GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!

SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER 2017

Sunday, September 3rd

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy – 13th Sunday after

Pentecost – Tone 4

Readings: I Cor 16:13-24; Matthew 21:33– 42

Thursday, September 7th

7:00 p.m.: Great Vespers & Litiya

for the Feast of the Nativity of the

Mother of God

Friday, September 8th

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy for the

Feast of the Nativity of the Mother

of God

Sunday, September 10th

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy – 14th Sunday after

Pentecost – Tone 5 - Sunday before Cross Elevation

Readings: 2 Corinthians 1:21–2:4; Galatians 6:11-

18 (Before Elevation); Matthew 22:1–14; John 3:13-

17 (Before Elevation) Panahida: In Memory of Georgiana Burr Weldon

(86th Birthday) offered by Roger& Robert Weldon

Wednesday, September

13th

5:30 p.m.: Vespers & Litiya for the Elevation of the Holy Cross

Thursday, September 14th

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy for the

Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross - Strict Fast Day

Sunday, September 17th

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy – 15th Sunday after

Pentecost - Tone 6 – Sunday after Cross Elevation

Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:6 – 15; Galatians 2:16-

20 (After Elevation); Matthew 22:35 – 46; Mark

8:34-9:1 (After Elevation) Panahida: In Memory of Bishop John Martin

offered by the ACRY

Sunday, September 24th

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy – 16th Sunday after

Pentecost – Tone 7

Readings: 2 Corinthians 6:1–10; Luke 5:1-11

Panahida: In Memory of Ann Karpinowich offered by the Samilenko Family

Sunday, October 1st

9:00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy – 17th

Sunday after Pentecost – Tone 8-

Feast of the Protection of the Mother

of God

Readings: 2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1; Hebrews 9:1-7(Feast); Luke 6:31–36;

Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28(Feast)

Panahida: In Memory of mother

Katherine & father John Macura

offered by Fr. Michael

FOLLOW OUR DIOCESE ON-LINE

Diocesan Website:

http://www.acrod.org Camp Nazareth:

http://www.campnazareth.org

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/acroddiocese

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/acrodnews You Tube:

https://youtube.com/acroddiocese

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church

600 Silver Lane, Stratford, CT 06614

www.stjohnsilverlane.net

Pastor:

Very Rev E. Michael Macura

Phone: 203.386.8888 - Cell: 203.218.1627

Email: frmichael@optonline.net

Subdeacons:

Joseph Laput & Joel Pleban

Cantor:

Subdeacon Christopher Gombos

Parish President:

Carole Krochta

Phone: 203.375.2621

Email: cwkrochta@optonline.net

http://www.acrod.org/http://www.campnazareth.org/https://www.facebook.com/acroddiocesehttps://twitter.com/acrodnewshttps://youtube.com/acroddiocesemailto:frmichael@optonline.netmailto:cwkrochta@optonline.net

FROM FATHER MICHAEL

CONTACTING FATHER You may call me at either of the following numbers:

203-386-8888 or my cell phone at 203-218-1627.

Contact me at any time and especially in the event

of any emergencies, hospitalizations or problems

that may arise.

FACEBOOK/WEBSITE

Follow and “like” us on Facebook to keep up to date. Search “St. John’s Orthodox Church of Silver

Lane” on your Facebook search engine to find our

site or visit our church website at

www.stjohnsilverlane.net where there is a link you

can click to our Facebook site. Add these to your

favorites and visit us frequently!

NICEAN CREED CHANTER SCHEDULE The following groups and/or individuals are

scheduled to chant the Nicean Creed on the

following dates:

9/3 Chris G

9/10 Pete S

9/17 Joe S

9/24 Congregation

10/1 Chris G 10/8 Pete S

ALTAR SERVERS

All Altar servers are expected to be in the sanctuary

at least five minutes before the beginning of any

Liturgical service. Please try to arrive on time. The

following altar servers are responsible for the altar

on the following dates:

9/3 David P 9/10 Stephen O

9/17 Magnus O

9/24 Joe S 10/1 David P

10/8 Stephen O

SUMMERTIME STEWARDSHIP OFFERING

Summer is almost over and some of us are taking a

last minute vacation…even from church! However,

church services continue, bills pile up and offerings

drop due to the lack of people coming to church. Don’t forget your financial obligations to the church

during this time. Make your offerings before you

leave on vacation! We are nine months into the

year 2017! Hopefully, we all have made a

commitment to participate in our church stewardship offering for the year and to put aside

at least our “dollar-a-day”, or whatever we are able

to, in order to help support the work of our church

especially during the summer months. May our

Lord Jesus Christ bless all of you with health and

happiness as you continue to participate during these very difficult times! Many Years! Mnohaja

Lita!

