Blessing of the Water

The 15th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America

On November 10-13, the Orthodox Church in America will convene it’s 15th All American Council in Pittsburgh. It is a significant event as a new Metropolitan will be elected. Fr. John Schroedel will be attending this major event. Our prayers go with him and to all taking part as a new Metropolitan is selected.

Ancient Faith Radio is the official media partner for the Council and will be there to make the sessions available for those who cannot come. SEE SITE

Other notes: The mission newsletter is about to go out and if you would like to receive a copy please email with you address. Also you can view the mission photos and events on Facebook.

NEW WEB SITE

Our web site is updated with Calendar, History, links for Newsletter and several other items of interest. Make sure you bookmark the site - www.stjuvenaly.org/

Fr. John Joins Mission full time

St.Juvenaly Orthodox Mission is delighted to have Fr. John Schroedel assigned to us as our full time priest. Fr. John and his family are such a joy to the fellowship. 

The Mission meets at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Honalo. (see Where we Meet).

Great Vespers, Saturdays 6pm.

Divine Liturgy, Sunday 10am

refreshments and Aloha.

Phone 808 217-8799

Bessing the Pacific

Sunday, for the feast of Theophany, we blessed the Pacific. During the prayers, we saw some locals fishing, who caught fish after fish. Behind us, a family was grilling up the fresh fish, and after the service they asked what we were doing. We explained a little about Orthodoxy and about how we were praying over the ocean and had enjoyed watching their incredible catch. "That was 'cause you were praying," the man said.

Here's a photo of Anna, 6, retrieving the cross:

Christmas Services

Here are some images from the Christmas services, held at Darrell and Pat Hill's home.

Fr. John, first Liturgy at Orthodox Mission

Dec. 9th -Sunday 9:30 A.M. and Saturday Dec. 8th for Vespers 6:00 P.M. at St. Paul's (See where we meet). Liturgy followed by a time of fellowship. Please join us in this first Liturgy with Fr.John. This is the beginning of Fr. John's service to us for almost six months. E-mail or call for questions.

O Lord, how good...

O Lord, how good it is for us to be Thy guests! How fine
it is for us in Thy world. The fields are fragrant, the mountains
rise high up into the sky, and the golden rays of sun
and the light clouds are reflected in the water. All nature
mysteriously speaks about Thee, all is filled with Thy
mercy and all carries the seal of Thy love. Blessed be the
earth which, with her short-lasting beauty, awakens the
yearning for the eternal homeland in Thy kingdom, where
in everlasting beauty resounds the song: Alleluia!

Fr. John Schroedel Coming to Mission

Fr. John Schroedel Coming to Mission. Fr. John and his family will be joining our mission December. We look forward to having our own priest for almost six months. Fr.John, wife, Jenny and girls Anna and Natalie will arrive Dec.5th.

If you would like to take part in helping with the move, just e-mail us for information.

Please join us for "Reader Service" Sunday at 9:30 a.m. St. Pauls. See where we meet for directions.

Reader Service Sunday 10/28

Here are scenes from the visit with Fr.George.





Please join us as we meet to partake of the "Reader Service" followed by a time of fellowship. We start at 9:30 A.M. at St.Paul's, see Where We Meet for location.

Our New Icon is Here!

Heather MacKean, iconographer, has hand written our icon St.Juvenaly. We are so pleased to have this icon in our mist and our thankful for the hand work of Heather.

Please join us this coming week for our "Reader" Service, see "where we meet".

Fr. George Here For Services

Fr. George will be with us at St.Paul's for Vespers 6:00 P.M. on Saturday 10/20 evening and Divine Liturgy Sunday 10/21, confessions at 9:oo A.M., Hours 9:30 A.M. and Liturgy at 10: A.M. - Following Liturgy will be a time of fellowship. Please join us at this special time.


Father George comes to us from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Portland, OR . www.stnicholaspdx.org/

Bishop Benjamin installed as ruling hierarch of San Francisco and the West during Diocesan Assembly

SAN FRANCISCO, CA [DOW/Fr. Peter Tobias] -- The Diocese of the West held its annual assembly October 1-3, 2007, at Holy Trinity Cathedral here.

His Grace, the Right Rev. Benjamin, Bishop of San Francisco and the West, was installed as Ruling Hierarch on October 2 following the Divine Liturgy by His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Herman, Archbishop of Washington New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. His Eminence, Archbishop Seraphim, Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada, read the proclamation of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America.

(Read more at: http://www.oca.org)

Bishop Benjamin visits St. Juvenaly at least once a year.


