wfn.org | GOA E-Bulletin April 16, 2009 Paschal Edition

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> April 16, 2009 Paschal Edition

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.

RESOURCES FOR HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA:  As approach the joyous celebration of Pascha, the Feast of feasts, use this special web site for guidance, reflection, and information on the commemorations of each day.  The site provides articles, sermons, music, prayers, and much more to edify and strengthen you on your journey through the solemn observances of Holy Week and into the light of our Lordâ??s Resurrection.

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

Video Message of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Pascha:

http://www.goarch.org/archbishop/demetrios/messages/2009/pascha2009/english

Encyclical of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Pascha:

http://www.goarch.org/news/encypascha09--04-08-2009

Proclamation of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the Feast of Pascha:

http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchaleasterproclamation09-en

ABC TO AIR PASCHA ? THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: The video presentation of â??Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ,â?? a program highlighting Orthodox Christian Pascha, or Easter, will broadcast on ABC affiliates nationwide this month.   The program, produced by Greek Orthodox Telecommunications and sponsored by FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, highlights Holy and Great Week, focusing on the deeply moving and ancient services that recount the Gospel narrative leading to the Death and Resurrection of Christ.  Archbishop Demetrios of America leads a procession of the faithful around the church and outside where, following the reading of the Gospel of the Resurrection, they proclaim the joyous hymn â??Christ is Risen!â??  ABC Network has released broadcast dates and times, with additional coverage information to come in the coming week.   Below you will find a listing (as of April 2) of  ABC affiliates by state.  Please check the listing for exact date, time and station.  Please contact the Department of Communications (212.774.0244) if you need assistance. You may also log on to  www.PaschaABC.goarch.org  or www.interfaithbroadcasting.com/onair.aspx?PID=306  for a complete listing.

DVD copies of the program available for pre-sale
($25, includes shipping).  To pre-purchase please contact the Department of Communications at 212.774.0244 or email gotel@goarch.org.

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

CERTIFICATES OF PROMOTION AND GRADUATION DIPLOMAS: This year the distribution of the Archdioceseâ??s official certificates of promotion and graduation diplomas to the parish schools is being handled by the Orthodox Marketplace.  Both certificates to pass grades and diplomas for completion of Greek studies bear the signature of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and include placeholders for administrators. They are being sold in packs of 25 for $25, plus shipping. All orders will receive â??gratisâ?? The Three Hierarchs Award for Excellence, meant to be presented, at the end of the school year, to a graduate student who has exhibited excellence in Greek studies.

Please visit the Orthodox Marketplace at www.orthodoxmarketplace.com to place your order of certificates and diplomas. All orders must be postpaid.

FAITH ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR IONIAN VILLAGE:
Ionian Village is pleased to announce that Faith: An endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, will generously fund a limited number of Archdiocese travel scholarships for students to participate in the Ionian Village program this summer.   As part of the Archdioceseâ??s ongoing effort to make Ionian Village accessible to more families, Faith will be offering both partial and full scholarships for deserving teens that demonstrate financial need.

Those wishing to apply for a Faith scholarship to Ionian Village may download and print an application from the Ionian Village web site at www.ionianvillage.org.   The Ionian Village office must receive the application no later than May 1, 2009.

For more details please call the Ionian Village office at (646) 519-6190.

YOUTH PROTECTION MANUAL AVAILABLE ONLINE: The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries announces the development of the Youth Protection Manual for Metropolis/Direct Archdiocesan District Camps and Retreats (YPM). The YPM is designed to guide clergy and laity charged with the task of selecting, training, and supervising those who work with young people at camps and retreats. The YPM outlines among other things, definitions of types of abuse, a code of conduct for camp/retreat personnel, guidelines for monitoring and supervision of children and youth, guidelines for appropriate affection, and guidelines for screening and selection of staff and volunteers. To download the manual and other resources visit

