Blessings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as we continue our Lenten journey through these unusual times. I am sure you all continue to monitor the evolving Coronavirus situation and attempts to mitigate the pandemic facing us all.
In response to government guidance, our Archdiocese has issued new directives for the church in order to do our part to protect our congregations and our communities. Though some of the following instructions may seem drastic, they are prudent and necessary to get to the other side of the pandemic as soon as possible. With that goal in mind, the following directives are implemented until further notice:
1. All non-liturgical activities (church school, meetings, meals, coffee hour, etc.) are cancelled. 2. Services are limited to Orthros/Divine Liturgy (commencing March 22) and Akathist (commencing March 27). Services will be limited to CLERGY and CHANTERS ONLY “on behalf of all and for all.” 3. Confession will be offered only in case of great, immediate spiritual need. 4. Baptisms are postponed until further notice. 5. In case of a funeral, only immediate family may attend (limited to 10 persons). 6. Service texts for home use will be available on the http://www.antiochian.org website under the Liturgics section.
If you are a chanter and show symptoms of any sickness or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test for you or a loved one, please stay at home. I will coordinate with John Meese which chanters will be present at each service.
I hope each of you will see this difficulty as an opportunity for a truly meaningful Lenten offering. What could be more of an acceptable Lenten offering that to give up our own will and desires in obedience to the service and welfare of our community?
We are exploring ways to enhance our journey through these times such as video homilies and other communications, as well as providing a list of churches providing streaming services as soon as possible.
Above let us pray for another and take the time to reach out to each other by phone or email. Obviously, I will keep you informed of any changes as soon as they are implemented.
Sunday, November 10th at 12:30 at Sh. Belinda Short’s home). Mother Aemiliane is the Abbess at the Sacred Monastery of St. Nina in Union Bridge, MD founded in 2012. A BBQ lunch will be provided. ($10 per person) All women of the church (18 and older) and your guests are invited. Nursing infants only, please. Please RSVP to BelindaJShort@Gmail.com.
Fr. Stephen asking for God’s blessing, protection and wisdom for those in our new church school on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Seven children were present on our first day!
St. Anna Church School (Ages 3-9) – Begins THIS Sunday, September 15 at 8:45am.
Introducing…….(You and your child are going to LOVE
this!)
St. Anna Church School – “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” Method
Catechesis
of the Good Shepherd is a common religious experience involving children and
adults in which the religious values of childhood, primarily those values of
contemplation and enjoyment of God, are predominant. This experience is shared
in a place particularly prepared for the religious life of children called the
Atrium.
The
Child
– God and the child have a unique relationship with one another particularly
before the age of six. The growth of this relationship should be assisted by
the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child. Children need
their own place to foster the growth of that relationship. This spiritual
growth is best served through tangible but indirect means. “If we want to
help the child grow near to God, we should, with patience and courage…seek to
go always closer to the vital nucleus of things. This requires study and
prayer. The child himself will be our teacher if we know how to observe him.”
Sofia Cavalletti
The
Atrium
– The Atrium (or prepared environment) is one of the important elements that
helps the relationship between God and the child to flourish. After a theme has
been presented, the child is free to choose an activity that will make possible
the inner dialogue with the “Interior Teacher.” How does the atrium help to
nourish this relationship? ~ The atrium can be compared to a retreat house
facilitating recollection and silence. ~ The atrium is a place for religious
life, for community and worship—not a classroom for instruction. ~ The atrium
is a place of meaningful work through which the child can have a conversation
with God. ~ The atrium was the place in the early church where the catechumens
were prepared. For the child, too, the atrium is a place of preparation for
involvement in the larger worship community.
The
Adult
– The catechist’s role is to prepare the environment and to give selected
presentations from scripture and liturgy that “call forth” the child’s response
rather than “pour in” information. The
catechist listens with the child and together they ask, “God, who are you? How
do you love us?” The adult reflects with the child on the questions generated
by the presentations with the materials offered to the child to aid the child’s
reflection. The catechists work together in a spirit of unity and harmony, in
tune with God’s plan for communion in the history of salvation and in keeping
with the themes of unity so strongly expressed in the parables of the Good
Shepherd (John 10:1ff) and the True Vine. (John 15: 1ff) They generously offer
their talents and experience for the good of all.
