Grief & Bereavement Group

Please join Justine Hoff, M.A. and Fr. Christopher as they explore the spiritual, social, and emotional implications around loss of a loved one. No matter who or when a loved one passed, we encourage you to share your journey with like-minded individuals who can relate and empathize with you. With her skills from her M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy, Justine will lead the processing aspect of the group while Fr. Christopher will address the spiritual dimension of both the deceased and the one left behind. Group will meet for 6 sessions, twice monthly on Wednesdays on the following days from 7:00-8:00pm:

9/12      Introduction/Story Telling

9/26      Life Left Behind (The current state of the bereaved)

10/10    How Our Departed Ones Live (Education from Fr. Chris)

10/24    Battling Expectation vs. Hope (Unraveling expectations from self or others, but also hopes for the future and feelings therein)

11/7      The Theology of Death/Christ and Death (Christ in the midst of loss, the present help of spiritual resources lead by Fr. Chris)

11/21    Moving Forward vs. Moving On (Living life in light of the loss)

For more information, please contact me in the Church Office, 916-772-9372

Join us for our Feast Day, July 25!

Join us as we commemorate our Parish Feast, the Dormition of the Holy Ancestor of God, Anna.  We look forward to welcoming His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco as well as clergy and laity from near and far.  Our service schedule is as follows: 

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  • Great Vespers commemorating the Dormition of the holy Ancestor of God, (Tuesday, July 24, 6:30PM) His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco will lead us in prayer. A dinner reception will follow. 
  • Hierarchical Services (Wednesday, July 25, 9AM) A light reception will follow at the Parish.
  • Supplication to Ss. Joachim & Anna (Wednesday, July 25, 6PM) 

If you are unable to join us, we ask you to keep our Parish and her ministries in your prayers.  And, if you'd like to submit names for us to commemorate, please email them to the Church Office.  May our Lord, through the intercessions of our matron, Saint Anna, continue to grant you many years of service with good health, strength, and every blessing unto salvation. 

 

A Wish List for the Orthodox Church in Guatemala

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In addition to your prayers, please consider offering your support to the faithful in Guatemala by donating the following items:

 

 

A festal icon set for the 12 great feasts (11" x 17"): http://tinyurl.com/m8ojdy8.
Incense
Baptismal crosses, preferably three-barred crosses: It is common for the priests to celebrate dozens of baptisms in a single day. These can be purchased in bulk: http://www.tinyurl.com/kxs93nc
Chrism containers: http://tinyurl.com/k2ygtgb
Holy water sprinklers: http://tinyurl.com/lbxjgza
Communion spoons: http://tinyurl.com/kjzutbw
Altar boy robes: Sponsor a set of 15 robes in different sizes that could be made through Mayan Artisan Studio (MAS): https://mayanartisanstudio.com/ which is composed of Orthodox women seamstresses from Aguacate that make vestments, cassocks, altar boy robes, and chalice covers.

Please contact Jennifer for more information:

Jennifer Rice, Missionary to Guatemala,ricejenniferk@gmail.com 

Support:www.ocmc.org/JenniferRice
Follow:www.facebook.com/JenniferRiceMissionary

Request for assistance after the devastating fire at Holy Myrrhbearing Women Parish in West Sacramento

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"On the 12th of July, 2018 in West Sacramento, California, the oldest Orthodox Church of Holy Myrrhbearing Women burned down. Our church building was established in 1925 and was a monument of architecture, and served as the center of spiritual life for multiple generations of people of faith. We have received the blessing from the church hierarchy for the reconstruction. We ask for any material help for the restoration of the church building.

Currently, the main importance for our parish is the ability to conduct church service. For now the service will temporarily take place within the Church Hall. For this we need to equip a temporary shrine and altar. We are also in need of liturgical service books, church vestments, and material needs. We hope that you will not be indifferent to our tragedy.

Earthly life is temporary. Every day of life on this earth can be our last. We come into this world empty-handed and leave empty-handed. The only things we can take with us are untouchable – our good deeds as a signs of our faith. A person may leave the earthly life, but one’s deed of helping restore a church will remain, and the people within it will be thankful and pray for the builders, restorers, and donors of the church.

We will be grateful for any help in this holy task! Let us rebuild out of the ashes God’s church and leave our footprint to the preservation of history of our beloved and cherished Church building.

How you can help:

1. Donations can be made in the church :

Address: 833 Water Street, West Sacramento, CA 95605

Phone: (916)371-1041

E-mail: holywomen@gmail.com

2.You can make your donations through PayPal by using the link on our Church’s website. : http://www.holy-women.com/pages/donation_ru.php

3.Through the platform of GoFundMe.com, you can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/fire-distruction-of-our-church

We will appriciate if you can share this message with your close friends. God bless you!

With all respect,

Parish Council of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women Church"