https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sent-by-god-the-life-of-geronda-ephraim#/
Metropolis Young Adult Conference
YAL SAN DIEGO ALMOST SOLD OUT
Less Than 100 Spots Remain
We are only five weeks away from the 2022 Labor Day Weekend YAL Conference in San Diego, California! There are less than 100 spots remaining! Can you COMMIT? If you haven’t registered, don’t delay in securing your spot as soon as possible. You won’t want to miss the best weekend of the year!
Enjoy a weekend of events, workshops, worship, and relaxation, with young adults from 37 states across the country. Highlights of the weekend include engaging workshops from the Metropolis Family Wellness Team, a YAL 2K Themed Dance, formal Gala, and a special maritime event “Top Gun YAL” aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier in the San Diego harbor. This year’s Diakonia project will also be serving veterans who have served our country with valor and distinction.
HOTEL DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL AUGUST 1
The hotel deadline has been extended until August 1, but space is limited to receive the discounted hotel room group rate! If you do not have a room or you reserved an extra room, then you must book or release the room by this date.
For those looking for a YAL hotel roommate, we again are offering a private YAL Facebook group to foster community to help attendees find roommates. This group is for registered attendees only. Check out this Facebook page for roommate assistance!
Check out this page FACEBOOK page for roommate assistance!
Please email us at yalconferencereg@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you Labor Day Weekend in San Diego!
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco | 415-753-3075
NEW - The Renewal In Action™ Online Pilot Program for Christians
A blessed fourth of july
Thanks be to God for the vision of our Founders! Some 246 years later, we remain the inheritors of a truly great nation thanks to the resolution of the Continental Congress that voted in favor of and then declared our American independence. We, therefore, pause this day to thank God for His benefactions and our blessed inheritance. Although some will consider our system and nation imperfect or flawed, our founding documents continue to be a model for other nations and our land remains both an inspiration and a destination because of the freedoms that we enjoy. How remarkable it is to think that we even have the freedom to debate and find faults with our existing system without the threat of persecution!
Can we be better as a nation? Of course! Improvement though does not begin in Washington DC or in Sacramento, nor does it begin in protest; it begins prayerfully and humbly in our homes.
If we want to be better as individuals, as a community (including a church community), and or as a nation, we begin in the quiet of our homes. We pray. We read Scripture. We fast. We humbly identify our shortcomings and repent. We ask the Saints to intercede and to give us the strength to persevere to similarly be holy as our Heavenly Father was, is, and forever shall be holy. Simply, betterment is an internal exercise that is founded on a relationship with God. And, if we’re successful, then like St. Seraphim of Sarov, we can trust that thousands will be saved around us.
May we also realize that the rights we enjoy as American or more correctly as human beings are only as good as the divine truths that they help us realize in our lives. Just because we have rights, this doesn’t make them inherently good; goodness begins and ends in God.
Together, let us then pray that God will inspire us to be better Orthodox Christians and stewards of this great land.
A most blessed Fourth of July!
Pavers for the Sanctuary Courtyard
We are pleased to announce that we have extended the Paver campaign! At the request of our Building Committee, we're creating another section around the Sanctuary to honor the requests of those who wish to be included in this effort. This also provides another means by which those who wish to provide funding toward the underlay of the dome may do so.
4x8 pavers include three lines at 20 characters per line (including spaces). The cost per paver is $500. Checks should be made out to 'St. Anna Parish' with 'paver order' listed in the memo section or via the Church App by choosing ‘pavers’.
Please contact Shen Medeck at shenshine@yahoo.com or 916-467-6955 for assistance and to place your order.
A few thoughts on Our christian Faith
On 24 June (New Calendar), the Orthodox Christian Church celebrated the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. A blessed feast to all who commemorate Saint John! It was a timely feast in that it again reminded us of the sanctity of Christian family.
The home is the first church, and it is sacred. A parish or cathedral is the place in which the Christian family - the young and older, those who persevere in virginity, those who are married, widowed and divorced - gather to celebrate the Holy Mysteries together with the righteous who have gone before us. It too is sacred. It is therefore imperative that we build up the home and the parish, together with our monasteries, all to the glory of God. By so doing, we also learn to value and serve one another, those in the Church and those beyond her walls, we pray, unto salvation.
Sadly, it’s becoming all the more difficult for Christians to do so in our culture. Although the media would have us believe otherwise, we are far from being “at war” with any ideology or persons, nor have times changed that much, even going back centuries. What makes it difficult to thrive within our culture and to nurture saints is apathy, Christian apathy.
Christian apathy is our gift to the devil in the 21st century. I know this is a generalization, but nothing good comes from a lack of prayer, fasting, the reading of scripture, and alms giving. When we’re apathetic, it’s far too easy to remain unconcerned for those who are hurting. Truth becomes relative with opinions ruling. Responsibility gives way to excuses. Our passions are justified if not glorified. Simply, a toxicity seeps into all of our social constructs when Christians are apathetic. Even the Christian home and the church become cold. God laments our decision-making and the devil smiles.
Brothers and sisters, dig deep into your Orthodox Christian Faith. Pray. Read Scripture Read the lives of the Saints. Fast. Give alms. Look for opportunities to serve.
Thank God for His benefactions. Thank God for His Church. Thank God for our monasteries. Thank God for our nation and our processes of government. And thank God for His patience with all of us.
Video & Photos from the setting of the dome (6 June, 2022)
Father's Day Brunch, June 26th following Divine Services
We have moved the Fathers Day Brunch from June 19th to June 26th after Liturgy. We will be having a breakfast casserole, fruit, and an iced coffee station. We'll need help with set up of tables the night before, prep, serving and clean up. If you are able to help, please sign-up via Signup Genius
To donate towards the cost of the meal, you can contribute to the benevolence account with an earmark for Fathers' Day Brunch. We will also have a basket available on Sunday to donate toward the cost of the Lunch-in.
If you have any questions please let me know. Thank you ahead of time for all your help and donations.
-Irene Bezzerides
602-617-8609
Semester of Faith at Hellenic College
Hellenic College has a unique opportunity for our college-aged students, “Semester of Faith.” I look forward to my own children participating in this program when they are in college and I encourage your families to consider this program for your children as well. You can learn more about this program by visiting, https://enrollment.hchc.edu/sof
