Weekly Update - Oct 19
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PEACE AND GRACE
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Matthew the Evangelist (Oct 22 / Baba 12)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3-4
SERVICES THIS WEEK
Tuesday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (online)
Wednesday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (online)
Thursday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (online)
Friday:
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (online)
Sunday:
Indoor Divine Liturgy: 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (registration required)
Sunday School: 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. (online)
Monday:
Preparation for Baptism (Catechism) Class: 8:00 p.m. (online)
Vespers Prayer: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (online)
CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHAEL AND MARIAM!
Congratulations to Michael and Mariam for joining in Holy Matrimony! God bless your journey together and give you every spiritual blessing!
Virtue gives birth to love, and love brings innumerable blessings! ~ St. John Chrysostom
OCT 26 || PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM (CATECHISM) CLASSES
Join us on ONLINE on Monday nights at 8:00 PM for Baptism preparation classes. These classes are open for:
Anyone interested in becoming members of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Those recently baptized (within the last few years), or
Simply anyone else seeking to better understand the basics of the Christian Faith and History.
Together, we will review the importance of baptism and its impact, the Sacraments, the inspiring church history, the Orthodox Creed, the Holy Bible, Orthodox Prayer and Spiritual life, and Church traditions. Reading material will be provided for those who wish to attend. To register for this class, please contact Fr. Michael at 949-378-0350 or FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com .
OCT 31 || ALL SAINTS NIGHT (HALLOWEEN NIGHT)
On Saturday, October 31st (Halloween Night), we will be celebrating All Saints Night at St. Basil’s! There will be booths set up outside with food, carnival games, “guess that saint”, pumpkin decorations, and other crafts. This will be for all kids, High School and below! Following the activities, we will be praying the vespers raising of incense. Mark your calendars and more information will follow! All activities will be outside and please follow all COVID precautions (masks, distancing, sanitizers, etc.). It will be very fun the kiddos and parents alike!
STARTING IN NOVEMBER || SUNDAY SCHOOL LITURGIES
As long as God continues to allow us to have the privilege of praying in the Church, we will be starting additional liturgies on Saturdays specifically for the Sunday School classes and their families and servants. These are separate from the registrations we have for Sunday Liturgies which will continue as usual for the time being. Following the Liturgy, there will be some minimal-contact refreshments followed by the Sunday School lesson. Parents are welcome to stay or visit a nearby Starbucks!
Starting in November:
1st Saturday of each month: High School and Junior High School.
This first Sunday in November will also be used to assemble the Care Kits (see below)
2nd Saturday of each month: First through Fifth Grade
3rd Saturday of each month: Kindergarten and Preschool
Please observe all COVID precautions (masks, distancing, sanitizers, etc.)
NOV 7 || CARE KIT ASSEMBLY
Jr High and High School youth will be assembling CARE KITS for those in need on Saturday, November 7th, following the liturgy. You can help by signing up for items to be dropped off or delivered to the church. Items to be delivered may be obtained via our Amazon wish list or any other source of your choosing. Please update the sign-up sheet as you pick up/drop off or order items. We have less than one month to gather all the items SO DON'T BE SHY and sign up today! Care Kits will be available for pickup and distribution on the afternoon of November 7th.
You may reach out to Jessica Gharbawy at 518-281-7976 or jmalaty@gmail.com with any questions.
Sign Up document: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1APuULP74zyTZLbMTEAMxVDaBa6Z33F7elNcU57Z7e9o/edit?usp=sharing
Amazon Wish List: St. Basil Care Kit Project 2020
REMINDER ABOUT LITURGY REGISTRATIONS
A reminder to only register once for a liturgy for each cycle so as to make sure everyone has a chance to take communion during each of the three-week cycles. If you wish to attend more than one liturgy during each cycle, there are a few ways you can do so:
Sign up on the waiting list. If there are cancellations, we will release tickets as seats become available. Preference will be given to those who have not signed up for a liturgy during the current cycle.
Check availability after 7:00 PM Saturday nights. If there is an opening, even if you have signed up for other liturgies during that cycle, please sign up again.
Attend weekday liturgies as they occur for feasts and as they are announced. Attendance at these liturgies is expected to be well below our maximum COVID19 occupancy guidelines.
Thank you all for your patience and cooperation and we look forward to the day, through your prayers with the grace of Jesus Christ, that these restrictions will no longer be necessary.
PROFESSIONAL MENTORS NEEDED
We are pleased to share the news that three professionals have stepped up to serve as mentors to college students and early professionals. We continue to seek others. For more information, please contact Sam Soloman at sam@samsoloman.com.
As a reminder, the Professionals LinkedIn group is an easy way to connect and network with fellow members of our community.
COVID-19 HARDSHIP
If you or anyone you know is suffering from hardships related to this virus, or any distress at all, please contact Fr. Michael at 949-378-0350 or FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com.
Additionally, the servants of St. Basil have put together a list of spiritual, financial, educational, and employment resources that you may find helpful during the COVID-19. We hope that it is helpful. You can download the PDF here.
ST. BASIL WELCOME PORTAL
Do you know about our Welcome Portal? You can use it to register as a member, update existing contact information, volunteer for a church service, make a donation, contact Father Michael, or provide private comments/questions/suggestions. Try it out:
FAMILY HOME VISITS
Father Michael is offering home visits for anyone who is interested. Please reach out to him directly to schedule a visit.
Phone: 949-378-0350
Email: FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com
HELP WITH AMAZON SMILE
If you are looking into other ways to support our church, the AmazonSmile Foundation offers an easy way to give while browsing the Amazon shop. It will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases, at no cost to you. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com (you may want to add a bookmark to make it easier to return). You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on the product detail pages. If you already own an Amazon account you can use the same account for AmazonSmile. On your first visit, please select “Saint Basil American Coptic Orthodox Church” as your charity of choice. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make will result in a donation for our church. Thank you so much for your love and support.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please let us know if you have any upcoming important events for us to share with our fellow congregants. Special events are best shared among our family, and we encourage you to share your special news with us.