All parishioners of the church are warmly invited to take an active part in the Annual Parish Council Meeting, which will be held on January 25th, right after the liturgy in the church dining hall. This is a parish-wide event, and your participation is truly valued. Potluck Dinner at Annual Parish Meeting: following the Divine Liturgy and before our Annual Parish Meeting, everyone is warmly invited to a potluck dinner. Roast beef will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Update on Ice Skating Day: The cost for ice skating will be $3, which is a group rate. Additionally, skate rental will be waived. To receive the discount, please mention that you are part of the St. John/St. Demetrius group. We have blessed Jordan Holy Water, sanctified on the Feast of Theophany. Parishioners are welcome to take some home in containers or vessels they bring to the church for their personal use. The water is available on the table next to the Christmas tree. Next Sunday, following the 10:00 a.m. Liturgy, we will have a blessing of the faithful with the relics of the Martyrs of Pratulin.

Due to some issues with Father Stepan’s voice today, part of the liturgy will be recited. Thank you for your understanding. All parishioners of the church are warmly invited to take an active part in the Annual Parish Council Meeting, which will be held on January 25th, right after the liturgy in the church dining hall. This is a parish-wide event, and your participation is truly valued. Following the Feast of Epiphany, Father Stepan will begin pastoral home visits with the blessing of homes. These visits are a time of prayer, blessing, and personal encounter. Families are kindly asked to have a cross, icon and a candle prepared. If anyone wishes to speak about special concerns or has questions, they are encouraged to prepare them in advance so this time together may be especially meaningful.

On Christmas Day, following the Divine Liturgy, our parish community gathered for a uniquely special caroling program that brought joy, warmth, and the true spirit of Christmas to everyone present. Together, we embraced the rich heritage of our Ukrainian Catholic tradition by singing beloved Ukrainian Christmas carols. These sacred songs, passed down through generations, allowed us to celebrate not only the Nativity of Our Lord but also the traditions, culture, and faith that continue to unite our community here in North Dakota. The sound of carols filled the church with prayer and joy, reminding us that Christmas is not only a feast we celebrate once a year, but a living faith expressed through song, community, and shared tradition. It was a beautiful moment of fellowship, where voices of all ages came together in praise of Christ’s birth. We are grateful to everyone who participated and helped make this Christmas celebration so meaningful. May the joy of Christ’s Nativity remain in our hearts and homes throughout the entire Christmas season.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Corinne Chruszch for lovingly caring for the poinsettias and bringing them to the church. We also want to express our gratitude to Christian Rodakowski and Stephanie Klym for their help in reassembling the angels and the nativity scene in front of the church after they were brought inside for protection from the strong winds this past week. All parishioners of the church are warmly invited to take an active part in the Annual Parish Council Meeting , which will be held on January 25th, right after the liturgy in the church dining hall. This is a parish-wide event, and your participation is truly valued. As Christmas approaches, we invite the faithful to prepare spiritually through the Sacrament of Confession , so that we may worthily partake of Holy Communion on Christmas Eve. Confessions will be heard on the following Sundays, 30 minutes prior to the 8:00 AM Liturgy and after the 10:00 AM Liturgy. We encourage everyone to take the Bethlehem Flame  home with them. It is available at the church in a special lamp on the tetrapod. Please do not extinguish it until Christmas. If the flame goes out during transportation, you should return and relight it.

On December 13 , St. John’s Parish  joyfully hosted its 8th Annual Cookie Walk , and the event was a wonderful success. We were blessed to welcome many visitors from our parish and the wider community. Thanks to the generosity and hard work of our parishioners, nearly all of the cookies and baked goods were sold. The variety, beauty, and delicious quality of the treats reflected the care and love with which they were prepared. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who came to support this event. A special thank you goes to all those who baked cookies and contributed baked goods, as well as to the many volunteers who helped organize, set up, and serve throughout the day. Your time, talent, and generosity made this Cookie Walk possible. Events like this highlight the strength, warmth, and unity of our parish community. Thank you to all who helped make this annual tradition such a joyful and successful celebration.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks  to everyone who contributed to the success of the Cookie Walk. To all those who baked, to all the volunteers who offered their time and effort, and to everyone who helped in any way—thank you so much! The Cookie Walk was a success because of you, and we are deeply grateful for your support. If you still  wish to order parish T-shirts , we have a few extras available. Please contact either Corinne or Father Stepan. This Thursday, December 18th, 6:30P.M. there will be a meeting of the Pastoral/Financial Council . As Christmas approaches, we invite the faithful to prepare spiritually through the Sacrament of Confession , so that we may worthily partake of Holy Communion on Christmas Eve. Confessions will be heard on the following Sundays, 30 minutes prior to the 8:00 AM Liturgy and after the 10:00 AM Liturgy. We encourage everyone to take the Bethlehem Flame  home with them. It is available at the church in a special lamp on the tetrapod. Please do not extinguish it until Christmas. If the flame goes out during transportation, you should return and relight it.

Last Wednesday, December 3, in collaboration with the Parish of St. Demetrius, we co-organized an unforgettable concert at the Belfield Theatre, featuring Kozak Siromaha and Sasha Tab. This event was a wonderful opportunity to introduce the people of North Dakota to contemporary Ukrainian culture. Sasha Tab, a member of Kalush Orchestra, who won Eurovision 2022, and Kozak Siromaha, known for his powerful performance on “The Voice,” brought vibrant performances that captivated the audience. We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended and supported this event. It was a memorable evening that highlighted the beauty and richness of Ukrainian heritage. Thank you once again for your participation and support!

