Read our current and archived weekly bulletins. Learn about upcoming events and keep up-to-date with our parish news.
|
posted Mar 8, 2010 2:28 PM by ilya buchkin
A Word Regarding Confession-
Lent, being a
time of self-reflection and repentance, is the perfect time to schedule
your confession. If it has been awhile since your last confession, take
advantage of this season of the Church, and benefit from the healing
that making a confession brings. Father is available to hear your
confession after most services or by appointment.
Thank You-
Thank you to Kristi Abuissa for sewing two new
analogia (icon stand) coverings in purple for the Lenten season. They
look great!
Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule-
On
Sunday evenings during Lent, our church comes together with St. John
the Baptist Church and St. George Church of Cedar Rapids to worship and
pray at vespers. Following is the schedule of rotation. Please
consider traveling to Cedar Rapids at least once or twice to share in
prayer with our fellow Orthodox Christians there, and please welcome
them when they come to Iowa City on the evenings we are hosting them.
March 14- St. George Church, 5:30PM
March 21- St. Raphael Church,
5:30PM
Feast of Annunciation Liturgy-
A change has been made to the schedule of services on March
24 and 25. Please disregard what is printed on the St. Raphael March
calendar for these days. Instead, we will celebrate a Vesperal Liturgy
for the feast of the Annunciation on Wednesday, March 24 at 6PM. This
will replace the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. There will be no service on
Thursday, March 25.
Food for Hungry People Lenten Collection- Each
Lent, our Archdiocese launches the Food For Hungry People campaign. The
money collected is sent in to the Archdiocese and distributed to many
organizations who work to relieve hunger. The FFHP collection boxes are
now available at church to pick up. Filling them up with your loose
change during Lent is an easy way to help our Archdiocese minister to
the needs of those who do not have enough to eat. For our children,
there are calendars in the narthex that give fun suggestions for how to
give to this campaign. "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and He will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17
Prayer at Abortion Clinic- Fr. Ignatius will be
on the sidewalk in front of the Emma Goldman Abortion Clinic (227 N.
Dubuque St.) at 10AM on March 13 and 20. On behalf of all of those who
have participated in abortion and for the victims of abortion, he will
be praying the Akathist for Repentance of One Who Has Aborted a Child
and the Supplicatory Service for the Victims of Abortion. This is a
time of prayer, not a protest. All are welcome to come.
"Joy" Orthodox Children's Magazine- From the
Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran in the Middle East, comes the brand new
English magazine titled "Joy" for children ages 7-13. The first issue,
in full color and about 40 pages, is now available. To subscribe, send
an email to bp.saba@yahoo.com.
"Theosis: The True Purpose of Life" Booklet-
If you are interested in the teaching of theosis,
one of the primary ways the Orthodox Church looks at salvation, then Fr.
Ignatius encourages you to download and read the free booklet,
"Theosis: The True Purpose of Life" by Archimandrite George of St.
Gregorios Monastery on Mount Athos. It is available in English and nine
other languages here http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/theosis.aspx
Letter from Metropolitan PHILIP Recognizing March as Women's
Month-
"Beloved Hierarchs, Clergy and Faithful of our
Archdiocese,
Greetings and blessings in the spirit of Great Lent which is
leading us to the glorious Pascha.
The month of March is designated as Women's Month in our
Archdiocese. Since its inception in 1973, the Antiochian Orthodox
Christian Women of North America have raised over two million, three
hundred thousand dollars toward funding and support of many of our
projects, such as Antiochian Village, Married Seminarians, Project
Orphanages and the Katherine Ajar Endowment Fund, Retired Clergy Housing
Fund, Children With Special Needs and many others. Through their hard
work, dedication and commitment, they have continued to find many ways
to strengthen their ministry in the Orthodox Church....
'Project 2010- The Convent of St. Thekla at the Antiochian Village'
is an exciting endeavor which deserves our undivided attention. At the
Convent, a nun's life is one that will maintain a monastic prayer life,
a presence not only to the many ministries at Antiochian Village but
also to the local church communities. The obedience of a nun is that of
'Hospitality'. The future of the Convent is bright as Mother Alexandra
has been appointed as Acting Abbess of the Convent of St. Thekla. We
are truly blessed to have her. The Convent will be a wonderful addition
to the many ministries at Antiochian Village. In order to see this
project to fruition, please support this worthwhile cause so that all of
our lives may be enriched by the presence of Mother Alexandra, the
Convent of St. Thekla, the teachings of Christ and all the future holds
with this wonderful endeavor.
May this Great Lent bring to all of us a great measure of spiritual
renewal.
Your Father in Chrst,
+ Metropolitan PHILIP"
Holy Week Schedule-
Believe it or not, it's not too early to begin thinking of
Holy Week. Palm Sunday is just three weeks away! Please plan now to be
at as many services as is practical for you. This is the most special
time of the Church Year! Here is our schedule:
Friday March 26- Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus, 7PM
Lazarus Saturday, March 27- Matins, 8:30AM; Liturgy, 10AM; Vespers,
6PM
Palm Sunday, March 28- Matins, 8:30AM; Liturgy, 10AM; Bridegroom
Matins, 7PM
Holy Monday, March 29- Bridegroom Matins, 7PM
Holy Tuesday, March 30- Bridegroom Matins, 7PM
Holy Wednesday, March 31- Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 9AM; Holy Unction
Service, 7PM
Holy Thursday, April 1- Vesperal Liturgy, 9AM; 12 Gospels Service,
7PM
Holy Friday, April 2- Royal Hours, 9AM; Vespers, 3PM; Lamentations
Service, 7PM followed by Psalm reading through night
Holy Saturday, April 3- Vesperal Liturgy, 9AM; Rush Service,
11:40PM
Great and Holy Pascha, April 4- Paschal Matins and Liturgy, 12AM,
followed by Paschal feast at church; Agape Vespers, 1PM, followed by
Paschal picnic
There are numerous sign-up sheets posted at church related to Holy
Week activities and services. These include a sign-up for the Holy
Friday Funeral Bier decoration sign-up, Holy Friday Psalm-reading Vigil
sign-up, Paschal Red Egg sign-up, Paschal feast and Paschal picinic food
sign-ups, and Agape Vespers Gospel reading sign-up. In addition to
these opportunities to serve the church and become involved, we also
need choir members and altar servers at the extra services.
Spring/Pre-Pascha Church Clean-up Day-
Please mark your calendars. On Lazarus Saturday
afternoon, March 27, from 1PM-5PM, we need volunteers to come and help
clean the church building, in anticipation of Holy Week and Pascha.
Window cleaning, dusting, floor cleaning, bathroom cleaning, metal
polishing and other chores need to be done. Please consider giveing of
your time for a few hours on this day to help keep our church looking
tidy and beautiful.
Thoughts on Stewardship-
Luke 21: 1-4 …
“And Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the
treasury, and he saw a certain poor widow put in more than all of them;
for they all put their surplus into the offering; but she out of her
poverty put in all that she had to live on.”
Ask yourself the following- "What does this message from
God require from me, His loyal servant?” What must I change in my life
to be able to follow this teaching in both word and in deed?”
A Holy and Wise Riddle-
There is a sign
above the entrance of a Monastery on Mount Athos that reads: "If you die before you die, then when
you die, you will not die." Think about it a bit. Hint- consider its
meaning in light of today's Gospel reading (Mark 8:34-9:1 and also John
12:24)
Lenten Recipe-
Betsy's Lentil and Couscous Curry from
VegWeb
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried red lentils
1 cup uncooked couscous
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped or crushed
chopped fresh vegetables (peppers, zuchini, carrots, etc.)
2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
2 cups vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Saute' onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric and coriander in 2 T of
vegetable broth for about 3 minutes.
Add chopped vegetables. Cook for about 6-8 minutes or until
vegetables are somewhat tender but not completely cooked.
