Announcement!

It is that time of year again, folks!Summer’s drawn to a close and we’re all back atthe books. Whether this fact has you filled withgreat expectations or some existential dread, Ihope you can join the Newsletter team in ourexcitement for 2020’s SRS Newsletters! A quickannouncement before commencing with theOctober Edition:

Student Submissions. . . of Fine Arts!

Are you a photographer, painter, writer, ormusician?

Or perhaps you have a secret talent? We’dlove to showcase your ability!

Submit an example of your work and we willhighlight a few in the next edition!

Kontakion of St. Raphael theBishop of Brooklyn

You were a guardian and adefender of the Church's

teaching: you protected yourflock from false doctrines and

confirmed them in the truefaith. O holy father Raphael,

son of Syria and glory ofNorth America, always

intercede before the Lordthat our souls may be saved.

“I can do all things through Christ whostrengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

St. Raphael School Journal Visit our

Website here

NewsletterOctober 2020

St. Raphael School Journal

St. Raphael School Journal Octoberr 2020 2

Featured Saint

Note From the EditorDear St. Raphael Journal readers, thank you for checking out our newsletter! Itwouldn't be possible without all the amazing support from SRS teachers and staff.If you would like to see more student submissions, please explore the St. RaphaelSchool Journal Website. To submit names for the prayer list or a studentsubmission, email the Newsletter here.

Andrea WoolmanManaging Editor & Website Coordinator

Feasts of theMonth

New Calendar

October 1The Protection of

the Theotokos

October 6Holy Apostle

Thomas

October 9Holy Apostle James

October 12St. Symeon the

New Theologian

October 18Holy Apostle and

Evangelist St Luke

October 23Holy Apostle James

October 29Holy Virgin MartyrAnastasia of Rome

”No one in creation is rich but hethat fears God; no one is truly

poor but he that lacks the truth. - St. Ephraim the Syrian

You were a disciple of Christ, and a member of the divine college of

Apostles. Having been weak in faithyou doubted the Resurrection of

Christ, but by feeling the wounds you believed in His all-

pure Passion: pray now to Him, O all-praised Thomas, to grant us peace and

great mercy. - Troparion, Tone 2

Prayer List

Living

Fr. PeterEleousaPhyllisLynn

JosephLinda

Departed

Barbara JoySuzanElliot

TimothyFr. PorphyriosFr. Abraham

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St. Raphael School Journal October r 2020 3

Essay Featured This MonthObadi-Thought I’d Write About This Guy…

Nobody Does!By Katherine Thomas – Column Writer

“I would like todraw your attention to theprophecy of Obadiah, whichour readings referenced thismorning.”

Ever heard your Priestsay that in a sermon? Neitherhave I. Because nobody everquotes Obadiah in theirsermons! In fact, there is nota single time that Obadiah ismentioned in the NewTestament! At the end of thislittle essay you may grumble,“seems there’s a reason heisn’t mentioned,” but I hopeyou at least find him a bitintriguing. He has a greatname, in any case.

I will begin by givingyou a basic profile of theprophet Obadiah: . No, thatwas not a typo. That is a colonand an empty space. Weliterally know nothing abouthim. Well, we know his name,which translates to “servantof the Lord,” and as far as wecan guess, the prophet livedup to his name. The OldTestament actually mentionstwelve men named Obadiah,so either he was a well-knownguy, or Obadiah was atrending baby name backthen. I personally am all for

x

I have deceived you. Ihave referred to Obadiah as a“book,” while it is only, in fact,21 verses. Total. Short? Yes.Symbolic and descriptive?Also yes! It seems thatObadiah is actually a prophecywithin a prophecy. Theprophet predicts both Israel’snear future and also thecoming of the Messiah,centuries later. Edom typifieshumanity’s sin, which hasplagued Israel, God's people.

