1. WE WELCOME YOU to Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church! We are happy to have you visit and worship the Lord God with us. If you would like more information about our Parish and, perhaps, becoming a parishioner, please, see Father Basil or visit our website: www.saintspeterandpaulscranton.com , or phone the rectory at    570 -343-8128  (if no answer, let phone ring 8 times and leave a message.)  God Bless you!       

2. SUNDAY SCHOOL classes for the school year 2024-2025 will resume on Sunday, 22 September. All children of our Parish, ages Kindergarten and beyond, are welcome to attend.  We thank our loyal and devoted Sunday School staff, parents and grandparents for their important support and help with our Sunday School Programme. Most importantly we thank our students who attend weekly Sunday School sessions and learn the truths of the Orthodox Christian Faith, its dogmas, customs and traditions, putting these values into practice in their daily lives. May the Holy Spirit be with you and guide you in all correct learning, God Bless!

3. CHURCH CLEANING for this week, 8 September: TEAM  4  -----     Michael Senyk  and anyone else who can and cares enough to help.  Please, remember to tend to the Holy Icons, candlestands and the main aisle before leaving church today.  We need a few more volunteers (women and men) to supplement our cleaning teams. Can you help for an hour or so each month? Please, let Father Basil know. (570-343-8128).  God Bless!

4. OUR PARISH will hold its BAR-B-Q’d CHICKEN DINNER this Saturday, 14 September, 2024, at the Parish Center! The bill-of-fare includes : ½  barbecued chicken, potato,  beans, coleslaw and dessert! Donation: $15 per dinner. This is a take-out only event. Serving will be from High Noon until 2:00PM. Tickets will be distributed soon. Everybody of you is welcome! God Bless!  4a. WE ASK our parishioners and friends to, please, help with making this BBQ dinner a sterling success. If you can bake a cake (or two) for dessert – that would be GREAT! In addition, if you can help with the dinner prep, serving and clean-up it is very much appreciated. For more info about helping, please, see Mary Ann Hogan. Thank You for your help!  God Bless!

5. OUR PARISH HALL (SCHOOL/CENTER) is in dire need of repair. The Parish Council is and has been seeking estimates to complete the necessary work. Some bids have already been received. We expect to begin this project as soon as possible. Please, pray for a successful completion of this work for the good of our parish. Necessary patching and other masonary work will begin soon.      Donations towards the completion of this project are greatly appreciated. Thank You! God Bless!

6. PAY A VISIT to our Parish website: www.saintspeterandpaulscranton.com. Keep up with news and Divine Services, photos, links to Orthodox sites and more. Be a website Sponsor for a donation of just $25 per month. Sponsorship forms are available in the narthex. We need donations to keep our parish website on-line. PLEASE, favourably consider sponsoring the website for a month or more. God Bless you!

7. THE HOLY FIRE, from the Church of the Resurrection * in Jerusalem, burns brightly in the lampadas in our church. If you wish to make a donation for the burning of the Holy Fire in the Altar (Sanctuary) or Nave (main body) of our temple, please, stop at the candle-desk. Offering intentions may be made for the health and salvation of family and friends, or for the blessed repose of departed Christians. A donation of $25 per month is requested to cover the cost of candles. [A “link” has been included on our website for more information about the  HOLY FIRE. Log-on to it when you have time.] God Bless!                                                   

8. JUST A reminder: Our annual contribution to the Cathedraticum for the Patriarchal Parishes is fifty ($50.00) dollars per parishioner per year. This is more than reasonable (only one dollar per week). Please, actively support our Russian Orthodox Church in the USA by faithfully using your Cathedraticum envelopes.  God Bless!

9. LIVE-STREAMING, and encore viewing, of the Divine Liturgy is available at - www.stjohnsmayfield.org  and in living colour on the radio at  94.3 FM from  Saint John’s  Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Mayfield,  - Sunday at 9:30AM. - www.holytrinityorthodox.com  from Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Baltimore, (Archpriest John Vass).  – Sunday at 10:00AM  This is offered for those who, for a serious reason, cannot come to church on Sunday for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. It is NOT a substitute for NOT attending Divine Liturgy  in church on Sunday or any other day. God Bless! 

10. A WORD of “THANKS!” to our faithful parishioners and friends who tend to the beauty of the temple/church and parish grounds and cemetery. You know what “they say – no one notices housekeeping and landscaping work unless it is NOT done.” YOUR WORK in the House-of-God and its properties does not go un-noticed. We appreciate your labours and know that the Lord God blesses and accepts your offering of time and talent. Again , “THANK YOU” for caring about the beauty of the House of God, its property and cemetery.. God Bless you!

11. HAPPENING SOON: -  The Annual Parish Meeting of Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, Scranton, Pennsylvania, is scheduled for Sunday, 27 October, 2024. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please, tend to all financial obligations before the Meeting.  Please, consider taking a leader/service position by serving on the Parish Council. God Bless! -  Our Annual Parish Thanksgiving/Turkey Dinner is slated to be held on Sunday, 17 November, 2024!  Serving will be from High Noon until 2:00PM. (Take-out only???). Tickets will be available soon and distributed to all parishioners - $15 per dinner.   Everyone’s help is important and very much appreciated. Thank you and God Bless!

12. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 700 Hill Street, Mayfield, announces that a SHOE COLLECTION is being held at the Cathedral.  The collected shoes will be distributed to people in countries that desperately need them. Our parish is joining in this venture. If you have old, previously worn but not abused  shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers,    flip-flops etc. and are considering  getting rid of them from your closet, please, consider donating them for this worthy work-of-mercy.    This effort  is being co-ordinated in our parish by Sub-deacon Timothy Micek and his helpers Mylei and Natalei. Thank you and GOD BLESS YOU! “I was naked and you clothed me”…”Whenever you did it for one of these least of My brethren, you did it for Me.” [Matthew 25,36-40] This shoe drive has been extended  until the end of September.  Thank You, parishioners and friends, for your wonderful response to this worthy project.  God Bless!

The Jesus Prayer
LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER!
[ pray this prayer often during the day ]

PRAY  FOR  PEACE  IN  UKRAINE

GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!

[A word to our Parishioners and Friends:   When making your Last Will and Testament, please, be sure to include Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church among your beneficiaries. The Church has helped, guided and nourished you throughout your entire life. Making a final bequest to our Parish will help you and it will help your Parish. Pray and consider this.  God Bless you!]