Church Bulletin: July 9, 2023

[Saint Raphael of Brooklyn Antiochian Orthodox Church]





Upcoming Services and Events

July 9, Sunday 

        + Matins, 8:45am

        + Divine Liturgy, 10:00am, followed by Coffee Hour

July 10, Monday

        + Office Hours, 2:00pm-5:00pm

        + 9th Hour Prayers, 3:00pm

July 12, Wednesday

        + Office Hours, 11:00am-2:00pm

        + 6th Hour Prayers, 12:00pm

        + Akathist, 7:00pm

July 13, Thursday

        + Office Hours, 11:00am-2:00pm

        + 6th Hour Prayers, 12:00pm

        + "Modern Orthodox Thinkers" book discussion on Zoom, 7:00pm https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/4320014122

July 14, Friday

        + 3rd Hour Prayers, 9:00am

        + Office Hours, 9:15am-12:00pm

July 15, Saturday

        + Theology Discussion Group, 3:00pm

        + Great Vespers, 5:00pm

July 16, Sunday, Sunday of the Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

        + Matins, 8:45am

        + Divine Liturgy, 10:00am, followed by Coffee Hour

      

Newest Announcements  . 

Many Years!

        Dan Pelc became a catechumen last Sunday.  May God grant him many years!

Theology Discussion Group Schedule

        Our newly established Theology Discussion Group has had strong attendance and lively participation recently!  Following are the dates for the rest of the summer.  Meetings begin at 3pm.

July 15- 'You Can Become all Fire'- fire/heat language in the topic of theosis

July 29- To be determined

August 12- To be determined

August 26- To be determined

All Hands on Deck! Two Upcoming Coffee Hour Potlucks!

        Please mark your calendars and plan to attend Liturgy and coffee hour on Sunday, July 30 as we say farewell to Fr. Ignatius and Kh. Maria Valentine, and on Sunday, August 6 as we welcome Fr. Symeon and Kh. Jing Kees and their children to St. Raphael! Both coffee hours will be a parish-wide potluck; sign up sheets are posted in the narthex. Note that August 6 is the Feast of the Transfiguration, so even though it falls during the Dormition Fast, fish, wine, and oil are allowed.

We encourage everyone to attend both of these Sundays to provide a warm and loving send-off and welcome during our clergy transition. 

Next Catholic Worker House Meal, August 12

        We will be organizing to provide food for the guests of the Catholic Worker House.  The food will be dropped off during the afternoon of Saturday, August 12.  A sign-up sheet with menu items will be posted soon.

Next Sunday's Gospel Reading

        On Sunday July 16 we will hear a portion of the Lord's teaching in His Sermon on the Mount https://www.antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/3520 Matthew 5:14-19

Food for Thought

      Grace is the very life of God. It sustains our world  in its existence. It works good despite the best (or worst) of our evil intentions. It mends our brokenness and creates new beginnings over and over again.

- Fr. Stephen Freeman 

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Recurring Announcements

Parking in Driveway

        We have had problems with people not pulling all the way forward in the driveway on Sundays.  If you choose to park in the driveway, please look at the parking spaces delineated by the newly painted lines and pull all the way forward so that others can also use the driveway behind you.  And please leave the space closest to the street as a loading zone only.  Do not park there except to temporarily unload.  Thank you!

Summertime Book Group! 

        Until the end of August, we are discussing Modern Orthodox Thinkers: From the Philokalia to the Present, by Fr. Andrew Louth. This a great chance to educate and edify ourselves by learning about Orthodox women and men who have responded to modernity with vigorous Christian thinking and action. Standalone chapters will make it easy to pop into book group as summer travels allow. All are welcome!

Copies are available in the church bookstore and on Amazon/Kindle. Discussions will be led by Fr. Lev Smith and Dr. Lori Peterson Branch. Meetings take place Thursdays from 7-8:15pm on Zoom (https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/4320014122 or Meeting ID 432 001 4122)

Our remaining schedule is the following:

July 13- Chps. 7-8

July 20- Chps. 9-10

July 27- Chp. 11

August 3- Chps. 12 and 14

August 10- Chp. 13

August 17- Chp. 15-16

August 24- Chps. 17-18

August 31- Chps. 19-20

Updated Food Pantry Needs

         Attached, you will find a list of items that we are in need of in our food pantry.  Monetary donations are also welcome.  We have exceptional buying power through the HACAP food reservoir, so your dollars are able to purchase more this way, than you can at the grocery store.  Also, please check expiration dates before donating food items.  We can't put expired food on our shelves.  

Link to Church's Google Calendar

        https://www.raphaelchurch.org/calendar.html

Information on Prayers for the Departed, Flowers for the Departed and St. Raphael Prayer Chain

       https://www.raphaelchurch.org/recurring-announcements.html 

Pray for our Catechumens

        Please keep our catechumens Ilya Buchkin, Scott Dorr, Madison Frei, Merrick Dodge and Dan Pelc in your prayers as they prepare to be sacramentally joined to the Orthodox Church.