News & Events
(Report your family news for each weeks posting to Kelsey or Janice)
JULY 2008
July 12th - Todays Divine Liturgy was served by Fr Nikolay Miletkov who drove all the way from Greenville, SC on Saturday afternoon to be here with us. He left behind his wife Rachael, their two year old son, Emil and brand new baby boy Philip! We are so grateful for the efforts that our priests' and their families make on our behalf. Thank you Miletkov Family!
Attendance today was at an all time high of 31 people! We had a large group of 14 visiting from St Theodosious Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio plus 17 of our regular members and visitors with us as well. It was wonderful to see that small temple packed to capacity. Glory to the Lord!
We will begin updating our web page, signage and other marketing efforts with our new name soon. (Saint Basil the Great Orthodox Church In America –– A mission of the Dioscese of the South.) If you are a regular here you will be given flyers and wallet cards to help promote Orthodoxy in the Cape Fear region. Look for our new collateral to begin rolling out over the next month and beyond.
Today's Collections: Tithes = $443.00 Candles = $10.00
Todays Attendance: 31 total
July Total to-date = $1264.00
July 6th - Big news! Through the blessing of Archbishop Dmitri and the love and guidance of our Dean, Father Marcus Burch we are officially named Saint Basil the Great Orthodox Church In America. Glory to God for this and all the blessings bestowed upon this mission effort!
We have Priests scheduled for the Sunday's of July 13th, July 20th and August 3rd. Please check the Services page often to see any other schedule changes or additions.
Today's Collections: Tithes = $600.00 Candles = $11.00
Todays Attendance: 9 total
July Total to-date = $811.00
Attendance today was at an all time high of 31 people! We had a large group of 14 visiting from St Theodosious Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio plus 17 of our regular members and visitors with us as well. It was wonderful to see that small temple packed to capacity. Glory to the Lord!
We will begin updating our web page, signage and other marketing efforts with our new name soon. (Saint Basil the Great Orthodox Church In America –– A mission of the Dioscese of the South.) If you are a regular here you will be given flyers and wallet cards to help promote Orthodoxy in the Cape Fear region. Look for our new collateral to begin rolling out over the next month and beyond.
Today's Collections: Tithes = $443.00 Candles = $10.00
Todays Attendance: 31 total
July Total to-date = $1264.00
July 6th - Big news! Through the blessing of Archbishop Dmitri and the love and guidance of our Dean, Father Marcus Burch we are officially named Saint Basil the Great Orthodox Church In America. Glory to God for this and all the blessings bestowed upon this mission effort!
We have Priests scheduled for the Sunday's of July 13th, July 20th and August 3rd. Please check the Services page often to see any other schedule changes or additions.
Today's Collections: Tithes = $600.00 Candles = $11.00
Todays Attendance: 9 total
July Total to-date = $811.00
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JUNE 2008
June 29th - Many Years to Bob H. and to Vivian's husband Tom who both celebrate birthdays this week! Happy Birthday!
Welcome home to the Bergeron Family! We missed you during your long visit to New York.
Today's Collections = $330.00/tithes and $13.50/candles. June total = $1,826.50 (that's $181.50 short of our pledged goal)
Thank you to those who have already contributed your July tithes early. Please remember to let us know if you intend for it to be credited for the following month. Otherwise we will credit it to the month in which it is received. We have received $100 in July tithes to date from members and an unexpected gift of $100 from St Nicholas Russian Orthodox church in Cohoes, NY! July collections so far = $200.00
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4th OF JULY!
June 8, 15 and 22nd updates - Sorry we haven't updated in a while. A slight computer problem has been worked out and we thank you for your patience!
Our beautiful new icon stand was delivered on June 15th. It was blessed as soon as it was brought inside the door by Fr Paul Schellbach. A photo will be posted this week for you to see ... or better yet join us for our Reader's Service this Sunday, June 29th and see it for yourself. We got a touching Thank-you note from the man who made our icon stand. He noted that it was extra special to see something that he had made be blessed by a priest.
We still need a librarian and/or book and gift shop manager. Anyone?
Thank you to Rebecca who donated two more books to our library shelf.
Collections so far for the month of June are: $1,583.00. (That's just short of our pledged goal of $2,008.00) Sunday June 29th is the last Sunday of June. Please
note on your check or envelopes if you are tithing early for July.
