Brothers and Sisters,
Thanks to everyone who made our Iconographer’s Weekend such a success! But the exciting work that we heard about this weekend will continue each Wednesday night through November 8, because Father Andrew and Baker Galloway (and Seraphim O’Keefe and Martin Earle, as they are able) will lead discussions on the adornment of each section of our new temple. There will be online options for participation along with those in person conversations, so plan on joining us starting this coming Wednesday at 7pm.
Our Calendar
Fasting Days
Wednesday, September 27, and Friday, September 29
Daily Services
Monday, Sep 25 - Friday, Sep 29
Orthros 5am
Vespers 5pm
If you plan on attending the in-person services, it’s always a good idea to check the day before and make sure the regular schedule will be observed.
Also, Seth Hart and friends will be at the online chanter’s stand, offering the First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours this week: 1st hour: 6:45 a.m.; 3rd hour: 8:45 a.m.; 6th hour: 11:45 a.m. 9th hour: 3:45 p.m.
Fr. Andrew, Seth Hart, and Matthew Groh and many other folks continue to broadcast daily readings from spiritual books online. They are now reading Sts Barsunuphius and John: Letters from the Desert. The schedule is M-F at 12pm.
Also, our online team will now be reading the Daily Synaxarion on Discord.
Tuesday, September 26
Orthodoxy 101 at 7 pm in the narthex (also on Discord)
Parish Council Meeting 7 pm in the parish house
Wednesday, September 27
Fall Theological Seminar at 7 pm in the nave (also on Discord)
Thursday, September 28
Bible Study, Old Testament Edition 7 pm on Discord
Saturday, September 30
St. Thomas School 4 pm
Great Vespers 6 pm
Sunday, October 1
The Second Sunday of St. Luke
Orthros 8 am
Church School 8:15 am
Divine Liturgy 10 am
Fellowship Hour Noon
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.
Membership Update
Today we made Christian and Alexander catechumens. Please greet them both and let them know that you will be praying for them as they prepare to be fully received into the Church.
St. Thomas School
On Saturday, September 30, Karen will be leading the discussion on the chapter of Volume III, “Church Singing in Other Local Orthodox Churches”. Online access is available on Discord; like to participate online, you still need to sign-up ahead of time. Just send an email to remote.meetings@theforerunner.org by Thursday, September 28, to reserve your spot.
Coming Up
On November 10 -12, the ladies of St John's will be visiting the Monastery of The Holy Nativity in East Texas. This trip is limited to the first 20 women who reserve their spot by paying for their share of the Air B&B bill. If you would like to participate, please contact Misty W. for the details.
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 coffee 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.
Things That Make Priests Happy
Baptizing Quincy, Christian, and Athena; chrismating Christian and Natali, Michael, and Barbara; reverencing the new icons painted by Seraphim O’Keefe; talking with Jennifer R. about her career at Hubcap Heaven and my job at the Bead and Weed; hearing Martin Earle talk about Gusilbert and wondering who will be the first to use that great name for their child (c’mon, Michael and Clara!); encouraging Father Andrew to attend The Lord of Spirits Conference as Gozer the Gozerian; offering the services for St Silouan; talking soccer with Max D. and volleyball with Sophia B.; tripling the number of donors for the new reliquary for St Eanswythe of Folkestone; catching the light reflecting in the eyes of a possum.
An unworthy priest,
aidan