SUNDAY OCT.14th
Today the Church remembers the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council under the holy Patriarch Tarasius (February 25).

The Synod of 787, the second to meet at Nicea, refuted the Iconoclast heresy during the reign of Empress Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitos.

The Council decreed that the veneration of icons was not idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5), because the honor shown to them is not directed to the wood or paint, but passes to the prototype (the person depicted). It also upheld the possibility of depicting Christ, Who became man and took flesh at His Incarnation. The Father, on the other hand, cannot be represented in His eternal nature, because "no man has seen God at any time" (John 1:18).

Join us for the "Reader Service" at St. Paul's - 9:30 a.m. followed by fellowship.

Fr. James Visit to Mission

Fr.James (Bohlman) St. Mary Magdalene Mission, Rincon, GA. visited the mission on October 7th. His last visit with the mission was the day Hawaii experienced an earthquake, no shake ups on this day; only good fellowship and Divine Liturgy. Next Sunday October 13th will be our "Reader Service" followed by fellowship. On October 21, Fr. George, St. Nicholas Church, Portland, OR. will be with us. Please join us.

Fr.George to Visit Mission

St.Juvenaly Orthodox Mission, welcomes the visit from our "Priest in Charge" Fr.George Gray from St.Nicholas Orthodox Church in Portland Or. Fr. George will serve Vespers on Oct. 20th and Liturgy on Oct.21. Liturgy will be followed by a short mission meeting and time of fellowship.

See "where we meet" for directions. Please join us for this special time.

Fr.James to Visit Mission

Fr. James will again join us for Liturgy Sunday October 7th. Fr. James comes to us from St. Mary Magdalene Mission
Rincon, GA. Please mark your calendar for this special visit. After liturgy there will be a time of food and fellowship.

St. Juvenaly Mission is blesssed with this visit.

See where we meet for more details.

Mission Named!

His Grace Bishop Benjamin has given the blessing for the OCMK to now be called St. Juvenaly Orthodox Mission.

St. Juvenaly is our American Proto-martyr.
He worked intimately with native Americans.
He will be a wonderful heavenly patron for our Mission.
He is commemorated (with St. Peter the Aleut, another American martyr) on September 24...so the naming of our Mission is timely.

Here is the OCA's official Troparion for the Feast (sometimes referred to as All Saints of Alaska...that's the date in 1794 that the ship with the Valaam Misisonaries arrived at Kodiak):

Troparion - Tone 4

Today Alaska rejoices and America celebrates
for the New World has been sanctified by martyrdom.
Kodiak echoes with songs of thanksgiving,
Iliámna and Kenái observe the Festival of Faith.
The apostle and martyr Juvenaly is glorified
and Peter the Aleut is exalted by his voluntary sacrifice.
In their devotion and love for the Lord
they willingly endured persecution and death for the Truth.
Now in the Kingdom of Heaven they intercede for our souls.

Kontakion - Tone 4

Today Valaam joins Alaska in celebrating this joyous feast,
as her spiritual son Juvenaly embraces the New Martyr Peter with love.
Together they suffered for the Lord in America
and united the Old World with the New by their voluntary sacrifice.
Now forever they stand before the King of Glory and intercede for our souls.

"This is great news! Ever since I heard about the discussion of the name, I've been thinking and praying about this. It's a big step for the Mission. I do think St. Juvenaly is perfect -- his missionary zeal, his connection to the travels of Captain Cook, his love for the native peoples, etc. all make him ideally suited for the OCMK. And one of his feasts (Sept. 24th) is coming up so soon!" Fr. John Schroedel

Join us at St. Paul's for our weekly reader service. We give thanks for St. Juvenaly

First day of the Church New Year

The first day of the Church New Year is also called the beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction comes from a Latin word meaning, "to impose." It was originally applied to the imposition of taxes in Egypt. The first worldwide Indiction was in 312 when the Emperor Constantine (May 21) saw a miraculous vision of the Cross in the sky. Before the introduction of the Julian calendar, Rome began the New Year on September 1.

According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2), the Savior proclaimed, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…" This scene is depicted in a Vatican manuscript (Vatican, Biblioteca. Cod. Gr. 1613, p.1).

Tradition says that the Hebrews entered the Promised Land in September.

Our Mission is planning... Go to our web site for your support. Thanks for your prayers and join us as we have Reader Service.

Our Reader Services

26 Sunday
13th Sunday after Pentecost
Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir

To read about this unique icon go to the OCA web site for the calendar of the 26th.

