New Living Water catechetical site (GOC-K)

[Maria]

• Beloved in Christ,

  I am writing to share our great joy
  at a new undertaking of our church,
  the Living Water catechetical site.

  In the Gospel of St. Matthew, our Lord Jesus Christ says,
  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
  knock and the door will be opened for you.
  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,
  and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
  (Matthew 7:7,8)

  In the Fount of Knowledge, St. John Damascene writes,
  “Nothing is more estimable than knowledge,
  for knowledge is the light of the rational soul…
  By knowledge I mean the true knowledge of things which are…
  With our whole soul and our whole understanding let us approach…
  And let us not be satisfied with arriving speedily at the gate,
  but rather let us knock hard,
  so that the door of the bridal chamber may be opened to us and
  we may behold the beauties within…
  Let us knock hard, let us read once, twice, many times…
  Let us seek, let us search, let us examine, let us inquire….
  If, then, we are lovers of learning, we shall learn much,
  for it is of the nature of all things that they may be apprehended through industry and toil,
  and before all and after all by the grace of God, the Giver of grace.”
  (St. John of Damascus, Writings, 6)

  We are called upon, then, to pursue this wisdom,
  the knowledge of the life of Christ not just once,
  but continually, knowing that He will assist us in this struggle.
  What else in our earthly life can compare to this knowledge?
  This knowledge is comprised of the good, the true and the beautiful.
  This knowledge is the means by which we come to know ourselves and the things of God.

  A scribe once asked our Savior
  “Which is the first commandment of all?”
  and our Savior replied,
  “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel;
  The Lord our God is one Lord:
  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
  with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:
  this is the first commandment.”
  (Mark 12:28-30)

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          Beloved, our Savior has commanded us,

  we must apply our heart and soul and mind with all of our strength
  in order to love our God and commune with Him, as He wills.

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          Your children cannot love what they don’t know

  and they cannot know if there is no one to teach them.

  We have created the Living Water catechetical site in order to help you inspire
  and guide your children to apply themselves in the love of God.

  The site will provide a place for the faithful to download catechetical materials,
  both for use at home and to assist those parishes
  which may not have a curriculum to use for formal classes.
  The forum, which will be ready in ten days or so,
  will offer help for inexperienced teachers and/or parents at home.

  To begin now, go to http://www.livingwatergoc.info and click on ‘Resources’.
  There, you will see the first several weeks of resources for grades K - 8.
  As mentioned above, in the coming weeks, those coming to the site
  will also have access to the forum to ask questions
  about how to better use these resources in their own circumstances.

  Lastly, in two weeks, we will also be offering an adult discussion group,
  led by Dr. Seraphim Steger, on the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch.
  Specific dates for availability of the different features of the site are found in the attached document.

  It is our prayer that you will find these resources edifying.
  We also are looking for volunteers who would be willing to assist us in our efforts.

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                                                                      In Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God,
   
                                                                                  +Moses, of Toronto [/list]

  In Greek:
  Καινουργια ιστοσελιδα απο πιστους της Συνοδου μας.
  http://www.livingwatergoc.info

  Παρακατω θα βρειτε και την επιστολη
  του Mητροπολιτη Μωυση του Τοροντο.

  Εδω ειναι ενα συντομο βιογραφικο του
  http://www.ecclesiagoc.gr/index.php/arc ... nto-mwyses

[Maria]

I just received this notice from Father Panagiotes Carras' yahoo group. There is still time to take this course which starts on November 5, 2014. Please do not delay.

• Beloved Christians,

  You have received notification of an upcoming adult guided reading and discussion group on the Old Testament. The discussion group, headed by Dr. Seraphim Steger and Father Steven Allen, will focus on the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, as well as the book of Joshua. Because there was a very small enrolment we decided to delay the start date until November 5, 2014.

  I would like to encourage as many as possible to take advantage of this course. If you decide to participate you will read from the first five books of the Old Testament as well as the book of Jesus of Navi (Joshua) along with supporting texts from the Holy Fathers that will give insights into these important scriptural passages. I guarantee that this guided reading will strengthen and deepen and strengthen your Orthodox Christian world-view. These texts deal with the origin of all things as well as authentic Christian anthropology. If you gain a greater understanding of our Christian world view you will be better able to educate your children and help them keep their faith when they encounter and confront those who desire to convert them to a materialist, atheist world view in government schools, universities and the work place.

  This course is being offered through Living Waters catechetical website in cooperation with the Holy Three Hierarchs Theological Institute, both operating with the blessing of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the GOC.

  There will be no charge for the course, but we ask you to consider donating to the Living Water catechetical website initiative. The suggested donation is $100.00. As online courses go, this is a very reasonable amount of money. If you can only give a portion of that, it will be gladly accepted. If everyone finds it in their heart to give even a little it will defray the costs of setting up the site and we can provide infrastructure to this initiative to catechize and educate as many as possible, both children and adults, using the tools that are available to us on the internet.

  Signing up for the discussion group is simple and requires two steps. First, navigate to http://forums.livingwatergoc.info and register in our forums. This will also allow you participate in our other forums. (Note: Our K - 8 forums will be available on October 13; our adult forum will be available on October 20.)

  Second, please send an email with your full name, indicating you would like to enroll in the adult discussion group on the Pentateuch and Joshua, to livingwatergoc@gmail.com.

  If you wish to donate via Paypal, you may navigate to http://3hierarchs.org/index.php/donate.
  I ask you all to remember this educational initiative in your prayers and I ask you to speak about it when you gather together in your parish.

  May God grant, according to the words of Saint Paul, that “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.” (Eph 4:13-15)

  In Christ,

  +Moses, of Toronto

  [The www.livingwatergoc.info website is scheduled for an update by Monday, November 3rd. ]

  On Abraham by Saint Ambrose of Milan
  http://www.easternchristiansupply.biz/- ... 6827/42063
  (Eastern Christian Supply is a very good source for books and ecclesiastical items.)

  Genesis, Creation and Early Man
  

[Handmaiden50]

Maria,
Would this be open to inquirers, such as myself, too?

[Maria]

Maria,
Would this be open to inquirers, such as myself, too?

yes

[Maria]

This is a great course.

They are handing out some great reading resources.

Wednesday and Thursday, they are doing introductions, so you still might be able to register.

[Handmaiden50]

I'll make note of this resource for the future Maria, thanks.