What's NAB?

What’s the NAB?

 That stands for North American Board and refers to the governing board of the Antiochian Women at the national level. 

The NAB is directly under the covering and direction of the Antiochian Archdiocese.  The NAB functions to provide consistency of information, programs, etc. throughout the whole archdiocese by mailing out information to the seven regional boards.  The regional boards seek to help individual parishes establish women's groups at the local level and pass along mailings of materials from the NAB and participate in the annual group “Project”.  We are in the Eastern Region, which consists of 37 parishes or missions in
Pennsylvania,
Maryland,
New Jersey, and parts of
Connecticut and
New York.

Structure: The following table will help you see the structure of the Antiochian Women and also what kinds of mailings to expect from NAB and your Eastern Region Board of Antiochian Women.  There is no specific schedule and mailings from Coordinators can be infrequent.     

                                                            Antiochian Archdiocese

North American Board (NAB) of AW

Pres, VP,  Secy, Treas.  (elected at Arch. Convention- 2 yr terms)

NAB Coordinators: (appointed)

Humanitarian, Religious, Project, Membership/Public Relations,

Eastern Region (1 of 7 regions)

Pres., VP., Secy, Treas. (elected at Parish Life Conf. For 2 yr terms)

6 Eastern Region Coordinators (appointed/volunteers)

Humanitarian, Religious, Project, Membership/Public Relations, Eeman Newsletter, Website

Parish Level Chapter

Officers (as need or group constitution determines)

Individual members

Humanitarian- ideas to promote acts of Christian love and charity in your community

Religious- devotional material to use at meetings, reprint in bulletins, or use as discussion topics

Project- Each parish is asked to participate in the annual “Project” challenged to us by Met. Philip.  Watch the “Project” mailings to see long list of past projects from outfitting the
Antiochian 
Village to helping fund health and education facilities here and around the world.  The most current “Orphanage Project“--establishing an Endowment Fund while also giving annually to a number of  needy Orthodox Orphanages. 

Membership/Public Relations- ideas for keeping your members and others aware of activities

Eeman Newsletter- 1 page bulletin size newsletter of inspirational items, & upcoming events

Website- includes contents and all publishable information about Eastern Region

Antiochian Women Prayer

 

Prayer of the Antiochian Women

 

 

In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

 

O Christ our God,

 

We all are pledged to serve Thee with our whole being.

 

Help us to continue to work for Thee through our Church

 

without seeking praise,…without seek personal gain,

 

without judging others…

 

without a feeling that we have worked hard enough

 

and now must allow ourselves rest.

 

Give us strength to do what is right

 

and help us to go on striving

 

and to remember that ACTIVITIES

 

are not the MAIN things in life.

 

The most important thing is to

 

Have our hearts directed and attuned to Thee.

 

Amen

 

 

 

History

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America is an organization of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, founded in 1973 through the vision of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba). ORGANIZATION The Antiochian Women follows the structure of other organizations of the Antiochian Archdiocese, with member chapters at the local parish level, regional leadership - elected by delegates of the local member chapters—for each of the seven geographical regions established for the Archdiocese, and North American leadership - (the North American Board or “NAB”) - elected by delegates of the regions to the meeting of the Antiochian Women coinciding with the biennial convention of the Antiochian Archdiocese. HISTORY The history of the Antiochian Women has been rich and varied. As the organization celebrated twenty eight years in July 2001, it had raised over $1,273,000.00 towards its annual Projects, funding humanitarian programs and projects of the Antiochian Archdiocese and participating in the preparation of a legacy for the generations to follow. It has encouraged a new generation of women to explore the fullness of their ministry in the Orthodox Church, and has established a network of retreats and symposia providing a forum for the development of fellowship and the deepening of faith. PURPOSES The purposes of the Antiochian Women are: 1. To develop among women throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness and commitment as taught in the Holy Orthodox Church. 2. To foster among women throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity, and 3. To instill among women throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese and the community at large a sense of fellowship and a deeper understanding of the heritage and traditions of the Antiochian Archdiocese and the Orthodox Church. FOCUS The primary areas of focus of the Antiochian Women are represented on the North American Board by several standing committees, the coordinators of which are appointed by the president of the Antiochian Women. These standing committees are: Religious - The Religious Committee promotes spiritual activities, including retreats and other special programs for women, adult education programs and special programs observing specific feasts and fasts of the liturgical calendar. Humanitarian - The Humanitarian Committee promotes and encourages projects and programs of a humanitarian nature, drawing from the legacy of humanitarian good works performed by women in the parishes of the Antiochian Archdiocese throughout its history.

