Holy Cross Orthodox Church

From Bsp. BASIL, via Bsp. THOMAS:

Dear to Christ, Fathers & Brothers:

Blessings to you, your families and your congregations.

Many years to the newly elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in America (O.C.A.), THE MOST BLESSED JONAH (Paffhausen), Archbishop of New York and Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. His Beatitude's biography is available at http://www.oca.org/HSbiojonah.asp?SID=7.

+ B A S I L
Bishop of Wichita and the Diocese of Mid-America
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

To better equip us financially for the turbulent economic times in which we live, the parish is hosting a one-day financial and stewardship seminar on Saturday, December 13 with the theme "Managing Your Money in Turbulent Times".

Our seminar leader is Dn. Thomas Braun from St. Barnabas Orthodox Church in Costa Mesa, CA. Dn. Thomas is the President of Proactive Engineering, a civil engineering firm in southern California, and is also an astute financial planner that conducts financial seminars from an Orthodox perspective around the country.

More details will be forthcoming, but the seminar will start at 9:00 and end at 3:00.  Lunch will be provided.  Registration is $10 per person.

Bsp. THOMAS has sent some information on fasting and how to keep the coming Nativity Fast. We'll be posting this information in this weekend's bulletin as an insert, but it can also be viewed on the archdiocesan website. Lastly, there is a 'schedule of fasting' he provided that can be downloaded from our website. A summary of instructions from the two sources is below: [...]

IOCC SUNDAY

November 23, 2008

The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

To the Most Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and Devout Faithful of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas

Dearly Beloved in Christ Jesus,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

On this Sunday before our national feast of Thanksgiving, we give thanks to our Merciful God for all His blessings, and we take time to remember International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). As the humanitarian aid agency of SCOBA, IOCC serves throughout the world as ambassadors of God’s mercy. Agency staff and partners feed the hungry, care for the sick, and provide essential relief to those whose lives have been shattered by man-made and natural disasters. Through your generous support, millions of hurting people receive the care and attention that all people deserve. [...]

This Saturday evening after Vespers, Emily Lowe will be giving an adult ed presentation on Orthodox Chant. Doug Ashworth will follow up Emily's presentation in the weeks to come with a second presentation on the history of Orthodox Chant.

On Sunday, November 23 there will be a Memorial service following Divine Liturgy for Father George Calciu, a great confessor of the Orthodox Faith. Father George reposed on the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos, November 21, 2006. During his life on earth he suffered and was tortured for 22 years in the diabolic prisons of Communist Romania. Father George is known around the world, and to members of our parish, for his commitment to Christ in the face of persecution, as a righteous pastor, and as a witness to God's love and forgiveness.

A Patronal Feast Day Vigil service be held at 6pm on Saturday, November 15th, also commemorating their 20th Anniversary year. Fr. Ernest Arambiges, will be the homilist. Directions can be found on their website.

Tuesday night’s Romanian Evening with the Frantz family was truly a blessing. Thirty parishioners and guests began the evening celebrating vespers together. A Romanian dinner followed with homemade stuffed cabbage, mititei (mici), salad and lots of wonderful desserts. The Floyd and Ancuta conducted a slide presentation focusing on both ministries — Floyd’s addictions program and Ancuta’s Family Center. Their work is amazing. Floyd’s program is now part of the Patriarch’s education and outreach program. Ancuta has served fifty mothers all of whom have graduated from the program are keeping their babies and living productively — I am truly sorry that more of you weren’t able to enjoy the food, fellowship and celebrate the wonder of their ministries! ...

On November 16th Aster Tsegaye will be giving a presentation at coffee hour on Ethiopia, along with Ethiopian food, to raise money for the Ethiopian orphanage. Plan to attend!

The next 'Soup and Saints' will take place in the parish hall after Vespers this Saturday, November 1st. We will discuss the life of a saint and enjoy a light meal with soup. All are welcome!