As with any crisis in the world, in the Church, or in our families, our first reaction as Orthodox Christians should be prayer. And sobriety. Sober prayer to the Lord that He help us to work through the crisis at hand and to grow spiritually during the time of the crisis. If we can solve the problem then we should try to do that. If not – then we should ask the Lord to solve it in a way that is best for the salvation of all involved. But we should not lose our peace. We begin with this because keeping one’s peace is a real challenge in emotional situations – let us ask the Lord’s help in this regard in light of the present crisis in the Church...

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Thank you to everyone who participated in our parish extraordinary meeting on Sunday, August 26! At this meeting we decided how we would move forward with the building of our parish school: by September 23, 2018 we will need to have $1200/month in pledges set for five years OR $70,000 in our Parish School bank account. So we have lots of work to do! Please help! This is a time sensitive situation – if we push further out than September 23 it is virtually certain that we will miss this year’s construction season, and that will make it impossible to begin instruction in 2019.

1. Please establish a pledge or make a donation today. Visit the fund raising page below or reach out to Fr. Gregory with questions

2. Talk to your friends. We can easily reach that $1200/month if we all chip in just a little! And if we add like-minded friends and loved ones who support Orthodox Christian education we can far surpass that goal!

3. Ask questions! Would you like to learn more about the Ann Arbor Orthodox Christian Academy? Send an email to Fr. Gregory, call him, or see him in church. He or any member of the School Steering Committee can answer your questions.

4. Volunteer! Join the School Steering Committee! We need lots of hands to help with this pleasant and much needed work.

This is a great challenge for our parish family, but a completely attainable one if we all pitch in and help just a bit. Please join our school team and help us surpass our goal!

ESTABLISH A PLEDGE OR MAKE A DONATION

“This expression, however, ‘the Word was made flesh’ [John 1:14], can mean nothing else but that he partook of flesh and blood like to us; he made our body his own, and came forth man from a woman, not casting off his existence as God, or his generation of God the Father, but even in taking to himself flesh remaining what he was. This the declaration of the correct faith proclaims everywhere. This was the sentiment of the holy Fathers; therefore they ventured to call the holy Virgin, the Mother of God, not as if the nature of the Word or his divinity had its beginning from the holy Virgin, but because of her was born that holy body with a rational soul, to which the Word, being personally united, is said to be born according to the flesh.”

+ St. Cyril of Alexandria

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https://twitter.com/stvladimiraami

Many people ask us for 40-day commemorations at the Divine Liturgy. This practice – remembering someone who is ill or who has died for 40 consecutive days at the Divine Liturgy – is known as “Sorokoust”. We do not serve Liturgy every day at St. Vladimir's. But we did serve 122 Liturgies last year. Thank God we have the opportunity to serve Liturgy often. We provide a sort of modified Sorokoust for our parish family. We can commemorate your friends or loved ones at 40 consecutive Liturgies. This will take more than 40 days, but nonetheless it will indeed be helpful for those who are commemorated. Please arrange these special commemorations with Fr. Gregory or with Albina Seraphimovna at the parish kiosk. There is no “cost” for these commemorations, but it is common to give a donation in thanksgiving for the prayers. The amount is completely up to those arranging the Sorokoust and, as with other special services at St. Vladimir's, should be based on your financial situation. If God has blessed you with much you should give much. If He has blessed you with little, you should give little. Please see Fr. Gregory with questions about this or any other spiritual issue.

We present here a short educational offering for both children and adults on the upcoming Sunday's principle Gospel reading so that all can better prepare for the Divine Services. Parents are asked to review the children’s portion with their children. It is very important for us to attend the Divine Services on Sundays and whenever else we are able, but in addition it is our spiritual responsibility to educate ourselves and our families in the faith. It is our hope that this mid-week offering will be an aid in this regard. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or suggestions.

For Adults

For Children

Thank you to everyone who participated in our parish extraordinary meeting on Sunday, August 26! At this meeting we decided how we would move forward with the building of our parish school: by September 23, 2018 we will need to have $1200/month in pledges set for five years OR $70,000 in our Parish School bank account. So we have lots of work to do! Please help! This is a time sensitive situation – if we push further out than September 23 it is virtually certain that we will miss this year’s construction season, and that will make it impossible to begin instruction in 2019.

1. Please establish a pledge or make a donation today. Visit the fund raising page below or reach out to Fr. Gregory with questions

2. Talk to your friends. We can easily reach that $1200/month if we all chip in just a little! And if we add like-minded friends and loved ones who support Orthodox Christian education we can far surpass that goal!

3. Ask questions! Would you like to learn more about the Ann Arbor Orthodox Christian Academy? Send an email to Fr. Gregory, call him, or see him in church. He or any member of the School Steering Committee can answer your questions.

4. Volunteer! Join the School Steering Committee! We need lots of hands to help with this pleasant and much needed work.

This is a great challenge for our parish family, but a completely attainable one if we all pitch in and help just a bit. Please join our school team and help us surpass our goal!

ESTABLISH A PLEDGE OR MAKE A DONATION

Volunteer for Festival Duties Now – the 2018 Festival is September 15 & 16:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14paULj3UY8s49B8HaxB31EkABpf8pEpppX5BUOn5H7o/edit?usp=sharing

See how much fun you will have by visiting our photo album from last year's festival:

https://stvladimirchurch.smugmug.com/2017/Russian-Festival/

Please spread the word about festival sponsorships to your doctor, your dentist, your hair stylist, your dog groomer, your grass cutter, your water softener folks, etc., etc. YOU spend money (hundreds or thousands of dollars) at these businesses each year. Most of these businesses would be HAPPY to sponsor our festival since you have established a relationship already. The only way they will not sponsor the festival? If YOU don’t ask! So ask! :)

Share the information with them below - and consider sponsoring the festival yourself - every contribution helps us succeed!

SPONSOR THE FESTIVAL NOW!

“And since the holy Virgin hath borne after the Flesh God united personally to the Flesh, therefore we do say that she is also Mother of God, not as though the Nature of the Word had the beginning of Its existence from flesh, for It was in the beginning and the Word was God, and the Word was with God [John 1:1], and is Himself the Maker of the ages, Co-eternal with the Father and Creator of all things.”

+ St. Cyril of Alexandria