Project - The Project Committee has the responsibility of coordinating the raising of funds from women throughout the Archdiocese to benefit one specific fund-raising project adopted each year by the Antiochian Women.

Participation in the Antiochian Women can truly include every woman in the Archdiocese in that we are all called to be members by our personal acceptance of the charge “take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” (Col 4:17).

INVITATION

There is a local chapter of the Antiochian Women near you. To participate in the ministry, renewal and programs of the Antiochian Women, join the women’s organization of your local Antiochian Orthodox parish. Through the programs of the Antiochian Women, as expressed in the setting of your parish and local community, participate with other women from all across
North America in the ministry of women in the Church.

The Church of Jesus Christ consists of every person in it, clergy and lay people pulling together and working together. The Community of Christians is described in the Scriptures as “a priesthood of all believers”. We are all ministers of Jesus Christ, whether men or women, ordained or lay, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ.

Without exception, each and every one of us is called to serve our Lord and our church in ways that allow God’s love to shine through us, for the benefit of others.

If your parish does not yet have a local chapter of the Antiochian Women, or for further information, contact your pastor or:

Revised January 2002

“Last, but not least, we must realize once and for all that women have a definite ministry in the life of the Church. Very often we have the tendency to confine women’s role in the church just to the kitchen. Both the Old and the New Testaments testify beyond doubt to the important role which women played in the history of salvation. Time does not permit me to speak in detail about Ruth, Sarah. Rebecca. Rachael, the Virgin Mary, the ointment bearers, the deaconesses and many others who ministered to the Church and Christ and were instruments of His Divine purpose in history. We don't have to consult the past too much in order to prove our point. If you just look around you in your own parish. you find those devout ladies serving God as
Church 
School teachers. Choir members. youth leaders and fund raisers. It is very disappointing that in some parishes women are not allowed to vote or to be elected to Church Councils. We must definitely do away with this Medieval and archaic outlook concerning women. Our church does not teach that women are inferior to men. Despite their different functions, men and women are equal in the eves of God because both were redeemed by His Precious Blood.
St. Paul said. ‘There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus Galatians 3:28. I propose. therefore, that a National Sisterhood of Charity be organized in the Archdiocese. The structure and goals of this organization will be defined in the future. I also propose that the President of this Sisterhood, by virtue of her office, should become a member of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese and should report annually to this General Assembly.”

- Metropolitan PHILIP

Los Angeles.
California - 1972

AWE Officers and Coordinators

Antiochian Women of the East

Officers and Coordinators

2005 - 2007        

Ina O’Dell, President (Holy Cross, Linthicum , MD )	email: mlodell AT comcast DOT net ph. 410-897-1015
Fr. Donald Shadid, Spiritual Advisor (St. Mary Johnstown, PA)	e-mail: AbennaD AT yahoo DOT com   church ph. 814-255-2148
Edna Kay Hart, VP & Humanitarian  (St. George , Charleston, WV)
Pam Pier, Secretary (St. John Chrysostom, York, PA)	email: kpampier AT comcast DOT net
Yvonne Butts,  Treasurer (Holy Ascension Mission, Frazer, PA)	email: holyascension AT comcast DOT net
Nancy George, Project Coordinator (St. George, Pittsburgh , PA )	nkgeorge17 AT hotmail.com
Vera Acker, Newsletter (St. Philip, Souderton , PA )	email: vab_acker AT yahoo DOT com
Olena Basarab, Religious Coordinator (St. John Chrysostom, York, PA)	email: ronoleb AT suscom DOT net
Crystal Senour, Membership and PR (St. Stephen Protomartyr, NJ )	email: senoursc AT earthlink DOT net
Saydeh Karabatis, Web Site Admin (Holy Cross, Linthicum , MD )	e-mail: saydeh AT verizon DOT net

  Please contact the President for contact information on the other board members.