Add lentils and rest of vegetable broth, bring to boil. Bring down
heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until curry thickens and
lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Add water if necessary.
Cook couscous according to package instructions and serve with
curried lentils/vegetables. Salt and pepper to taste.
Serves 4-6.
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, March
14, Meghan Gilpin and Tony Carter will provide the holy bread. Thank
you in advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign
up to do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by the St. Raphael
team.
Choir Leadership-
On Saturday, March 13, Amy
Jongeling will direct the choir for Vespers. We need a volunteer to
direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, March 14.
Food For Thought-
O Almighty Lord, who hast made all created
things in wisdom, and by Thine inexpressible providence and great
goodness hast brought us to these all-holy days, for the purification of
body and soul, for the controlling of carnal passions, and for the hope
of the Resurrection; who, during the forty days didst give into the
hands of thy servant Moses the tablets of the Law in characters divinely
traced by Thee; enable us also, O Good One, to fight the good fight; to
accomplish the course of the Fast; to preserve inviolate the Faith; to
crush under foot the heads of invisible serpents; to be accounted
victors over sin; and uncondemned, to attain unto and adore Thy Holy
Resurrection. For blessed and glorified is Thine all-honorable and
majestic Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer Behind the Ambon of the Pre-Sanctified
Liturgy |
posted Mar 1, 2010 9:19 AM by ilya buchkin
March-April Calendars Available-
The calendar covering services and other events at St. Raphael Church for March and April is now available at church.
A Word Regarding Confession-
Lent, being a time of self-reflection and
repentance, is the perfect time to schedule your confession. If it has
been awhile since your last confession, take advantage of this season
of the Church, and benefit from the healing that making a confession
brings. Father is available to hear your confession after most
services or by appointment.
Lenten Wednesday Pre-Sanctified Liturgies-
Please join us for the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified
Gifts at 6PM on Wednesdays during Lent. Fr. Ignatius is giving a
sermon series entitled: The Wonder of God: Miracles in the Liturgy, which
will focus on several stories of supernatural manifestations that have
taken place in the Divine Liturgy of the Church as found in the book
"Experiences During the Divine Liturgy" written by Fr. Stephanos
Anagnostopoulos. Following the Pre-Sanctified Liturgies, we will
gather for a simple lenten soup supper. We need volunteer familes to
sign up to bring soup each week. A sign-up sheet is posted at church.
Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule-
On Sunday evenings during Lent, our church comes
together with St. John the Baptist Church and St. George Church of
Cedar Rapids to worship and pray at vespers. Following is the schedule
of rotation. Please consider traveling to Cedar Rapids at least once
or twice to share in prayer with our fellow Orthodox Christians there,
and please welcome them when they come to Iowa City on the evenings we
are hosting them.
March 7- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
March 14- St. George Church, 5:30PM
March 21- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
We will provide lenten food, potluck style, on the Sunday
evenings that we are hosting. A sign-up sheet is posted in church.
Please sign-up now to bring food on these two Sunday evenings.
Congratulations!-
We rejoice with St. Raphael member Bogdana Rus and
her husband Florin at the birth of their first child, daughter Lorena
Maria born February 22. Both mother and child are doing well. May God
grant Lorena many years!
Food for Hungry People Lenten Collection-
Each Lent, our Archdiocese launches the Food For
Hungry People campaign. The money collected is sent in to the
Archdiocese and distributed to many organizations who work to relieve
hunger. The FFHP collection boxes are now available at church to pick
up. Filling them up with your loose change during Lent is an easy way
to help our Archdiocese minister to the needs of those who do not have
enough to eat. For our children, there are calendars in the narthex
that give fun suggestions for how to give to this campaign. "He who is
kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he
has done." Proverbs 19:17
Prayer at Abortion Clinic-
Fr. Ignatius will be on the sidewalk in front of
the Emma Goldman Abortion Clinic on Saturdays at 10AM during Lent on
March 6, 13, and 20. On behalf of all of those who have participated
in abortion and for the victims of abortion, he will be praying the
Akathist for Repentance of One Who Has Aborted a Child and
the Supplicatory Service for the Victims of Abortion. This is a time
of prayer, not a protest. All are welcome to come.
Free Lunch Program Volunteering-
We are scheduled to provide 3-4 volunteers to help
at the Free Lunch Program on Tuesday, March 2 from 11:30AM-1:30PM.
Please contact Fr. Ignatius if you can help.
Orthodox Spirituality Symposium-
If you want to hear some great speakers who will touch on
important theological and historical topics of our faith, and you are
not opposed to a little travel, go to www.spiritualitysymposium.com to learn more about an interesting symposium in St. Paul, MN on Saturday, March 6.
"Joy" Orthodox Children's Magazine-
From the Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran in the Middle
East, comes the brand new English magazine titled "Joy" for children
ages 7-13. The first issue, in full color and about 40 pages, is now
available. To subscribe, send an email to bp.saba@yahoo.com.
Thoughts on Stewardship-
Matthew 6: 19-21 … “Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where
thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not
break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also.”
Ask yourself the following- "What does this message from God require from me, His loyal servant?” What must I change in my life to be able to follow this teaching in both word and in deed?”
Lenten Recipe-
Best Vegan Mac and Cheese in the Entire World...Seriously (from Vegweb.com, thanks to Lindsey Mabe)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plain soy milk
1 cup water
1/3 cup of tamari or soy sauce
1 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast
1 T paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 T garlic powder
1 T Vegesal or salt
1/4 block of firm (not silken) tofu
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 1/2 lbs. of pasta of your choice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare pasta according to
directions. All "cheese" ingredients go into a blender to mix. Drain
pasta and pour into a casserole dish, then pour "cheese" sauce on top.
Mix poasta in to coat.
Bake for about 15 minutes, stirring 2-3 times during baking time
to recoat pasta. Season to taste with pepper, tomato paste, etc.
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, March
7, the Van Dinter family will provide the holy bread. Thank you in
advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up to
do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by the St. Nicholas team.
Choir Leadership-
On Saturday, March 6,
Kristi Abuissa will direct the choir for Vespers. She will also
direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, March 7.
Food For Thought-
As we start upon the third week of the Fast, O ye faithful, let
us glorify the Holy Trinity, and joyfully pass through the time that
still remains. Causing passions fo the flesh to wither from our souls,
let us gather divine flowers, weaving garlands for the queen of days
[Pascha] that with crowns upon our heads we may sing in praise of
Christ the Victor.
Stichera from Sunday Vespers of the third week of Lent |
posted Feb 22, 2010 3:27 AM by Saint Raphael of Brooklyn Antiochian Orthodox Church
March-April Calendars Available-
The calendar covering services and other events at St. Raphael Church for March and April is now available at church.
A Word Regarding Confession-
Lent, being a time of self-reflection and
repentance, is the perfect time to schedule your confession. If it has
been awhile since your last confession, take advantage of this season
of the Church, and benefit from the healing that making a confession
brings. Father is available to hear your confession after most
services or by appointment.
Lenten Wednesday Pre-Sanctified Liturgies-
Please join us for the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified
Gifts at 6PM on Wednesdays during Lent. Fr. Ignatius is giving a
sermon series entitled: The Wonder of God: Miracles in the Liturgy,
which will focus on several stories of supernatural manifestations that
have taken place in the Divine Liturgy of the Church as found in the
book "Experiences During the Divine Liturgy" written by Fr. Stephanos
Anagnostopoulos. Following the Pre-Sanctified Liturgies, we will
gather for a simple lenten soup supper. We need volunteer familes to
sign up to bring soup each week. A sign-up sheet is posted at church.
Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule-
On Sunday evenings during Lent, our church comes
together with St. John the Baptist Church and St. George Church of
Cedar Rapids to worship and pray at vespers. Following is the schedule
of rotation. Please consider traveling to Cedar Rapids at least once
or twice to share in prayer with our fellow Orthodox Christians there,
and please welcome them when they come to Iowa City on the evenings we
are hosting them.
Febraury 28- St. John the Baptist Church, 5:30PM
March 7- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
March 14- St. George Church, 5:30PM
March 21- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
We will provide lenten food, potluck style, on the Sunday
evenings that we are hosting. A sign-up sheet is posted in church.
Please sign-up now to bring food on these two Sunday evenings.
Food for Hungry People Lenten Collection-
Each Lent, our Archdiocese launches the Food For
Hungry People campaign. The money collected is sent in to the
Archdiocese and distributed to many organizations who work to relieve
hunger. The FFHP collection boxes are now available at church to pick
up. Filling them up with your loose change during Lent is an easy way
to help our Archdiocese minister to the needs of those who do not have
enough to eat. For our children, there are calendars in the narthex
that give fun suggestions for how to give to this campaign. "He who is
kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he
has done." Proverbs 19:17
Prayer at Abortion Clinic-
Fr. Ignatius will be on the sidewalk in front of
the Emma Goldman Abortion Clinic on Saturdays at 10AM during Lent on
March 6, 13, and 20, and not beginning on Saturday, February 27, as printed in the Febraury calendar.
On behalf of all of those who have participated in abortion and for the
victims of abortion, he will be praying the Akathist for Repentance of
One Who Has Aborted a Child and the Supplicatory Service for the
Victims of Abortion. This is a time of prayer, not a protest. All are
welcome to come.
Shelter House Used Book Sale-
On Saturday, February 27, 10AM-3PM, the 11th
Annual Shelter House Used Book Sale will be held at Hope United
Methodist Church (2929 E. Court St., Iowa City.) This sale benefits
the Iowa City Shelter House, a shelter for the homeless.
Just War- Holy War: The Roots of Conflict between Islam and the Christian West-
On Saturday, February 27, St. Paul's
Lutheran Chapel (404 E. Jefferson St., Iowa City) is hosting Rev. Dr.
Martin Conkling as he speaks on the idea of holy war, and the
historical conflicts between Islam and Christianity. The first session
will be from 9:15AM-11:30AM with a break for lunch. Session two will
begin at 1:30PM and end at 3:00PM.
Letter From SCOBA Bishops on Church Unity-
Free Lunch Program Volunteering-
We are scheduled to provide 3-4 volunteers to help
at the Free Lunch Program on Tuesday, March 2 from 11:30AM-1:30PM.
Please contact Fr. Ignatius if you can help.
Help Make a Difference This Lent-
St. Gregory the Theologian said, "Give something,
however small, to the one in need, for it is not small to one who has
nothing; neither is it small to God if we have given what we could."
Project Mexico/St. Innocent Orphanage provides much needed homes for
Mexican families and teenage boys. They are in need of your prayers
and financial support to do their good work. For more information, go
to: www.projectmexico.org
February Parish Council Meeting Minutes Attached-
The minutes from the February 2010 Parish Council meeting are attached for your information.
Thoughts on Stewardship-
Luke 8: 14 … “And as for what fell among
thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way are choked
by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not
mature.”
Ask yourself the following- "What does this message from God require from me, His loyal servant?” What must I change in my life to be able to follow this teaching in both word and in deed?”
Lenten Recipe-
Ingredients:
1 cup soy milk
1 tbsp distilled white vinegar
2 tbsp water + 2 tsp baking powder (mix this together, this serves as an egg replacer)
2 1/4 cups wheat flour (or your flour of choice)
1 1/4 cups brown sugar (you can also try palm sugar)
3 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger (or freshly grated ginger)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp baking powder (yes, more baking powder)
What to do:
Mix the flour, sugar, and 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon,
ginger, salt, and oil. Transfer 1 1/4 cups of this into a small bowl
and add the rest of the cinnamon to the small bowl. You may also want
to add more sugar if you have a sweet tooth like me.
To the remaining flour mixture add the dry baking powder. Mix
together the soy milk, vinegar, and water + baking powder mixture, and
then add to the flour mixture. If, when everything is mixed together,
it is soupy, add some of the flour mixture you put aside. This should
have the consistency of a cake batter, not soup!
Spread the batter in a 9 x 13 baking dish and sprinkle with the
remaining flour mixture, if your batter is too soupy the topping will
sink in (you may want to add more sugar and spices such as cardamom to
the topping mixture, you want enough topping to cover the entire cake)
Bake at 350 Fahrenheit or 150 C for 30- 35 minutes.
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, February
28, the Abuissa family will provide the holy bread. Thank you in
advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up to
do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by the St. John the
Baptist team.
Choir Leadership-
We need a volunteer on
Saturday, February 27 to direct the choir for Vespers. Lori Branch
will direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, February 28.
Food For Thought-
While fasting with the body, brethren, let us also fast in
spirit. Let us loose every bond of iniquity; let us undo the knots of
every contract made by violence; let us tear up all unjust agreements;
let us give bread to the hungry and welcome to our house the poor who
have no roof to cover them, that we may receive great mercy from Christ
our God.
Stichera from Vespers of Wednesday of the First Week of Lent |
posted Feb 14, 2010 7:42 PM by ilya buchkin
Lent is Here-
Monday February 15 marks the beginning of Lent
this year. There is a service every evening this week. Coming to at
least a few of these, may help you to get into the correct frame of
mind to continue on with the Lenten journey toward Pascha. If you have
any questions or concerns about fasting, please speak with Fr.
Ignatius. Most importanly, may we all be encouraged and strengthened
to fast from sin.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event Summary-
We had a successful and enjoyable evening with two
wonderful choir performances and lots of delicious food. Dozens of
people worked very hard to pull this off. Thank you especially to
Kristi Abuissa, our event chair, for organizing us and for doing so
much behind the scenes. Thank you to all who provided food, who
staffed the event in various ways, who sang in our choir, who donated
items for the silent auction, who set up for the event and who stayed
after to clean up. We will do it again next year.
Lenten Wednesday Pre-Sanctified Liturgies-
Please join us for the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified
Gifts at 6PM on Wednesdays during Lent beginning February 17. Fr.
Ignatius will be giving a sermon series entitled: The Wonder of God: Miracles in the Liturgy
which will focus on several stories of supernatural manifestations that
have taken place in the Divine Liturgy of the Church as found in the
book "Experiences During the Divine Liturgy" written by Fr. Stephanos
Anagnostopoulos. Following the Pre-Sanctified Liturgies, we will
gather for a simple lenten soup supper. We need volunteer familes to
sign up to bring soup each week. A sign-up sheet is posted at church.
Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule-
On Sunday evenings during Lent, our church comes
together with St. John the Baptist Church and St. George Church of
Cedar Rapids to worship and pray at vespers. Following is the schedule
of rotation. Please consider traveling to Cedar Rapids at least once
or twice to share in prayer with our fellow Orthodox Christians there,
and please welcome them when they come to Iowa City on the evenings we
are hosting them. Attached is a flier with the entire schedule.
Febraury 21- St. George Church, 5:30PM
Febraury 28- St. John the Baptist Church, 5:30PM
March 7- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
March 14- St. George Church, 5:30PM
March 21- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
We will provide lenten food, potluck style, on the Sunday evenings that we are hosting. A sign-up sheet is posted in church.
Food for Hungry People Lenten Collection-
Each Lent, our Archdiocese launches the Food For
Hungry People campaign. The money collected is sent in to the
Archdiocese and distributed to many organizations who work to relieve
hunger. The FFHP collection boxes are now available at church to pick
up. Filling them up with your loose change during Lent is an easy way
to help our Archdiocese minister to the needs of those who do not have
enough to eat. For our children, there are calendars in the narthex
that give fun suggestions for how to give to this campaign. "He who is
kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he
has done." Proverbs 19:17
Prayer at Abortion Clinic-
Fr. Ignatius will be on the sidewalk in front of
the Emma Goldman Abortion Clinic on Saturdays at 10AM during Lent on
March 6, 13, and 20. On behalf of all of those who have participated
in abortion and for the victims of abortion, he will be praying the
Akathist for Repentance of One Who Has Aborted a Child and
the Supplicatory Service for the Victims of Abortion. This is a time
of prayer, not a protest. All are welcome to come.
Shelter House Used Book Sale-
On Saturday, February 27, 10AM-3PM, the 11th
Annual Shelter House Used Book Sale will be held at Hope United
Methodist Church (2929 E. Court St., Iowa City.) This sale benefits
the Iowa City Shelter House, a shelter for the homeless.
Just War- Holy War: The Roots of Conflict between Islam and the Christian West-
On Saturday, February 27, St. Paul's
Lutheran Chapel (404 E. Jefferson St., Iowa City) is hosting Rev. Dr.
Martin Conkling as he speaks on the idea of holy war, and the
historical conflicts between Islam and Christianity. The first session
will be from 9:15AM-11:30AM with a break for lunch. Session two will
begin at 1:30PM and end at 3:00PM.
Free Lunch Program Volunteering-
We are scheduled to provide 3-4 volunteers to help
at the Free Lunch Program on Tuesday, March 2 from 11:30AM-1:30PM.
Please contact Fr. Ignatius if you can help.
Thoughts on Stewardship-
Psalm 24: 1-5 … “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its
fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it
upon the seas, And established it upon waters. Who may ascend into the
hill and of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has
clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an
idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Ask yourself the following- "What does this message from God require from me, His loyal servant?” What must I change in my life to be able to follow this teaching in both word and in deed?”
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, February
21, the Branch/Peterson family will provide the holy bread. Thank you
in advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up
to do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by the St. Raphael
team.
Choir Leadership-
On Saturday, February
20, Tania Van Dinter will direct the choir for Vespers. Tania will
also direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, February 14.
Food For Thought-
Lo! I forewarn, and testify, and proclaim this with a voice that
all may hear! “Let no one who has an enemy draw near the Sacred Table,
or receive the Lord's Body! Let no one who draws near have an enemy!
Have you an enemy! Draw not near! Will you draw near? Be reconciled,
and then draw near, and touch the Holy Things!” Nor, indeed, is this my
declaration. Rather it is that of the Lord Himself, Who was crucified
for us. That He might reconcile you to the Father. He refused not to be
sacrificed, and to shed His blood! And are you unwilling to utter a
word, or to make the first advance, that you may be reconciled to the
fellow-servant?
Hear what the Lord says, concerning those who are in this
disposition; “So if you are offering your gift at the Altar, and there
remember that your brother has something against you, go, first be
reconciled to your brother” (Mt. 5:23, 24).
O Transcendent wonder! Does He Himself account it no dishonor, that
the gift should be left un-offered, and do you think it a mark of
disgrace to go first and be reconciled? And how can such a case, I ask,
be deemed worthy of pardon? Were you to see a member of yours cut off,
would you not use every exertion so that it might be reunited to the
body? This do with regard to your brethren; when you see them cut off
from your friendship, make all haste to recover them! Do not wait for
them to make the first advance, but press onward, that you may be
foremost to receive the prize.
We are commanded to have only one enemy, the devil. With him be you
never reconciled! But with a brother, never be at enmity in your heart.
And if there should be any narrowness of soul, let it be only an
ephemeral thing, and never last beyond a day's space. For, “let not the
sun,” He says, “go down upon your anger” (Eph. 4:26). For when one day
is past, the shame becomes greater; and when the second has arrived, it
is still further increased; and if it reach a third, and a fourth day,
it will add a fifth. Thus the five become ten; the ten, twenty, and
twenty a hundred; and thenceforth the wound may become incurable; for
as time goes on, the breach becomes wider.
Knowing all these things then, make the first advance to a brother;
lay hold of him before he has entirely shrunk away from you; and should
it be necessary to run through all the city on the same day; should it
be necessary to go beyond the walls, or to take a long journey; still
leaving all other things that may be in hand, attend only to this one
work of reconciling your brother. For if the work be laborious, reflect
that it is for God's sake you undergo all this, and you shall receive
sufficient consolation. God bids us to do all these things, and all
things should be secondary to His commands. Let us not neglect it. Let
our enemy too understand that we have taken much pains, in order to do
what is well-pleasing unto God. And though he may again insult, or
strike us, or do any other such thing of a still more grievous kind,
let us sustain all things courageously, since we are not so much
benefiting him thereby, as ourselves. Of all good works, this shall
most especially befriend us on Judgment Day. We have sinned and
offended in many and great matters, and have provoked our Lord. Through
His loving-kindness He has given us this way of reconciliation. Let us,
then, not betray their good treasure. Through His great
loving-kindness, He has promised us a large and unspeakable reward, and
one which we must be especially desirous to obtain, the pardon of our
sins; thus also making this our obedience more easy of performance.
St. John Chrysostom, excerpted from "Fasting Alone Will Not Save Us" |
posted Feb 7, 2010 6:55 PM by ilya buchkin
Fasting-
We begin to take on the Lenten fast gradually this
week as the Church asks us to give up meat beginning Monday, February
8. Next week, we say goodbye to dairy, eggs, oil, and wine. As
always, we fast not in order to gain God's favor, but rather to quiet
our flesh, so that we can make progress in our spiritual lives. We
also do it to unite ourselves with the 250 million other Orthodox
Christians who are fasting along with us at this time of year.
Parish Council Meeting-
Our February Parish Council meeting is Monday, February 8 at 7PM. All are welcome to attend.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event is February 11-
The
Evening in the East is this Thursday! We depend upon our members to
get the word out by finding bulletin boards around town to post
posters, by giving postcards or by sending emails to friends and
family, etc. On our church website, we have a page devoted to the
event at http://www.straphaelorthodoxchurch.org/events/evening2010.
Extra posters and postcards advertising the event are available at
church to post or distribute. Tickets are now available. Advanced
purchase price is $20 for adults, $55 for families. Children under 3
are free.
House Blessings-
If you would like Fr. Ignatius to
come and bless your house before February 15, please contact him to
suggest a date/time.
Lenten Meal Exchange-
We are organizing a Lenten Meal Exchange
during the Lenten Fast from February 15 - April 3. Participating
families/individuals will swap meals weekly within a group of 3-4 other
families. Each family will prepare a large batch of one Lenten main
dish each week (no meat, fish, dairy or oil) to share with the others.
On Sundays, the meals will be brought to Liturgy to distribute to the
other families in the group, and everyone will leave with several
prepared meals for the week. Participation is encouraged even if you
are unable to take part for all of the 7 weeks. Please e-mail Julia
Buchkina ( julia.buchkina@gmail.com
) by Thursday, February 11 if you are interested in participating. Be
sure to include the number of people in your family, any food
allergies, and any dates you will not be able to participate. Families
will be divided into groups and provided with further details by e-mail
on Friday, February 12, in preparation for the first meal exchange on Sunday, February 14.
Souls' Saturday Liturgy-
On Saturday February 13 at 9AM, we will have a
Souls' Saturday Liturgy to remember all of our departed loved ones.
Please pass along lists names of the departed to Fr. Ignatius, so that
our brothers and sisters in Christ will be remembered at this Liturgy.
Summer Church Camping Scholarships Available-
The Antiochian Archdiocese has an excellent summer
camping program for children ages 9-17. One camp, Camp St. George
(Aug. 15-21 this year) is right in Iowa. Our parish receives
scholarship money to be given to families who may otherwise have
difficultiues in affording the cost of the camp. If you would like to
apply for scholarship money for your child to attend one of the
Archdiocese camps this summer, please let Fr. Ignatius know before
February 15.
