11 WILKINS STATION ROAD, (MAILING: PO BOX 805), MEDFORD, NJ 08055
FR. JOHN SHIMCHICK, RECTOR - CHURCH: (609) 654-4865
Services and upcoming events
Welcome to the Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross
Here are some features of our liturgical life that we hope will help you understand what the Orthodox Church offers in its worship and spiritual life, and how you can participate more comfortably.
1) JESUS – REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES AND IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD: In entering our church you passed under the iconographic description of the encounter Jesus had after His resurrection with his disciples on the “Way to Emmaus” (Luke 24:13-35). Everything we have to offer you is summarized in this encounter: It is all about Jesus, revealed in the Scriptures, in the breaking of the bread, and how this experience is shared with one another “on the way,” the path of life.
Click here to read the full list of features
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Our October Calender
CROSSROADS – our weekly bulletin
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Notes from the Sermon on Sunday, December 7, 2025:
Advent and the Experience of Coming to Know Jesus
1) NOT A PICTURE OF AN EXPERIENCE, BUT AN EXPERIENCE:
Recently I had an encounter with an abstract painting by Mark Rothko, simply called, “Untitled,” produced in 1968, towards the end of his life.
I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but within the text box next to the painting I found these words by Mark Rothko:
“A painting is not a picture of an experience; it is an experience.”
It seemed to me that what Rothko was saying generally could be applied to all of the sources we utilize to understand anything in our spiritual lives. Every Biblical or liturgical text, and every icon is not just a story or picture ABOUT someone or something – particularly about God as a Trinity of Persons – but is an INVITATION to enter into the experience of knowing God as Trinity and seeing ourselves and our place within the stories, hymns, and images.
As we think about this during Advent, we are affirming that Jesus desires to come, to enter into each of these sources of knowledge and our life’s experiences.
2) OUR PARISH’S ICONOGRAPHY AND CURRENT PROJECT:
All of our painted or “written” icons have been prepared by Dmitri Shkolnik who will be working this week on our dome iconographic project. Almost 40 years ago as we considered with him the icons for our iconostasis it was determined that the row of 12 small icons along the top would feature various modes or experiences of sanctity - theologians (St. John Chrysostom), hierarchs (St. Nicholas), martyrs (St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Katherine), missionaries (St. Paul and St. Nina of Georgia), spiritual guides (St. Seraphim and St. Niktarios), righteous mothers (St. Juliana) and grandmothers (St. Olga). As a model for “liturgical artists” of all kinds – hymnographers, musicians, poets, and iconographers – we chose St. Andrew Rublev - whose image is on the far left side. He is best known for his icon of the Holy Trinity (here is a link for more information: https://publicorthodoxy.org/2023/08/18/rublevs-trinity/).
Here is the Festal Troparion for St. Andrew:
Shining with the rays of divine light, O venerable Andrew,
you knew Christ the wisdom and power of God.
By means of the image of the Holy Trinity
you preached to all the world the Holy Trinity in unity.
And we, with amazement and joy, cry out to you:
As you have boldness before the Most Holy Trinity
Pray that the Uncreated Light may illumine our souls!
With the work of each liturgical artist, and especially with Dmitri Shkolnik, we want to respect and encourage their commitment and experiences in coming to know Christ and in “preaching to the world” through their unique gifts the “Holy Trinity as unity.”
3) MY ENCOUNTER WITH THE NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1972 (NLS-72):
This weekend I participated in an interview for the study of my high school graduation class of 1972 (along with over 20,000 people, representing 1,000 high schools - 16 randomly chosen from my own school). The interview explored many topics, touching on health, emotional, and cognitive concerns and involved some reflections and evaluation of life experiences. In this last area we needed to respond to various questions and here were some of them:
Have we ever felt lonely? Ever felt isolated? Excluded? Not supported? Ever felt helpless?