Newsletter

January 2008 Issue

Love to Write? We have more Opportunities to learn, serve and have fun:  We are looking for help for our Newsletter Editor, Vera Acker.  This job is made much easier when you have some time to learn the Publisher program before you feel the pressure of deadlines.  Well we really don’t have formal deadlines, but do like to have a Christmas issue, a Lenten issue, and a summer issue.  If you have writing skills this is the job for you.  It can be a great outlet for creative juices.  Please contact Vera or Joanne, the current President.

Archives

May to June 2007 Issue

Great Lent 2007 Issue

September - October 2006 Issue

May - June 2006 Issue 

March-April 2006 Issue

January-Febraury 2006 Issue

 November-December 2005 Issue

October 2005 Issue

May 2004 Issue

Become new member?

Establishing a new Chapter of Antiochian Women?

Who are we?  All women of the Antiochian Archdiocese are considered Antiochian Women. More technically, any group that a parish council recognizes as being for women under our constitution is given the full name: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America (AOCWNA, commonly pronounced: “A” “O” “Nuh”.) The most widely used name within our organization is simply “Antiochian Women.”  At the national level, we are governed by The North American Board (NAB) of the Antiochian Women, which is directly under the covering and direction of the Antiochian Archdiocese.  The NAB functions to provide consistency of information, programs, etc. throughout the whole archdiocese by mailing out information to the seven regional boards.  The regional boards seek to help individual parishes establish women's groups at the local level and pass along mailings of materials from the NAB and participate in the annual group “Project”.  We are in the Eastern Region, which consists of 37 parishes or missions in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and New York.

When to meet? This is strictly a decision of the group and experimentation may be best to see what is the most popular time and place, as well as frequency of meeting.  On paper almost anytime to have a meeting seems to work.  In the real world, meetings are perceived by many, as being about as enjoyable as a root canal—and excuses to avoid meetings can quickly grow. This is greatly to be considered when first establishing patterns for “meetings”.   Some groups have meetings right after Liturgy when ladies are already there, to avoid having to make a trip “all the way back to church” especially if you draw from long distances.  Some ladies prefer to meet during a weekday, to avoid night driving, but this will greatly limit the available women—and cut out all ladies with day jobs.  Some groups choose a certain Saturday of the month and meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Having a place for young child care can be a great way to involve young mothers who really could use a break for adult fellowship and active participation in something other than child care. Meeting Reminders: about 1-2 days before meeting appoint, assign or get a volunteer(s) to phone or e-mail everyone to remind about the meeting. If you e-mail, just request they reply with a “yes” or “no” so you can have a count for planning.  This makes all the difference in helping overcome our busy lifestyles and the forgetful problem.  Often just the personal voice inquiring about the meeting will bring someone to a meeting that might not have come without the “personal invitation” or reminder.

What to do at a meeting? Once ladies “try out” the typical meeting, you have only a few if any other chances to win their loyalty.  Some groups always have food, others avoid it due to expense, or trouble, but food does tend to bring unspoken interest.  Some groups ensure attendance by making sure some part of the meeting contains something interesting to hear, see, do, or make, that is not “typical Roberts Rules of Order” fare.  Brainstorming ideas for meetings is good, but someone must come to the planning meeting with a prepared list of ideas to get the discussion flowing.  There is nothing more difficult than starting with no ideas and just staring at each other trying to think creatively at the meeting.  Some groups have an annual planning meeting at the beginning of their year. For a month or more before, they take suggestions in a box or via phone, e-mail etc. and get people thinking about the whole year…even exhibits, workshops, women’s health speakers, etc. that might be coming to your area that would be of interest of Orthodox Women.  If you plan in a wide variety of ideas, you are more likely to hit on at least one thing that every woman will want to participate in at one time or other.  See the separate lists of ideas for good planning discussion starters.  If you plan the whole year ahead, accepting that changes will occur, you will avoid dull meetings and only a few people doing all the work at the last minute each month trying to think of what to do.   Of course you will also be receiving information that is meant to be passed along to individual members as well—see coordinators.

