GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215 Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: communications@goarch.org
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese E-Bulletin October 19, 2007
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 SAINT DEMETRIOS: The feast day of Saint Demetrios is October 26. Visit this special site for more information on this saint and details on how he is commemorated in the Orthodox Church.
http://www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/demetrios/learn/
ORDER OF SAINT ANDREW: The Order of Saint Andrew Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will have their annual banquet next week and award the Athenagoras Human Rights Award to Archbishop Demetrios of America. Read more about this organization and their support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at
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
ORTHODOX OBSERVER ? SEPT/OCTT ISSUE AVAILABLE: The latest edition of the Orthodox Observer is available online. Read current news and information on the work of our Archdiocese, Metropolises, Parishes, and Ministries. You can also find an archive of past issues at
http://www.goarch.org/en/news/observer/
2007 YOUNG ADULT PILGRIMAGE: The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is pleased to announce the National Young Adult Pilgrimage to Florence, Ravenna, and Constantinople, November 2-10, 2007. His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, will once again lead the pilgrimage to sites of great historical importance and spiritual significance for all Orthodox Christians. Join other young adults from across the country on this unique journey! Additional information and registration materials are available online at
RELIEF AID FOLLOWING FIRES IN GREECE: The Archdiocese has established the Greek Fire Relief Fund to assist in the aftermath of the devastating fires in Greece. Donations are also being accepted by the National Philoptochos. To make contributions visit the web sites below or contribute through your local parish.
Contact the National Philoptochos at philosny@aol.com or 212-744-4390
NATIONAL ORTHODOX RADIO PROGRAM: On Come Receive the Light for the week of 10/19/07, Fr. John Breck addresses the widely debated subject of research into using stem cells for therapeutic purposes. You will not want to miss our programming on The ARK and The RUDDER as Fr. Nektarios Morrow discusses "Finding the Truth" on Special Moments in Orthodoxy, and Fr. Stephen Freeman leads us into a deeper understanding of "Thanksgiving" on Theologically Thinking. The Featured Artist Block is a live concert from Montreal by Fr. Peter Jon Gillquist.
Tune in each day to The ARK and The RUDDER for "The Best of Come Receive the Light," presenting favorite interviews from past episodes of CRTL. During October 22-26 we will play "Orthodox Children's Literature" (10/22), "Sacred Space and Architecture" (10/23), "The Nicene Creed" (10/24), "The Effects of Gambling" (10/25), and "Man of Faith" (10/26).
2007-2008 PLANNER NOW AVAILABLE FROM YOUTH DEPT: 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. For more information visit
http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/youth/planner.asp
TOPICS FOR 2008 ORATORICAL FESTIVAL NOW AVAILABLE: The Department of Religious Education is pleased to release the topics that were approved by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for the 2008 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. By releasing the topics at the beginning of the Church school year, teachers can promote the Festival to their students and work with them to prepare a speech. The Oratorical Festival, now entering its 25th year, provides young people an opportunity to research, to prepare, and to deliver a speech on topics related to their Greek Orthodox faith and heritage. For more information and a list of the topics visit
http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof_2008_fest ival_topics.asp
SPANISH LANGUAGE RESOURCES: The Department of Outreach & Evangelism has compiled a list of Spanish Language Orthodox Christian resources, including the classic volume The Orthodox Church / La Iglesia Ortodoxa by Metropolitan Kallistos (Timothy) Ware, bi-lingual Divine Liturgy books, tri-lingual Paschal Homily of Saint John Chrysostom, the Psalms, several Akathists, and the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt. Contact the Department of Outreach & Evangelism for additional information (Outreach@goarch.org or 646/519-6160).
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
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN RESOURCE CATALOG: The Department of Religious Education 2006-2008 Resource Catalog includes more than 700 resources for adults, teachers, youth workers, parish youth, vacation church school programs, childrenâ??s books, prayer books, multimedia resources, icons, gifts and more.
http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/religioused/projects.asp#ca talog