CANDLE DONATIONS

Sep 10th

Eternal Candle offered by Maria Michaels in honor & for health of granddaughter Emilia Ordner. Many Years!

Altar Taper Candles offered by Carole Krochta in honor & for health of Uncle

Michael Pistey on the occasion of his

birthday. Happy Birthday! Many Years!

Iconastas Candles offered by Bob, Wendy & Kristen Grabarz in honor & for health of

Stephen Grabarz on the occasion of his 20th birthday. Happy Birthday! Many Years!

Sep 17th

Eternal Candle offered by Maria Michaels in honor & for health of granddaughter Emilia

Ordner. Many Years!

Altar Taper Candles offered by Sandy Pleban in honor & for health of grandson

Stephen Grabarz on the occasion of his 20th birthday. Happy Birthday! Many Years!

Iconastas Candles offered by Joel Pleban in memory of Judith Thomas. Memory Eternal!

Sep 24th

Eternal Candle offered by Sandy Pleban in memory of husband Walter Pleban. Memory

Eternal!

PLEASE PRAY FOR The people listed below who are in need of our special prayers: Ann Balasa, Pani Betty Jean

Baranik, Fr. Larry Barriger, Judy Berard, Fr.

Thomas Blaschak, Lena Bobko, Lenny Booth,

Andrea Bower, Dean Bradford (Mer. Marine), Penny

Briganti, Andre Briganti, Melissa Brock, Rosemary

Brown, Kimberly Calhoun, Shirley Canaan, Jean & Joseph Candela, Michael Capuano, Joyce Cayer,

Protopresbyter David Cochran, Burton Cornell,

MaryAnn Damato, Ray Davidson, Jeff Delvecchio,

Laura DeMayo, Karen Dobosz, Joan Dumas, Fr.

John & Pani Patricia Duranko, Noreen Ehnot,

Marie Eichler, Fr. John & Pani Anna Jane Fencik, Carol & Bob Ferik, Bill Forth, Fr. John Gido, Chris,

Eileen, Sarah, Nicholas & Annie Gombos, Ryan

Gombos, Ken & Marie Hegyi, Tom Hetherington,

Bruce Hultgren, Gus Jarosko, Maya Joyner,

Jessica Keane, Peter Kepchar, Bettie Kerpchar, Barbara Kolaric, Sarah Kotos, Pani Anne Kozar,

Michele Krochta, Subdeacon Joseph Laput, Marcia

Laput, Gregory Laput, Thomas Laput, Mark

Lawruszko, Irene Lombard, Elsi Lotufo, John

Lovell, Fr. Robert Lucas, Arthur Macura, Fr. Daniel

Mahler, Irene Maty, Don Maxton, Peter McGinnis, Frank Meyernick, Lillian Mierzejewski,

Protopresbyter Luke Mihaly, Megan Morrissey, Fr.

Ted Mozes, Philip Murphy, Merle Palmer, John

Papa, Raymond Peterson, Verna & Michael Pistey,

Roseann & John Plavnicky, Adriana Pleban, Sandy Pleban, Betty Pollman, Pani Eleanor Pribish, Fr.

http://www.stjohnsilverlane.net/

Michael Psenechnuk, Judy Restieri, Linda

Rosinsky, Pani Helen Shutack, Cheryl Schultz,

Josephine Sinatro, Pani Anna Slovesko, Pani Donna Smoley, Barbara Susi, Susanne Talley,

Sarah Tartaglio, Pani Peggy Teklinsky, Daniel &

Sebastian Tomy, Gary Wolff, Karen Ann Yuschak,

Fr. John Zboyovski, Michael, Paula, Daniel, Holly,

Tiffany, Lynn, Susan, Betty, Ann, Carol, Greg,

Jackie, Savannah, Rekha & Our US Military Personnel

Nativity of the Theotokos

In addition to the

celebration of the

Annunciation, there are three major feasts in

the Church honoring Mary, the Theotokos. The first

of these is the feast of her nativity which is kept on

the eighth of September. The record of the birth of Mary is not found

in the Bible. The traditional account of the event is taken from the apocryphal writings which are not

part of the New Testament scriptures. The

traditional teaching which is celebrated in the

hymns and verses of the festal liturgy is that

Joachim and Anna were a pious Jewish couple who were among the small and faithful remnant—“the

poor and the needy”—who were awaiting the

promised messiah. The couple was old and

childless. They prayed earnestly to the Lord for a

child, since among the Jews barrenness was a sign

of God’s disfavor. In answer to their prayers, and as the reward of their unwavering fidelity to God, the

elderly couple was blessed with the child who was

destined, because of her own personal goodness

and holiness, to become the Mother of the Messiah-

Christ. Your nativity, O Virgin, has proclaimed joy to the whole universe. The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone from you, O Theotokos. By annulling the curse he bestowed a blessing. By destroying death he has granted us eternal life

