The Messenger

A Quarterly Publication of St. Thomas Orthodox Church Winter 2014

In this Issue

Pastor’s Message 2

Chairman's Message 3

St. Thomas Happenings 4

In our Diocese . . . 8

In our Archdiocese . . . 9

Spiritual Insights 10

Quarterly Calendar 11

Hymn of the Nativity of Christ

Today is born of the Virgin Him Who

holdest all creation in the hollow of His

hand.

He Whose essence is untouchable is

wrapped in swaddling clothes as a babe.

The God Who from of old established

the heavens lieth in a manger.

St. Thomas Orthodox Church PO Box 1042 • 1100 Jones St • Sioux City, IA 51102

(712) 258-7166 • info@stthomassiouxcity.org

www.stthomassiouxcity.org

“I commend you all to the grace of Our

Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.

With this staff I shall live with you and die

with you, in order that we may all achieve

the life that is true Life, Jesus Christ, to

Whom be glory with His Father without

beginning, and His all-holy, good and life-

creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto

ages of ages. Amen. “

-Enthronement Speech

METROPOLITAN JOSEPH

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Pastor’s Message by Fr. Lucas Rice This winter marks the end of another busy and blessed year. As a parish we witnessed some excellent things throughout 2014. We maintained our regular worship schedule of at least three services a week, benefited from a number of social activities (including SOYO, Ladies Club, and the Fall Men’s Group). Most notably, we greatly expanded our religious education with our joint venture with Holy Trinity and the continued observance of our monthly Catechesis.

Having recapped this year, I would like to take just few words to layout the scope of this news-letter. This newsletter is intended to help everyone keep their finger on the pulse of parish life. Many times, either through health, work, or personal obligations, we are not able to participate as much in parish life as we would like. This newsletter is a way to help you know what’s going on even if you can’t see it for yourself. It serves as bigger, more robust form of that former sec-tion in the bulletin: “What’s Going on at St. Thomas.” Secondarily, it will also serve as an informational stop-gap to catch those tidbits notables that oftentimes fall through the cracks. It is simply human nature—we can read things online, in the bulletin—we can hear them through the grapevine—and still forget. The newsletter, with its pictures, artwork, and musings should hopefully prove a slightly more permanent medium to communicate the events, concerns, and triumphs of life as an Orthodox Christian in Sioux City. Finally, this newsletter is about building connections. It is very easy to feel disconnected from broader Orthodoxy from the diocese, archdiocese, and beyond. Sadder still, we can feel discon-nected from other parishioners for a multitude of reasons. This newsletter presents an excellent way to communicate how God is working through his bride, the Orthodox Church. All you have to do is read. It is my hope that this newsletter finds a comfortable spot on the lampstands and coffee tables of every person associated with St. Thomas Church. Blessings,

Fr. Lucas Rice

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Chairman’s Message

by George Stickney, Sr.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ

The winter holiday season is here, which brings about the question, what happened to the rest

of the year? The Annual Dinner is history. I want to thank everyone that work so hard on the

Annual Dinner it made it one of the most successful we ever had! The joint Six Week Study

Event with Holy Trinity went so well, I am looking forward to the spring session. Seriously

where does time go?

We started our countdown to our centennial In 2016, Nick Corey consented to be our chairman.

For this to be successful we are going to need everyone's help and participation.

Nick has already raised $2000 towards the Centennial this is just beginning.

Finally stewardship! Your statements for giving for 2014 are in the mail. We need everyone to

reevaluate their financial situation and give as much as you can in 2015.

Your pledge is very much appreciated.

Your servant in Christ

George Stickney Sr.

2014 Parish Council Chairman

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Following vespers on December 6, our children performed the annual Sunday School play

with a Wild-west theme. Our youth worked hard acting and singing through this holiday

festivity. Games and refreshments followed the play and a good time was had by all!

The Wild West Christmas Play

St. Thomas Happenings

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Our Nativity Retreat was a great success and was well attended by both Sioux City parishes

and members of Holy Transfiguration Church in Sioux Falls. Fr. Dimitri Tobias of Holy

Trinity Church started our Retreat with a presentation connecting the themes of marriage

and martyrdom in icons. Next, Fr. Lucas offered a reflection on the icon of Christ’s Descent

in Hades. Fr. Sava Leida of Holy Transfiguration, then gave a talk on the icon of the

Mystical Supper. Finally, Kh. Erin Kimmet offered the keynote speech which explained the

connection between icons and the incarnation. After the presentations, our parishes joined

together in worship for a daily vespers service followed by a time of refreshments and

fellowship. The evening was capped off with an informal discussion about upcoming

renovations / completions of our iconographic work.

Nativity Retreat

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Our Icons Are Now Complete!

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St. Thomas Stewards

The following people have donated to ministry of St. Thomas Church. If your name was uninten-

tionally omitted, please contact Fr. Lucas and your name will appear in the next newsletter.