Why are we having a group? You can find the organizational goals elsewhere, but on the practical side; the chapters seem to be as varied as the needs of the women in them.  Most have a "constitution" that helps in dealing with the legalities of fund raising, election & function of officers, etc., but day to day functioning is pretty much left up to each group to decide what is best for them.  Many of the women's groups in the past perceived that their main function was fund raising.  Indeed, some groups desire that role, while others have it thrust upon them with some resentment.  Still others function solely as a humanitarian, fellowship, or inspirational arm of the local parish and rarely or never do any fund raising.   Some groups create a small survey which they give to all the women in the parish to see what kind of a group they would like to participate in and what they would enjoy doing that year.  This can include: an interest survey (even ideas as choices to see what they prefer if they had to choose), time preference, and even a skills survey etc.) i.e. Would you like to learn to arrange flowers for church or weddings, would you like to cook for Post Liturgy meal/coffee hour, only bake for special events, can’t cook…. Would you like to be on a team to clean the sanctuary, or polish brass, or weed and plant the gardens, sew for the church, etc .  Would you like to take tours with the group, go to monasteries, volunteer at soup kitchens, crisis pregnancy centers. The list of ideas is endless.

Structure: The following table will help you see our structure and also what kinds of mailings to expect from NAB and your Eastern Region Board of Antiochian Women.  There is no specific schedule and mailings from Coordinators can be infrequent.     

                                                            Antiochian Archdiocese

North American Board (NAB) of AW

Pres, VP,  Secy, Treas.  (elected at Arch. Convention- 2 yr terms)

NAB Coordinators: (appointed)

Humanitarian, Religious, Project, Membership/Public Relations,

Eastern Region (1 of 7 regions)

Pres., VP., Secy, Treas. (elected at Parish Life Conf. For 2 yr terms)

6 Eastern Region Coordinators (appointed/volunteers)

Humanitarian, Religious, Project, Membership/Public Relations, Eeman Newsletter, Website

Parish Level Chapter

Officers (as need or group constitution determines)

Individual members

Humanitarian- ideas to promote acts of Christian love and charity in your community

Religious- devotional material to use at meetings, reprint in bulletins, or use as discussion topics

Project- Each parish is asked to participate in the annual “Project” challenged to us by Met. Philip.  Watch the “Project” mailings to see long list of past projects from outfitting the Antiochian Village to helping fund health and education facilities here and around the world.  The most current “Orphanage Project“--establishing an Endowment Fund while also giving annually to a number of  needy Orthodox Orphanages. 

Membership/Public Relations- ideas for keeping your members and others aware of activities

Eeman Newsletter- 1 page bulletin size newsletter of inspirational items, & upcoming events

Website-

Dues: Each region establishes the amount of dues to be charged per parish.  The Eastern Region is one of the lowest at $150./year/parish. (Missions are not required to pay dues)  Some parish chapters assess individual members to come up to the $150.  Other parishes just budget the $150. under the general annual budget.  Other groups have a fund-raiser to raise the dues money.  The dues money is divided between the NAB (an assigned amount) + the balance goes to the functioning of the regional board and sponsored activities, i.e. annual fund for seminarians, donations to other special causes etc.

Having a Patron Saint and Spiritual Advisor for your group. Your Priest is the spiritual advisor for your group, and should normally be present at your meetings.  But you may also want to choose a patron saint that can be the special intercessor for your group.  She (or he) will help guide you in a very special way and lead you to closeness and away from petty separations and give your group a special spiritual identity.  Pray as a group, talk with your priest, and read the story of some saints to see which Saint is perfect for your group. Some groups report, that after prayer, it became obvious to all who was the one for the group….the saint may well “choose” you, so be ready!

