Virtual Bay Area GOYA "Lock-In" 12/4 and 12/5

GOYAns and GOYA Parents,

Join us for the Virtual Bay Area GOYA "Lock-In" on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5! Get excited for a weekend of fun virtual gatherings, and a surprise "Take-Home Kit"! This is open to all 6th - 12th graders. Please register by Sunday, November 29th!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
7:00-8:30 PM via Zoom, VIRTUAL
-Akathist of Thanksgiving
-Cookie Decorating Contest

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2020

3:00-4:30 PM via Zoom, VIRTUAL

-Games - Family Feud or Among Us
-Discussion

To be followed by Camp-Style Vespers for St. Nicholas

WEBSITE WITH MORE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

REGISTER: CLICK HERE

It's completely FREE! When you register you will get access to the Zoom meetings and also be registered for a take-home kit for the retreat. Please register by Sunday, November 29th!

PICK UP YOUR "TAKE-HOME KIT":

Pick up your retreat kit at Ascension Cathedral in Oakland on Wednesday, December 2nd or Thursday, December 3rd from 3-5 PM. If you can't make it, just let Anna Teodosiadis or Fr. Nick Mueller know, and we will make arrangements for you.

SIGN UP TO HELP CHANT OR READ DURING THE SERVICES:

This is optional. You can just follow along, or sign up to help chant or read.

-Akathist of Thanksgiving (Friday, Dec 4) Sign up: CLICK HERE

-Vespers of St. Nicholas (Saturday, Dec 5) Sign up: CLICK HERE

QUESTIONS? PLEASE EMAIL:

Anna Teodosiadis: anna.t@cvresurrection.org

Fr. Nick Mueller: frnickm@groca.org

MAKE A DONATION:
We ask that you prayerfully consider a donation to our Church. Donations can be made via Venmo @ascension-cathedral or via check. Please note GOYA Lock-In in your donation. Thank you, be well and God bless you and your family.

Ascension Cathedral Returns to Outdoor Services Sunday 11/22

Sunday services will be held outdoors on Sunday, November 22nd as per Alameda County Guidelines. Please dress warm as we are now approaching the winter season. We will continue having one service starting inside for the live streaming that starts at 8:30am. If you would like to attend live outdoor services on Sunday, that service starts at 10am and finishes by 11:30am.

Please make sure to reserve a spot each week before attending via the instructions below. To comply with county guidelines we are limiting attendance to 80 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings.

To attend you must reserve your spot using the following link: Reserve your spot for Sunday
Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered. We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form. Please make your reservations by 4:00 pm Thursday, November 19th.

Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being. If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming.

Please click the link for more information about what to expect on Sunday as well as the list of questions you will be asked when you come.

Ascension Cathedral Reopens for Indoor Services

Great news! We are excited to announce the re-reopening of the Cathedral!!!  In accordance with the most recent Alameda County update from last week, we can once again assemble for worship in the Cathedral with a limited capacity. We will continue with our reservation process which is now open for this Sunday, November 1st.

Please make sure to reserve a spot each week before attending via the instructions below. To comply with county guidelines we are limiting attendance to 80 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings. 

To attend you must reserve your spot using the following link: Reserve your spot for this Sunday Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered.  We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form. Please make your reservations by 4:00 pm Thursday, October 29th. 

Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being.  If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming. 

Please click the link for more information about what to expect on Sunday as well as the list of questions you will be asked when you come.
 

Great Vespers at PAOI for St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-Streamer

God-Appointed Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, Beloved Stewards of Ascension Cathedral,

His Eminence Metropolitan TARASIOS of Rhodopolis, Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI), cordially invites you to Great Vespers for St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-Streamer on Tuesday, October 27th at 6 PM. The Great Vespers will be broadcast over Zoom (please use Zoom code 917 0584 2601) to join.

His Eminence would especially like to invite the young adults and young professionals of our community and beyond. For many years, the PAOI has offered a unique ministry for young adults through their Orthodox Campus Fellowship ministry. Meeting on Tuesday evenings during the academic year, this ministry offers PAOI and UC Berkeley students the opportunity to attend Divine Liturgy at the St. Demetrios Chapel, dinner, and a discussion lead by His Eminence Metropolitan TARASIOS, clergy, faculty and other guest speakers.

The PAOI is a member of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. It is directly under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The PAOI represents the various canonical Orthodox Christian jurisdictions in the country and educates, promotes, and sustains Orthodox traditions, values, teachings, and culture.

