Saint Elias E-News

Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Be sure to check the prayer request list at the end of this E-News

Fall at St. Elias
As we enter into Fall, we are making plans for our community. This isn't the Fall we expected, but we need to roll with the punches and work with what we have. This will affect virtually everything we do at the Church this Fall.

Fall Liturgies:
We will have several weekday Feast Day Liturgies this fall—averaging one each week. These will be in place of the Friday high risk liturgies we had during the summer months. Masks will be required at these weekday liturgies. Most of these will be at the North Campus.
Fall Feast Day Liturgies at St. Elias:
September 1 — Ecclesiastical New Year (year 7529)
September 8 — Nativity of the Theotokos
September 14 — Elevation of the Holy Cross
September 24 — Protomartyr Thekla
October 1 — St. Romanos the Melodist
October 9 — James the Apostle, son of Alphaeus
October 13 — St. Jacob of Hamatoura
October 23 — Apostle James, brother of the Lord
October 28 — Protection of the Theotokos (Greek practice)
November 6 — St. Paul of Constantinople
November 13 — St. John Chrysostom
November 21 — Entrance of the Theotokos
November 25 — Great-martyr Catherine
December 4 — St. Barbara and St. John of Damascus
December 9 — Conception of the Theotokos
December 17 —Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths
December 25 — Nativity of the Lord
January 1 — St. Basil the Great / Circumcision of the Lord

Church School
We will continue with Church School online this fall. Once we have been cleared for social gatherings, we will resume in person Church School classes. Until then, we will have our Church School lessons on Thursdays at 3:30 PM. If you need a time adjustment for your children to attend, please let Fr. David or Fr. Raphael know. We're doing our best to find a time that works for everyone.

Teens
We will have several online teen events this fall starting tomorrow, Thursday, September 3 at 4:30 PM. Watch for other events and times. We're working with our teens to find a time that works for all (or at least most).

Fall Teen Retreat
2020 DOWAMA SOYO RETREAT: In lieu of the traditional Basketball Tournament, DOWAMA SOYO is offering an online retreat and trivia tournament for our Diocese’s teens. The event will take place via Zoom at 2:00PM (CST) on Saturday, October 3 . FATHER CHRISTOPHER SHADID will be speaking on "Social Pressures on Social Media." Please have your teens register via the following link: https://forms.gle/uA9QWYptZgacKoEV8. Questions? Contact ERIN GHATA at erin.ghata@gmail.com.

Catechism / Re-Catechism this Fall
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM

Each year, St. Elias holds a series of Catechism Classes. These classes are geared for all those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Church and specifically for those interested in becoming Orthodox. This class would also be great for anyone else (teens, young adults, adults, etc.) who would like to learn more about the Orthodox Church and its beliefs. Have you ever been through a basic class on what the Orthodox Church believes? Could you pass a test on the basics of our doctrine? If the answer is no to either of these, you should join in and learn from where our faith comes and what we believe about God and man. The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings online with spaces for a few to participate in the live class, starting on September 9 at 7:00 PM and last about an hour each. You can download a class schedule by CLICKING HERE. If you would like to attend the class live, contact Fr. David (seating will be limited). The classes will be streamed live from the Conference Room at the North Campus.

Sign up for Church this Weekend!

If you/your family would like to be considered for one of the liturgies this weekend, please CLICK HERE and complete the Google Form. The earlier you sign up, the easier it is for us to get everyone accommodated. Thanks!

Please note, only Saturday and Sunday Liturgies are included on the form. We have plenty of room on Weekday morning liturgies, so we will not be requiring signing up for those. It is a great time for those who prefer a smaller attendance and less exposure.

Please note, assignments are made on Friday mornings for Saturday and Sunday Liturgies since we need to give people 24 hour notice about when they are coming. Please sign up before Friday morning at 7:00 AM! Sign up early!

T-Shirts for Lebanon
Alex Blackburn is doing a T-shirt fundraiser for Lebanon through his website: https://americanduke.com/collections/pray-for-lebanon-collection

100% of profits will be donated to relief efforts. Take a look and consider helping those in Lebanon after the horrific explosions that recently took place.

Attention: Deadline for orders is September 3 at 4:00 PM

The St. Elias Emergency Fund
Ministering in the Time of COVID-19

Many needs have begun to arise within our parish and community at large as we respond to the COVID-19 virus. Several of our members have been furloughed or lost their jobs complete. Some have businesses that have not been allowed to open. As a loving and caring parish, we want to meet the needs of our community. If you are aware of any needs, please let us know at the Church Office—or simply contact one of our priests. This includes:
• Needing a delivery;
• Financial Assistance due to disturbance of employment;
• Ministry to the Sick;
• Social Isolation;
• Any other physical or spiritual need.

We have people waiting to help. Don't be shy about asking. Let us know and we will do our best to help.

Do You Need Help?
We have established an Emergency Fund to help those in our parish that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 shut-down. If you are in financial need, please download this form and return it to Father David by email. If you know of someone who might be in need, please contact Fr. David and let him know. No one should be in fear of losing housing or not having enough food in this crisis.

Give to the Emergency Fund
You can direct a check to the Church Office or donate online with our online donation by leaving a message that this is for the Emergency Fund.

Giving to St. Elias
During Shelter in Place and All through the Year

Zelle:
We have a Zelle Account for St. Elias. Donors must use finance@sainteliaschurch.org email for the transfer. The moneys go into the operating fund.

