The Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos Visits - 11/10/10 Ancient Christianity African American ConferenceA short news report is posted on www.oca.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, check out mosestheblack.org, website of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black
Conference Photos, by Yohannan Abraham=/images/Conference2010/Abrahams.jpg; "Click to view")
We have a new Reader!=/images/BillyBaptism/IMG_0110.jpeg; "Click to view")
Baptisms of Sarah Riccardi and Ephrem (Evan) Tauck=/images/Baptism Sarah Evan/_MG_0707.JPG; "Click to view")
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Nativity 2011 - 01/07/2011
This year, as a gift to our church, Brigid Carlson created Unexpected Joy in gingerbread and icing, complete with interior furnishings and Pantocrator. We were all amazed!(7 images)
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Holy Week and Pascha 2012 - 04/15/2012
Palm Sunday, Unction, Holy Friday Vespers and Matins of Holy Saturday, Pascha(35 images)
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Fr. Gerasim visits, December 6/19, 2011=/images/Gerasim/Gerasim1.JPG; "Click to view")
Fr. Gerasim visits Unexpected Joy - 12/19/2010
We were blessed to have with us Fr. Gerasim (Eliel), an old friend and former abbot of St. Herman of Alaska monastery. Â(4 images)
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Visit from the Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos - 11/10/2010
We were blessed to be with the icon, graciously brought to  Ash Grove by Fr. Christopher Stade, rector of St. John Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church, House Springs, MO.(8 images)
Visit from a Boy Scout Troup, July 25, 2010=/images/Summer 2010/IMG_0375.JPG; "Click to view")
Boy Scout Troup from Macon, Georgia visits Ash Grove
These young men and their three Scout leaders visited our church and the Museum as part of a summer trip to important sites in mid-America. They were very moved by our icon of St. Moses and grateful to have met the Saint.(8 images)
Archbishop JOB Visits, November 2009=/images/JOBNov09/IMG_0265.JPG; "Click to view")
Repose of Anna HumistonHere is a photo from her funeral, on January 8, 2011. Here also is one from the funeral of Seraphim Humiston, her husband, who reposed March 3, 2010.
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Anna |
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Seraphim |
Archbishop JOB's visit |
area faithful |
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Fr. Moses, Archbishop JOB, Fr. Andrew |
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Congratulating Miroslav on his 80th birthday |
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Hospitality Dinner in the Parish Hall - 11/14/2009
On Saturday evening, the young people in our parish prepared a dinner for friends and neighbors of Theotokos "Unexpected Joy," folks who have supported our mission here. Â We wanted to say "thank you!" by offering a special festive meal.(34 images)
Pascha 2009 |
Decorating the Epitaphios |
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Hristos Voskrese! |
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Christos Anesti! |
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Christ is Risen! |
Daniel Prihoanca's Visit - Dec. 15, 2007
Archbishop JOB's visit, August 2007
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Parish president Richard White and Fr. Moses greet Vladyka |
Axios to newly ordained Readers and Subdeacon!On January 24, 2016, Matthew Mustain, John Pearlstein, Ephrem Tauck and David Woodmansee were tonsured Readers, and David was ordained subdeacon by His Grace, Bishop PAUL, our diocesan bishop, on his visit to Ash Grove.
Check out the Photo Gallery for lots of pictures!
Abbot Sergius brings the Miraculous Icon of St. AnnaAbbot Sergius of St. Tikhon's Monastery conducted an all day retreat on Saturday, March 26 for the parish, beginning with Divine Liturgy and concluding with Vespers at 4:00. He talked about "Acquiring the Mind of Christ," and including time for discussion. A truly edifying and grace-filled weekend, in the company of St. Anna!
Here is a link to the monastery's home page, with pictures of the retreat .St. Tikhons news All photos by Yohannan Abraham. A gallery of photos from the event will be posted here shortly.
