wfn.org | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese E-bulletin September 4, 2009

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> GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
> 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
> Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
> Web: http://www.goarch.org  - Email: communications@goarch.org

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese E-bulletin September 4, 2009

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 THE NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS: The Feast of the Nativity of
Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated
on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the
Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  The birth and early life of the
Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New
Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from
the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.  For
more information on this feast, the icon, readings, and hymns visit

http://www.goarch.org/special/listen_learn_share/vmnativity/index_html

COLLEGE STUDENT SUNDAY ? SEPTEMBER 20:: The Hierarchs of SCOBA have
issued an encyclical for the annual observance of College Student
Sunday.  As students return to school, parishes have a unique
opportunity to minister to those who may be far from home or to their
own college students, equipping them to remain faithful to God and to
their Orthodox faith.  In addition Orthodox Campus Fellowship, the
campus ministry program of SCOBA, offers resources, ministries, and
more to help in this critical effort to keep students connected to their  faith.

> For the encyclical visit:

> http://www.scoba.us/articles/2724.html

> For the OCF web site visit:

> http://www.ocf.net

BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES:  Visit the following sites for resources for
your parish ministries in religious education, Greek education, youth
and colleges students.  Plan and order now for your Fall programs.

Religious education: This site includes resources for supervisors,
teachers, and students.  Download the Resource Catalog, Praxis
magazine, and much more at

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/

Greek education: Visit this site to download the Book and Resource
Catalog, order resources online, to access Greek culture webquests,
and learn more about curriculum resources.

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/greekeducation/

Youth Ministry: The site for the Department of Youth and Young Adult
Ministries includes numerous resources to help you coordinate the
youth ministry program in your parish.  Order resources, sign up for
blogs and listservs, order the new planner, and download resources for
youth workers at

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/youth/

College Student/Campus Ministry:  Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
is the campus ministry program of SCOBA.  Visit the OCF web site for
news and programs, resources, and information and links to local
chapters.  Forward this site to the college students from your parish
and keep them connected to their faith and to other Orthodox
Christians on their campus.

> http://www.ocf.net

PLANNER FOR 2009-10 IS NOW AVAILABLE: The annual planner published by
the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is now available.
Use The Planner to keep track of all your schedules. Keep a daily
focus on Christ with Scriptural readings, fast days, prayers, saints
of the day, and inspiration from the Fathers. The Planner follows the
Ecclesiastical (church) year beginning in September and ending in
August. Spiral bound and digital versions available.  Order now at

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/youth/planner2009

INTER-ORTHODOX YOUNG ADULT RETREAT ?? SEPT. 25-27:
Registration is now open for the Inter-Orthodox Young Adult Retreat,
which will take place September 25-27, 2009.  This nation-wide retreat
will take place in Brookline, MA at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox School of Theology, and will welcome young adults from all
jurisdictions. This yearâ??s theme, God Created: From Created to
Creators, will focus on Orthodoxy and the arts. His Grace Bishop Savas
of Troas, the newly appointed Director of the Office of Church and
Society, will be the keynote speaker for the retreat, now in itâ??s
seventh year of existence. For retreat details, hotel information, and
online registration, please visit

> http://www.youth.goarch.org

> THIS WEEK FROM THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK

Come Receive the Light - The Nationally Syndicated Land Based Radio
Program: On this week's CRTL podcast: Fr. Mark Arey, General Secretary
Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops discusses issue
of unity of the Orthodox in North America has been on the lips of many
people. Watch for special reporting over the next several months from
people in the know concerning the historic meeting in Chambesy and its
ramifications for the Orthodox Christian Churches in America. Come and
listen as OCN reporting brings you up to date in a responsible and
knowledgeable way.

Internet Radio Stations - Listen to the Ark and the Rudder for
contemporary and traditional Orthodox music. Watch myocn.net for our
new talk-only streaming radio station, and keep an eye on our site for
our new iPhone application, which will allow you to listen to our
stations from your iPhone anywhere, 24/7.
This Weekâ??s Podcasts on myocn.net - This week, Harmony of Thunder
continues its enjoyment of St. Dorotheos of Gaza by looking at his
sermon entitled, "On Humility."  His use of scripture and interesting
monastic stories, along with the complexity of this most important of
Christian virtues, make this a program you will not want to miss. This
week on the Theologically Thinking podcast, Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks
on the beheading of John the Baptist. This week Beyond the Veil,
Presb. Jeannie answers the Challenge that some make on whether the
book of revelations was written during the reign of Emperor Domitian
or  Emperor Nero. New episodes of Get Wisdom and Just Thinking will
also be available this week.

