Father Ignatius Valentine, our pastor

Home

Welcome to our parish Web site. We are a growing mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Read our news and enjoy some spiritual readings compiled by the members of St. Raphael Orthodox Church, in Iowa City, Iowa. Thank you for stopping by!

From the Weekly Bulletin (Week of 5/4/2008)

Paschal Season Fasting

By Antiochian custom, the Wednesday and Friday fast is optional from Pascha until Ascension, June 5. 

Food For Hungry People Boxes

Please bring your Food for Hungry People Collection Boxes back to church as soon as possible.  We will send the money into the Archdiocese so that it can benefit those in need.

May/June Calendars Available

The St. Raphael calendars for May and June are now available to be picked up at church.

Easter Egg Hunt Baskets

Thank you to Kristi Abuissa for organizing the Easter Egg hunt at our Pascha picnic last Sunday and to Thomas and Andy Awad and others for hiding the eggs.  Kristi asks that if you will not be needing the baskets that the children received, she would like them to be returned to her at church so that she can re-use them again next year.

Two Parish Council Positions to Fill

Our Parish Council Vice-Chair Hanin Kastoun will be moving away next month.  We will be very sad to see him and his family go.  His position on the Council will need to be filled, along with an additional position that was created with the passage and approval of our parish constitution revisions.  The Parish Council will elect the replacement for Hanin; and the voting membership, at a special voters’ meeting, will elect a candidate for the new position.  The replacement for Hanin will serve the rest of his term, 1 1/2 years, and the other position is for a three-year term.  The elections will likely be held in June.  If you would like to be considered to serve on the parish council, please see Fr. Ignatius or our Council chairperson Karen Kuntz.

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found area has gotten more full lately with various items left behind at church and unclaimed.  Please take a look and see if anything there is yours.

Fr. Ignatius Will be Traveling

Due to a deanery meeting in Madison, WI, Fr. Ignatius will be out of town from the afternoon of Wednesday May 7 through Friday May 9.  He will hold no office hours on Wednesday or Thursday.  If you need to reach him during this time, please try his cell phone, 400-7522.  Fr. Elias can also be contacted at 319-329-2562.

A Need for a Bicycle

There is a person in Iowa City who is in some financial need who could greatly benefit from the gift of a bicycle in good condition. If you can help with this need, or with providing a water filter pitcher (another request) to this same individual, please contact Fr. Ignatius.

Parish Council Meeting

The May Parish Council Meeting is Monday May 12 at 7PM.  All of our Council meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend.

Do You Have a Prayer Request?

Please give it to Fr. Ignatius and he will distribute it by email to all those on the Prayer Chain.

Holy Bread and Coffee Hour

On Sunday May 11, the holy bread will be provided by the Branch/Peterson family.  The food for coffee hour will be brought by the Wiblin/Kuntz family.  Thank you in advance.  Anybody who would like to host the coffee hour or bake the holy bread can sign up at church to do so.

Last Update: 05/05 at 01:10 PM  

Food for Thought (5/4)

Today is the springtime of our souls; for Christ, Who on the third day shone forth from the grave like the sun, hath dispelled the dark winter of our sin.  Let us praise Him, for He hath been glorified.

Troparion from the Matins Canon of Thomas Sunday

Last Update: 05/05 at 01:11 PM