Our beautiful new icon stand was delivered on June 15th. It was blessed as soon as it was brought inside the door by Fr Paul Schellbach. A photo will be posted this week for you to see ... or better yet join us for our Reader's Service this Sunday, June 29th and see it for yourself. We got a touching Thank-you note from the man who made our icon stand. He noted that it was extra special to see something that he had made be blessed by a priest.
We still need a librarian and/or book and gift shop manager. Anyone?
Thank you to Rebecca who donated two more books to our library shelf.
Collections so far for the month of June are: $1,583.00. (That's just short of our pledged goal of $2,008.00) Sunday June 29th is the last Sunday of June. Please
note on your check or envelopes if you are tithing early for July.
06.01.08 - Thank you to Fr Paul Schellbach for serving the Divine Liturgy with us today. We also were thrilled to meet Matushka Patty. We look forward to welcoming them back on Pentecost in two weeks (June 15th).
The robes are here! Our new Stikharion robes arrived yesterday in a very small box marked with Russian writing. I don't know how they got them into such a small box but they were folded beautifully and came out of the box looking fresh as could be. The robes are beautiful and were worth the wait. Now we just have to get Joey and Nick to stop growing for awhile! Check the photos section in the next few weeks for photos of the boys in their new robes.
Many Years to ... Jason who will celebrate his 35th Birthday on June 2nd; to Lara who will turn 16 on June 17th! And to Miss Lizzy who will officially graduate from homeschool K-5 kindergarten on Saturday June 7th.
Lizzy reports that we had a total of 18 in attendance today. This includes Fr Paul and Matushka Patty and one visitor whom we did not get to meet.
It is rumored that we will have our new icon stand by Pentecost. It will match the candle table that we have already.
Today's collections: Tithes = $823.00; Candles = $18.00. Our monthly goal is $2,008.00 ... what a great start to the month!
June tithes to-date = $823.00
June Candles to-date = $18.00
The robes are here! Our new Stikharion robes arrived yesterday in a very small box marked with Russian writing. I don't know how they got them into such a small box but they were folded beautifully and came out of the box looking fresh as could be. The robes are beautiful and were worth the wait. Now we just have to get Joey and Nick to stop growing for awhile! Check the photos section in the next few weeks for photos of the boys in their new robes.
Many Years to ... Jason who will celebrate his 35th Birthday on June 2nd; to Lara who will turn 16 on June 17th! And to Miss Lizzy who will officially graduate from homeschool K-5 kindergarten on Saturday June 7th.
Lizzy reports that we had a total of 18 in attendance today. This includes Fr Paul and Matushka Patty and one visitor whom we did not get to meet.
It is rumored that we will have our new icon stand by Pentecost. It will match the candle table that we have already.
Today's collections: Tithes = $823.00; Candles = $18.00. Our monthly goal is $2,008.00 ... what a great start to the month!
June tithes to-date = $823.00
June Candles to-date = $18.00
MAY 2008
05.25.08 - We had 12 members in attendance today for our readers service.
We expect the new altar server robes to arrive any day now!
We are still in need of someone to be our Librarian and someone to start a small bookstore and/or gift corner for us – these don't have to be large undertakings. You can start small and build it at your own pace.
Also, if anyone has Orthodox reading materials you would like to donate to help begin a library please bring them and place them on the shelves with the other books in the coffee hour room.
COLLECTIONS TODAY: $512.00 total ($505.00 in tithes and $7.00 for candles)
(Beginning in June we will report our monthly goal/pledges and collections to date towards that goal each week.)
Total Collections for May = $1,440.50
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05.18.08 - Today's readers service was beautiful. Those candles sure make a difference and the choir is sounding great!
Thanks to James and Jason for reading.
Thank you to Christina for assisting with treasury duties as well as leading our choir.
Lizzy has been put in charge of making an accurate head count each Sunday. Lizzy reports that we had 13 members in attendance today and no visitors. Thanks Liz!.
Our membership has grown this week with James, Bob and Nancy being officially added to our directory. Welcome!
Budget Update: Over the past week we have been having our first pledge drive so that we could prepare a proper budget and plan for our future. We are happy to report to you that it has been a huge success! Glory be to God! Our total monthly pledge commitments now equal $2,008 per month! If you haven't sent in your monthly pledge or if you'd rather make a one time donation there is still time.
Job Opening - Librarian & Book Shop Manager needed. We need someone to compile a small library of mixed media of suitable subject matter for the Orthodox members and seekers of our church to borrow from. Manage the check-out and return list as needed. Also, begin to plan for a small bookstore and gift shop appropriate to a mission of our size. Manage inventory, make sales and report finances monthly. Members have been asked to donate items suitable for the library to get you started. Interested? Let us know.
