ATTENTION!

Please note that the church parking lot entrance will not be accessible due to ongoing construction. We ask that everyone enter the parking lot through the parking lot EXIT area instead.
The church's main entrance WILL be accessible, so everyone can now enter the church through the front doors.
Once again, we thank you for your patience as we continue to work on improving our church in order to better serve our community!  

SUNDAY, 10/4

 @8:15aM Orthros & @9:30aM Divine Liturgy
+2ND Sunday of Luke 

 Divine Services

Tuesday, 10/6 @8:00am Orthros & @9:00am Divine Liturgy:
+St. Thomas the Apostle

 LIVE OUR services HERE
Find OUr Written prayers and services HERE

We joyfully announce the election of
His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of New Jersey
on Oct. 1^st by the Holy & Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
AXIOS!

Beginning today, Oct. 4^th, after Communion:
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION with Dr. Herb Schuster
If you’re interested in learning more about our faith, join us in Fr. John’s office for a discussion based on the 52-Week Orthodox Bible Study Workbook* (available in our bookstore for $30)!
*Book is optional.

Testimonial Celebration Honoring Athena Borzeka (DOP)
District #5 Governor
will take place today, Oct. 4^th, from 1:30-4:30pm at the Primavera Regency in Stirling, NJ
Congratulations, Athena!

GOYA Games are today, Oct. 4^th, in Clifton
Volleyball: 2:00pm
Basketball: 3:45pm
Good luck, St. Andrew GOYA!

Coffee hour is hosted by the Philoptochos  
Bagels donated by ALFA BAGELS Route 10 in Randolph 
Coffee donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos of Coffee Associates, Edgewater

LORD'S VOICE OCTOBER 4, 2026

THE SUNDAY GOSPEL (Luke 6:31-36)

"Become ye therefore merciful"
The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

CHRIST, THE MODEL FOR HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
Today’s Gospel passage is a characteristic excerpt from the Lord’s “Sermon on the Plain,” as preserved by the Evangelist Luke. An analogous teaching is also delivered by the Evangelist Matthew in Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount.”
The passage begins with the Lord’s exhortation: “As you wish people to treat you, so treat them likewise.” This phrase reveals to us the essence and summit of Christian ethics, whose center is love, a love that flows forth from God Himself. It is a love that overturns human expectations, for it is interwoven with freedom, utter humility, sacrifice, forgiveness, understanding, selflessness, and truth. Thus, this exhortation of Christ has no connection with reciprocity, with the rendering of equal measure as a principle of justice, nor with any social convention. Rather, it is the life giving radiance of God’s infinite love toward man. Indeed, the Lord’s admonition is already found in pre-Christian times, though expressed negatively, namely, as the avoidance of injustice or harmful behavior among people.

A positive disposition toward one's neighbor
In contrast to all earlier formulations, the Lord employs in His teaching a positive disposition of a person toward his fellow man. It is a continual expression of love and concern for one’s neighbor. That is, a person must not be satisfied merely with avoiding evil, error, or sin toward his fellow man, but he is obliged to love him and to do what is good and beneficial, what he himself would desire the other to do for him.
If you desire your fellow man to offer you kindness and love, then you must first give him genuine love. Do not be troubled that some around you do not love you, treat you unjustly, or scorn you. Love them, pray for them, do good to them, and then there is every likelihood that they will reconsider their attitude. Offer goodness first, without expecting a recompense.

Love as a way of life
Love toward one’s neighbor must become a permanent way of life and must characterize every true Christian. The disciple of Christ does not determine his stance toward another based on the other’s stance toward him. Rather, he offers love to his neighbor in the manner of the Lord, Who “makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
Thus, the believer who is conscious that he is a living member of the Body of Christ, and that he has been granted the gift of divine adoption, strives – so far as it is possible – to think, act, and walk as Christ Himself. He lifts the life-giving Cross and follows the Lord to Golgotha and the Resurrection, harmonizing
his life with the will of God and acquiring a character akin to God, a “God likeness,” to recall Saint Ignatius the God bearer.

A spirit of unity and reconciliation 
The Gospel leaves no room for any form of discrimination, rejection, lack of forgiveness, or division among people. In the well-known Gospel parable of the “tares,” which the enemy sowed in order to harm the growth of the wheat, the Lord teaches us that the separation and judgment of people will not take place in this life, but at the time of the harvest, at the Second Coming. And furthermore, that He, like the farmer, will distinguish the wheat from the tares, for only the Lord knows the depths of the human heart. In addition, every person, no matter how sinful he may be, has the possibility, through repentance, to draw near to God. For this reason, Christ tells us that if we love only those who love us, what “grace,” that is, what favor, recognition, or reward do we expect from God? (Luke 6:32–34).
The Lord desires that our love be offered even to those who are hostile toward us. Certainly, His command surpasses human standards, since it is neither self-evident nor easily put into practice. Yet when we find it difficult to behave toward our neighbor as we would wish him to behave toward us, when we struggle to love and to forgive, let us gaze prayerfully upon the Crucified One… and then everything will change.

Archimandrite N. K.

Coffee Hour Hosts In October: 10/11 PTA, 10/18 DOP, 10/25 GOYA
(Nov.: 11/1 Philoptochos, 11/8 PTA, 11/15 DOP, 11/22 GOYA...)

Monday 10/5
@7:00pm Young Adult League Meeting

Tuesday 10/6 @8:00am + Orthros & @9:00am Divine Liturgy +St. Thomas the Apostle

Wednesday 10/7
@11am Morning Knitting & Crocheting Group
@11am Little Angels Playgroup *in gym  

Thursday 10/8
@7:00pm Bible Study

Sunday 10/11 @8:15am +Orthros & @9:30am Divine Liturgy +Sunday of the 7^th Ecumenical Council
@1pm LoBrace-Stavrakis Wedding
@4pm Mr. & Miss GOYA Pageant (Hanover Manor)

Monday 10/12
@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting

Wednesday 10/14
@6:30pm Evening Knitting & Crocheting Group

Thursday 10/15
@7:00pm Bible Study

Saturday 10/17
@3:00pm Baptism: Luke Costas Plotzker

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

Please keep these names in your prayers

Fran, Eleni, Sarah, Janet, Effie, Alexander, Ioannis, Irene, Lauren, Eleni, Dorothy, Carolyn, Ava Michelle, Demetrios, Eleftherios, Stelios, Sofia, Constantinos, Stamatina, Alexander, Alexandra, Constantinos, Christos, Maria, Henny, Theodora, Photini, Robert, Eleni, Ioannis, Margarita, Anna, Nicholas, MaryJane, George, Vasilios, Photeine, Chrissy, David, George, Maria, George, Gladys John, Gregory, Barbara, Helen, Michelle, Ennette, Eleni, Mary, Andreas, Sofia, Joseph, Catrina, Patricia, Erica, Maria, Angeliki, Maria, Dimitrios, Irene, Reta, Eleni, Maria, Kyriaki, Martin, Maria.

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

Names will be kept on this list for approximately three months. Please resubmit Names if needed.   Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the PROSKOMIDI “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.