Ideas:

The following are general ideas done by groups in the Eastern Region. (See also Humanitarian Ideas)

     

1. create an herb garden: grow biblical & liturgical herbs, i.e. Basil for Feast of Holy Cross on Sept 14

3. sew costumes for the Sunday school plays

4. Tours of mutual Orthodox interest such as Icon exhibits at various museums, i.e.

·         Dumbarton Oaks Byzantium Exhibit—DC

·         Merriweather-Post, Hillwood Mansion & Gardens-icons- DC

·         Education Day- St. Vladimir’s seminary, NY

·         Visit Tabernacle display by Mennonites in PA

·         Ethiopion Icon Exhibit- Smithsonian,  Ethiopian Lunch

5. Monastery retreats

6. Class on weaving pashca baskets

7. Class on making prayer ropes

8. class on floral arranging

9. meeting on funerals, burials, help establish a guild.

10. invite speakers: missionaries, authors, priests w/ special ministries-college students, prisons, etc.

11. reception/retreat inviting pan-orthodox women’s groups i.e. A patronal feast of the women’s group—

12. meeting on child rearing

13. Lenten Food tasting and Recipe Exchange to get ideas—especially if not used to doing Lenten cooking or just tired of your old recipe ideas.  May make up mini cookbook of the ideas.

14. meeting w/ speaker on Lenten nutrition

15. annual, “Beautiful Egg Breakfast” to make Ukrainian Style Eggs- open to public…outreach

16.  annually, plan, plant & tend the flower beds

17. take home and “plant-sit” potted palms used on palm Sunday

18. annual “Breakfast in the Garden”, fancy food, lace table cloths, stemware, etc. eaten in Flower gardens we tend.

19. various wedding and baby showers, birthday parties for elderly, etc.

20. host or pilgrimage to annual Lenten retreats and advent retreats

21. hosting and baking ethnic cookies for booth at local fare to benefit local food pantry

22. “Lunchless Luncheon” mailed out “invitations” for Lenten Almsgiving or Nativity Almsgiving for Orthodox orphanages throughout the world.

23. tutoring offered

24. letters to college students

25. themed luncheons where sponsor of table decorates and sells tickets to their table. They have elaborate and unusual themes on each table, even golfing!! With time women vie for the opportunity to host tables!

26. plant sale

27. jewelry fashion show and sale

28. Traditional bazaars, both for fund-raising and just to introduce your parish to community

29. Retreat on dealing with stress Orthodox Women in Healing Ministries

30. Group discussion based on material from Religious Coordinator or parish generated.

Meeting Ideas

‘Meeting’ Ideas:

Maybe the first thing to remember about “meetings” is that most people find them about as appealing as going to the dentist---maybe necessary, but rarely a favorite activity. So keep that in mind when planning your “get-togethers.”  Plan to do some activities for fun and change of pace. In fact, planning is more the half the secret.  You may try what many successful groups have done, have an annual planning meeting/party/session.  When you have an annual list that already includes the fun thing you are going to do for that month you can just add the “meeting” part to your fun time and most will find it quite palatable. It will also save you the monthly headache of last minute trying to figure out what to do and wondering why no one will come to the “meetings” any more.

Expand your horizons.  For Groups that find themselves complaining that: “the young ladies won’t come to the meetings” or “ only a handful of us ever do anything” . Take a good look at what you are doing and ask the hard questions. What have we done to get the young ladies or more help to come ( do we meet at times they can come?-- since many may work in jobs that prevent them attending at certain times.; Do we have a plan for child care?; Have we planned an event to specifically invite them to?  Do we insist on doing things our way or ‘the way we have always done it’?—fresh ideas come from fresh faces.; Have we prayed that God would show us what to do?  Have we truly obeyed His leading and then been dissatisfied that God is not calling everyone to what He has called the few? 