COLLECTIONS: $302.00 total ($291.00 in tithes and $11.00 for candles)
(Beginning in June we will report our monthly goal/pledges and collections to date towards that goal each week.)
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05.11.08 - Happy Mothers Day! Today's reader's service was very nice. We are so thankful to all our Mothers for their constant love and care.
Our Coffee hour is a "pot luck" .... some Sundays we aren't so lucky. Most Sundays we are very lucky. There will be a jar placed on the food table if you would like to donate a few dollars every now and then to help pay for the coffee, juice and bagels that are our standard favorite. We'll also use the money to have a sandwich tray every now and then when we know we will have a special guest or for special events.
COLLECTIONS: $270.00 total ($265.00 in tithes and $5.00 for candles)
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05.04.08 - We had a wonderful Readers Service today with good attendance of both members and guests!
BUDGET NEWS - After coffee hour today we met and discussed forming a budget. By the end of the week members and visitors will receive a pledge form and some information on our finances. PLEASE return your pledge form as soon as possible. Father Marcus will be asking for a planting grant for our Mission. In order to request that grant we must provide our budget to him as soon as possible. Thank you all for your time, talent and tithes!
COLLECTIONS for Sunday May 4 = $356.50 (Check here each week for our monthly budget goal and our collections to-date towards that goal.)
APRIL 2008
04.27.08 -
04.20.08 - A beautiful Palm Sunday was celebrated today with the help of Fr Paul Schellbach. Christina, Anne Christian and Lizzy all did a great job in the choir! The palms and pussy willows were beautiful and it was a joy to celebrate this day in our own space.
Please note that we can light candles now! Buy your candles in the foyer and make small donations periodically to purchase future candles. As always take great care when placing your candles in the sand – be sure they are secure and will not fall over and assist children with their candles.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Kim and Ted! Happy name day to Jason! Many Years to you! Let us know if you have name days, birthdays or anniversaries!
Soon we will have the first of our icon stands delivered. Please notice the small changes happening in our coffee hour room. We are working to make it more useful for our needs.
04.13.08 - Today's readers service was served by Deacon John Crook with Jason also reading. Thank you Deacon John and Rebecca for all that you do for us!
Thank you to Christina for leading our choir and for the extra choir practice during coffee hour.
Next week is Palm Sunday and Fr Paul Schellbach will be here. We hope to see all our regulars and regular visitors as well as any newcomers. It is wonderful to see your faces at services when there is a Priest here but please try and be here during the "readers" Sundays as well. These services are very important to the growth of a small mission like ours. Plus, we miss you when you're not here!
A special thank you to David for putting the "coffee" in "coffee hour" this week!
04.06.08 - We thank Fr Marcus Burch for serving the Divine Liturgy today.
We were especially happy to Welcome the Hays family for their first visit to our Mission! Subdeacon John Hays will be ordained a Deacon during the May 23-25 weekend during the consecration of the new temple of Holy Ascension Mission in Mt. Pleasant, SC. John is a graduate of St Vladimir's and will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood later this year and God willing will be appointed to serve here in Wilmington! Please pray for John, Ginny and their son Noah.
CHRIST IS RISEN!
The angel cried to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin. Again I say: Rejoice.
Thy Son is risen from His
three days in the tomb.
With Himself He has raised all the dead.
Rejoice, all ye people. Shine! Shine!
O new Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on thee.
Exult now and be glad, O Zion.
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the resurrection of thy Son.
Thy Son is risen from His
three days in the tomb.
With Himself He has raised all the dead.
Rejoice, all ye people. Shine! Shine!
O new Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on thee.
Exult now and be glad, O Zion.
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the resurrection of thy Son.
04.20.08 - A beautiful Palm Sunday was celebrated today with the help of Fr Paul Schellbach. Christina, Anne Christian and Lizzy all did a great job in the choir! The palms and pussy willows were beautiful and it was a joy to celebrate this day in our own space.
Please note that we can light candles now! Buy your candles in the foyer and make small donations periodically to purchase future candles. As always take great care when placing your candles in the sand – be sure they are secure and will not fall over and assist children with their candles.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Kim and Ted! Happy name day to Jason! Many Years to you! Let us know if you have name days, birthdays or anniversaries!
Soon we will have the first of our icon stands delivered. Please notice the small changes happening in our coffee hour room. We are working to make it more useful for our needs.
