Christ is Born! Glorify Him! On Wednesday, January 6, 2010, parishioners and friends of St. Andrew’s c

ame together to m ark Ukrainian Christmas Eve – Sviat Vechir. This h as been a parish tradi tion for over 25 years. At 6:00 P.M., the celebratory service of Great Compline and Blessing of Wheat, Wine, and Oil was offered by Fr. Roman, Fr. Deacon Vasyl and Fr. Deacon Borislav. The choir under the direction of Gene Moroz rendered the responses beginning with a vibrant chorus of “God is with us!” and concluding with the ancient Ukrainian Christmas carol, “Eternal God.”

Due to a snowstorm on Sunday, December 20, 2009, St. Nicholas Day festivities at St. Andrew’s were postponed until December 27.  Fr. Deacon Vasyl offered a children’s sermon, and then gifts were distributed to the youth.  After the Divine Liturgy some of the students from the Sunday School along with Fr. Roman and Fr. Deacon Vasyl decorated the Parish Christmas tree.  In the spirit of the season, everyone enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate as they admired the beautifully decorated tree.

Fr. Roman will be on vacation from January 25 until February 12, 2010.  He will be attending the wedding of his son in
Ukraine.  There will be Typika services led by our deacons on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, 2010.  In case of emergency, please call Jane Yavarow at 508-699-6238 or cell 508-397-2779 or Fr. Anthony in Woonsocket at 401-762-3939.    

On December 13, 2009, the parish of St. Andrew celebrated its patron feast day.  The Divine Liturgy was co-celebrated by Fr. Roman Tarnavsky, visiting priest, Fr. Anthony Perkins from Woonsocket, RI, deacons and altar servers.  At the end of the Liturgy, Taisa Priester, who graduated from Cornell University this spring, was acknowledged for her accomplishment with the presentation of an icon, which has become a St. Andrew’s Day tradition.  Taisa will be attending medical school, and is wished many happy years.

 After the Liturgy, parishioners were treated to a delicious Lenten meal including lobster bisque and baked stuffed sole prepared by the men of the parish. The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book was distributed to the benefactors who sponsored its publication.  This beautiful, full-colored booklet includes a history of the church and an explanation of the various icons that adorn its iconostas, walls and windows.  Parishioners were treated to a premiere viewing of home movies taken by the David family highlighting footage of the construction and blessing of St. Andrew’s from 1955 to 1958.  This was put on DVD and donated to the church by Mr. Michael David.  The Sunday School students topped off the day’s festivities with a dramatization of the life of St. Andrew.  The Parish is indebted to all the many individuals who came together to serve the church on this wonderful day!