Coordinating committee for Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue met

(mospat.ru) - On 20 November 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, arrived in Paris with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and All Russia and was met by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (Patriarchate of Constantinople) at Charles de Gaulle airport.

They proceeded to the premises of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Metropolia in France, where the Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches holds its meeting. Metropolitan Hilarion takes part in it as representative of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On November 21, the feast day of the Presentation in the Temple of the Birth-Giver of God (according to the new style), members of the Coordinating Committee prayed at the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Stephen.

Metropolitan Hilarion is accompanied by hieromonk Antoniy (Sevryuk), secretary of the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate’s parishes in Italy.

8th Annual Winter Service Retreat

This December, we will host our Seventh Annual Winter Service Retreat for Older Teens and Young Adults. Each year, we schedule this during the week after Nativity, when students are out of school for their winter break in studies. Our parish of St. George Orthodox Church (OCA) is located right on the Texas border with Mexico. In year's past, the week included a visit and work project in an orphanage for girls just across the border in Mexico. However, because of increased border violence in recent years, we no longer cross into Mexico. Thanks be to God, this year, we will have a Brand New Church Hall to help accommodate both our Retreat Participants and our Service Projects!

Some retreat highlights include:
* A Speaker/Retreat Master Sharing Talks on Topics the Participants Themselves Have Requested
* Hands-On Orthodox Service Projects, including Preparing For and Staffing a special Nativity Season Distribution at our St. George Food Pantry - which has fed over 60,000 people in the last few years.
* Working as Teams to Actively Help with Retreat Functions
* Praying Together: Actively Participating in Reading, Singing, Praying & Participating in Liturgical Services
* Time for Fun, Christian Fellowship, including a South Padre Island Beach Trip and Talent Show

Who:  Geared for Older Teens, College Students & Young Adults plus Adult Chaperones & Orthodox Clergy. Orthodox Christians, Catechumins, Inquirers and their Friends from All Jurisdictions are WELCOME

Retreat Master:  To Be Announced SOON!

SPIRITUAL TOPIC: Why Become (or Remain) Orthodox? How Do We Stand Up for & Live the Faith?

Expanded Version: Why become or remain Orthodox rather than simply following the "easier" more populated versions of Christianity practiced by friends and society in general? Why would/should we choose or continue on the more narrow path, which often includes isolation since most parishes are smaller and within which we have few if any peers? How are we to become knowledgeable "apologists" and stand on a firm foundation in the faith? In everyday life? In times when we face special challenges and/or temptations?  How do we stand with our heads held high knowing that our beliefs are right and true? How do we do this without being prideful or thinking "low" of our brothers and sisters in Christ outside of the Orthodox Church? What are the real dividing lines which separate our Orthodox beliefs from those held by other Christians?

Dates:  This year's retreat begins the EVENING of Friday, December 28th and ends AFTER DIVINE LITURGY on Thursday, January 3rd.

Cost:  $225.00 Per Participant - Includes all Food, Lodging, Local Transportation and Fees. Note: If Adult Chaperones prefer an on-site Motel-type room, we can reserve one for an additional fee.We try to keep our registration fees as low as possible so as many students and other young people (who often are financially challenged and/or do not have wealthy parents) can attend. To help with this, we even cook most of the food and the retreat staff do not receive salaries. We do this for the love of Christ and in hopes that this experience will touch the lives of the young people who attend.

Where: St. George Orthodox Church; Pharr, Texas - Rio Grande Valley of South Texas near the Texas-Mexico Border. See Driving Directions: http://www.stgeorgetx.org/directions.html  The church is located at 704 W. Sam Houston in Pharr, Texas and overnight lodgings will be at the Valley Baptist Retreat Center in Mission, Texas. See the retreat center's website at:http://www.valleybaptistretreat.org/
What:  A week of hands-on Service Work, Spiritual Talks & Sessions & Prayers, Christian Fellowship, & Fun. Reunite with your friends and make new friends in a wholesome and spirtually-profitable atmoshere.
Special Dietary Needs: We do make and have available vegetarian and vegan food for our retreat participants, especially those who are still observing the OC Nativity Fast. Let us know if you have additional special dietary requirements or needs!
To learn more or to see photos from previous year's Winter Service Retreats, see links at:
http://www.stgeorgepantry.org/winteryouthretreat.html 