Today we have only one Liturgy  at St. Demetrius at 10:00 AM, followed by a   meeting with St. Nicholas  and a potluck in the dining hall.  Fr. Stepan will be absent  from December 8th to 13th due to personal matters. He will not be available during this time. Thank you for being so understanding. If you ordered your parish T-shirts, you can pick them up today. Please reach out to Corinne Chruszch for more details. As Christmas approaches, we invite the faithful to prepare spiritually through the Sacrament of Confession, so that we may worthily partake of Holy Communion on Christmas Eve. Confessions will be heard on the following Sundays 30 minutes prior to the 8:00 AM Liturgy and after the 10:00 AM Liturgy. Thank You for Preparing Our Church for Christmas! Yesterday, we cleaned and decorated both the Church and the Dining Hall for the Nativity season. Thanks to your time, effort, and warm hearts, our parish now shines with festive beauty and prayerful anticipation of Christ’s birth. May God bless you for your generosity and love for His house! Ladies, there are baking ingredients on the kitchen counter, and eggs and butter in the fridge. Please take and use them for your cookie walk baking.

Today, during our Sunday Liturgy, we’ll have a second collection  to support our participation in Share 2025 . Your generous contributions will help strengthen our eparchy. Thank you for your support! Next Sunday, we will have only one Liturgy  at St. Demetrius at 10:00 AM, followed by a   meeting with St. Nicholas  and a potluck in the dining hall. Meat will be provided, and we invite everyone to bring a dish to share. Fr. Stepan will be absent  from December 8th to 13th due to personal matters. He will not be available during this time. Thank you for being so understanding. Due to the severe weather conditions this Saturday, we were unable to gather and decorate our church before Christmas. Therefore, next Saturday, we will try again  to meet at 9:00 AM to clean and decorate both the Church and the Dining hall. Ladies, there are baking ingredients on the kitchen counter, and eggs and butter in the fridge. Please take and use them for your cookie walk baking - they were purchased with a Thrivent grant to help reduce our expenses. Happy baking! Join us for a concert by Kozak Siromaha  this Wednesday, December 3rd, at 6:30 PM at the Belfield Theater.

On November 22 , our parish joyfully celebrated the official launch of The Mustard Seed Club ! Our very first gathering brought together 14 wonderful participants , and the day was filled with excitement, learning, and fellowship. We began with prayer and Divine Liturgy, asking God to bless our new ministry and guide the hearts of all who take part in it. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast and later a warm lunch, giving us time to share a meal together and build new friendships. The children participated in games, activities, and contests , creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere. We also watched a Christmas movie and spent meaningful time reflecting on faith, God's love, and how we, like the mustard seed, can grow in grace when nurtured by prayer and community. It was truly a beautiful first meeting , filled with joy, prayer, and unity. We look forward to seeing this ministry grow and to welcoming even more young hearts into the club in the future. 📸 Take a look at our photos below and feel free to share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you! May God bless the children of our parish, their families, and everyone who supports this new initiative. The Mustard Seed Club has sprouted — and with God’s grace, it will continue to grow!  🌿

This Wednesday at 6:30 PM, there will be a meeting of the Pastoral/Financial Council . We invite children and parish friends (ages 7–14) to The Mustard Seed Club  on Saturday, November 22nd, from 9 AM to 2 PM at St. John’s. Join us for prayer, games, fun activities, and lunch—a day of learning and fellowship rooted in Christian values. We especially welcome camp attendees, as this will mirror that experience.  Today, November 16, at St. Demetrius, after the Sunday Liturgy and lunch in the dining hall (around 12PM), we’ll have a Young Adult Group Meeting  - a time for great fellowship, meeting new people, interesting conversations, and a fun game of Mafia! Join us! Giving of our time, talent and treasure is not about giving as a sacrifice. It is about giving until you feel good about what have given. Thank you for supporting Share 2025  and our Eparchy! We are planning to create parish T-shirts featuring our parish emblem, and we warmly encourage all parishioners to take part! If you would like to purchase a parish T-shirt, please sign up on the list at the church entrance, providing your full name, the T-shirt size and type you need, and your contact phone number. Ladies, there are baking ingredients on the counter in the kitchen and eggs/butter in the fridge. Please take and use them for your cookie walk baking - they were purchased with a Thrivent grant to help reduce our expenses. Happy baking!

Today, November 8th, following our 8:00 AM Divine Liturgy, our parish family gathered for a heartwarming and joy-filled community event — making pyrohy (varenyky)  together! What began as a simple cooking activity quickly became something much more: a moment of connection, laughter, and shared purpose. The aroma of freshly made pyrohy filled the air as parishioners of all ages joined hands — kneading, filling, pinching, and, of course, tasting! In between the dough and the laughter, there was a deep sense of belonging. This wasn’t just about making food; it was about building community  — celebrating the gift of togetherness that is at the heart of our parish life. Moments like these remind us that faith grows not only in prayer and worship but also in the simple joy of working side by side. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “Serve one another with love.”  (Galatians 5:13) We are grateful to everyone who participated, organized, and helped make this event such a beautiful success. May these joyful moments continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and faith within our community. Take a look through the photos and relive the smiles, the teamwork, and maybe even the flour-covered aprons — signs of a parish family that knows how to pray and  how to have fun together! Glory to God for all things — and glory for good pyrohy too!  🥟✨