Jerry and Pat Abdo

ArDcn. James and Sh. Jane Ameen

Chris and Cheryl Ameen

Donna Anotonvich

Michael and Lisa Antonovich

Leo and Liz Bitsos

Carol Border-Stone

Ed and De Bottei

Ryan Border

Ron and Vicki Carlson

Nick and Carol Corey

Larry Corey

Patrick and Cathy Corey

Ron Counter

Fred and Linda Courey

Tina Finch

Mae Hanna

Phil Hanna

Mark Hanna

Vi Headid

Milo Headid

Fr. Dennis Hefner

Mike Jacobs

Gen Johnson

Kevin and Jane Kirwan

Julie Kinnaman

Paul and Barbara Lammers

Anne Mari Langlois

Dean Lockwood

Mark Lockwood

Michelle and Todd Mechling

Don Miller

Jim and Theresa Muhe

Jim and Brenda Nelson

Don and Lorraine Nimmer

Yvonnie Pape

Fr. Lucas and Kh. Nicole Rice

Josh and Tanya Simpson

Dick and Sue Stevens

Gerry Stevens

Jeff and Nicole Stevens

Josh Stevens

Judy Stevens

Stacia Stevenson

John and Angela Stibbs

Erica Stickney

George Jr. and Elisa Stickney

George Sr. and Suzanne Stickney

Paul Thibodeau

Dorwin Tompkins

Maria Tudor

Ashley VanWaart

Jim and Jessica Vaughn

Manoj and Sneha Virippil

Victor Voloshen

Stan and Debbie Wisnieski

Ag Yanney

Denny and Karen Yanney

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In Our Diocese 1. Winter Camp (aka WAMP)

Winter camp will take place January 16th-19th at Camp

St. Raphael (YABOY!) in Wagoner, OK. Our speaker will

be Bishop Basil. If you are interested in attending, please

see Fr. Lucas. If you have questions, please contact our

Diocesan Youth Director Erin Ghata

at erin.ghata@gmail.com

2. Clergy Brotherhood Retreat

The clergy of our diocese hold their annual Clergy Brotherhood Retreat at the Spiritual Life Cen-

ter in Wichita, KS during the Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, Tuesday-

Friday, February 3rd-6th, 2015. Since February 27th, 2015 will mark the centenary of the repose

of the patron saint of our St Raphael Clergy Brotherhood, tbe brotherhood will inaugurate the

centennial year at our retreat which will focus on his Life, Ministry and Legacy .

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In Our Archdiocese 1. Metropolitan JOSEPH enthroned

On Sat. Dec. 6, the Patriarch of Antioch and All

of the East, JOHN X of Damascus, Syria, en-

throned Metropolitan JOSEPH as new head of

the Antiochian Orthodox Church in North

America at that Church’s national St. Nicholas

Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York.

2. Important Events in December

In addition to the sacred commemoration of our

Lord’s nativity, the Archdiocese also calls to mind

two special days of dedication: the second Sunday in

December is Choir and Chanter Appreciation Day. On the third Sunday of December, our Arch-

diocese recognizes the special and vitally important work of the Order of St. Ignatius.

3. Patriarch at U.N. Building

During his trip to the United States, Patriarch

JOHN X, met with a group of politicians and

diplomats at the United Nations Headquar-

ters where he later held a press conference.

His Beatitude stressed that the only solution

to the crisis in Syria is one of negotiations

and peace, not of bombs and war, saying

“The Syrian people ask for peace and welfare

for themselves and for everyone on earth.”

He continued by saying that “as a Christian

leader, I can also speak on behalf of the Is-

lamic leaders in Syria in that we all reject ex-

tremism. In Greater Syria we have been co-

existing for hundred of years.” He also re-

layed in his various meetings that with regard to humanitarian relief the Orthodox Church is help-

ing everyone, regardless of sect or religion.

-Source: Antiochian.org

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Spiritual Insights

“The Sunday of the Holy Forefathers”

Excerpted from Winter Pascha by Fr. Thomas Hopko

Two Sundays before the celebration of Christmas, the Orthodox Church rejoices in the festival of

the Holy Forefathers of the Old Covenant, including those who came before the giving of the

Law. The foretold the coming of the Messiah and are redeemed by his saving Pascha. Together

with the Canon of the Nativity of Christ, the following hymns are sung at the services of the day.

Let us offer praise to the fathers

Who shone forth before and during the Law;

With righteous minds they served the Lord and Master

Who shone forth from the Virgin,

And now they delight in the unending Light.

Let us honor Adam, the first-formed man and forefather of us all,

Who was honored by the hands of the creator.

He rests in the heavenly mansions with all the elect.

. . .

With his whole mouth, tongue and heart,

The wondrous Enoch hoped that in the Spirit

He might call with godly mind upon God, the Master of all.

Having lived on earth in a well-pleasing manner,

He has been taken up in glory.

Let us hear the divine words of those who cry aloud,

Telling of the coming of Christ.

