HOLY RESURRECTION CHURCH

285 FRENCH HILL ROAD
WAYNE, NEW JERSEY 07470

FATHER PAUL KUCYNDA, PASTOR
MICHAEL GEEZA, CHOIR DIRECTOR

Telephone (973) 696-6572
E-mail pkucynda@optonline.net
 
A parish of The Orthodox Church in America

March 14, 2010

Fourth Sunday of Lent – St. John Climacus (Tone 7)

WELCOME

If you are a guest at today’s Divine Liturgy, we invite you to Coffee Hour.   You are always welcome to share in worship, study and fellowship here at Holy Resurrection Church.

If you would like to become an enrolled parishioner, please call Fr. Paul at (973) 696-6572.

COFFEE HOUR FOR MARCH

St. Herman Group – June Lopen

SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Tuesday              7:00 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday          5:30 p.m. Lenten Confessions
                         6:30 p.m. Presanctified Liturgy
                                       Lenten Supper

Saturday             11:00 a.m. Retreat - SVS  
                          5:30 p.m. Vespers 
                                        Lenten Confessions
           
Sunday                              St. Mary of Egypt
                          9:00 a.m. Education Programs
                         10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
                           4:00 p.m. Deanery Vespers – Ss. Peter & Paul, Manville, NJ

   
TEEN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

The youth workers of Ss. Peter & Paul Church of Manville invite our parish youth in working on an outreach project for IOCC.  The volunteer event is scheduled for Saturday, March 20th.  The youth will be assembling Emergency Kits which the IOCC then distributes to stricken areas in times of need.  This is a great way to help others as well as to meet fellow Orthodox youth.  Please contact Jill Peterson at jap2002@optonline.net or (908) 541-9586 for more information.

LENTEN READING PROGRAM

Please encourage our child to incorporate some “quiet time” during this Lenten season by participating in the Lenten Reading program.  The children will earn crosses for their reading time and we hope to reach our Paschal goal of 1,000 crosses during our Lenten journey.  Please join in our daily challenge and “Take Up Your Book Daily!”  See Lorraine Ciarfella for the reading log pamphlets.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Willows and palms are distributed on Palm Sunday, March 28th.  Volunteers are needed to prepare them on Lazarus Saturday, March 27th.  Please contact Fr. Paul if you would like to help.

If anyone has pussy willows growing at their home and would be willing to donate some of them, please bring them to the church by March 27th.

HELP KEEP THE VIGIL

A Vigil will be kept in our Church from the end of Vespers on Great and Holy Friday afternoon until we gather for the 11:00 p.m. Nocturne, Paschal Matins, and Divine Liturgy on Great and Holy Saturday night.  A sign-up sheet will be at the candle desk.  Volunteers are needed for one-hour watches.  Participation in the Vigil is a unique spiritual experience.

CHILDREN’S DONATION TO WIN

The Church School students are invited to participate in a program where they can make a weekly donation to the Wayne Interfaith Network.  The children and their families are asked to donate their “favorite” of a different type of food each week.  Everyone is welcome to participate.  The remaining weeks are designated as:
March 21st – Drink (no glass bottles)
March 28th – Meal (Mac ‘n cheese, etc.)

CHILDREN TO DYE EGGS

After the Holy Unction Service on Wednesday, March 31st, the children of the parish are invited to help dye red eggs for distribution at the Paschal Services.  Any parishioners interested in having their eggs dyed by the children can bring them that evening.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THEY MUST BE HARD-BOILED!

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

Great Lent is a special time of the year when great emphasis is placed upon our “Return to God.”  With honesty, we know that we have strayed from our love of God and haven’t kept His Commandments.  Because of this and because we desire to correct our ways, the Church offers the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) as the “way back to our Father.”

All parishioners are expected to receive the Sacrament of Penance at least once during Great Lent.  Personal confessions will be heard before and after Saturday evening Vespers and before each Wednesday evening Lenten Services.

MID-WEEK LENTEN COMMUNION

Each Wednesday evening of Great Lent, we will have the privilege of coming together to celebrate the Presanctified Liturgy – a service unique to Great Lent.  It offers us an opportunity for communal Lenten prayer as well as an additional opportunity to receive Holy Communion during each week of Great Lent (in addition to the opportunity offered each Sunday).

As a preparation for reception of Holy Communion at Presanctified Liturgy, a fast from all food and drink should be kept at least from the noon hour.  You are also encouraged to read the Pre-Communion Prayers before coming to the Liturgy.  At the conclusion of each Presanctified Liturgy, the Post-Communion Prayers will be read communally before we depart. 

Each Wednesday evening’s Presanctified Liturgy will be followed by a pot-luck fellowship supper in the parish hall.  You are welcome to bring a Lenten dish to share. 

LENTEN LECTURE SERIES

FOCA is hosting a Lenten lecture series.  On Friday, March 19th at Ss. Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Passaic beginning at 7:00 p.m., Bishop-Elect, Hiermonk Michael Dahulich will conduct a lecture.

