2006 News Archive

• Merry Christmas! Many more pictures of progress on the interior work over the last two weeks, including the mounted icon of Christ the Almighty "Pantokrator" on the ceiling: [12/17 photos] and [12/23 photos]. (posted 12/26/06.)

• Services for Christmas:
  • Sunday 12/24, Christmas Eve:
    • Divine Liturgy: 9:30am (as usual).
    • Christmas Compline: 7:00pm.
  • Monday 12/25, Christmas Day:
    • Divine Liturgy: 10:00am.
  (posted 12/22/06.)

• More progress on the interior, some painting done: [12/10 photos]. (posted 12/19/06.)

• Our iconographers have completed the icon of Christ the Almighty "Pantokrator" that will placed at the top of the interior dome of our new building: [icon photos].
  
  (posted 12/07/06.)

• Most of the changes are inside the building now: [12/03 photos]. (posted 12/06/06.)

• Building pictures from last week: [11/26 photos]. More interior work done and the heat is on! (posted 12/03/06.)

• The latest building pictures: [11/19 photos]. The metal roof and windows over the altar are now installed. (posted 11/19/06.)

• The newest scrip order form is available on the fund raising page. (posted 11/17/06.)

• Pictures from St Matthew Feast Day: [photos]. (posted 11/17/06.)

• The latest building pictures: [11/05 photos], [11/12 photos]. (posted 11/17/06.)

• Dan Christopulos, development director of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), gave a presentation at the end of liturgy today (10/29). He emphasized the breadth of their worldwide programs, their ability to leverage donations from Orthodox Christians to obtain funds from government agencies, as well as their financial accountability. Donations to IOCC can be made on their website. (posted 10/29/06.)

• The latest building pictures: [10/29 photos]. Some of the smaller windows are in place. Lots of dry wall work has been done on the lower level. (posted 10/29/06.)

• OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES go out to Wayne Hajos on the loss of Wayne's twin, Duane. Duane fell-asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, October 18th at the age of 56. Duane was chrismated into the faith here at St. Matthew in 1991.

  A viewing will be held at the Collins Funeral Home 500 University Blvd., West (corner of University Blvd. (MD Rte. 193) and Dennis Ave.), Silver Spring, MD on Friday, October 20 from 7PM - 9PM. The Orthodox funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, October 21 at 9AM, interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park.

  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Duane's memory to our parish Building Fund. May his memory be eternal! (posted 10/18/06.)

• The building gets weather-proofed for interior work: [10/15 photos]. (posted 10/18/06.)

• The latest building pictures: [10/08 photos]. (posted 10/13/06.)

• Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia from the Archdiocese of Great Britain (a.k.a. Timothy Ware, author of The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way) will be giving a lecture on "Living Orthodoxy in the Twenty-First Century" at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Tuesday October 17, 2006 at 7:00PM. All Orthodox Christians and friends are invited to attend. Saint Sophia is located on 36th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C. Directions are available from their website: here. (posted 10/09/06.)

• The annual parish meeting will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2006 at 12:00pm (noon) after Liturgy and coffee hour. (posted 10/01/06.)

• We have set up an email list for members of the parish. The list is particularly useful for midweek announcements and reminders. If you are not already on the list, you may add yourself here. Only members on the list are allowed to post messages to the list. We hope this will keep the amount of spam to a minimum. Each month you will be sent a reminder of your password for the mailing list. Using this password, you will be able to modify your subscription (e.g., change your email address). (posted 10/01/06.)

• Some good shots of the worship space (with lots of arches): [10/01 photos]. (posted 10/01/06.)

• Bonus mid-week pictures showing a completed bell tower and shingled main roof: [9/26 photos]. (posted 9/30/06.)

• We have a bell tower!! [9/24 photos]. (posted 9/24/06.)

• Ana Constandaky fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. Services will be held at St. Andrew Church in Baltimore on Saturday, September 23. Details for the services are here. (posted 9/19/06.)

• Most of the brick work looks done, many metal studs in place: [9/17 photos]. (posted 9/18/06.)

• The roof is closed up: [9/10 photos]. (posted 9/15/06.)

• Reminders:
  • Church school begins this Sunday, Sept 10.
  • Stewardship envelopes are also due this Sunday, Sept 10.
  (posted 9/05/06.)

• The roof is up!!! [9/3 photos]. (posted 9/05/06.)

