January 5, Saturday @ 8:00 am:

Eve of Theophany: Theopemptos, Bishop of Nicomedea (Fasting Day) - Orthros, The Great Hours, The Great Vespers, Divine Liturgy of St. Basil & Blessing of the Waters

January 6, Sunday @ 8:45 am:        

Holy Theophany Baptism of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - Orthros, Divine Liturgy & The Great Blessing of the Waters

January 7, Monday @ 8:00 am:  

The Synaxis of the Holy Prophet St. John the Baptist – Orthros & Divine Liturgy     

January 8, Tuesday at 10am:

A Funeral Service will be held for the repose of the soul of our evermemorable sister +Petra Knox. Viewing will be on Monday from 6-9pm at the Tuttle Funeral Home on Route 10 in Randolph NJ         

New Year 2019

The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy  Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council, Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Sisterhood, Faculty and Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools, Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Communities of our Holy Metropolis of New Jersey 

 My Beloved in the Lord,

  As we embark on a new year, we are given cause to reflect on the previous year and to celebrate the beginning of 2019. Every year millions of Americans and millions more throughout the world make an endeavor to make resolutions and personal goals for the upcoming year. Often times these resolutions are based on external factors such as reaching a certain weight goal or saving more money. Whereas resolutions for the New Year can often be admirable endeavors, we sometimes neglect to set spiritual resolutions for ourselves which are of greater value. 

  First and foremost, when reflecting on this past year and assessing the new one, we must always give thanks to God for all of His blessings. He blesses many of us with health and with plenty for which we should not only be thankful, but we should also seek to share these blessings with those who are less fortunate. Some may have endured hardships and trials for which we should remain faithful that our Lord never abandons us and He will give us the strength that we need to endure. In further reflecting on this past year, we must acknowledge that we can always improve our personal spiritual lives. This personal spiritual improvement includes increased prayer, increased participation in the divine services, and increased support for our parish communities and almsgiving to the poor. It must be stated, however, that any attempt to enrich our spiritual lives must also include a desire to build up the Body of Christ, that is, our parish communities. This is precisely because it is in the context of community where we find the Kingdom of God expressed as the Body of Christ. 

  On first day of this New Year, the Church commemorates the feast of St. Basil who, through his works, embodies this call to build up the Body of Christ. St. Basil does so through his sermons on social justice which show us that we have a Christian responsibility to care for our fellow human beings regardless of their gender, age, race, socio-economic status, or any of the other factors. Through his example, we learn to truly love our neighbor. Throughout his

ministry, he showed love for his neighbors and particularly for the poor by securing a return of funds for them from the empire when they had been overburdened by taxes. The miraculous return of this money according to what the people had given by putting the gold in loaves of bread distributed to the populace is where we get the tradition of the Vasilopita.

  It is with these thoughts, my dearly beloved, that I urge each one of you to set spiritual resolutions for yourselves. Start off with small spiritual improvements such as increased prayer and participation in divine services before gradually increasing your spiritual commitments. Endeavor to emulate St. Basil who was a staunch advocate for the poor by increasing your almsgiving. Thus, by setting spiritual resolutions, we will give glory to God and give ourselves a greater spiritual disposition. Praying that God continues to bless each of you and your families as you journey through this new year, I remain

With Paternal Love and Blessings, 

 † E V A N G E L O S Metropolitan of New Jersey

Caregivers Workshop

On Sunday, January 6^th at 12:45pm in Room 102 an informal caregiver forum for discussion with and about caregivers, will be led by Andi Morris from Arden Courts of Whippany. Our discussions will range from practical tips for coping with chronic diseases, avoiding caregiver burn out, and information about community resources. If there are other topics you are interested in, please let us know. If there is enough interest, we will conduct another forum or workshop and cover more detail.  Thank you Catherine Rabidis

Cutting of Community’s Vasilopita - Sunday January 13^th  

Next Sunday as our yearly tradition has it, we will cut our Community’s Vasilopita.  Fr. John will bless the Vasilopita with the cutting knife crosswise in the “Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

He then will cut the center in a circle as an offering to our Lord Jesus, Who is first in our life. Then he will proceed to cut wedges starting with a piece for the Ever-Virgin Mary, for Saint Basil and for St. Andrew.  Subsequently, a wedge will be cut and received by a representative on behalf of each one of our St. Andrew ministries and organizations. Please join us in wishing all a Blessed and fruitful New Year.

House Blessings

Fr. John Theodosion will begin the House Blessings in our community on the 1^st week in January 2019.  St. Andrew Parishioners will be notified of his pending visit.  Please look for a “Blue Post Card” indicating date and time.

We will also be announcing in the weekly bulletin the towns that Fr. John will be visiting. If you don’t receive “Blue Post Card” when your town is listed, please contact the office ASAP and make arrangements for «Agiasmo» in your home.

NOTE: Please do not offer Fr. John any food or snacks. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated, but unfortunately his time is very limited and will only delay his next visit.

Rescheduling of missed appointments will be after Pascha. 973-584-0388

St Thomas Church services at St. Andrew on Sundays 

Our friends the parishioners of St. Thomas Orthodox Church of India, located on West Blackwell St. in Dover had a big loss last week. Their church was damaged by a fire and they requested our help.  We at St. Andrew will be making our Gym available to them so they are able to hold their Sunday services. We ask you to please not enter the gym while their services are in session. We have also allocated the parking lot in the back of the gym for their parishioners.

2019 Ecclesiastical Callendars

The 2019 Callendars have arrived. They are outside the church office in Alpha order.  Please help us with the cost of postage and pick up your calendar.  

Coffee Hour Hosts

1/6 Philoptochos, 1/13 PTA, 1/20 DOP, 1/27 GOYA, 2/3 Philoptochos, 2/10 PTA, 2/17 DOP, 2/24 GOYA, 3/3 Philoptochos

BAGELS for Sunday Coffee hour are donated by ALPHA BAGELS located on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ. We thank them for their generosity and continued support. 

If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388

Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed.   Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.

Corinne, Sophia, Stavroula, Konstantinos, Anastasia, Pamela, Leonidas, Leonidas, Athanasios, Eleni, Athanasios, Anastasia, Brian,Brandon, Fotini, Irene, Eleutherios, Andriana, John, Panayioti, William, Nikki, Kyriaki, Panayiota Beatrice, Demetrios, Andreas, Ioanna,Marykate, John, Konstantinos, Barbara, Reta, Despina, Eleni, Bonnie, Rose, Richard, Vasiliki,Mary, Petros, Demosthenes, Angeliki, Christian, Olga, Efthimia, Demitra, Antonia, Norma, Beatrice, Geoffrey, Theonimfi, Donald, Alexandra, Kathy, John, Reggie, Shannon, Yiota, Christopher, Asimina, Margarita, Ellen, Konstantinos, Despina, Margaret, Georgia, Antonios, Maria, Kleo, Constantine, Paul, Christos, Vasilis, Maxine, Hana, Eva, Nicoletta, Nicholas, Tina, Stefanos, Paraskevi, George, Anastasia, Hristos, John, Christopher, George, Chris, Konstantinos, Aristea, Fr. Demetri, Prz Spyridoula, Eleni, Marcella, Demetri, Fotini, William, Robert, Nicholas, Vasiliki, Konstantinos, Helen, Kelly, Susan, Christina, Angeliki, Brett Anthony.

Prayer for a Sick Person:

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health.  Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed.  I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen