Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name of the Lord.
Now that Fall is fully here, if you haven’t yet had a chance to do so, this would be a great week to check out some of our Adult Education offerings. Orthodoxy 101 meets in person and online on Tuesday evenings; The Bible Study is fully online on Thursday evenings. This week the Fall Theological Seminar will meet both in person and online on Wednesday, and, on Saturday afternoon, St Thomas School will be hosting a practical class on Preparing for our Departure from this Life. Please participate in as many of those events as you can.
Our Calendar
Fasting Days
Wednesday, October 2 and Friday, October 4
Daily Services
Monday, September 30--Friday, October 4, Orthros 5am and Vespers, 5pm (if you wish to attend the daily services, it’s always a good idea to check the day before to make sure the services will be offered).
Fr. Andrew, Seth Hart, and Matthew Groh and many other folks continue to broadcast daily readings from spiritual books online. They are now back to reading “The Ethics of Beauty” by Dr Timothy Patitsas. The schedule is as follows: M-F at 12pm.
Also, our online team will now be reading the Daily Synaxarion on Discord. Just look for this channel: #synaxarion
Tuesday, October 1
Orthodoxy 101 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Wednesday, October 2
Fall Theological Seminar 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Thursday, October 5
The Bible Study, Old Testament Edition 7pm; you can access this group on Discord
Saturday, October 7
St Thomas School 4pm
Great Vespers 6pm
Sunday, October 8
The Third Sunday of St Luke
Orthros 8am
Church School 8:15am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Fellowship Hour
Youth 1pm
Since this is the first Sunday of the month, it is also Blessing Sunday, so if you’re going to be traveling during October or if you have icons, prayer ropes, and crosses to be blessed, just show up at the chanter’s stand after liturgy for those prayers. But the first Sunday of the month is also Claim Your Stuff Sunday; that means you need to check the Lost and Found Box in the kitchen because it will all go to Goodwill after Fellowship Hour is over.
Tuesday, October 8
Orthodoxy 101 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Wednesday, October 9
Fall Theological Seminar 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Thursday, October 10
The Bible Study, New Testament Edition 7pm; you can access this group on Discord
St Thomas School
On Saturday, October 7, we will be having one of our Practical Class Presentations. Father Aidan will be talking about Life After Death, and since it’s something we’re all going to need to get ready for, it will be worth showing up for the discussion. The group will consider what the Church teaches about the next life, what we all should be doing in light of that teaching, and practical next steps that we all can take, so plan on joining us in the parish house at 4pm.
Our Fall Theological Seminar
Our Fall Theological Seminar is going very well. We’re reading a book by a Protestant pastor; the book is called Stability, and it’s available in the bookstore. But we’re not only going to be talking about the spiritual advantages—and challenges—of sticking it out in a particular community, we’re also going to be talking with folks in our parish who have done just that. Below is the schedule for the readings and the interviews, but plan now to join us in the parish house at 7pm each Wednesday evening through the start of Nativity Lent--and, while we will have an online option available for those folks who live at a distance, let’s not forget that the conversation is always richer and more meaningful if you are actually present.
Oct 2 Reading Assignment: Chapter 3. Stability and Relationships Guest: Rick K.
Oct 9 Reading Assignment: Chapter 4. Stability and Place. Guests: Jerry and Maggie B.
Oct 16 Reading Assignment: Chapter 5. Stability and Change. Guests: Chris and Sarah S.
Oct 23 Reading Assignment: Chapter 6. Practices of Stability. Guest: Baker G.
Oct 30 Reading Assignment: Chapter 7. Where Do We Stay From Here? p 125-134. Guest: Mary K.
Nov 6 Reading Assignment: Chapter 7. Where Do We Stay From Here? p 134-148. Guests: John and Lindsey B.
Nov 13 Conclusion: The Final Stability
Financial Update
This past month the accountant that works for our community did some long overdue realigning of our books, and, as a result of those adjustments, we ended August with a surplus on the year of close to $10,000. That’s a little bit less than what we usually have at this time of year, but it’s still a great way to wrap up the summer. So thanks to each of you for your faithfulness, and thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for Their provision and mercy. As we head into the fall, please check Realm to make sure you’re current on your commitment to the parish, watch for the opportunity to make a pledge to support the 2025 budget, and, if you have any questions at all, be sure and ask one of our hard working Finance Folks.
Coming Up
On Saturday, October 12th, 2024, The Burial Society would also like to invite everyone to join them in honoring the memory of Schema Nun Elizabeth, who was known as Catherine MacLaughlin when she was a member of our parish. We will gather at the Nativity of Our Lord Orthodox Monastery in Kemp, Texas, at 11:00 AM, with the memorial service beginning at 11:30 AM. Following the service, we'll enjoy a time of fellowship over lunch with Mother Barbara and the resident nuns. Please remember to bring your own meal.
On Sunday, October 20, we will have our next Safety and Security Rehearsal at the conclusion of The Divine Liturgy. This rehearsal will be for a medical emergency, so we will all simply walk to the Rally Signs at the north and south ends of our parking lots. The ushers will provide us with assistance and directions.
Our Moment of Grace and Courtesy
There are any number of reasons why people find themselves in the narthex and kitchen during liturgy. Some people have children that they need to calm; some people have Fellowship Hour responsibilities; some people have social phobias; some people get tired. However, if you do end up in the narthex and kitchen during liturgy, we ask that you continue to participate in the service by remaining as quiet as possible. You can listen to the service over the sound system in those areas, so, even if you can't be in the nave you can still help us all maintain our focus during the liturgy.
Capital Campaign Countdown Column
Whatever is obtained as a result of long and persistent prayer will remain.
-St John Climacus
We are now well into the three year pledge portion of our capital campaign, so please go ahead and record your commitment on REALM. If you questions about how to do that, just contact Arun J. or Father Andrew Wilson. If you have questions about the project itself, please read through the FAQ that is attached to this newsletter, but, to help us get the most out of this historic effort, this week’s Countdown Column is by parish council member Dawn C.:
When I was pondering what I could say about the building of our new temple, the ideas of truth, beauty and goodness came to mind. These ideas have been in the forefront of my mind for at least twenty years. All four of our daughters have been or are currently being educated in a classical manner and these ideas are the foundation of a true classical education. I have strived to infuse our lives with these ideas for as long as I can remember. Not only do striving for truth, beauty and goodness apply to education (and life!), but they also come to mind when contemplating the building of our new temple. My theological understanding of these ideas is far from perfect or complete, but I do fully believe that we are shaped by that with which we surround ourselves. If we surround ourselves with what is True, Beautiful and Good, then we are more likely to become these things. Of course God Himself, is the source, creator, and embodiment of all that is true, beautiful and good, so by building a good and beautiful temple, we are able to humbly participate in these aspects of His nature.
We participate in the Kingdom of Heaven at every Divine Liturgy. The Long Hall is beautiful with its magnificent icons, Gospel book and chalice (just to name a few beautiful, good and true things). This space and its items truly represent God’s Goodness and Divine Beauty… and while we are already surrounded by truth, beauty and goodness, I can’t wait to one day worship in a space that is as beautiful and glorious as we can possibly make it. Let us all prayerfully commit to work towards building a temple that will allow us to fully encounter our Creator, and in which we can meditate upon and surround ourselves with what is true, what is beautiful, and what is good.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” -Philippians 4:8
Humbly,
Dawn
an unworthy priest
aidan