NATIVITY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

JACKSON, NEW JERSEY

NOVEMBER 2015 NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER SPONSOR:

MS. DENISE BOBKO

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST!

GLORY FOREVER!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS: Don’t forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday, October 31st as Daylight Savings time ends at 2 AM. You will definitely be early for church services if you don’t!

HOLYDAYS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER:

Saturday: November 7th: Demetrius Soul Saturday: Divine Liturgy at 10AM

Saturday: November 21st: Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and all Bodiless Powers: Divine Liturgy at 10 AM

Saturday: November 28th: Nativity Fast Begins.

NATIVITY FAST BEGINS: Please be reminded that the fast for the preparation of the Feast of the Nativity begins on Saturday November 28th. Please make an effort to prepare for this feast day according to the disciplines of the Orthodox Church.

THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON: As is customary in our parish everyone is invited to break bread with the parish community on Sunday November 22nd after the Divine Liturgy. Please join us for this festive luncheon before the Nativity Fast begins and also to celebrate the American Feast Day of Thanksgiving. This is a time for all of us to give thanks for the Blessings that Our Lord has showered upon us each and every day. If a parish family member would like to help defray the cost of this luncheon please see Matushka Ludmila at the candle desk.

GENERAL CONFESSION: Please be reminded that the service of General Confession is held on the first Sunday of the month. This month it will be held on Sunday, November 1st at 9:30AM.

CHURCH SCHOOL: CHURCH SCHOOL classes will be held on Sunday November 8th, 22nd, and 29th in Church beginning at 9:15 AM this month.

DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY: DIOCESE OF NY/NJ: The Diocesan Assembly will be held this year at Saints Peter

and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, NJ on Tuesday November 10th and Wednesday November 11th. Father John, Protodeacon John Morvay, and Matushka Ludmila will be representing our parish during this assembly.

REFRESHED WEBSITE WILL BE LAUNCHED: Finally our new website that has been refreshed will be launched this month on Sunday, November 1st. It has some new features and includes some fascinating new graphics. Please make an effort to see it as we are happy to give you the faithful this fresh new look!

NEWSLETTERS: His Eminence Archbishop Michael has developed a monthly Newsletter called “First Fruits.” This monthly newsletter is available at the candle desk and you as a faithful Orthodox Christian are encouraged to read these each month. The Focus of this monthly newsletter is centered on the topic of “Stewardship” which has finally become a part of our Orthodox terminology. As we meet in Diocesan Assembly this year the topic of “Tithing” is becoming a part of our Orthodox community.

We ask each and every one of you to take the newsletter and read it to understand the path that the Orthodox Church in America is taking in regards to “Tithing.”

1 Peter: As each has received a gift employ it for one another, as good stewardship of God, varied grace: who ever speaks, as one utters oracles of God: whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies: in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (4:10-11)

May we all be faithful stewards, stewards that Christ expects us to be!

SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Two things, then, are essential first, the strengthening of our personal faith and commitment, whether a priest or layman, man or woman, the first thing for an Orthodox is not to speak about Orthodoxy but to live it to his or her full capacity; it is prayer, it is standing before God, it is the difficult joy of experiencing “heaven on earth.” Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, Mission of Orthodoxy.