June 2023 Announcements

Music Instruction for Women and Young Ladies

We are excited to announce that starting Sunday, June 11, classes will be conducted in singing and basic music theory for Women and Girls of the parish.  Although details are being finalized, sessions will be about 45 minutes, taking place initially on Sundays toward the middle of Coffee Hour (about 12:30 to 1:15 pm).  They will be led by Ms. Jamie Lynn Gonzalez (adults and teens) and Ms. Ashlyn Bell (younger children and teens).  Jamie is a music education major with approximately a decade of choral, solo performance and directing experience.  Ashlyn too, is a music major with over a decade of acting, choral and solo performance experience.

One does not have to be a member of the choir, nor read music to take part in these sessions. Choir members are encouraged to attend, but our hope is that classes will also enhance congregational participation in services, and will lead additional parishioners to consider singing with the choir in the future.  Please contact Fr. Basil with further questions and/or to express your interest.  A sign-up sheet will soon be available as well.

All Saints Summer Youth Camp

Each year the Mississippi River Deanery of the Diocese of the South sponsors a popular Summer Camp for youth, 8 to 18 (Senior in High School). This year the week-long adventure takes place July 3-7 at Camp Akiva in Point, Texas.  Cost is $310 per participant.  Registration is open at AllSaintsSummerCamp.org. Deadline for registration and payment is June 1, but late registration may be possible, as well as scholarships. For more information, please contact Fr. Jason Foster at 318 455 4219 or Presvytera Katherine at AllSaintsSummerCamp@gmail.com. 

Congratulations and Many Years!

To Anna Tarpley and Joel Dakwar, united in marriage Sunday afternoon (May 28) at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless. 

To the infant Witt David (Nectarios) Smith whose baptism will be celebrated on Saturday (June 3) at 4:00 pm, Pentecost Eve. 

And last but certainly not least, congratulations to Deacon Vitaly Permiakov, Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary.  Doctor Vitaly was recently awarded the double orarion by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.  Vitaly was also honored with the Saint Macrina Award, given each year to a St. Vladimir’s Professor recognized by the student body for excellence in teaching.   

Many blessed years to these servants of God and to their families!

May 2023 Announcements

Visit of Bishop Gerasim on May 14

We are excited to announce that His Grace, the Right Reverend Gerasim, Bishop of Ft. Worth will visit St. Barbara’s on May 14, the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman and also Mother’s Day.

We are especially happy that his visit will take place during the Paschal (Easter) Season.   

The faithful will greet His Grace at 9:30 am, at the front doors of the Church. Customarily, when receiving a hierarch into their midst, Orthodox Christians in America maintain a balance between formalities, and experiencing the bishop as a father in Christ who desires to maintain a loving relationship with his flock.  We offer great respect and proper protocol.  We do so, though, with love, knowing that His Grace is “one of us.” Together we strive to, “work out our salvation with fear and trembling,” as told to us by St. Paul.  With these things in mind, we look forward to Bishop Gerasim’s visit and to the celebratory reception to follow the Divine Liturgy.  

The liturgical focus that weekend – in addition to the Resurrection – will be the Woman of Samaria and her conversation with Christ at Jacob’s Well (John 4).  The theme of “living water” will be emphasized, as well as the recognition of Jesus as God’s Messiah (John 4: 10-11; 25-26).  We will be reminded of our new life in Him, of our own drinking of the “living water,” and of the true worship of God experienced in the Christian Messianic Age “in Spirit and in Truth” (John 4: 23-24).  We will hear as well, that salvation is offered to all:  Jews and Gentiles, men and women, saints and sinners (Fr. Thomas Hopko:  The Orthodox Faith, Volume II).

HIERARCHICAL RECEPTION

In light of Pascha, the Reception on May 14 may include all foods. The main dish has been planned taking into consideration His Grace’s dietary requirements. Additional dishes and desserts will be needed.  A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Church Hall. Please see Matushka Christine for more information.

In addition, we will be planning a cleaning day closer to May 14, as well as special choir and altar-server rehearsals.  As is customary, His Grace will be accompanied by at least one deacon, as well as subdeacons from the Cathedral.  

We will see everyone on May 14. Please arrive prior to 9:30 am. Thank you.     

Confession and Church School

This month’s General Confession will be conducted on Wednesday, May 17, at 6:00 pm.  Because of Bishop Gerasim’s visit May’s Church School Class will meet on Saturday, May 20 at 4:30 pm, prior to Great Vespers.