Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church

44 Benzinger St, Buffalo, NY 14206

http://www.peterandpauloca.com/
(716) 893 0044 -office (716) 220 8724 - Fr. Vlads cell

Fr. Volodymyr Zablotskyy, Acting Rector Martin Napierski Council President Linda Mucyn - Choir Director MARCH 10, 2013 SUNDAY OF MEATFARE Tone 7. Sunday of the Last Judgment. Martyr Quadratus and those with him: Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens, Dionysius (another), Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, Papias, Leonidas, Chariessa, Nunechia, Basilissa, Nice (Nika, Victoria), Galla, Galina, Theodora, and many others, at Corinth (258, 267-268). Martyrs Quadratus, Saturninus, Rufinus, and the rest, of Nicomedia (3rd c.). St. Athanasius the Patrician, of Alexandria (567-568).

1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Epistle)

8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idols temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Matthew 25:31-46 (Gospel)

31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40 And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. 41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. 44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Prayers for sick, home bund and those who requested to pray for them: Tom, Baby Jonas, Anonymous Intentions WEEKLY CALENDAR: Sunday, Mar 10 10am: Church: Divine Liturgy MEATFARE Tuesday, Mar 12 7pm: Church: Yale Russian Chorus- Coffee Hour to follow CANCELLED Thursday, Mar 14 5:30p-6:20: Hall: ZUMBA Thursday, Mar 14 6:30pm: Hall: Adult Enrichment Class Friday, Mar 15 6-9pm: Hall: Soup Kitchen Preparation Saturday, Mar 16 10am-1pm: Hall: Soup Kitchen Saturday, Mar 16 10am-1pm: Hall: A Helping Hand - Clothing & Linens in the Church Hall Saturday, Mar 16 4pm: Church: Vespers Sunday, Mar 17 10am: Church: Divine Liturgy CHEESEFARE MARK YOUR CALENDARS! COMING EVENTS Sunday, May 5 10am: Church: Divine Liturgy-GREAT PASCHA

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OCA Youth Department launches new grant program
With the approval of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America, the OCA Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry launched its Saint Peter the Aleut Grant Program. The grant will be available to any youth or young adults seeking to offset costs of attending retreats, workshops, or conferences, or to visit an OCA seminary or monastery to discern a vocation. In addition, clergy and lay people may apply for assistance to offset the costs of continuing education in the field of youth ministry. We want to show that the greater Church supports our youth as they seek to deepen their life in Christ, and supports those who wish to develop their youth ministry skills, said Andrew Boyd, OCA Youth Director. To that end, we want to open this small grant program to as many individuals as possible. While award amounts will be small, in the area of $100-$500 dollars, we hope to partner with local parishes and dioceses to offer more comprehensive encouragement and assistance. Applications and detailed grant information may be accessed here. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year. There is no deadline, but funding is on a firstcome, first-served basis. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate additional support from a parish or diocese.

WEEKLY REFLECTION:
The Bible readings for March 12 and 14 include the entire Letter of Jude, the second-last book of the New Testament. Consisting of a single chapter with 24 verses, this letter has a powerful impact for so brief a document. It was inspired by a crisis, and is not the kind of letter the author had intended to write before the crisis arose. Jude states that he had planned to write about "our common salvation." In other words, the letter was to be a general description of the beliefs that all Christians hold. He says that he was "very eager" to send such a letter. So it must have been quite a crisis that compelled him to write in an altogether different way, urging his fellow believers to "contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." He then names the cause of the crisis: There are false teachers who have made their way, secretly, into the Church. These are not enemies from outside, putting forth theories about life and salvation that are different from those of the Church. These are people who are living, working and teaching among the believers and who "deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude offers three examples of what happens to those who "pervert the grace of God" as these false teachers do. First he describes those who were saved out of the land of Egypt in Moses' time. That deliverance was no guarantee of eternal salvation for people if they did not continue in faithfulness; Jude writes that God "afterward destroyed those who did not believe." Next he describes angels who rebelled against God. They fell from their lofty position and now await a fearful judgment in the "nether gloom." The third example is Sodom and Gomorrah, where immorality and unnatural lust led people to actions worthy of "a punishment of eternal fire." Jude sees the false teachers' arrogant behavior as being just as dangerous as the rebellion

and immorality he has described. He writes that the Archangel Michael, when disputing with the devil, didn't presume to pronounce a "reviling judgment" on him, but left it to God. Unlike the archangel, these men "dare to revile whatever they do not understand." At the Eucharistic feast, they carouse and look after themselves rather than being peaceful and showing consideration for everyone. This letter contains harsh condemnations. But Jude has seen the terrible effects of rebellion against God among his own people, in the churches established by the apostles. He calls on church members to be loving: to convince, save, or have mercy on anyone they encounter. But they must also take care for their own salvation through prayer, building on their foundation of faith, keeping themselves in God's love, and waiting patiently for Christ's mercy. This path to salvation is open to anyone; those who rebel are freely choosing not to take it and they know the consequences. Jude uses strong language and powerful images to help his readers choose to stay on the path. THE LETTER OF ST. JUDE 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James: to them that are beloved in God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called. 2 Mercy unto you and peace: and charity be fulfilled. 3 Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men are secretly entered in (who were written of long ago unto this judgment), ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness and denying the only sovereign Ruler and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore admonish you, though ye once knew all things, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, did afterwards destroy them that believed not. 6 And the angels who kept not their principality but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in everlasting chains, unto the judgment of the great day. 7 As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 8 In like manner these men also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, and blaspheme majesty. 9 When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee. 10 But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what things soever they naturally know, like dumb beasts, in these they are corrupted. 11 Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain: and after the error of Balaam they have for reward poured out themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core. 12 These are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water, which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusion; wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.

14 Now of these Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying: Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his saints: 15 To execute judgment upon all and to reprove all the ungodly for all the works of their ungodliness, whereby they have done ungodly: and for all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against God. 16 These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires: and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring persons, for gain's sake. 17 But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 Who told you that in the last time there should come mockers, walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses. 19 These are they who separate themselves, sensual men, having not the Spirit. 20 But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting. 22 And some indeed reprove, being judged: 23 But others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal. 24 Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin and to present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 25 To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen.

ON-GOING PARISH PROJECTS

THE SAINTS PETER & PAUL ORTHODOX CHURCH PARISH RECIPE & COOKBOOK: New recipes for Stuffed Cabbage, Goulash, Dis Kifli, So far, we have collected about 40 recipes for our collection. Please remember to collect your recipes for THE SAINTS PETER & PAUL ORTHODOX CHURCH PARISH RECIPE & COOKBOOK. We continue to collect your recipes for the Russian section of the cookbook. Wont you share them with us? HALL RENTAL The Church hall is available for rental for your next event please contact Fr. Vlad for information about availability and cost. NOTICES If you have a notice or event to be printed in the weekly bulletin, please send the information to editor@peterandpauloca.com by noon on Thursday. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS: Dr. Natalka Stachiw, MD Dr. Christine Hoeplinger, DDS 3626 Seneca St. Western NY Ear, Nose and Throat 3626 Seneca St., West Seneca, NY 14224 West Seneca, NY 14224 Phone (716) 674-9444 Phone (716) 675-5711 www.wnyent.com www.hoeplingerdental.com