Sunday, February 10^th, 2019 +Sunday of the Canaanite

Orthros at 8:45am Divine Liturgy at 10am

Memorial:

An Annual Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable +Mark Steven Romel Jr. beloved son of: Vickie Romel-Nichols.

An Annual Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable + Charalambos, +Androniki, +Spiridon, +Marilyn,  beloved family members of Chrysanthi (Kefala) and Ari Dori.

May their memory be eternal Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτών

Artoclasia: 

A special Artoclasia Service is offered today by our community for the health of all scouts (boys and girls) and their scout leaders.  We ask that the scouts seat back in the Sunday school pews (Center Left) after communion to receive this blessing

Godparent Sunday Celebration - Honoring the Role of Godparent in our Parish

Please join us as we celebrate and pray for this special relationship and ask for God’s blessing on godparents and godchildren everywhere.

A Day for Godparents, Godchildren, Family and Friends to Worship God Together.

The Godparents are invited to join their godchild (ren) in their Sunday school classroom.

Following the Divine Liturgy join us for fellowship and refreshments in the Social Hall.

Philoptochos Tray:

As you exit the church today the Philoptochos Trays beingcollected are in support of the Autism Assistance Fund which heightens awareness of autism with assistance and support and for Saint Photios Shrine in St. Augustine FL

New York Abortion Law

 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

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jer. 1:5)

 My Beloved in the Lord

This week the New York legislature, together with the support of the Governor of State of New York, voted and regretfully approved a revision to their abortion statutes which would allow for abortions to take place even up to the end of the term of pregnancy. This new law was passed under the guise of aiding women’s health and defending women’s rights, however, it constitutes nothing short of an expansion of state-sanctioned murder. I, as your Metropolitan, and I am sure all of you, condemn these actions of the State of New York in the strongest terms. One may ask, but that’s in New York? Yes, however, who and what is to stop such a law from being enacted in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, in other words, our Metropolis, and eventually the rest of the Country?

 Our Orthodox faith has always maintained that life, in all its forms and at every stage, is sacred. As Orthodox Christians, we believe that from the very moment of conception, we have a soul and we are, thus, human persons. This is evident in Scripture when we hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name” (Is. 49:1) and those of the Evangelist Luke, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 1:41). This child leaping in the womb, of whom the Evangelist speaks, is St. John the Baptist. Furthermore, we see the Archangel Gabriel appearing to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, months before and announcing the news of John’s conception, “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born” (Lk. 1:14-15). The Holy Fathers of the Church attest that when a child is conceived it received a soul. One example of this is St. Irenaeus of Lyons when he says, “But, as each one of us receives his body through the skillful working of God, so does he also possess his soul. For God is not so poor or destitute in resources, that He cannot confer its own proper soul on each individual body, even as He gives it also its special character” (Against Heresies, Book II, Chapter 33).

 Our Orthodox theology of personhood is rich in expressing the reasons for which life is sacred and precious. Principally, it is because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Each person is endowed by God with a purpose, talents, abilities, and gifts to share with the world and with their Creator. The purposeful destruction of this image is nothing short of an affront to God and this is precisely because God is the Author of Life, not death. Personhood is a gift of which no person has the right to deprive another because we have received and are participants in the personhood of our Creator, acknowledging that our individuality is not entirely our own. This is why the Church stands opposed to any life being taken from another including through abortion, war, and the death penalty.

The New York State Legislature and the Governor of New York have sought to shed a different light on this new law. They seek to make this an issue of reproductive rights. If this were true, however, they would acknowledge that both male and female fetuses develop reproductive organs at two months in the womb and female fetuses have fully developed reproductive organs at five months. Where are their reproductive rights? Even so, their argument about reproductive rights is egregious since no mention is given to human rights, the rights of the child. Furthermore, they seek to make this an issue of the health of the mother. In the tradition of the Church, it has been recognized that if the life of the mother is in danger and the only solution was an involuntary abortion, that it was a lamentable, but an unavoidable and regrettable action. However, the language of the new law is purposefully ambiguous so that doctors and non-doctors alike who wish to perform these abortions can perform an abortion if they determine it constitutes a “health risk”, without the law ever clarifying what constitutes a “health risk”.

In reality, this is not an issue about rights, for if it were, all individuals would be considered, both those outside and inside the womb. This is not an issue about health since, if it  had been, due diligence would have been taken to define and clarify terms. This is a moral issue about who constitutes a person; a topic of debate this country has encountered far too many times. This is about the fundamental belief that each being has intrinsic value. This is about our basic human character.

