Liturgy for the Encounter February 2

Tomorrow, February 2, is the feast of the Encounter of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Divine Liturgy with the Blessing of Candles will be offered at 9:00 a.m. in both English and Ukrainian. This day is a holy day of Love.

The intention for the Liturgy will be for Vira Walnycky –40 days.

The Byzantine Church views the feast Christologically and calls it The Meeting of Our Lord, commemorating the first time Jesus meets His people publicly in the Temple.

The Encounter of the Lord is one of the most ancient Christian feasts –in the Early Church it was celebrated like Pascha, and it was often called the “Crown of Theophany.”

Beginning the Celebration of the Feast of the Encounter

“The Lord said to Moses on that day he brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. He said: Consecrate to me every firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the Israelites” (Exodus 12:51). In this feast, the last of the Christmas cycle, the Feast of Light, Mary and Joseph bring the child Jesus to the temple to fulfill this commandment. 

The Irmos of Ode 9 of this feast expresses this in song, “O faithful, let us recognize the figure of Christ foreshadowed in the letter of the Law which says: Every male child who opens the womb is sanctified to God. Therefore, the first born Word and Son of the Father without beginning, the first-born of a mother who had not known man: him, let us extol.” This is a beautiful perfection of God’s law for our salvation. “For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the first-fruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). 

The Anaphora of St. Basil, that we will say all during the Great Fast, proclaims: “Since Corruption could not keep the Author of Life in its clutches, he became the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first-born of the dead, that in all things he might have pre-eminence over all” (Quoting Acts 3:15; 1 Corinthians 15:20 and Colossians 1:18). This is a wondrous conclusion to our Feast of Light, for on Christmas we sang, “O Christ, what shall we offer you for your coming on earth in our humanity for our sake? Every creature that has its being from you gives thanks to you: the angels offer hymns of praise, the heavens give a star; the Magi present their gifts and the shepherds, their wonder; the earth provides a cave and the desert, a manger. As for us, we offer a virgin mother.” 

Today, however, we offer to God his and the human race’s first-born Son. This feast tells us that we should always offer to God the first-fruits, our very best, for Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and God gives us all that we are or that we have.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Thirty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Read: 1 Timothy 1:15-17; Luke 18:35-43 (Readings of the 31st Sunday after Pentecost)

We must learn how to read Scripture. It is not lessons of the past, but the reality of God’s presence among us today, in the here and now. One of the most frequent ways that Jesus steps into our lives is by his works of healing.

In Matthew 11:5 Jesus tells us, “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” Today we hear this good news, today the blind see. Jesus often gave sight to the blind, telling them, “Your faith has saved you.” This is what he says to the blind man of Jericho. He cannot see who Jesus is, but when those around him say, “Jesus is passing by,” he immediately shouts as loud as he can, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” For Jesus, though he is the Word of God, has become one of us, of the family of David.

We might think that the gospel is about physical sight, but it is more than that, it is why faith is necessary. All of us, whether physically blind or spiritually blind, need Jesus who said, “I am the light of the world.” This is why we call baptism “enlightenment.” This is why we must confess that Jesus came to save sinners, “of whom we are the first.” We can say this sincerely, because we know the power of sin in our own hearts, and not in the hearts of others.

We will say this today here in this church as we approach Holy Communion, as we approach the light and life of the world today: you are Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.” We say this not to crush ourselves down, but as St. Paul tells us to today’s Epistle, but that we might be “mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.” Only in faith, then, do we see the true “light and life.”

Image: Jesus Healing the Blind Man of Jericho (Codex of Egberti)

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Divine for the coming week 

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 1/27, 36th Sunday after Pentecost —The Transfer of the Precious Relics of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:15-17
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43, Tone 1

Monday, 1/28 Our Venerable Father Ephrem the Syrian

Tuesday, 1/29, The Transfer of the Relics of the Great-Martyr Ignatius the God-bearer (of Antioch)

Wednesday, 1/30 The Three Holy and Great Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Thursday, 1/31 The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

Friday, 2/01 Fore-feast of the Encounter; the Holy Martyr Tryphon

Saturday, 2/02 The Encounter of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
9:00 a.m. + Vira Walnycky (40 days, Pan.) requested by the Family
with the Blessing of Candles

Sunday, 2/03, Sunday of Zacchaeus —The Holy and Just Simeon, Who Received God, and the Prophetess Anna
9:00 a.m. +Nicholas Muryn requested by Michael and Mary Muryn
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Timothy 4:9-15
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10, Tone 2

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcomed in our parish. If someone wants to register with our parish please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at (203) 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalia Chermak.

VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Chris Komondy in memory of all the deceased of family.

If you would like to bless your house fill the form that is in the vestibule, drop it in the collection basket during the Divine liturgy, or call the rectory (203) 865-0388.

The Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 108 New Haven and St. Michael Parish will be preparing a Prosphora, a traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal, on Sunday, January 27, TODAY, after the only one Divine Liturgy at 10:30. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, free for students Ridna Shkola and altar boys. We will be running a raffle. Please donate items for raffle and cakes for desert. Tickets are on sale in the church hall every Sunday after both Divine Liturgies. You can buy tickets from Luba Dubno or members of UWLA Branch 108.

STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: The next Stewardship Council meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, February 4, in the Holy Name Room. All council members and organization representatives are invited: Natalie Chermak, Nataliya Lyalka, Andrew Bamber, Anna Salemme, Walter Ushchak, Chris Komondy, Halya Lodynsky, Marybeth Gawron, Christine Melnyk, Myron Melnyk, Maria Antonyshyn,  Mary Muryn, Carl Harvey and Paul Zalonski.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: The next meeting of Knights of Columbus Blessed Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Council will resume on February 4, 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Name Room. All men of the parish are invited to attend.

The organizational meeting of the newly formed Facilities Maintenance Team of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church took place on Friday evening, January 18th. The schedule of work sessions was also established for the entire year so that plans can be developed for doing all the projects and arrangements made for the purchase of required supplies and equipment.

Once the projects have been determined and prioritized, the group will spend the rest of this “meeting” beginning to work on the first project. The usual time frame for the work sessions will run from 6:30 to about 9:30 p.m. There will be occasions when it is necessary to work later than 9:30 to complete some of the projects.

All parishioners who would like to become part of the team should leave your contact information with Fr. Iura after the Divine Liturgy. Forms for providing your contact information can be found in the vestibule of the church.

Annual Financial Statement: This year the appearance of our Annual Financial Statement is changing. Individual donations listed by envelope number will no longer be printed and the remainder of the statement is being streamlined. The result is a shorter, more concise statement which more closely reflects the statements of the other churches in our diocese.

Individual parishioner donations will be prepared upon request by filling out the form which will accompany the statement.

Fr. Iura and The Finance Committee

SOROKOUSTY will be celebrated on All Souls’ Saturdays: February 23rd, March 16th, March 23rd, March 30th, June 8. Please take a book found in the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket.

Awakenings —Adult Faith Formation

“Honor and glory to the only God, the immortal, invisible, and omniscient King of all the ages, forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim 1, 17)

Pages: 1 2

SUMA’s new hours

SUMA Federal Credit Union will now be open on Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The hours for Tuesday and Saturday remain the same.

Tuesday 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

SUMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
555 George Street, New Haven, CT

Phone: 203-785-8805
Fax: 203-785-8677

Prosphora on January 27

Reminder:

Prosphora (Christmas Eve dinner) will take place after Sunday 10:30 Divine Liturgy on January 27.

There will be a delightful performance (Vertep) and kolyada, caroling. Please come and share friendship.

Tickets at the door (or at credit union on Saturday).

St Maximus the Confessor

Father John Meyendorff called St. Maximus the Confessor the “Father of Byzantine Theology.” Though he lived long after the Council of Chalcedon, he perhaps drew out the full importance of its confession that Jesus, the Son of God was one in essence with the Father, and yet also united in essence with us in his human nature. Here we see what the gospel stories of Christ’s birth and baptism are truly revealing to us. We call the incarnation, the assumption of the Word of God of human nature, a mystery. This is because we cannot wrap our human minds around this theological reality. To form mental concepts, which we might call “ideologies” are dangerous because they skew the reality. Before Maximus, some theologians put so much emphasis on Christ’s humanity that his divinity was compromised (for example, Arianism or Nestorianism).