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

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN ORTHODOX FAMILY STUDY: The Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is looking for volunteers to participate in the first national study â??Orthodox Family in America at Home and in Church.â??  This study is a first step towards a better understanding of how our Church ministers to the particular needs of families and how Orthodox families in America organize their everyday lives with regard to living their faith. In brief, this study addresses several broad questions:
How is the family life of parishioners related to their Church life? To what degree is our Church present and helpful in the everyday routines of the families of her faithful? What are major sources of stress in the family lives of our faithful? What are the greatest challenges for the maintaining of Orthodox Christian traditions in their family homes? What types of family oriented programs and activities are presently offered in the individual Greek Orthodox Archdiocese parishes? What do parishioners think about these programs? We need volunteers interested in being a part of this project. There are only two requirements to be eligible for participation: you must be a parishioner of a Greek Orthodox community, and you must have children 18 and under living at home (single parents are equally welcomed to participate as well as intermarried families?where the parents are  Orthodox/non-Orthodox)

If you are willing to help us by participating in the â??Orthodox Family in Americaâ?? study or if you have any further questions, please send us e-mail at familycare@goarch.org  or call 845-424-8175. You can also, download the form at http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/family/orthofamilystudy

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:

Journey Through Holy Week - the 20-page magazine that follows Christ and the Church through each day of Holy Week, from Saturday of Lazarus to Agape Vespers. The author pinpoints the relevance and meanings of services, hymns and scripture readings. Special features explain icons, traditions, and history. Suitable for ages 10 and up (Item is L183, $2.95 copy; quantity discounts available).

Journey Through Holy Week Teacher Guide - Five lessons for grades 6 through 9, exploring themes from Holy Week, such as hope and joy, preparation, healing and unity, sacrifice and resurrection (Item code L183-1, $9.95 copy). Will begin shipping on March  27.

Traveling on the Ark of Salvation, Volume 1: Feasts of the Theotokos - a new Vacation Church School program for parish use.  The Department will begin shipping this much awaited program on March 15.  The program includes lessons on the Feasts of the Virgin Mary, a daily puppet show, activities and crafts, hymns and specially written songs matching the lesson material.  Order the Master Toolkit ($79.95) with all the materials for the director and teachers, including music and a data disk with the forms, letters, promotional needs.  Supplementary materials are also available, such as student prayer and classroom booklets. And, extras like posters, t-shirts, stickers, and buttons are all available on cafepress.com.

"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 foour 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

Save the date for Summer Institute 2009. The Department of Religious Education and the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians will co-host the 2009 Summer Institute, July 30-August 1, 2009 on the campus of Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA. Speakers and worskop leaders: His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas; Rev. Dr. Philip Zymairs; Prof. Despina Prassas; Prof. Bradley Nassif; Prof. Vicki Pappas; Artist Niko Chocheli; Presv. Georget Photos; VCS Creators Barbara Harris, Laura Morton, and Rhonda Webb; Theo Nicolakis. Information about the program, speakers, accomodations and registration information is now available at

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

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE FOR IONIAN VILLAGE:  Ionian Village, the travel abroad camping program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is now accepting registrations for the summer of 2009. For more information visit

> http://www.ionianvillage.org

NATIONAL ORTHODOX RADIO PROGRAM: These troubling times--as frightening as they are--are nothing in magnitude to the great crisis of humanity.  What is this great crisis and how can we stimulate a solution to it?  How can we reach that "blessed day that has no end". Tune it to hear Fr. Christopher as he shares with us his Paschal message. In a short segment, Rod and Fr. Chris also speak about the difficulty people are having today in de ciding between right and wrong, between conscience and convenience when it comes to moral and ethical  issues.

Internet radio stations ARK and Rudder as well as a treasury of Podcasts at www.myocn.net:  On Special Moments in Orthodoxy, Fr. Harry Pappas will continues his adult Bible study of the Book of Acts. On Theologically Thinking, Fr. William Chiganos present a message entitled â??Do you believe in Easterâ??. In new podcast Harmony of Thunder, Rev. David Smith will continue exploring the exciting history of great and powerful preaching in the Orthodox faith. In this week's podcast, Rev. David explores one of the most soul-enriching sermons of the Orthodox faith, the sermon on the Harrowing of Hell by St. Epiphanius of Cyprus. Tune in to hear about this remarkable expression of the essence of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, He is Risen! On OCN Now, Fr. Chris will talks with a representative from Focus ! North Am erica, a social ministry group.