On Friday, March 26th at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, South River beginning at 7:15 p.m., V. Rev. Michael Meerson will discuss the meaning of Passover as it is fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.  All are welcome to both of these events.

ART CLASS

Joel Popadics will be offering a drawing and watercolor class for children every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Parish Center.  This ongoing class is open to all children ages 9 – 17 from Wayne and surrounding communities.  Students of all levels, from beginner to advanced, will be taught a realistic approach to drawing using shape and form, light, shadow, and shading.  Instruction will be given in a variety of media including pencil, pen & ink, colored pencil, scratchboard, and watercolor.  Tuition for the class is $25 per session.

Joel has been a professional artist for over 25 years.  He has taught painting and drawing for the past 16 years at the Ridgewood Art Institute and Ridgewood Community Schools System.  For more information about the class, e-mail him at jpopadics@aol.com or call (973) 851-0366.

WEEKLY READING

The following excerpt is taking from the book “Promise of Good Things” by the Apostolic Fathers.

First Commandment

First of all, you should believe that God is one, who made all things and perfected them, who brought all things into being from that which was not and who contains all things without himself being contained.  You should believe in him and should fear him and, through fear of him, you should live a disciplined life.  If you keep these things, then you shall throw off all evil and shall clothe yourself in every virtue of righteousness and shall live for God, in you keep this commandment.

Second Commandment

The shepherd said to me:  “Be simple and innocent, and you shall be like the children who do not know the evil that destroys the life of men and women.”

“Firstly, do not slander anyone, and do not listen willingly to those who speak evil of others in case you share in their sin by listening to them if you believe the slander that you hear.  For if you believe such things, then you too will have something against your brother or sister, and will share in the sin of the slanderer.  Speaking evil of people is wicked.  It is a restless demon that never makes peace but always lives in conflict.  Give slander a wide berth then and you will have good relationships with all.”

“Clothe yourself in holiness, which contains no stumbling-block of evil but in which all is smooth and joyful.  Do good, and from the labors that God gives you, give generously to those who are in need, not vacillating as to whom you shall or shall not give.  Give to all, for God wishes all to receive from his own gifts.”

CONSECRATION OF BISHOP-ELECT, MICHAEL DAHULICH

We have received the schedule for the consecration of Bishop-Elect, Michael Dahulich.  On Saturday, May 8th the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 109 Grand Street, Jersey City.  There will also be a banquet held at Casino-in-the-Park restaurant, also in Jersey City.  The cost of the banquet is $75 per person (children 8 & under $25).   Please make checks payable to “Diocese of NY/NJ” and return to the parish office.

Banquet tickets are available on a first-come basis and payment is due no later than March 31st.  We may be able to arrange for transportation from our parish if there is enough interest.  If you may have an interest in attending, please take a moment to fill out the sheet located in the vestibule.

LENTEN RETREAT -- SVS

On Saturday, March 20th, St. Vladimir Seminary will host a Lenten retreat.  The keynote speaker will be Fr. Joseph Huneycutt and the theme will be “Paschal Fire from Spiritual Ashes.”  Fr. Joseph’s talk will begin at 12:30 p.m.  We would need to leave our parish by 11:00 a.m. 

If you may have an interest in attending, please take a moment to fill out the sheet located in the vestibule.

TOY RECYCLING

The Knights of Columbus organization is collecting recycled, clean and usable toys, bassinettes, children’s furniture, baby carriages, high chairs and strollers (no stuffed toys, puzzles, or small pieces).  These items will benefit homeless and impoverished area families.  The collection will take place on Sunday, April 18th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the rear of Immaculate Heart of Mary School.  This is a great way to recycle if you are planning some spring cleaning.

SPIRIT OF ORTHODOXY

The Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir’s new 2 CD recording, “By the Still Waters,” is now available for the price of $20.  Please see Michael Geeza if you would like to make a purchase.
PARISH FINANCES

The parish financial summary for the time period of October 1, 2009 – March 9, 2010 is as follows:  Income    $115,656
   Expense    123,075
   Difference ( 7,419)

DIVINE LITURGY

As one Sunday Divine Liturgy concludes, we begin to anticipate next Sunday’s celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection.  In preparation for next Sunday’s Divine Liturgy, please do the following:

* Pray daily
* Read the appointed Scriptures daily (listed below)
* Attend Vespers
* Prepare by privately reading Pre-Communion prayers if you intend to receive Holy Communion at next Sunday’s Divine Liturgy*
* Conclude your Liturgy by privately reading Post-Communion prayers
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THIS WEEK

Monday Gen. 13:12-18  Prov. 14:27-15:4

Tuesday  Gen. 15:1-15  Prov. 15:7-19

Wednesday  Gen. 17:1-9   Prov. 15:20-16:9

Thursday   Gen. 18:20-33  Prov. 16:17-17:17
          
Friday Gen. 22:1-18  Prov. 17:17-18:5
        
Saturday Heb. 9:24-28  Mark  8:27-31

BEFORE COMING TO DIVINE LITURGY ON SUNDAY, PLEASE READ:

Heb. 9:11-14        Mark 10:32-45