First Week of Lent Service Schedule-
Lent begins
on the evening of February 14 with Forgiveness Vespers. This year, we
will be joining the faithful of St. John the Baptist Church in Cedar
Rapids (510 A Ave. NE) for a 6PM service at their church. Their
bishop, Bishop Demetrios will be with us that evening. Please take
advantage of the wonderful and rich inheritance of prayer and worship
that our Church offers to us, Her children. Fr. Ignatius encourages
you to make the time to attend at least one or two midweek services
during this week. Following, is the schedule for the whole first week
of Lent.
February 14- Forgiveness Vespers, 6PM at St. John the Baptist, Cedar Rapids
February 15- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 16- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 17- Presanctified Liturgy, 6PM
February 18- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 19- Compline with Akathist Hymn, 7PM
Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule-
On Sunday evenings during Lent, our church comes
together with St. John the Baptist Church and St. George Church of
Cedar Rapids to worship and pray at vespers. Following is the schedule
of rotation. Please consider traveling to Cedar Rapids at least once
or twice to share in prayer with our fellow Orthodox Christians there,
and please welcome them when they come to Iowa City on the evenings we
are hosting them.
February 14- St. John the Baptist Church, 6PM
Febraury 21- St. George Church, 5:30PM
Febraury 28- St. John the Baptist Church, 5:30PM
March 7- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
March 14- St. George Church, 5:30PM
March 21- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
Food for Hungry People Lenten Collection-
Be on the lookout for the Food for Hungry People
collection boxes at church. Filling them up with your loose change
during Lent is an easy way to help our Archdiocese minister to the
needs of those who do not have enough to eat.
Shelter House Used Book Sale-
On Saturday, February 27, 10AM-3PM, the 11th
Annual Shelter House Used Book Sale will be held at Hope United
Methodist Church (2929 E. Court St., Iowa City.) This sale benefits
the Iowa City Shelter House, a shelter for the homeless.
Just War- Holy War: The Roots of Conflict between Islam and the Christian West-
On Saturday, February 27, St. Paul's Lutheran
Chapel (404 E. Jefferson St., Iowa City) is hosting Rev. Dr. Martin
Conkling as he speaks on the idea of holy war, and the historical
conflicts between Islam and Christianity. The first session will be
from 9:15AM-11:30AM with a break for lunch. Session two will begin at
1:30PM and end at 3:00PM.
Thoughts on Stewardship-
1 Corinthians 16: 2 … “On the first day of every week, each
of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so
that contributions need not be made when I come.”
Ask yourself the following- "What does this message from God require from me, His loyal servant?” What must I change in my life to be able to follow this teaching in both word and in deed?”
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, February
14, Tania Van Dinter will provide the holy bread. Thank you in
advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up to
do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by the St. Raphael team.
Choir Leadership-
On Saturday, February 13,
Kristi Abuissa will direct the choir for Vespers. Kristi will also
direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, February 14.
Food For Thought-
Knowing the commandments of the Lord, let this be our way of
life: let us feed the hungry, let us give the thirsty drink, let us
clothe the naked, let us welcome strangers, let us visit those in
prison and the sick. Then the Judge of all the earth will say even to
us: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for
you."
Doxastikon of the Lity of Great Vespers of the Sunday of Last Judgement |
posted Feb 7, 2010 6:54 PM by ilya buchkin
Fr. Ignatius Will Be Out of Town-
From Tuesday, February 2 until Thursday, February
4, Fr. Ignatius will be out of town. He will not hold office hours
during this time and there will be no matins on Wednesday morning.
Choir Practice-
While the choir continues to practice after
Liturgy on most Sundays, there is another special practice this
Wednesday (Feb. 3) at 7PM to prepare the choir to sing Tariel Iberi's
music for choir and guitar which will be performed on Thursday,
February 11 at the Evening in the East fundraiser at Old Brick.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event is February 11-
The
Evening in the East is less than two weeks away! We depend upon our
members to get the word out by finding bulletin boards around town to
post posters, by giving postcards or by sending emails to friends and
family, etc. On our church website, we have a page devoted to the
event at http://www.straphaelorthodoxchurch.org/events/evening2010.
Extra posters and postcards advertising the event are available at
church to post or distribute. Tickets are now available. Advanced
purchase price is $20 for adults, $55 for families. Children under 3
are free.
Silent Auction Items-
The silent auction was a great success in last year's
event - almost all items donated for it were sold, contributing to the
event proceeds about $2000. We want to repeat the success this year.
Donations for the auction will be very appreciated. We want to offer
quality items that would be in spirit of this cultural event, and make
fine memories for people who buy them. If you want to discuss any item
you may donate for the auction, or have any questions regarding the
auction, please contact Ilya Buchkin ( ilya.buchkin@gmail.com), or Kristi Abuissa, or Fr.Ignatius.
If you have in mind a person or business who may want to donate
items for the auction, we have a letter of appeal that you can take to
them, or that we can send directly. Please speak to Ilya Buchkin to
arrange that.
Basement Area Reserved for Auction Items To store
the auction items as they come in, we reserved a corner of our basement
room. Please do not let children into that area - for their safety. House Blessings-
If you would like Fr. Ignatius to come and bless your house
before February 15, please suggest a date and time on the sign-up sheet
posted at church, or contact Father directly to suggest a time.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple Vesperal Liturgy-
We
will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
with a Vesperal Liturgy at 6PM on Monday, February 1. Please join us.
Free Lunch Program Volunteering-
We are scheduled to volunteer at
the Free Lunch Program on Tuesday, February 2 from 11:30AM-1:30PM. We
need 3-4 volunteers to help out. Please let Fr. Ignatius know if you
can volunteer this month.
Souls' Saturday Liturgy-
On Saturday February 13 at 9AM, we will have a
Souls' Saturday Liturgy to remember all of our departed loved ones.
Please pass along lists names of the departed to Fr. Ignatius, so that
our brothers and sisters in Christ will be remembered at this Liturgy.
Roundtable Discussion with Mission Priests Article-
Recently, Fr. Ignatius and other priests of
missions in the Antiochian Archdiocese were asked a few questions
relating to the beginning and continuing of the missions they serve.
You can find the article here. http://www.antiochian.org/node/22158
Summer Church Camping Scholarships Available-
The Antiochian Archdiocese has an excellent summer
camping program for children ages 9-17. One camp, Camp St. George
(Aug. 15-21 this year) is right in Iowa. Our parish receives
scholarship money to be given to families who may otherwise have
difficultiues in affording the cost of the camp. If you would like to
apply for scholarship money for your child to attend one of the
Archdiocese camps this summer, please let Fr. Ignatius know before
February 15.
First Week of Lent Service Schedule-
Lent begins
on the evening of February 14 with Forgiveness Vespers. This year, we
will be joining the faithful of St. John the Baptist Church in Cedar
Rapids (510 A Ave. NE) for a 6PM service at their church. Their
bishop, Bishop Demetrios will be with us that evening. Please take
advantage of the wonderful and rich inheritance of prayer and worship
that our Church offers to us, Her children. Fr. Ignatius encourages
you to make the time to attend at least one or two midweek services
during this week. Following, is the schedule for the whole first week
of Lent.
February 14- Forgiveness Vespers, 6PM at St. John the Baptist, Cedar Rapids
February 15- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 16- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 17- Presanctified Liturgy, 6PM
February 18- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 19- Compline with Akathist Hymn, 7PM
Pan-Orthodox Vespers Schedule-
On Sunday evenings during Lent, our church comes
together with St. John the Baptist Church and St. George Church of
Cedar Rapids to worship and pray at vespers. Following is the schedule
of rotation. Please consider traveling to Cedar Rapids at least once
or twice to share in prayer with our fellow Orthodox Christians in
Cedar Rapids, and please welcome them when they come to Iowa City on
the evenings we are hosting them. Attached is a flier with the entire
schedule.