Online Giving:
Always use a Debit Card? Want to be able to do online donations to St. Elias? We are set up for you to make your stewardship gifts to St. Elias with your credit or debit card. You can do a one time gift—or a recurring gift to the church. This is one of the easiest ways to give to St. Elias. Want to check it out? Go to our website and click on the Donate button—or simply click here to get started.

Online Banking
You can use your online banking to pay your stewardship committment to St. Elias. Be sure to have your bank send the check to our offices (not to the downtown campusf):
St. Elias Orthodox Church
15519 N. FM 1325
Austin, TX 78728

Mail:
Mail your check to St. Elias at the North Campus:
St.Elias Church Office
15519 N. FM 1325
Austin, TX 78728

A Word from the Desert Fathers
or Fathers Know Best
Abba Anthony said, ‘Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember him who gives death and life. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate all peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God. Remember what you have promised God, for it win be required of you on the day of judgement. Suffer hunger, thirst, nakedness, be watchful and sorrowful; weep, and groan in your heart; test yourselves, to see if you are worthy of God; despise the flesh, so that you may preserve your souls.’

Thursday is Youth Day at St. Elias
3:30 PM — Church School
4:30 PM — Teen Session with Father David and Father Raphael

Every Thursday afternoon, we have something for the youth of our parish during this time of shelter in place. At 3:30 PM, we have an interactive Church School Class online for our St. Elias Children and at 4:30 PM the Teens meet for a lively discussion. Grab your iPad or smart phone or laptop (web cam enabled device) and join in with other children from the parish for a time of education and fun. For those using an iPad or smart phone, install the GoToMeeting app for the best experience. You should find it for free at your App Store.

Interactive Church School: Thursday at 3:00 PM!
Teen SOYO Discussion: Thursday at 4:00 PM!
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/825046837

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (312) 757-3121

Access Code: 825-046-837

Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 825 046 837
Or dial directly: 825046837@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##825046837

Fall Work Days
We are looking forward to some cooler weather when we can have some outdoor work days at the North Campus. Once it isn't so hot, we can work to clear out some of the brush and level out the field for future parking and other events. Hopefully the cooler weather will come soon. We're all a bit weary of the hot weather we've been having.

Christian Stewardship is 20/20 Vision

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision….(Acts 26:19)

What is 20/20 vision? It is to see clearly. If we see the Kingdom of God clearly, Christian Stewardship is a natural outcome. We recognize all that we have is from God. We see our need to give back to God a portion as a part of our sacrifice to Him. We realize our generosity opens our lives to God’s blessings. As we enter 2020, let’s work towards a 20/20 Vision of Christian Stewardship and look to the future of our parish community, allowing God to open our eyes to what He has in store for us.

If you returned your 2020 Stewardship Commitment Card with you to Church, thank you! If you forgot to turn it in, we have some in the Narthex in the pamphlet rack you can pick up, fill out, or download the the 2020 Commitment Card and bring it with you or email it back in. If you didn't receive a 2020 Stewardship packet in the mail, please let us know.

When you fill out your card, make it a true sacrifice—a gift of your best and from your need. Give in the way that the Lord will be pleased to receive from you—a gift truly from your heart.

Holy Bread Schedule

Would you be willing to sign up for Holy Bread? Email Fr. David and let him know you would like to offer Holy Bread. We use one loaf each Sunday per campus during the pandemic.

September, 2020
Sunday, September 6 — open
Sunday, September 13 — open
Sunday, September 20 — open
Sunday, September 27 — open

St. Elias Prayer List:
Be sure to keep the following in your prayers from the St. Elias family:
Father Traian Buican, Shamassy Laura Sanders, Nader Jaber, Martha Dent, Adele Homsieh, David Jackson, Jesse Jabour, Maria Elena Tolle and her mother Matilde, Donna Cassiani Kindred, Gil Starkey, Marie Wakim, Timothy and Ruth Swaty, Ezzat Bakhaya, Faith Wilson, Victoria Haskins, Alexandra Blinkova, Paul and Kristi Shannon, and Emily.

If you have people who you would like to be included on the parish prayer list, please email Father David.

Memory Eternal:
Please remember Kh. Cheryl Morris (wife of Fr. John Morris) and Father Michael Keiser, both recently reposed in the Lord. May their memory be eternal!

Please also remember our catechumens:
Taylor Moore; Caleb Nicolosi; Raul, Ali, and Simon Scully.

Bishop BASIL’s Prayer Request List:
YOUR PRAYERS are requested for METROPOLITAN PAUL and ARCHBISHOP YOUHANNA of Aleppo; METROPOLITAN SABA of the Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran; FATHER JOHN & KHOURIYA DIANA FALCONE retired in Lafayette, CO; FATHER JOHN MORRIS retired in Vicksburg, MS; ARCHDEACON GEORGE & SHAMASSY LINDA PALMER retired in Fort Worth, TX; FATHER RICHARD & KHOURIYA ELAINE PETRANEK retired in Houston, TX; MICHAEL PURPURA, son of Father Joseph & Khouriya Kathy Purpura of Westwood, MA; FATHER JOSEPH & KHOURIYA ANITA SHAHDA retired in Houston, TX; HIEROMONK PHILIP (Vreeland) (frphilipvreeland@hotmail.com) retired in Kearney, NE; FATHER STEPHEN & KHOURIYA JOAN WALINSKI retired in Omaha, NE; and KHOURIYA JODY WILLIAMS retired in Glendale, CA.

Forward

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Our mailing address is:
15519 FM 1325
Austin, TX. 78728

www.sainteliaschurch.org

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Saint Elias Orthodox Church · 15519 FM 1325 · Austin, TX 78728 · USA