05/16/2026
Christ is Risen!
To guild or not to guild? That is the question.
When I introduced the idea of developing ministry guilds at ASOCC, I referenced I Thess. 5:11 – Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We have potentially 100 people coming to worship on the Lord’s Day at ASOCC. That is a big change from meeting for Typica on Sunday with 8 or 10 people present. God is doing wondrous things through the intercessions of all the saints, our patrons! We are growing and it is time to raise the bar, so to speak, in our common life together as THE Orthodox Christian Community in North-central Kansas.
We have become a busy place, thank God. Let us keep in mind the true purpose of a parish. Does the parish exist to make us feel good? To cause societal change? To help the poor? To enact elaborate rituals with beautiful music? To maintain a nice building? To encourage us with inspiring messages applicable to our daily lives? At ASOCC, I believe, all of this is happening, but these are not the real reasons that ASOCC exists.
The Orthodox Church, and our parish by extension, exists, above all else, in order to bring us into contact with the All-Holy Trinity, and therefore, to be healed, delivered, changed through this encounter. It is the place where the Christian Faith, once delivered to the Saints, is discovered and lived out in a community of all sorts of people. It is a family. And that family comes into being only because each member is united to Jesus Christ, playing his or her own particular part in the life of the whole. Each activity that takes place in a parish, each small sacrifice offered by its individual members and the groups they participate in, is ultimately directed at God Himself. Together, we grow in the knowledge and love of God in a way that could not occur in any other context. We are to assist one another in becoming holy. When we truly repent and give our wills and our lives over to the Lord, wonderful things happen and true joy is found.
To help us raise the bar, so to speak, and to grow more fully into an active parochial life at ASOCC, several ministry guilds have been proposed. Will they all thrive and become agents for building up the Body of Christ? Maybe, maybe not. Will there be others added over time? Of course! For now, however, let’s strive to offer up what we have and ask for a blessing on these various ministries at All Saints Orthodox Christian Church.
In this E-News we will list the various guilds and their mission statements. I encourage you to join any guilds that seem best to you. Please also note that for each guild, there is a convenor for you to contact, who will be happy to include you in news and ministry opportunities.
In the Risen Lord,
Father Chad
THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
6:00 PM Daily Vespers - followed by choir rehearsal in the temple
SATURDAY, MAY 16
5:00 PM Great Vespers
NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY, MAY 17
8:45 AM Orthros
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
11:45 AM Coffee Hour
12:30 PM Choir Rehearsal
1:00 PM Movie - Man of God
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20
6:00 PM Daily Vespers - followed by choir rehearsal in the temple
SATURDAY, MAY 23
3:00 PM Parish Council Meeting
5:00 PM Great Vespers
ASOC NEWS
Honoring our Graduates – Date Change
Due to scheduling conflicts the date for honoring our 2026 graduates will be on Pentecost, May 31st.
Byzantine Music Workshop
On June 6th, starting at 1pm, Fr. Mark Sultani has offered to conduct a workshop for male voices beginning at 1pm. This workshop is for those young men who have a desire to explore our Byzantine musical tradition. Please sign-up in the parish hall this Sunday so we can plan to move ahead.
Cemetery Plots at Gypsum Hill
Our Orthodox section at Gypsum Hill is now full. There are a few plots available about 100 ft. from the large Three-bar Cross that marks the Orthodox section. Please speak directly to Fr Chad for further information.
MINISTRY GUILDS AT ALL SAINTS
Guild of St. Artemius of Verkolayy
Members will be responsible for the catechesis of our children through Super Saturdays. There are also special feasts with activities such as Lazarus Saturday, St. Nicholas, Pascha and All Saints. We are exploring introducing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at ASOCC.
Melangell Pantle, Convener
Guild of St. Fiacre
Members will help beautify the church grounds and gardens. Flowers and flower arranging are also part of the ministry of this guild as we celebrate different feasts and move through the ecclesiastical calendar.
Michael Alex Moser, Convener
Guild of St. Philip
Developing a core group of intercessors for our parish that includes sending cards to our visitors, birthday and name day cards. Book studies will also be offered.
Rd. Andrew Walker, Convener
Guild of St. Benedict
Welcomers give our visitors and guests a positive first and lasting impression of All Saints. Members practice hospitality and welcome everyone. They answer questions and assist newbies in connecting with appropriate parishioners in response to needs.
Justina Houchin, Convener
Guild of the Venerable Bede
Development and maintenance of our local bookstore. The bookstore maintains catechetical material and books on Orthodoxy. Beeswax candles and orthodox gifts are also available. The bookstore is open during coffee hour and by appointment.
Rd. Andrew Pantle, Convener
Guild of St. Catherine
Various sewing and repair activities. Work is done in the parish hall. New vestments for our altar servers are soon to begin.
Anna Mai, Convener
Guild of St. Peter the Aleut (SOYO)
SOYO on the local level but in tune with Archdiocesan and Diocesan activities such as Camp St. Raphael, Antiochian Village and the PLC.
Symeon Perez, (younger) Convener
Guild of St. John Chrysostom (Altar Servers)
Adult men and older boys assist in the Holy Place as servers at all of the services including Divine Liturgy, Orthros, Great and Daily Vespers, along with various other services that are part of the observance of the Christian Year. Teams are being developed. Members will also serve at weddings and funerals.
Rd. Jeremiah Houchin, Convener
Guild of St. Alexander Morel (Young Adults)
This guild will explore local interest activities for young adults, college age and early adulthood members.
Gabriel Khosrasiani, Convener
Guild of St. Romanos
Choir members sing at Divine Liturgy. Chanters assist at Great Vespers and Orthros. Some chanters are also choir members. There are other services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, seasonal services of the church year, Akathists, etc. There are weekly rehearsals for both groups scheduled to coincide with regular attendance at Wednesday night Vespers and Sunday Divine Liturgy. All singers interested in joining the chanters or choir should reach out to Seraphima Berquist for a brief interview.
Seraphima Berquist, Convener
Guild of St. Euphrosynos
Members will be in charge of organizing coffee hours and parish meals. They will also help in the preparation for feasts with food events such as Pascha, Palm Sunday and New Year. There will also be opportunities to learn how to make holy bread, kollyva, lenten and festive foods. Holy Bread and Coffee Hour scheduling also included.
Elizabeth Callam, Convener
Guild of St. Nektarios
Volunteers in the guild will help to keep the Temple and other facilities clean and orderly. This includes cleaning after services.
Aetius Greene, Convener
Guild of Archangel Gabriel
This guild will work closely with the parish priest for effective communications through the website, E-news and various forms of social media.
Simeon Perez, (elder) Convener
Guild of St. Sophia
A local women’s guild providing various activities in cooperation with other guilds and with the diocesan and archdiocesan activities of Antiochian Women.
(Convener needed for this guild)
Guild of St. Alban (A-men)
This is a fellowship for men of all ages that will meet once a month. Members will consider things like taking charge of some parish meals and “theology on tap” locally. Opportunities will be provided for the study of Orthodoxy.
(Convener will be identified next month).