JOIN OUR READER SERVICE as we look to worship. John Darnall leads us as we join in this experience of worshiping together in God's presence. This is a special time for all, followed by a simple fellowship.

Service is at 9:30 A.M. Sunday mornings at St. Paul's Church (see link)

Tuesday Vespers Canceled

Due to the possibility of very bad weather the Tuesday evening service is canceled. Please join us Sunday for the Readers Service.

Yearly Meeting Held

Fr. George, from Portland, and the founders and leaders of the Orthodox Christian Mission in Kona, held a special meeting at St. Paul's. After a couple of months of prayer the parishioners turned in pledge cards that totaled almost $10,000.00 for a special offering of six months.

Looking to the future, the mission is planing on a full time priest for six months starting in December. There will also be visiting priest in October.

Kona Mission has served the spiritual life of a number of families for over four years. If you would like to join in "Building the Future", go to the Web Site link.

Fr. George Here Aug.11,12 & 14th

Fr. George Gray from Portland, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and our Mission overseer is with us August 11th Vespers at Darrell and Pat Hill's home. August 12th (Sunday, Liturgy) St. Paul's Church and August 14th (Tuesday, Vespers) Fr. George will bless flowers for the commemoration of the Dormition.

We will also have a Parish Meeting on the 12th following the service and our common meal together. Please join us for this special time. You can always e-mail for information. Blessings

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church: www.stnicholaspdx.org

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord -Aug.5th

THE BLESSING OF FRUIT:
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

The blessing of fruit for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord will take place on Sunday, August 5th following the Liturgy. Traditional practice includes the blessing of grapes (a reminder that we must abide in the True Vine, Jesus Christ). Local customs also include the blessing of tropical fruit, and other fruit. Be sure to bring a basket, to eat and to share.

Fr. Dresko will be here for Liturgy. 9:30 AM

Martyr Callinicus of Gangra in Asia Minor

The Holy Martyr Callinicus, a native of Cilicia, was raised from childhood in the Christian Faith. Grieving that many misguided people would perish for eternity because they worshiped idols, he went through the cities and villages to proclaim Jesus Christ and His teachings to the pagans, and with the Word of God he converted many to Christianity.

Commemorated on July 29

Join us at St. Paul's for Fr. Peter Tobias- Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM

Greeks, Antiochian, Serbian, American - Work Together

Click to Read ---

Fr. Peter Tobias to Kona Mission

Sunday, July 29th, Fr. Peter Tobias will be with us and we will begin Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. We hope that you will be able to join us when Fr. Peter is here. It's always wonderful to see everyone together and our time together sharing all the wonderful food that you bring and our fellowship together is a great blessing.

Also, August 5th we will also have Divine Liturgy when Fr. John Dresko and Fr. George will be here Aug. 12th.

Three Priest for Three weeks...

We have some good news to share. The end of July and the first couple of weeks in August we will be privileged to have Divine Liturgy served. Visiting Priest Fr. Peter Tobias will be with us on July 29th. Fr. Peter is Rector of St. Anthony the Great Mission in Bozeman, Montana. He also Chairs the Dept. of Communications for the Diocese of the West.

Then Sunday August 5th Fr. John Dresko will again join with us and Fr. George will be here on the Big Island for several days beginning August 8th through the 14th. Fr. George is our overseeing priest from Portland.

So, please mark your calendars and plan to join with us for Divine Liturgy and of course our customary time together after each service for fellowship and a common meal together. Other services will be announced by e-mail. Please contact us.

Fr. George, Fr. Peter and Fr. John Dresko shown.

John and Ruby Darnall Mission Founders

John and Ruby Darnall are part of the founders of the Kona Orthodox Mission. The Darnall's live in Kona, Hawaii were John is leader and founder of "Darnell & Associates", a marketing and communications company. Ruby is the manager of a jewelry store in Kona. John is the chairman of the mission board and Ruby serves as the bookkeeper.

Each week John e-mails out the mission "Reading" and other news. He leads our Reader Service and acts as the mission host. Joined by several others the mission meets weekly and is blessed to have such good people.

Shown with John and Ruby is his grace Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco. His grace visits the mission several times a year.

If you do not receive the weekly Reading and would enjoy receiving, simply e-mail the mission or John at "john@darnallandassociates.com"

Special Thanks after Heart Attack

Reader:
May He who rose again from the dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his all-pure and holy
Mother, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save
us O Lord.
Almighty God, You cast down and You raise up. We thank You that You have not seen fit to hand Your
servant Darrell over to death, but have shown Your compassion to him and have preserved and helped him
in his misery. Mercifully look down upon him and grant that the chastisement of his body in sickness and
surgery may avail for the purification of his soul. Grant that the good work begun in him may be fulfilled in
Your good pleasure, through the grace of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your
most holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

My special thanks to John and all the Mission for your prayers.

