The Latest News in the Diocese
PASTORAL LETTER ON RECENT EVENTS
March 3, 2011
Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus of Amasea
Beloved Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West
As many of you are painfully aware, there are numerous speculations and opinions floating about the internet following a recent meeting of the Holy Synod of our Orthodox Church in America. I believe there is no accident that this great temptation is happening just before the period of the Great Fast.
I have been quite reticent about making matters more complicated, more confusing, and more perilous by making some sort of public statement that will be parsed and scrutinized by others. We have come to a precarious time in our history, a time when it is possible for anyone with an opinion or thought to broadcast it to the world. And, it seems there are those who feel every matter is their business. The result is soul destroying. The demon of gossip runs about freely among us, hardly detected and unexposed to the light of day...
Lake Havasu Outreach
During the months of January and February volunteers from St. Peter the
Aleut Orthodox Mission worked with residents of Jasmine House, an
assisted living facility, in the creation of an art project.
Led by Matushka Mary Lynn Henry, each resident hand built a ceramic wall
sconce featuring texture. Once the pieces were fired another session
was conducted to glaze the artist’s work. After a final firing the
volunteers returned to Jasmine House to present the finished products
filled with flowers.
This outreach provided multiple opportunities to spend time with the
same residents. Relationships were formed, clay messes were made, there
was laughter, history telling, and a great exchange of love. The church has been invited to return for visits and future art lessons.
New Temple in Santa Maria Blessed
On Saturday, February 5, 2011, the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Santa Maria, California, with great joy and thanksgiving to God, celebrated the second Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in its 32-year history. However, this Liturgy was special, in that it was the first Hierarchical Liturgy to be celebrated in the Parish’s New Main Temple, which first had opened its doors for worship on Saturday, December 4, 2010.
On February 5, 2011, which marked the Feast of St. Theodosius of Chernigov, and which also happened to fall within the Afterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple, His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, presided at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Also concelebrating were other clergy from throughout California...
What if Sundays were Different?
(The following is a reflection written for The Pueblo Chieftain in Pueblo, Colorado)
My debate scholarship wasn't huge, but I was proud of it. I hated giving it up after only a semester, but that's what conscience dictated.
Accustomed to the high school forensics model of tournaments running Friday evening to Saturday afternoon, I was shocked to discover that in the world of college debate, tournaments require your Sundays as well.
Bishop Benjamin in Alaska
His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, also locum tenens of the Diocese of Alaska, has been on an amazing journey of nature and blessing of waters in Alaska. See the story and pictures on the OCA website.
2011 MISSION DEANERY RETREAT
Knowing Your Story
Telling Your Story
Telling THE Story
2011 Annual Mission Deanery Retreat
February 15-17, 2011
Church of the Annunciation
13515 SE Rusk Road
Milwaukee, OR 97222
Blessing of the Continental Divide
The Chancellor of St. Vladimir's Seminary, Father Chad Hatfield, visited Colorado Springs and joined the local clergy for the Great Blessing of Water at the Continental Divide. See the article and pictures posted on the seminary website.
Blessing of Lake Mead
On the Great and Holy Feast of Theophany, January 6, 2011, Father John Dresko and the faithful of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Las Vegas gathered at Lake Mead for the Great Blessing of Water.
Colorado Winter Teen Retreat 2011
Our annual Winter Teen Retreat is full of fun, fellowship, reflection on Scripture... and of course, broomball! This year 58 of us gathered at a beautiful camp facility, 9,600ft up the west side of Pikes Peak. Our time consisted games, “mixers”, and activities designed to build and strengthen relationships amongst participating youth, across respective parishes and across jurisdictions. We celebrated the Birth of our Lord in daily services, learned from each other, grew in our faith, and as we do each year, probed a specific book of Scripture.
2010 Stewards of the West
2010 List of Stewards of the West Members
Torch Bearers
Anderson, Bradley
Hill, Darrell & Pat
Holy Trinity Cathedral/San Francisco, CA
Hughes, Robert P. & Olga R.
Nowik, Eugene & Dorothy
St Herman Orthodox Church/Littleton, CO
St Moses the Strong Mission,/Helena, MT