February 14- St. John the Baptist Church, 6PM
Febraury 21- St. George Church, 5:30PM
Febraury 28- St. John the Baptist Church, 5:30PM
March 7- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
March 14- St. George Church, 5:30PM
March 21- St. Raphael Church, 5:30PM
Thoughts on Stewardship-
Stewardship is the Biblical teaching that we are
given many things by God and we are called to be wise stewards,
managing God's gifts to us so that they would benefit us and others.
Beginning today, in every emailed bulletin from St. Raphael this year,
you will find a brief scriptural passage or other teaching on
stewardship, and I will ask you the same two questions you see below.
Today's verse is:
Genesis 2: 15 … “The Lord God took the man and put him in the
garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” Ask yourself the following-
"What does this message from God require from me, His loyal servant?” What must I change in my life to be able to follow this teaching in both word and in deed?”
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, February
7, Meghan Gilpin and Tony Carter will provide the holy bread. Thank
you in advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign
up to do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by the St. Nicholas
team.
Choir Leadership-
On Saturday, February 6,
Amy Jongeling will direct the choir for Vespers. Lori Branch will
direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, February 7.
Food For Thought-
Your birds awaken me in the morning, and the
murmur of the lake lulls me to sleep in the evening. But it is not the
birds that awaken me, nor the lake that lulls me to sleep, but You, O
Lord, Master of the voice. You lend Your voice to the birds and the
midnight murmur to the lake. You have lent a voice to every throat,
and have put a story into every creature. I am surrounded by your
heralds, as a student by many teachers, and I listen to them tirelessly
from dawn until dusk. O Lor d, Master of the voice, speak more clearly through Your heralds!
The sun speaks to me about the radiance of Your countenance, and
the stars about the harmony of Your being. The sun speaks in one
language, and the stars speak in a different langauge, but all the
languages flow out of the same vocal cords. The vocal cords belong to
You, and You uttered the first sound that began to tremble in the
deafness and formlessness of nothingness, and it broke into countless
sounds and heralds, as a thundercloud breaks into rain drops. O Lor,
Master of the voice, speak more clearly through Your heralds!
One exclamation escaped the breast of the Bride of God when She
saw Your Son- a voice filled with love that could not be contained in
silence. And that exclamation echoed in the heart of Her Son, and this
echo- this response to the love of His Mother- the Holy Spirit has
spread with His powerful arms throughout the entire universe.
Therefore, all the universe is filled with Your heralds, O my Song and
my Love. O Lord, Master of the voice, speak more clearly through Your
heralds!
For this reason You also spoke in parables, O Son of God, and You
would explain things and events as stories about the Most High God.
You cured the sick with words and raised the dead with words, for You
recognized the mystery of love. And the mystery of love is a mystery
of words. Through all creatures, as through piercing and blaring
trumpets, words pour forth- and through words, the Love of Heaven. O
Lord, Master of the voice, teach me Your love through all Your heralds.
St. Nikolai Velimirovich, "Prayers by the Lake," XXVII |
posted Feb 7, 2010 6:53 PM by ilya buchkin
Potluck Next Sunday-
Next Sunday is the fifth
Sunday of the month and according to our plan of rotation for providing
food during coffee hour, all members are encouraged to participate in a
parish-wide potluck. A sign-up is posted at church.
No Fasting this Week-
Believe it or not, Lent is
right around the corner beginning February 15. In consideration of the
upcoming Lenten fast, the Church gives us a respite from fasting on
Wednesday and Friday this week.
Thank You-
Thank you to the many people who volunteered to
help with our week of staffing the Overflow Homeless Shelter. It took
many willing people to lend their time and energy for this. A big
thanks especially to Amy Jongeling, who coordinated everything and
encourgaed us to get involved. If the need is still there next year,
let's plan to do this again.
Choir Practices-
While the choir continues to practice after
Liturgy on most Sundays, there are two upcoming special practices this
Wednesday (Jan. 27) and next Wednesday (Feb. 3) at 7PM. These
practices have the purpose of preparing the choir to sing Tariel
Iberi's music for choir and guitar which will be performed on Thursday,
February 11 at the Evening in the East fundraiser at Old Brick.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event is February 11-
The
Evening in the East is less than three weeks away! We depend upon our
members to get the word out by finding bulletin boards around town to
post posters, by giving postcards or by sending emails to friends and
family, etc. On our church website, we have a page devoted to the
event at http://www.straphaelorthodoxchurch.org/events/evening2010.
Extra posters and postcards advertising the event are available at
church to post or distribute. Tickets are now available. Advanced
purchase price is $20 for adults, $55 for families. Children under 3
are free.
Silent Auction Items- The silent auction was
a great success in last year's event - almost all items donated for it
were sold, contributing to the event proceeds about $2000. We want to
repeat the success this year. Donations for the auction will be very
appreciated. We want to offer quality items that would be in spirit of
this cultural event, and make fine memories for people who buy them. If
you want to discuss any item you may donate for the auction, or have
any questions regarding the auction, please contact Ilya Buchkin ( ilya.buchkin@gmail.com), or Kristi Abuissa, or Fr.Ignatius.
If you have in mind a person or business who may want to donate
items for the auction, we have a letter of appeal that you can take to
them, or that we can send directly. Please speak to Ilya Buchkin to
arrange that.
Basement Area Reserved for Auction Items To store
the auction items as they come in, we reserved a corner of our basement
room. Please do not let children into that area - for their safety. House Blessings-
Because
Lent is early this year, the time to schedule House Blessings is
relatively short. If you would like Fr. Ignatius to come and bless
your house before February 15, please suggest a date and time on the
sign-up sheet posted at church, or contact Father directly to suggest a
time.
Geneva Lecture Series-
If you are interested in
the intersection of science and faith, don't miss the upcoming Geneva
Lecture on “Modern Physics and Ancient Faith” given by
Dr. Stephen Barr, a physicist and astronomer at the University of
Delaware. This free talk will be on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30PM in
Lecture Room 1, Van Allen Hall on Iowa Ave. and Linn St. in Iowa City.
Dr. Barr will highlight eight important recent discoveries in the field
of physics and demonstrate how they support, rather than contradict a
traditional Judeo-Christian worldview.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple Vesperal Liturgy-
We
will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
with a Vesperal Liturgy at 6PM on Monday, February 1. Please join us.
Free Lunch Program Volunteering-
We are scheduled to volunteer at
the Free Lunch Program on Tuesday, February 2 from 11:30AM-1:30PM. We
need 3-4 volunteers to help out. Please let Fr. Ignatius know if you
can volunteer this month.
First Week of Lent Service Schedule- Lent begins
on the evening of February 14 with Forgiveness Vespers at 6PM. Please
take advantage of the wonderful and rich inheritance of prayer and
worship that our Church offers to Her children. Fr. Ignatius
encourages you to make the time to attend at least one or two midweek
services during this week. Following, is the schedule for the rest of
the week.
February 15- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM February 16- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM February 17- Presanctified Liturgy, 6PM February 18- Compline with Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7PM
February 19- Compline with Akathist Hymn, 7PM Parish Council Meeting Minutes Attached-
The December 2009 and January 2010 Parish Council meeting minutes are attached for your perusal.
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. If you wish to join the Prayer
Chain, please let Fr. Ignatius know. Holy Bread and Coffee Hour-
On Sunday, Jan. 31, Gabriela Muste will provide the holy bread.
Thank you in advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread
can sign up to do so. Food for coffee hour will be provided by all who
bring food to the potluck.