I thought of these questions and responses in the context of the Sunday Gospel we heard about the ten lepers who called out to Jesus to be healed (it is presented below). As lepers these men understood the reality of being forced to live outside of the boundaries of their communities due to fear of their disease spreading to others. They understood the feeling of being isolated, alone, abandoned, neglected, not wanted. So, they all – as perhaps many of us, but for different reasons – probably would have likewise responded “yes” or at least “sometimes yes” to these questions.
But perhaps as they all did to some extent - we hopefully have also understood something about being cleansed and healed; about being thankful for what has happened to us, although we like most of them may have been unable to put that thankfulness into words and expression.
But could we go even further if asked? Even if we don’t feel it within ourselves sometimes, would we know where to find “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”? Do we know someone with whom we could speak about these things? Is there someone we know – living or departed (thinking about our iconostas!) who has experienced both failure and isolation and yet also knows about healing and restoration who could help us “sing and make melody to the Lord” when we are ready?
These are the questions and responses that I suspect could be directed to the other nine in today’s Gospel as well as to us.
CONCLUSION:
Every encounter with the Scriptures, particularly the Gospels and rest of the New Testament, as well as with liturgical hymns and icons offers us an invitation for a deeper knowledge and experience in coming to know the place of Jesus in our lives.
Sunday’s Scriptures
Ephesians 5:9-19 (Epistle)
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(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
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finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
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And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
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For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
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But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
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Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
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See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
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redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
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And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
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speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Luke 17:12-19 (Gospel)
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Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.
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And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
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So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
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And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,
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and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
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So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
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Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?
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And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
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Notes from the Sermon on Sunday, November 30, 2025: “Way, Walk, Come and See.”
Scriptures:
Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel Readings: John 1:35-51
Luke 13:10-17
St. Serapion of Egypt who lived in the 300s once travelled on a pilgrimage to Rome. He had been told about a celebrated recluse, a woman who lived in one small room, never going out. When he finally met her, he asked: “Why are you sitting here?” To this she replied: “I am not sitting. I am on a journey.”
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware opens his book, “The Orthodox Way,” with this story, noting that one of the earliest descriptions of Christianity in the New Testament was as, “The Way” (Acts 19:23; 24:22). This implied not just an organization or a method to be studied, but a faith experienced and lived out.
1) A WALK AND CALLING: In today’s Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul wrote, “I beseech you to walk in a way worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4:1). The words “walk” and “calling” have particular significance for us as we think of Christianity as “the Way.”
First, though as we learned from the story of St. Serapion and the recluse in Rome, one’s spiritual life is not determined by being physically isolated or even by being unable to walk in a literal way. Many of our own parishioners as they have declined in health have been unable to come to church, yet they have maintained rich and consistent spiritual lives. They continue to be on a spiritual journey, even though they have been unable to leave their homes, for the most part.
But in the Gospel story read today from St. Luke about the healing of the woman “who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up” (13:11), we hear how Christ removes the obstacles that prevents “each person” from being able to stand upright and move in the way that is appropriate for them at each particular moment in their life.
2) COME AND SEE: Today, November 30, is the feast of St. Andrew, the first-called Apostle. We heard in the Gospel of St. John how Jesus answered his question, “Rabbi, where are You staying?” with the response, “Come and see.” Each of us, in trying in our walk to find our path on the “Way” must respond to this invitation, this call of Christ – we can’t just read and hear about it from someone else.
3) CONCLUSION: SHARING WHAT WE’VE COME TO KNOW: But there is also a sense in which what has been received is meant to be shared with others. In the story from the Gospel of St. John, Andrew tells his brother, Simon Peter, what he has experienced in meeting Jesus. Soon after Christ calls Phillip to follow him and Philip will do so, and then tell his friend Nathaniel about Jesus. When Nathaniel has his reservations about Jesus, Philip replies: “Come and see."
We no doubt have had the experience during the recent Thanksgiving celebrations of sharing among our families and friends the best things that we have come to know or have in common: our histories, stories, moments, foods, music, etc.
The invitation from us others especially during this season of Advent to “Come and See” represents the continuity that we as Christians have with the Apostle Andrew and all those who have shared with others what they have come to know of Jesus along the “Way” – their journey and experience of being called by Him.