"Fr.George" Here May 20 in Kona

The Very Reverend Archpriest George A. Gray “Fr. George”, Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Portland, Oregon will be with the Kona Mission on May 20 for Divine Liturgy.

Fr. George teaches in the Department of Theology at the University of Portland.

He has taught at Mt. Angel Seminary (St. Benedict, Oregon), Marylhurst University (West Linn, Oregon) and Portland Community College (Portland)

He has authored a number of works, including Portraits of American Saints
The Orthodox Study Bible (study notes for Revelation & the Gospel of John)

He is currently working on a project (maybe a booklet) that outlines, compares and contrasts the life and witness of St. Herman of Alaska and Blessed Damien of Molokai.

Come and visit.

Divine Liturgy at 9:30 A.M. followed by fellowship.

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman - May 6th

Join us for the Reader Service this Sunday. See "Where We Are".

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."


This icon is copyright Theologic Systems

12 Things I Wish I’d Known… First Visit to an Orthodox Church

Frederica Mathewes-Green is a wide-ranging author, whose work has appeared in such diverse publications as the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Smithsonian, the Los Angeles Times, First Things, Books & Culture, Sojourners, Touchstone, and the Wall Street Journal. She is a regular columnist for the multifaith web magazine Beliefnet.com, and she writes movie reviews for National Review Online. In the past, her commentaries have been heard on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Her essays were selected for Best Christian Writing in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. She has published 8 books and over 600 articles.

Click title to go to her Blog and see essay...

Daily Reading Link

The OCA Daily reading is now linked to our page. See link under Daily Reading. Enjoy.

Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women

Troparion - Tone 2

The Noble Joseph,
When he had taken down Your most pure Body from the tree,
Wrapped it in fine linen and anointed it with spices,
And placed it in a new tomb.
But You did rise on the third day, O Lord,
Granting the world great mercy.

Troparion - Tone 2

The angel came to the myrrhbearing women at the tomb and said:
Myrrh is meet for the dead;
But Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption!
So proclaim: the Lord is risen,
Granting the world great mercy!

Kontakion - Tone 2

You did command the myrrh-bearers to rejoice, O Christ!
By Your Resurrection, You did stop the lamentation of Eve, O God!
You did command Your apostles to preach: The Savior is Risen!

Meditation and prayer for the victims at Virginia Tech

Do not weep for me, Mother, as you see in a tomb the Son whom you conceived in your womb without seed; for I shall arise and be glorified, and I shall exalt in glory without ceasing those who with faith and love magnify you. (Ode Nine, Matins for Holy Saturday)

O God of spirits and all flesh, who trampled down death and crushed the devil, giving life to your world; do you, Lord, give rest to the souls of your servants, who have fallen asleep, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of refreshment, whence pain, grief and sighing have fled away. Pardon, O God, as you are good and love mankind, every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, because there is none who will live and not sin, for you alone are without sin; your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your word is truth. For you are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servants, who have fallen asleep, Christ our God, and to you we give glory, together with your Father who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Bishop Holds Liturgy in Kona

On the 15th of April, at St. Paul’s in Honalo, Hawaii, Bishop Benjamin, Bishop of San Francisco and the West for the Orthodox Church in America, held Liturgy. This was the Bishop’s second time to visit the BIg Island and the Kona Mission. Assisting in the Liturgy was Fr.John Dresko from Southington, CT. Over 17 visiting guest attended this special service followed by fellowhip.

Thomas Sunday April 15th

Some icons depicting this event are inscribed "The Doubting Thomas." This is incorrect. In Greek, the inscription reads, "The Touching of Thomas." The Slavonic inscription is, "The Belief of Thomas." When St Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts. br> This day is also known as "Antipascha." This does not mean "opposed to Pascha," but "in place of Pascha." Beginning with this first Sunday after Pascha, the Church dedicates every Sunday of the year to the Lord's Resurrection. Sunday is called "Resurrection" in Russian, and "the Lord's Day" in Greek.

Bishop Benjamin, the Bishop of San Francisco and the West for the Orthodox Church in America will be with the Kona Mission on this special day. See post.

Paschal Homily

The Paschal Homily

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and, face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered heaven! It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!
"O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?"
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept.
To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.