50 for 50 Campaign

OCNâ??s call and mandate is to strengthen the Church and feed the
faithful, using modern technology to share the ancient faith of the
apostles with the world. That's why for the next 50 days, we hope to
find 50 people to make a commitment to donate $50 per month. If you
enjoy what OCN has done for you, your family and the Church, please
consider joining our special "50 for 50" group by committing to give
$50 a month, for 12 months. Go to myocn.net for more details.

All programs available on Internet Radio, Podcast and On Demand at
www.myocn.net.

ART OF SPEAKING WORKSHOP: The Art of Speaking Workshop will be held
Monday, September 28th ? Thursday, October 1, 2009 at Hellenic
College/Holly Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Basic to the
calling of the priesthood is the ability to communicate the Gospel
with clarity and conviction and at the same time be leaders who truly
serve.  The workshop is being sponsored by the Archdiocesan Presbyters
Council.  For registration information and a special message from His
Eminence Archbishop Demetrios visit

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/affiliates/apc

NEW â??FAITH AND LIFEâ?? RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE: The Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America has announced the publication of the
new â??Faith and Life: Orthodox Christianityâ?? series with the
release of two web-based pamphlets on the topics of â??Fastingâ? ? and
the â??Dating of Easter in the Orthodox Church.â??  A third  pamphlet
focused on â??Holy Weekâ?? will be available early next week.   These
pamphlets and the â??Faith and Lifeâ?? series are available for  free.
Intended to be placed in the Narthex, these pamphlets are designed to
assist parishesâ?? ministries and outreach and the spiritual life and
growth of Orthodox Christians by providing an introduction to a wide
range of spiritual, social, and theological issues. In the initial
launch of the series, the Archdiocese is publishing the pamphlets as
both web pages and as PDF files that can be viewed online or
downloaded and printed on legal size paper for distribution.  The
resources will also be featured in Bulletin Builder
(http://bulletin.goarch.org).  As additional topics and pamphlets are
published, the resource will be available in a format that can be
customized by parishes or ordered in a print version for use in
display racks.  The variety of formats is intended to assist parishes
in providing quality literature on Orthodox Christianity for outreach
to the unchurched and for parish educational and catechetical programs.

To access and download the pamphlets, visit the Faith and Life
website.  As additional pamphlets are produced they will also be made
available at

> http://faith.goarch.org

ORTHODOX MILITARY BIBLE NOW AVAILABLE: The New Testament and Psalms in
a pocket size volume - ideal to pack and carry. The Orthodox Military
New Testament also includes devotional morning and evening prayers, a
page to list the living and the dead for prayer, 8 full-color icon
plates, and a devotional piece on the ten commandments and integrity
in military service. The New Testament & Psalms for Orthodox
Christians Military Edition is developed with the Standing Conference
of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) for
distribution to the Orthodox Christian men and women of the armed
services all over the world. Biblical text is the RSV.

> For more information and ordering visit

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&pr
oduct_id=19242

DAILY BIBLE READINGS FOR FACEBOOK AND iGoogle: The Department of
Internet Ministries has launched an enhancement to its Online Chapel
service that will now provide Facebook and iGoogle users access to the
daily Bible readings and lives of the saints directly from their
customized home pages. Visit the Online Chapel at
http://www.goarch.org/chapel  for more information on how to add the
new Online Chapel for Facebook and Online Chapel for iGoogle to your home  pages

> FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

New On-line Group for Religious Educators - The Department of
Religious Education has created Orthodox Christian Religious Educators
a group on Facebook so that teachers and other interested youth
workers can share ideas, discuss programs. The Facebook group is the
latest attempt of the Department to bring Orthodox Christian Religious
Educators together. The group is open to anyone who works with young
people in Orthodox Christian parishes, whether as a clergyman, a
Sunday Church school teacher, supervisor, a youth group advisor,
interested parent, or others.  For those already using Facebook,
search for the group and join.  For those not using Facebook, you will
have to join the social networking site (it's free).  Already the
group has hundreds of members with topics being discussed ranging from
Vacation Church School to teaching Environmental Stewardship.

