For immediate release: Changes in Orthodox Church Life in the post-Pandemic America

The report, The “New Traditional” in a Most Traditional Church: How the Pandemic Has Reshaped American Orthodox Christian Churches. What Do Lay People Think about It?, is available now. More than 2,000 ordinary parishioners from all parts of the USA participated in this study, and shared their thoughts about Orthodox Church life in America during and post-pandemic   

An executive summary (4 pages) can be downloaded here:
https://orthodoxreality.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NewTraditionalLaityReportExecSummary.pdf  

A summary of major findings and conclusions (10 pages) can be downloaded here:
https://orthodoxreality.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NewTraditionalLaityReportConcludingPart.pdf 

The full report can be downloaded here:
https://orthodoxreality.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NewTraditionalLaityReportFinalSecured.pdf

The core question addressed in this report is: how has the pandemic transformed the Orthodox Church which many think of as "the original Christian Church that never changes"? Special attention has been given to the “mysterious” surge in vitality that some churches experienced despite and even because of the pandemic. 

Here are a few examples of what you will find in the report:
+ Possible future of the “online mode” in the lives of American Orthodox Christian parishes
+ Changes in members’ involvement in the parishes, their personal faith, and attitudes towards the Church.
+ Changes in religious education for children and teenagers
+ Most common scenarios of upsurge and downfall in parish communities during the past two years
+ Growing trust in parish clergy and declining confidence in Bishops and Metropolitans
+ Changes in overall parish vitality and distinctive features of congregations which experienced a surge in vitality throughout the pandemic
+ Three different paths to powerful growth in parish vitality despite, or even because of, the pandemic

Please share this report via social media with your parish communities as well as with Orthodox friends and relatives. Send your reflections and comments to orthodoxdata@usreligioncensus.org or use the contact form on the website: www.orthodoxreality.org. 

For more information about the impact of the pandemic on American Orthodox Churches look at:
https://orthodoxreality.org/coronavirus-and-american-orthodox-parishes 

Respectfully,
Alexei Krindatch,  National Coordinator
Second Census of Orthodox Christian Churches/2020 US Religion Census
www.usreligioncensus.org, www.orthodoxreality.org
Office: 510-647-9427 Cell: 773-551-7226
"You can't manage what you don't understand, and you can't understand what you don't measure"

Mosquito Fire (Update, Request, & Prayers)

This past week, our region has again, sadly, been impacted by devastating wildfires. Our response to this and every other calamity that befalls us must be prayer - for those who have been evacuated/displaced, for those who have lost their homes and businesses, for those who fight these fires, and also for those who care for the ailing. Prayer, both corporate and private, are gifts to God, to one another, and to His creation. Prayer also leads us to other more specific or tangible expressions of God’s love and mercy for those in need within our community and beyond.

The Mosquito Fire as of late has burned over 14,000 acres and is at 0% containment. The next several days will surely be trying for our entire region on account of the extreme heat. More information is available and is regularly updated at https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022/9/6/mosquito-fire/

A few requests:
1) Be mindful of your well-being, both the safety of you and your loved ones if you are in proximity to these fires, as well as your health from the air quality.
2) If you have been evacuated and are in need of housing, please let us know so that we can attempt to find you housing.
3) If you are able to provide housing to a member of our community, immediately or in the near future, just in case, please let us know.
4) Please include the following prayer in your devotions.

Together, let us pray that God will keep safe those who fight the fires and that life and property will be preserved as the fires are extinguished. And, may our heartfelt prayers be well-pleasing to God.

__________

Prayer for Protection from Raging Fires
(by Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes)

O Gracious God Who created the earth and all that is in it, Thou didst give us so many blessings. Indeed, Thou didst fill the world with so much beauty, bounty, and no end of wonders! We ask Thee now to save Thy people from nature’s furious fires. Save those in our region and throughout the State whose homes and families are in the path of the wildfires that are consuming the land. Give courage to those who fight fires, who clean up and help others to rebuild after disasters strike. Give strength to all survivors and peace to those whose lives are in danger. Send down abundant rain showers to quench the flames in California. As Thou didst send to Noah of old, send also the rainbow of hope. Nature may rage but Thou, O Lord, we know art a Loving God Who ever holds in Thy hand all Thou hast created. Unto Thee do we give thanks for all things! Grant us humility to repent of our negligence in tending Thy Creation and give us henceforth the will to serve Thee more faithfully. Protect homes and monasteries and all Thy people. In all the days of our lives let us remember to honor and worship Thee as the Living God: Father, Son, and All-Holy Spirit. Amen.

Swim for Hope Annual Charity Ocean Swim (Project Mexico)

Swim. Kayak. Walk. For Children

Swim for Hope Annual Charity Ocean Swim

Every year, our faithful friend, Father Simeon “Aqua Padre” and the Swim for Hope Team swims, kayaks or walks to raise money for our School Buddies education program to benefit the children of St Innocent Orphanage. You can support the work of our ministry in providing education to the boys of St Innocent by donating at the link below.

This year, Father Simeon and the team will make the trek from Scripps Park to the Round House and back to Windandsea­ for a grand tour of La Jolla!

WHERE: La Jolla, California

WHEN: September 3, 2022, 8 a.m.  

Swim for Hope

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.

Register Today

Book Your Hotel

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

metropolis@sanfran.goarch.org | www.sanfran.goarch.org