Church Events
March 25, 2006 - SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church held its Annual Family Night in the Church Hall in the late afternoon of March 25 - the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Most-Holy Theotokos. The event was a quiet dinner gathering in the middle of Great Lent - a time for reflection about family, family values, and Great Lent according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church. Following the dinner, the service of Vespers was served in Church with the procession of the Holy Cross. The following day is the Third Sunday of Great Lent - the Veneration of the Holy Cross. Below are scenes from the Annual Family Night Dinner as well as photos taken at the service of Vespers. You may click on the lead photo above to view an enlargement of the cruciform composite showing some of the families of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. As well, you may click on the group photo below of those parishioners present at the Saturday afternoon gathering.
In the block of three photos above, the uppermost is the Ochrid Icon of the Annunciation. The lower two icons depict the Feast of the Annunciation in our Church on Saturday morning, March 25. The left icons appear on the Royal Doors of our Church and the right icon was photographed on the Tetrapod in the center of our Church. Below, photos are presented in random order in blocks of six showing the activities at the Annual Family Night.
In the blocks of photos above and below, parishioners enjoy arts and crafts with an emphasis upon the Orthodox Faith. For example, Paschal greeting cards were fashioned at this meeting. The cards will be distributed to shut-in and homebound parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church shortly before the celebration of PASCHA on April 23. Also, tables were set up with icons on display. It fell upon the children to try to identify the icons as well as to solve other mind-challenging tasks. A table of prizes awaited for the winners who correctly solved the challenges.
Some of the adults referred to the quiet time spent with their children as therapeutic.
Above and below - a quiet escape from the cares of the workaday world.
Above right, CDs containing liturgical music played quietly in the background as children and adults spent quiet time constructively. Below left, pizza arrived as promised at about 6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. marked the conclusion of the Annual Family Night and the beginning of Vespers in Church with the procession of the Holy Cross. All of those parishioners who had gathered for the Annual Family Night attended the service of Vespers. The four photos immediately above and the four photos immediately below show scenes from the service of Vespers. Rev. David Garretson, Rector of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, is shown as the Holy Cross is carried in procession from the Table of Oblation to the Altar and thence to the Tetrapod in the center of our Church.
You may click on the photo below left to view an enlargement.
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Copyright © 2006, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ
