|
|
Revelations
Volume 1, Issue 3, February 2006
|
||||||||||||
|
Inside this issue:
|
|||||||||||||
|
A few words from Father Paul
Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Greetings to you the faithful in the Name of the Holy Trinity! During the 1st weekend of this month, Antiochian Christians will arrive at The Village for the 2006 Mid-Winter Conference for worship & prayer, reports & testimonies, food & fellowship and plans & commitments. I ask for your devout prayers for God’s traveling mercies as well as for the Lord’s wisdom during these deliberations. With grateful hearts, we ask for your prayers, taking nothing for granted.
As I write to you, I am reminded that just last week a semi-truck sheered- off 3 power poles sliding over 300 feet just outside the front doors of St. George. Thankfully, people and property were not damaged except for the truck and 3 huge utility poles. By the next morning, nobody would be able to tell that such an accident occurred that afternoon. Coincidentally, only 4 days earlier, 40-45 cars were parked on the roadside at this exact location for a 17 year old boy’s funeral. He too had fallen asleep behind the wheel, fatally crashing. One near-miss and one tragic loss of life occurred within 4 days. St. James wrote: “You who say: ‘Today or tomorrow, we’ll go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money. Why, you don’t even know what’ll happen tomorrow. What is your life? You’re a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, if it is the Lord’s will, we’ll live and do this or that.” The Psalmist wrote: “… our days are like grass … each day has value if lived in the wisdom of the Lord.” Whatever our intentions may be, driving to school, to Divine Services, to The Village or just for pleasure, Orthodox Christians are taught to pray: “God willing.” Elder Cleopa, instructed: “Do not do anything without signing yourself with the sign of the Cross! When you depart on a journey, when you begin your work, when you go to study, when you are alone, and when you are with other people, seal yourself with the holy Cross … All of you should be sealed with the sign of Christ’s victory over hell.”
What comfort we have when we are united with Him Who holds our lives in His hands! Seeking to use our time wisely is our duty. God-willing, may we gratefully make the most of our opportunities.
Fr. Paul Solberg |
|||||||||||||
|
The Children’s Relief Fund (CRF) is an organization which coordinates the sponsorship of needy children in Lebanon. It started in the 80’s and has supported hundreds of children through the generous donations of Americans and Canadians. Take a minute to read more about what the CRF does and how you can get involved in this very important outreach program by reading Diala Habib’s CRF announcement. |
|||||||||||||
|
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...
|
|||||||||||||
|
Mid-Winter Meetings at the Village
This weekend, the FSJD delegates from the Diocese of Ottawa will be heading to the Antiochian Village for the annual mid-winter meetings. Please pray for their safe journey and a fruitful, productive session. Meeting minutes will be posted upon their return. Until then, feel free to review the president’s report that will be presented at the meetings.
|
|||||||||||||
|
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 |
|||||||||||||
|
Tom Saba, Newsletter Editor |
|||||||||||||
