ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE 21ST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST,
THE MOTHER OF GOD, JOY OF ALL WHO SORROW,
NOVEMBER 6TH, 2011

A Souvenir of the Visit of the Myrrh-Streaming and Wonder-working Icon of the Mother of God of Iveron from Hawaii is available for a donation of $15.  It is a book containing devotional songs and the full text to the Akathist to the Mother of God that was prepared for and used during the icon’s visit.  We use them in our Wednesday night devotions.  We also have a number of small card copies of the icon with the Troparion on the back that have been touched to the original.  These are yours for the asking.

Metropolitan Hilarion to Serve and Ordain – God willing, he will come and serve with us on Friday and Saturday, December 2nd and 3rd, and will perform the ordination of Father Deacon Christopher Johnson to the priesthood during the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning.  We have so far heard that several other clergy are joining us as well.  Glory to God!  Please keep Father Christopher and Matushka Dorothy in your prayers.

Thanks to an anonymous donor – we were offered a matching grant of up to $10,000 for money raised last Saturday and December 11th.  By this past Wednesday, within three days, we received money and pledges matching that grant, for a total of $20,000 towards the money needed to move to our new property.  Adding this to the $10,000 that we had already raised, we have now $30,000.

$20,000 still needed – Because our office park unit here has been sold, we need to move to our new property. To be able to move, we have an immediate goal of $50,000 to obtain and situate a triple-wide building on our property and install supporting utilities, with the help of our friend, builder Don Blevins.  We will need a minimum of $20,000 more.  Please consider donating all or part of this to the building fund.

A Relocation and Building Group has formed to coordinate our relocation efforts.  If you would like to be part of this, please speak with Matushka Deborah.

Ongoing Financial Support for the Parish – Please make or renew your pledge for 2012.  Remember what Holy Apostles parish means to us.  Pledge forms are available at the candle stand.  Remember to fill out the attached family information.  Ask our Treasurer, Matushka Dorothy any questions.  We really need this information soon to form our 2012 budget.

Visit and Pray for the Aged – "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." (James 1:27)
These ladies are all in Riderwood just west of Rte 95, just past Calverton Shopping Center and would appreciate contact and prayers: Olga Prisekin, Rosalie Belida, Betty Chisholm and Dorothy Dague.

Service Opportunities 
Meal Signups – Add your name to the list to offer a meal in the upcoming weeks.
Church Cleaning – Be on the cleaning team and/or support with a $40 donation for a weekly cleaning.
Nick’s Place – Please contribute non-perishable goods for the local halfway house for young men recovering from substance abuse.
The Choir needs people and if you can sing you can be one of them.  Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 7 PM
Holy Apostles Chariots takes turns picking up whoever needs a ride to church.  If you need a ride or would like be one of the charioteers, please speak to our “chief charioteer,” Kyrill Shillen.

Orthodox Christians on Campus is a group of Orthodox students at the University of Maryland in College Park who meet Tuesday evenings.  Father Christopher and I have joined their supporting clergy and he has been there in regular support, with me as backup.  Some of them were here for the icon.

St. Joseph’s Young Adults, our Orthodox young people’s group from the Baltimore-Washington area has not met recently because of our house disaster.  We hope to re-start this effort very soon.

Constantine Zalalas, noted speaker and lay theologian, will give a talk on “Orthodox Spirituality and the Heart” here at Holy Apostles on Sunday, December 11th, at 6 PM.  He is offering his talk as a fundraiser for our building fund.  Those who heard him this past Lent when he spoke on “How to fight evil” can attest to his informative and inspirational gifts.  Save the date.  Come to hear and be inspired, and support the building of our church.  Invite a friend; all are welcome!

A Bake Sale is happening next week, Sunday the 13th provided by our St. Juliana sisterhood, the proceeds to support parish and sisterhood activities.  Get something enjoyable to eat and thereby support the sisterhood and the parish.

The Parish Council meets tomorrow evening (Monday the 7th) at 7 PM.