Tired of checking facebook 8 times a day? Looking for more this summer? Then we've got just what you need! The annual junior high summer camp: July 20 – August 21, 8:30am - 3:00pm for grades 5-8. Come and rebel against what the world tells us our teen years should be, and together we can define what they could be! Registration begins today, $25 per week (does not include lunch or snacks). For information, contact Maria Andrawis at mariaandrawis@yahoo.com.
The Lighthouse Women’s Ministry would like to invite All women, English and Arabic speaking, to unite together and offer praise to the Mother of us all, the Holy Theotokos, St. Mary. We are hosting a free event to praise and honor St. Mary. This event will take place during the St. Mary’s fast, on August 15th, right after the Arabic liturgy, from 11:00am-1:30pm, brunch will be served. Join us in coming together to praise her, watch video clips of her miraculous apparitions, share experiences that we have had with her, and of course, ask for her intercessions. If anyone has had the blessing of witnessing her apparitions or would like to share an experience you have had with her, please send a short blurb to Julie Kubiak at julie.botros@gmail.com.
From the depths of a Roman prison, words of encouragement and instruction flowed from the tongue of the great Apostle Paul. His words went forth as a series of letters to Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire. The Apostle Paul may have been fettered and schackled to a series of Roman guards, but the Word he preached remained free.
If you know someone that is new to the country or has to take a citizenship test or is looking for work, we have something they must join. Mission Life Center will be offering English classes starting July 12. This class will help them in passing their citizenship exam, getting work, and becoming a better English speaker. The cost is $25 and they can sign up at the front desk. If you have any questions please ask at the front desk or email info@missionlifecenter.org
Date & Time : 07/12/2009,12 p.m.
Location: Church Conference Room
Please pray for our group of high school and college missionaries in Africa right now
1. Maryan Farag
2. Amy Abadir
3. Marina Mikhail
4. Marina Andrawis
5. Johnny Asfour
6. Sarah Saleeb
7. Sheri Farag
The church is taking spring cleaning to the next level with a "cleanliness is next to Godliness" day. The goal is to honor God's home by fixing up the inside and outside of the church. We've created a sign up form where you can choose to be on Abouna Bishoy's, Abouna Anthony's, or Abouna Paul's team. Each team will be responsible for cleaning/fixing up a specific section of the Church.
Date & Time: 08/08/2009, 10 a.m.
Location:Church
The summer tennis class will start back for children of age range 7-12. The first session will be held on Thurs. June 25th at the church Gym from 5:45-7pm. Camp is only limited to ten kids/session. To register please contact Joseph Awadalla by Phone: (202)746-1094 or email: joseph.awadalla@gmail.com
"It is comforting to find that these great figures were not so different from ourselves.. sometimes weak, indifferent, and willful. Yet they had their moments of faith, humility, and courage, and God was able to use these for His greater purposes. Join F.B. Meyer on a journey through the life of St. Paul from the early stages through the very end. The book takes you through an interesting voyage from persecution in the name of the church, to dying for Christ. A mission that resulted in many beatings and shipwrecks for the glory of God and furthering the Gospel. In this time during the Apostles Feast, God's faithfulness, which not only accepts the individual as he is, but transforms such inconsistency, calls us to more effective Christian living. Order your Copy Now from the Orthodox Bookstore!"
Divine Liturgy Walk-Through
The Introduction to “Journey Through the Divine Liturgy” will take place this Sunday, July 5! Father Anthony will guide us through an overview of the Divine Liturgy at the regularly scheduled Light & Life meeting (11:45am in the Gym). Please join us for this informative kick-off to the Liturgy Walk-Through, and gather with us for lunch after at P.F. Chang’s (4250 Fairfax Corner Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030).
Please note that everyone is invited this journey—old Copts, new Copts, non-Copts, family, and friends. It will serve as a step-by-step guide to understanding what happens during a liturgy, and why we pray the liturgy the way we do. What exactly is Abouna doing up there? How much of the liturgy is prayed the same way it was when the church was first established? Why do we say or do certain things while we pray the liturgy?
These questions and so much more will be addressed as Father Anthony and Father Paul walk us through the liturgy, and answer any questions you may have along the way.
The Liturgy Walk-Through will take place over three phases:
Introduction to the Liturgy – Sunday, July 5, at 11:45 a.m. (in Light & Life) in the Gym
Walk-Through Part 1: Liturgy of the Word – Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel
Walk-Through Part 2: Liturgy of the Eucharist – Saturday, Aug 1, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel
Every Sunday we are literally taken on a journey through the Kingdom of God. If we can better understand the depth of the liturgy's meaning and purpose, we can better take this journey.
We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any questions or are interested in learning more, please don't hesitate to reach out to New Copts on the Block, the event sponsor, via email at newcopts@stmarkdc.org.
Location: Saturday-Chapel
Sunday-Gym
My name is Danny Mikhail, and I am part of the Prime Time College service. I only have been serving on the college ministry for a couple months, but I really feel myself growing closer to God.
When I was in high school, I never really wanted to go to church, and I associated with the wrong group of people. I never did anything that bad, but my life was so empty. I dated, I never paid any attention to the world around me, and I was constantly in trouble.
Then I joined a small group and things soon changed. I don’t mean to sound cliché, but the love that people in my small group showed me was amazing. We would hang out, and they always tried to encourage me to come to church more.
When I was in tenth grade, I was seeing someone at the time. I never was the kind of person to fast, but something compelled me to try and fast for Lent that year. Even though I was fasting, I still did not go to church or even focus on why I was fasting. Holy week was around the corner, and I decided to come to every service. I sang, prayed, and really sat down with God. By the end of the week, I decided to break off whatever I was doing to try and come closer to God. I quit lacrosse and broke things off with my friend at the time, but something was still missing.
When I started coming to church, I did not really know anybody, but I was determined to become more involved. I started to go to the Friday night meetings for high school students, and for the first time I really felt involved.
Later on that year, I was asked to become a student leader, and that’s when my service really began. I always tell people that whatever I learned, I learned while serving. I have analyzed myself a lot, and I am the kind of guy who is an open book. I have made many mistakes, but I am trying to change.
Whenever I feel down, I love coming to church. It helps me feel better. On Monday nights, I meet with my friends, and we have been talking about anger. In Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 23-26, it talks about anger and how as people we need to leave our gift outside when we enter the presence of God. I used to get angry very quickly, and I always talked about justice for other people’s mistakes. But what about justice for my mistakes?
I just finished my first year of college, and I was asked to join the college service. I love serving, especially when I meet with the most amazing group of people. I have learned so much. I am a very honest person, and I am not going to lie, I try to be spiritual, but I am not. I did not memorize verses like other servants, and I do get mad sometimes for dumb reasons, but there is no doubt in my mind THAT SERVING HAS MADE ME A BETTER PERSON. Just remember that I am the same kid who would skip Sunday school, would not be caught dead at church on Friday night, and who did not care about the sacrifice that Jesus made for me, even though I did not deserve it. People can change, and I still am trying to be a better person. For anyone who has a similar story, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE.
Arabic