The Fellowship of St. John the Divine's Annual Back-to-School Clothing Drive

The Fellowship of St. John the Divine's Annual Back-to-School clothing drive (sponsored by the Citizens Caring for Children) is in full swing. This program provides a new outfit, socks, underwear and shoes for foster children to begin the new school year. Over 800 foster children were served in 2008. We ask for your assistance in helping these children get off to a positive start. New items needed are jeans, tops, shoes, underwear, socks. Monetary donations are welcome. Please make check payable to "St. Elijah" and note Citizens Caring for Children on your check or envelope.

Clothing items may be left in the box across from the main office.

Living the Orthodox faith in Christ through:

• Worship
• Witness
• Service
• Fellowship

The purposes of the Fellowship:

1. To serve as the "adult volunteer service arm" of the Archdiocese.
2. On the National level, the Fellowship of St. John serves the role of brainstormer, idea sharer, motivator, coordinator, and trainer.
3. On a Regional level, the Fellowship of St. John overseas mission endowments, Parish Life Conferences, Creative Arts Festivals, hosts regional retreats and delegates meetings.
4. Locally, the Fellowship of St. John can and should look like the model below, serving the needs of each age group in the parish (Young Adults, Adults, and Seniors) as needed. One area of focus is to have identifiable Young Adult Fellowships started in our local parishes so that our teens can have a place to go after 'graduating' from Teen SOYO.

Library Project (2004-2005):
The NAC Fellowship took on a Library Project that was started in the Eastern Region where parishes are donating 12 books on Orthodoxy to local public libraries. It is a way to witness our treasured faith and plant seeds of Orthodoxy in our communities. Our goal is to have 2004 Orthodox books in North-American libraries, by the end of this year. This goal is conceivable, but will take a commitment by all of us! If you break it down, that is only 167 libraries. We need YOUR help to make this ministry in our local communities a success. For our current status report, an order form, or more information about this project, e-mail Sara Bitar, our NAC Library Coordinator ( ) or go to: http://www.antiochian.org/Fellowship/LibLett.htm

Regional Summer Camps

We are thankful that the Antiochian Village has been able to serve 1,000 of our children each summer. However, that represents less than 10% of the youth in our Archdiocese. With the blessing of our Metropolitan PHILIP, new regional summer camps have started and continue to grow under the leadership and assistance of our Regional Fellowships. In the Southwest, we have Camp St. Raphael, in the Midwest, there's Camp St. George, and the Southeast, there's Camp St. Thekla and Can-Am has Camp Transfiguration. Now, many more of our children will have life-changing experiences and grow in our faith as a result! The Fellowship of St. John the Divine, formerly Senior SOYO, has historically seen a need of the Archdiocese and been there to fill it.

Did you know?
Survey Results

• 31 out of 100 of our parishes surveyed have an official "Fellowship" chapter
• 65 out of 100 recieved a Fellowship Resource Book
• 50 out of 100 of the churches have Parish Ministry Teams
• 45 out of 100 of our parishes have a young adult group
• 19 out of 100 have a group in their parish for seniors

Did you know?

• YOU can start a Parish Ministry Team in your churh..with God's help.
• YOU can help start a young adult group, or a senior fellowship in your parish..just ask your priest!

Saint John the Divine was very close to Jesus at a young age. He grew to be a holy old man, filled with the light of God. May he be our example. Pray for us Holy John!