Christ is Risen!

Sermon given by Father James (Bohlman)
On Pascha 2007

Acts 1: 1-8
John 1: 1-17

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Christ is Risen!

In the Greek Orthodox tradition, many families tell jokes on the day after Pascha. They do
so by way of imitating the cosmic joke that God pulled on Satan in the Resurrection. Satan
thought that he had won, and was smug in his victory, smiling to himself, having had the last
word. Or so he thought. Then God raised Jesus from the dead, and eternal life became the last
word.
Of the 800,000 words in the English language, 300,000 are technical terms. The average
person knows 10,000 words and uses 5,000 in everyday speech. A journalist knows
approximately 15,000 and uses around 10,000. But God spoke only one word… the Logos.
When St. John says in his Gospel that “the Word became flesh”, he used the Greek
word "logos," which means "word, thought, concept, and the expression thereof." In Greek
philosophy logos was the rational principle that gave order to the universe. This abstract principle
became equated with God. But an abstract word becoming a word would do the world little good.
The world was already filled with words.
St. John used the word logos to say that this divine power became real flesh and blood.
This Eternal Word, by becoming flesh, spoke the secret about himself that only he could possibly
know… that love reigns at the heart of Himself. God himself came out of the words of Scripture
so that we would have more than just a prophecy or a moral code; we would have God himself
among us… Emmanuel… the moment when The Infinite became an infant.
It is impossible to overemphasize how important God’s coming among us was. His
coming among us revealed God’s own heart, speaking volumes about his love for us: “For God
so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him”

Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was berating his hired hand for
carrying a lighted lantern when the man went to call on his girlfriend. The old farmer pontificated,
"Why, when I went a-courtin' I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark." The
hired hand looked at the farmer and replied, "Yes, and look what you got!"
Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences, which is the
very description of our life before God himself entered our reality. The image of light is a powerful
way to think about God. Light cannot be contained. Light has no shape or form. You can’t hold it
in your hand, or close it up in a box. And yet, wherever light is, darkness isn’t. Light pierces the
darkness and destroys its hold on life.
Jesus Christ came to dispel the darkness of human life. He clothed himself with our
humanity when he didn’t have to. Although… he really did have to, so great is the love that
reigns at the heart of God who could not bear to leave us lost in the darkness that we had
chosen.
In all other world religions a concept becomes words… verbal revelation. Only in
Christianity does the Eternal Word become flesh. In Jesus Christ, God did not just reveal his will
or his laws - he revealed himself. Our words explain our mind to others… and so it is with the one
word that God has uttered: Jesus Christ. He is the Word that expresses the transcendent
mystery of God the Father to us. In the Psalms we pray: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path.” Because of the illumination provided by Jesus Christ we can now know the
Father. By the Words of Jesus we can come to understand the heart of the Father.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the
Word of life; for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and
proclaim unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us”

(1 John 1:1-2).
Christ is Risen!

Orthodox Christians Welcome Bishop Benjamin to Kona Mission

Sometimes referred to as worship services where there’s lot of smells and bells, chanting and bowing, Orthodox Christian worship services are definitely unique. This coming Sunday the 15th of April, at St. Paul’s in Honalo, Bishop Benjamin, Bishop of San Francisco and the West for the Orthodox Church in America, will be ministering. This is the Bishop’s second time to visit the BIg Island and the Kona Mission.

For those interested in discovering the richness of the ancient Church and its message to the people of the islands, this is a unique opportunity to experience Orthodox worship. In addition, there will be special Orthodox chant, hymns and prayers that have an uncommon resonance with Pacific Island culture.

The Orthodox Christian Mission in Kona is part of an estimated 4 million adherents to Orthodoxy in the United States. From the indigenous peoples of Alaska, to the African American communities of Chicago, people are discovering that the traditions and teachings that sustained the early Church in the East, have meaning and cultural significance in their lives, families and communities today.

Sunday the 15th, is St. Thomas Sunday. He’s the follower of Christ best known for his doubt and then his belief. So if you have doubts about Christianity in general, or Orthodox Christianity in particular, this is a perfect time to come and see.

On Sunday public prayers and scripture reading will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy will start at 10:00 a.m. The Bishop and other guests will join us following the service for a community pot-luck meal.

There will also be a Vesper Service led by Bishop Benjamin on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.

All services are open to the public and all Orthodox Christians. If you’ve ever wondered about Orthodox Christianity we invite you to visit.

For additional information contact e-mail "Konamission@aol.com"

A ministry of The Orthodox Church of America.
www.oca.org