We offer our continued prayers for the ministry of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, His Eminence Metropolitan TARASIOS, and its faculty, staff and students as they celebrate their feast day! 

Fr. James Kumarelas Virtual Reception

Please join the Parish Council on Sunday November 1st between 3-4 PM for a virtual celebration in honor of Fr. James Kumarelas. This will be an opportunity for our community to congratulate him on his ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Attached is the zoom link to join us! 
 
Since we could not have an in-person reception as a community, we are sending gifts and other surprises in advance for Fr. James and Presbytera Vasso to open.  If you have a card or small gift you can send them to the church before October 29th and we will forward to them in advance of the reception.   
 
We also have another opportunity for you to send your love to Fr. James and Presbytera Vasso through a virtual message board called VidHug. We’re encouraging you to record a (30 second) video on your computer, smartphone, or tablet.  To send a congratulatory message, click this link and to be a part of this video montage.  We will play the video montage during the reception.
 
Contact JD Woods (925.408.6400) if you have any questions.   

Fr. James was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, October 11th.

New Series: 8 Dates for Young Married and Engaged Couples

ATTENTION YOUNG MARRIED & ENGAGED COUPLES:

The Metropolis of San Francisco is excited to launch their new fall/winter series for Orthodox Young Married & Engaged Couples!

Join us twice a month beginning October 15 for this wonderful series which is based on John Gottman's book, "8 Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love". This complimentary series will be led by our Metropolis Family Wellness Ministry Team, and will be a beautiful way to strengthen your commitment to one another and to God.

Save the dates, and see you soon!

AXIOS! Ordination of Demetrios "James" Kumarelas / No Outdoor Liturgy this Week

“Make him worthy to practice according to Your Will his degree conferred upon him, by Your goodness; for those who minister well, prepare themselves for good reward; and proclaim him Your perfect servant….”

From the Prayers of the Ordination to the Holy Diaconate

Reverend Clergy, Honorable Parish Council Members, and Beloved Stewards,

It is our joy and honor to announce that respectively, on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th, Mr. Demetrios "James" Kumarelas will be ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Holy Priesthood by the laying on of hands and invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Eminence Metropolitan GERASIMOS of San Francisco. Axios! Worthy! 

On behalf of the Kumarelas family we ask for your prayers as he prepares to enter the Holy Priesthood. Of course, we know James’ love for Christ and His Church firsthand as he has served in our community many capacities. He has set a humble example to all through his faith and dedication to Christ. Our prayers are with James and Vasso as they begin this new chapter in ministry with Rev. Fr. Photios Dumont at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle, Washington as an assistant priest.

On hearing such news, our natural response is to celebrate, to offer our thanks and to participate in the joy and honor of this ordination. In accordance with our Tradition, an ordination is the affirmation and confirmation not only of one’s personal calling the priesthood, but also an expression of the love, support and endorsement of the clergy and the laity. 

However, we sorrowfully announce that, out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with local and state health guidelines, there will be no in-person attendance to divine services this weekend. Additionally, there will be no outdoor Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 11th. Therefore, we ask that you continue to pray for James and Vasso that our good God may grant unto them a pure and blameless ministry. We encourage you to join the services which will be streamed through our regular channels: our parish website, Facebook and Youtube.

We look forward to welcoming the Kumarelas family back when we are able to fully celebrate this occasion, ask for God’s every blessing on them as they begin their ministry, and look forward to worshipping together again as a community in the coming weeks. 

In Christ,

Fr. Tom

Oct. 14 - Ascension Young Professionals Kick Off

Attention Ascension Young Professionals:

We've missed all of you these past couple months and can't wait to see you soon!

We'll be KICKING-OFF the new season of our Ascension Young Professionals gatherings with a social hour to catch-up, discuss ideas for future events, fun ways to get involved in our parish, AND, last but not least, enjoy a fun GAME NIGHT hosted by our very own Foti!

What do you say? RSVP and spread the word to our fellow Ascension Young Professionals!

Oakland Greek Festival Update

Hello Ascension Family!

I hope this email finds you all well and healthy. It has been a rocky 2020 to say the least!  The 2020 Festival Committee has been monitoring and staying in close contact with Alameda County as well as the state with the ever-changing guidelines.  As much as we would love to have our community together to cook, eat, dance and celebrate, it has become abundantly clear that due to continued restrictions we are not able to host our Festival in October. 

