The average child spends a lot of time watching screens, including smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, and computers. On average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to 9 hours. Screens can entertain, teach, and keep children occupied, but too much use may lead to problems.

Children may be exposed to violence and risk-taking behaviors, videos of stunts or challenges that may inspire unsafe behavior, sexual content, negative stereotypes, substance use, cyberbullies and predators, unfit advertising aimed at your child, and misleading or inaccurate information. Managing a child’s screen time is challenging for families but your child is never too young for a screen-time plan.

Rick Warren in his book “The Purpose Driven Life” states: “If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego. You were designed to worship God and if you fail to worship Him, you will create other things (idols) to give your life to." This statement is vitally important to the upbringing of children in this age of permissiveness. Everything and anything goes now and your children are ripe for evil that abounds in our culture today.

A lot of anti-church, anti-religion is exposed to the children. It may look like a losing battle but it is not because we have hope! Of all holy works, education of the children is the most holy!

It has always been important to bring your children to church but it is especially vital today. They are attacked from forces that want them to think, act, and surrender to perverse and ungodly behaviors and it is up to you, as their parents, grandparents, Godparents, to guide them safely through this valley of deviant and unreasonable pursuits. It is up to you to fight for the freedom of your children and bring them to church. Pray for your children, love them and care for them! Our Lord and Savior will help you.

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating their birthday in November. Among those are Matthew Kary on November 14, Jonas James Czech on November 16; Florence Junda, November 18; Juliana Kary, November 19; Mat. Lana Chaykivsky on Nov. 24; and Mirek Szestawicky on November 28. A very happy birthday to everyone celebrating their birthday in November and May God grant you all Many Years!

Many thanks to all those who reliably donate to our food pantry. Helen Baron, our Food Pantry Coordinator would like to remind everyone that Thanksgiving and Christmas donations are now being collected to fill our baskets for our less fortunate neighbors. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Our parish will be having a Thanksgiving Party at our Church hall on November 13, following Divine Liturgy. Everyone is welcome to enjoy our delicious pre-Nativity and pre-Thanksgiving feast.