Traveling on the Ark of Salvation: Feasts of the Theotokos - a
Vacation Church School program with daily lessons covering the Feasts
of the Virgin Mary, a daily puppet show, activities, crafts, hymns and
songs. Also available are t-shirts, posters, banners, and other
products. The entire kit is available for $79.95.

"Enter In": Four DVDs Explore Orthodox Christian Feasts - The
Department of Religious Education is excited to announce a major new
production. Entitled "Enter In," the resource includes sixteen
15-minute video presentations--over four hours of video?on four DVDs.
These presentations explore the major feasts of the Church, and the
meaning and purpose of Orthodox Christian worship. Other resources
include Discussion Questions, a web site, a Viewer's Companion, and a
Teacher's Guide. Full of interviews, music, hymns, icons, and
beautiful visuals, this rich resource will both inspire and provoke.
Designed for individual, family, or group study, it's the perfect
resource for a parish's Great Lent Bible study or adult church school
class! Call the Department at 800-566-1088 to order now, or visit

http://goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/feasts

ORTHODOX MARKETPLACE - www.orthodoxmarketplace.com

> --------------------

> Now available on the Orthodox Marketplace:

> The Planner 2009-2010

> ---------------------

The Planner is used by thousands of Orthodox Christians to keep track
of fasting periods, feastdays and of course their own schedules and
plans for the ecclesiastical year. The calendar runs from Sept 1, 2009
to Aug 31, 2010. The Planner is produced by the Department of Youth  Ministry.

You can purchase the 2009-2010 Planner online for $13.95 by going here
with your web browser:

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/calendars/the-planner-2009-2010.html

The Children's Bible Reader - English Edition - BACK IN STOCK

-------------------------------------------------------------

Having gone out of print after two runs, we have brought this
soon-to-be classic back into print. This title features the same
spread of bible stories from the old and new testament accompanied by
Byzantine-style illustrations. The tone and paraphrase of the text is
faithful to the biblical original. The stories walk the child through
the history of the faithful, the lessons of Christ to the disciples,
the experience of the apostles and the glory of God's Kingdom.

Now available for $19.99, bookstore and parish discounts are
available. Select 'Parish or School' or 'Bookstore' as your membership
on your user profile to apply for the discount.

You can purchase the Bible Reader in English here:

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/children-and-039s-1/childrens-bible
-reader-english-edition.html

SCOBA, the Orthodox Marketplace, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America, and the American Bible Society are partnering to offer the
acclaimed Children's Bible Reader to military families with children
at a 50% discount for a limited time.  Just fill out this survey to
receive your discount coupon:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229BUWPHN76

> Orthodox Military New Testament and Psalms

> ------------------------------------------

This special edition of the New Testament and Psalms includes several
full color icon plates, devotional prayers, short articles about faith
topics relevant to servicemen and women, pages to list the living and
the dead for personal prayer discipline. It is 4" x 6", softcover, and
fits easily in your pocket.

A suggested donation of $5 per copy is requested. Servicemen and
military chaplains may receive a coupon allowing them to get free
copies by filling out the following survey online:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey.zgi?p=WEB229B4RX2WD4

> New Music and Video

> -------------------

We have added several new titles to our catalog over the past few
weeks, including:

* Akathist to the Mother of God: Nurturer of Children (Based on the
text from St. Sergius Monastery)
* Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ DVD (aired on ABC around Pascha 2009)
* Jesus Prayer Rings - additional women's and men's sizes are now available.

Be sure to check our web page and subscribe to our newsletter for more
information as it becomes available.

> http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com

The Orthodox Marketplace is the Official Online Store of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese.

SUPPORT THE ARCHDIOCESE WHILE SEARCHING or SHOPPING ON 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

> For online shopping visit

> http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx

GAMES ONLINE TO EXPLORE AND LEARN THE ORTHODOX FAITH: The Department
of Internet Ministries is pleased to announce an exciting new web site
at http://games.goarch.org  where kids and adults of all ages can
explore, create, play, learn, discover, and grow in the Orthodox
Faith. The site features online games and puzzles in a colorful,
engaging environment, all with an Orthodox theme. The games are
suitable for kids from ages 5 on up and currently features a coloring
book, jigsaw puzzles, a memory game, a word finder, crossword puzzles,
and more.

The online games are currently in beta and we encourage feedback so
that we can further enhance this new online offering.  Click here to
visit: http://games.goarch.org