Remember to pray for…

Betty Chisholm (and her husband, Don) as they struggle with the infirmities of age

Our Travelers: Kyrill Shillen will join Father Victor and others from St. John’s on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  (Ask him to pray for us at all the holy sites.)

An opportunity to help a fellow parishioner

Betty Chisholm would very much like to come to church, but needs a special Medical-Transport van to do so.  If you would like to donate the price of one (1) trip ($103.00), please speak with Matushka Deborah Johnson.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction….

Our parishioner, Olga Prisekin, has lost a lot of her eyesight and her hearing.  She would be grateful for help with grocery shopping, if anyone can donate the time to take her to one of her favorite stores, either MOM’s or Trader Joe’s.  If you would like to help Mrs. Prisekin by driving her to the store, the best way to let her know would be to tell her at church.  It’s easier to communicate with her by writing things down on paper; phone calls are difficult.

We have two other parishioners who, along with Mrs. Prisekin, live in Riderwood and are housebound as they cannot drive anymore.  Betty Chisholm and Dorothy Dague both welcome visitors – call first, of course.  If you have a bit of extra time and would like to pay them a visit, give them a call!

Books for Spiritual Growth and (great for gifts too!)

In our bookstore we have these items, all highly recommended (they wouldn’t be there otherwise).  They should be a part of every Orthodox Christian’s library.

Father Seraphim Rose, His Life and Works by Abbot Damascene

Confession, the Holy Mystery of Repentance by Father John Townsend

Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Father Michael Pamazansky

Two new offerings!

Bright Faith is now available in our bookstore for $12.95.  Father Artemy Vladimirov Talks with Western Orthodox Christians:

A decade of collected interviews and articles from Road to Emmaus: A Journal of Orthodox Faith and Culture – Here is a quote from the book:

“For Christians, the miracle of all time is the Holy Liturgy, and the Church itself is the first circle of paradise, heaven on earth.  No matter what our circumstances, our hearts should be at peace because God Almighty, our Savior Jesus Christ, is with us as He promised, to the end of the world.  The darker the world and the crueler its habits, the lighter is the Church with its celestial laws and rules, warmed by Christ’s life and love.  The weaker we feel ourselves, the swifter we are to run to the Church.  If we have true faith and a sense of kinship with the saints, who are our intercessors and elder brothers and sisters, we need have no fear of being misled, of falling into delusion or “prelest.” Whether we are confessors or parishioners, bishops or laymen, we are to have strong hope, a sober mind, and a peaceful heart, walking in the light of Almighty God’s wisdom and love.”

Facing Islam, by Ralph H. Sidway is available for $20.00. 

We have other books for sale and please also take advantage of our library.

Purchase of Books, Candles, Prosphora and Other Items

Please remember when buying anything from the church to record the item name, quantity, and $ amount on the columned paper at the candle stand.  Also indicate your purchase on the “for” or memo line of a check, or on a slip of paper with your name attached to cash and leave your check or cash in the wicker basket.  By so doing, you will make possible a correct accounting by our treasurer.

Our Choir

Our choir, as you can hear, is very effective, but small, and new members are always welcome.  If you can sing and would like to participate, please speak with our choir director, Reader Christopher Johnson.  Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 (see the schedule), and attendance at them is required (which is directly related to the choir’s effectiveness).

St. Juliana Sisterhood

Our Sisterhood, under the protection of St. Juliana of Lazarevo, always welcomes new members.  Any Orthodox Christian woman who is a member of the parish (see below in “Good Stewards, Good Neighbors”), and is a regular communicant is invited to be a part of the Sisterhood.  Annual Sisterhood dues are $10.00 (not to be confused with parish membership pledges).  The Sisterhood undertakes various projects for the support of the parish.  To join, please obtain a membership form at the candle stand, fill it out and turn it in with the dues to Matushka Anastasia, the treasurer.

