With a generous donation from a friend of the mission in Chicago, Fr. Jesse purchased the raw materials from local hardware stores and staring working on the iconostasis in October. Parishioners lent power tools, Fr. Jesse's 15-year-old son Anthony made blueprints using CAD software, and Reader George helped with installation. The iconostasis is stable, portable, and was affordable (total cost about $500). The mission hopes to add Royal Doors an Deacon's Doors sometime this Lent.

The day after Christmas, St. Jacob's was blessed to celebrate its fourth and fifth baptisms since August and welcomed the newly-illumined Xenia and her daughter Kyriake to Christ's flock.


St. Jacob's is a small Orthodox mission community in an economically depressed area of rural Michigan, and outside donations from supporters in Lower Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin have proven vital to its growth.

If you can find it in your budget to make a donation to St. Jacob's--any amount helps!--please visit our donation page:

DONATE TO ST. JACOB'S

LEARN MORE ABOUT ST. JACOB'S

On Sunday, 2/15 January, 2023 the faithful of the Lansing area gathered at the St. Seraphim Mission to celebrate the lesser feast day of the temple, the main feast being July 19/August 1. Priest Colin Bower led the Divine Services on this day, assisted by Deacon Vladimir Pyrozhenko. Congratulations to all the laborers of Christ's Vineyard laboring in the Lansing Mission! God willing, a priest can soon be found to lead the Mission and oversee the growth of the faith in the Capital Region of our Michigan!

Our parish in Lake Odessa, Michigan is dedicated to the Venerable Herman of Alaska. On the winter feast day of St. Herman it has become a tradition for those who are free on this day from throughout Michigan to gather in Lake Odessa to mark the feast of this favorite of God. Archpriest Michael Carney is the Rector of the parish and Deacon Elias Reeves assists Fr. Michael in service to the community. The two of them served Vigil for the feast on the eve, and they were joined by the Dean of our Michigan parishes, Archpriest Gregory Joyce, for Divine Liturgy on December 12/25. The choir sang beautifully for the feast under the direction of Daria Carney. Following the Divine Liturgy, at which almost all present partook of Holy Communion, the parish sisterhood offered a lenten meal for all in attendance. We congratulate everyone in the Lake Odessa parish with the feast!

PICTURES OF THE FEAST

Join us on Friday, January 13, 2023 for our annual Nativity Ball! All proceeds benefit Ann Arbor Orthodox Classical Academy! Last year's ball was GREAT! This year: EVEN BETTER!

Ball tickets make perfect Christmas gifts. Join us for a great evening of fun in celebration of our Lord's Incarnation, and help us raise money in support of our parish school! We aim to raise $5,000 to support our school, so even if you can't join us for the ball, visit the link below to help us reach that important goal!

BUY NATIVITY BALL TICKETS
THE LAST DAY TO BUY TICKETS IS JANUARY 2 - ACT NOW!

Leon Lysaght, one of the founders of our mission in Traverse City, reposed in the Lord shortly after Archbishop Peter visited the community for their feast day this year. On Saturday, December 10, the funeral for the servant of God Leon took place at the St. Sebastian parish in Traverse City. This was the first funeral for the mission, and fittingly so, in that the community was bidding farewell to one of their founders.

Leon’s earthly remains arrived at the church on December 9 and divine services were held that evening. On December 10 Priest Micah Chisholm, Rector of the mission, and the mission’s Deacon Michael Rossmeisel, served Divine Liturgy. Following the Liturgy they were joined by Fr. Rade Obsenica of St. George Serbian Church in Monroe, as well as Fr. Gregory Joyce of St. Vladimir Church in Ann Arbor.

Fr. Micah led the funeral and Fr. Rade gave the eulogy. The choir sang beautifully and prayerfully under the direction of the mission choir director Aidan Siler. Following the funeral a memorial meal was held at the mission. Later that afternoon Leon was buried in his family plot.

We ask the prayers of our Michigan Deanery faithful for the repose of the soul of the newly-departed Leon, his wife Pamela, and all the family and friends who are grieving at their loss. May the Lord reward Leon one hundredfold for his diligent service to His Church in this world!

Pictures of the funeral can be found at this link:

LEON LYSAGHT FUNERAL

Our Ann Arbor parish has released its annual schedule of all English services. This is a missionary effort to make sure that the best kept secret in North America, Orthodox Christianity, is fully exposed! Please spread the word and invite friends and loved ones!

ANN ARBOR ALL ENGLISH CYCLE 2023

We are pleased to announce that on Sunday, December 11, 2022 the Michigan Deanery Youth Choir will sing the Divine Liturgy at St. Vladimir Church in Ann Arbor. ALL ARE WELCOME! Support our Youth Choir – make a donation at the link below!

SUPPORT MICHIGAN DEANERY YOUTH CHOIR

LEARN MORE/REGISTER NOW!

FULL COVERAGE ON MID-AMERICA DIOCESE WEB SITE

ALL PICTURES HERE

DO NOT MISS!