On the other hand, some put so much weight on his divinity that Jesus ended up as simply God “rattling around” in a human vessel. These tensions still exist today as theological thinkers try to grasp what cannot be grasped and end up with an “incredible” (in the true sense of the word) Christ. St. Maximus taught that the Son of God was a full human being, with a created human soul, human mind and human will. This has practical consequences. If indeed the Word of God is incarnate in a human body and soul, mind and will, with a human genealogy (Mary was of the House of David) and a human history. If indeed he has interacted with us in word and sight (as a human being, we can make an image, “icon” of his appearance), then all that we are and have as human beings enters into a relationship with God that transforms us into sharers of the divine nature.

And so St. Maximus teaches us: “God made us so that we might become ‘partakers of the divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:4) and sharers in His eternity, and so that we might come to be like Him (cf. 1 John 3:2) through deification by grace …. Christianity is an entirely new way of being human.”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Christ is Born!

Sunday, 1/20, 35th Sunday after Pentecost —Our Venerable and God-bearing Father Euthemius the Great
10:30 a.m. For the People of the parish

Epistle: Colossians 3:12-16
Gospel: Luke 18:18-27, Tone 8

Monday, 1/21, Our Venerable Father Maximus the Confessor

Tuesday, 1/22, The Holy Apostle Timothy
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy for Unity of Christians requested by Paul Zalonski

Wednesday, 1/23, The Holy Priest-Martyr Clement
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy for Unity of Christians requested by Paul Zalonski

Thursday, 1/24, Our Venerable Mother Xenia the Roman

Friday, 1/25, Our Holy Father Gregory the Theologian
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy for Unity of Christians requested by Paul Zalonski

Saturday, 1/26, Our Venerable Father Xenophon and his wife Maria

Sunday, 1/27, 36th Sunday after Pentecost —The Transfer of the Precious Relics of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom
10:30 a.m. For the People of the parish

Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:15-17
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43, Tone 1

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcomed in our parish. If someone wants to register with our parish please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at (203) 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalia Chermak.

VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered to God’s greater by Paul Zalonski for the intention of the Unity of Christians.

House Blessings: If you would like to bless your house fill the form that is in the vestibule, drop it in the collection basket during the Divine liturgy, or call the rectory (203) 865-0388.

2019 Prosphora Rescheduled: The Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 108 New Haven and St. Michael Parish will be preparing a Prosphora, a traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal, on Sunday January 27, after the only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, free for students Ridna Shkola and altar boys. We will be running a raffle. Please donate items for raffle and cakes for desert. Tickets are on sale in the church hall every Sunday after both Divine Liturgies. You can buy tickets from Luba Dubno or members of UWLA Branch 108. Please buy tickets in advance.

UKRAINIAN AMERICAN VETERANS:The January 20, TODAY meeting of Ukrainian-American veterans has been cancelled.

SOROKOUSTY: will be celebrated on All Souls’ Saturdays, February 23rd , March 16th, March 23rd, March 30th , June 8th. Please take a book found in the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket.

Awakenings —Adult Faith Formation

“Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. In wisdom made perfect, instruct and admonish one another. Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs.” Colossians 3: 16

The Freedom of the Creator

God realizes his plan for the creation of the world through his Word: “Let there be light…let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters” (Gen 1:3,6). This creative Word reveals himself in Holy Scripture as the Son of God, begotten of the Father: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation … he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:15-17) (Christ Our Pascha, 104).

The Troparion and Kontakion, Our Holy Father Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople Feast Day on January 25th):

Like a shepherd’s flute, O Father Gregory, your theology vanquished the trumpets of orators, for searching the depths of the spirit, beauty of speech was increased in you. Pray Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever, Amen.

O glorious saint, your tongue, versed in theology, loosed the webs of vain philosophers; you adorned the Church with a robe of true belief woven on high. Wearing it she cries with us, your children: Rejoice, O Father, highest mind of theology.