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Ruskoka e-letter
Ruskoka Orthodox Retreat, Canada
July
2005 |
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- Update on the
St. Alexis Chapel Project
- Final Chapel Work
Weekend Plus
- The St.
Alexis Chapel Weekend, July 16-17
- Camping for Teens
2005 - registration closed!
- Call for
volunteers
Update on the St. Alexis Chapel
Project
-
construction and fund-raising moving
well!
The last two work weekends
were extremely successful, with well over 30 volunteers on the first
and at least 50 at the second, including builders from Toronto, Ottawa and
Montreal. Good food, fun campfires, a celebration of Canada Day on
July 1st, and huge progress on the chapel! A big thank-you to
everyone for the great effort!
Here's what was done:
the gold domes from Russia and the iconostasis were trucked
in from Montreal; the beams, roof trusses and sheathing went up;
the iconostasis, ambo and lightning protection were
installed; grass was cut, flowers planted, and grounds were
cleaned up.
There is more joyful news - the patronal
icon of St. Alexis, commissioned from renowned iconographer Vladimir
Krassovsky of San Francisco, has arrived in Toronto and will be unveiled
on July 16th! Work is on schedule to complete the exterior in
time for the feast day of St. Alexis. The main structure
of the chapel is nearly done and work is under way on the cedar shake
roofing and soffits. The spire and domes are scheduled to be
raised by crane on July 12th. The chapel cam shows the scene from Monday,
July 4th. See the website for more photos!
Thanks to the generosity of
our many donors, fundraising is going very well with over
$56,000 of our $100,00 target raised.
As we near
completion of the shell, however, we are short funds to cover
expenses for materials.
Can you make a donation to help us meet
the costs as we build the first chapel outside of Russia to bear the
name of St.
Alexis?
Donations can be made by
cash, cheque or Visa, through one-time gifts, or by monthly or annual
pledges.
Categories of donations are: Founder – from $3000 / Builder – $2000-$2999 /
Supporter – $1000-$1999 / In
memoriam – from $1000 / Donor – $100-$999.
Contact
George Skok at 416-483-2441 or [email protected] to make a
donation. All donors will be acknowledged through plaques, announcements
and commemorative lists and will be our guests at the St. Alexis Feast Day
on July 17th,
2005.
Final Chapel work weekend plus: July
9-12
There will be one more
work weekend, starting on July 9 and continuing past the weekend. We
appeal especially to experienced carpenters to help install the log siding. We will also be staining
the exterior, working on church furnishings, doing
other camp preparation work including cutting grass,
getting sports equipment and camping facilities ready for summer, and
more thrilling tasks.
We sleep in tents or in the buildings and
delicious meals are provided. The work is hard but there will be
fun and camaraderie! Please contact [email protected] to let us know if you can be
there.
The St.
Alexis Chapel Weekend, July 16-17 - opening of the
Chapel by Bishop Gabriel in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of
the Mother of God
Everyone is invited
to partcipate in the patronal Feast of St. Alexis the Royal
Martyr. Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan will celebrate the divine
services with other visiting clergy in the presence of the
700-year-old Miracle-Working "Kursk-Root" Icon of the Mother of
God. The tentative schedule is:
Saturday, July
16th
5:30 pm - All-night
Vigil
Sunday, July
17th
9:30 am - Greeting of the
Bishop, Divine Liturgy and blessing of the foundation
stone
1:00 pm - Festal lunch
and tours of the camp
Families and singles are welcome to come for
the weekend and camp in the beautiful wilds of Ruskoka,
starting 10:00 am on Saturday, July 16th, 2005 – 8:00 pm Sunday July 17th,
2005. Pre-registration for overnight camping is required.
The cost is a modest $40/person or $100/family, campsite and
meals included. If you register you are welcome to come Friday
evening but we ask that all visitors arriving early help us
with preparations for the celebration. You may also choose
to come for the Liturgy and blessing on Sunday. Information is here.
Camping for teens 2005 - registration has now
closed
We have reached our maximum number of campers for 2005. Thanks to everyone who sent in their forms early this year. Registrants will get full details on when to arrive and what to bring very soon. Further info may be found here. Call George at 416-483-2441 if you have any questions. Call for
volunteers
Ruskoka needs a few more dedicated volunteers for its camping program. Work includes teaching and sports leadership where people have appropriate qualifications, helping in set-up of activities, kitchen work, etc. Volunteers do not get paid, live in the same conditions as campers (food, drink and tent space is provided!) and usually make a donation towards the camp as well. If you are interested, contact our volunteer coordinator, Alexandra Easson at [email protected]. See you in Ruskoka!
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