Over the weekend of 15-16 November, Archpriest Jonathan Ivanoff (Director, Commission on Mission and Evangelism) visited Holy Apostles Mission Church in Lansing NY to meet with parishioners, celebrate the divine services, and share in the joy and blessings that are being poured out upon this missionary parish. The faithful of Holy Apostles Church are quite blessed to be guided by Father Jonathan and the whole diocesan family of New York and New Jersey. Thanks to the prayers and generous support of the entire diocese, the Orthodox Church in America, and beyond, the mission to spread the Gospel "to all nations" is bearing fruit in Lansing NY.

Beginning with Great Vespers on Saturday evening, Father James Worthington (parish rector) was pleased to welcome Father Jonathan. About 10 members of the parish joined in a conversation concerning the good things being done in the parish: daily services, care for college students, and charitable outreach. While giving thanks for so much, they then examined new and further ways toward "growing" the mission parish. It was an evening celebration of past accomplishments and future opportunities.

On Sunday morning the celebration continued with a Baptism and two other Chrismations ... a tangible sign of the growth in this four-year-old parish community. Two newly illumined young men and several youths from the parish, along with the two priests, then celebrated the Divine Liturgy joined by the faithful of the parish, nearly filling the church. Father Jonathan noted: “The joy and laughter at coffee hour was truly contagious, and the entire service and atmosphere was so conducive to prayer and worship. I was also blessed by the fellowship and talk we shared Saturday night after that meeting.”

Visit the Holy Apostles Church website >

Read more about the mission parish here:
http://oca.org/news/headline-news/planting-grant-missions-discovering-the-churchs-fullness-in-upstate-ny