(Troparion). By your nativity, O most pure virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness; Adam and Eve

from the corruption of death. And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you: The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our Life (Kontakion).

The fact that there is no Biblical verification

of the facts of Mary’s birth is incidental to the

meaning of the feast. Even if the actual background

of the event as celebrated in the Church is

questionable from an historical point of view, the divine meaning of it “for us men and for our

salvation” is obvious. There had to be one born of

human flesh and blood who would be spiritually

capable of being the Mother of Christ, and she

herself had to be born into the world of persons

who were spiritually capable of being her parents. The feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos,

therefore, is a glorification of Mary’s birth, of Mary

herself and of her righteous parents. It is a

celebration as well of the very first preparation of

the salvation of the world. For the “Vessel of Light,”

the “Book of the Word of Life,” the “Door to the Orient,” the “Throne of Wisdom” is being prepared

on earth by God Himself in the birth of the holy

girl-child Mary.

The verses of the feast are filled with titles

for Mary such as those in the quotations above. They are inspired by the message of the Bible, both

the Old and New Testaments. The specific Biblical

readings of the feast give indications of this.

At Vespers the three Old Testamental

readings are “mariological” in their New

Testamental interpretation. Thus, Jacob’s Ladder which unites heaven and earth and the place which

is named “the house of God” and the “gate of

heaven” (Gen 28.10–17) are taken, to indicate the

union of God with men which is realized most fully

and perfectly—both spiritually and physically—in Mary the Theotokos, Bearer of God. So also the

vision of the temple with the “door ‘to the East’”

perpetually closed and filled with the “glory of the

Lord” symbolizes Mary, called in the hymns of the

feast “the living temple of God filled with the divine

Glory” (Ezek 43.27–44.4). Mary is also identified with the “house” which the Divine Wisdom has

built for himself according to the reading from

Proverbs 9.1–11.

The Gospel reading of Matins is the one

read at all feasts of the Theotokos, the famous Magnificat from Saint Luke in which Mary says:

“My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices

in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low

estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all

generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1.47).

The epistle reading of the Divine Liturgy is the famous passage about the coming of the Son of

God in “the form of a servant, being born in the

likeness of man” (Phil 2.5–11) and the gospel

reading is that which is always read for feasts of

the Theotokos—the woman in the crowd glorifies the Mother of Jesus, and the Lord himself responds

that the same blessedness which his mother

receives is for all “who hear the word of God and

keep it” (Lk 11.27–28).

Thus, on the feast of the Nativity of the

Theotokos, as on all liturgical celebrations of Christ’s Mother, we proclaim and celebrate that

through God’s graciousness to mankind every

Christian receives what the Theotokos receives, the

“great mercy” which is given to human persons

because of Christ’s birth from the Virgin. (The Orthodox Faith-The Church Year-Volume II-Worship)

https://oca.org/Images/About/Worship/nativity-theotokos.jpg

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

18th: Stephen G 22nd: Emily H 24th: John L 29th: Sarah T

DON’T FORGET

If you or a family member goes into the hospital or

rehab center, please have someone contact

Father Michael immediately. Hospitals no longer

give out patient information when priests call to

ask if a parishioner is a patient.

If you would like to request a panahida service on

a Sunday, please add it to the panahida listing on

the back table in church.

If you would like to have Altar Candles, Eternal

Light, or side Iconostas Candles lit in honor of or in

memory of family or friends, please register on our

signup sheet in the back of the church. A

donation of $5.00 is appreciated.

Please refrain from texting and phone calls during

church. There’s a time and place for that … and

it’s not during church services. If you must take a

call, we ask that you step downstairs so as not to

disturb everyone else.

You can help beautify our church by donating

live flowers for the tetrapod for the health of or in

memory of family or friends. Simply sign up on our

weekly listing in the back of the church. You can

either: purchase the flowers and bring them on

Saturday evening or Sunday morning (by 8:00

a.m.) to put into the vases – or – you can give a

donation in advance for flowers to be purchased

and placed on the altar. You can take the

flowers home after services if you would like.

