BLESSED FEAST OF ALL SAINTS For those of you who do not celebrate on a particular Saint`s Day each year, this day is appropriate for you--XRONIA POLLA--God grant you many years!

PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING & ELECTIONS TODAY! St. Irene Philoptochos will hold a General Meeting today following the coffee hour. The main item on the agenda will be election of officers. More information about the meeting and Board nominations was sent to members last week. If you did not receive it, please talk to Lynne Lucher, Philoptochos Secretary. Please remain for the meeting which we pray will be to the glory of God and for the furtherance of philanthropic ministries in our parish. Thank you for your kind support!

MANY OPPORTUNITIES The coffee hour roster is empty from now through October...please, if you can and are willing--sign up to host a coffee hour between now and then. Clipboard`s in the fellowship hall--THANKS!!

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PARTICIPATE in St. Irene Philoptochos' "No-Bake Cookie Sale" which concludes today.

How does it work? (1) Decide what it would cost you to bake a dozen cookies. For example, cookie dough pre-made from the store = $3.95; time invested @ $8/hr, including going to the store = $12.00; total investment for the dozen cookies = $15.95. (2) Donate the value of your cookies to St. Irene Philoptochos.

We give heartfelt thanks to you for your continued support. With your support we are able to continue assisting women, children and families in need in our community, the Crisis Pregnancy Center, the Support a Mission Priest Program, our Thanksgiving and Christmas Programs, our food bank, and our own church community.

COMPANY`S COMING! This week our parish is privileged to host OCMC short term missionaries on their way to minister in the village of Tyonek later this week. Seven missionaries and an OCMC coordinator will be lodging in our building while they prepare themselves to minister as a team.

The team will be assembled here by Wednesday and will join us during the Paraklesis service beginning at 6:30PM. Immediately following, there will be an informal dinner meal prepared by Fr. & Pres. We encourage as many of you as possible to attend the service this Wednesday and participate in the meal. If you would like to contribute something for the table, please talk with Pres. and let her know your intention to better facilitate planning. Since we`ll be in the midst of the Apostles` Fast, the meal will be Lenten.

We expect that as we minister to the brethren, we will be ministered to in return; such is the way of the Lord. Please avail yourself of this neat opportunity to meet other Orthodox from around the country who are coming here to serve Christ in the village of Tyonek.

COULD USE A BIT OF SPRUCING UP If anyone is willing to stay to help vacuum, sweep and/or otherwise snap a rag at the building today in anticipation of our guests` arrival this week, your help will be greatly appreciated...after the Philoptochos meeting this afternoon, please. BIG THANKS in advance!

ENCOURAGING BUILDING PROJECT NEWS Yes! We intend to begin our project this year! Utility and minor grading work to begin in September once plans and partial permits are available. Construction of the lower hall and church will begin in the spring of 2010 as this will save the project considerable money (avoiding work and protection of our new building during winter months).

Yes! We do have money for the project. We currently have more than $700,000 in our building fund with more pledged. Please see Maria Baskous if you have not pledged.

Thank you and please continue to pray and help us pursue completing our dream.

MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE ETERNAL! Recent loss of loved ones has affected our community. Both the Menegatos and Dennison families suffered unexpected losses of family members very recently. Our parish extends our prayers and love to both families during this sorrowful time especially.

Dottie Menegatos lost her brother, Billy D. O`Dell, on May 21 in Kansas City, Missouri. Billy was a Vietnam veteran. He earned three purple hearts and a bronze star as a "tunnel rat" in the war.

Helene Dennison`s son, Gareth, passed from this life on May 24. Gareth is survived by his two children, Samantha and Matthew. For those who would like to help Gareth`s family in a tangible way, an education fund has been established for the children. Contributions may be made in their behalf at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, account No. 127317.

GREETINGS FROM DAVID SHOLL Lois & Michael had opportunity to visit with hubby & dad in Florida very recently while David was on leave from his year`s military service in Kosovo. The family had a great time together and David is doing well. He sends his greetings and thanks everyone who remembers to pray for him regularly.

NEW IN THE BOOKSTORE More hematite icon bracelets in addition to what we already carry--and what a great selection at just $2.95 per bracelet! Choose from among these options: Serbian saints; Celtic saints; Holy Angels; Icons of Christ; North American Saints; Women Saints; Icons of the Theotokos, Orthodox Crosses and Eastern Orthodox Saints. These bracelets make unique gifts at a very reasonable price.

IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MONASTERY SOAP It`s time to re-order monastery soaps for the bookstore. If you use and want to continue purchasing a particular scent/blend of soap, please let presbytera know so she can order what you like. If you haven`t tried the soaps, consider doing so--they are high quality, made with natural ingredients and gentle to the skin.

FINANCIAL BASICS FOR OUR PARISH, Week 23 Our parish is committed to a stewardship program in lieu of the annual Greek festival to keep ourselves up and running. The target figure for each week is $3,100. These 22 weeks have brought in an income of approx. $60,100; a $11,100 deficit. Many have increased their giving and some new stewards have made an offering. This is very encouraging. May the Lord help and save all the benefactors of His holy Church.

WEEKLY SERVICES Wednesday evenings 5:30PM Bible Study; 6:30PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos; every last Tuesday of the month: 6:30PM Akathist to the Mother of God, Healer of Cancer; Saturday evenings 5:30PM Great Vespers; Sunday mornings 9:15AM Orthros, 10:30AM Divine Liturgy. Any services apart from this schedule are noted separately in the bulletin.

Individuals may always request to participate in a Divine Liturgy to be celebrated on a person`s Name Day. Please contact Fr. ahead of time to arrange.

OUR FOOD PANTRY COULD USE A BOOST The food pantry maintained by St. Irene Philoptochos could use more items on its shelves. Please keep this in mind when you are grocery shopping. A few things from a number of parishioners make a real difference in our offerings to those who are have needs and come to us for assistance. Thank you!

THANK YOU CORNER Warmest thanks to the Lambernakis, Maroudas and Mataragas families for their generous and kind hospitality to both Fr. Leo and Fr. Theodore (Dorrance) during Fr. Theodore's visit to our parish last week.

Who should receive a note of thanks? Please send info to Pres. for inclusion in the bulletin: doxa@clearwire.net (include a request for a "read" receipt under the options tab before sending to make sure she has received your message--thx!)

PILGRIMAGE TO KODIAK Reminder~~the dates for the Youth pilgrimage are: Depart from Anchorage to Homer, Friday June 26 Depart for Kodiak from Homer, Saturday, June 27 Kodiak Activities - Sunday through Wednesday, June 28 to July 1 Trip to Spruce Island - may occur on best weather day from Monday to Wednesday, June 29 to July 1. Depart for Homer from Kodiak, Wednesday Night, July 1 Return to Anchorage, Thursday or Friday, July 2 or 3.

Very specific details to follow soon--BTW: our recent garage sale fund-raiser was a major success! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed items and helped sell the items, it was terrifically encouraging to see how well it all went--glory to God!

Stay tuned...