The following are some general ideas done by groups in the Eastern Region. (See also Humanitarian Ideas)

     

1. create an herb garden: grow biblical & liturgical herbs, i.e. Basil for Feast of Holy Cross on Sept 14

3. sew costumes for the Sunday school plays

4.
Tours of mutual Orthodox interest such as Icon exhibits at various museums, i.e.

·        Dumbarton Oaks
Byzantium Exhibit—DC

·        Merriweather-Post, Hillwood Mansion & Gardens-icons- DC

·        Education Day- St. Vladimir’s seminary, NY

·        Visit Tabernacle display by Mennonites in PA

·        Ethiopion Icon Exhibit- Smithsonian,  Ethiopian Lunch

5. Monastery retreats

6. Class on weaving pashca baskets

7. Class on making prayer ropes

8. class on floral arranging

9. meeting on funerals, burials, help establish a guild.

10. invite speakers: missionaries, authors, priests w/ special ministries-college students, prisons, etc.

11. reception/retreat inviting pan-orthodox women’s groups i.e. A patronal feast of the women’s group—

12. meeting on child rearing

13. Lenten Food tasting and Recipe Exchange to get ideas—especially if not used to doing Lenten cooking or just tired of your old recipe ideas.  May make up mini cookbook of the ideas.

14. meeting w/ speaker on Lenten nutrition

15. annual, “Beautiful Egg Breakfast” to make Ukrainian Style Eggs- open to public…outreach

16.  annually, plan, plant & tend the flower beds

17. take home and “plant-sit” potted palms used on palm Sunday

18. annual “Breakfast in the Garden”, fancy food, lace table cloths, stemware, etc. eaten in Flower gardens we tend.

19. various wedding and baby showers, birthday parties for elderly, etc.

20. host or pilgrimage to annual Lenten retreats and advent retreats

21. hosting and baking ethnic cookies for booth at local fare to benefit local food pantry

Humanitarian Ideas

Humanitarian Project Ideas

 

The following projects have been undertaken by Eastern Region parishes

 

Making Things:

1. Making Quilts for seriously or terminally ill children through national organization Project Linus.  See www.Projectlinus.org for local area contacts-- all types & sizes of new blankets/quilts are accepted.   One parish only “ties” the quilts at their meetings. Volunteers sew crib/lab size fabrics (they watch for fabric sales all year and especially “boy” type prints which are apparently less donated than feminine styles) they buy king size batting when on sale and cut 4 quilts from it.  A person with a sewing machine places wrong sides of fabric together with batting on top and sews up as a pillow case shape, then turns right side out and presses, turning under open edge and sewing down.  Both ends of Quilts are taped to two tables. Women sit in space between on both sides of quilt and hand tie at regular intervals 4-6” apart using embroidery floss or yarn. Ends are knotted and clipped to 1/4” – They get many touching letters from parents of sick kids even teens who hug and carry their quilt around the hospital.

2. Making  baby blankets (to date,180 by one parish) for the neo natal unit of a local hospital, as well as a blanket for each baby that is Churched in the parish. They use baby flannel, washed, and then hand cut using a round dinner plate as a template for rounding corners. Then edges are surged all the way around the entire blanket, eliminating hemming. A personalized computer-made card is given to the babies that are churched. A deacon's wife makes the deliveries to the hospital.

3. Making audio tapes for the blind –volunteer readers are needed for Library for the Blind, Books on Tape and every state has a closed circuit radio broadcast for the Blind of taped reading (books, articles etc.)  Perhaps this could be done on a local or parish level with Orthodox books.

4. Making video & audio tapes of the liturgy to send out to shut-ins (can recycle previous week’s)

5. Making Ethnic cookies from various Orthodox Countries for Ethnic Cookie Booth at local fair to support area food bank and introduce Orthodoxy to neighborhood

6. Making food baskets every year at Thanksgiving and or Christmas time for parish elderly and shut-ins, or for names received through local social service agency

7. Making shoe boxes filled with toiletries, etc. for needy children, women and men. One parish makes about 50 boxes labeled with the appropriate age to give a charitable organization to distribute.

