SAINT STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR

ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

609 LANE AVE., SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07080

TEL. (908) 756-0410 - www.ststephenchurch.net

THE V. REV. Fr. STEPHEN TEWFIK, PASTOR - TEL. (908) 654-4301

MAY, 2014 NEWSLETTER

The Epistle and the Gospel Readings

Sunday, May 4th Epistle: Acts 6:1-7 Sunday, May 18th Epistle: Acts 11:19-30

Sunday of the Myrrh Gospel: Mk. 15:43-16:8 Sunday of the Gospel: Jn. 4:5-42

Bearing Women & Tone: Two Samaritan Woman Tone: Four

Sts. Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemos

Sunday, May 11th Epistle: Phil. 4:4-9 Sunday, May 25th Epistle: 2Cor. 4:6-15

Sunday of the Gospel: Jn. 12:1-18 Sunday of the Blind man Gospel: Jn. 9:1-38

Paralytic Tone: Three & Discovery of the Head

Of St. John the Baptist Tone: Five

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(Please see St. Stephen’s Monthly Calendar for daily services for May)

The Parish Council Meeting will be held on Sunday May 4th tffollfolllafter the Divine Liturgy at the Church Hall.

-Our sincerest thanks to Father Michael Ibrahim for serving in our church as father Stephen was recuperating from his recent illness. May God grant him, his Khouria and daughter many years.

-Fr. Stephen & his family would like to thank you all for the generous gift during Pascha. May God bless you all.

-Many thanks to all who donated towards flowers for decorating the Bier on Good Friday and for Pascha. Thank you to all who help in cleaning and decorating the Church to receive our Lord who trampled down death by death.

-Many thanks to the Liddawi family for donating and coloring the eggs for Pascha.

-There will be No fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays from Pascha until the Feast of the Ascension.

-A 40 Day Memorial service will be held on May 4th for our beloved Met. PHILIP who fell asleep in the Lord on March 19th. May his memory be eternal.

-Our sincerest condolences to Lily Su for the falling asleep of her father Zhangli. May his memory be eternal.

-We will be having a Parish Meeting on May 18th after the Divine Liturgy to present to you the eligible candidates for nomination to the office of the Metropolitan. During this meeting we will also vote to nominate one of the candidates.

-Our Annual Dinner & Dance Party will be held on Saturday June 7th from 7 PM to 12 AM. We will be having an Arabic and American DJ. Delicious food will be served in a buffet style and cash bar. Tickets are $55 for adults and $25 for teens. Children under 6 are free. Please see Claude Zaki who is chairing this event for tickets.

-Our Annual International Festival will be held on September 12th-14th. Michael Salloum is chairing it, and he will need all your help.

-2014 Parish Life Conference. The parishioners of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in 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 and his Grace Bishop Nicholas 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:

Christ is Risen!Indeed He is Risen!

-Thanks to the parents who brought their children on Lazarus Saturday for our Annual Egg Hunt/Party. Many children attended and decorated their candles with flowers and palms for the Palm Sunday Procession.Thanks to Nina Hinnawi for all her help.

If you have not already done so, please remember toreturn theArchdioceseFood for Hungry Peoplecollection boxes now.

-JUNE 1stis thelast day of this Sunday School session.On that Sunday, we will hold our Graduation Ceremony.Pleasemark your calendars and make sure your children are in Church to receive their certificates.This year, our 8thgraders will move on to the Teen Group.

When we learn if any of our students have won awards in the Regional contests, we will let you know.Fr. Stephen will present awards to any winners from St. Stephen’sin September.

We still have over one month of classes, and hope you will continue to bring your children!We hope you will volunteer to teach or assist for the September session.We also need volunteers to chairtheAutumn Fest,Christmas and Easter parties.Feel free to celebrate your child’s birthday with a “special snack” before classes begin.

-We hope you have a wonderful and safe summer vacation,however,please don’t make it a vacation for your children away from the Church.It’s a lesson we don’t want to teach them.

-Our sincere thanks to AMANDA ELSEBEE for the outstanding "Fun Fair for Kids" on Saturday, April 26th in our Church Hall. 26 children, ages 2-10, had a wonderful time playing over 12 games and eating lunch together.Amanda would like to thank those who made donations and worked from10-2 pm.It was a lot of hard work and we appreciate Amanda's organization and efforts to give our children and guests such a wonderful day.We hope to make it an annual event.

News from Our Women Group:

-The women had their annual falafel sale, and bake sale. Both fundraisers were very successful, and we thank everyone for their help and donations.

-We thank Violette Lotfalla for collecting the gifts for the Head Start, and we thank everyone for their donations.

IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) News

-IOCC continues relief efforts in the Philippines after November's powerful typhoon affected 13 million people, isolating about8000 people. As roads are rebuilt, aid such as food, medical kids, water purification tablets, etc. is finally able to get to them.

-IOCC established a Food for Work program serving 28,000 displaced Syrian people, providing

them with essential income for work such as sewing school uniforms or rebuilding public spaces.

-IOCC is helping to ease hardships for 1,300 farmers in Gaza by teaching them to build water

catchments and irrigation systems during this time of reduced water supply to aid them in continuing their livelihood which feeds their families.

-To help those in need around the globe, visitIOCC.orgto make your donation.

Preparation for Holy Communion:

-Only Orthodox Christians who are prepared may approach the Holy Chalice. Please remember to

have respect as we are processing forward to receive Holy Communion. This is a solemn time for

humility, prayer and silence. Please approach the Holy Chalice “In the fear of God and in faith and in love.”

Gift Certificates from Shop Rite are available. Please see Alice Hossary or Claude Zaki.

MANY THANKS:

-To May Elias for baking the prosphora.

-To Marie Samaan for donating the olive oil.

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