04.13.08 - Today's readers service was served by Deacon John Crook with Jason also reading. Thank you Deacon John and Rebecca for all that you do for us!
Thank you to Christina for leading our choir and for the extra choir practice during coffee hour.
Next week is Palm Sunday and Fr Paul Schellbach will be here. We hope to see all our regulars and regular visitors as well as any newcomers. It is wonderful to see your faces at services when there is a Priest here but please try and be here during the "readers" Sundays as well. These services are very important to the growth of a small mission like ours. Plus, we miss you when you're not here!
A special thank you to David for putting the "coffee" in "coffee hour" this week!
04.06.08 - We thank Fr Marcus Burch for serving the Divine Liturgy today.
We were especially happy to Welcome the Hays family for their first visit to our Mission! Subdeacon John Hays will be ordained a Deacon during the May 23-25 weekend during the consecration of the new temple of Holy Ascension Mission in Mt. Pleasant, SC. John is a graduate of St Vladimir's and will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood later this year and God willing will be appointed to serve here in Wilmington! Please pray for John, Ginny and their son Noah.
MARCH 2008
03.30.08 - We thank Fr Paul Schellbach for traveling to us today and serving the Divine Liturgy. Fr Paul will return to us on Palm Sunday, April 20th. Some of us drive only minutes to reach our services, some of us drive about an hour but ALL of our Priests drive two to five hours to serve here! Please pray for their safe journey to us and back home to their families.
03.23.08 - Today's readers service was especially nice thanks to Christina and Lizzy's beautiful voices in the choir. Thanks to Janice and Jason for reading.
We were so happy to meet Vivians sister! We enjoyed her visit and look forward to her joining our Church family in the future.
Jason has commisioned a few small pieces of furniture for us. An icon stand and a candle stand. Kelsey will order fabric and begin sewing icon stand covers and other items that we will need in the future.
03.16.08 - From Kelsey Bigelow - On Friday, March 14th my Grandmother, Annie fell asleep in the Lord. After suffering from Alzeheimers for nearly seven years, Annie fell asleep with four generations of her family by her side. Fr Marcus arrived a few minutes after her death and prayed with us and led us in singing Memory Eternal. Annie was a faithful member of her Church – never missing a Sunday until she fell ill a few years back. All of us grandchildren remember growing up on Annie's front porch. For us it was the center of the universe. It was where Annie or "Ma Ma" handed out band-aides, tended to skinned knees and where she served us over a million popsicles. It was also right next to the bush where the "switches" came from. None of us ever remember getting switched, but we all remember the love she doled out to us from that front porch. May her Memory be Eternal!
OTHER NOTES - Fr Nikolay drove through a dangerous storm to reach us this week! The weather was so bad he had to stop mid-way to seek shelter at a hotel. Thank you Fr Nikolay for enduring such hardship for us sinners!
We welcomed two visitors today – Bob and Nancy we sure hope to see you again soon!
The signs are here! Look for them outside beginning on the 23rd!
The candles are here! There will be a donation jar to help with purchase of future candles.
The robes for our faithful altar servers are ordered and will arrive soon. We are working on icon stands that suit our current space and a few other church needs.
Thanks to Vivian for the 2008 "Light & Life" catalogue. We hope to start a "portable library" soon and we will order a few new titles from Light & Life. You may donate your used Orthodox Literature for use in our library when we get it ready.
03.09.08 - We had another successful readers service on the 9th! Good job to our choir and our readers! We are looking forward to the arrival of signs we have ordered to help visitors and folks who drive by know where we are. Look for those signs to be posted outside the entry on Sundays.
Candles have been ordered from Saints Mary and Martha Monestery in Wagener, South Carolina. Look for a candle box and a jar to donate money to be spent toward our regular candle order soon. We are also ordering new robes for our altar servers this week. Thanks to Joey and Nick for their careful and attentive work in helping our Priests.
03.03.08 - Christina B’s friend Anne Christian visited with us on the 3rd and helped Christina by singing in the choir. Also, we are proud to see Lizzy B. (age 5) joining the choir each Sunday. Thanks to Christina for her faithful service in leading us each Sunday.
We were happy to have Father Marcus back with us in Wilmington on the 2nd and to have him serve Divine Liturgy. We had a meeting following Divine Liturgy to discuss the steps necessary to further our Mission Church and to work toward the time when we could have a full time Priest. Please pray for this Mission effort. Soon, Fr Marcus will be communicating with Archbishop Dmitri and together they will choose a name for us and make us “official.” Afterwards we will complete any necessary paperwork with the Orthodox Church of America. Listen for announcements after services and check back here for news of progress on this issue.