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St. Anna |
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Fr. Sergius |
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Acquiring the Mind of Christ |
Visit from Bishop PAULWe were blessed to be able to host His Grace, Bishop Paul of the Diocese of the Midwest on the weekend of January 24. This was his first visit to our parish. His Grace had a breakfast meeting with the Parish Council on Saturday morning, and then celebrated Vespers with the parish that evening. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, he tonsured Readers Matthew Mustain, Ephrem Tauck, John Pearlstein, and David Woodmansee. He then made David sub-deacon, and elevated Fr. Moses to archpriest.
It was an entirely joyful and spiritual nourishing weekend. Axios to our new readers and subdeacon, and to Fr. Moses as well!
A collection of photos from the event can be found on our Photos page. Thank you, Yohannan Abraham for these lovely photographs!
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Sunday of Orthodoxy VespersFr. Alexii Altschul of Holy Archangel Michael and All Angels Skete will be the guest homilist at Vespers. Everyone's invited and encouraged to attend!
Light refreshments will follow the service.
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" Orthodox Christian Church
Summer 2005 - photos by Kerrie Safran
Building the bell tower - Summer 2006
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Luke Mustain Baptism, Juneteenth - 06/17/2017
We had a wonderful day: Luke Mustain was baptized, and then Fr. Moses gave a lecture on local African American history, using artifacts from the Afro American Heritage Museum. In the afternoon,we met at our Holy Resurrection Cemetery, dedicated by the Berry family to "slaves, Indians, and paupers" for the blessing of the Memorial Stone inscribed with the names of those buried without headstones. The beautiful monument was graciously donated by Andrew Baird, President, Conco Companies.
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The funeral services for Anna Louise Renner - 07/27/2015
Anna Louise Renner fell asleep in the Lord on July 24, 2015. These are some photos from her funeral service and interment.
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The Baptisms of the Mustain family, 12/7/2014=/images/Mustain-/_MG_4129.JPG; "Click to view")
Melissa, Thomas, Amelia and Gabriel - 12/07/2014
A glorious day! Fr. Alexi, Fr. Justin, Fr. Deacon Theophan and Fr. Deacon Theodore served, and many friends and family gathered to celebrate with us.
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Marriage of Sarah Riccardi and J. D. Swartz=/images/Riccardi-Swartz/_MG_3768.JPG; "Click to view")
Swartz-Riccardi Wedding - 08/09/2014
A few of the lovely photos taken by Yohannan Abraham.
A wonderful day, indeed!
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Fr. Moses and friends
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15 Year Anniversary, June 2, 2013=/images/June2013Anniv15/_MG_1229.JPG; "Click to view")
Anniversary Celebration - 06/02/2013
On the first weekend of June, we celebrated 15 years of "Unexpected Joy" in Ash Grove, with food and fellowship. The day included a tour of the cemetery and our first chapel. Roger Thomas shared stories of his beloved wife Helen, who rests now in the cemetery.
It was a blessed and joyful day!
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Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!We greet you with the joy of the Feast! What a wonderful, blessed, time we shared. Here is a link to photographs of Holy Week and Pascha services taken by Yohannan Abraham.
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Gramotas Granted!
Many Years! - 12/22/2019
Bishop PAUL gave gramotas (awards) for their many years of faithful and loving service to Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" to (left to right) Brian Latham, Subdeacon David Woodmansee, Debbie Woodmansee, Michele Latham, Juli Fenton and Robert Fenton. Kevin and Cheryl Tuggle were granted gramotas in absentia as they have recently relocated to Warren, Ohio.
Congratulations to these much appreciated members of our community!
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Some photos from Fr. Ephraim's OrdinationOn December 22, Fr. Dcn. Ephraim Tauck was ordained a priest at Theotokos "Unexpected Joy." Dec. 22, on the Julian Calendar, is the Conception of the Theotokos, and also, one of the feasts of the icon, Theotokos "Unexpected Joy"! It was a wonderful celebration. Axios, Fr. Ephraim!
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Lazarus Saturday, Holy Week, Pascha 2019=/images/Holy-Week-and-Pascha-2019/IMG_2426.JPG; "Click to view")
Christ is Risen! - 04/28/2019
On Lazarus Saturday, we had 23 Baptisms! Glory to God! Here are some photos, as well as some from Holy Week and Pascha. We have been richly blessed!
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