• The latest photos: [8/27 photos]. Note: We also have pictures of the model that give an indication of what the completed structure will look like. (posted 9/01/06.)

• The latest photos: [8/20 photos] (posted 8/22/06.)

• More of the main floor coming into place: [8/13 photos] (posted 8/20/06.)

• Construction pictures from 2 more weekends: [photos 7/30] & [photos 8/6]. (posted 8/07/06.)

• Our photographer is back from vacation. Here are the shots from July 24: [photos]. (posted 8/03/06.)

• June 29 construction pictures:[photos]. Some steel pieces have been erected, the foundation has been back filled and the erosion from the heavy rains seem under control. (posted 6/29/06.)

• June 18 construction pictures:[photos]. (posted 6/29/06.)

• More of the walls of the main floor coming into place: [6/11 photos] (posted 6/04/06.)

• The OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) Lenten Coin Box offering was $690.55. Thank you for your sacrificial and generous offering. (posted 6/12/06.)

• We have the main floor: [6/4 photos] (posted 6/04/06.)

• Updated parish history on the "About Us" page. (posted 6/04/06.)

• The main floor is ready for concrete: [5/28 photos] (posted 6/03/06.)

• The floor beams for the main floor are in!! Construction pictures from the past 2 weeks: [5/14 photos] & [5/21 photos]. (posted 5/20/06.)

• May 7 construction pictures:[photos]. (posted 5/20/06.)

• Arches!! :[photos]. (posted 4/30/06.)

• The brick work has begun!!! : [photos]. (posted 4/29/06.)

• More of the walls of the main floor coming into place: [6/11 photos] (posted 6/04/06.)

• The OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) Lenten Coin Box offering was $690.55. Thank you for your sacrificial and generous offering. (posted 6/12/06.)

• We have the main floor: [6/4 photos] (posted 6/04/06.)

• Updated parish history on the "About Us" page. (posted 6/04/06.)

• The main floor is ready for concrete: [5/28 photos] (posted 6/03/06.)

• The floor beams for the main floor are in!! Construction pictures from the past 2 weeks: [5/14 photos] & [5/21 photos]. (posted 5/20/06.)

• May 7 construction pictures:[photos]. (posted 5/20/06.)

• Arches!! :[photos]. (posted 4/30/06.)

• The brick work has begun!!! : [photos]. (posted 4/29/06.)

• Last week's construction pictures: [photos]. (posted 4/23/06.)

• More construction pictures: [04/02] & [04/09]. (posted 4/10/06.)

• Our loan with Howard Bank was closed on March 31, 2006. Building page updated. (posted 4/02/06.)

• A donations page has been set up. It has the mailing address for check donations and a link to the church's Paypal account for credit card donations. (posted 3/29/06.)

• This week's construction pictures: [photos]. (posted 3/28/06.)

• The first floor walls are going up! Construction pictures: [photos]. (posted 3/20/06.)

• Cement blocks galore! This week's construction pictures: [photos]. (posted 3/13/06.)

• Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers will be held this year at St. Demetrios Church on Club Hill Rd in Baltimore County on Sunday, March 12th at 6:00pm. (See directions.) Following the service there will be a reception. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this Baltimore-area Pan-Orthodox event celebrating victory over the iconoclasts. (posted 3/12/06.)

• The Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on Wednesday evenings during Great Lent, beginning on Wednesday, March 8th at Slayton House at 7:00pm. Following the Presanctified Liturgies, Fr. Duane will be giving talks on ``Scripture in Tradition''. The Divine Services and teachings offer each of us an opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Lord and each other. Don't pass up these opportunities. For those who stay for the presentation/teaching, time is available for dinner. Remember to bring your brown bag dinner. (posted 3/12/06.)

• Welcome to Deacon Nicholas Denysenko & his wife Tresha who are beginning their ministry in our parish family this month. They will be with us on a regular basis. Dn. Nicholas will be preaching on the first Sunday of the month. He will also be distributing the gifts along with Fr. Duane and Fr. Ray. Dn. Nicholas comes to us from the Cathedral in Washington. He has been serving at the Cathedral as Choir Director and Deacon since moving to Maryland to begin his PhD studies at Catholic University. (posted 3/12/06.)

• Mission Coin Boxes: During Lent, please make your contribution to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) by filling the Coin Box you received with your March newsletter. The Coin Box offering will be made on Palm Sunday. On April 16th, you can either bring your box filled with change to church or count the money (with your children, if you have children) and then write a check to St. Matthew Church designating the OCMC Coin Box Offering in the memo section. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

  From the OCA website: SCOBA Hierarchs Lenten encyclical encourages faithful to assist foreign missions (posted 3/11/06.)

