CHURCH BULLETIN ~ FEBRUARY 2014

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Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in AmericaSS Peter and Paul Albanian Orthodox Church ~ sspeterpaulphila.org9230 Old Bustleton Avenue ~ Philadelphia, PA 19115 ~ Church Phone: 215-676-3311

Pastor: Father Stephen Siniari ~ Phone: 609-385-3757 ~ Email: frsiniari@gmail.com

FATHER STEPHEN’S MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL

Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs.

They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine.

With regard to dress, food and manner of life in gen-eral, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.

And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens.

Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country.

Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh.

They pass their days upon earth, but they are citi-zens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.

Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again.

They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything.

They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult.

For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then, they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life.

They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world.

As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen.

The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but be-cause of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but be-cause they are opposed to its enjoyments. Chris-tians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred.

It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together.

The Epistle to Diognetios

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LITURGICAL SCHEDULE ~ FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014Events and Announcements

Meeting of Christ in the Temple - Sunday, February 2 - Divine Liturgy, 10 AM

Sunday of Publican & Pharisee - February 9 - Divine Liturgy, 10 AM

Pre-Sanctified (1st one) - Wednesday, March 5 - 7 PM

Sunday of Orthodoxy - March 9 - Divine Liturgy, 10 AM

Pre-Sanctifieds - Wednesdays, March 12, 19 - 7 PM

Annunciation - Tuesday, March 25 - Divine Liturgy, 9 AM

Pre-Sanctified - Wednesday, March 26 - 7 PM

SCHEDULE OF OTHER SERVICESBible Study - Every Wednesday - 7 PM - 8:30 PM in the Church Hall - Led by Fr. Dn. Gregory

CHURCH NEWS AND REMINDERSMembership Dues 2013-14 are $125 -

Dues can be paid at any time to our treasurer, James Schaeffer.

Coffee Hour - The Coffee Hour sign up sheet is lo-cated upstairs in the Church Hall by the door to the kitchen. Please write your name, email address and phone number by the date you sign up for.

Special Services If you are planning to have a spe-cial service in the Church, please be considerate and notify either Father Stephen or the Church Committee one week in advance.

When you are planning for a Baptism, Wedding, Funeral, or any other Prayer Service in the Church, please speak with Father

Stephen in advance to determine if there is any way you can contribute to help the Church in helping others. Thank you.

Please note: if the services of the Church Choir are re-quired, please notify the Choir Director, Christina Murianka, as soon as possible.

No Smoking/No Cell Phones Please remem-ber that SS Peter & Paul has a no smoking policy in the building and that ringers on cell phones should be off during the Divine Liturgy.

Church Council Meeting - Monday, Febru-ary 3, 7 PM. All Parishioners are welcome to attend.

PLEDGES & DONATIONS Icon Pledges Were Due by December 31, 2013 - If you have not yet fulfilled your pledge, please do so

as soon as possible to our treasurer, James Schaeffer. Please return all icons ASAP. Thank you!Pledges for our New Lift - Contact our Parish Treasurer, James Schaeffer to make your pledge and support

the community of SS Peter & Paul. Thank you for your generosity!

Collection Sundays - 1st Sunday - Collection for the Poor; 2nd Sunday - IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities); 3rd Sunday - Pastoral Fund. May God bless you for your generosity!

Donations for Covenant House - Food Items: canned spaghetti, soup, chocolate chip granola bars, tuna fish, jelly, pasta noodles (angel hair, penne, etc.), spaghetti sauce, oatmeal; Baby Items: Enfamil (Premium), baby bottles, receiving blankets, pacifiers, wipes, size 5 diapers; Hygiene Items: white t-shirts

(small, medium), socks (boys’, girls’, any color), underwear (teens 18, 19, 20 years old). Thank you!

Other Donations: Church LibraryPop Tab Collections for Ronald McDonald House Wine: Altar wine: Manischewitz Concord Grape (please do

not donate any other brand of concord grape)Oil: Virgin Olive Oil (not needed at this time)

THE JOY OF GIVING

Change your Electricity Provider & Benefit Our Church - Switch through this website (http://www.sspeterpaul.joinambit.com) & help the church! A flyer is posted on our bulletin board and a direct link is on our website on: “Current Announcements” page. Or contact Sophia Demas: 215-382-4222 or email demas@usa.net

Make a Purchase through Amazon and Help St George Cathedral in South Boston - Go to the Cathedral website: www.saintgeorgecathedral.com and scroll down to “Shop Amazon” on the left side.