A
Catechesis Born of Joy – The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was born from the joy of
the children in their encounter with God and lives in being nourished by this
joy. It has also been observed that children of the same developmental stage
even though belonging to different cultural backgrounds, respond to certain
elements of the Christian message in the same way. Over time through being with
children in a specially prepared environment called an atrium, observing and
listening to their responses, scriptural and liturgical themes developed that
most resonated with children’s religious needs according to their age levels.
Thus the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd divests itself of any strictly
scholastic character, so as to become an experience of life, an education in
faith, and a celebration of the encounter with the Father, in listening to
Jesus, the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
God
and the Child with the Adult – An interpersonal relationship is always a
mystery, all the more so when that relationship is between God and the child.
We believe that there is a deep bond between God and the child which produces
in the child the desire to draw nearer to God. The catechist’s role is to
prepare the environment and to give selected presentations from scripture and
liturgy that “call forth” the child’s response rather than “pours in”
information. The catechist listens with the child and together they ask, “God,
who are you? How do you love us?” The adult reflects with the child on the
questions generated by the presentations with the materials offered to the
child to aid the child’s reflection. The atrium (or prepared environment) is
one of the important elements that help the relationship between God and the
child to flourish. After a theme has been presented, the child is free to choose
an activity that will make possible the inner dialogue with the “Interior
Teacher.”
On the occasion of our very first Episcopal visit at St Anna Orthodox Christian Church, His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS prayed Great Vespers with us on Sunday, August 18, 2019. Truly an historic event for the first known Orthodox Christian Bishop to ever visit and pray in Columbia, TN! We were encouraged to remain faithful to God, pray for those in our community and invite them to join us.
Just a reminder that we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the Dormition of the Theotokos on Wednesday, August 14 at 6:30pm. Please join us if you are able.
“Verily, the God-mantled Apostles were caught up on all sides, ascending the clouds by a divine sign. And they came up to thy most pure, life-originating resting-place to kiss it reverently. As for the most sublime heavenly powers, they came with their own chief. To escort, enwrapped in awe, thine all-honored, God-receiving body, they went before in a super-earthly manner, shouting invisibly to the heavenly ranks: Behold the Queen of all, the divine Maiden, has come. Lift up the gates and receive super-earthly-wise the Mother of everlasting Light. For through her hath salvation come to the whole human race. And she is the one on whom it is impossible to gaze, and whom we never can honor sufficiently. For the honor through which she became sublime transcendeth all understanding. Wherefore, O undefiled Theotokos, everlasting with thy life-bearing Son, intercede with Him unceasingly that He may preserve and save thy new people from every hostile assault; for we have taken thee unto us as our helper. Therefore, do we magnify thee with voices of joy unto all ages.” – DOXASTICON FOR THE DORMITION, from Great Vespers for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
A Spiritual Retreat for the Clergy, Antiochian Men, Women, Young Adults, & Teen SOYO. Hosted by St.Ignatius Church in Franklin, TN: September 6-7, 2019. Hotel Accommodations at Hampton Inn & Suites Berry Farms. Register here: http://bit.ly/2ndFallRetreat
Photos from our very first St Anna Feast Liturgy last night! Blessed Feast of St. Anna! APOLYTIKION OF ST. ANNA – Righteous Ancestor of God, Mother of the Theotokos: “O godly minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God’s pure mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Wherefore, thou hast now passed with joy to thy heavenly rest, wherein is the abode of them that rejoice in glory; and thou askest forgiveness of sins for them that honor thee with love, O ever blessed one.“
Great Vespers begins THIS Saturday – July 20, 5:00pm. We will begin praying Great Vespers each Saturday beginning THIS WEEK. This is a very special service marking the beginning of the liturgical week and is a brief and solemn service of prayer and preparation for the Sunday Liturgy. Please join us on Saturday evening.
St. Anna Orthodox Christian Church, located at 700 Woodland St, Columbia, TN 38401 will be celebrating it’s very FIRST Patronal Feast on Wednesday, July 24 with Divine Liturgy beginning at 6:30 pm followed by a fasting meal offered to all in attendance by the members of the church. You and your family are invited to attend this historic occasion as Tennessee’s newest Orthodox Christian Church offers prayers of thanksgiving and petition to God and to St. Anna, the grandmother of Jesus Christ and the mother of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos.
St. Anna Orthodox Christian Church is a mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America under the care and protection of the His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America and was given it’s name and granted it’s mission status by His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast in November 2018. The pastor is the Very Rev. Father Stephen Rogers assisted by the Rev. Deacon Andrew Short. For more information please visit the website: http://www.StAnnaColumbia.org.
St. Anna Orthodox Christian Church 