Bible Study for 1st Week of Passiontide
  • 4/10 – Matthew 21:33-48 – Do I think of salvation more as of a private matter or as a broader responsibility toward God’s vineyard? Prayer starter: Lord, help us to be true and reliable tenants of your vineyard so that we produce the fruits of the kingdom.
  • 4/11 – Matthew 22:1-14 – Have I ever been careless in my response to God or failed to accomplish the deeds that go along with God’s calling? Prayer starter: Gracious Lord, you prepare a banquet for all nations and you wish every one of us to be part of it. We pray for countless people to gather around you at your kingdom’s table.
  • 4/12 – Matthew 22:15-22 – How do my attitudes toward religion and state interconnect? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you were never intimidated by political authorities and you stood up as a free man. Teach us to be free and to always trust in God the heavenly Father.
  • 4/13 – Matthew 22:23-33 – How does my faith in the “God of Jesus” strengthen my belief in an afterlife? Prayer starter: Lord, you raised Jesus from the dead and you are forever the God of the living. Blessed are you forever.
  • 4/14 – Matthew 22:34-46 – Is love the real motivation in my relationship to God and to neighbor? Prayer starter: Lord, do not allow us to ever come before you without our hearts being filled with love and to never reach out to our brothers and sisters without loving them as you do.
  • 4/15 – Matthew 23:1-36 – How can these harsh words of Jesus challenge me to conversion? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, your word is a two-edged sword. Give us the joy and the courage always to hear it and keep it, whether for good news or for calling to conversion.
  • 4/16 – Matthew 23:37-39 – Do I feel for the fate of Jerusalem and do I pray for peace for all its inhabitants? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the peace between Palestinians and Israelis and among Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Basket Social Thanksgiving

Many thanks and deep appreciation are extended to all who made last week’s “Basket Social” the great effort, great fellowship time, and great success it truly was!

We first must thank all those who began this effort even a year ago with the planning and deciding about the logistics. As the year progressed, anticipation grew in hope that this year’s effort would surpass that in 2010.

When the fist notice went out of the date, baskets started arriving. You just can’t say enough words describing the creativity, thought, and concern that went into each and every basket. Ninety-seven baskets, more than any other year, started appearing in the parish hall.

Programs got planned and typed and inventory was checked for an adequate supply. Requests went out to provide desserts for the menu that would grace the afternoon.

And let’s talk about the menu – usually about half the calls received in the parish office ask the same question, “Will there be Polish food?” The answer is resoundingly given in the affirmative; and the next words spoken are, “I can’t wait”.

Thanks much to Marianne for the countless hours of preparing the various foods that would be made available. It was great to see, if not baskets, then caches of Polish foods being taken from the hall. Thanks are also extended to the kitchen crew who fastidiously served our patrons.

Also, two lucky winners for the comfortable afghans knitted by Elizabeth Weglinski will stay warm through this chilly spring.

Thanks to Donna, the ticket sellers, the ticket pullers and the runners for keeping the afternoon moving along briskly; almost too briskly, for it’s over quite too fast. This year’s effort again raised the bar.

We also humbly acknowledge the large(st) crowd to come and share our fellowship. They are truly a blessing to our Parish and our community. May our Lord bless all of you for your time and generosity.

God gave us a great weather day and a great day of blessing. May you all take humble pride in what you have accomplished. God bless you all.

Bible Study for the Fourth Week of Lent
  • 4/3 – Matthew 18:1-35 – Do I owe forgiveness to someone around me? Prayer starter: Gracious and merciful God, I thank you for the many times you have forgiven me. Deliver me from any wish for vindication and given me a forgiving heart.
  • 4/4 – Matthew 19:1-15 – Do I think of marriage first in terms of lawfulness or in terms of human love being sacred? Prayer starter: Lord God, you have blessed human love and made it a sacrament of your love for humankind. Help us to live up to such a great ideal.
  • 4/5 – Matthew 19:16-30 – Which earthly possessions still keep me from following Jesus and how could I better use them for the poor? Prayer starter: Good Lord, it is not up to us to decide what is good and what is not. Teach us to trust in your goodness and not in our possessions, and help us to share them so as to come closer to you.
  • 4/6 – Matthew 20:1-16 – Can l truly appreciate God’s generosity not only for me but also for others? Prayer starter: God of justice and kindness, let me respond to your call not for the sake of some reward but out of gratitude for being found worthy of working in your vineyard.
  • 4/7 – Matthew 20:17-34 – How can I convert any thirst of mine for power in the community to a true and unselfish spirit of service? Prayer starter: Why is it, Lord, that we are so anxious about our status among the community and in the kingdom? Change our minds and hearts so that we take pride in being servants to one another.
  • 4/8 – Matthew 21:1-22 – Does my everyday living confirm the acclamations of Christ I make in worship? Prayer starter: It’s easy, Lord, to go with the crowd and to acclaim you as “the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Give us the strength to still acclaim you when the same crowd calls for your crucifixion.
  • 4/9 – Matthew 21:23-32 – Do I walk the way I talk? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you speak the words of eternal life. Do not allow these words to remain idle in my life and help me to do the Father’s will by putting them into practice.

Basket Social – one week away

Please join us for our annual Basket Social on Sunday, April 3rd at the VFW Hall – Fifth Avenue, Schenectady (Crane St. to 6th Ave. then right on Webster to 5th Ave.).