• Introductory Seminar on Orthodoxy will be held on Monday evenings at 7:30pm during the six weeks of Great Lent at Fr. Ray and Debbie's home. The seminar will begin on the first Monday of Great Lent, March 6th. It is a survey of the Church, its beliefs, life and history. Although it is designed primarily for the uninitiated in the faith, it is open to all. If you plan to attend, please see or call Fr. Ray to register. (posted 3/11/06.)

• Lenten Outreach: A pasta, rice and soup food collection for Shalom Square and St. Matthew House will again be sponsored during Great Lent by the church school students. Items can be dropped off in the marked boxes beginning Sunday March 12 through April 16. Shalom Square provides housing for 50 elderly, low income persons in Columbia, and St. Matthew House provides housing for 15 low income, physically disabled persons. Church school students hope to package 65 food bags for these folks. Your contributions are most appreciated. If you prefer to make a monetary contribution, see Debbie Velencia by April 9th and the food for this outreach project will be purchased for you. (posted 3/11/06.)

• The Archpastoral Message of Metropolitan Herman at the beginning of Great Lent (posted 3/11/06.)

• Paschal & Lenten Services
  • Presanctified Liturgy: Wednesdays, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5 & 4/12, 7:00pm, Slayton House.
    
    
  • Holy Unction: Wednesday, April 19, 7:00pm, Slayton House.
    
    
  • Passion Gospels: Thursday, April 20, 7:00pm, Slayton House.
    
    
  • Matins/Lamentations: Friday, April 21, 7:00pm, Slayton House.
    
    
  • Resurrection Matins & Liturgy: Saturday, April 22, 11:00pm, Slayton House.
    Blessing of the Baskets & Community Agape Meal follow.
  (posted 3/11/06.)

• Construction pictures from Sunday March 5 posted: [photos]. (posted 3/11/06.)

• The slab for our new building has been poured: [photos]. (posted 2/26/06.)

• Construction pictures from Sunday February 19 posted: [photos]. (posted 2/21/06.)

• Some pictures of the construction site before the snow storm: [photos]. (posted 2/14/06.)

• More construction photos: [Jan 29, 2006] & [Feb 05, 2006]. (posted 2/05/06.)

• Construction pictures from Sunday January 22 posted: [photos]. (posted 1/26/06.)

• Metropolitan Herman's Archpastoral Message for Sanctity of Life Sunday (Sunday, January 22, 2006). (posted 1/22/06.)

• OCA & Diocesan Assessments: Our Stewardship to the national church and diocese is $145 per adult member in 2006. Thus, for a couple, the first $290 contributed to the parish's general fund goes out of the parish in support of the diocesan and central church's ministries. There are envelopes in your stewardship packet for a contribution towards this parish commitment. As in the past, any and all gifts made above and beyond one's stewardship commitment are greatly appreciated! (posted 1/22/06.)

• 2005 Year-End Giving Statements: Adult stewardship statements have been mailed to those who made phpdonations in 2005 and were either pledged or donated more than $250. If there are any questions about your statements please contact Dale Steinacker <Treasurer@StMatthewOCA.org>. Thank you statements were also sent to young people who used their envelopes for donations. The members of St. Matthew thank you for your contributions. (posted 1/22/06.)

• More construction pictures posted: [photos]. The first layer of cinder blocks are in place! (posted 1/16/06.)

• A bit of web site re-organization. The contacts page has been updated with new council members and older announcements have been moved to a separate page: 2005 News Archive. (posted 1/08/06.)

• Scrips: Thanks to all of you who supported the scrip program in 2005. Your purchases of over $35,500 have contributed $1,632 to the Building Fund in 2005. We have been participating in this program since the fall of 1999. From then until now, over $7,000 has been deposited in the Building Fund from this successful fund-raiser. Remember, scrip is sold year round. Scrip order forms are available online: here. (posted 1/08/06.)

• Some new pictures from the construction site have been posted: [photos]. Thanks to John Hudak.
  If you have recent photos of the construction site, please send them along with a date of when you took the picture. (posted 1/08/06.)

• Parish Council members were sworn in after liturgy last Sunday, January 1, 2006. Happy New Year! (posted 1/08/06.)