In the final words of today’s Kontakion for the Apostle Andrew:
As Andrew once called to his brother,
he now cries out to us://
“Come, for we have found the One Whom the world desires!”
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SERVICE SCHEDULE:
– Friday, December 5 – Vesperal Liturgy for St. Nicholas- – – Saturday, December 6– Great Vespers – 5 PM
– Sunday,–December 7 – Divine Liturgy – 10:00
The Liturgical and Educational Opportunities of the New Liturgical Year
Setting A Foundation: The Creed
This year our Catechetical Program is focused on the Creed and the mage that we’ll be keeping in mind is the establishment of a “life-giving” foundation, thinking about the Trinity Church in Vincentown, shown above.
For more information about our parish and activities and to receive preparatory materials about the Orthodox Faith and our parish, contact Fr. John at:
SERVICE SCHEDULE: –
Saturday, December 13– Great Vespers – 5 PM - Sunday, –December 14 – Divine Liturgy – 10:00
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A Review of the Retreat with Dr. Peter Bouteneff held on Saturday, November 9, 2024
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BELOW is the final entry for our Daily Paschal Reader:
You can find complete archived copies of our past Lenten and Paschal readers by clicking here.
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SEE OUR:
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Donate Now
The life of our parish ministry depends on the stewardship of parishioners as well as the generous contributions of those benefactors who support our parish and have been blessed by our ministry. To make donating easier we have created a safe method of online donation through a secure portal.
Read Our Weekly and Archived Bulletins
Come Study With Us
Come Study With Us
Come Study With Us
Catechesis Class led by Dr. Ed Siecienski
1) "Why Be Orthodox?" - Two Presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski
2) "The Theotokos and the Church" - Two presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski (November 30 and December 7, 2022
3) "Community as Church, Church as Community" - Two Presentations by Fr. Michael Plekon (February 9 and 16, 2022)
4) Evening Prayers and Saints of the Week
5) The Journey Project
6) Decision-making and Divine Guidance in 1 Corinthians with Fr. John Jillions
7) All Is Well with Dr. Albert RossiWhy Be Orthodox?" - Two Presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski
2) "The Theotokos and the Church" - Two presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski (November 30 and December 7, 2022
3) "Community as Church, Church as Community" - Two Presentations by Fr. Michael Plekon (February 9 and 16, 2022)
4) Evening Prayers and Saints of the Week
5) The Journey Project
6) Decision-making and Divine Guidance in 1 Corinthians with Fr. John Jillions
7) All Is Well with Dr. Albert Rossi
Come Study With Us
Come Study With Us
Come Study With Us
1) "Why Be Orthodox?" - Two Presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski
2) "The Theotokos and the Church" - Two presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski (November 30 and December 7, 2022
3) "Community as Church, Church as Community" - Two Presentations by Fr. Michael Plekon (February 9 and 16, 2022)
4) Evening Prayers and Saints of the Week
5) The Journey Project
6) Decision-making and Divine Guidance in 1 Corinthians with Fr. John Jillions
7) All Is Well with Dr. Albert RossiWhy Be Orthodox?" - Two Presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski
2) "The Theotokos and the Church" - Two presentations by Dr. A. Edward Siecienski (November 30 and December 7, 2022
3) "Community as Church, Church as Community" - Two Presentations by Fr. Michael Plekon (February 9 and 16, 2022)
4) Evening Prayers and Saints of the Week
5) The Journey Project
6) Decision-making and Divine Guidance in 1 Corinthians with Fr. John Jillions
7) All Is Well with Dr. Albert Rossi
Donate Now
The life of our parish ministry depends on the stewardship of parishioners as well as the generous contributions of those benefactors who support our parish and have been blessed by our ministry. To make donating easier we have created a safe method of online donation through a secure portal.
Read Our Weekly and Archived Bulletins
Natalka Pavlovsky
