St. Gregory the Theologian Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church in America
1500 Route 376 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Metropolitan Tikhon's Nativity Message for 2021
Archbishop Michael's Nativity Message for 2021
4th Quarter 2021 Koinonia from the Commission on Missions and Evangelism of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey
December 2021 Diocesan Newsletter on Stewardship "First Fruits"
Holiday Bake Sale

Due to the current restrictions on COVID, St. Gregory's will not be holding their annual Christmas Fair. However, the St. Hope Committee will be doing their holiday bake sale of nut, poppy seed, apricot and prune rolls. Orders can be done via email at Hanchhy@gmail.com. Orders should be in by Friday, December 3 and indicate what type of rolls you want and the number of each. Pickup of the orders will be in the parking lot of the church on Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11.

Christmas Gift Cards for St. Basil Academy

Our parish again has the opportunity to help make Christmas joyful for the 28 children (ranging from age 1-22) at St. Basil’s Academy. Due to Covid, the Academy is requesting $25 Amazon gift cards that will then be used to purchase gifts requested by the children.

If you’d like to participate:

  1. Sign up on the sign-up sheet on the outreach bulletin board in the church hall
  2. Put your $25 gift card in a sealed envelope marked St. Basil’s Christmas
  3. Put envelope in mailbox in parish hall, give to a council member, or mail to the church
  4. You may also make a $25 cash/check or Paypal contribution and the gift card will be purchased on your behalf

Deadline for the gifts is Sunday Nov. 21st. Thank you for your generosity.

Handbags for the Holidays

Our past Christmas gifts of clean, gently used handbags filled with toiletries have been greatly appreciated by the women of Grace Smith House, a local domestic abuse support center (https://www.gracesmithhouse.org/). If you’d like to help this year, please bring in your used but still serviceable handbags by Sunday October 31st (they can be placed in the hampers by the Outreach bulletin board). Once we have a count of how many handbags have been donated, a list of items needed to fill them will be posted. The deadline for contributing these items will be Sunday November 28th, so as to give us time in early December to fill the purses and deliver them to the Grace Smith House before Christmas. 

Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church (PUMC) is asking for help in providing Thanksgiving dinners for families in need in the City of Poughkeepsie area. Recipients are referred to PUMC from Love INC., Social Services, and area agencies. If you are interested in supplying a basket, please put your name on the signup sheet on the Outreach bulletin board by Sunday Oct. 17th.  

The last day for drop off is Sunday Nov. 14th.

Please provide the following items per bag for a family of four. In fairness to all families, no additions or substitutions (larger families receive appropriately sized baskets).

  • Box of instant potatoes
  • Box stuffing mix such as “Stove Top”
  • 2 cans of vegetables
  • 1 can of yams
  • 1 can cranberry sauce
  • 2 envelopes of gravy mix
  • $15 in an envelope stapled to the bag to cover the cost of turkey, pie, and rolls (Put your name on the envelope)

Place all items in a brown grocery bag with a plastic bag on the outside for ease in carrying or use a reusable shopping bag.  Give to a parish council member, who will store them until delivery time. PMUC will deliver the meals to the Family Partnership Center on North Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie for distribution to the families on Tuesday November 23rd.

 

Stewards of the OCA Stewardship Sunday, November 14, 2021
St. Vladimir's Seminary Virtual Education Day on October 2, 2021
Virtual Church School Training for the Diocese
3rd Quarter 2021 Koinonia
St. Gregory Coffee Hour Instructions
Virtual Church School Trip to Holy Resurrection Cathedral and the Relics of St. Herman of Alaska
3rd Quarter, 2021 Diocesan Newsletter on Stewardship "First Fruits"
2nd Quarter 2021 Koinonia
Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Sunday - July 25, 2021
Diocesan Youth Video on North American Saints
St. Andrew's Camp Close to Achieving Goal - How You Can Help
Paschal Message from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All-America and Canada
Paschal Message from His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey
Appeal from His Eminence Archbishop Michael to Assist St. Basil House in Trenton, NJ
2nd Quarter, 2021 Diocesan Newsletter on Stewardship "First Fruits"
1st Quarter 2021 Koinonia
Holy Synod Issues Letter for Great Lent
Letter from Archbishop Michael on the Beginning of Great Lent 2021
New St. Gregory YouTube Channel

By popular request, St. Gregory's have created a YouTube Channel so that all classes and lectures can be found in one place. The services will still be live-streamed on the Facebook page. To go to the new YouTube Channel go to the top of homepage and click on the YouTube button. From Facebook, go to the left side of the Facebook page to the tab YouTube. Once you get the YouTube Channel you may be asked to subscribe which is perfectly safe and allows you to know when new videos are posted.

Donations for Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls distributes gently used shoes and clothing and provides business training to entrepreneurs in developing countries, providing them with a way to generate income and their communities access to affordable footwear. Due to Covid, it is not possible right now to hold a drive at church. However, there are 2 ways individuals can donate on their own. 
 
1) Shoes only (https://soles4souls.org/give-shoes): There is a DSW in the Poughkeepsie Galleria (845-298-1300) but if that's not convenient put in your zip code to find a participating DSW near you. You might want to call your store first regarding dropoff specifics. The Poughkeepsie Galleria store ask that you bring them in a plastic bag. Tell the cashier if you're a member of their loyalty program - they will give you awards points for the donation.. 
 
2) Shoes and clothing (https://www.zappos.com/e/soles-4-souls): the Zappos for Good program provides free shipping of up to 50 lbs. Print out a mailing label and drop off the box at your local UPS facility.
 
The links provide more information on the goals of this organization and further instructions on how to donate.
December 31, 2020 Encyclical from the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America on Hope
Assembly of Bishops Announce Year of the Youth for 2021
At the annual meeting in October 2020, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America declared 2021 the Year of the Youth, with the intent of augmenting ministry to children, teens, and young adults across the country. The yearlong festivities will focus on the youth’s presence and potential within the Church by celebrating and enhancing their God-given talents.

The presence of Youth, as full members of the Body of Christ, is essential to the life of our communities.  The Youth are our present and future. Our hope stems from a faith that is not only lived on a daily basis but is passed on from generation to generation, ensuring continuity in witnessing Christ’s love in the world.

The presence of Youth in our Church gives us hope and purpose, following the words of the Psalmist:  “He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God but keep His commandments…” (Psalm 78:5-7).

The Assembly of Bishops, in collaboration with the Orthodox Youth Directors of North America, is planning a variety of exciting events in the coming months. The plan includes a series of online events and webinars as well as opportunities for youth, youth workers, and parents to witness the faith and celebrate their good works in Christ. More details will be made available in the coming weeks and months at orthodoxyouth.net and assemblyofbishops.org.

 

“The Year of Saints“ Program For Church School For All Ages
Archbishop Michael's Homily at St. Gregory's for the Feast
Resources for Families for Great Lent: Our Journey to Pascha 2021
Updated Diocesan Guidelines for the Continued Reopening of the Parish
Parish Guidelines for Continued Reopening
August 2021 Outreach Project - United Way Donations
St. Gregory's to Host Red Cross Blood Drive on October 2, 2021

St. Gregory's Orthodox Church will once again sponsor the Fall Blood Drive in cooperation with the American Red Cross. The Blood Drive is on Saturday, October 2, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the parish hall. To reserve your spot please go to Donate Blood, Platelets or Plasma. Give Life | Red Cross Blood and put in the zip code "12590" to find the link. You can pick your time from the drop down menu. The area is in serious need of blood so please support their good work.