My beloved brothers, sisters and children in the Lord, St. Paul tells us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). Even as we witness these abhorrent acts in a society that has become apathetic to this issue, we must remain faithful to the teachings of the Church. We must proclaim the truth of Christ. Finally, we must stand firmly in support of life for all people both born and in the womb. It is my sincerest hope that you will reflect upon these words and upon the teachings of the Orthodox Church honestly and prayerfully. Furthermore, let us all pray for the souls of the millions of children aborted every year and pray that loving Father in Heaven enlightens the minds of those who perpetuate this human crisis, and may we, the Orthodox Christians remain firm in our Holy Orthodox Faith and vigilant so that we may deal with any ungodly and unholy Bills which may be introduced by our State and U.S. Representatives, and which could affect LIFE, our life, our children’s lives, both born and unborn, and most certainly, our relationship with the Source of Life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the One who offered His Life so that we and ALL may LIVE.

With Paternal Love and Blessings,

† E V A N G E L O S

Metropolitan of New Jersey

“Now at our candle stand in the Narthex”

……A number of soul edifying publications are available weekly for FREE at our candle stand in the Narthex

Now available for the next 2 weeks: 3 select (small) volumes from the 7 volume Spiritual Life Series published by www.newromepress.  Each small book in this series tackles topics of spiritual significance for the Orthodox Christian's daily life. Now Freely available:

Do not judge…Understanding the Vice of Passing Judgement…. And as we ponder over the trouble we have to be virtuous and live a life in Christ, we lose heart and give up. Christ, however, suggested a very simple and easy way for us to please Him and avoid…..Read More

On the Vice of Envy…… And whereas all the passions produce at any rate some momentary pleasure in the person who experiences them, envy wastes away the soul through continual, sorrow at the happiness of one's fellow-man... This passion is usually well hidden……Read More

On Repentance and Confession…… Repentance is man’s return to God. It is a change-of-heart in the nous from the darkness of sin to the light of Christ. The beginning of this journey is “the awareness of our errors, which is a great opportunity for us to attract divine mercy. This is why the Prophet David says to God…..Read More

Stewardship Program Update 01-31-2019:

We would like to thank everyone who submitted their 2019 Christian Stewardship Commitment.

117 families have sent in their pledges Totaling  $127,490. 

Total Operating Budget 2019 $800,000

Stewardship Income $350,000 | $127,490 committed to date)

Fundraising Income $450,000

Balanced Budget $800,000.

If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your 2019 pledge today. see Form under News-Flyers.. "stewardship" 

Online Giving System - WeShare click on link https://www.churchgiving.com/?pc=aite9a78 and follow instructions

Mardi Gras Celebration -2019 - ΑποκριάτικοΓλέντι

Sunday, February 17^th at 4:30pm 

Join us to celebrate and enjoy an evening of: entertainment, food, dancing, tricky tray & prizes! The Knoll Country Club West, 12 Knoll Lane, Boonton, NJ

Tickets must be purchased in advance no later than February 3rd****NO REFUNDS** see Reservation form under "Flyers" 

INFO CONTACT DEMITRA PAXOS (973)970-8003/  dpaxos1221@gmail.com or Anastasia Mitrakos (973) 229-0204 / anastasiam7@yahoo.com

Girls Volleyball program

Caregivers Workshop #2

On Sunday, February 3rd 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

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.

Coffee Hour Hosts

2/17 DOP, 2/24 GOYA, 3/3 Philoptochos, 3/10 PTA, *3/17 DOP, *3/24 GOYA, *3/31 GOYA, 4/7 Philoptochos, 4/14 DOP, 4/21 Palm Sunday (*Lent)

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. 

Save the dates  

March 10 -  GOYA Sights and Sounds Replay

April 14 -  Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC

May 10 - Philoptochos Annual Tricky Tray

May 19 - Religious Education Graduation & Scholarship Awards Program

May 30, 31 & June 1: Family Picture with Lifetouch for upcoming Saint Andrew Directory

June: 7-8-9 Big Greek Festival

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.

Lukas, Anna Christina, Stephanie, Ronny, Lukas, Zoe, Spyridoula, Maria, Eugenia, Spyridoula, Maria, Eugenia, Alexa, Eleni, Vasiliki, Hope, Hristos, Rosemary, Susan, Don, Corinne, Sophia, Stavroula, Konstantinos, Anastasia, Pamela, 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,  

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