On Saturday, January
30, Tania Van Dinter will direct the choir for Vespers. Tania will
also direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, January 31.
Food For Thought-
O Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
the Only-begotten Son of the Father; Who took on our Human nature to
restore its sanctity. Do Thou the same Lord, enlighten Thy people here
present and throughout the world, with the knowledge that all life is a
sacred gift from Thee, from the instant of conception, to the last
breath. Dispel from our minds the subjective concept of quality of
life, and implant the objective truth of its preciousness. When we
consider abortion, remind us that Thou wast conceived and grew in Thy
mother's womb. When we consider euthanasia, call to mind the leper, the
paralytic, and Thy friend Lazarus, and how Thy greatness was revealed
through their suffering. When we consider the elderly, call to mind
Simeon and Anna the Prophetess who proclaimed Thee to the world before
the Forerunner and Thy grandparents Joachim and Anna, who bore and
reared Thy most pure mother, despite their advanced age, preparing her
to be Thy living Temple. When we consider, criminals to be executed,
call to mind not only the penitent Thief, but also that Thou wast
executed though beyond innocent. As at the tower of Babel, and in the
wilderness of Sinai, have we Thy people lost sight of Thy Truth, but
restore us in Thy mercy O Lord. Make us instruments of Thy Will, that
by loving example, we may lead our misguided brethren to Thee, unworthy
as we are. Dispel also from us, over zealousness and aggressive acts,
for Thou save us, not by summoning twelve legions of angels, but by
healing the ear of the chief priests servant and teaching and adjuring
the people in love, even from the Cross. Grant this, we entreat Thee, O
Thou lovest mankind, for Thou alone art the Creator and Master of all,
and to Thee do we ascribe glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father
and Thine All-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and
unto ages of ages. A men.
Prayer from the Supplication Service for the Sanctity of Life |
posted Jan 17, 2010 10:55 PM by ilya buchkin
No Matins or Office Hours Monday-
There will be no matins and Fr. Ignatius will not be on the office on Monday, January 18.
Three Ways to Help the People of Haiti-
1.
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is responding to the
humanitarian crisis caused by the devastating earthquake in Haiti last
week. They need funds donated to their International Emergency
Response Fund so that they can help the injured, the hungry, the
thirsty and the homeless in Haiti. Funds can be donated at www.iocc.org.
2. Another way IOCC helps to bring relief to victims of natural
disasters is to provide health-kits to people in need. Following are
IOCC's instructions for assembling and shipping health-kits.
- Buy a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure and fill it with the following items:
- One hand towel
- One washcloth
- One comb
- One metal nail file or nail clipper
- One bar of soap (bath size, new and wrapped in original packaging)
- One toothbrush (NO TOOTHPASTE)
- Six Band-Aids
- Secure the bag and pack it in a box. Secure the box with packing tape.
- Clearly mark the outside of the box with the type of kit ("Health Kit-IOCC") and number of kits that are enclosed. Apply the correct amount of postage and mail the box to the following address:
IOCC / Church World Service
Brethren Service Center Annex
601 Main St.
P.O. Box 188
New Windsor, Md. 21776-0188
Be sure to include the name of the parish, group or individual sending the kits on the box.
3.
Jared and Beth Johnson are collecting gently used shoes until Sunday,
January 24 for Soles4shoes, a charity with an office in Cedar Rapids.
This charity is currently collecting shoes to send into Haiti. If you
have shoes in good condition that you would like to see used by someone
who might desperately need them, please bring them to church next
Sunday and give them to the Johnsons.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event is February 11-
Please mark your calendars! On Thursday, February 11, we will have our 2nd Annual Evening in the East
fundraising event. This year, we are eager to welcome the Grinnell
Singers of Grinnell College, who will be performing Rachmaninov's
Vespers. Our own choir will also perform. There will be plenty of
good food, a silent auction and more. Please forward the poster on to anyone you think may be
interested in coming. On our church website, we have a page devoted to
the event at http://www.straphaelorthodoxchurch.org/events/evening2010. Extra posters and postcards advertising the event are available at church to post or distribute.
Silent Auction Items- The silent auction was a great success in
last year's event - almost all items donated for it were sold,
contributing to the event proceeds about $2000. We want to repeat the
success this year. Donations for the auction will be very appreciated.
We want to offer quality items that would be in spirit of this cultural
event, and make fine memories for people who buy them. If you want to
discuss any item you may donate for the auction, or have any questions
regarding the auction, please contact Ilya Buchkin ( ilya.buchkin@gmail.com), or Kristi Abuissa, or Fr.Ignatius.
If you have in mind a person or business who may want to donate
items for the auction, we have a letter of appeal that you can take to
them, or that we can send directly. Please speak to Ilya Buchkin to
arrange that.
Basement Area Reserved for Auction Items To store the
auction items as they come in, we reserved a corner of our basement
room. Please do not let children into that area - for their safety. January Parish Council Meeting-
Our January 2010 Parish Council Meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, January 18 at 7PM. All are welcome to attend.
Saturday Catechumen Class-
On
Saturdays from 4PM-5:30PM, we are having a
class for catechumens and others interested in learning the basics of
our Orthodox faith. We are watching a video series. There will be a total of about 12 sessions. If you
want to come but cannot make all of them, come to those you can.
Please let Fr. Ignatius know if you plan on attending.
House Blessings-
Because Lent is early this year,
the time to schedule House Blessings is relatively short. If you would
like Fr. Ignatius to come and bless your house before February 15,
please suggest a date and time on the sign-up sheet posted at church,
or contact Father directly to suggest a time.
Overflow Shelter Volunteering is this Week- A reminder to those
of you who signed up to volunteer in various ways as we help staff the
Overflow Shelter for the homeless- our week to volunteer is upon us. Amy Jongeling is our coordinator. Please contact her
if you have any questions.
Geneva Lecture Series-
If you are interested in
the intersection of science and faith, don't miss the upcoming Geneva
Lecture on “Modern Physics and Ancient Faith” given by Dr.
Stephen Barr, a physicist and astronomer at the University of
Delaware. This free talk will be on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30PM in
Lecture Room 1, Van Allen Hall on Iowa Ave. and Linn St. in Iowa City.
Dr. Barr will highlight eight important recent discoveries in the field
of physics and demonstrate how they support, rather than contradict a
traditional Judeo-Christian worldview. Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple Vesperal Liturgy-
We
will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
with a Vesperal Liturgy at 6PM on Monday, February 1. Please join us.
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour- On Sunday, Jan. 24,
the Chikhladze/Iberi family will provide the holy bread. Thank you in
advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up to
do so. The St. John the Baptist team will provide food for coffee hour. Choir Leadership-
On
Saturday, January 23, will direct the choir for
Vespers. will direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on
Sunday, January 24.
Food For Thought-
Sit
in the presence of the Lord every moment of your life, as you think of
Him and recollect Him in your heart. Otherwise, when you only see Him
after a period of time, you will lack freedom of converse with Him, out
of shame; for great freedom of converse is born out of constant
association with Him.