Annual Dues has been raised to $170.00 per adult

to adjust for the diocesan increase.

OFFICERS MEETING

The monthly meeting of our church officers will take

place on Monday, September 18th at 7:00 pm in the

church hall. All officers are asked to attend.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Keep in touch with the following people by sending

a card or note, calling or visiting them. Let them

know they are being prayed for and that they are

missed and thought of often!

Pani Helen Shutack, 229 Walnut Street, Apt 1,

Royersford, PA 19468

CHURCH SCHOOL

Church School starts again on October 1st. Please

let Fr. Michael know if you can teach or be a

substitute. Part of this year’s church school program

will work on a theme of spreading kindness in our

community.

THANK YOU TO

Our donors in memory of Mike Andrenyak: Dr. &

Mrs. Chester Andrenyak, David Andrenyak, Gail

& Tom Denisky, Joan & John Holobinko, John &

Mary Kamenitsky, Marge Kerpchar, Carole

Krochta, Joe & Lorrie Laput, Elsi Lotufo, Sandy

Pleban, Mr. & Mrs. James Ross, Mr. & Mrs.

Anthony Schultz, Gerrit & Susan Smouse, Teecia

Sorrentino, Mr. & Mrs. David Vargas

Our donors in memory of Betsy Hetherington:

Samilenko family, Teecia Sorrentino

Our donors for John St Project: Chris Gombos,

David & Elle Howard, Carole Krochta, Joe &

Lorrie Laput, Sharon Lawruszko, Fr. Michael

Macura, Joel Pleban, Sandy Pleban, Ben Porco &

Yan Ling, Mark & Lois Samilenko, Pete & Debbie

Samilenko, Michelle Tartaglio

Our workers at the August John St Project: Carole

Krochta, Sharon Lawruszko, Fr. Michael Macura,

Joel Pleban, Sandy Pleban, Mark, Lois, Christian &

Jessica Samilenko, Pete, Debbie & Joe

Samilenko, Melissa & Michelle Tartaglio

All who attended and worked at our Lazy Days

of Summer Dinner and Bingo

All who supported and volunteered at our

Summer Food Sale

Our Stewards, God’s Gardeners, grounds and

church cleaners!

WEDNESDAY BINGO

Come down to our weekly Wednesday Night BINGO

in the Church Hall. BINGO begins at 6:45

p.m. with a “Winner Take All” game

at 6:30 p.m. for early arrivals! We

have free coffee and soda available

during BINGO along with snacks. Hot

dogs are for sale from 5:00 pm to the

start of BINGO.

BACK TO SCHOOL DINNER AND BINGO

Join us on Sunday, September 10th, as we celebrate

going “back to school” at our Dinner and Bingo.

Starting at 4:00 pm, we will have a delicious ham

dinner with potatoes, vegetables, soup and dessert

– enough to feed the biggest of appetites! Donation

of $10.00 for those 12 years of age and older ($5.00

for those under 12). Stay for Bingo if you’d like

afterwards (admission is $1.00). Dinners to go are

available at $11.00 per person. Please RSVP to eat-

in or take-out (Carole @ 203.375.2621). Volunteers

are needed to help in the kitchen.

HELPING OUR FRIENDS ON JOHN STREET

We are looking for some help to provide assistance

to our friends who live on the streets of Bridgeport by

providing a nourishing lunch (sandwiches, bottled

water, snack bags, fruit) and some personal items

(socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs,

backpacks to hold personal belongings, etc.). Can

you reach into your heart and help by donating the

personal and school items or making a monetary

donation so someone could shop for these items?

Could you be one of 13 volunteers to go down to

John Street in October after church to distribute

these items? See Debbie S by September 30th to

sign up or donate!

Photos from our visit in August:

CHURCH SHOPPING WISH LIST

Donations of the following new items would be

greatly appreciated for church:

Paper Towels

2 liter Bottled Soda & Bottled Water

Regular & Decaf Coffee (please no dark

roast)

Large Bags of Pretzels or Chips

White Luncheon Napkins

Thank you to everyone who donated items this past

month!

HALLOWEEN DINNER AND BINGO

There’s nothing spooky about our Halloween Dinner

and Bingo on Sunday, October 29th! Come on

down to our church hall at 4:00 pm for a delicious

stuffed cabbage dinner with soup, potato, veggies

and dessert. We promise you won’t go home

hungry! Admission is $10.00/adult, $5/children under

12, $11.00/take out. Contact Carole by October

22nd to make reservation or order take-out. Bingo

follows at 5:30 pm. Admission is

$1.00. Volunteers are needed to

help server food, clean up, and

work bingo.

