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
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Nativity 2011 - 01/07/11
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)
New photos added!Holy Week and Pascha 2012=/images/Holy Week2012/_MG_7922.JPG; "Click to view")
Holy Week and Pascha 2012 - 04/15/12
Palm Sunday, Unction, Holy Friday Vespers and Matins of Holy Saturday, Pascha(35 images)
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Fr. Gerasim visits Unexpected Joy - 12/19/10
We were blessed to have with us Fr. Gerasim (Eliel), an old friend and former abbot of St. Herman of Alaska monastery.(4 images)
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Visit from the Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos - 11/10/10
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)
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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)
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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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Archbishop JOB's visit
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Hospitality Dinner in the Parish Hall - 11/14/09
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. We wanted to say "thank you!" by offering a special festive meal.(34 images)
Pascha 2009
Daniel Prihoanca's Visit - Dec. 15, 2007
Archbishop JOB's visit, August 2007
Services for Holy Week 2014These services are also on the Monthly Calendar.
Friday, March 29/April 11
6:00 pm Vigil for Lazarus Saturday
Saturday, March 30/April 12 Lazarus Saturday
9:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
5:00 pm Vigil for Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 31/April 13 Palm Sunday
9:00 am Hours
9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Monday, April 1/14
6:00 pm Bridegroom Matins of Holy Week
Tuesday, April 2/15
6:00 pm Bridegroom Matins of Holy Week
Wednesday, April 3/16
6:00 pm Service of Holy Unction
Thursday, April 4/17 Holy Thursday
9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
6:00 pm Service of the 12 Passion Gospels
Friday, April 5/18 Holy Friday
9:00 am Royal Hours of Holy Friday
1:00 pm Vespers of Holy Saturday
6:00 pm Matins of Holy Saturday (Lamentations)
Saturday, April 6/19 Holy Saturday
9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday
10:30 pm Reading of the Acts of the Apostles
11:30 pm Midnight Office
Sunday, April 7/20 The Bright Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
12:00 am Paschal Matins, followed by Divine Liturgy of Pascha
A festive meal will follow the Liturgy.
Monday, April 8/21 Bright Monday
9:15 Hours
9:30 Divine Liturgy
Holy Week 2016
Friday, April 22
6:00 pm Vigil for Lazarus Saturday
Saturday, April 23 Lazarus Saturday
9:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
5:00 pm Vigil for Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 24 Palm Sunday
9:00 am Hours
9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Monday, April 25
6:00 pm Bridegroom Matins of Holy Week
Tuesday, April 26
6:00 pm Bridegroom Matins of Holy Week
Wednesday, April 27
6:00 pm Service of Holy Unction
Thursday, April 28
9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
6:00 pm Service of the 12 Passion Gospels
Friday, April 29
9:00 am Royal Hours of Holy Friday
1:00 pm Vespers of Holy Saturday
6:00 pm Matins of Holy Saturday (Lamentations)
Saturday, April 30
9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday
10:30 pm Reading of the Acts of the Apostles
11:30 pm Midnight Office
Sunday, May 1
12:00 am Paschal Matins, followed by Divine Liturgy of Pascha
A festive meal will follow the Liturgy.
2:00 pm Agape Vespers
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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December, 2015 UpdatesWe've sent out our (I think) first ever fundraising letter for the purpose of collecting money to build an extension of our church social hall. The text of the letter is linked below. Mat. Magdalena (the parish secretary) has extra letters, if you'd like one to send to someone you know.
May God grant us success in this modest effort!
Congratulations to Ken (Thomas Michael) Bratcher, newly-baptised on Dec. 6, 2015.
September 2015 updatesMark your Calendars!
Sunday, September 13: In honor of Fr. Moses’ names day (Aug. 10) and in general thanksgiving, we’re having a celebration after Divine Liturgy. Meat will be provided; bring a side dish or dessert to share!
Founders Day at Presentation of the Theotokos Monastery on Sept 18-19. We’ve been asked to help out with the festivities there - please see M. Magdalena for details. Call for Volunteers! If you’re interested in taking turns teaching Sunday School, please see Julie Fenton. Thanks!!
August 2015 updatesMemory Eternal! Anna Louise Renner, the mother of Abbess Sergia and a beloved member of our parish, fell asleep in the Lord on July 24, 2015. Funeral services were held at Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" and burial was in Holy Resurrection Cemetery. Fr. Timothy Sawchak, Hieromonk Alexii, Fr. Moses Berry, and Fr. Joel Wilson served. We've added a gallery of photos. Much thanks to Yohannan Abraham.
Here's a link to the most recent weekly Bulletin. Note the schedule for Transfiguration and Dormition; both glorious feasts coming in the next couple of weeks.
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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Unexpected Joy Orthodox Church, Ash Grove, MO, cordially invites you to
AN EVENING WITH BISHOP NEOFITOS NEO
of Kenya
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
5:00 pm Akathist at Holy Resurrection Cemetery
6:00 pm Talk about missionary work in Kenya by His Grace, at Unexpected Joy Church, followed by a light reception.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
9:00 am Display of historic items including quilts from the Underground Railroad and chains from the slavery era, and portraits of Slaves to help celebrate our legacy in America during Black History month.
Call 417 880-1378 for more information
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 - 06/17/17
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 - 07/27/15
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 - 12/07/14
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 - 08/09/14
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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Anniversary Celebration - 06/02/13
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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Holy Week 2019Christ 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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