Latest Resource Handbook installment now available on-line

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — The Department of Christian Witness and Service announces the newest installment of nine articles (Volume III, 2006) for the Resource Handbook for Lay Ministry.

This new installment of the Resource Handbook features several articles on “diakonia” or serving others in need. Two articles, “Parish Charitable Giving” by Fr. Sam Kedala, and “The Martha Fund” by Fr. Vladimir Aleandro and Dn. John Zarras, describe how two parishes (recent missions), have incorporated, in different ways, charitable giving as a part of their regular financial stewardship.

Two other articles speak to meeting a specific need, that of providing financial assistance to seminarians who have families, both at St. Tikhon’s and at St. Vladimir’s seminaries. Fr. David Mahaffey writes in “Why Adopt a Seminarian?” of his mid-life change in career that brought him, a family man with a wife and four children, to St. Tikhon’s Seminary. He tells of how now, he and his parishioners in Old Forge, PA are, in turn, helping other seminarians with families financially.

In a second article, Allison Steffaro, “Adopt a Seminarian” Program Coordinator for the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA), relates FOCA’s involvment in this cause, providing financial assistance to the neediest seminary families each year. Additionally, at Christmas, they purchase gifts for the seminarians’ children, all through the generous contributions of FOCA chapters, districts and a number of parishes.

A final article on giving, describes a spiritual gift, the “Gift of Prayer.” Karen Mravetz, Church School Coordinator at Holy Trinity Parish, Parma, Ohio, outlines “Prayer Partners: A Lenten Outreach Program.” In it, members of the parish, adults and children alike, pick the name of a parishioner to pray for during the entire Great Lenten period. On Pascha night or shortly thereafter, they receive the added joy of discovering the identity of their prayer partner.

Dennis Dunn, OCA representative to the newly formed Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, in his article, “Reaching Out: Prison Ministry in the Parish” invites parishes to consider reaching out to an inmate in a near-by prison during his/her incarceraton and/or when he/she re-enters society. Citing Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 25, “I was in prison and you came to Me…,” Dennis describes ways in which parishioners can make a positive difference in the lives of inmates.

Witnessing to Orthodoxy can take many forms. Holy Apostles Parish in Columbia, SC chooses, as one means, to witness through their “Philokalia Orthodox Bookstore.” Patricia Madden, its librarian, speaks of its formation, how it is organized, and offers some thoughts and ideas from their experiences after five years of growth.

Caregiving for an elderly parent or a loved one is a growing responsibility for a number of parishioners in most of our parishes. Noting this trend in her own parish, Holy Cross in Medford, NJ, and a caregiver to her elderly mother herself, Diana Pasca, with the blessing of her priest, helped to form “A Caregiver’s Support Group.” In the article by that titles, Diana recounts the coming together of this group and their monthly meetings in which they offer encouragement and support to one another.

A final article addresses the final stages of life—sickness, dying, death and burial—from an Orthodox perspective. The St. Elizabeth Committee of St. Nicholas Church, Portland, OR, compiled a manual of Resources and Prayers to help those who are entering the end stages of life and their loved ones who are ministering to them. This manual is reviewed by Fr. John Shimchick, pastor of Holy Cross Church, Medord, NJ and editor of the diocesan publication, Jacob’s Well.

The Department of Christian Witness and Service announces that beginning with this installment, due to budgetary constraints, new articles will appear only on The Orthodox Church in America web site, and can be downloaded from there for a printed copy. Questions, comments, ideas for new articles can be e-mailed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or to Arlene Kallaur, RH editor at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).