Young Adult Virtual Book Club
Attention all young adults! We have started a virtual book club! Discussions are being held on Zoom. If you are interested, you can still join! Please contact Kirsti Davis at ksettas@nevada.unr.edu or the church office at saintanthonyreno@sbcglobal.net .
Here is the link for the Children's Word bulletin for this Sunday, October 11th
Evening Online Orthodoxy Class has begun. It is intended for inquirers, catechumens & parishioners wanting to learn more about Orthodox Christianity. This class is held online via ZOOM on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. You are welcome to join us each week or simply drop-in when you have time. To receive a digital link to the text and a ZOOM invite, please contact Father Stephen by emailing him at fatherstephen@att.net
Dates, Topics & References: (Classes greyed out have already been held)
Sept. 16: Introduction & Orthodox Church History
Text: Orthodox Life, An Introduction to Orthodoxy = OL (OL pages 7-41)
Sept. 23: Orthodox Church History 2 (OL pages 7-41)
Sept. 30: Who is God? (OL pages 42-53)
Oct. 7: Creation (OL pages 54-62)
Oct. 14: What is the ‘Fall of Mankind’? (OL pages 64-69)
Oct. 21: How are We Saved? (OL pages 70-80)
Oct. 28: What is the Orthodox Way of Life? (OL pages 81-91)
Nov. 4: Mysteries or Sacraments of the Church (OL pages 92-131)
Nov. 11: Ascetic Practices & Orthodox Way of Life cont’d (OL pages 133-153)
Bible Study Online each Thursday morning at 11am. To receive a ZOOM invite please contact Father Stephen at fatherstephen@att.net
Quick Reminders
A reservation is required for Sunday Services Click Here for Sign Up Procedures You do not need to sign up for services held Monday-Saturday. These are open on a first-come first-seated basis until capacity is reached. Please do not congregate in the Narthex or Small Hall after church.
o Face masks/coverings are required for everyone 10 years of age and older.
o Children ages 2-9 are strongly encouraged to wear a mask/covering.
Restoring Parish Life Update, October 2020
The sacred mission of the Church is to bring people to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). It is by this means that we come to know our Lord and to live our lives in pursuit of eternal life. It requires the commitment and conviction to live the life in Christ as an individual and within the community.
By now, many have heard Governor Sisolak has relaxed the limit on gatherings from 50 to 250 people, or 50% of fire code capacity. This is welcome news and should allow us to increase our capacity for services - however we must do so with care, in a thoughtful and thorough way. Just as we have worked closely with our Metropolis and followed the protocols of the Washoe County Health Department since the beginning of COVID-19, we will continue to do so. Please know that any decisions to increase capacity at Saint Anthony will be first submitted to the Metropolis for approval.
As we all know, this change does not signal an end to this pandemic and the challenges we still face. We still must continue to adhere to the many safety protocols in place, including social distancing of 6 feet between parishioners and the wearing of masks. The health and safety of our parishioners and our community continue to be of paramount importance to us.
The Reopening Team will be meeting in the days ahead to consider the updated regulations and adaptations we can make. We need to allow them the time to fully vet the information and consider the best ways to expand our capacity without impacting safety. Revisions will be communicated to you just as soon as they are known.
For the time being, there will be no changes to our current process for attending services. If you would like to attend church on Sunday, you will need to make a reservation. (Reservations are not needed for weekday services.)
We continue to pray for everyone to be safe from this virus and guide our hands as we carry forward on our journey of restoring parish life. We are all anxious for the time we can enter church without restriction. With patience, understanding, flexibility and love we will support each other and persevere in adapting to these adjustments knowing that “with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26b) +
Pastoral Visits & Holy Communion
For setting dates, sacraments, memorial services, personal counseling, confessions, sick calls and personal visitations that may include receiving Holy Communion, please call the church office (775-825-5365) and speak with Father Stephen or e-mail at fatherstephen@att.net. You may also contact Maria at the church office or email saintanthonychurch@sbcglobal.net
Please make sure you are receiving regular email updates from the parish. Get on our list by emailing saintanthonychurch@sbcglobal.net All authorized emails and messages regarding church and church-related business are sent from Father Stephen or the Church Office. Emails and messages received from other sources that reference church matters are considered unauthorized and are asked to be forwarded to the church office.
Live Streaming
All scheduled services are being live-streamed on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/saintanthonychurchreno/.We have seen great improvement with the quality of our streaming, but we are still learning. We now have someone at church monitoring the live-streaming and correcting issues as they arise. If your video freezes or disconnects, please refresh your screen. Sometimes you will need to look for a new post to pick up on services where they cut out. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we learn and grow with this capability. It is a blessing to be able to connect with those at home in this way.
Online Giving Portal for Stewardship & Donation Offerings
The Online Giving Portal can be accessed through our Church Website by clicking the new “Donations & Stewardship” tab. This functionality is secured for your protection and gives you the opportunity to make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring offering.
Our traditional ways of accepting offerings remain the same – the portal has been added for those who prefer the convenience of online giving. It also helps to mitigate the risks associated with handling cash. Our office remains open during weekdays and at services a collection tray will be placed in the Narthex (as a health and safety precaution it will not be passed).
Also be reminded it is still important to fill out a Stewardship Pledge card each year - this helps us to plan and budget effectively. If you have not completed one yet, please view and print a 2020 Stewardship Commitment Card by clicking on this address: http://www.saintanthonyreno.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Pledge-Card-PDF.pdf
IMPORTANT NOTE: All authorized emails and messages regarding church and church-related business are sent from Father Stephen or the Church Office. Emails received from other sources that reference church matters are considered unauthorized and may contain misleading information. We ask that these be forwarded to the church office. Thank you!
Our prayers remain with you, your families, our community and our world for good health, strength, peace, and resilience now and in the days ahead!
Fr. John Constantine and Fr. Spencer Kezios Elected Bishops The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America received with much joy and gratitude the news from the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew together with the Holy and Sacred Synod accepted the proposal of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our Archdiocese for the election of three Auxiliary Bishops based on the triprosopa sent following the Regulations and Charter of our Archdiocese.
Based on the above, our Mother Church today elected three distinguished clergymen of the Holy Archdiocese of America to the episcopacy: Spyridon (Kezios) as Bishop of Amastris, Timothy (Bakakos) as Bishop of Hexamilion, and Ioannis (Constantine) as Bishop of Phocaea.
The dates and locations of all three ordinations to the Holy Episcopacy will be announced in the coming days. All ordinations will be held with proper COVID-19 protocols in place.