SAINT STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR Home Blessings: If you want your home blessed during the period for the Feast of Theophany, ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH please speak to Fr. Stephen. The visits should conclude before the Lenten period. This period begins 609 LANE AVE., SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07080 on March 6th. TEL. (908) 756-0410 - www.ststephenchurch.net News from the Parish Council : THE V. REV. Fr. STEPHEN TEWFIK, PASTOR - TEL. (908) 654-4301 -We welcome Michael Salloum and Ricky Ghanim to the Parish Council, thank our returning FEBRUARY, 2016 NEWSLETTER members for their service, and thank retiring council members Emad Ghanim and Peter Day for their The Epistle and the Gospel Readings service. Sunday, Feb. 7 th Epistle: 2 Cor. 6:1-10 Sunday, Feb. 21 st Epistle: 2 Tim. 3:10-15 -We are working hard to correct the water heater leak in the basement. Thank you to Rosemary and 16t Sunday after Gospel: Mt. 25:14-30 Sunday of the Gospel: Lk. 18:10-14 Lou for checking on things midweek. Pentecost Tone: Three Pharisee & Publican Tone: Five News from Our Church School: -As February begins we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Just as Joseph and Mary Sunday, Feb. 14 th Epistle: 2 Cor. 6:16-7:1 Sunday, Feb. 28 st Epistle: 1 Cor. 6:12-20 presented Jesus in faith, to God in Church (and fulfilled God's promise to Saint Simeon that he 17th Sunday after Gospel: Mt. 15:21-28 Sunday of the Gospel: Lk. 15:11-32 would see our Lord and Savior before St. Simeon died), so let us follow the example Mary and Pentecost Tone: Four Prodigal Son Tone: Six Joseph set forth, of Thanksgiving, by preparing our children to give thanksgiving to God by ______partaking of Holy Communion, and worshiping God in our church. (Please see St. Stephen’s Monthly Calendar for daily services for February) -Church school creative arts projects continue. Please bring your children so our church can be well -The Parish Council Meeting will be held on Sunday Feb. 21st after Divine Liturgy at the Church represented. Hall. News from Our Teen SOYO: - Fr. Stephen and his family would like to thank you all for your generous Christmas gift. May Our -The teens will study the Gospel According to John in the event we compete in the Bible Bowl. Lord bless our parish and all our parishioners. -We thank you all for your support of our Super Bowl sub sale! -Our condolences to the Salloum family for the falling asleep in the Lord of Michael’s father Elias, -The Superbowl Subs will be delivered on Feb 7th. Please order your sub if you haven’t done so may his memory be eternal. already, and support your teens. -The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Jan. 31st after the Divine Liturgy. Many thanks to all the News from Our Women Group: Parish Council members and officers of Parish Organizations for all their hard work & dedication. -We will be busy during the month preparing for a Hamburger Fundraise luncheon and a visit to a We heard reports from all the heads of different organization of the church. The meeting was very local nursing home. informative and thanks to our Lord that we had a very successful year. We thank Emad Ghanim and -Due to inclement weather the group’s luncheon was postponed, a different date will be determined. Peter Day for their service to Christ and His Church as their terms expired. We thank Ricky Ghanim The date will follow later. and Michael Salloum for accepting to be nominated to fill both vacant seats. The term of Camille - His Grace Bishop Nicholas will be the distinguished guest speaker for our 9th Annual Lenten Waser also expired and we thank her for accepting the appointment to serve a second term on the Retreat. Parish Council. May our Lord shower them all with His blessings. IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) News -New Parish Directory: Rosemary is preparing to update our Parish Directory. Please review your -IOCC has been mobilizing volunteers to help those suffering from the destructive floods in listing from the current one and let her know if there are any changes or corrections. Check the Missouri and the tornadoes which struck Texas (and other states) to clean up what's left of their birthday and anniversary pages also. Let her know if you want something added like a cell phone or homes. e-mail address. Also, if you are not currently a member of St. Stephen’s, now is a good time to join -Four countries have closed their borders to refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, leaving our parish. Please contact her at 973-270-0256 or e-mail: [email protected] thousands of people stranded in Greece. IOCC is providing hygiene kits to those at the Olympia -Our Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese is one of the sponsoring organizations for the National Stadium facility. Committee for World Food Day. We now join 456 voluntary organizations throughout the United -To help, contact IOCC.org. They are always happy to receive emergency clean up kits, hygiene States and 163 countries around the world observing “World Food Day”. Thank you to all who kits, and monetary donations. donated for this worthy cause and to Sharon Keepers for taking all the food to our local food bank. Preparation for Holy Communion: -Our sister parish St. Anthony Church in Bergenfield, NJ is sponsoring a retreat on Saturday Feb. -Only Orthodox Christians who are prepared may approach the Holy Chalice. Please remember 20th. The topic is “Orthodox Christians in the 21st Century”. The guest speakers are Alexi Krindatch, to have respect as we are processing forward to receive Holy Communion. This is a solemn time for Research Coordinator for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishop of the USA, and Adam Gift Certificates from Shop Rite are available. Please see Alice Hossary. Lowell Roberts Program Coordinator, Becoming Truly Human Program of the Antiochian Orthodox MANY THANKS : Christian Archdiocese. For more information, please see the flier on the bulletin board. -To May Elias for baking the prosphora. -To Marie Samaan for donating the olive oil.

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