8. Making Care packages to send to parish military deployed overseas.

9. Making sandwiches for local Salvation Army Feeding Program (one parish does 150/wk!)

10. Making lunch sacks with none perishable foods for parishioners to keep in their car to hand out to the beggars at the stoplights. Message/greeting/blessing on outside of bag. AW can even provide supplies and Sunday School kids make the bags.

Collecting Things:

11. Continuous or special collection of food for area food banks in basket/box placed in Narthex or fellowship hall.

12. Continuous collection of baby supplies,(diapers, formula, clothes, etc) for
    Crisis 
    Pregnancy 
    Center in basket in Narthex

13. An “Easter Tree” where needed items for the local women's shelter are listed. Parishioners take a card off the tree to donate an item.

14. Collection of clothing for needy various times of year

15. Collection of old cell phones and computer ink cartridges sold to recycler as long term fund raising for any project

Giving:

 

16.  Providing food vouchers from a local grocery store as well as some canned and dried foods for    anyone who stops in to the church for help. 

17.  Contribute financially to a soup kitchen

18.  Give to meals on wheels

19.  Give to a pregnancy help center

20.  Financially support the local fire department that is raising money for a defibrillator. 

21.  Financially support the Hogar Orphanage in
    Guatemala

22.  Give to our seminarians—even develop relationship with for personal contact & encouragement

23.  Support the local prison ministry

24.  Support the children's relief fund

25.  Sponsor a child or two overseas

26. Support a local women’s shelter

27.  Sponsor several handicapped children

28.  Give icons to parish graduates, the sick, icon of Dormition for families of deceased ladies

29. Paper goods & cleaning supplies to group homes for mentally retarded adults—caution, some homes cannot receive gifts of this kind without losing some of the funding they receive equal to the value of the goods received. Check first.

Caring-Inside Parish:

30.  Sending cards on Name day, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day etc. to parishioners, especially shut-ins (also involve cards made by children in Sunday School, AW organize and mail)

31.  Calling on shut ins: visits and telephoning, bringing flowers, sending cards

32.  Take holiday altar flowers to shut-ins

33.  Organize the part of choir to go to shut-ins or to nursing home, to sing

34.  Home visitation of new mothers and newlyweds

35.  Hold bridal and 1^st baby showers

36. Mail out weekly bulletins when parishioners absent. This takes an eagle-eyed volunteer or group specifically making note of absentees.  Really makes people know their presence is noticed and important

37. Lenten or Pascha Baskets for parish college students including highlighters, phone cards, snacks

Caring- Outside Parish

38.  Maintain food pantry for local community

39.  Receive the homeless to sleep over in hall for one week per year/qtr/or month. Each organization in parish  “sponsor” one night of that week to staff the sleep over and cook dinner & breakfast—patrons must traditionally vacate during day at a set time (normal procedure for shelters)

40. Provide volunteers at local homeless shelter to serve food or cook etc. on regular rotation

41. Offer community service day of free blood pressure check and flu shot—parish nurse volunteers

42. Offer workshop with local Dr. addressing specific health issues important to women: breast cancer, etc.

43. Sponsor
    Blood Drive-
    work with Red Cross(www.redcross.org) supply staff, beds, etc. details vary with local Red Cross Chapter

44. Angel Tree Prison Ministry (www.angeltree.org) Give specific gifts to kids of prisoners at the request of imprisoned parent who cannot provide for own children. One parish delivers the gifts to actual family and also sponsor trips for kids (to see parent or field trip)

45. Volunteer at local crisis pregnancy centers

46.  Christmas Tree where names (from social services) are printed on paper or other type ornament and people purchase gift items for that person.  Most churches have variations of this, but a new privacy law as of April 2003 may require changing old methods, as names are likely to be confidential with the gov’t social services now. Checking early with your agency may prevent problems with your usual system.

