Orthodox Christian Church of the Annunciation
360 Van Zile Road, Brick NJ
/ Archived Material
+Robert Peter Kornafel
+Robert Peter Kornafel, 79, fell asleep in the Lord today, Friday, August 5, 2011.  Robert was a communicant of our parish for many years.  He is survived by his wife Olga, daughter Kathryn, and son James.
A panikhida in Bob's memory will be served at our parish tonight (Friday) at 6:15pm, prior to Vespers for the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.
May our loving God give comfort to those Bob has left behind, and may his memory be eternal!
SERVICES CANCELED
Due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene this weekend, all scheduled services have been canceled.  This includes the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist on Monday morning.  Please take the time to pray, read from Holy Scriptures, and read the lives of the saints in lieu of attending services.  Scroll down for a link to the daily scripture readings and saints of the day.  As you pray, you may include the following prayer in this stormy time:

A Prayer against Bad Weather

O Master, Lord our God, who through Thy consubstantial and beginningless Word, and Thy life-giving Spirit who is equal in honor, hast brought everything out of nothingness into being; who hast set sandy barriers to the sea, and weighed the mountains and the valleys in a balance; who hast measured the skies and hold the water in the palm of Thy hand; who hast given to this visible world of the senses its law and rules, its harmony and order; who hast appointed changes to the weather and variations in the orbit of the sun; who, through the mingling of the elements, hold all things together by Thine inexpressible power, and keep them free from harm and intact: Do Thou Thyself, all-good King, extending to us Thine innate and customary love and goodness, visit the work of Thy hands.  Do not deprive us of Thy mercies and Thy compassion, and do not destroy Thine inheritance, for Thou hast ineffably created us in Thine own image.  Thou hast given Thine only-begotten Son as a ransom for us, and through the mystical communion of Thy Spirit hast made us share in Thine own divinity; forgive, we pray, the multitude of our sins in the far greater multitude, of Thy mercies.  Thou didst wash away the sins of humanity through the Cross and the Blood of Thy Son.  Restore the world of nature, which has been grievously disturbed into an unnatural state because of the unruliness and disorderliness of our lawless and corrupt behavior, and bring it back to its natural harmony and order.  Make the great ocean return to its usual calmness, bring to end the tempest and the disturbance of the elements that threaten us, order the winds to blow once more with gentleness and moderation.  Rebuke the raging of the sea and the unnatural violence of the gales; let the Spirit of the storm be stilled and the tempest return to tranquility.
Through the intercession of the most blessed Lady Theotokos, of the God-like Angels and all the Saints, and through the good pleasure and love of Thine only-begotten Son with whom Thou are blessed, together with Thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.  Amen.

STOP HUNGER NOW!

On March 11, members of our parish will join with others from the various faith communities in Brick for a service project to help feed the hungry.  Stop Hunger Now, a Philadalphia-based organization, will be bringing the ingredients to pack 10,000 meals to Brick Presbyterian Church, 111 Drum Point Road.  From 2-4pm, the ingredients will be assembled and packed by volunteers into boxes ready for shipping by the organization to hungry persons throughout the world.

This is an exciting project that promises to gather together people of faith for a common goal of helping those who are less fortunate than they are.  Please join us if you are able.  If you would like to make a cash contribution ($2,500 or 25cents per meal is to be raised), please make checks payable to: Stop Hunger Now, and mail to Stop Hunger Now, c/o St. Raphael Church, 1520 Rte. 88, Brick, NJ 08724. 

FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE THEOTOKOS
This Sunday - March 25, 2012

Please join us as we celebrate the patronal feastday of our parish!  See the flyer for a listing of services this weekend.  His Grace, MICHAEL, Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey will be present with us throughout the weekend.  All are invited!
A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION!

Feast of the Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos - 03/25/12

The faithful of our parish welcomed His Grace, Bishop Michael for the weekend celebration of our patronal feastday.  Many visitors joined us for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning and the Mission Vespers service later that afternoon.  Many thanks to all who helped make this celebration bright and joyful!

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HOLY WEEK
For Orthodox Christians everywhere, this is Holy Week.  We will celebrate Our Lord's Glorious Resurrection from the dead on Sunday, April 15.  Below is the schedule of services for the remainder of the week.