St. Isaac of Syria |
posted Jan 11, 2010 7:52 AM by ilya buchkin
Blessing of the Waters News Coverage-
We had a
wonderful turnout on Saturday for the Outdoor Blessing of the Waters
sponsored by the Iowa Orthodox Christian Clergy Association, especially
considering if was about five degrees below zero. The sun was
glistening off the water and ice, and a nearby group of bald eagles
added to the scenery. Following, is a link to local newspaper coverage
of the event. http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100110/NEWS01/1100317/1079
Winter Bible Study to Begin on Thursday Evenings in January-
Following
our Thursday Akathist service, we are meeting to study the 1st, 2nd and
3rd Epistles of John. Come out for Akathist at 7PM, and stay for about
an hour of discussion on these short little New Testament books. Bring your Bible.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event is February 11-
Please mark your calendars! On Thursday, February 11, we will have our 2nd Annual Evening in the East
fundraising event. This year, we are eager to welcome the Grinnell
Singers of Grinnell College, who will be performing Rachmaninov's
Vespers. Our own choir will also perform. There will be plenty of
good food, a silent auction and more. Attached is a poster advertising
the event. Please forward the poster on to anyone you think may be
interested in coming. On our church website, we have a page devoted to
the event at http://www.straphaelorthodoxchurch.org/events/evening2010
Silent Auction Items- The silent auction was a great success in last year's event - almost
all items donated for it were sold, contributing to the event proceeds
about $2000. We want to repeat the success this year. Donations for the
auction will be very appreciated. We want to offer quality items that
would be in spirit of this cultural event, and make fine memories for
people who buy them. If you want to discuss any item you may donate for
the auction, or have any questions regarding the auction, please
contact Ilya Buchkin ( ilya.buchkin@gmail.com), or Kristi Abuissa, or Fr.Ignatius.
January Parish Council Meeting-
Our January 2010 Parish Council Meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, January 18 at 7PM. All are welcome to attend. Catechumen Class to Begin-
On
Saturdays from 4PM-5:30PM, beginning January 16, we will be having a
class for catechumens and others interested in learning the basics of
our Orthodox faith. We will watch a video series and have time for a
brief discussion. There will be a total of about 12 sessions. If you
want to come but cannot make all of them, come to those you can.
Please let Fr. Ignatius know if you plan on attending.
House Blessings-
Because Lent is early this year,
the time to schedule House Blessings is relatively short. If you would
like Fr. Ignatius to come and bless your house before February 15,
please suggest a date and time on the sign-up sheet posted at church,
or contact Father directly to suggest a time.
Overflow Shelter Volunteering- A reminder to those
of you who signed up to volunteer in various ways as we help staff the
Overflow Shelter for the homeless- our week to volunteer is coming up,
January 17-23. Amy Jongeling is our coordinator. Please contact her
if you have any questions.
Geneva Lecture Series-
If you are interested in the intersection of science and faith, don't miss the upcoming Geneva Lecture on “Modern Physics and Ancient Faith” given
by Dr. Stephen Barr, a physicist and astronomer at the University of
Delaware. This free talk will be on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30PM in
Lecture Room 1, Van Allen Hall on Iowa Ave. and Linn St. in Iowa City.
Dr. Barr will highlight eight important recent discoveries in the field
of physics and demonstrate how they support, rather than contradict a
traditional Judeo-Christian worldview.
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour- On Sunday, Jan. 17,
the Valentine family will provide the holy bread. Thank you in
advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up to
do so. The St. Nina team will provide food for coffee hour. Choir Leadership-
On
Saturday, January 16, we need a volunteer to direct the choir for
Vespers. Lori Branch will direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on
Sunday, January
17.
Food For Thought-
For we have
often seen the sin of the fornicator, but his repentance, which he made
in secret, we did not see; we may have seen somebody steal, but we
nothing of the groaning and tears which he has offered to God. We
still think of him as we saw him, a thief, a fornicator or a perjurer,
but in the sight of God his secret repentance and confession have been
accepted, and in His eyes he is honorable.
St. John the Almsgiver |
posted Jan 10, 2010 9:49 PM by ilya buchkin
Free Lunch Program Volunteering-
St. Raphael Church
will volunteer at the Free Lunch Program from 11:30AM-1:30PM on
Tuesday, February 5. Please contact Fr. Ignatius if you can help out
this month.
Theophany Services-
We will remember the Baptism
of the Lord with Royal Hours at 9AM on Tuesday January 5 and Vesperal
Liturgy with a Blessing of the Waters at 6PM. If you have holy water
bottles at home and you would like them filled, bring them to Liturgy
on Tuesday or this coming Sunday.
Outdoor Blessing of the Waters is this Saturday-
St.
Raphael Church and the Iowa Orthodox Christian Clergy Association
(IOCCA) will host an Outdoor Blessing of the Waters Service as part of
our Theophany celebrations on Saturday, January 9 at 11AM. We are
pleased that we will be joined by His Grace Bishop Demetrios of the
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. We will gather on the pedestrian
bridge spanning the Iowa River which is next to the Iowa River Power
Restaurant and Flannigan's Bar & Grill on 1st Avenue in
Coralville. We will be joined by some of the faithful from St. George
Orthodox Church and St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, both of Cedar
Rapids. Those who want to, can share a lunch together afterward at
Flannigan's.
Winter Bible Study to Begin on Thursday Evenings in January-
Following
our Thursday Akathist service, and beginning at 8PM this Thursday,
January 7, a six-week Bible study will be offered on the 1st, 2nd and
3rd Epistles of John. Come out for Akathist at 7PM, and stay for about
an hour of discussion on these short little New Testament books.
Evening in the East Fundraising Event Date Confirmed-
Please mark your calendars! On Thursday, February 11, we will have our 2nd Annual Evening in the East
fundraising event. This year, we are eager to welcome the Grinnell
Singers of Grinnell College, who will be performing Rachmaninov's
Vespers. Our own choir will also perform. There will be plenty of
good food, a silent auction and more.
Thank You-
To all who have shovelled, plowed, scraped and salted our driveway, sidewalk and walkway in recent weeks, thank you. 2009 End of Year Giving Statements and 2010 Monthly Pledge Envelopes-
Our church treasurer, Tania Van Dinter has begun to pass
out monthly pledge envelopes to 2010 pledging members. If you didn't
receive yours yet, she will find you soon, or mail it to you. In
addition, Giving Summaries of donations received during 2009 are being
prepared and will be distributed shortly.
January Parish Council Meeting-
Our January 2010 Parish Council Meeting will be on Monday, January 11 at 7PM. All are welcome to attend. January-February Calendars Available-
Calendars
detailing events at St. Raphael Church for the next two months are now
printed and available to be picked up at church.
House Blessings-
The time for blessing homes is
just around the corner. Between Theophany (Jan. 6) and the beginning
of Lent (Feb. 21) Fr. Ignatius is available to come and bless your
home. A sign-up sheet is posted. Please begin to look at your
schedule and consider a time that works best for you.
Overflow Shelter Volunteering- During the cold
winter months, local churches and other organizations in Iowa City work
to provide an area where people who do not have a bed in the local
shelter, because of a lack of space, can find a warm place to sleep.
This winter, St. Patrick's Catholic Church has volunteered the use of
their parish hall for this purpose. St. Raphael Church has volunteered
to provide staffing for the week of January 17-23, 2010 for this
overflow shelter. We need volunteers that week (no training required)
to bring breakfast, clean up in the mornings, do laundry on Wednesday
and Sunday and serve as a morning or evening driver. The sign up sheet
will be posted on the bulletin board in the hall outside the fellowship
area. For further information, or to volunteer, please contact Amy
Jongeling at 319-331-2275 or ajongeli@gmail.com
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. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr.
Ignatius know.
Holy Bread and Coffee Hour- On Sunday, Jan. 10,
the Van Dinter family will provide the holy bread. Thank you in
advance. Anybody who would like to bake the holy bread can sign up to
do so. Choir Leadership-
On Saturday,
January 9, Amy Jongeling will direct the choir for Vespers. We need a
volunteer to direct the choir for matins and Liturgy on Sunday, January
10.
Food For Thought-
Wishing to save mankind gone astray, Thou hast not
disdained to clothe Thyself in the form of a servant. For it befitted
Thee, as Master and God, to take upon Thyself our nature for our
sakes. For Thou, O Deliverer, hast been baptized in the flesh, making
us worthy of forgiveness. Therefore we cry unto Thee: "O Christ our
God and Benefactor, glory to Thee."
Stichera from Vespers of the Feast of Theophany |
|
