Newsletter – March 14, 2020


This Sunday’s Service

There has been much thought and discussion regarding how best to conduct this Sunday’s Service.  The direction from Devalokam and our diocese has been to heed the advice of the local authorities and do what is necessary for safety.  On Friday, the President declared this pandemic a national emergency.  State and Local officials have called for limits on large gatherings and for implementation of social distancing based on the infection rate being witnessed in our area.  

Consequently, it is necessary for us to be socially responsible and make  adjustments to our Sunday services.  Though we could conduct Holy Qurbana with limited participation, this would not serve the majority of our community at this time.  Many of our members are unable to attend services due to health and safety concerns.  So, we will not be conducting Holy Qurbana this Sunday.  

Instead, we will be having a Sunday prayer service that will be available to all our members to join through phone and internet. 

Our Online Prayer Service will begin at 10am Sunday Morning and include prayer, bible readings, devotional message, and intercessory prayer.  

A decision on the Mid-Lent Service (Tuesday, March 17th) has not been made yet.  

If anyone is feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, feel free to contact Vijay Achen to talk.  If you have any question/concerns or you are in need of help, please contact our secretary, Robin Mathew (732-543-4621)

PARISH CALENDAR – https://sbgocnj.org/resources/parish-calendar/

Join the Online Prayer Service Line by: 
Dial-in number (US): (857) 799-9809
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/sbgoc
Online meeting ID: sbgoc

For additional assistance connecting to the meeting text “Help” to the Dial-In number above. Message and data rates may apply.

Please use this same call-in information to join for our Saturday Evening Prayer at 7pm.


ONLINE PRAYER SERVICE SCHEDULE: 
Saturday, March 14th at 7pm 
Sunday, March 15th at 10am 

Join the Online Prayer Service Line by: 
Dial-in number (US): (857) 799-9809
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/sbgoc
Online meeting ID: sbgoc
For additional assistance connecting to the meeting text “Help” to the Dial-In number above. Message and data rates may apply.

If possible, join through the online meeting to get full access to the video and screenshare content.

REQUESTS FOR WRITTEN DEVOTIONAL MESSAGES 

It is important that we keep focus on Christ during this difficult time. Thus, we would like to utilize our new website to post devotional messages written by our members. 

If you would like to contribute, please email Vijay Achen – vicar@sbgocnj.org


Resources for Great Lent: 



Note: All Diocesan Events have been cancelled. The MMVS Meeting this Saturday is cancelled. And the MGOCSM Lenten Retreat, which was supposed to be on March 21st, is also cancelled.



Search for Saints Basilios-Gregorios Orthodox Church on Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate towards our Church.

Newsletter – March 6, 2020


Please see the Kalpana from Nicholovos Thirumeni addressing the COVID-19 virus.

As a community, we want SBGOC to be a place of safety. Thus, please make every effort to observe the safe practices recommended by the CDC. If you are not feeling well or sick, please get rest and avoid exposing others.

Out of an abundance of caution, this Saturday we will also move the Prayer Meeting location back to SBGOC.  House Prayer Meetings are wonderful family gatherings but the intimate and smaller setting is better avoided at this time.  

We will need your help to take extra efforts to clean our church clean and sanitary. If anyone has any hand sanitizer or hand soap, we can use some extra supplies in the church. 

As we make good efforts to keep safe, let us also put our trust in God. Let us pray for each other and all the world to be safe from illness and disease. 


Events this Weekend

  • World Day of Prayer – This Saturday (2pm to 4pm) at St. Stephen’s MarThoma Church in East Brunswick.  See flyer below. 
  • This Saturday, March 7th there will be a Evening Prayer and Bible Study at 6pm – LOCATION CHANGE: SBGOC 
  • This Sunday, after service there will be a college planning seminar given by the financial advisor.

Upcoming Events

  • Sunday, March 15th – A General Body Meeting is scheduled.  While the GB goes on, Dr. Mena Mirhom will be giving a special talk to our youth about dealing with stress. 

