Tast & See Cookbook Now for Sale!+ A Note from the Editor: E-Tidings is back after a long hiatus! But that doesn’t mean that we here at Holy Apostles haven’t been busy! A lot has happened since our last publication (June 2009). Our site plan has been approved by INCOG (which was a minor miracle in and of itself). Thanks to the hard work of Reader Robert Bearer, the zoning board gave us the go-ahead for the realization of our architectural vision. Part of this plan was to build a parsonage for our priest and his family, and thanks to the hard work of our brethren Reader John Sames, Kelly Williams, and Alex Hodge this has now been completed! (And right at the projected budget!) Additional improvements include a new candle-table for the Narthex, a permanent processional path around our chapel, and a sidewalk connecting the chapel and the parsonage. In addition, there is a lovely little bridge traversing the gully and several lovely little shrines dotting the path. No doubt you will have noticed other minor improvements too numerous to mention here. (Please see note on “parish maintenance” below for a more detail list of improvements.)
Our missionary endeavors have continued as well. As part of our evangelistic mission, our parish has given monthly stipends to two of our brothers –Tim Yates and Steve Tolbert—who are attending St Vladimir’s Seminary. (Tim and Tammy Yates’ family has grown to four now with the birth of Xenia back in May and Steve and Michele Tolbert welcomed Rebecca Grace and Anna Renee in July!) Lord willing, upon the completion of their studies, they will return to Oklahoma to augment our missionary efforts. Our brother Doug Craig has twice gone on Project Mexico, the second time taking his eldest son Aidan along with him. We’ve also hosted two Women’s Retreats which were well-attended by women from several of our sister parishes. Our participation in the annual March for Life continues as well. Though we are the smallest Orthodox parish in Tulsa, our commitment to it is much appreciated by Msgr Patrick Brankin of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa and Pastors Mason Beecroft and Christian Tiewes of Grace Lutheran Church, who together with Reader Bearer have spearheaded this vital effort. And let us not forget Fr Ambrose’s bi-weekly missionary trips to Hartshorne, OK, where he celebrates Divine Liturgy on Saturdays for the struggling congregation there which has remained steadfast in the Faith for over a century now.
Our philanthropic efforts include St Martin’s Closet, which is located in our parish hall. This little closet has continued to be a blessing to struggling people in the Bixby area since its inception. A hearty “thank you!” to all who have kept it stocked with foodstuffs and clothing. And of course who can forget Realations group home? Thanks to our sister Elaine Sames, our church has taken this fine institution under its wing. Not only have we gone to regularly visit these children at their campus, but we have hosted them at our church as well. On one occasion, the children were educated about man’s best friend by a nice lady who trains boxers; a special thanks to Sister Brenda Haggai for setting that one up –it was most enjoyable!
We are firing on all thrusters on the fellowship front as well. We have two new organizations: our women’s group has taken St Mary Magdalene as their patron and published a new cookbook (which you can buy in the parish hall). Our men’s group has taken the name Mars’ Hill and their monthly luncheons have now expanded to include semi-monthly cigar nights. Our liturgical cycle is a busy one indeed. Fr Ambrose celebrates Divine Liturgy every Thursday morning at 6am (yes, you heard that right) and on Fridays, an Akathist to the Theotokos, the Nurterer-of-Children is served at 9:30am. Beginning in February, we will serve Reader’s Compline every Monday night. This brings up our weekly roster of services up to six. Our St Sophia Home School Co-op has grown to include twenty children and six families. Special thanks to the all the parents who volunteer to teach our children various subjects like music, science, chemistry, Spanish, etc. And of course our weekly church school proceeds apace. At last count there were over 30 children who attend every week after the Divine Liturgy. Special thanks to Sister Judith Dunbar who manages our Fellowship Hour and coordinates our frequent luncheons.