We had hoped the pandemic would have cleared by now and restrictions would ease, but that is not the case.  Therefore, the 2020 Festival Committee along with the Parish Council have made the tough decision to cancel the Festival for 2020.  We will assemble again as a committee in early 2021 to begin discussions on a return in May.  Although no one can be certain next Spring will be any better, we will continue to pray so we can once again assemble together and do what we love: Cook, Eat, Dance and Celebrate! 

As you know, the Festival is Ascension's largest fundraising event each year with an estimated income of $200k for the church.  Many tough decisions have already been made by the Parish Council to mitigate the expected loss of the festival however, we still need your help.  We are asking each of you to, once again, consider a donation in honor of the 2020 Oakland Greek Festival as we set our sights on 2021!

Yanni Limnios
2020 Festival Chair

Youth Ministry Announcement

Beloved Parents and Families,

Christ is in our midst!

This year has presented a number of unprecedented challenges for our families, and, particularly, our families’ relationship with our Church. For many of us, we never would have expected to find ourselves sheltering-in-place for such a long duration, or facilitating distance our child's distance learning in the 2020-2021 school year. Furthermore, many of the iconic, mainstay events and ministries, central to the life of our community, have not been viable due to current local and state health guidelines. We mourn that loss, and we look forward to the moment we will be able to be reunited as a community. Until that time, it is incumbent on all of us to find a path forward.

This fall we have an opportunity to work towards developing the life of the Church in our homes. As a community, we will be facilitating a number of online ministries for our youth and young adults. This email is all about those ministries! These ministries are an opportunity for your child to remain close to the Church, continue to develop a relationship with Christ, and with their peers. Parents, these ministries will not find their fullest expression and impact without your guidance and support.

Ascension Youth Ministry

Our youth will be meeting by age range. Each of the following ministries have their own page on our website with all the information you will need to get your child or teen started. Please register your children for each ministry so that we can admit you to our Zoom meetings and reach out to you directly.

Sunday School
1st - 3rd Grade

JOY
4th - 6th Grade

Jr GOYA
7th - 8th Grade

GOYA
9th - 12th Grade

This year our GOYA will be broken out into a Jr. GOYA and GOYA. This is because our high school GOYA members will have a special age-appropriate program called the Relationship Project. This special ministry will help us address pressing and important topics for our teens like relationships, our relationship with God and identity.

The Relationship Project

Parents: your high school GOYAn will need workbooks to participate in the Relationship Project. You can purchase the workbooks here. There will also be an informational meeting on the Relationship Project through the Metropolis of San Francisco's Family Wellness Ministry on Tuesday, September 22nd at 7 PM. Parents please register for this meeting by clicking on the giant button below. Contact Fr. Nick if you have any questions!

Young Adult and Parent Ministries

We also want to be a source of support for you and will be continuing several adult ministries and launching new ones. We have a new Young Adult ministry for those that have graduated high school and gone on to work or to continuing education. This group will meet the 4th Sunday of the month at 6 PM. Our first meeting is this Sunday, September 20th. If you are a young adult interested in attending--reach out to Fr. Nick! We've already got a great group who will be meeting!

One particular ministry we would like to invite our parents  to be involved in is our Foundations for a Faithful Home reading group. This reading group will focus on the life of our Faith in our homes. To frame our conversation will read a discuss a chapter from Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating and Orthodox Home.

We will meet on Mondays beginning October 5th at 6 PM. We hope that this ministry will be an opportunity to discuss how we can practically develop the life of the Faith in our homes, and discuss challenges that we are facing as families. We hope that you can join us!

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns or challenges that you are facing. No doubt this has been a unique year, with many unprecedented changes. Please know that we are here to help, assist you and are praying for you.

In Christ's service and yours,

Fr. Tom Zaferes and Fr. Nick Mueller

Divine Services for St. Sophia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love Canceled

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we will not be able to celebrate services tomorrow September, 17th for St. Sophia and her children Faith, Hope and Love.

We pray that God blesses all those who celebrate tomorrow! Kronia polla!

Fr. Tom's Weekly Message 9/12/20

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”  (1 Peter 2:24-25)

On Monday September 14 we celebrate a wonderful feast of the Church, the Finding of the Holy Cross. (please this link on various articles and insights into the feast and its meaning).

Some 17 centuries ago the very Cross on which our Lord was crucified was discovered and lifted up for people to see. How are we supposed to respond to this event? We can easily reduce this miraculous event to history or nostalgia and tradition. But, like all the feasts of our Lord, its remembrance is much more than that.

