St. Anne

560 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830

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News and Notes for the Week

Coptic Icon of St. Anne - 8th Century

Our Parish's Altar Feast

Just as individuals celebrate their nameday - the feast of the saint whose name they bear, so a parish has its own nameday, known as its "Altar Feast," or, "Patronal Festival." For St. Anne Parish, that day is the Feast of the Dormition of St. Anne (July 25).

It is hard to grasp the importance of this feast from a modern perspective - we often lack the sensibilities of our ancestors in the faith. We far too easily take names for granted and think of them as nothing more than convenient ways to identify something. But the naming of our parish, done by the late Archbishop Dmitri, was and is an event of deep mystical and spiritual significance. It established a powerful relationship between our parish and St. Anne. She became our particular heavenly intercessor, one who keeps a constant watch over our Church and its many families.

St. Anne has traditionally been associated with families and children. When our parish was first given its patron, there were very few children. Indeed, for a time the whole of Sunday School was a single class. Children easily felt like a minor presence.

Of course, today, children are the largest presence in our parish. The first two children baptized at St. Anne graduated high school this year. We have enjoyed a "baby boom" over the course of our history (and it continues). It is easy to dismiss this as nothing more than demographics. That is certainly a factor. However, I feel that there is a special blessing within our parish for the life and care of children - and I feel that there is a general agreement with that thought.

This Sunday, July 23, we will have our observation of St. Anne's Dormition - our Altar Feast. A Festal lunch will follow the service. Later in the afternoon, there will be a parish outing in Townsend at the Little River (see the later article for details).

May St. Anne pray for us and continue to watch over us all as her dear children!

This Week

Wednesday July 19

Great Vespers 6:30 pm

Orthodox Study Group Following

Saturday July 22

Great Vespers - 5pm

Confessions Following

Sunday July 23 - Patronal Festival

Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

Festal Lunch aftewards

Parish Outing in Townsend 1 pm

July Calendar

Patronal Feast and Parish Outing - July 23

St. Anne’s Day – Little River Tubing and BBQ Picnic

St. Anne’s Day will be celebrated this year on Sunday, July 23. It has become a custom at St. Anne to have a parish outing on the Sunday when we observe our patronal Feast - most years finds us “tubing” on the Little River in Townsend, TN.

On that Sunday, July 23, we will observe St. Anne’s Day in the Liturgy at church and have a festive pot-luck meal afterwards. We invite all to join us at the Smokey Mountain River Rat, in Townsend, TN following the Sunday morning Liturgy.

We will leave the Church between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m. after our coffee hour, and caravan to Townsend. The rental on tubes should be at the group rate (for 40+) – $8 per person. Bring sunscreen, towels, and water shoes, bug spray - and dry clothes to change into afterwards.

After tubing, we will meet behind the River Rat Canoeing/Kayaking site further down Hwy. 73 on the left (see map). Please bring side picnic items to share (baked beans, potato chips, potato salad, dessert, etc.). Paper products will be provided. Bring your own chairs, blankets, and drinks!

Note: Those who would like to picnic but do not want to go tubing can relax and visit by the water at the picnic site while waiting for the arrival of the rest of the group.

BBQ sandwiches will be provided. We will collect donations to cover the cost of the sandwiches – suggested donation is $4 per sandwich.

Maps and release forms will be available on that Sunday morning. The rafting site is on the right in the map below. The picnic site is on the left.

Calendar Notes - Archbishop Alexander

Archbishop Alexander will be visiting St. Anne on the weekend of August 19-20. This is his first visit as bishop. Note the date. We want to have as many as possible at the service and festivities to welcome him on this great occasion.

A monk of Mount Athos, an Oxford-Trained Scholar of the Church Fathers, a much published author and teacher - and Archbishop of the Diocese of the South - all of this in the person of Abp. Alexander Golitzin.

A rare opportunity comes to our area this summer. The Diocese of the South's Assembly will be held in Chattanooga, gathering clergy and people from across the diocese. There is a wonderful slate of speakers: Archbishop Alexander, Jonathan Pageau, and Clark Carlton. There will be activities for youth and many opportunities for fellowship and fun.

Look at the schedule. If you are able to attend any or all of it you'll be greatly blessed. I especially encourage families with children to consider participating.

Use this link to learn more.

Summer travels and schedule often lowers Church attendance. The Church financial needs continue at largely the same level all year long. Remember your support this summer. Many thanks!

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