This past Sunday Father Job mentioned that the Thanksgiving encyclical of Metropolitan HILARION included an appeal for funds for the Fund For Assistance. The Fund helps our clergy in need, our youth, who chose to live their lives in the church, and those suffering from natural disasters.

Please take a moment to read the Metropolitan’s encyclical and view the two videos on that page. The first video is about the Fund for Assistance itself and how it works to help the church, our monasteries, clergy, youth, and those in need. The second video provides a contrast of the world’s view and the church’s view of Nativity, and of course the contrast is striking.

There is a jar by the offering plates for donations to the Fund for Assistance. If you write a check, please make it out to St. Nektarios Church and note “Fund for Assistance” in the memo. We will gather those donations and send one offering from the church at month’s end. Thank you for your generosity.

Friday, November 22nd, we will have Divine Liturgy to honor our patron, Saint Nektarios. The hours will being at 8:40 and Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:00.

We will not have Vigil on Saturday, but we will have Divine Liturgy as usual on Sunday (10 a.m., Hours at 9:40).

We will have our festal meal for Saint Nektarios on Sunday, but feel free to bring fast-appropriate food on Friday for those who can stay.

If you would be interested in purchasing a St. Herman of Alaska calendar for 2014, please use the sign-up sheet on the refrigerator that will be posted this weekend. Magdalena plans to send in the order by mid-November.

Next year’s calendars will feature the Saints of Romania. These are the 8.5 x 11 “magazine” style calendars with the daily readings, monthly feature of a Saint, an lengthy article on the featured Saints, information on fasting, etc. The cost will depend on how many we order, but would be no more than $10.00.

If you are unfamiliar with the St. Herman calendars we have a few 2013 ones on hand. They are by the book ministry books, standing up between the boxes that hold the books.

We will be getting wall calendars also, but the price and arrival time will not be known for another couple weeks.

Mark your calendars — after Divine Liturgy on Sunday October 6th we will have our church picnic. The picnic will be held at the church. More details forthcoming.

Fr. Parthenios

Fr. Parthenios and Archimandrite John from Holy Cross Monastery on Long Island, NY will be visiting with us this weekend. Fr. Parthenios will be giving an informal talk on Saturday, July 27th, between 3 and 5 pm. All are welcome; we hope you can make it. (Note: There will not be a vigil this Saturday.)

If you would like to bring some light snacks & refreshments on Saturday, feel welcome to do so, but not obligated. No meat please in consideration of the monks; they will especially enjoy fish, seafood, cheeses, dairy, etc.

The Monastery of the Glorious Ascension in Resaca, GA has invited our parish and other parishes in the region to celebrate their patronal feast on Thursday, June 13, 2013. The monastery is about 1 hour 45 minutes from our parish and directions can be found here. Divine Liturgy will start around 10 a.m. with Bishop Jerome in attendance. A meal will follow the service so please try to bring food or drink if you can. It will be a wonderful celebration of the feast of the Ascension of our Lord, and all that can attend are encouraged to make the journey.