For behold, He is born in a cave of an unwedded Maiden,

And his awesome birth is foretold to the Wise Men

By the suddenly appearing star.

There is a great difference between existing and living. Many people exist. Very few really live.

Only those who seek God have life. Only those who delight in His commandments and rejoice

in accomplishing His will pass beyond mere existence and actually find life. "Seek God, and

your soul shall live" (Ps 69:32, LXX). This is the cry of the psalmist David who is especially

hymned on this Sunday and on the Sunday after Christmas. His exhortation is in perfect harmo-

ny with the words of God given to Moses in His revelation of the divine Law.

See I have set before you this day life and good,

death and evil. If you obey the commandments

of the Lord your God, which I command you

this day, by walking in His ways, and by keep-

ing His commandments and His statutes and

His ordinances, then you shall live and multi-

ply, and the Lord your God will bless you in

the land which you are entering to take posses-

sion of it. But if your heart turns away, and

you will not hear, but are drawn away to wor-

ship other gods and serve them, I declare to you

this day, that you shall perish; you shall not

live long in the land which you are going over

the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven

and earth to witness against you this day, that

I have set before you life and death, blessing

and curse; therefore choose life, that you and

your descendants may live, loving the Lord

your God, obeying His voice, and cleaving to

Him; for that means life to you and length of

days, that you may dwell in the land which the

Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to

Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (Deut 30:15-

20)

The holy forefathers and mothers, together with all their descendants, have chosen life. They find

it in God's Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is Life itself, God's incarnate Word. The celebration of the

Winter Pascha is a celebration of Life in God's Word. For "Christ who is our life" has already ap-

peared (Col 3:4). We have "beheld His glory" (Jn 1:14). Now that glory is hidden in the "form of a

slave" (Phil 2:7), but it will be revealed at the end of the ages in power for those who "have loved

His appearing" and "live in Him" (2 Tim 4:8; Col 2:6).

You shone as heaven's lights upon the earth

Enkindling the light of piety.

You called forth the choir of all creation

As you sang to the Master who saves all from temptation,

"Bless Him, O children! Exalt Him, O priests!

Praise Christ, all people, throughout all the ages!"

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January 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 10am

Memorial for Jackie Larsen

6:30pm Great Vespers

4

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

5

7am Royal Hours

6:30pm

Vesperal Divine Liturgy with

Blessing of Water

6 10am

Divine Liturgy

11:30am Out-of-Doors

Blessing of Water

6:30pm Ladies Club Mtg

7

6:30pm Vespers

8

6:30pm Parish Council

meeting

9 10

6:30pm Great Vespers

11

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

12 13 14

6:30pm Vespers

15 16 17

9am Divine Liturgy -

St. Anthony

6:30pm Great Vespers

18 9am Matins

10am Divine Liturgy

Coffee and Catechesis

Bob Jackson Memorial

19 20 21

6:30pm Vespers

22 23 24

6:30pm Great Vespers

25

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

26 27 28

6:30pm Vespers

29

6:30pm

Divine Liturgy -

Three Hierarchs

30 31

6:30pm Great Vespers

February 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

2 3 4

6:30pm Vespers

5 6 7

6:30pm Great Vespers

8

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

9 10 11

6:30pm Vespers

12

6:30pm

Parish Council Meeting

13 14

9am Divine Liturgy - Soul Saturday

6:30pm Great Vespers

15

CHEESFARE

9am Matins

10am Divine Liturgy

Coffee and Catechesis

16 17 18

6:30pm Vespers

19 20 21

6:30pm Great Vespers

22

LENT BEGINS

9am Matins

10am Divine Liturgy

11:30am Forgiveness

Vespers

23

6:30pm Great Canon of

St. Andrew

24

6:30pm Great Canon of

St. Andrew

25

6:30pm Presanctified

Liturgy

26

6:30pm Great Canon of

St. Andrew

27

6:30pm Akathist

28

6:30pm Great Vespers

March 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 9am

Matins

10am Divine Liturgy

6:00pm Vespers - Sunday

of Orthodoxy

2

6:30pm

Great Compline

3 4

6:30pm Presanctified

Liturgy

5 6

6:30pm Akathist

7

6:30pm Great Vespers

8 DAYLIGHT

SAVINGS TIME

9am Matins

10am Divine Liturgy

9

6:30pm

Great Compline

10 11

6:30pm Presanctified

Liturgy

12

6:30pm

Parish Council Meeting

13

6:30pm Akathist

14

6:30pm Great Vespers

15

9am Matins

10am Divine Liturgy

Coffee and Catechesis

16

6:30pm

Great Compline

17 18

6:30pm Presanctified

Liturgy

19 20

6:30pm Akathist

21

6:30pm Great Vespers

22

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

23

6:30pm

Great Compline

24 25

6:30pm Presanctified

Liturgy

26 27

6:30pm Akathist

28

6:30pm Great Vespers

29

9am Matins

10am

Divine Liturgy

30

6:30pm

Great Compline

31