  • Doors open at Noon
  • Admission $2
  • 50+ Themed baskets to be raffled
  • Door Prizes
  • and Polish Food!!!

Come out and enjoy Spring, socialize, have a good time, and try your luck. Everyone is welcome! Please call 518-372-1992 for more information.

Basket Social in Schenectady NY, theme basets, raffle, Polish kitchen

Bible Study for the Third Week of Lent
  • 3/27 – Matthew 18:1-35 – Do I owe forgiveness to someone around me? Prayer starter: Gracious and merciful God, I thank you for the many times you have forgiven me. Deliver me from any wish for vindication and give me a forgiving heart.
  • 3/28 – Matthew 19:1-15 – Do I think of marriage first in terms of lawfulness or in terms of human love being sacred? Prayer starter: Lord God, you have blessed human love and made it a sacrament of your love for humankind. Help us to live up to such a great ideal.
  • 3/29 – Matthew 19:16-30 – Which earthly possessions still keep me from following Jesus and how could I better use them for the poor? Prayer starter: Good Lord, it is not up to us to decide what is good and what is not. Teach us to trust in your goodness and not in our possessions, and help us to share them so as to come closer to you.
  • 3/30 – Matthew 20:1-16 – Can I truly appreciate God’s generosity not only for me but also for others? Prayer starter: God of justice and kindness, let me respond to your call not for the sake of some reward but out of gratitude for being found worthy of working in your vineyard.
  • 3/31 – Matthew 20:17-34 – How can I convert any thirst of mine for power in the community to a true and unselfish spirit of service? Prayer starter: Why is it, Lord, that we are so anxious about our status among the community and in the kingdom? Change our minds and hearts so that we take pride in being servants to one another.
  • 4/1 – Matthew 21:1-22 – Does my everyday living confirm the acclamations of Christ I make in worship? Prayer starter: It’s easy, Lord, to go with the crowd and to acclaim you as “the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Give us the strength to still acclaim you when the same crowd calls for your crucilixion.
  • 4/2 – Matthew 21:23-32 – Do I walk the way I talk? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you speak the words of eternal life. Do not allow these words to remain idle in my life and help me to do the Father’s will by putting them into practice.

30 hour famine

We undertook the direction of the National United Youth Association and worked through our starving for this Lent. From 11pm on Friday, March 25th until 5am this morning, March 27th, a group of people in our parish hall starved. Yes, starved. The experience will be akin to those who are going hungry in our world not just for 30 hours, but for days on end.

We visited the Albany City Mission to offer some volunteer help during the morning hours yesterday. We returned to the parish hall for some further fellowship, some homework completion, and, yes, continued starving. We planned to supply a light “breaking of the fast” this morning.

We didn’t have a chance to tally up the monetary donations as yet, but the participants would like to thank you and all the others that had offered their help to the group. Teachers, parents, and other concerned individuals outside our parish offered some help to raise funds for World Vision.

We anticipated a life-changing experience, not only for those who starved, but also for those who will be helped by the starving. Thanks for your support.

Only Two Weeks Away – Basket Social, April 3rd

Please join us for our annual Basket Social on Sunday, April 3rd at the VFW Hall – Fifth Avenue, Schenectady (Crane St. to 6th Ave. then
right on Webster to 5th Ave.).

  • Doors open at Noon
  • Admission $2
  • 50+ Themed baskets to be raffled
  • Door Prizes
  • and Polish Food!!!

Come out and enjoy Spring, socialize, have a good time, and try your luck. Everyone is welcome! Please call 518-372-1992 for more information.

Basket Social in Schenectady NY, theme basets, raffle, Polish kitchen

Bible Study for the Second Week of Lent
  • 3/20 – Proverbs 24:23-34 – How do I practice responsibility toward my family, friends, and fellow workers? Prayer starter: Gracious God, you have blessed me with the ability to work. Help us to treasure this ability in a responsible way.
  • 3/21 – Proverbs 25 – What wisdom have I gained in learning to practice self-control? Prayer starter: God, you know me and search my innermost being. Help me to practice self-control so as to better relate you and others.
  • 3/22 – Proverbs 26 – How does telling lies and gossiping about others hurt them and me? Prayer starter: God, you are the source of all truth. Help me to be a truth teller and to witness to you who are “the way and the truth.”
  • 3/23 – Proverbs 27 – Do I value honesty in my friends even when they may rebuke me? Prayer starter: God of all truth, help me to relate to everyone without pretense. Give me the eyes to see honestly and a tongue to speak tenderly and an open heart.
  • 3/24 – Proverbs 28 – Am I willing to share my “wealth” with those who have less? Prayer starter: Generous God, thank you for all the gifts you give me. Free me from greed so as to be as generous to others as you are to me.
  • 3/25 – Proverbs 29 – Do you have a vision that you live by? Who is the keeper of your vision? Prayer starter: God of all consolation, help me to discipline all of my actions in such a way as to give glory to you. Help me to keep your vision ever before me.
  • 3/26 – Proverbs 30 – Do I trust God to give me what I need? Prayer starter: God of all truthfulness help me to always tell the truth and to be a true witness to you in the world. Help me to trust in your love.