We do not talk too much in our parish about elections and this is by design. I do not think it is appropriate for me to tell you how you should vote. However, I can say that as Orthodox Christians – as the rational flock of our Lord Jesus Christ – we are expected to educate ourselves about the candidates and vote for those that we think will best advance the moral and social teachings of Christ and best help our country. But if we feel our civic duty begins and ends at the voting booth we are completely mistaken. It is our responsibility – our Christian duty – whether we vote or not and for whomever we do vote if we do, to pray for our nation. St. Paul calls upon us to pray for our leaders. He made that call during the time that pagans ruled over (and often persecuted) all Christians and this call has never been rescinded by the Church. So let us fulfill our civic duty as our conscience directs us, but let us not forget our Christian duty to pray for our leaders – that God will guide them. If we do this we can hope for the peace that we pray for at every Divine Liturgy – a peace we are asking the Lord for so that we can work out our salvation (the most important goal in our lives as Christians) in the most expeditious context possible.

Fr. Gregory

Please join us for a Midnight Divine Liturgy November 11 into November 12 - this coming Friday/Saturday! Worship as the early Christians did! Enjoy the prayerful/quiet atmosphere of the midnight services. All are welcome!

Once per year the International Orthodox Christian Charities asks us to raise awareness of their efforts in our parish. And we are happy to do this! We will have an information table, and we may even make kits together as a parish family. More to come soon! Questions: Fr. Gregory or our IOCC Liaison Marina Edwards.

https://www.iocc.org/take-action/iocc-sunday-day-sharing

Please join us for the first ever Liturgy of St. James served in our parish tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. The video below gives you a little preview of the service (from St. Petersburg Theological Academy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bHCz6LUY0k&feature=youtu.be

This year election day is the same day as the feast of St. Demetrius the Great Martyr – November 8. According to our blessing from Archbishop Peter that we serve liturgy yearly on this feast having placed the relics of the Great Martyr Demetrius in the foundation of our parish church, we will again this year, God-willing, be able to serve liturgy on November 8. Perhaps it will be a good idea to serve liturgy on election day for all Presidential elections, but it certainly seems the right thing to do this year, when America is so divided over and disappointed in the candidates that are on offer. Please join us for the feast of St. Demetrius and in prayer for our country as we ask the Lord to guide all to make good decisions about who they will vote for on November 8.

As in past years we will be participating in the Kalamazoo Russian Festival on November 5. We are seeking volunteers to staff our table at the event throughout the day. Please contact Fr. Gregory if you can help!

Do you use Twitter? If so – please consider following us! We have a very active Twitter feed and if you tweet you don't want to miss St. Vladimir's as part of your Twitter experience. Sign up here:

https://twitter.com/stvladimiraami

We know that lots of folks don't carry cash these days, so we now take credit cards at church on Sunday (and major feasts). You can make a donation, buy candles or other kiosk items, pay for lunch, or in other ways support the parish without having to carry lots of cash. Learn more here:

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/creditcards.pdf

The fall feast of St. John of Kronstadt falls on November 1. At St. Vladimir’s we will mark the feast with services on October 31 at 5:00 p.m. and November 1 at 8:00 a.m. Please join us as your personal schedule allows!

All three of our parish youth groups will meet on Sunday, October 30. The schedule is:

9-12 Year Old Group: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
More info/Register: https://goo.gl/forms/Y3ngQHJ7JsB4D2Pq2

Teen Group: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
More info/Register: https://goo.gl/forms/LlPtF1jdO0fc95V52

Youth Adult Group Dinner: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
More info/Register: https://goo.gl/forms/MmpVRigZQ3CoGv273