NATIVITY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN RUSSIAN

ORTHODOX CHURCH
JACKSON, NEW JERSEY

JANUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER SPONSOR:
JUSTIN, ANNA & ANIELA EVANS

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

SPECIAL BLESSINGS AND HOLIDAY
GREETINGS: The Very Reverend Archpriest Father
John Prokopiuk, Protodeacon John Morvay,
Protodeacon John Suchernick, our Matushkas
Ludmila, Donnalynn, and Barbara, the Parish
Council extend to all our parishioners, benefactors,
and friends of Saint Marys Our Lords choicest
blessings and warmest greetings during this special
time of the year in which we celebrate Our Lord and
Saviors birth. May the Lord Grant to you peace,
health prosperity for length of days for Many Blessed
Years!

HOLYDAYS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY:

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE THAT
FATHER JOHN HAS PREPARED FOR THE
MONTH OF January. During the month of January
there are many Feast Days that the Divine Liturgy
will be celebrated, as well as the Liturgy of Saint
Basil the Great, Matins and Vespers. Please make an
effort to join us and gain the many blessings from
attending these services during this special time of
the year.
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST LUNCHEON: ON
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th everyone is invited to
the Parish Home for a luncheon to celebrate the
Feast day of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Come break the fast and enjoy a
wondrous meal with your fellow parishioners. This is
a special time to gather with the faithful and spread
the good cheer of the Holyday.
NATIVITY FAST CONTINUES: Please be reminded
that the fast for the preparation of the Feast of the
Nativity continues from now until January 7th The
Feast Of The Nativity of OUR Lord. Please make an
effort to prepare for this feast day according to the
disciplines of the Orthodox Church.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: Please see Matushka

Ludmila if you would like to donate for Christmas
Flowers to adorn our church on the Feast Day of The
Nativity of Our Lord which will be celebrated on
January 7th 2016.
HOME BLESSINGS: Beginning January 19th after
the Divine Liturgy celebrated for the feast of the
Theophany Father John will begin blessing homes. If
you would like to have Father John bless your home
please sign up at the candle desk to arrange a time
when Father can come to your home. This is a
tradition of our Orthodox Church that should be a
part of every Christian family during this time.
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, January 3rd at 9:30AM.
CHURCH SCHOOL: CHURCH SCHOOL classes
will not be held until January 24th. Due to the holy
days and all that is going on we will put a temporary
hold on these classes for the time being.
DIOCESAN DUES FOR 2016: Please see Matushka
Ludmila to pay your dues for 2016. If you have not
paid your dues for 2015 please see Matushka

Ludmila to update this requirement. The dues for

2016 still remains the same as 2015 which is $145.00.
Due to a timeframe that our Diocese decided on Dues
will be collected for the upcoming year of 2016.
TIME, TALENTS, AND TREASURES: Think about
what you can offer to your church. Are you
interested in offering your time to serve on the
Parish Council? Can you join the choir and add your
voice to the beauty of our services? Can you bake a
cake or help clean up after our Parish luncheons?
Can you help out with our annual mailing twice a
year? Or do you have a special talent that we are
unaware of and which can be used to help us out in
any way? Can you help out cleaning the church when
called upon? Do you have relatives who have been
away from the church or sacraments? Please use
your talent to get them back! WE NEED YOU!
PLEASE HELP OUT!
PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS NEEDED: Every
two years at our ANNUAL PARISH MEETING we
elect new Council Members. If anyone is interested
in serving as President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer or Trustee please see Mr. Joseph Chvasta
or Father John to offer your name in nomination for
the upcoming Annual Meeting that will be held in

February. We need your help! All that is required is

to have your Parish Dues paid for 2016 and be a
good member in standing of the parish.
SPECIAL ITEMS NEEDED FOR 2016: Each year at
this time we ask for special donations to cover the
cost of items that are used for our services. If you can
help defray the cost of these items please see
Matushka Ludmila at the candle desk to help out.
The following is a list of items that are needed:
SACRAMENTAL WINE: $300.00
CHARCOAL: $250.00
INCENSE: $250.00
PARAFFIN: OIL USED FOR CANDLES: $350.00
WHITE VESTMENTS: $3,000
NEWSLETTER SPONSORS: One of the greatest
assets we have here in our parish is the monthly
Newsletter. With our website receiving many views
this newsletter has helped us out in many ways. Last
year we raised the donation to $50.00 per month.
This year we will keep the donation the same for
each month. If you can help out to defray the cost of
this monthly Newsletter please see Matushka

Ludmila at the candle desk and choose your month

to sponsor this Newsletter.
USED PIANO: WE are looking to see if anyone has a
piano in your home that can be donated to our
church. Our new choir director can use this with her
lessons and it would be a nice addition to our Parish
Home Hall. If anyone knows of anyone who might
have one and would like to donate it to the church
please call Father John or see Matushka Ludmila at
the candle desk.
SAVE THE DATE: Our Annual Parish meeting and
election of Parish Council members will be held on
Sunday February 21st. The inclement weather date
will be Sunday February 28th.
CHOIR MEMBERS ARE NEEDED: Our choir
director Tatiana is looking for choir members. No
experience necessary. Please just go upstairs and
lend your voice to the singing of our beautiful
services. Please HELP!