HOLIDAY FOOD AND BAKE SALE

Save the date of Saturday, November 18th for our

Annual Holiday Food and Bake Sale in the church

hall. You can start helping out now by preparing

and freezing homemade baked goods (you can

store them in our parish freezer if you don’t have

enough space in yours). Pass the word to family,

friends and neighbors as well. We’ll have stuffed

cabbage, halushki, roast beef sandwiches, soup,

and baked goods.

BACK TO SCHOOL/MOVING INTO COLLEGE

Emilia – Freshmen Year at Maine Maritime Academy

GODS GARDENER PROJECTS

Please support these projects that parishioners

sponsor for the benefit of our parish operating fund:

Recycle Used Cell Phones & Printer Cartridges:

Drop off unwanted cell phones & ink jet cartridges in

the labeled boxes in our church hall instead of

having it pollute our landfills. The Gombos Family will

recycle them for us!

Recycle Your Cans:

Bring your recyclable deposit cans, soda & water

bottles to church or contact Subdeacon Joel

Pleban to pick up your clean recyclable

cans/bottles. He’ll redeem them for the church.

What a great way to help keep the earth a little

cleaner!

Pampered Chef:

Stock up on favorite must have kitchen items &

seasonings from Pampered Chef. 15% of the sales

price goes to St. John’s. Free shipping for purchases

through God’s Gardener. Free Pampered Chef

product for any order over $75.00. Earn even more

for St. John’s and yourself if you collect $200 in

orders from your friends and family. See or call

Mercury @ 203.449.0115 for the new catalog with

fabulous new Pampered Chef products!

Recycle Clothes, Lines, Shoes and More

Bring your useable clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts,

purses, linens, pillow cases, blankets, curtains,

towels, & stuffed animals to our St. Pauly Textile

Drop-Off Shed to help our church. St. Pauly send it

to people who need it here in the United States & all

over the world

Monthly Breakfast (Oct-Jun):

Join us for breakfast after Divine Liturgy in the

church hall on the first Sunday of the month! $5 for

adults, $3 for children under 12, free for under 5.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT DEANERY/LOCAL PARISHES

St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church

(Orange) is hosting their Annual Greek

Odyssey on their parish grounds over Labor

Day Weekend.

St. John’s Church (Broadbridge Avenue,

Stratford) invites us to their Annual Church

Picnic on Sunday, September 24th on their

church grounds … 12:00-5:00 pm. There is no

cost to attend. RSVP to Fr. Peter so his parish

can make sure they have enough food for

all attending.

OYMT and Holy Trinity Church (Danbury)

present Medieval Mayhem on Saturday,

September 16th

THIS MONTHS SCHEDULE OF

COLLECTIONS & VOLUNTEERS

Envelope (Curators):

09/03: Maintenance/Repairs & Weekly Offering

(Mercury & Kim)

09/10: Dues & Weekly Offering (Wendy & Sharon)

09/17: Weekly Offering (Melanie & Mercury)

09/24: Bulletin Fund & Weekly Offering (Kim &

Wendy)

10/01: Maintenance/Repairs & Weekly Offering

(Sharon & Melanie) Note: There is only one collection basket after the sermon. All

envelopes for the day can go in that basket.

Bingo Workers:

09/06: Carole, Sharon

09/13: Mary, Carole, Debbie

09/20: Carole, Wendy

09/27: Carole, Sharon, Debbie

Fellowship Hour Hosts:

09/03: Carole K 09/10: Sharon L

09/17: Wendy P 09/24: Elle H

10/08: Melanie O 10/15: Michelle T

SAVE THE DATE

October 29th – Halloween Dinner and Bingo

November 12th – Thanksgiving Dinner and Bingo

November 18th – Holiday Food and Bake Sale

November 27th – Celebration of the 5th

Anniversary of Bishop Gregory’s Consecration

December 7th & 8th – Advent Piroghi Sale

December 10th – St. Nicholas Brunch

December 17th – Christmas Dinner and Bingo

REVISED JULIAN CALENDAR

September - December 2017 As we make the change to the Revised Julian

Calendar beginning this month on September 1st,

the calendars at the end of the bulletin are

provided for you to use through December. Revised

Julian wall calendars for the year 2018 will be

available as usual before the end of the year. Use

the ones below for the rest of 2017.

BLESSING OF TRANSPORTATION – AUGUST