Please click this link and see all the upcoming events: PARISH CALENDAR – https://atomic-temporary-168999932.wpcomstaging.com/resources/parish-calendar/




Dr. Mena Mirhom MD is Coptic Orthodox and a psychiatrist who regularly speaks about mental health topics at both Coptic and Malankara Orthodox Churches. He was one of the keynote speakers at the Southwest Diocese’s Family and Youth Conference.


Our parish is blessed to host this diocesan event.  We need both attendees and volunteers from SBGOC to make this a success. Please reach out to Pincy, Roshney, or Swapna to get involved. 
Register: www.thegrowministry.com


Search for Saints Basilios-Gregorios Orthodox Church on Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate towards our Church.

Newsletter – Feb 28th, 2020


Events this Weekend

  • This Saturday, February 29th there will be a prayer meeting at 6pm *LOCATION CHANGE: Leon and Daya’s in Woodbridge
  • This Sunday, after service we will have the Kahoot Bible Quiz on the Book of Acts

Upcoming Events

  • Sunday, March 8th – There will be special talk after lunch on college planning from a financial advisor
  • Sunday, March 15th – A General Body Meeting is scheduled.  While the GB goes on, Dr. Mena Mirhom will be giving a special talk to our youth about dealing with stress. 

Please click this link and see all the upcoming events: PARISH CALENDAR – https://atomic-temporary-168999932.wpcomstaging.com/resources/parish-calendar/




Dr. Mena Mirhom MD is Coptic Orthodox and a psychiatrist who regularly speaks about mental health topics at both Coptic and Malankara Orthodox Churches. He was one of the keynote speakers at the Southwest Diocese’s Family and Youth Conference.


Our parish is blessed to host this diocesan event.  We need both attendees and volunteers from SBGOC to make this a success. Please reach out to Pincy, Roshney, or Swapna to get involved. 
Register: www.thegrowministry.com


Search for Saints Basilios-Gregorios Orthodox Church on Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate towards our Church.

Obituary – Mathai Thomas


Mr. Mathai Thomas (86), our Joint Secretary Saji Thomas’s father passed away yesterday in Adoor, Kerala. He is survived by his wife Podiyamma Thomas and children- Jessy(Dubai), Saji and Sam (Dubai). Please remember Saji and family in your prayers. Funeral will be help at 2PM on Saturday, Feb 22, at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Anandapally, Adoor

Newsletter – Dec 17th, 2019


Preparing for Christmas Service
To prepare for Christmas Service, Sony has helped to compile a list of the songs with the recordings. 
Please take a look at this document – CHRISTMAS SERVICE SONGS
English Translations of the service can be found here:
http://www.ds-wa.org/feast-of-the-nativity-yeldo.html
Please remember to bring your old blessed palm leaves for the service.


FAMILY NIGHT VIDEOS
Family Night Videos are posted privately on our YouTube. Check your email for the Link. Click to see all the wonderful performances. The videos are only accessible for those with the link.


SBGOC CHRISTMAS CAROLING HAS BEGUN!
Check out all the Caroling Information on our website and on the TRELLO APP.
On the day of the caroling, the Trello app will have the most up to date information.
If you have any questions, please message cmc@sbgocnj.org or reach out to our Secretary – Mathew (Shajan) George.
Trello Link – http://tinyurl.com/sbgoc-carols
Site link – https://sbgocnj.org/2019/11/24/carol-schedule


Search for Saints Basilios-Gregorios Orthodox Church on Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate towards our Church.


CHRISTMAS SERVICE WILL BE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24th at 7pm. 

SLIGHT CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS…

Like usual, Santa will be coming after our Christmas Service. But we won’t be doing our usual practice of parents helping Santa by bringing gifts for your children. So, don’t worry about packing and bringing any gifts to church.
Santa will be giving out some treats so you don’t have to stress about remembering to buy, pack and bring gifts to church. Hopefully then we can make it a less materialistic celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.


