St. Andrew's

Parish reopening

Dear parishioners,

Christ is in our midst!

I write to announce the reopening of our parish church. Because the reopening will be strictly limited in many different ways for some time, this is not the reopening that we would like to have, but it is what we are permitted to have under the combination of governmental, Synodal and Diocesan directives, all of which we must follow.

A note regarding reopening

Dear Parishioners and Friends:

Christ is risen!

I am polling the members of our parish council regarding the tentative reopening of our parish church. Please be advised that once the civil authorities will again permit public gatherings in Suffolk County, NY (a decision over which we have no control or influence), we must first draft a plan for reopening which must be approved by our Archpastor, Vladyka Michael (Dahulich). Such a plan must be consistent with the guidelines issued by both the Holy Synod of the OCA and our own Diocesan Guidelines. Many issues are presented by the issue of reopening the church amidst this pandemic and we encourage all parishioners to read the article posted by Robin Freeman on our OCA website this week (https://www.oca.org/reflections/misc-authors/what-covid-19-means-for-singing-in-church) which speaks to these issues.

My Life in Suite D202

by Andoni Carris

Just learned we have two more cases of the virus and I told my five children, “I’m in the right place during this tragic time. This Gurwin environment is a blessing for my material and spiritual needs.” That said, I will tell you how I have lived here for over two and a half years.

When I was applying for a residence at Gurwin, they asked me what I desired. I replied, “I wish to be part of the Gurwin family and live as an ascetic.”

A new ‘Year in Review’

We are happy to share a new 2019 edition of our ‘Year in Review’. A little late – but given we are all stuck at home, and have now experienced Holy Week and Pascha in quarantine, we thought it would be a good time to look back on last year at all of the activity we shared and and all of the blessings we received.

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

We greet you warmly in the joy of the Resurrection! Thank you to all who with great care and reverence visited the church to pray privately and light candles. And all the more, thank you to all who, celebrating in the ‘little church’ of our homes, have joined our private prayer lives together in celebration – amidst a difficult year in the life of our world, we have been given a great gift: a life-giving participation in Our Lord’s Pascha. Χριστός aνέστη! Hristos a înviat! Хрїстóсъ воскрéсе! !المسيح قام ქრისტე აღსდგა! ハリストス復活！