News

 NATIVITY FASTING RULES FOR ALL ORTHODOX

November 15 – December 24

1. MONDAYs, WEDNESDAYs, and FRIDAYs of this fast are Strict Fast days. On these days we abstain from meat, dairy, fish with backbones, fowl, alcoholic beverages, and olive oil.

TUESDAYs and THURSDAYs of the fast are Wine and Oil days. On these days the fasting discipline is relaxed a bit to permit wine and olive oil.

SATURDAYs and SUNDAYs of the fast are Fish, Wine, and Oil days. On these days the fast is relaxed even more to permit fish with backbones in addition to wine and oil.

Note that during the forefeast of the Nativity, from December 19-24, our fasting is more strict. Each weekday that falls during this period is generally kept as a Strict Fast day, while any Saturday or Sunday is observed as a Wine and Oil day.

Foods that are permitted on all days are vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and shellfish.

Read more: Nativity Fasting Rules

 The Annual St. Stephen’s  Picnic will be on, October 2^nd  after the Liturgy at the van den Berg’s. Barbecue will be served. There will be a sign up sheet in the back of the church.

 On Sunday, Sep. 25 there will be an adult social at Fr. Daniel & Marcy Hickmans home from 6-9PM.

Please bring a dish to share. The theme will be the Ephraim Project, our parish's outreach to the homeless. We will celebrate the good work our members have been doing with the homeless community in downtown Orlando.

St. Stephens will be having a Fall Festival this year! Bring the kids in costume on October 30th from 3-5 p.m. for Fall fun and games. Vespers will follow, so stay and worship as a family.

The youth group went to New Smyrna Beach.  Fun was had by all.  They encouraged each other in prayer and reflection on setting some goals for the upcoming school year.  For more pictures please see our facebook page.

St Stephen is supporting missionary James Hargrave. Here is his latest update from Tanzania. Please remember James in your prayers.

Read more: Update from James Hargrave

We now have a vey active Facebook page. Previews are located on the right of our homepage. Be sure to join and be sure to check often for new photos and news!

Very Reverend Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of St. Vladimir's Seminary, will be at St. Stephen's on Sunday April 18th to celebrate the liturgy and to share updates on St. Vladimir's. Please spread the word!

The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

To all the Clergy and the Laity of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas
 
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, greet you on the Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy with words of the Holy Apostle Paul that were selected by the Primates of the worldwide Orthodox Church to close their Message proclaimed on October 12, 2008. Indeed, we glory in our God whose love for us exceeds every thought or imagining that could enter our minds or hearts. As the Apostle Paul says in another place: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (I Cor. 2:9).

Read more: The Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

Welcome to St. Stephen 4.0! The new site with the new design has gone live, but is still a work in progress. Temporarily, the St. Nectarios Book Club is not available, as we relocate to a new home as a discussion forum. If you have a username and password, you should still be able to log in to the new site. Let me know about any problems or broken lins as we move forward.

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by clicking here.

Blessed Lent to all,

Glen