Ancient Faith Radio 24 hour a day internet Orthodox radio station: http://ancientfaithradio.com

GENERAL INTEREST

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Events and Announcements (Continued)

UPCOMING EVENTS AT OTHER LOCATIONS

Souper Bowl Sunday - Sunday, February 2 - Immediately following Divine Liturgy. We are requesting donations of all kinds of soups. Questions, contact Margie Kelly at kelly4874@verizon.net or call her at 267-884-6937. If you cannot donate a soup, then please join us in this fundraiser to enjoy (and take home) some fabulous home-made soups!

Icon Pledge Sunday - Sunday, February 9 (weather permitting) - Immediately following Divine Liturgy. Please plan to attend as this is the Church’s major annual fund raising event.Anyone who currently has Icons from the 2013 Icon Auction is kindly asked to return them to the Church as soon as possible in order that the Icons can be logged in and added to the Church’s new asset inven-tory database. Everyone’s cooperation in returning their icons is MOST appreciated.

Ladies Society Lenten Luncheon - Sunday, March 2 (Cheesefare Sunday) - Immediately following Divine Liturgy. Please join us for this annual event.

Heaven & Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections - October 6, 2013 - March 2, 2014 - at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Divided into 5 thematic sections, the exhibition explores the coexistence of paganism and Christianity, spiritual life in Byzantium, secular works of art used in the home, the intellectual life of Byzantine scholars, and the cross-influences between Byzantine and Western artists before the fall of Byzantium. More info:http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/exhibitions/2013/heaven-and-earth.html

Winter OPA Greek Food Fest - January 24 through January 26. To see the flyer go to: www.anngoc.org click on “Bulletin” and scroll down to “Bulletin Inserts” and click on “Winter OPA Greek Food Festival”. Maybe we can all go together after Church on Sunday! - At Annunciation/Evangelisimos Church, 7921 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027; Phone: 215-635-0316.

St John Chrysostom Ice Skating - Sunday, February 23, 1 PM to 3:30 PM - At University of Penn-sylvania Class of 23 Rink. Cost for skating ticket, skate rental & food is $3 per adult, no charge for children. More info to follow. For questions, contact Donna Dimitri at donnadimitri@gmail.com or call her at 609-685-1651.

St John Chrysostom 7th Women’s Day Dance - Saturday, March 8, 7 PM to 11 PM - At the Church Hall. The only time you will stop dancing is when you eat! Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for children. More info to follow.

Jan 5 - Debbie Krimetz & Family (Memorial for Mary & John Palmerick)Jan 12 - General DonationJan 19 - Muzekari Family & Friends (Memorial for Marie & Ted Muzekari)Jan 26 - Virginia & John Rubis

Our sincerest thanks to all sponsors!

JANUARY COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS

Special Announcements from Fr. StephenFather Stephen may be reached at 609-385-3757, Monday - Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM or by email:

frsiniari@gmail.com. Please remember that all confessions and consultations on Sunday mornings shall take place from 9 AM to 10 AM before the Divine Liturgy. Thank you.

Father Dudash may be reached at 484-552-8079 or by email: ghiggee@yahoo.com

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SS PETER & PAUL

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MISCELLANEOUS

E-mails: New Bulletins are available online by Saturday 8 PM on the last Saturday of the month. If you would like to be kept up-to-date by e-mail or to be removed from our “paper” mailing list, please e-mail Alicia at: aliciaj17@me.com

SS Peter & Paul Church Store - Open Sun-days at 9:30 AM (1/2 hour before Divine Liturgy) Items available: SS Peter & Paul 90th Year Celebration DVD ($15); Divine Lit-urgy Books, Icons; Crosses (Baptismal, lapel pins, Georgian style, orthodox); Prayerbooks (English); Censors; CDs and cassettes; Religious Books. Also available: In Their Own Tongue, a documentary chronicling the Albanian Archdiocese in America.

Daily Bread - Suspended until further noticeWeekly Devotional Lights - Envelopes are avail-

able at the Church Store counter for special prayers to be said dur-ing the week in conjunction with the burning of the Seven-Day Vo-tive Light hanging above the Royal Doors. Suggested offering: $10, which will go towards building up our Pastoral Fund with the ulti-mate goal of supporting a full time priest.

Announcements/News about Parishioners - If you have any items to include in next month’s Bulletin, please see Al ic ia o r ca l l he r a t 215-530-0118 o r ema i l : aliciaj17@me.com The deadline for the next Bulletin is Sun-day, February 16. Parishioners will be able to pick up the Bulletin at the Church on Sunday 2/23/14. Bulletins will be mailed to any Parishioners unable to attend.

Please remember to let Alicia know the names of our mem-bers who are ill or in need of prayer so that they can be in-cluded in our Bulletins. ***Please note: You cannot arbi-trarily be removed from the Prayer List. You must let Alicia know to remove your name. Thank you.

