Church Bulletin: July 23, 2023

[Fr. Ignatius Valentine]

Sunday July 23, 2023- 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Upcoming Services and Events

July 22, Saturday

        + Parish Council meeting, 11:30am-1:30pm

        + Great Vespers, 4pm

        + Farewell Dinner for Father and Khouria  in Kalona, 6:00pm

July 23, Sunday 

        + Matins, 8:45am

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

July 26, Wednesday

        + Akathist, 7:00pm

July 27, Thursday

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

July 29, Saturday

        + Theology Discussion Group, 3:00pm

        + Great Vespers, 5:00pm

July 30, Sunday, 8th Sunday after Pentecost

        + Matins, 8:45am

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

      

Newest Announcements  . 

Parish Council Meeting Agenda

        Saturday, July 22, 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm by Zoom  https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/6506866751

1. Call to order and opening prayer 

2. Reading from Father

3. Kitchen - general contractor quotes?

4. Update on Send-off plans for Fr. Ignatius and Kh. Maria - Lena - coordinator

1. Banquet dinner Saturday, July 22

2. Parting gift

3. Big potluck coffee hour on July 30

5. Update on Welcome plans for Fr. Symeon and Kh. Jing - coordinator - Alli

1. Send a letter to ALL clergy in Iowa City

2. Press release

3. Big potluck coffee hour on Aug 6 - fish only

4. Ice cream after Vespers; tie this into Sunday School kickoff

5. Sign up sheet for parishioners to host meals in their homes with Fr. Symeon’s family and one other parish family. Once every three weeks, with the goal that Fr. Symeon meets everyone in the parish in an in-home setting

6. Iowa-themed welcome basket - present on Aug 6 - Becky

6. Pack and play request

7. Treasurer’s report

1. Charitable giving - list of organizations

2. Insurance quotes

8. Ministry Reports

1. Food Pantry

1. Safety issues in food pantry 

2. Stewardship committee (Austin)

1. Update on annual giving campaign

3. Building maintenance

1. Water issue in food pantry

2. Gutters

3. Tree branches

4. Ditch lily area

4. Reporting procedures when issues arise

9. Old business

1. Reaching out to city about tree in easement

10. Review of action items and assignees 

11. Gratitude and “good of the parish” comments

1. Farewell, Father!

12. Adjourn

Next meeting will be August 19, 2023, 2:00 - 4:00 pm via Zoom

July 22 Vespers at 4pm

        In order to accommodate the farewell dinner which follows, Great Vespers is moved to 4pm on Saturday, July 22.

Fr. Ignatius Will be Out of Town

        During the week of July 24-29, Fr. Ignatius will be attending the Archdiocese Convention in Phoenix.  There will be no office hours or hours prayers scheduled that week.  His last Sunday at St. Raphael will be July 30!

Young Adult Conference- Save the Date!

        The Connect Orthodox Young Adult Conference will be taking place in Minneapolis, MN September 29-October 1, 2023! This is a Pan-Orthodox conference bringing together young adults ages 21-39 from across the country. We’re excited to welcome Father Joshua Makoul, Father Seraphim Majmudar, Mother Macrena, and Dan Christopolous as our speakers! The conference will revolve around the theme of Refuge (Matthew 11:28). In addition to speaker presentations, we will have a service event, worship services, and social events. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connectorthodox or check the website connectorthodox.org for more information. Registration opens July 17th. Questions? Email in...@connectorthodox.org.

New Mailing Address for Fr. Ignatius and Kh. Maria

        As of August 1, their new mailing address will be:

214 Williamsburg Dr., Apt. 4

Thiensville, WI 53092

Their phone numbers and email addresses will stay the same.  

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 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 is now posted.

Next Sunday's Gospel Reading

        On Sunday July 30 we will hear the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:14-22 https://www.antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/3534

Food for Thought

        Go into the church, and a spiritual dew will envelop your soul. The stillness there moves you to awe, and teaches you how to live spiritually. 

-St. John Chrysostom

________________________________

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)

Our remaining schedule is the following:

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.