Bishop THOMAS visits Holy Cross Church in Linthicum, MD
From Fr. Gregory Mathews-Green:
Holy Cross Church, Linthicum, MD, was honored to host the visit of His Grace Bishop THOMAS during the weekend of our 15th Anniversary Patronal Feast Weekend (September 13-14). The festivities included Great Vespers, a Grand Banquet, and the Sunday Divine Services, at which Sayedna THOMAS presided, preached and ordained two new subdeacons: 
At the conclusion of Saturday's Vespers, Sayedna blessed our newly-renovated Parish Hall and congratulated the congregation for their dedication and hard work in completing the project. In addition, Sayedna met with the ladies of the Antiochian Women for Saturday brunch and conversation. Because His Grace arrived early, we were also able to arrange visits to three OCF [Orthodox Christian Fellowship] sites: the Naval Academy, St John's College in Annapolis (www.annapoliscollegeministry.org), and the University of Maryland/Baltimore County (www.sta.umbc.edu/orgs/ocf/):
Bishop THOMAS Visits St. George Church in Houston, TX
Bishop THOMAS visited St. George's Church in Houston, Texas on September 7, 2008:
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2008 Parish Life Conference for the Eastern Dioceses
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP and presided over by His Grace Bishop THOMAS, the 2008 Parish Life Conference for the Eastern Dioceses was held July 2-6 at the Embassy Suites, in Charleston, West Virginia. The conference was hosted by St. George Orthodox Cathedral, located across the street from the hotel.
On Wednesday evening, the clergy and their families enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner hosted by Phil & Gigi Michael. The meal was graciously prepared and served by members of the parish.
Bp. THOMAS Visits St. George in Altoona for its 90th Anniversary
Fr. Stephen Lourie writes:
Our annual visit with Bishop THOMAS began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on August 14 and concluded with a banquet celebrating 90 years of service to our Lord in Altoona, Pennsylvania at the Holy parish of St. George on August 17.
During his arch-pastoral visit our beloved bishop met with our parish council over dinner, presided over a church picnic and outdoor Vespers, and celebrated Divine services. In addition, he met with parishioners, enjoyed an historical video presentation of the history of our holy parish and enrolled two new members into the Order of St. Ignatius.
(upper left and right: Hierarchical Dive Liturgy
left: Banquest w/Bishop THOMAS)
Prayers for Deliverance from Hurricanes
O LORD JESUS CHRIST HAVE MERCY ON US SINNERS!
As you saved your apostles from perishing in a storm by calming wind and waves on you command, so now keep us safe and sound in this hurricane season. Grant us favorable and benign weather. Protect us from the unpredictable elements of nature. Steer us from storm, flood, fire, illness, injury, disaster and sudden death. Preserve us from all evil and harm for we, though sinful, are nonetheless the work of Your hands. And You together with your Father who has no beginning and Your all holy good and life giving Spirit are our God in whom we live, move, and have being. Now and ever and unto ages and ages. Amen.
MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS SAVE US!
Seeing how your holy and powerful maternal intercessions and safe haven for the storm tossed, count us worthy of your prayers during this season of uncertain and threatening weather. Beg your divine human Son to grant us mercy, forgiveness, health, safety and salvation over the coming months. For He is sure to listen to you, His mother, the woman whom all generations call blessed. Amen.
ALL HOLY PROPHET ELIAS!
As the Lord gave you control over droughts and rainfall to prove His power to the wayward and unbelieving, plead with Him to keep stormy weather, heavy rains and destructive winds away from us. Help us with your heavenly intercessions for we know the prayer of a righteous man like you is powerful and effective as God is wondrous in His Saints. Amen.
Mission Trip to Kingwood, West Virginia
Brian Cavalier reports:
Well Done
In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965: “The Congress hereby finds and declares that the Appalachian region of the United States, while abundant in natural resources and rich in potential, lags behind the rest of the nation in its economic growth and its people have not shared in the nation’s prosperity.” More than 22 million people live in the 406 counties that comprise Appalachia, embracing 13 states. West Virginia is the only state entirely contained in that region. The most distinctive trait that was and still is thought of when referring to the Appalachian people is their poverty.
Bishop THOMAS visits Holy Trinity Mission in Lynchburg, VA
His Grace, Bishop THOMAS made his visitation to Holy Trinity Mission on our Patronal Feast of the Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity, June 22, 2008. At Vespers on Saturday and at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, His Grace charged our mission to reach out more effectively to our community, especially by developing a ministry of inquiry and hospitality to the downtown area. In response, we have secured a prime location to meet at 715 Main Street downtown, and will soon begin holding services and informational events there for the community, and hopefully soon developing an outreach to Liberty University with the help of Fr. Peter Gillquist. Our children presented His Grace with a "Dangerous Book for Bishops" (patterned on the popular "Dangerous Book for Boys") with their photos and icons of their patron Saints, and drawings of the many ministries of the Bishop as Shepherd, Administrator, etc. We thank God for His Grace's vision and love and for giving us a much-needed exhortation to service.
Bp. Thomas Visits St. Mary Church, Hunt Valley, MD
The blessings of the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul were indeed many as the weekend was graced by the visit of Bishop THOMAS. He arrived on Friday with Subdeacon Simeon, a seminarian at St. Tikhon’s. Over dinner with the Parish Council, Sayidna spoke of serious matters with wisdom and also entertained the members with his wealth of delightful stories.
His Grace had a busy Saturday beginning with a luncheon in his honor hosted by the Ladies Society. The delicious food fed our bodies while our souls were nourished and uplifted by the Bishop’s inspirational talk before lunch and his laughter-producing tales during dessert.
At Great Vespers Sayidna spoke of the miracles that were happening at our parish. Growth has taken place in many areas since our Pastor, Fr. Theodoros Daoud, came to shepherd us less than three years ago. The Sunday School, Teen Soyo, and the Choir are all flourishing. Most importantly, the weekly services of the Paraklesis, Great Vespers, Orthros, and the Divine Liturgy are securely in place. Fr. Theodoros is a spiritual father who encourages his children to come regularly to Confession and Communion.
Bishop THOMAS Visits the Church of the Holy Spirit in Huntington, WV
On the weekend of June 14-15, Bishop THOMAS visited the Church of Holy Spirit in Huntington, West Virginia, to celebrate the parish’s patron feast of Pentecost. The weekend began with the celebration of the Soul Saturday Divine Liturgy. Following the service, Sayedna met with parishioners over brunch. During the evening, following Great Vespers, the Parish Council hosted the bishop at Rocco’s Ristorante.
Bishop THOMAS Visits Antiochian Village
The staff at Antiochian Village report that the beginning of summer has been a blessed one at the Village, where Bishop THOMAS much of mid-June with the staff and campers. Not only has he served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, June 18, along with daily Orthros and Vespers, but he has been active among the youth. While walking the grounds of the camp, he has spent much of his time speaking with the young boys and girls about their experiences. On occasion, Bishop THOMAS will also jump into one of the activities with the campers. His sermons have not only been inspiring, but well received; as campers have already put to use his teachings. The campers have truly responded to Bishop THOMAS in the most loving way, and God willing, he will be visiting the Village as often as possible for the remainder of the summer.