Bishop's Visit Re-Cap
His Grace Bishop MARK had a productive and enjoyable visit with us
this last week. From several individual meetings and a meeting with the
Parish Council, to dinner with the OCF and Vesperal Liturgy, his schedule
was full. Liturgy was wonderful. Thank you to the choir for lending us
your voices and especially to Lori Branch for pulling all of the music
together and for leading the choir. Thank you to Irakli and Nana Tskhakaia
for hosting Bishop MARK and Subdeacon James for two nights at their home,
and for hosting the bishop's dinner with our college students in OCF.
Bishop MARK commented that he really likes what he sees with what we have
done with our new building in such a short time. But he also reminded us
that the church is not a building, it is the people, and we must always
strive to love others and to reach out, to *be* the church, and not just go
to church. We have Bishop MARK scheduled to come back and visit for St.
Raphael's feastday in November 2010.
Fr. Ignatius Will Be Out of Town
From Monday, September 28 through Wednesday, September 30, Fr.
Ignatius will be out of town, attending a deanery meeting in W. St. Paul,
MN. He will be reachable on his cell phone at 319-400-7522. In the case of
a pastoral emergency, please contact Fr. Elias Khouri at 319-329-2562.
There will be no office hours on Tuesday or Wednesday this week and no
matins on Wednesday.
Outdoor Liturgy and Potluck Picnic Oct. 4
Weather permitting, we will gather in College Green Park (right down
the street from our building) at the gazebo for an outdoor Liturgy on
Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10AM. Following Liturgy, we will stay and enjoy our last
picnic of the season. There will be no matins scheduled for this day, to
accommodate the time necessary to set-up for Liturgy. A sign-up sheet for
the potluck picnic is posted at church.
Free Lunch Program Volunteering Oct. 6
St. Raphael Church is scheduled to provide 3-4 volunteers to help
with the Free Lunch Program on Tuesday, October 6 from 11:30AM-1:30PM.
Please contact Fr. Ignatius if you can help this month.
Sunday School Program has Started
We look forward to a strong Sunday School program this year. Grades
1 and up is being taught taught by Newman Abuissa and Amy Jongeling. They
meet weekly at 9:15AM on Sundays and end at 10AM. Ages 3-5 meet weekly for
about 15 minutes immediately after receiving Communion during Liturgy.
Hannah and Lizzy Valentine are teaching this class. It's never too late to
get your children involved!
Russian Language Classes
Beginner's Russian language classes will start meeting weekly on
Wednesdays at 7PM, beginning October 7.* *Please contact our teacher Olena
Bezugla/Coffin at olena.coffin@yahoo.com if you are interested.
Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest Fall Gathering
Clergy and laypeople from around the diocese will be gathering in
Cleveland, OH October 8-12 to worship and pray together, to learn together,
and to fellowship together. Seminars include several having to do with
icons and iconography. Registration information is attached.
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church Greek Fall Dinner
On Sunday, October 11 from 11AM-7PM, St. John the Baptist Greek
Orthodox Church in Cedar Rapids is hosting their Greek Fall Dinner. If you
are interested in purchasing tickets, please contact Bogdana Rus at
319-400-2016 or bogdanarus@yahoo.com.
Parish Council Meeting Minutes
The August 2009 Parish Council meeting minutes are attached.
Back to School Clothing and Winter Outerwear Collection
The local Consultation of Religious Communities will be having their
annual "Back-to-School Clothing and Winter Outerwear Distribution" on
October 17. From now until then, we will be collecting at church, new and
gently used clothing appropriate for school from pre-school (including
infant wear) through high school, as well as winter outerwear (coats,
jackets, hats, scarves, mittens, boots) for all ages. All clothing should
be clean and in good repair (no tears, missing buttons, broken zippers,
etc.). Please leave clothing in bags next to the candlebox in the narthex.
Word Magazine Subscriptions
If you or anyone in your household is a member of St. Raphael
Church, you should be receiving a free subscription to the monthly
Antiochian Archdiocese magazine, *The Word. *If you do not receive this
magazine and would like to, please let Fr. Ignatius know, and he will
forward your address information on to the right office in the Archdiocese
so that you can begin receiving it.
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, October 4, the Buchkin family will provide the holy bread.
Food for coffee hour will be brought by all who bring food to our after
Liturgy potluck picnic. Anybody who would like to host the coffee hour or
bake the holy bread can sign up to do so.
Food For Thought
Adam longed for deification before the proper time.
St. John of Damascus in his "Homily on the Transfiguration", as quoted in
"Fellow Workers with God: Orthodox Thinking on Theosis" by Norman Russell,
p. 110.
