Revelations v1.7 - June 2006

Message From Father Paul Solberg, Fellowship Spiritual Advisor
 
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord . . . he is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water . . . “ Jeremiah 17:7-8
 
This summer, as always when family and friends visit us here in Western New York, we’ll be sharing yet another experience of the powerful Niagara Falls. One never tires of experiencing this wonder of the world. The Falls are particularly awe-inspiring this time of year with the bright blue water flowing faster and faster along the fresh green vegetation of the river bank, ultimately cascading with a thunderous roar. A wispy white mist flows high into the air, dropping like rain, even on a cloudless day. Such awesomeness is as a constant reminder of our Creator and Sustainer.
 
Soon, we’ll be celebrating the amazing Feast of Pentecost and the sending down of the Holy Spirit. What a joy and privilege to still have the Lord God pouring out the Holy Spirit upon His people. What a privilege in knowing this third person of the Holy Trinity and being expected to be carriers of the Spirit of God into our communities.
 
Through our relationship with and dependence upon the Living God, we can become strongly rooted, fruit-bearers along the River of Life. A California wife and mother wrote: “With their feet on the ground and their heads in the sky, trees are much like us: arms lifted up in prayer, deep roots watered by the Word of God. That’s what grounds us in the faith and steadies us in the stormy seasons of our life.”
 
I’m looking forward to meeting with all of you who will be able to attend the Parish Life Conference in Richmond Hills, ON. Throughout this much anticipated weekend, one can be certain, as we gather together in His Name, that the Lord will have a blessing for those who draw near to Him in faith. May we all be blessed as He pours out His spirit upon us becoming more deeply rooted in our Orthodox Christian faith. 
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
The Rev. Fr. Paul A. Solberg

 

I’m sure many of you have seen or read “The Da Vinci Code”. Although it is a fun, fast-paced murder mystery that many of us probably enjoyed, there are many ideas that are inconsistent with our Orthodox Faith. Many of our friends and colleagues will ask us questions regarding Christianity as a result of this film and it is our duty to correct public misconceptions. The Antiochian Orthodox Archiocese website has posted several articles published by Orthodox Scholars which address this very issue. I therefore encourage all of you to take a look and try to understand our faith so that we can better live it and explain it to others.

 

The Davinci Code Articles
 

 

This will mark the 4th year of Camp Transfiguration, an Antiochian Orthodox Christian camp in Quebec. This camp is designed to enrich our young peoples’ lives through daily teaching, praying, appreciation of nature and fellowship with fellow Orthodox Christians. There are very few experiences a child can have that will give him/her such a direct and thorough exposure to Orthodoxy. This year, the camp will take place at Camp Tamaracouta, a boy scout-run facility, during the week of July 30-August 5, 2006. Please consider sending your children/godchildren/nieces and nephews to this camp. Also, the camp will only be as effective as the volunteers, staff and counselors that run it. That means you! Once again, click on the camp icon to learn more about the camp, see pictures from previous years and find out how you can get involved.