From the Weekly Bulletin (Week of 5/11/2008)

Happy Mother’s Day

To all of you women who have or are currently raising children, and also all godmothers, “May God grant you many years!”

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.

New Website Feature

At the bottom of the page, you can now click on a link to the 24 hour internet-based Ancient Faith Radio, and you will first hear a customized introduction to our website, followed by streaming audio of the music being broadcast on Ancient faith Radio.  Look for the Ancient faith Radio link at the bottom of the main page.

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.

Iowa City Arts Festival

St. Raphael Church will have a table outside of our building to coincide with the Iowa City Arts Festival on June 7-8.  We are asking for to help staff the table at which we will be selling some baked goods, distributing information on our church, and possibly having a display on the icons and iconography.  We also need volunteers to prepare items such as baklava and other treats.  There is a sign-up sheet at church.

Feast of Mid-Pentecost/ Sts. Constantine and Helen

On Tuesday evening May 20 at 6PM, we will have a Vesperal liturgy for the Feast of Mid-Pentecost and Sts. Constantine and Helen, which coincide this year.  Twenty-five days after Pascha, which is halfway between Pascha and Pentecost, the church celebrates the Mid-feast, in order to look back on Pascha, and also to anticipate Pentecost.  In addition, May 21st is the feastday of Sts. Constantine and Helen.

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.

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.

Paschal Season Fasting

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

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 18, the holy bread will be provided by the Kastoun/Hanna family.  The food for coffee hour will be brought by the Bayouth 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: 05/12 at 09:53 AM  

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  

From the Weekly Bulletin (Week of 4/27/2008)

No Office Hours on Bright Monday or Bright Thursday

Fr. Ignatius will not be holding his regular office hours on Bright Monday (April 28).  He will be in Cedar Rapids celebrating the patronal feast of St. George church.  He will also not be keeping his office hours on Bright Thursday (May 1) due to a clergy association meeting.

Thank you

Thank you to Kristi Abuissa for the stunning white priest’s Pascha vestments.  Thank you to Michelle Bayouth for the matching chalice and paten veils and aer.  Thank you to Todd Wiblin and Karen Kuntz (and others whose names I am not aware of) for cleaning the chapel.  Thank you to Jim Walker for steam cleaning the carpet in the fellowship hall.  Thank you to Thomas Awad, Kh. Maria, Todd Wiblin, Karen Kuntz and Ana Elashvili for decorating the Lord’s funeral bier.  Thank you to Michelle Bayouth, Kh. Irene, Juliana Khouri, Daniela Angelhina, Tania Van Dinter, Lori Branch, Amy Jongeling, and Kristi Abuissa for leading the choir through the many extra services of Lent, Holy Week and Pascha, and to all of the choir members for lending their voices.  Thank you to Todd Wiblin, Damian and Gabriel Kulp, Michael Khouri and Thomas Awad for helping to serve at the altar.  Thank you to Karen Kuntz for reconstructing the Holy Thursday evening candle stand.  Thank you to all who brought the red eggs and all of the food.  I have probably forgotten to thank somebody who deserves it.  Please forgive my oversight.

This Coming Sunday is our Next Picnic

Next Sunday, May 4 is the first Sunday of the month and that means we will be gathering for a potluck after Liturgy.  We are planning to hold it at City Park Shelter #9 if the weather cooperates.

Paschal Season Fasting

There is no Wednesday or Friday fasting this week (Bright Week), and 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.

St. George Church Patronal Feast

At 9AM on Bright Monday, April 28, St. George Church in Cedar Rapids will be celebrating the feast of their patron, St. George the Trophy-bearer with Liturgy.  All are welcome.  We will go out for brunch afterward.  Would anyone like a ride?

Teen Outing with St. George and St. John the Baptist Churches

This Friday, May 2, the teen groups of St. George Church and St. John the Baptist Church, both of Cedar Rapids, will be gathering first for vespers at St. George at 6PM.  Following that, they will go out for pizza and bowling.  If anyone would like a ride, please see Fr. Ignatius.

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 4, the holy bread will be provided by the Valentine family.  The food for coffee hour will be brought by all who are bringing food to our potluck picnic at City Park.  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: 04/28 at 10:39 AM  

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