Jason and Kelsey Bigelow celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary on February 11th.
Janice B’s Mother, Leona, came to visit along with her brother, John and his wife, Vicki. Vicki helped by singing in the choir!
“Gotcha Days” for Nicholas B. and Lara B. were celebrated on Feb 28th – it has been 14 years since Lara’s adoption and 9 years since Nick was officially adopted!
We had the pleasure of Father Eugene Wozniak and his wife, Toni joining us for Divine Liturgy. We're so happy to have Father Eugene home again following his deployment. We hope to see them again soon!
We welcome Kim and Ted P. to our Mission – it's great to have you worshipping with us!
We were sorry to have Richard P. leave us for awhile while he is traveling overseas. We wish him the best on his journey – especially the journey home to us!
We were happy to have Lara B’s. friend, Lori, join us for Divine Liturgy. It is always a treat to meet the friends of our youth.
Mark and Janice B. celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary on January 19th.
Erica W. celebrated her 29th birthday on January 31st – Many Years to you!
We are fortunate to have Alexy K. as a regular visitor. In December Alexy's mother
Svetlana, traveled from Russia to visit him and we were delighted to meet her! We thank Alexy for all the wonderful Russian treats he brings in and for teaching all of us some new Russian words!
From Janice B. - On December 26, 2007, my Dad, John Serbalik, passed away quietly at home. He was married to my mother for over 60 years and was a father to 6 children, grandfather to 23 and great-grandfather to 6. He practiced law for many years and I was privileged to practice with him at the start of my legal career. He was an avid traveler who often brought his family with him to experience many far away places. Mark, my brother and I traveled with him and his sisters to Russia in 1987 – it's a trip we will never forget. No matter where he traveled, home and his family were the most important things to him. May his memory be eternal!
Christina B’s. “Gotcha Day” was December 11th – that’s 10 years! Christina and her brothers Joey and Nick were all adopted from Russia. Their sister Lara was adopted from the Ukraine. (“Gotcha Day” is the day when a child is adopted and becomes an official member of their new family!)
Kevin B. celebrated his 27th birthday on December 1 – Many Years to you!
Joey B. celebrated his 13th birthday on December 26th – Many Years to you!
03.23.08 - Today's readers service was especially nice thanks to Christina and Lizzy's beautiful voices in the choir. Thanks to Janice and Jason for reading.
We were so happy to meet Vivians sister! We enjoyed her visit and look forward to her joining our Church family in the future.
Jason has commisioned a few small pieces of furniture for us. An icon stand and a candle stand. Kelsey will order fabric and begin sewing icon stand covers and other items that we will need in the future.
03.16.08 - From Kelsey Bigelow - On Friday, March 14th my Grandmother, Annie fell asleep in the Lord. After suffering from Alzeheimers for nearly seven years, Annie fell asleep with four generations of her family by her side. Fr Marcus arrived a few minutes after her death and prayed with us and led us in singing Memory Eternal. Annie was a faithful member of her Church – never missing a Sunday until she fell ill a few years back. All of us grandchildren remember growing up on Annie's front porch. For us it was the center of the universe. It was where Annie or "Ma Ma" handed out band-aides, tended to skinned knees and where she served us over a million popsicles. It was also right next to the bush where the "switches" came from. None of us ever remember getting switched, but we all remember the love she doled out to us from that front porch. May her Memory be Eternal!
OTHER NOTES - Fr Nikolay drove through a dangerous storm to reach us this week! The weather was so bad he had to stop mid-way to seek shelter at a hotel. Thank you Fr Nikolay for enduring such hardship for us sinners!
We welcomed two visitors today – Bob and Nancy we sure hope to see you again soon!
The signs are here! Look for them outside beginning on the 23rd!
The candles are here! There will be a donation jar to help with purchase of future candles.
The robes for our faithful altar servers are ordered and will arrive soon. We are working on icon stands that suit our current space and a few other church needs.
Thanks to Vivian for the 2008 "Light & Life" catalogue. We hope to start a "portable library" soon and we will order a few new titles from Light & Life. You may donate your used Orthodox Literature for use in our library when we get it ready.
03.09.08 - We had another successful readers service on the 9th! Good job to our choir and our readers! We are looking forward to the arrival of signs we have ordered to help visitors and folks who drive by know where we are. Look for those signs to be posted outside the entry on Sundays.
