Revelations v2.2 - October 2006 | Antiochian.org Orthodox Church

REVELATIONS

The Fellowship of St. John the Divine Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 2,

October 2006

In this issue:

Message from Fr. Paul, Spiritual Advisor
Fall Gathering in Syracuse, NY
Diocesan Retreat in Toronto
OCF College Conference
New Fellowship Chapter in Montreal
Orthodox Unity in North America
Archdiocese Convention in Montreal: Summer 2007

Message from Fr. Paul Solberg

“For everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Falls Greetings to Everyone!!!

Just the other day, our younger son asked me if I knew that this was his favorite time of year, due to all the “bright fall colors gushing out of the hillsides and lining the rivers.” However he had one caveat: “But Dad, I don’t like the miserable weather that’s just around the corner!” Each of us tends to love one season better than another. That’s for sure!

Recently, our Diocesan clergy had the privilege to meet together with our beloved Bishop ALEXANDER for a spiritual retreat, a season of refreshment. Our menu of nourishment included times for worship and prayer … learning and care … reflection and sharing. Thank you Sayedna for providing such a nourishing, spiritual oasis.

As Orthodox Christians, our liturgical and ministry life is a continuous cycle of God’s grace. Our nourishment, our sustenance, our daily diet of God’s blessings, is but a prayer away: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” The fruit of this prayer brings many, mini oases with the Lord regardless of the demands of the day.

I hope we all will experience the every-present touch of God, moment by moment, whether home or away, at school or work, in leisure or worship, in snow or sunny beaches … becoming better carriers of the Holy Spirit. May His light radiate through us helping others come into contact with Him to “know that whatever God does endures forever;” (Ecclesiastes 3:14). The many seasons of His grace should not be a secret. Every day, may we brighten our landscapes with colors of His grace.

Father Paul, Spiritual Advisor

The Fellowship of St. John the Divine

Fall Gathering in Syracuse

The Fall Delegates’ Gathering will be hosted by St. Elias Orthodox Church in Syracuse October 27 and October 28, 2006. Accommodations are as follows:

Best Western Fairgrounds

670 State Fair Boulevard

Syracuse, NY

13209-1308 US

Phone: 315-484-0044

Fax: 315-484-0045

Book room under St. Elias Orthodox Church or give block #0347.

Diocesan Retreat in Toronto

Join us for an enriching retreat hosted by St. George Church in Richmond Hill, Ontario Nov. 10-Nov.12, 2006. Fr. Anthony Michael will lead a discussion on “Finding God in Daily Life”. There is no charge for this event. Please follow this link for more information on the Toronto Retreat.

OCF College Conference

Each year, the National Orthodox Christian Fellowship, a campus ministry organization, hosts a week-long retreat for college students on the East and West coasts. It was started several years ago by the Campus Ministry branch of the Antiochian Archdiocese and has since been opened up to include Orthodox students across the continent. Click on the image on the right to see a poster.

New Fellowship Chapter in Montreal

A new Fellowship chapter has emerged in Montreal, combining young adults from St. George and St. Nicholas Churches. The group is focused on holding spiritual, humanitarian and social events with the established Fellowship at St. Mary’s Church.

Orthodox Unity in North America

During the NAC Mid-summer meetings, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine committed, among other goals, to educate ourselves, and spread word about recent developments towards Orthodox Unity, or more appropriately, REUNION, in North America. Here are some links for your reading:

Documents produced at the historical gathering of SCOBA in Ligonier in 1994: http://www.antiochian.org/1040
AGAIN Magazine, a subscription-based publication of Conciliar Press of our Archdiocese, issued a Special Issue on Orthodox Unity last Summer. A few articles are made available for free through Antiochian.org.
Our Hierarchs in North America had a "significant meeting" in Chicago on Oct. 3-6. You can read their daily releases and other releases on the SCOBA website. Of particular interest is the Official Communiqué issued at the closing of the conference affirming the need to bear witness together to our spiritual and moral concerns.