http://www.dosoca.org/

AR Mission Honors Founding Priest and Matushka

November 24, 2012

Fort Smith, AR.  On Sunday, October 28, 2012 Sts. George and Alexandra Mission honored the work of our founding pastor Archpriest John Maxwell and his wife Matushka Debra.  Fr. John and M. Debra faithfully served our mission for 16 years.  In August, Fr. John transitioned to being the priest-in-charge of St. John Kochurov mission in Rogers, AR.  Nearly sixty people attended the Divine Liturgy and banquet celebration.    Fr. John and Debra worked tirelessly at the mission and as one of our founders noted the mission would not be where it is today nor would it have ever existed if it hadn’t been for Fr. John.  Additionally, Matushka Debra was honored for her 15 years of service as the choir director.  God’s providence brought Fr. John and Debra to Fort Smith to care for Fr. John’s ailing father in 1996.  Previously, Fort Smith had a Greek Orthodox Church, St. George’s, but that church had closed several years prior to Fr. John’s arrival.  When Fr. John came to Fort Smith, he was able to organize a few remaining Orthodox families who formed the core group of Sts. George and Alexandra Mission.  Over the years, Eastern European immigrants and converts have been added.  In September, the nave to Sts. George and Alexandra was remodeled and those renovations were blessed at the liturgy.

May God continue to Grant Fr. John and Matushka many blessed years of ministry!

http://www.dosoca.org/

The Rock Hill, SC, Mission Station of the Orthodox Church in America was granted full mission status and received the name of St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Church from His Eminence Archbishop Nikon on Nov. 2. Chancellor Archpriest Marcus Burch conveyed the letter granting mission status and the new name at the Divine Liturgy on Nov. 4 in Rock Hill. Fr. Paul Coats, priest-in-charge, began Vespers services in Rock Hill in the summer of 2010, and the first Divine Liturgy was held at its present location on the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple in November of that year.

November 6, 2012

The Rock Hill, SC, Mission Station of the Orthodox Church in America was granted full mission status and received the name of St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Church from His Eminence Archbishop Nikon on Nov. 2.  Chancellor Archpriest Marcus Burch conveyed the letter granting mission status and the new name at the Divine Liturgy on Nov. 4 in Rock Hill.  Fr. Paul Coats, priest-in-charge, began Vespers services in Rock Hill in the summer of 2010, and the first Divine Liturgy was held at its present location on the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple in November of that year.
Nativity of the Holy Theotokos OCA parish in Charlotte (Fr. William Mills, rector) has actively supported the growth of the mission, which has grown from three families to over fourteen families, with about 40 adults and children from Rock Hill and surrounding communities attending.  Through the prayers of St. Anthony may God continue to establish his Church!

Church,World ans Kingdom :The Eucharistic Faoudation of Alexa

November 2, 2012

Fr Bill Mills, Rector of Nativity of the Holy Theotokos Church, Charlotte, NC, has recently published his latest book, Church, World, and Kingdom: The Eucharistic Foundations of Alexander Schmemann's Pastoral Theology (Chicago, IL: Liturgical Training Publications, 2012).   You can purchase the book at amazon.com. This book considers Schmemann's thoughts on the ordained priesthood, lay ministry, and vocation.

"Fr Alexander Schmemann was a man of tremendous theological and pastoral gifts, with uncanny insight into the world and church. In his writing, preaching and teaching he brought theology and life together in a Eucharistic approach that continues to question, critique, inspire and renew. Fr Mills shows convincingly that Schmemann’s work can be seen as pastoral theology. But in doing so, Mills has also beautifully introduced Schmemann to a new generation of Christian readers." 

V. Rev. John A. Jillions, Ph.D.
Chancellor, Orthodox Church in America
Associate Professor of Theology Andrei Sheptytsky Institute University of St. Paul, Ottawa, Canada

"Alexander Schmemann continues to be a major voice in liturgical theology. He guided us back to liturgy as the "first" or "primary" source of theology and his work on Baptism and the Eucharist are required reading in liturgy courses. William Mills has another "first" in this discerning study--of Schmemann as an important voice in pastoral theology... Mills systematically yet very beautifully reveals another side of this great theologian of our time-- that of a wise and caring pastor."  
Rev. Michael Plekon, Ph.D.
Professor, Sociology/Anthropology, Program in Religion & CultureBaruch College of the City University of New York
Associate, St Gregory the Theologian Orthodox Church, Wappingers Falls NY

http://www.dosoca.org/

2nd Annual Taste os St Innocent

November 2, 2012

On Saturday, October 20th, St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Macon, GA held its 2nd Annual Taste of St. Innocent Bible and Barbeque event.  The point of this event is to invite people to our church in an effort to offer them Christian hospitality in combination with exposing our guests to the Orthodox Church and our teachings in a relaxed and informal environment.  This year we offered free southern style smoked barbeque along with some Eastern European food.  Along with the delicious food we offered church tours with a focus on traditional Christian worship as “The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth”, and a talk given twice by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon on the “Biblical Doctrine of Salvation.”  We served nearly 200 people this year, as we did last year.  By God's grace, strength and direction we hope to continue this event every year. To see more pictures or listen to Fr. Patrick’s talk please visit our website at www.st-innocent.org.

Daily Scripture Readings

22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 8.41-56

And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Gal 6.11-18

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

http://www.dosoca.org/