News

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is joining with its partner Church World Service to respond immediately to the massive earthquake disaster throughout Southern Asia. Together with CWS, IOCC is developing a regional response to the crisis, focusing initially on hardest-hit areas in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, and elsewhere, and CWS assessment and relief teams are on their way to the region now. If you would like to contribute, please use this link to the IOCC. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

January 8-14, 2005
House Blessings

January 23, 2005
Women's Club Installation Dinner

Theophany should be celebrated with the same solemnity and festivity as Christmas. We should attend the services of the feast and joyously welcome the feast's blessing by having our homes, and ourselves, blessed with the newly consecrated Holy Water.

When you have your home blessed, have a container for the holy water and a candle placed on a table. Ideally, you should have already brought some of the newly consecrated Holy Water home with you. Do not use last year's Holy Water. If you haven't had the opportunity to get to church, the priest ordinarily will have a vessel of Holy Water with him. All distractions, such as television, should be turned off when the priest arrives so that everyone in the house can reverently join in the prayers said by the priest. When the priest is ready to go through the house, sprinkling Holy Water, the head of the household should carry the candle in front of the priest and guide him through the house. When the priest is finished, he will offer you a cross to kiss and will sprinkle your head with Holy Water.

If you have any pets in the house, do not put them outside, as Fr. Sophrony customarily blesses the animals with Holy Water as he goes through the house.

The baptism of Daniel John Kary took place on Saturday, December 11, 2004 at St. John’s. Officiating was Father Sophrony Royer. Godparents were Sonya and Chris Finno. Following the service, guests joined the parents, Juliana and Matthew Kary, at a luncheon served in the church hall. Grandparents are Barbara and John Kary of Wallington and Father John and Matushka Mancantelli of Billings, Montana. Father Mancantelli is rector of St. Nicholas of South Canaan Orthodox Church in Billings.

Tuesday, Jan 11 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Cedar Grove & Athenia/Richfield

Wednesday, Jan 12 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Garfield, Lodi, Wallington, E. Rutherford & Rutherford

Thursday, Jan 13 - 10AM to 4 PM
Passaic & Nutley

Friday, Jan 14 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Wayne, Oakland, Parsippany, Morris Township & Fairfield

Church calendars for the year 2005 are now available in the vestibule of the church. Many thanks to J.C. Fila for supplying us with the calendars each year.

The IOCC is listed on the government's list of approved charities. Please click here to go to Freedom Corps.gov.