Of course, awareness of Orthodoxy received a major boost when Metropolitan +Jonah came to Tulsa in November to pay us an archpastoral visit. (Although he is the Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All-America and Canada, he is presently locum tenens of the Diocese of Dallas and the South, and as such, our bishop.) While he was here, he spoke at Grace Lutheran giving a well-received speech, “Do Not Resent, Do Not React, Keep Inner Stillness.” The following day, many of us accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Ss Cyril and Methodius Church in Hartshorne, the mother church of Orthodoxy in Oklahoma. This was the first-ever visit by a primate to this tiny little parish and was a major milestone for them. (Let us keep Hartshorne in our prayers; the Lord may have big plans for them!) Upon his return to Holy Apostles, His Beatitude ordained four new Readers for our parish –Bob Bearer, John Darnall, Andrew Johnson, and Patrick Teague, Jr. Patrick then went on to be ordained as a Sub-deacon. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. (Special thanks to Walker and Diana Hanson for hosting His Beatitude and his entourage.)
The plenitude of good news includes the numerous children who have been born and baptized in our parish. (You will forgive me at present if I do not include all their names at this time as my list is not complete at present. Next month the roster of the newly-illumined should be published.) We had another wedding (Andrew Johnson and Olivia Hamm), and have received several new catechumens into the Faith. Because of this growth, the Parish Council has tasked Kelly Williams, Reader Taras Tikhomerov, and your humble correspondent with the possibility of looking into building a permanent baptistery that could accommodate adults as well as infants. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church has been exceedingly kind to us over the years in loaning their font for this purpose but their needs and ours indicate that this may no longer be feasible. Our Inquirer’s Class had now been moved to Saturdays before Great Vespers and is well-attended thanks to all our new catechumens. Reader Bearer now assists Fr Ambrose by teaching Bible Study on Wednesday evenings, after Daily Vespers.
Not all has been good news however. Our dear sister Anna Treece fell asleep in the Lord last October and so we had our first ever funeral. Anna was a foundress of our mission and a pillar of our church. Her angelic voice adorned our lovely choir and she served selflessly in other positions as Parish Council member and helped direct our forestry initiative, among other things. It was a testament to her Christian witness that Fr Bill Christ of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church served at her funeral with Fr Ambrose. You may have noticed the little garden between the church and parking lot –that was Anna’s endeavor. The little shrine of St Anna, the Mother of the Virgin, located within that garden is a small memorial to her. She will be missed but now she adorns the Lord’s garden in Paradise.
Even though INCOG approved our site plan one of our neighbors decided that the cemetery was not to his liking. He subsequently sued INCOG (not us, thankfully) and so our site plan is on temporary hold. That’s OK, perhaps the Lord wants us to take a break from all this activity and concentrate on our spirituality. Unfortunately, this means that Anna can’t be buried near our chapel until this is resolved. Your prayers in this regard would be greatly appreciated.
Anyway, that’s a brief re-cap of the last year-and-a-half. It’s certainly not exhaustive. If I’ve left out anything, please forgive me; I ask your forbearance as I undertake this task which has been placed before me. I am taking this over from the very capable hands of Reader John Sames and I fear the learning curve is steep. Please feel free to send me anything you may think newsworthy for publication in future issues of E-Tidings. You may do so at: miltiades59@cs.com. I ask that all correspondence and important dates of upcoming meetings be submitted to be by no later than the 21st of the month.
In Christ, I remain,
George Michalopulos
+ Update on Parish Maintenance. As part of the construction of the rectory, the parish was able to complete some much needed maintenance and repairs. The exterior wooden doors to the chapel and restrooms were replaced with fiberglass doors with a 20 year warranty. Additionally, the deck at the community building was extended and all the exterior decking, landings, and stairs were water sealed. As you likely have noticed, the “St John the Forerunner” bridge to the rectory has been completed. We have also installed two exterior icon shrines –one at the flower bed near the chapel honoring our departed sister Anna Treece and another rat the bridge. We will soon be installing another shrine at the base of the ramp leading up to the community building. (Please notify Fr Ambrose or John Sames if you have a suggestion for the icon to be placed in this shrine.) Other maintenance updates include the addition of a flood light near the entrance of the parish on Peoria Avenue and the repair of the western-most light in the parking lot. In an ongoing effort to reduce maintenance on the lights, we will be replacing all exterior incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones. Within the next few weeks we will be updating the parish sign on Peoria. The sign will be sanded, the lettering painted, and a heavy coat of varnish applied.