Thank You to all members of the Parish who have helped out or volunteered in any way with their time and efforts, and a very special thank you to anyone whose name was inadvertently omitted from the Bulletin.

Anyone with Email Access (who is not currently receiving email Bulletin notifications from Alicia) - please email Alicia at aliciaj17@me.com to be put on the list to receive a pdf version of the Bulletin and no paper Bulletin. Please help us conserve paper and expenses! Thank you!

Blank Icon Greeting Cards - Available year-round. All proceeds benefit our Pastoral Care Fund. For all occasions, includ-ing sending well wishes to our parishioners with surgeries, ailments, and illnesses. Addresses can be provided for you. Contact Donna Ba-con at 973-989-1591, or email her at: dab0893@optonline.net for cards and/or addresses.

SS Peter & Paul Choir: Choir rehearsals are held after Liturgy on the last Sunday of each month. If anyone is interested in joining the choir, please speak to the Choir Director or any choir member.

A Very Happy Birthday is wished to the following parishioners and friends who are cele- brating February Birthdays: Edna Bachelor, Joe Bacon, Janet (Bachelor) Caparros, Margot Craig, Virginia Daka, Theodore Dementri, Ralph John, Thomas Kenny, Christine Nass, Andrew Quirias, Georgia Reeves, Lilly Shallapi, Andi Steffa, Gregory Vrato, Sr.

May God grant them all many, many years!

Parishioner’s Corner

Congratulations to Susan & Chuck Stevens (of Shrewsbury, MA) on the birth of their daughter, Chloe An-gelina on December 12, 2013. She is the granddaughter of Marge Costa, the niece of Christopher & Donna and Paul Costa,

and the cousin of Paul & Philip. Chloe’s great-aunts are Jennie Speero & Helen Arndt and her great-uncle is Nick Shuttie.

May God grant Chloe many, many years!

A Most Sincere Thank You from Jim Bachelor to all those who participated in the Community Christmas Card. Almost $500 was raised for our Church.

Honorary & Memorial Gifts to the Pastoral Fund - A way to recognize a friend or family member’s nameday, graduation, wedding, birthday, anniversary, momentous celebration, or a gift of well wishes and prayers. For each donation received (minimum of $10), your designated recipient will receive an honorary greeting card in your name. Send all information to: Paulette Steffa, 220 Limestone Lane, Willow Grove PA 19090

A Friendly Reminder - If you are the last person to leave the Church building, please make certain that all lights are off, the refrigerator door is closed securely, the gas is not on, all candles are out, and the toilets are not running. Given that the Church is not used on a daily basis, any of these things could potentially become a major problem. Thank you!

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A Reminder to Church Board Members - Fr Stephen has requested that all Church Board Members buy and begin reading Community and Growth by Jean Vanier by March 25 for discussion at future board meetings.

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Please continue to pray for the full and speedy recovery of: Gregory Vrato, Sr., Matthew Murianka, Joyce Dorsey, Thimi Daka, Sophie Bacon, Margot Craig, Eteri Okropiridze, Mary Ann Clark, Alexandra Pana, Nicholas Desloges, Martha Murianka, Anthony Sarris, Jeannie Rifkin, Nick Zeo, His Eminence Archbishop Nikon, Eurania (Elaine) Quirias, Lester Speero, Lester Paul Speero, Sandy Speero, Fr Stephen Siniari, Andi SteffaGod knows the names and ages of all who need His love and mercy...

Let Us Keep Them in our Prayers

Greeting Card Recycling Project - Please bring in any Nativity, Pascha or Icon greeting cards. The Sunday School chil-dren are “recycling” them into postcards and sending them to our Parishioners who are “shut-ins”. We want them to know that they are still loved and remembered. The cards will be sent during the respective holiday seasons.

The Following Items Are Needed - 1) Unwanted tools in good condition Thank you!

Gregory Vrato, Sr., is at the John Neumann Nursing Home, Room 729, at the intersection of Haldeman & Tomlinson Road (make a right on Tomlinson and the parking lot is immediately on your right). Visitors are welcome anytime from noon to 8 PM

Please continue to keep Gregory in your prayers. May God grant him good health!

Volunteers Needed for Clean Up after Coffee Hour - The sponsoring of Coffee Hour has worked out well (sponsors are still needed). We need volunteers to help with the clean up after Coffee Hour. Please volunteer to help. Thank you!

Donate An Item a Month Campaign - We are in need of the following items: Lenten items: margarine, peanut butter, non-dairy creamer. Your continued help is truly appreciated! No styrofoam, please! A sincere “Thank You” to all parishioners who so kindly donated any requested items.