Our Sunday School

These classes are available for the 2010-2011 year:

1)      3 to 6 years old, taught by Sophia Blahut and assisted by Matushka Anastasia Dantinne

2)     From 7 to 9 years old, taught by Claire Mendis – The pre-k through k and first through second grade classes will be working together this year – The two classes will share materials and class area, and separate to do age appropriate activities while doing prayer time and the occasional game or project together

3)     From 10 to 12 years old, (no students in this age bracket at this time)

4)     From 13 to 15 years old, taught by Mariya Petrenko (no students in this age bracket at this time)

5)     From 16 to 18 years old, taught by Reader Christopher Johnson – The class for older teens will be a study of the scripture readings for the day – Each student will be required to make at least one observation or ask a question relating to the readings, followed by discussion

6)     Adults, taught by Father George – Traditional Orthodox Christian Piety will be reviewed for the instruction of inquirers and as a refresher for those who desire it

Church Cleaning & Flowers

Currently Friday is cleaning day & we adorn the church with donated flowers, whenever possible. A couple of dedicated souls are working at this and could use additional help. If you would like to donate flowers or if you would like to enter the cleaning rotation with a donation of your time and effort, please contact sisters, Mariya (313.618.7646) or Claire (301.807.8495 or danikacm@yahoo.com).

Holy Apostles Chariots

We are blessed to have many Orthodox people in the community who are interested in attending our services. A few are unable to bring themselves to the services. If you need a ride or if you can offer a ride please contact Kyrill Shillenn (301.989.0748) to coordinate.

Confession

It is right and good that we should want to receive Holy Communion and prepare for it through repentance and confession.  The best time for this is on Saturday evening, not only because there is plenty of time, but because attendance at Saturday evening Vigil is a traditional part of preparation.  If, however, because of distance or other considerations (pre-arranged with Father George), it is necessary to confess on Sunday morning before the Liturgy, we should arrive at church for this purpose no later than 9:00 AM.  Also, it is necessary if one is unable to attend vigil, that Saturday evening be spent quietly and prayerfully, preparing for confession and reading the pre-Communion prayers.  As Orthodox Christians, we should do our best to preserve the traditions of the Church.

St. Joseph the Patriarch Young Adults – Special Invitation to all

(not just young adults)

Every other Friday evening at 7 PM, people 18 to 35 meet at the rectory for fellowship and edification.  A presentation follows a Lenten meal.  Currently the regulars are taking turns presenting the life of an Orthodox missionary saint. The group also periodically helps the parish with its projects.  Everyone in this age range is welcomed to this great opportunity to network with other coming-of-age Orthodox in the comfort and informality of a home setting.

At the meeting on November 12^th, Ralph Sidway, author of Facing Islam, will give a presentation on his book, to which all, young and old, are invited.  Please let your friends know about our guest speaker.  Please check our website for more information on this presentation.

There will be no meal at this special meeting.  We will offer mulled cider, and ask folks to bring Lenten cookies or snacks.

Ralph H. (Zosimas) Sidway — author of the new book, FACING ISLAM ~ What the Ancient Church has to say about the Religion of Muhammad will be our guest speaker, sponsored by Holy Apostles Orthodox Church and the St. Joseph the Patriarch Orthodox Young Adults, on Friday, November 12th at 7:00 PM. We are opening up this meeting and inviting all, young and old, to come and hear Mr. Sidway speak. Please bring a friend.

Mr. Sidway’s... book and his and talks have a missionary spirit. He emphasizes the incompatibility of Islam with Christianity, yet presents a clear message of love for Muslims in the spirit of the Orthodox Gospel of Jesus Christ.

His new book, Facing Islam, was prompted to some extent by the attacks of 9/11, but even more by events closer to home. In 2005, after a fellow parishioner left the Orthodox Faith and converted to Islam, Mr. Sidway began an intensive study of the subject. In 2008, in preparation for a parish-wide discussion on Islam, he began writing a short article addressing key theological and doctrinal points. This article soon grew into a book-length treatment: Facing Islam - An Orthodox Christian Approach (January 2009), receiving strong encouragement and endorsements from noted authors Serge Trifkovic (Sword of the Prophet, Defeating Jihad), Raymond Ibrahim (The Al-Qaeda Reader) and Gregory Davis (Religion of Peace? Islam's War Against the World). and from Archimandrite Daniel Byantoro, founder of the Indonesian Orthodox Mission and himself a convert from Islam.

