Service booklets for all of the Holy Week services are available if you would like to purchase a set.  These books do not only allow you to follow the unfolding of the service, but also to prepare by studying the texts of the services ahead of time.  All of the books are now being sold by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.  There should still be plenty of time to order them if you are interested.  Each booklet is a convenient 4" x 6" with a paper cover.  The available booklets are the following:

Wrap-up of our Great Lent Retreat with Fr. Thomas Hopko (Mar 1, 2010)

By all accounts we had a remarkably successful retreat on Saturday.  We had tremendous participation with many guests from all around the tri-state area and very good parish participation.  Mickey Callender informed me that the "count" for Saturday morning was 122.  Everything went smoothly, with great help by many of our parish faithful in preparing, serving and cleaning-up.  As usual, our lenten meals were delicious.  Fr. Hopko was his usual dynamic self, with two wonderful presentations on "The Crucified and Glorified Messiah."
 
I am wondering if Fr. Hopko's inspiring talks will lead to the following:

• greater parish participation in the liturgical services for the remainer of Great Lent and then Holy Week;
• more reading of the Holy Scriptures;
• a greater sense of commitment to prayer, almsgiving and fasting;
• a thorough and heartfelt confession of sins;
• a renewed sense of love of both God and neighbor;
• and a re-examination of the nature of our commitment to the "crucified and glorified Messiah" - our Lord Jesus Christ - to mention some of the more immediate expressions of our Orthodox Christian Faith.

I believe that the real fruits of a great retreat are found in the longer-lasting results of personal transformation that extend beyond the initial enthusiasm generated by the event itself.  Hopefully, that will be the case with all of us who were present on Saturday for a wonderful retreat.

Fr. Steven

Both our Orthodox Christian Meditations Blog and our Orthodox Q&A Blog now feature comments, search and subscription functions. Please give it a try next time you wish to respond to Fr Steven with your thoughts, insights or further info regarding a post. May it be blessed!

Presvytera and I returned late last night (Jan 27) from Louisville, where we particpated in the Anointing Service on behalf of Fr. Alexander Atty.  Fr. Alexander is the head priest at St. Michael the Archangel Antiochian Orthodox Church.  Roberta and Scott were also there, so Roberta was anointed as were many others who were ill.  As I informed everyone yesterday, Fr. Alexander is suffering from stage four colon cancer, so he is fully aware of the battle ahead of him.  His surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 2, the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord.

We sent about $800.00 to IOCC for the Haitian earthquake relief effort.  We decided to send in our collection about every two weeks, as this relief effort is an ongoing project.  We will continue to collect on behalf of Haiti and the earthquake survivors in the upcoming weeks. You can also donate to IOCC through the link on our main page.

Immerse yourself in the 'bright sadness' of Great Lent! Fr. Steven's Meditations set the tone for and remind us of the goal of our Lenten effort. All services are now posted on our Worship Schedule page. Spend some time investigating the materials on our website's Great Lent page, as well as our very special GREAT LENT ~ RESOURCES for the JOURNEY site, newly refreshed and relaunched for 2010.

Fr Thomas Hopko to speak at two classes Monday, March 1, and at an OCF event that evening. Also, the Third Annual OCF Retreat is announced for March 19-21. Check the OCF page for full info...

Incredibly, we were able to send a check for $4,215.00 to the Hogar as the final step in our recent Nativity Appeal.  Since this total exceeds the required amount for a one-year sponsorship for a particular child, the "extra" funds will be placed in a secure account for her future support and sponsorship, according to Madre Ines.
 
There is one change I would like to inform everyone of:  the initial child we chose to support was quite unexpectedly ordered by the Guatemalan court to be sent back to her mother.  This was not anticipated by the Hogar but, of course, they complied with the court order.  After discussing this with Mother Ines, we shifted our sponsorship over to another young girl.  Her name is Francesca Maria, and she will turn eight on July 12.  We also met her on our last Mission Team to the Hogar in June, and became friends with her.  She is a lovely little girl, very lively and goodhearted.  Madre Ivonne says that she loves music and has a beautiful voice.  But, as with all children at the Hogar, a child with a sad history behind her.  Now that we know her name, please keep Francesca Maria in your prayers, and ask your children to do the same.  We will have opportunities during the year to correspond with her in various ways.
 
It is a huge moral, psychological, and emotional boost to a child who knows that he/she is being personally sponsored by concerned Orthodox Christians from around the world.  The given child then knows that he/she is cared about by others in a special way.  Madre Ivonne just informed me that Francesca was told of her sponsorship and that she was "so happy."   We will soon receive a card from her, hopefully with a photo.
 
I have seen and heard of various Christian churches here in the States - including right here in Cincinnati - speak about their great concern for some of the orphanages in Haiti that they are connected to, and for the safety of the children there following the earthquake.  This heightened anxiety is rooted in personal contacts and developed relationships with these children following visits to certain Haitian orphanages by these churches.  I can much more deeply understand their fears and anxieties, as we, too, have a deep international connection with the Hogar San Rafael in Guatemala, and know many of the children there through personal contact over the years through many of our parishioners.
 
I noticed a new book at the local bookstore entitled Give a Little - How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World, by Wendy Smith.  I am not implying that everyone is making a "small donation," but if I am reading the meaning of this title correctly, the author is explaining, through her experience as a "fund-raiser," how donations add up in such a way that they make a significant impact.  (I did notice some of our children at the Cross stop and place a "small donation" into the basket when we were collecting.  But is was "big" in terms of its meaning). That is exactly what is happening in our parish.  As a parish community/family our individual donations, whatever the size may be, are "adding up" in a significant manner as in this latest example of fully supporting this child with the generous check that we just sent in.

Visit this Special Page honoring our beloved Archbishop Job, who reposed suddenly in the Lord on December 18. Featuring articles, reflections by Fr. Steven, audio, video and photos from a wide range of sources...