Church Bulletin: June 25, 2023

[Fr. Ignatius Valentine]

Sunday June 25, 2023- 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

Upcoming Services and Events

June 25, Sunday (3rd Sunday after Pentecost)

        + Matins, 8:45am

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

June 26, Monday

        + Office Hours, 2:00pm-5:00pm

        + 9th Hour Prayers, 3:00pm

June 28, Wednesday

        + Akathist for Sts. Peter and Paul, 7:00pm

June 29, Thursday

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

July 1, Saturday

        + Great Vespers, 5:00pm

July 2, Sunday, The Placing of the Theotokos's Robe in Blachaerne

        + Matins, 8:45am

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

      

Newest Announcements  . 

Upcoming Travel for Fr. Ignatius

        Fr. Ignatius will be attending the Midwest Diocese Parish Life Conference June 28-July 1 in Chicago.  He will not be available for office hours or Hours Prayers during those days. He will be traveling again from July 3-8 and so there will be no office hours or Hours Prayers during that week as well.  

Parking in Driveway

        We are still having 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!

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 Sunday's Gospel Reading

        On Sunday July 2 we will hear about the Lord's healing of the centurion's servant.  https://www.antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/3506 Matthew 8:5-13

Food for Thought

        "The person that is struggling to the best of his abilities, who has no desire to live a disorderly life, but who – in the course of the struggle for faith and life – falls and rises again and again, God will never abandon. And if he has the slightest will not to grieve God, he will go to Paradise with his shoes on. The Benevolent God will, surprisingly, push him into Paradise. God will insure that he takes him at his best, in repentance. He may have to struggle all his life, but God will not abandon him; He will take him at the best possible time.”

- St. Paisios the Athonite

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Recurring Announcements

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).

Apostles' Fast

        Beginning June 12, we entered into the fasting season known as the Apostles' Fast.  This season lasts through June 28, the eve of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.  We abstain from meat, dairy and eggs.  Fish, oil and wine are allowed except on Wednesdays and Fridays.  This fast commemorates the time of preparation that the Apostles experienced, before they embarked on their apostolic journeys to spread the Gospel.

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 and Merrick Dodge in your prayers as they prepare to be sacramentally joined to the Orthodox Church.