Monday, April 9 - 9:30am Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Monday, April 9 - 7:00pm Bridegroom Matins
Tuesday, April 10 - 9:30am Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Tuesday, April 10 - 7:00pm Bridegroom Matins
Wednesday, April 11 - 9:30am Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Wednesday, April 11 - 7:00pm Holy Unction
Thursday, April 12 - 9:30am Vespers w/Divine Liturgy
Thursday, April 12 - 7:00pm Matins w/12 Gospels
Friday, April 13 - 3:00pm Great and Holy Friday Vespers
Friday, April 13 - 7:00pm Matins w/Lamentations
Saturday, April 14 - 9:30am Holy Saturday Vespers w/Divine Liturgy
Saturday, April 14 - 11:30pm Compline, Matins, and Divine Liturgy (GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA)
Sunday, April 15 - 11:00am Vespers of Pascha (w/egg hunt following)
Monday, April 16 - 9:30am Divine Liturgy 
Monday, April 16 - 7:00 Vespers
Tuesday, April 17 - 9:30am Divine Liturgy (w/Bishop +MICHAEL)
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

A BLESSED PASCHA AND BRIGHT WEEK TO ALL!

(Photos below!)

Vespers of Pascha

Vespers of Pascha and Egg Hunt - 04/15/12

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GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA

Paschal Vigil and Divine Liturgy - 04/15/12

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Great and Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great - 04/14/12

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Great and Holy Friday

Holy Friday Vespers and Holy Saturday Matins - 04/13/12

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Parish Works with IOCC and Jersey Shore United

Thanksgiving Dinners Served By Churches In our area.

St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 2200 Church Road, Toms River, NJ. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 4-7 PM. Volunteers needed. Date: Tuesday, November 20th

New Beginnings Church at VFW Hall # 8867 373 Adamston Rd. Brick Thursday Nov 22nd. 12-4pm 

First Baptist Church and First Nazarene Church, hosted at First Baptist Church. 700 Main Street, Toms River. 11 AM to 4 PM dine-in, take-out or deliveries.

Macadeonia Baptist Church 143 John Street, Lakewood. Volunteers needed beginning at 8:00. Dinner service begins at 11:00 AM. Dine-in, take-out or delivery. Call 732-905-3738 for delivery.

Epiphany Church, Brick, NJ Thursday 12 noon. Eat in, take-out or delivery. Delivery must be ordered by Wednesday. 732-458-0220

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Toms River, across the street from Toms River Intermediate School East on Hooper Ave. No charge, on Thanksgiving Day Noon to 4 pm.


HOLIDAY COOKIE WALK THIS SATURDAY!

 

 

 

JOIN US THIS SATURDAY FOR OUR ANNUAL PARISH COOKIE WALK.  THE COOKIES SELL FAST, SO PLEASE COME EARLY!

PARISH ICONOGRAPHY PROJECT
Phase I is complete!

Our parish is currently undergoing an iconography project where the white walls of the church are being adorned with icons of saints and depictions of events that we celebrate in the Tradition of the Church.  Please read Father Gary's letter about the project's current status.  Also, if you are so inclined, we would love for you to make a donation to the project using this form.  Checks should be made out to "OCCA" with a notation of "Icon Project" on the memo line and sent to:

OCCA
360 Van Zile Road
Brick, NJ 08724

Thank you for visiting our site.  We hope that you share our excitement for this wonderful project!  Photos of the project will appear here.  Please check back for updates of the progress.



Pascha 2013 at OCCA

Christ is Risen - 05/05/13

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Sunday of Orthodoxy

Pastoral visit of His Grace, Bishop MICHAEL - 03/24/13

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Photos - 2012 Ethnic Fair and Gift Auction

Thanks be to God for another wonderful parish event! - 07/29/12

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2012 ETHNIC FOOD FAIR & GIFT AUCTION
Our Annual Ethnic Food Fair and Gift Auction will take place on Sunday, July 29, 2012.  All are welcome.  Parking is free.  Food and fellowship will be plentiful.  Great gifts are available in our extensive Gift Auction.  Come tour our church which is being beautified with holy icons!  Everything takes place between 12Noon and 6:00pm!
Ethnic Fair 2011 Sponsors

Many thanks to all our sponsors!  Please visit and patronize these fine shops and institutions!

THANKS TO ALL!




MANY THANKS to all those who helped to make our annual Ethnic Fair and Gift Auction another success!  We thank our volunteer staff, our donors, our friends and neighbors who attended, our vendors who donated Gift Auction items and food, our bell-ringers and singers, and our fiddle player.  Once again, we didn't avoid the rain, but we nevertheless were able to enjoy a wonderful day of food, fellowship, and fun.  Please come back next year and look out for our other parish events throughout the year.

