyna Kashpar
For the health of Olga on her birthday by Kashpar Family
For the health of Mary Kapusta by Fr. Vasyl
For the health of Podlecki & Redmerski families in the New
Year by Carol Redmerski
For the health of a friend, Darlene as she goes through
surgery by Carol Redmerski
For the health and God’s blessings of family members
by Mike & Alvine Gbur
For the health of Wally Naumenko by PM Olenka
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________
In memory of husband John by Barbara Patronik
In memory of Mother Anne on the 22nd anniversary of her repose in the Lord by Barbara Patronik
In memory of John Batura by Fr. Vasyl
In memory of my mother Emilia by son Vladimir Kashpar
In memory of our parents Anna and Nikolai Chaika and
Nadezhda and Mark Piskoun
by Ludmila and Alexander Piskoun
In memory of Bunia Oksana by Deacon John & Family
In memory of our Late Father Borys James Czornyj & Anna M.
Czornyj with love from daughter Laryssa & son Walter
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Coffee Hour Schedule
Today -- Harry & Yvonne Oryhon
January 18 -- Coffee only – strict fast
January 25 -- open
February 1 -- “SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY” - Nick & Johanna Slobidsky dessert table PLUS 12 GREAT SOUP MAKERS
February 8 -- Czerniak Family – His is Memory Eternal - Michael CZERNIAK
Saturday, February 7 -- TRIVA NIGHT – Get your table of
friends & have a great fun night!
8 -- Czerniak Family – His is Memory Eternal - Michael
CZERNIAK
February 15 -- Donna Nevels & Christine Thompson
February 22 – Sr. UOL Cheesefare Sunday
Nativity Donation in the mail
George Grosskopf - $200.00 in memory of the parents
Carol & William Bartlett -$200.00 In loving memory of the
Orich and Husayko families.
Elena Batura—$200.00 in memory of Father John
Donation to Building Fund in memory of Anna Czornyj
Michael Cheroim—$30.00
Memorial Service Panahyda
January 18, 2015
In memory of My Mother + Anna Czornyj by
Water Czornyj on the 40th day of stepping into
eternity.
January 25, 2015
In memory of +Dorothy & +Michael Bruce
by Barbara & Katie Bruce
In memory of +Joseph Mielnik by Josephine Hobert
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UOL Chapter – Soup-er Bowl
Sunday February 1, 2015!
Once again this year, Senior UOL
chapter is sponsoring and organizing Soup-er
Bowl on Sunday February 1 after Divine Liturgy.
Please come and share a bowl of soup for a good cause.
All proceeds will be donated to Soup Kitchen in Ukraine.
All you can eat — $10.00 . Kids eat free.
Our talented Chefs of the parish please create and donate soups
for the event. If you would like to volunteer for this even, please
see PM Olena or Nick Slobidsky. Email: [email protected]
Church Humor
The Bible, Through the Eyes of a Child
Creation
In the beginning, which was close to the start, there wasn't anything except God, darkness and some gas. The Bible says, "The
Lord, thy God, is one," but I think He has to be much older than
that. Anyway, God made the world and then He said, "Give me
some light," and somebody gave it to Him. He split an atom and
made Eve. Adam and Eve didn't wear any clothes, but they
weren't embarrassed because God hadn't invented mirrors, yet.
Adam and Eve sinned by eating one bad apple and they were
driven out of the Garden of Eden. I'm not sure what God drove
them in because He hadn't invented cars, either.
Adam and Eve's son, Cain, hated his brother as long as he was
Abel. After a while, all of the first people died, except Methuselah, who lived to be, like, a million years old.
Snow Removal Schedule
Week of 01/11 thru 01/17 -Harry Oryhon
Week of 01/18 thru 01/24 -- John Policzszuk
Week of 01/25 thru 01/31 --Fr. Vasyl Sendeha
Week of 02/01 thru 02/07 -- John Policzszuk
If you are unable to make your schedule week,
please find a replacement and let Fr. Vasyl know. .
Keep in mind, if over 2” of snow, the snow service will remove
it. You only need to come out if 2” or less.
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