Candles have been ordered from Saints Mary and Martha Monestery in Wagener, South Carolina. Look for a candle box and a jar to donate money to be spent toward our regular candle order soon. We are also ordering new robes for our altar servers this week. Thanks to Joey and Nick for their careful and attentive work in helping our Priests.
03.03.08 - Christina B’s friend Anne Christian visited with us on the 3rd and helped Christina by singing in the choir. Also, we are proud to see Lizzy B. (age 5) joining the choir each Sunday. Thanks to Christina for her faithful service in leading us each Sunday.
We were happy to have Father Marcus back with us in Wilmington on the 2nd and to have him serve Divine Liturgy. We had a meeting following Divine Liturgy to discuss the steps necessary to further our Mission Church and to work toward the time when we could have a full time Priest. Please pray for this Mission effort. Soon, Fr Marcus will be communicating with Archbishop Dmitri and together they will choose a name for us and make us “official.” Afterwards we will complete any necessary paperwork with the Orthodox Church of America. Listen for announcements after services and check back here for news of progress on this issue.
FEBRUARY 2008
Jason and Kelsey Bigelow celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary on February 11th.
Janice B’s Mother, Leona, came to visit along with her brother, John and his wife, Vicki. Vicki helped by singing in the choir!
“Gotcha Days” for Nicholas B. and Lara B. were celebrated on Feb 28th – it has been 14 years since Lara’s adoption and 9 years since Nick was officially adopted!
We had the pleasure of Father Eugene Wozniak and his wife, Toni joining us for Divine Liturgy. We're so happy to have Father Eugene home again following his deployment. We hope to see them again soon!
We welcome Kim and Ted P. to our Mission – it's great to have you worshipping with us!
We were sorry to have Richard P. leave us for awhile while he is traveling overseas. We wish him the best on his journey – especially the journey home to us!
We were happy to have Lara B’s. friend, Lori, join us for Divine Liturgy. It is always a treat to meet the friends of our youth.
JANUARY 2008
Mark and Janice B. celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary on January 19th.
Erica W. celebrated her 29th birthday on January 31st – Many Years to you!
We are fortunate to have Alexy K. as a regular visitor. In December Alexy's mother
Svetlana, traveled from Russia to visit him and we were delighted to meet her! We thank Alexy for all the wonderful Russian treats he brings in and for teaching all of us some new Russian words!
DECEMBER 2007
From Janice B. - On December 26, 2007, my Dad, John Serbalik, passed away quietly at home. He was married to my mother for over 60 years and was a father to 6 children, grandfather to 23 and great-grandfather to 6. He practiced law for many years and I was privileged to practice with him at the start of my legal career. He was an avid traveler who often brought his family with him to experience many far away places. Mark, my brother and I traveled with him and his sisters to Russia in 1987 – it's a trip we will never forget. No matter where he traveled, home and his family were the most important things to him. May his memory be eternal!
Christina B’s. “Gotcha Day” was December 11th – that’s 10 years! Christina and her brothers Joey and Nick were all adopted from Russia. Their sister Lara was adopted from the Ukraine. (“Gotcha Day” is the day when a child is adopted and becomes an official member of their new family!)
Kevin B. celebrated his 27th birthday on December 1 – Many Years to you!
Joey B. celebrated his 13th birthday on December 26th – Many Years to you!
AUGUST 2007
The month of August is a special one for this small Mission! It marks our first full year of meeting on a regular basis. Fr Marcus Burch and Fr Nikolay Miletkov have traveled from upstate South Carolina twice, monthly for the past year to serve this small group. Many times during heavy rain and most often leaving their families behind for the long drive. We are grateful for their efforts. Thank you Fr Marcus and Fr Nikolay! GLORY TO GOD!
JUNE & JULY 2007
We recently had a wonderful visit from Deacon Paul Coats and his family. We were joined by Father Marcus Burch, the Burch family and Deacon John and his wife Rebecca. Just about every member of this mission hosted the Coats' in some way. During their visit the Coats were able to tour the Wilmington area and even got a look at Southport. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality and especially to all our clergy for their travel and efforts to cultivate this little Mission!
On Saturday, June 23rd we met and had a much needed and very successful choir practice. We were led by Father Marcus Burch and our practice really improved our Divine Liturgy the following morning. God willing we will continue to improve.
On Saturday, June 23rd we met and had a much needed and very successful choir practice. We were led by Father Marcus Burch and our practice really improved our Divine Liturgy the following morning. God willing we will continue to improve.