Finding Us
We currently rent space at the Parish House of the First Presbyterian
Church of Springfield. The Parish House is located behind the main church
building at the very end of Church Mall Road, to your left.
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Our main prayer space is located on the top floor of the Parish House
building. Signs are placed in the hallways to direct you to the sanctuary.
If you are entering from the back lot, you may use the ground-level door
to the right. Our sanctuary is located on the third floor of the building
(follow the posted signs).​
Parking
Parking is available on the street or in the lot at the back of the building.
If these spaces are full, you may also use the lot in the shopping center
across the street, about a three-minute walk away. All parking is free.
Accessibility
Please note that we rent space in an older building, which does not have
an elevator and is not wheelchair accessible, unfortunately. If you need
assistance getting up the stairs to our space, please let us know, and a
volunteer will be happy to meet you at the ground-level door. We can also
arrange for live streaming of the liturgy to our overflow room on the
ground level.
The parking lot behind the Parish House. Enter using the door on the right, beneath the stairs.
The Parish House, located on the left, at the end of Church Mall road.
A Typical Sunday
After the Liturgy, we enjoy coffee and light refreshments in the Fellowship room, located in the basement of the building. It's a great time to socialize, relax and meet new friends!
Weekly Sunday Worship Service
Every Sunday morning, we gather for our weekly worship service, held in person at our rental location at 37 Church Mall, Springfield. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, our Sunday "service" is called the Divine Liturgy.
In the middle of the Liturgy, following the Gospel reading of the day, we pause for a sermon addressed to the children. Following communion, the children are escorted to Sunday School and a deeper sermon for adults is given. ​
Distribution of Blessing Bread
Immediately after the adults sermon, we remain in the sanctuary for a few minutes to line up and receive blessing bread.
"Blessing bread" is exactly what it sounds like- bread that's been blessed! The night before the Divine Liturgy, or very early the morning of, deacons freshly bake and pray the psalms over special boules (circular loaves) of bread, exclusively for the Liturgy. All the loaves are circular to represent the infinite nature of God, having no beginning nor end. Each loaf is stamped with a special insignia that says, "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal". During the liturgy, the priest examines the batch and chooses those with the fewest imperfections to become the Body of Christ. This is to remind us that Christ is the "spotless Lamb of God".
The best of the batch are set aside for presentment for Holy Communion, while the remainder are divided and distributed to the congregation after Liturgy is over.
Q: Can I take and eat a piece of blessing bread?
A: Yes! Blessing bread is for everyone, including those who are not Coptic Orthodox or even Christian.
John 11:25-26, NKJV
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4628
Warren, NJ
07059
