Revelations v1.2 - January 2006
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Revelations
Volume 1, Issue 2, January 2006
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Inside this issue:
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Message From Fr. Paul Solberg
Greetings to our much beloved Bishop ALEXANDER and all our Brothers and Sisters in Christ as we come into another year glorifying and serving the Triune God.
Entering a new year generally means individual resolutions aimed towards personal accomplishments. For us in this dynamic new diocese, we enter the new year united in love and obedience around our new bishop. We are parishes from two countries that have a common life in Christ whether from large or small communities of faith. Thankfully, we don’t labor alone in the vineyards of the Lord for we are one in Christ … and … we have unlimited resources just a prayer away.
St. John of Kronstadt wrote that we have help on our journey through life. Namely, we have spiritual guides who can assist our growth by teaching “us spiritual wisdom, (in) how to conquer sins, how to love God and our neighbor.” St. John wrote that “We ought to have the most lively spiritual union with dwellers in heaven, … the saints … as they are members of the one body, the Church of Christ, to which we sinners also belong, and the living Head of which is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is why we call upon them in prayer, converse with them, thank and praise, them. It is urgently necessary for every Christian to be in union with them if he desires to make Christian progress; for the saints are our friends, our guides to salvation, who pray and intercede for us.” So may the year of the Lord 2006, bring each of us into closer bonds of love within our parishes and across our national borders under the leadership of Sayedna ALEXANDER. May we continue this service of love drawing upon the heavenly, saintly resources of which St. John wrote. And, may each of us join together in the challenges that lie ahead simultaneously participating with and drawing upon all the rich, infinite assets that our Lord so graciously provides for the welfare of his Church. Then by God’s grace, we may make the most of every opportunity as the Lord directs. Your servant in Christ, The Rev. Fr. Paul A. Solberg Spiritual Advisor, FSJD |
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Archimandrite Ephraim Kyriakos, a beloved monk from St. Michael’s Monastery in Biskinta, Lebanon, visited several cities in Canada during the month of October to enlighten our minds with asceticism. He truly is a beacon of Orthodoxy as he demonstrated to us acts of piety and monastic life in the midst of the loud and fast-paced North American lifestyle.
Read more about his visit here.
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As Christians, we are called to clothe the naked, heal the sick, and feed the hungry. But how can we act upon this message? Do we give to beggars on the street, do we volunteer at the hospital? Food for the Hungry People (FFHP) is a Felloswship of St. John the Divine organization that facilitates just this, and allows us to fulfill the message of Jesus Christ by feeding those that are less fortunate. Read about how you can participate by reading a message by Elizabeth Lia, the the project’s coordinator in our diocese.
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OCF Real Break
Calling all college students and young adults!
“What are you doing on spring break?” “Daytona beach, Cancun, Porto Vellarta…..yeah!” Sounds like fun, but consider this...ever think about serving humanity during Spring Break? The Real Break program offers a one week trip to various destinations around the world where one will live in a Christian community and lend a hand in social programs at orphanages, or contribute to building homes for underprivileged families. Truly a “life changing experience”. Watch the Real Break video, look at some of the pictures from last year and think about it...
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Eleanor Kinan, our Creative Festivals coordinator, recently had an episode with blood clots and thank God, she's pulling through. She was admitted to a Nursing home for rehabilitation and was supposed to be out in time to celebrate the Nativity with her family. Please keep her in your prayers, that the dear Lord may restore her to good health.
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If you would like to submit news about your parish, an update about a program you're coordinating, or share prayer requests, please send me your text by the 25th of each month so I can include it in the next issue of the newsletter. Check out the Fellowship website for updates at http://www.antiochian.org/fellowship/canam |
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Tom Saba, Newsletter Editor |
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