<p> SAINT STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR -During the graduation ceremony, Barbara Walter stepped down from her service as the church ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH school director due to her increased family obligations. We greatly appreciate her love and devotion for all the prior years. Lily Su took the challenge at the role to continue the growth of Sunday 609 LANE AVE., SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07080 School. TEL. (908) 756-0410 - www.ststephenchurch.net -Along with enjoying the beautiful weather, let us keep and strengthen our faith in summer by THE V. REV. Fr. STEPHEN TEWFIK, PASTOR - TEL. (908) 654-4301 bringing our children and ourselves regularly to the church services, especially Sunday Liturgy JULY, 2014 NEWSLETTER services. The church is the Paradise on earth, exactly the same as Paradise in heaven. The most The Epistle and the Gospel Readings precious gifts to us and our children are the body and blood of Christ. Sunday, July 6 th Epistle: Ro. 6:18 to end Sunday, July 20 th Epistle: James 5:10-20 -Have a joyful and faithful summer! 4th Sunday after Gospel: <t. 8:5-13 6th Sunday after Gospel: Mt. 9:1-8 News from Our Women Group: Pentecost Tone: Three Pentecost & The Tone: Five -All the ladies will be helping to prepare for the Festival. We will start preparing the kebee, and Prophet Elias grape leaves. Please ladies don't hesitate to offer your help, any help is needed, even if it's washing Sunday, July 13 th Epistle: Titus 3:8 to end Sunday, July 27 th Epistle: 2 Tim. 2:1-10 dishes or wiping the floor, all help is needed. 5th Sunday after Gospel: Mt.5:14-19 7th Sunday after Gospel: Mt. 9:27-35 IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) News Pentecost Tone: Four Pentecost & The Tone: Six -All are welcome to join Team IOCC in the Baltimore Running Festival on October 14th for 5K Great Martyr & Healer Panteleimon walk/run, full marathon, or half marathon to raise money for IOCC's humanitarian efforts. ______-IOCC is providing relief for those in Serbia and Bosnia affected by the devastating floods. (Please see St. Stephen’s Monthly Calendar for daily services for July) -IOCC continues to respond to the victims of the tornadoes in the south. The Parish Council Meeting will be held on Sunday July 13th after the Divine Liturgy at the Church -The crisis in Syria continues, producing epic numbers of Syrian refugees - numbers which have not Hall. been seen since the Rowanda genocide 20 years ago. To find out how you can help go -Congratulations to Vasili & Cierra El-Zahr on the birth of their daughter Savana. She was to www.iocc.org for information. th churched on Sunday June 15 . MABROOK. -IOCC teams are currently forming and help is needed to build houses in New Jersey this summer -Many thanks to Elias and George El-Choueri for their beautiful work in the restoration of the icon for those in need from Hurricane Sandy. Please go to IOCC.org and refer to United States for more of the Theotokos and for installing it outside the church. info to offer your help. IOCC has devoted hundreds of man hours to rebuilding from natural -Amanda would like to thank everyone who baked, and supported the Bake Sale to fund the “Kids disasters. Corner” at the festival. Preparation for Holy Communion: -Our Annual Dinner & Dance Party which was held on Saturday June 7th was a great success. -Only Orthodox Christians who are prepared may approach the Holy Chalice. Please remember to Many thanks to Claude Zaki for chairing this event and to Maher Lotfalla for donating and cooking have respect as we are processing forward to receive Holy Communion. This is a solemn time for all this great buffet we all enjoyed. Special thanks for Nadi Atalla for his excellent choice of music, humility, prayer and silence. Please approach the Holy Chalice “In the fear of God and in faith and in to Ibtihaj Kanj for her artistic decorations and also to Amanda Elsabee for all her hard work and to love.” all who made this a wonderful night to enjoy. Gift Certificates from Shop Rite are available. Please see Alice Hossary or Claude Zaki. th th -Our Annual International Festival will be held on September 12 -14 . Michael Salloum is MANY THANKS : chairing it, and he will need all your help. -To May Elias for baking the prosphora. - 2014 Parish Life Conference . The parishioners of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in -To Marie Samaan for donating the olive oil. New Kensington, PA invite you to join them in celebrating the 63rd Eastern Dioceses Parish Life Conference. It will take place at the Antiochian Village, Conference Center in PA from July 2nd to July 6th. His Grace Bishop Thomas will be in attendance. There will be many different activities for young and old at this conference. Please come and join us for this beautiful event. For more information, go to www.antiochian.org/festivals. News from Our Church School: -“Let alone the little children to come to Me, and cease hindering them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14 -We had church school year 2013-14 Graduation ceremony on Father’s Day, June 15. Let us keep the children at our parish in our prayer that they will continually grow into the full stature of Christ.</p><p>- </p>