Parish and Mission Building Resources
As Fr. Alexander Schmemann wrote, “To recover the missionary dimension of the church is today’s greatest imperative.” With the help of priests, bishops and active lay members of the Antiochian Archdiocese, antiochian.org has collected resources to help in parish and mission building. Today’s Orthodox Christians in Antiochian communities have more resources than ever before, and on this page clergy and laity will find updated information on every aspect of parish life and organization, from how to run parish council meetings to tips on running outreach programs. Share your favorite resources by e-mailing links and suggestions to: editor@antiochian.org.
Thanks from Holy Annunciation Chapel in Taos, NM
A note from Claire Brandenburg of DOWAMA's newest congregation, Holy Annunciation Chapel in Taos, New Mexico (served from Holy Trinity/Santa Fe):
Dear Bishop Basil and our brothers and sisters of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America:
We thank you so much for DOWAMA's monthly mission grant to Holy Annunciation Chapel here in Taos. We were pleased at our Saturday Divine Liturgy that Fr. John Bethancourt made two new catechumens. We are now blessed with a family of four that are our first disciples in Christ here in Taos. Your donation is greatly encouraging. By God's grace and mercy we will continue to grow in His Name. Thank you - thank you!
In Christ Jesus,
Claire Brandenburg and all at Holy Annunciation in Taos
Combating Secularism: PowerPoint Presentation for Clergy and Catechists
The presentation below was given to the Clergy Synaxis of the California Clergy of the Metropolis of San Francisco of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, on November 19, 2010, in Long Beach, CA. In many articles I have written, I have consistently pointed out the immediate and serious threat of secularism to Christ's teachings, the Church, our families, children and living a Christ-like life. Many of them are posted on Orthodoxy Today [www.orthodoxytoday.org/archive/morelli] and the Antiochian Archdiocese [http://www.antiochian.org/author/morelli] website.
These articles supply the substantive content and background to accompany this presentation. Parish priests and catechists may find this PowerPoint presentation with the relevant articles useful in giving workshops or leading discussion groups on this critical issue that confronts committed Orthodox Christians in today's non-Christian world.
"It behooves us to glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our salvation, life and Resurrection."