Mr. Sidway, whose Christian name is Zosimas, has been an Orthodox Christian since 1987. He is currently a member of Christ the Savior Holy Spirit (OCA) in Cincinnatti Ohio, where he sings in the choir and serves in the altar. He has also worked on the church website and served on the parish council. Ralph Sidway earned his BA in Philosophy from Transylvania University in Lexington Kentucky, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1983. A Rhodes Scholar finalist, Sidway also won an English Speaking Union Scholarship to study at Oxford University. You can read more about his book, FACING ISLAM, on the website www.facingislam.org.

Dressing for Church

While it is important to feel at home in our parish, it is also important to remember that when we gather for services, we are here for prayer and the worship of God.  In this light, there are traditional customs of dress that should be observed.  No one who is not a small child should wear shorts.  Girls and women should wear head coverings and skirts.  Shirts and blouses should cover the shoulders.  Any revealing and borderline-modest clothing is not appropriate.  Slogans should not appear on apparel.  A Church service is neither the time nor the place for advertisement or self-promotion.

Good Stewards, Good Neighbors – Membership at Holy Apostles – A standard element of the Orthodox Christian life is membership in an Orthodox parish.  Parish membership is the way to demonstrate the seriousness of our commitment to maintain not only our individual or household Orthodox life, but to maintain our mutual Orthodox life as a parish community, or, as the Holy Apostle puts it, to “bear… one another’s burdens.”  By committing to keeping the parish supplied and in place, we are instruments of God’s providence.  At the same time that we give of our substance, we provide the proper circumstances to supply each other’s spiritual needs.

If you regularly attend services, please consider also that being one of the living stones that St. Peter speaks of entails material contribution.  We read in the Acts of the Holy Apostles, that time when the spiritual temperature of the new-born Church was at its height, that the members gave very generously of their substance, in fact, they gave everything.  While we do not live in their circumstances and are not now called upon to pool everything for the sake of physical survival, we do live in a time of great spiritual incoherence and hostility.

We each need, therefore, to do all we can to secure, maintain and grow our parish so that it may continue to serve as a harbor for those who seek spiritual peace and refuge from the stormy sea of this life.

A good foundation for giving is 10% of income.  Some of us are doing this already.  Those who so give can testify that God takes care of such benefactors.  First of all, they are remembered in prayer at every Divine Service.  Let all who read this be stimulated to become one among the choir of benefactors.  To become a member of the parish, please see our Treasurer, Dorothy Johnson.

Save this Date: July 16-17, 2011!

God-willing, we are hoping that Metropolitan Hilarion will be in attendance, as well as Reader Nectarios and the Myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God of Hawaii,  for our 10^th Anniversary Parish Feast, July 16-17, 2011

An Engagement!

When the Iveron Icon departed our new church property on the afternoon of the 23^rd, our parishioners provided an escort.  Our warden and head sister, Silas and Brigid Diaz, their son Michael, Clare Mendis and her friend, catechumen Matthew Jones, accompanied the icon and steward to Manhattan for a visitation to our Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign.  While there, at the conclusion of the vigil and in front of the icon, Matthew proposed marriage to Claire and she accepted.  We rejoice with them and pray for fruition of their intent in God’s good time.  It is their fervent prayer that they will be the first wedding the church on the hill, the beautiful historic St. Joseph’s chapel.

A Baptism!

Saturday, November 6^th at 2 PM, George Sanchez, the son of Jeremiah and Megumi Sanchez, was baptized into the Church.  Father George and Matushka Deborah are Jeremy’s Godparents and so Jeremy elected to repeat the process and make them Godparents of George as well.  At this same time, Megumi became a catechumen under the heavenly patronage of St. Photini, Equal to the Apostles - the Samaritan woman.  Many years to all!