Father Ignatius Valentine, our pastor

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Welcome to our parish Web site. We are a growing mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Read our news and enjoy some spiritual readings compiled by the members of St. Raphael Orthodox Church, in Iowa City, Iowa. Thank you for stopping by!

From the Weekly Bulletin (week of August 10, 2008)

No Tuesday Office Hours

Fr. Ignatius will be spending the morning of Tuesday August 12 at Camp St. George leading matins for the campers.  Therefore, he will not be available for office hours that day.

Feast of Dormition Services

We will celebrate Great Vespers at 7PM on Thursday August 14 and on Friday August 15, Matins at 8AM and Liturgy at 9AM.  Please note, these are new times for the Friday services.

Dormition Fast

August 1-14 marks the Dormition fast in honor of the holy Theotokos.  There will be nightly services throughout the fast.  On most evenings during these two weeks, we will celebrate the Paraklesis service (Service of Consolation) at 7PM.  Please plan to participate.  We could use the dedicated help of several choir members to help lead all of the extra services.  During this time, we abstain from meat, dairy products and eggs.  Fish is permitted on the feastdays of Transfiguration and Dormition.  Wine and oil are permitted on the weekends and the feastdays.  Join your fasting to your prayers and take advantage of the extra services during this special time of year.

Father Ignatius Will Be Out of Town

From the afternoon of August 15 until the evening of August 17, Fr. Ignatius will be out of town.  We will have a reader’s vespers on Saturday August 16 at 6PM.  Fr. Elias Khouri will be presiding over the services on Sunday August 17.

Blessing of Students

On Sunday August 18, after Liturgy, we will bless all students present, both children and college age, at the beginning of this school year. 

Parish Council

Our next Parish Council meeting is Monday August 18 at 7PM.

Saints Alive Book Study

The Saints Alive Book Study will begin on Thursday August 21 at 8PM.  Hannah Valentine will be discussing the book, “The Ascetic of Love: Mother Gavrilia.” We will meet each Thursday evening for six weeks.  Other saints lives to be discussed include St. Nektarios, and St. John Maximovitch.  This group is open to anyone who wants to learn about some of our Church’s more recent saints. 

Church School break until September

Due to travel schedules, our Sunday morning Church School will be taking a break for the rest of the summer and will resume in early September.

Do You Have a Prayer Request?

Please give it to Fr. Ignatius and he will distribute it by email to all those on the Prayer Chain.

Holy Bread and Coffee Hour

On Sunday August 17, the Muste family is providing the holy bread.  The food for coffee hour will be brought by the Bayouth family.  Thank you in advance.  Anybody who would like to host the coffee hour or bake the holy bread can sign up at church to do so.

Last Update: 08/13 at 10:08 AM  

Food for Thought (8/10/2008)

Preserve and save, O Theotokos, thy servants from every danger.  After God, do all of us for refuge flee unto thee; a firm rampart art thou and our protection.  O Spotless One, who inexpressibly in the last days, by a word brought forth the Word, do thou make request of Him, as one who hath motherly boldness.

Hymns after the 6th Ode from the Paraklesis Service to the Theotokos

Last Update: 08/13 at 10:08 AM