SBGOC Family Bible Challenge
Originally, we were planning on reading the Gospel of
Matthew together. However, Vijay Achen wanted to focus on the Gospel of Luke first. (Apologies for the last minute change). Read the Gospel of Luke during this month with your family.
In January, we are planning a fun Bible competition for everyone specifically on the Gospel of Luke.


Check out our new Website 

www.sbgocnj.org

Newsletter – Dec 12th, 2019


SBGOC CHRISTMAS CAROLING HAS BEGUN!
Check out all the Caroling Information on our website and on the TRELLO APP.
On the day of the caroling, the Trello app will have the most up to date information.
If you have any questions, please message cmc@sbgocnj.org or reach out to our Secretary – Mathew (Shajan) George.
Trello Link – http://tinyurl.com/sbgoc-carols
Site link – https://sbgocnj.org/2019/11/24/carol-schedule


CHRISTMAS SERVICE WILL BE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24th at 7pm. 

SLIGHT CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS…

Like usual, Santa will be coming after our Christmas Service. But we won’t be doing our usual practice of parents helping Santa by bringing gifts for your children. So, don’t worry about packing and bringing any gifts to church.
Santa will be giving out some treats so you don’t have to stress about remembering to buy, pack and bring gifts to church. Hopefully then we can make it a less materialistic celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.


SBGOC Family Bible Challenge
Originally, we were planning on reading the Gospel of
Matthew together. However, Vijay Achen wanted to focus on the Gospel of Luke first. (Apologies for the last minute change). Read the Gospel of Luke during this month with your family.
In January, we are planning a fun Bible competition for everyone specifically on the Gospel of Luke.


Check out our new Website 

www.sbgocnj.org

Newsletter – Dec 5th, 2019


SBGOC CHRISTMAS CAROLING HAS BEGUN!
Check out all the Caroling Information on our website and on the TRELLO APP.
On the day of the caroling, the Trello app will have the most up to date information.
If you have any questions, please message cmc@sbgocnj.org or reach out to our Secretary – Mathew (Shajan) George.
Trello Link – http://tinyurl.com/sbgoc-carols
Site link – https://sbgocnj.org/2019/11/24/carol-schedule
PDF Version of Carol List (Dec 4th Update) – PDF Christmas Carol List Dec 4th


SBGOC Family Bible Challenge
Originally, we were planning on reading the Gospel of
Matthew together. However, Vijay Achen wanted to focus on the Gospel of Luke first. (Apologies for the last minute change). Read the Gospel of Luke during this month with your family.
In January, we are planning a fun Bible competition for everyone specifically on the Gospel of Luke.


CHRISTMAS SERVICE WILL BE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24th at 7pm. 


Check out our new Website 

www.sbgocnj.org

Newsletter – Nov 26th, 2019


CHRISTMAS GIFT CHARITY FOR LOCAL FOSTER KIDS
GIFTS ARE DUE THIS SUNDAY – December 1st
PLEASE HELP FILL THESE CHRISTMAS GIFT REQUESTS!
Our parish will be sponsoring Christmas Gifts for 10 foster kids again this year. Here is the list of gift requests. Please sign up. Gifts are due Dec 1st Sunday.
SIGN UP LINK (Fixed)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FQYCOoKFqJKp1aX25OJqH2unFPWq2BzpuA-fFExmBeA/edit?usp=sharing
Check the request sheets from their advocate:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AhaLyGhJYenigr8qlpdYdo9MTvsyVg


Thanksgiving Service

This Thursday, November 28th we will have Holy Qurbana and a Potluck Thanksgiving Meal.

Service will start at 10am.


Check out our new Website 

www.sbgocnj.org


List of Upcoming Events:

  • November
    • Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 28th – Holy Qurbana 10am followed by Potluck Lunch
    • Saturday, November 30th – MGOCSM Thanksgiving Conference at St. Stephen’s Midland Park, NJ
  • December
    • Caroling – Starting Sunday, December 1st 
    • Christmas – Dec 24th Evening