Parishioner’s Corner (continued from Page 4)

The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven.

As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution.

Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.”

FATHER STEPHEN’S MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL (continued from Page 1)

The Epistle to Diognetios

The Epistle to Diognetus was written to a high-ranking pagan, Diognetios.Several theories have been advanced as to who the author of the epistle was and who Diognetus was, but nothing is certain on either question. The date of the Epistle to Diognetus is probably in the mid-to-late second or very early third century. The only known manuscript of this work was lost in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War when the library of Strasbourg burned.

February 1 St Bridget of IrelandFebruary 2 Meeting of Christ in the TempleFebruary 3 Righteous Godbearer Simeon and Anna the ProphetessFebruary 6 St Photius, Patriarch of ConstantinopleFebruary 9 Publican & PhariseeFebruary 10 St Haralambos; St ValentinaFebruary 11 St Blaise; Righteous TheodoraFebruary 14 St Cyril, Teacher of the SlavsFebruary 16 Prodigal SonFebruary 18 St Leo the Great, Pope of RomeFebruary 23 Meatfare SundayFebruary 24 1st & 2nd Finding Honorable Head of St John the BaptistFebruary 26 St Porphyrius, Bishop of Gaza; St Sebastian

HOLY DAYS AND NAME DAYS IN FEBRUARY

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SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON(Commemorated on February 16)

The Sunday after the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. This parable of God’s forgiveness calls us to come to ourselves” as did the prodigal son, to see ourselves as being “in a far country” far from the Father’s house, and to make

the journey of return to God. We are given every assurance by the Master that our heavenly Father will receive us with joy and gladness. We must only “arise and go,” confessing our self-inflicted and sinful separation from that “home” where we truly belong (Luke 15:11-24).

After the Polyeleion at Matins, we first hear the lenten hymn “By the Waters of Babylon.” It will be sung for the next two Sundays before Lent begins, and it serves to reinforce the theme of exile in today’s Gospel.

Reading & Icon Courtesy of OCA Website

Theophany 2014

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Christmas 2013

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LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

January 2014 - January 2015

Jan 1 -! (Wed) Circumcision of Our Lord; St. Basil the Great, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Jan 6 - (Mon) Theophany of Our Lord & Great Blessing of Water, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Feb 2 ! -! (Sun) Meeting of Christ in the Temple, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Feb 9 - (Sun) Publican & Pharisee, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Mar 5 - (Wed) Pre-Sanctified, 7 PM

Mar 9 ! - ! (Sun) Sunday of Orthodoxy, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Mar 12, 19 - (Weds) Pre-Sanctifieds, 7 PM

Mar 25 ! - ! (Tue) Annunciation, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Mar 26/Apr 2, 9 - (Weds) Pre-Sanctifieds, 7 PM

Apr 12! - Lazarus Saturday, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Apr 13! - (Sun) Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem, Divine Liturgy & Blessing of Palms, 10 AM

Apr 16! - Holy Wednesday (Holy Unction) 7 PM

Apr 17! - Holy Thursday (Twelve Passion Gospels) 7 PM

Apr 18! - Holy Friday (Vespers, Taking Down From Cross) 3 PM; Lamentations at Tomb 7 PM

Apr 19 ! - ! Holy Saturday (Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil) 9 AM; Orthros/Pashkal Canon/Liturgy 11 PM

Apr 20! - ! Pascha Sunday (Agape Vespers; Gospel in many languages) Noon

May 29 ! - ! Holy Ascension Thursday, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Jun 8! - ! Holy Pentecost Sunday, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Jun 29! - ! (Sat/Sun - To Be Announced) Celebration of SS Peter & Paul Feast Day with His Emi- nence Archbishop Nikon; Divine Liturgy (Time To Be Announced); Parish Meal after Divine Liturgy

Aug 6 ! - ! (Wed) Holy Transfiguration, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Aug 15 ! - ! (Fri) Dormition of the Theotokos, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Sep 14 ! - ! (Sun) Exaltation of The Holy Cross, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Oct 1 - (Wed) Protection of the Theotokos, Divine Liturgy 9 AM

Nov ? - ! (Sat/Sun - To Be Announced) St. John Chrysostom Feast Day & His Eminence Archbishop

Nikon’s visit to our Sister Parish (*No Services at SS Peter & Paul*)

Dec 25 ! - ! (Thu) Nativity, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

January 2015

Jan 1 ! - ! (Thu) Circumcision of Our Lord; St Basil the Great, Divine Liturgy 10 AM

Jan 6 - (Tue) Theophany of Our Lord & Great Blessing of Water, Divine Liturgy 9 AM