-Orthros at 8:45am Divine Liturgy at 10:00am

Agiasmos: Sunday school students will receive Holy Communion and then return to their pews for Agiasmo. After receiving the blessing they will proceed downstairs to the Registration Desk in the social hall to check in BEFORE continuing to their respective classrooms

Philoptochos Tray: As you exit the church today your donations to the Philoptochos Tray is for the benefit of:  Hellenic College Holy Cross Scholarship Fund which provides tuition scholarships to worthy students and the Retired Clergy/Widowed Presvyteres Benevolent Fund.

Sunday Coffee hour on 9/8 is hosted by PTA

Caregiver Workshop:  at 12:45PM in Room 102.

Baptism: at 3pm Adam & Despina (Pittas) Szelage will baptize their daughter. 

Monday 9/9 + Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna 

+Orthros at 8 am Divine Liturgy at 9 am

Saturday 9/14 +Exaltation Of The Holy Cross

+Orthros at 8 am Divine Liturgy at 9 am

Sunday 9/15 no services at Saint Andrew

+Sunday After the Holy Cross  we will be at Asbury Park +Orthros at 8am and +Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Monday 9/16 +St. Euphemia the Great martyr

+Orthros at 8 am Divine Liturgy at 9 am

September 1, 2019
New Ecclesiastical Year

My Beloved in the Lord,

Today we commence with the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year, a celebration that
is marked by renewal. This is a time in which we should seek to renew our commitment to our
Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ through a variety of ways. A new ecclesiastical year gives us
a new opportunity to restore our spiritual lives by increased prayer, amplified participation in
divine services, more engagement with our parish communities, and further dedication to
helping those most vulnerable in our society. However, our focus should not be limited to
ourselves or to other persons. Instead, the Church has also dedicated today to be a day of prayer
for Creation.

The importance of Creation in Orthodox theology cannot be understated. It was through
Creation that God expressed and shared His love. He created the entire universe not out of
necessity or compulsion, but out of His own desire. His free will and love was extended to
humans with the creation of Adam and Eve for whom He created the world. He charged
humanity with the important responsibility of caring for the world, to be the “priests of creation.”
It is for this reason that we value and must act as stewards of creation. For Orthodox Christians
the preservation of creation is not a political or ideological position. Nature’s preservation is a
theological imperative based in the incarnation of Jesus Christ and it is a practical reality since
we have no other place to call our home other than this earth on which we live.

As we celebrate the beginning of the New Ecclesiastical Year, we are given cause to view
this spiritual opportunity from a liturgical lens. This new beginning entails a new liturgical cycle
of the Church in which we prepare ourselves spiritually through a variety of means, chiefly, our
participation in the Sacred Services, above all, the Divine Liturgy which is the center of our lives
and is the apex of our faith since we encounter Christ through participation in the Liturgy and
in the reception of Holy Communion. Our participation in the Church also includes other
aspects which have significance as well such as participation in the ministries of the Church
which offers us the opportunity to engage with both individuals inside and outside our own
parish communities. Finally, but equally as important, is the importance of involving the youth
into the life of the Church. Their incorporation into the life of the Church not merely through
youth programs, but in all aspects of ecclesiastical life, primary among them, the Divine Liturgy,
is paramount to making our parishes icons of the Kingdom of God. The presence of the youth
in the Divine Services, GOYA, Hope, Joy, service projects, Sunday School, and the other wide
variety of ministries provided is an image of God’s Kingdom to come as they develop spiritually
wholesome relationships with their peers. Let us always endeavor to involve our children so
that through their participation, the Body of Christ can continue to grow and we may continue
to spread the Gospel of Christ.

Thus, in celebrating the new ecclesiastical year, we have the opportunity to celebrate the
renewal of the invisible and intangible spirit as well as the tangible and life-sustaining creation
both of which are gifts from God. Let us not neglect the work which must be accomplished to
renew and preserve each. Instead, let us approach this task with joy and with love as we seek to
renew ourselves, our communities, and our world. Finally, may we seek to involve ourselves
and our children even more so into the life of the Church so that we may give glory to God and
thanksgiving for the gifts He has given us. Praying you, your families, and your communities
are all blessed with an abundance of God’s rich blessings this new ecclesiastical year, I remain
With Paternal Love and Blessings,

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

Family & Student Information Form 2019-2020 The Information on this Form will be shared with Authorized Persons in charge of: Greek School, Sunday School, Greek Dance, GOYA Dance, {GOYA | JOY | HOPE | LAP | Scouts} One Form for above Youth activities |GOYAns need to register on line

Religious Education (Sunday school): Classes will begin on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019

Hellenic Afternoon School (HAS) Ελληνικό Σχολείο  : Greek Language classes will begin on Thursday; Sept.12 |Register ASAP so we can order books accordingly HAS Students need to complete additional Form  

Greek Dance (Juniors & GOYA): Will start Thursday, Sept.20 ($310 per student: half at registration/ balance due 12/5)

GOYA :  2019-2020 Registration Form is on line. Kick off meeting September 10^th please fill out and submit payment via the church's We Share account.  If your child is new to GOYA and is at least 12 and in 7th grade (Public School, not Sunday School), we will need a copy of his/her birth certificate as well.    St. Andrew GOYA Registration 2019/2020

Hellenic Evening School (HES) : Modern Greek Language; Beginner & Intermediate Levels will start on September 24^th and run consecutively through December 3^rd Tuesday nights 7:00-9:00pm | Registration is open to Ages 15 and up | Tuition is $300 is due at Registration

Coffee Hour