Help for Families

Helpful Organizations

Provided by the Department of Marriage and Parish Family Ministries

Antiochian Archdiocese

ALANON/ALATEEN, 8-6 (EST) M-F….……………….…1-800-356-9996
Support groups for those who have been affected by other's addictions.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS………………………….....1-212-870-3400

ALCOHOL & DRUG REFERRAL LINE………………….1-800-821-4357
Answers questions about addictions, 24/7.

AMER. COALITION FOR FATHERS & CHILDEN.1-800-978-DADS

CHILD HELP/USA NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE, 24/7………...……………………………………………...…1-800-422-4453

CHILD SUPPORT, Questions answered...………………...1-877-631-9773

CHILD WELFARE AND PARENTAL RIGHTS………….1-810-751-4500

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING……………………1-800-388-2227

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS………………………………....1-212-642-8220

DIRECTORY OF HOTLINE & CRISIS CENTERS……...1-800-999-9999

GIRLS & BOYS TOWN NATIONAL HOTLINE………….1-800-448-3000
"Any problem, any age, any time" The oldest & most comprehensive crisis line in the US.  Now international. Parent training programs. 24/7.

INCEST SURVIVORS RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL.1-505-521-4260

JOB CORPS, 8:30-10:30 AM (EST)M-F…………………1-800-733-JOBS
Job training & GED assistance for 16-24 yr. olds. Transitional housing.

LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOC. OF
AMERICA……1-888-300-6710
Referrals and information. 9-4:30 (EST) M-F

MOTHER & CHILD RIGHTS COMMITTEE…………....1-540-722-3652

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING....1-800-GAMBLER

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE……1-800-SAFE (7233)
They can transfer or conference emergency calls to local shelters or police. Completely confidential. 24/7.

NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ORGANIZATION….1-918-481-4076

NATIONAL GRIEF RECOVERY HELPLINE…………...1-800-445-4808

NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER………1-800-336-4797
Information and referrals for health questions, 9-5 (EST) M-F

NATIONAL LIFE CENTER……………………………….1-800-848-5683
Pro-life pregnancy counseling, referrals for testing and shelters

NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD, 24/7…………1-800-621-4000

NATIONAL STD HOTLINE……………………………….1-800-227-8922

SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS…………………………….1-713-869-4902

STEPFAMILY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA,………….1-800-735-0329 8-4:30 (CST) M-F. Support groups, materials.

SUICIDE PREVENTION, 24/7…………………………...1-800-SUICIDE

TEEN CHALLENGE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 8-4:30 (CST) M-F
12-18 month drug treatment, job training, ages 12-adult….1-800-814-5729

THERAPIST REFERRALS…..……………………….1-800-THERAPIST

TOUGHLOVE INTERNATIONAL, 9-5 (EST) M-F……..1-800-333-1069
For parents of children with behavioral problems, local support groups

UNITED WAY, Referrals for base needs…………………..1-800-411-8929

Please contact Kh. Maggie if you have a special need that is not listed here.  She maintains a database of over 30,000 national referrals.
1- 402-445-0150 (10-2 CST, M-TH)

Read Through Bible

Thanksgiving Akathist

The Akathist for Thanksgiving: The following PDF file contains two versions or translations of the Akathist for Thanksgiving on one page. If you print this PDF as a double sided document it will form two small booklets that can be stapled and put in a purse or at your bedside table.

We recommend that you take the time to read through the entire Akathist at one sitting at least once. But on a daily basis, especially during the 40 days of the Nativity Fast, you may like to use a small portion each day as a meditation throughout the day. You may also find it illuminating to use the two different translations as a way to amplify the meaning of each section.

May you have a blessed Fast in preparation for the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh.

Retreats

Paschal Retreat

April 27 - 29, 2007

 Please download, print, and distribute the Registration Form to the ladies in your parish.  Make sure to mail it before April 9.

A flier of the Spring 2007 Gathering is also available for you to view.

Contact us

For comments and suggestions, please email the AWE contact person.