Holy Week Resource Page - The Orthodox Christian Network is going to be offering a wealth of programming during this most sacred time of the Orthodox Christian liturgical cycle.  Visit OCN's Holy Week Resource Page to find programs, which help you spiritually prepare for the Feast of Feasts.

Jacob Lee's Paschal Journey to Cyprus - OCN Representative and head of Icon New Media Network Jacob Lee will be heading to Cyprus for Pascha and Bright Week! Enjoy his travel blog hosted at cyprus.myocn.net, where he will be sending back daily updates from this beautiful and ancient Orthodox land. He will begin posting shortly before Pascha.

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

OCMC MISSION TEAMS FOR 2009: The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is now accepting applications for 2009 Mission Teams! These teams will travel to nine different countries in Asia, North and Central America, Africa, and Europe. Team Members will perform ministries of healthcare, construction, youth outreach, and teaching.  For more information on these unique opportunities visit

http://www.ocmc.org/programs/teams_search.aspx?SearchBy=Year

2009 NATIONAL ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The Twenty-sixth annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be hosted by the Metropolis of Chicago in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota on the weekend of June 12-14, 2009. The Rev. Paul Paris and The Rev. R. Demetrios Andrews host co-chairpersons, and members of the host committee recently met with Presvytera Margaret Orfanakos, Archdiocese Co-chairperson, to discuss the plans for the weekend.

The 2009 Topics and Topic Tips are posted on the Web-site of the Department of Religious Education at

www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof

ORTHODOX MARKETPLACE - www.orthodoxmarketplace.com

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

The official online store of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

> Free Shipping Offer Extended to 2009

NEW!!! Greek Education Promotional Certificates and Diplomas
on Orthodox Marketplace
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -

This year we have begun distribution of Greek Education certificates through the Orthodox Marketplace. Both promotional certificates to pass grades and diplomas for program completion are being sold in packs of 25 certificates for $25 plus shipping.

With the promotional UPS Ground shipping for orders over $25, you pay only $2 handling for UPS Ground delivery.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/greek-education-diplomas-pr-19284.html?MM CF_EB_09034

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/greek-education-promotion-certificates-pr -19283.html?MMCF_EB_09034

If you are not comfortable ordering items online, you may download the "order by fax" form:

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/forms/fax.pdf

> Use the following SKUs to place your order:

> GRK-121752 - Promotion Certificates
> GRK-121753 - Diplomas

Three Hierarchs awards requests may also be made via fax or by putting a request in the customer comments portion of the order form on-line.

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

Due to the positive response, we have decided to continue offering UPS
ground shipping within the US for a $2 handling charge for any orders
that total $25 or more. No coupons are required - be sure to select UPS
Ground as the freight option when checking out.

> New and Upcoming Releases

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

We are also pleased to present the Children's Bible Reader - Spanish
Edition, which is available now, as well as a number of academic bible
study resources including the revised Septuaginta, a critical edition of
the Gospel of John according to the Byzantine Tradition and others.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/-pr-19241.html?MMCF_EB

Soon we will release the new Orthodox Military New Testament, designed
to be small and portable while also including adequate devotional
references for Orthodox Christians who are deployed.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/-pr-19242.html?MMCF_EB

Ecology Film Series ? Featuring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew <

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Documentary producer Jim Becket has released several films that document
the Symposium on Religion, Science and the Environment - a series of
gatherings that follow from a initiative from the Ecumenical Patriarch
to bring together experts from the field of ecological sciences, social
sciences and world religions together to discuss the impact of human
life on the environment and explore our obligations as people of faith
to sustain the created world. Join our waiting lists to be notified when
these products are available for sale.

http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/-pr-19273.html?MMCF_EB

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