THE EPISTLE

Prokeimenon: Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.

God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

THE EUCHARISTIC OFFERINGS

The Holy Oblations are offered at the Offertory of the Great Entrance today for the health and welfare of those living members, and for those departed this life in Christ, of the Black Family

The Coffee and Reception Hour in the Church Hall is offered today by the Church School of our parish. We remind our parishioners that each family should take its turn and sponsor the Coffee and Reception Hour for our parish. Please see the chart posted in the Church Hall which lists what is needed in order to offer this reception. Please do no wait to sign up for this.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Today we welcome Father George Kevorkian who is serving for Father Joseph today. Father George has served her many times over the years. He is the Hierarchical Assistant to the Metropolitan and is attached to our sister parish of St. George in Little Falls. He is a dear friends of ours and we welcome him with an open heart and open arms. Father Joseph will return for Liturgy next Sunday. Welcome Father George!

2. CHURCH SCHOOL

TODAY IS OUR ANNUAL VALENTINE’S DAY BAKE SALE, SPONSORED BY St. Anthony’s Church School. The profits from this Bake Sale go toward the curriculum of our kids. We thank our Director, Nike Bach and all those responsible for their dedication to our Church School. Please help us to help them!
CREATIVE FESTIVALS: This year the church school students and teens will participate in as many as four festivals in writing, photography, art, and poetry based on the prophesy from the book of Joel about the coming of the Holy Spirit: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, you old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28). Listed below are the dates for other workshops. Parents should encourage their children to participate in at least 3 of the 4 workshops. Church School starts at 10 AM on each of these Sundays.

February 12^th and 26^th – Art Workshop

March 5^th – Poetry Workshop

3. During this week, the first week in the three week period known as the TRIODION (the Pre-Lenten Preparation), there is NO FASTING OR ABSTINANCE from meats and dairy products during this week. The Gospel lessons, which are the “themes” of the Triodion, are the Pharisee and Publican, The Prodigal Son, Meat Fare Sunday (The Last Judgment theme), and Cheese Fare Sunday (The Forgiveness theme).

4. Tuesday Evening, February 21^st, there will be a Ladies’ Guild Dinner Meeting in the Church Hall at 7:30 PM. Please contact Joanne Hakim (201-767-0530) or Elaine Diamond (201-646-1820) to let them know you will attend this meeting – and please do so by February 17^th.

5. Thursday Evening, February 23^rd, there will be a “general” CHAIRPERSONS MEETING for all Chairs of our Golden Jubilee Celebration. All have officially been contacted by a personal letter from Father Joseph. It is a large group, so we will meet in the Church Hall at 7:30 PM. The agenda and task of each assignment will be reviewed by Father Joe. A timeline will be presented by Father, Jim Watkins, and Anne Shagoury. After this first “general” meeting Jim and Anne will be chairing all following meetings.

6. It is not too early to remind our parish that our Lenten Program, in conjunction with our Golden Jubilee year, being very special will include:

A special evening on March 10^th when we will welcome Sister Emiliani from the Twelve Apostle Monastery in Karditsa, Greece
Two evenings of “Town Hall Meetings/Discussions on March 17^th and 24^th; and
Two evenings, March 31^st and April 7th, we will present “The Face of Christ,” a video program which has now become noted as a true spiritual “gold mine!;. Each evening will include a Question and Answer period.

7. The next TOWN HALL/DISCUSSION Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 7^th, at 7:30 PM. (This is a change from the previously announced meeting which was scheduled for a day earlier.

8. PLEASE DO NOT FORGET: although this has been announced many times: due to new PRIVACY LAWS NO ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING A FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL WILL BE MAKE UNLESS THE RELEASE FORM (which is in the Narthex) is COMPLETED AND SIGNED.

9. Pledge Cards and Envelopes. Just a reminder if you have not handed in your Pledge Card, please do so as soon as possible. Also if you are not now receiving envelopes and would like to do so, see Tessie Black or Peter Dacales.

10. The NEW PAGES for the Holy Oblations – the Holy Offerings Book for 2006 – are ready to receive our names now. We will begin these new commemorations today. Our loved ones should be remembered on NAME DAYS, BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, etc, and when we also remember our loved ones who are departed this life. Please record these names as soon as possible. IF YOU WANT TO SCHEDULE A MEMORIAL SERVICE, YOU MUST DO SO DIRECTLY WITH FATHER JOSEPH OR SECRETARY GENNY MANDALAKIS. (Please do NOT merely write it on the Holy Oblations page!)

February 12, 2006

THE EPISTLE