Greek Orthodox Archdiocese E-Bulletin January 4, 2008
This is the weekly edition of the GOA E-Bulletin. For more information just click on the links below to go to the topics of interest to you.
If the link does not work from your email, copy the link and paste it into the address bar of your web browser.
FEAST OF THEOPHANY: The Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is this Sunday, January 6. Visit this special site for the background of the feast, an explanation of the icon, hymns, readings and more.
http://www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/epiphany/learn/
LATEST UPDATES ABOUT THE 2008 ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The Oratorical Festival, now entering its 25th year, provides young people an opportunity to research, prepare, and deliver a speech on topics related to their Greek Orthodox faith and heritage. To view the latest press release and other information about the festival, including the 2008 topics, tips & bibliography visit:
http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof.asp
NATIONAL ORTHODOX RADIO PROGRAM: On this week's Come Receive the Light, THE NATIONAL ORTHODOX RADIO PROGRAM, Fr. Chris will be speaking with Dr. Anthony Limberakis concerning the important issue of "The Continuing Plight of the Patriarch of Constantinople." Click in to our two streaming web programs, The Ark and The Rudder, at any time. On Special Moments in Orthodoxy, Dr. Clark Carlson and Frank Schaeffer will be speaking on Orthodox Icons, and on Theologically Thinking, Fr. Stanley Harakas will be speaking about a subject it seems if constantly in the news: "Politics." Tune in to The ARKâ??s Featured Artist Block, where you can listen to the music of Justin Matthews.
Each day on The ARK and The RUDDER you can hear a different show from â??The Best of Come Receive the Light,â?? favorite interviews from past episode of CRTL. During January 7 - 11 we will be playing "Conversion in Interfaith Marriage" (1/7), "The Difference Between Dieting and Fasting" (1/8), "The Orthodox Church in Media" (1/9), "Raising Children to Be Believers" (1/10), and "Six Months to Live" (1/11).
2008 ECCLESIASTICAL CALENDARS AVAILABLE: The full-color twelve month wall calendars produced by the Dept. of Communications are now available. Individual calendars are $5 or $4 for orders of three or more. To order call 212-774-0244.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PARISH LIFE STUDY: The Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI) is looking for volunteers to participate in the recently launched "Parish Life" project. The PAOI - a pan-Orthodox educational center in Berkeley, California - is known for its recent study "Evolving Visions of the Orthodox Priesthood in America" which explored personal and professional lives of American Orthodox clergy. For more information go to:
http://www.goarch.org/en/special/2007paoistudy/
IONIAN VILLAGE IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR STAFF: Ionian Village is now accepting staff applications! Ionian Village staff members have a unique opportunity to play an important role in the spiritual, cultural and social development of Orthodox teens from all over the U.S. as they travel to the most significant religious and cultural sites in Greece! To learn more and how you can apply visit
ONLINE SURVEY ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES: The Department of Communications has been running a series of surveys on issues and topics of the day that affect Orthodox Christians and society at large. The site features a brief survey that affords participants the opportunity to interact with the Archdiocese and offer their responses to various issues. The surveys and survey results are published in the Orthodox Observer. To complete the newest on-line survey on â??Young Adults and Church Attendance,â?? go to
2008 PARISH STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES AVAILABLE: The 2008 Stewardship Program packet will be mailed out to every Greek Orthodox parish in America in October 2007. The packet includes two posters with this yearâ??s Stewardship theme, a Stewardship Ministry Guidelines booklet (a step-by-step guide to all aspects of an annual Stewardship program), and a CD-ROM of Stewardship resources. All files on the CD-ROM are available below, as well. For questions related to the 2008 Stewardship Program, please email stewardship@goarch.org or call the Office of Parish Development at (847) 825-1432. For information online visit
http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/parishdevelopment/campaigns .asp
RESOURCES FROM THE ORTHODOX MARKETPLACE: The Orthodox Marketplace now offers books and materials from the Family Ministries, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Greek Education departments. You can preorder "The Planner 2007-2008" by visiting http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/product.php?productid=18930 . The tabletop prayer guide for families is also available online at http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/product.php?productid=19024 . The entire Greek Education catalog can be visited on-line at http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/home.php?cat=547 . The Orthodox Marketplace is the official on-line store of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Please visit and encourage others to support the Orthodox Marketplace site as well.
SUPPORT THE ARCHDIOCESE WHILE SEARCHING THE WEB: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has partnered with GoodSearch.com, a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. To use GoodSearch.com and support the ministries of the Archdiocese, simply go to:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=833607