St. Michael`s Celtic Festival

Our Parish and Community August 2011 - July 2012
www.holydormitionchurch.org
Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord... Philemon 1:20
We are exceedingly thankful for the joy which our Lord has given us over the past year.
In the midst of our trials and struggles, our Savior has given us moments together in which our
hearts and eyes have been lifted up to His heavenly Kingdom. He has given us a taste of the future
when we will continually keep festival with Him.
The following pages present some of the moments in which we rejoiced together as
brothers and sisters. Reading them, we pray that you will rejoice with us as our extended family.
Truly our Diocese has much to be thankful for, both in our individual parishes and together in our
Diocesan gatherings.
One great moment of joy for us was the visit of Metropolitan Joseph and Bishop Daniil to
our community last January. His Eminence married Athena and Gregory Cleghorn in a uplifting
ceremony attended by young and old from across the country. Truly the heavens opened up that
day and grace rained down upon us all.
Then His Eminence and His Grace extended their visit to celebrate Holy Theophany with
our community. We went to the Pacific Ocean on a blustery and wet day after the Divine Liturgy
to bless the waters. His Eminence and His Grace bravely entered the churning ocean for the
grace-filled blessing. The children then went in and retrieved the cross thrown by Metropolitan
Joseph. What a joy that day was!
Thank you Dedo Vladiko for all your support, prayers and constant love for us and may
our Lord grant you Many Years! Welcome Your Grace to our Diocese and may our Lord also
grant you Many Years!
Clergy
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyer, Rector
Very Rev. Fr. David Skopp, Assistant Rector
Very Rev. Fr. Philip Tolbert, Rev. Fr. Stephen Steineck
Protodeacon James Hughes, Deacon. Samuel Woolums
Sub-deacon Michael McHugh,
Officers
Mr. Stephen Rodier, President
Ms. Kate McCaffery, Secretary
Mr. Bruce McLeester, Treasurer
2
Our Patronal Feast
The Holy Dormition of the Mother of God
Our annual Patronal Feast Day, the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God was celebrated
this year on Sunday. The feast was well attended with nuns from Holy Assumption Monastery in
Calistoga and laity from local Orthodox parishes.
4th
of
JULY
3
Harvest Festival
Our annual Harvest Festival is growing every year, with new people discovering this wholesome
family and community event. Our Country-Western theme with children’s crafts and activities, music, folk dancing, BBQ and evening performance was a delight for all who attended. This year also included a live auction, Chinese and Eritrean food booths, and the annual apple pie contest. During the
Festival we gave thanks to Our Lord for the good gifts that he has given us throughout the year and
celebrated Vespers before the evening performance began.
Tomalies
Pony Rides
Zieminski Cloggers
Pub
Tea Room
Crafts
Pickin’ Corner
Three Leg Race
Sack Race
Don’t Fence Me In
4
Pastor Jam
Not of This World Bookstore & Catacomb Café
For the past eighteen years, Not of This World Bookstore has served Santa Rosa with a
wonderful offering of Orthodox books, icons and cards. The manager, Mr. Daniel Shultz, also
supplies numerous bookstores around the country with Orthodox books and icons imported from
Russia, Greece and Bulgaria. The bookstore is well known throughout the city.
The young people on the streets know the bookstore through the ministry of Holy
Dormition’s youth, who provide a haven for them on Friday evenings. The bookstore is transformed
into the Catacomb Café. Free espresso drinks, Italian sodas and cookies are offered to those who
come. The Café is often packed with young people, opening the door for interesting conversations
and witness to Christ. Fr. David Skopp provides the spiritual overview for the Café and introduces
many of the young people to Orthodoxy by showing them the beautiful St. Innocent of Alaska
Chapel in the back of the store.
Catacomb Café
Café guests
Baristas
Musical Interlude
5
Decorated Paschal Cheese
Making a Jigsaw Puzzle
Static Electricity
St. Michael’s Orthodox School
Once again, God blessed us with a successful school year. Three new families joined us, being
invited by families already part of the school. The school parents continue to be our most effective
“advertising.”
Santa Lucia Procession
Blessing of the Waters
Throwing the Cross
The highlight of the year was the visit, in January, of our dear Vladika and Bishop Daniil.
They came for the wedding of Athena Cleghorn, who was the first student to attend St. Michael’s
eighteen years ago. The pictures are from the Blessing of the Waters of the Pacific Ocean. It was a
cold and blustery day, but five of our girls braved the cold water to retrieve the cross.
Retrieving the Cross
6
Gregory and Athena’s Wedding - January 15, 2012
Gregory Cleghorn, from our sister church Holy Transfiguration in Syracuse, NY was married to
Athena Killinger on Sunday, January 15th by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph at St. Seraphims
Orthodox Church here in Santa Rosa. His Eminence, along with His Grace Bishop Daniil and 6
priests celebrated the marriage ceremony. The whole weekend was a joyful and uplifting experience for all who attended. Above are a few photos from the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and the
reception. There are many more photos and the full story on the diocesan website at:
http://www.bulgariandiocese.org/jan2012.html
7
Theophany 2012
Every year after liturgy on Theophany, we go to Doran Beach with the students of St.
Michael’s School for the blessing of the waters. This year there was some rain and heavy
winds, but His Eminence and His Grace were determined to bless the waters of the Pacific.
After the blessing, the crosses are thrown into the water and the students jumped in to the
water to retrieve them.
8
Pascha 2012
9
St. Michael’s Celtic Festival
The sixth annual St. Michael’s Celtic Festival, a fund-raiser for St. Michael’s School, was a
tremendous success, thanks to the parents and students of St. Michael’s School. We held Scottish
games for young and old with such traditional events as the caber toss, stone put and hammer
throw. Live music played on stage all day. There was abundant food, crafts and Scottish dancing.
The evening entertainment was a “A Night In A Irish Pub” which included music, drama and
dancing with a performance of Mrs. Fogartie’s Christmas Cake. Everyone was pleased with the
full day of God’s grace and wholesome entertainment.
10
Holy Dormition Family and Community Events
Zewdi Fidel, daughter of Fidel Habtezion and Selamawit Fessehaile, was baptized on Saturday,
Nov. 4 at St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church by Fr. Michael Oyer. The Godmother is Desirre
Zumbo.
Matthew Sundhal and Joanna Quirino were baptized on Holy Saturday, April 16, 2012 at Holy
Dormition Orthodox Church by Fr. Michael Oyer. Matthew’s godfather is Bruce Mcleester and
Joanna’s godmother is Anna Killinger.
Jayden Daniel Lacy was baptized on Sunday, June 3, 2012. The godfather is Michael McHugh.
11
Graduations
Athena Killinger graduated
from the Sonoma State
Nursing Program with her
RN & BSN degrees.
Eyerus Tesfasalie graduated
from Sonoma State with
Degrees in Finance &
Accounting.
Moses Anderson completed his
final year at St. Michael’s School
graduating from the 8th grade.
Tonsures
On Sunday, January 15, 2012 His Eminence tonsured four young men as readers for Holy
Dormition - Gabriel Mc Hugh, Theodore Killinger, Mikael Habtezion and Timothy Zieminski.
12