View photos here
Paul Berger Presents Romania Slideshow
On Sunday, June 28, Paul Berger presented a slideshow of photos from his mission trip to Romania this winter with the OCF Real Break Mission team.
2007 Ethnic Fair and Gift Auction

It was a wet yet wonderful day!

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2006 ETHNIC FAIR & GIFT AUCTION

A Memorable Day! - 07/30/06

Despite the hot weather, a wonderful time was had by all who attended this year's event.  We thank all our vendors, donors, and all who volunteered to make the day a memorable one.  Pictures from the day are included here:

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Metropolitan HERMAN visits our parish

Photos from His Beatitude's Visit - 06/25/06

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Parish Boy Scouts Receive Alpha Omega Award

Four parish Boy Scouts were awarded the Alpha Omega Award on Sunday, February 3, 2008.  Matthew Hascha, Alexander Breton, Alexander Hascha, and Luke Pasick are pictured here with Father Gary Breton.  Congratulations to the boys and their families!

COOKIE WALK 2010
 
Alex Hascha earns Eagle Scout Rank
Richard, Alex, Matthew, and Gail Hascha
Richard, Alex, Matthew, and Gail Hascha
Richard, Alex, Matthew, and Gail Hascha
Alex and Father Gary
Alex and Father Gary
Alex and Father Gary

At a Court of Honor ceremony last Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Laurelton, Alex Hascha was officially awarded the rank of Eagle Scout - the highest rank a Boy Scout can attain.  Father Gary delivered an invocation, a reflection, and the closing prayer.  Many years to Alex for combining his God-given talent with his diligence and hard work to earn this rank, and to his family who supported him in this endeavor.

1st Annual Parish Bowling Outing

Bowling - 02/20/11

A fun evening of bowling and fellowship was had by all!

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ICONOGRAPHY PROJECT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED!

On Sunday, March 13, 2011, the day on which the Restoration of Holy Icons is celebrated throughout the Orthodox Church, our parish announced the beginning of its long-awaited Icon Project.  A contract for Phase I of the project has been signed with St. Tikhon's Bookstore.  Iconographer Ivan Rumiantsev will write and install the icons beginning in April.   Estimated completion of Phase I is August 31, 2011.

Please visit our Iconography Project webpage for more information.  This webpage will be updated regularly with project information. 

MANY THANKS to those who joined us for our Annual Ethnic Food Fair and Gift Auction!  It was a blessed and wonderful day!  Please come back next year on the last Sunday of July (July 29, 2012) as we do it all again!

View our list of sponsors here.

2013 Ethnic Food Fair and Gift Auction



Our Annual Ethnic Food Fair and Gift Auction will take place on Sunday, July 28, 2013.  All are welcome.  Parking is free.  Food and fellowship will be plentiful.  Great gifts are available in our extensive Gift Auction.  Come tour our church which is being beautified with holy icons!  Everything takes place between 12Noon and 6:00pm!
Click here for a downloadable event flyer!
2013 Ethnic Food Fair and Gift Auction

 

Many thanks to all those who once again helped make our annual event a terrific success!  We thank all those who attended, worked, donated, and otherwise contributed to a wonderful day of food and fellowship.  Please click here to access a photo slideshow of the day's activities. 
COOKIE WALK A SUCCESS!
Thank You!

We had a great day on Saturday meeting new friends, reacquainting with friends we know, and selling cookies for the benefit of the parish. Many thanks to all who donated, sold, and purchased a wonderful of variety of cookies. We hope to see you next year!

The Ascension of Our Lord
THURSDAY, MAY 29

FESTAL SERVICES

Wednesday - 7:00pm Great Vespers w/Litya

Thursday - 9:30am Divine Liturgy (Agape meal to follow)

 

Festal Troparion

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world!

2014 Annual Gift Auction and Food Festival
Sunday, July 27 - Noon to 6pm

Please join us for great food, fellowship, fun, and prizes, at our annual event! Throughout the day, a variety of food is available to eat in or take home. Also, a variety of gifts in our Gift Auction are available for you to bid on! Admission and parking are free! We hope to see you here!

2013 Ethnic Food Fair and Gift Auction - MANY THANKS!

Another wonderfully successful event - 07/28/13

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THEOPHANY SEASON SCHEDULE
Schedule of Services and Events

Saturday, January 3 - 7:00pm Great Vespers

Sunday, January 4 - 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Monday, January 5 - 9:30am Vespers w/Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (Eve of Theophany)

Monday, January 5 - 7:00pm Compline and Great Blessing of Waters (Eve of Theophany)

Tuesday, January 6 - 9:30am Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of Waters (Feast of Theophany)