Church Bulletin: July 2, 2023

[Fr. Ignatius Valentine]



Sunday July 2, 2023- The Placing of the Theotokos's Robe at Blachernae

Upcoming Services and Events

July 2, Sunday 

        + Matins, 8:45am

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

July 5, Wednesday

        + Akathist, 7:00pm

July 6, Thursday

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

July 8, Saturday

        + Great Vespers, 5:00pm

July 9, Sunday, 5th Sunday after Pentecost

        + Matins, 8:45am

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

      

Newest Announcements  . 

Upcoming Travel for Fr. Ignatius

        Fr. Ignatius will be traveling from July 3-8 and so there will be no office hours or Hours Prayers during that time.  

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 9 we will hear how Jesus delivered the two Gergesene demoniacs from the bondage of evil spirits. https://www.antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/3513 Matthew 8:28-9:1

Food for Thought

        "The essence of sin consists not in the infringement of ethical standards but in falling away from the divine eternal life for which man was made and to which, by his very nature, he is called." 

- St. Sophrony of Essex

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Recurring Announcements

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!

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 6- Chps. 5-6

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