February Happenings.
+ His Eminence Metropolitan +Hilarion Alfeyev, Archbishop of Volokolams and Director of External Church Relations for the Patriarchate of Moscow, will be in Dallas the weekend of Feb 12-13th. He will officiate at Vigil Saturday evening at the Cathedral of St Seraphim of Sarov and will then give a presentation to the congregation. On Sunday, his St Matthew’s Passion, a major symphonic work will be presented at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. In addition to being an acclaimed composer, His Eminence has received two doctorates (Oxford and St Sergius Institute in Paris) and has published over 300 works. If anybody is interested in attending, please contact Fr Ambrose or myself. If we can get enough people, we could rent a van and make accommodations for hotel rooms.
+ As mentioned above, our Readers have received a blessing to augment our liturgical cycle with the inauguration of Reader’s Compline, every Monday night at 6pm.
+ St Mary Magdalen’s Women’s Group will meet as they always do on the third Thursday of each month. This month’s meeting will be held on Feb 16th at 7pm, at Lovie Bearer’s house. The topic for the evening will be announced. For directions, please call Connie Johnson.
+ Mars’ Hill monthly luncheon: Wed 16th (fast-free!) Time and place TBA.
+ Mars’ Hill Cigar Night: Friday –7pm, Feb 11th --The Cigar Box on Cherry Street
+ Mars’ Hill Cigar Night: Thurs Feb 24th --The Cigar Box on the Riverwalk in Jenks
+ Meat-fare Luncheon will be held on Sunday, Feb 27th, right after Divine Liturgy. Please contact Judith Dunbar for more information.
+ Let’s give a hearty Holy Apostles “Welcome!” to the Sheheiber family of Broken Arrow. Sam and Terrie and their cuddly little boy Samir, and the matriarch of the family Helen and our new catechumen Stephanie Dewitt (who took the name Joanna in honor of St John Maximovitch).
+ Bishop Mark Maymon is Received into the Orthodox Church in America. His Grace, Bishop +Mark Maymon, previously Bishop of Toledo in the Antiochian Archdioce of America, received a blessing from the Holy Synod of Antioch to transfer to the Orthodox Church in America. The Holy Synod of our Church joyfully accepted him and appointed him as an auxiliary bishop for Baltimore, in the Diocese of Washington, DC. Presently, he serves as administrator for the Diocese of the South and resides in Dallas. AXIOS!
+ Second Annual March for Life –Jan 22, 2010. We were blessed with reasonable weather and a wonderful turnout at the second annual March for Life. As usual, many of us made the effort to attend and march in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters, testifying through our own meager efforts the fact that the love of God extends to all human beings, even the least among us. Perhaps someday such marches will be unnecessary, but until that wonderful day when this slaughter is stopped, we can and must continue to undertake any and all efforts to stop this horrible tragedy. A special thanks to all who braved the weather and attended.
+ Parish Financial Report. Many thanks to everyone who has so generously supported Holy Apostles. The monthly parish financial reports are being posted on the bulletin board in the Community Building. Anyone with questions about parish finances can contact parish Treasurer Reader John Sames or Father Ambrose.
Parish Council
- Erick Fairchild, Sr Warden
- Connie Johnson, Secretary
- John Sames, Treasurer
- Bob Bearer, At-large
- Taras Tikhomerov, At-large
If you would like to contribute information or photos to the Holy Apostles E-Tidings monthly newsletter please send information to George Michalopulos at miltiades59@cs.com. Submissions should be received by the 21st of each month.