The finding of the Cross must move us to a remembrance of our Lord’s passion and His love for us. It is another reminder of John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

The finding of the Cross is a profound reminder of our Lord’s love for us in a world that is so often beset with hardships and tribulations. It reminds us of the greater purpose to our lives: To be one with God and to live with Him in His glorious presence for eternity. It is a declaration of hope and peace. It is the promise of righteousness and justice for all. The Cross of Christ is our healing from our brokenness and sin. It is the understanding of our existence and the merciful gift salvation All our prejudices, shortcomings, struggles and sin as human beings are overcome and destroyed with Christ crucified and resurrected.  He frees us to be His sons and daughters. 

Have a blessed celebration of the Cross,

Fr. Tom

---

More Insights and Resources for the Feast of the Holy Cross

St. John of Kronstadt cautions: “In order that the unbelieving heart should not think that the sign of the Cross and the name of Christ act miraculously by themselves, apart from, and independently of Christ Himself, this same Cross and name perform no miracles until I see Jesus Christ with the eyes of my heart…and believe with my whole heart all that it has  accomplished for our salvation.”

The Cross, once a tool of death, has become a means to life, an instrument of our salvation; it gives strength to resist temptation, to refrain from gossip or harsh words; it dispels fear. If we learn to use the Cross effectively, we shall come through experience to understand the Apostle’s words:

"But God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Source).

Request for Support of Hellenic College Holy Cross

This Monday we will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross. This is the patronal feast of Hellenic College Holy Cross the accredited undergraduate and graduate schools of our Archdiocese, and annually on this feast we consider how we can continue to support the essential work of these two institutions. Through these uniquely Orthodox academic institutions, the visibility of our Faith is expanded, spiritual and intellectual formation is advanced and the sacred work of our Church is sustained.

We also celebrate the accomplishments of our Ascension Cathedral’s most recent graduate James Koumarelas, and look forward to all that he will offer through his education and formation in ministry!

Please prayerfully consider financially contributing to Hellenic College Holy Cross and take a moment to read the following message from His Eminence Metropolitan GERASIMOS of San Francisco on behalf of this sacred institution.

Reopening for Outdoor Services Sunday, September 13th

Dear Ascension Community,
 
As you are aware the Cathedral remains closed for services by order of the State of California and Alameda County. However, churches are permitted to offer services outdoors. Starting this Sunday, September 13th, an outdoor Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10am.
 
To comply with county guidelines we are limiting attendance to 80 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings. Also, as per the Metropolitan’s request, attendance is reserved for our Ascension parishioners only. This number does not include clergy, cantor and ushers. To attend you must reserve your spot using the following link: Reserve your spot for Sunday.

Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered.  We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form. Please make your reservations by 4:00 pm Friday, September 11th. 
 
Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being.  If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming (Matins 8am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am). 
 
We ask for your patience during this time and encourage you to take a moment and review the details of attending in the attachment.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please read the Ascension Guidelines below for more information about what to expect on Sunday as well as the list of questions you will be asked when you arrive. 

Just a reminder - You will need a confirmed reservation to attend Sunday services.  The campus is still currently closed at all other times and we are not allowing public access to our grounds or buildings.
 
We will continue to update you as information and guidance becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time and look forward to seeing each of you soon!

Weekly Message from Fr. Tom 9/5/20

Dear Parishioners of Ascension Cathedral:

I pray that you and your loved ones are well. Much is happening around us and it is important to take some time to pray and ask our gracious Lord for His peace and love. At the same time pray for those who have suffered loss from the fires, economic hardship, and illness. Let us also pray for peace and understanding in our society and culture. We may not be able to change immediately the larger narrative in our country, but we can affect how we interact with each other. As our Lord instructed, “love on another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Next Sunday, September 13, we are hopeful to be able to offer an outdoor live Divine Liturgy for a limited number of people. An announcement and reservation request will be sent out Monday of next week (9/6). We will follow the same rules we had in place for the brief opening of the Cathedral in July. Everyone will be masked, we will practice social distancing, there will be reservations and a check in table. We will also live stream a Divine Liturgy from inside the Cathedral.

The times will be as follows:

8am Matins (Orthros) in the Cathedral

9:30am Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral

10am Divine Liturgy in the courtyard between the Cathedral and Hall.

Again, a confirmation of the outside Liturgy will be sent out early next week with the guidelines. 

Our Lord’s blessing and peace be with you,

Fr. Tom