“Have you noticed how God glorifies the merciful?” An angel of the Lord appeared to Cornelius the centurion and said to him: “Your alms and prayers have come up for a memorial before God (Acts 10:4).”— Elder Ephraim of Philotheou on almsgiving
Please pray for our volunteers and IOCC events this month:
June 25-28th – San Francisco – 2009 Pinot Days visit http://pinotdays.com for more information.
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN-UP TO VOLUNTEER IN THE GULF COAST: This is your last opportunity to sign-up to volunteer in the Gulf Coast this year. Since you must register at least one month in advance of being deployed, June 19th is the last day you can sign up to volunteer in the Gulf Coast. Teams are helping to build homes for those affected by Hurricane Katrina from NOW through July 26, 2009. Everyone 16 and older is welcome to volunteer for a week at a time! The total cost per team member is $500, which pays for your airfare, room and board for the week. Please encourage anyone interested to check out www.iocc.org/gulfcoast. Spots are filling up, so ACT NOW! If you cannot go to the Gulf Coast yourself, consider sponsoring someone else who could go. Please call IOCC toll-free at 1-877-803-4622 for more information or visit www.iocc.org/gulfcoast.
GAZA: HEALING CHILDREN OF WAR TRAUMA: For thousands of Gaza’s children who endured last January’s 22-day conflict, the real war now is dealing with the lasting effects of post-traumatic stress. Teachers and healthcare workers report many children suffering from classic PTSD symptoms such as insomnia, bed-wetting, and startle responses. “During the war, we were assisting people with food,” says a humanitarian worker. “People said ‘thank you for the food, but how do I get my child to stop crying?’” This summer, IOCC plans to open a summer camp in partnership with the Orthodox Church in Gaza and fellow Action by Churches Together (ACT) International-member, East Jerusalem YMCA. The camp will focus on psychosocial therapy and recreational activities for about 200 children aged 8 – 15. IOCC is also planning to reach an additional 2,000 children and youth through other forms of activities including school-based interventions. Since January, IOCC has provided blankets, food, and hygiene kits to thousands of families affected by the conflict. To make a donation, call IOCC toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, send a check or give with confidence online at www.iocc.org.
PARISH FESTIVAL SEASON is right around the corner, and what better way to raise awareness about IOCC among your attendees than with an IOCC table? Stock your table with various IOCC informational materials. You can save IOCC money in shipping costs by printing information from www.iocc.org/materials. To request materials be mailed to you, please visit: www.iocc.org/materialsrequest or by call IOCC toll free 1-877-803-4622.
PRAYER JOURNALS: Pre-order copies of the 2009-2010 prayer journals which will be available in August. Use the order form at www.iocc.org/prayerjournal to order single copies. To order in bulk please contact the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at 1-800-566-1088.
JUNE VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT:
It’s not often IOCC gets phone calls from people offering to host events to benefit IOCC. But Ken Kasovac, who has served as a choir director in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Washington, D.C. and Belgrade was so impressed with IOCC’s work that he decided to create a benefit concert with a choir that he formed with his friends. The Seraphim Chorale choir was formed with D.C. members from St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and St. Rafael Antiochian Orthodox Church. They had initially performed for a wedding and were so well received that they decided to perform a one-time benefit concert to give back to the community. Lenten and Paschal hymns were sung in English, Russian and Serbian church Slavonic.
When asked why he chose IOCC, Ken said “What draws me to IOCC the most are the people who actually work with IOCC and are trying to make a difference with the Orthodox community in the United States and around the world. It is our duty as U.S. citizens who are able to give in a capacity to help around the world.”
The event drew over 100 attendants from various jurisdictions and raised over $2,000. We wish we could make this concert an annual event, but Mr. Ken Kasovac is off to the St. Tikon’s Monastery in July to attend seminary and live at the monastery as a novice. Please keep Ken in your prayers.
Daily Prayer for IOCC Volunteers
O Heavenly King, Comforter, who grants all blessings, we thank You for Your abundant grace and mercies. Help us to be good stewards of Your treasury through the ministry of IOCC.
Help us to strip ourselves of our earthly adornment, so that the poor may be sufficiently clothed and fed. And, by so loving our neighbor, adorn us with the everlasting pearls of virtue instead.
Where there is suffering, help us to bring Your mercy.
Where there is despair, Your hope;
Where there is war, allow us to present You who are the Prince of Peace;
Where there is pain, You who are the Comforter;
Where there is hatred, You who are Love;
Where there is death and destruction; You who are the Resurrection and Life.
Daily guide our work in IOCC, so that we may do all things, in every place and at all times,
for Your glory. Amen.