The Lord conqueredEdom, freeing His people fromoppression, just as Christconquered sin, freeing usfrom its chains. The Lord gavethe Israelites power over theland that Edom took fromthem, just as Christ wonpower over death, that we mayenter into it rejoicing. Andthere you have it: Obadiah in anutshell. If you wereuneducated concerningObadiah before reading thisnutshell, rest assured that youknow enough now toparticipate in conversationsabout it. If you ever findyourself in a conversationabout it, that is. Which israther unlikely, unless youyourself introduce thesubject.

x

bringing it back.

Obadiah wrote his bookaround 587 BC. He and thebetter-known prophetJeremiah (who you probablyhave heard quoted in sermons)lived during the same timeperiod, about the time that theBabylonians conqueredJerusalem. The book mainlydiscusses the destruction ofEdom (Esau’s descendants),and the restoration of Israel(Jacob’s descendants). AfterEdom assisted the Babyloniansin their overthrow ofJerusalem, and even tooksome of the Israelite land forthemselves, God sent Obadiahto announce Edom’simpending judgement andIsrael’s impending vindication.He ends the prophecy withthese words: “the kingdomshall be the Lord’s.”

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St. Raphael School Journal October 2020 4

Poetry Column

The Glorious KingBy Anonymous Student

The glittering of trees doth stir the heart

When rises that great mass of fire and heat.

Far-reaching boughs of pine look like embers

When rays of sun softly touch the needles

And other leaves shine like fragments of glass

When it is shattered and strewn, whole no more.

Like us people, broken in sin. But then

When sun comes ‘round, bringing all together,

Nature united with nature as how

When elements, given glory anew,

Reflect that which healed and made beautiful.

When the savior comes to light and unite

Accept like the trees that shine and adore

When comes the King to all raise up and save.

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St. Raphael School Journal October 2020 5

Reflection of the Month

On Holy and Unconditional LoveBy John Dye – Column Writer

been more explicit in hissermon on the mount wherehe said “Love your enemies,do good to those who hateyou, bless those who curseyou, pray for those whomistreat you.”(Luke 6:28) Inconclusion, I think it isimperative that we loveeveryone, regardless of theirwords, regardless of theirreligion, or background, orpolitical view. “No one hasever seen God; but if we loveone another, God lives in usand his love is made completein us.”(1st John 4:12)

now more than ever. In a worldwhere strife and chaos seem toreign eternal, we mustcontinue to unconditionallylove those around us withoutany impurity. I believe that thisis especially important when itcomes to our Catholic andProtestant brothers andsisters. Often today, I hear ofChristians cutting each otherapart with all kinds of viciousand hateful words, and thiscould not be farther from thewill of God. Just as Saint Johnsaid in the aforementionedscripture, “God is love.” Howcan we, as brothers and sistersin Christ fail to love even ourenemies if God himself is purelove? Christ could not have

Kavsokalyvia was truly ablessed saint. In his life hedealt with physical pain,troubles brought on byothers, and hardships that arequite unimaginable. Thoughhe faced such difficulties, hewas always ready to loveeveryone around him,regardless of how theytreated him. This is a lessonthat we today should strive tolearn. Even in Holy ScriptureSt. John the Evangelist saysthat “Whoever does not lovedoes not know God, becauseGod is love.”(1st John 4:8)Loving others is central to ourfaith as Christians, and lovefor each other is needed

“This is the way we should see Christ. He is our friend, our brother; He iswhatever is good and beautiful. He is everything. Yet, He is still a friend

and He shouts it out, “You’re my friends, don’t you understand that?We’re brothers. I don’t hold hell in my hands. I am not threatening you. I

love you. I want you to enjoy life together with me.” - St. Porphyrios.

Father Porphyrios of

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School News

Month HighlightsCollected and Edited by Erika Kjendal

Level 3 LiteratureLevel 3 has

experienced its first monthwith Dr. Erin Moulton wholives in Kansas with herhusband and 4 sons. We havebeen reading Wonder Talesfrom Around the World whichcontains various tales fromaround the world. We havealso been studying poetryand have been writing a poemor two ourselves. DuringTrinity Time we have beenlearning mostly about theNativity of the Theotokos.X

Contributed byNicholas Kjendalx

Level 5 LiteratureThis month the level 5

students started off withWashington Irving's Rip VanWinkle and followed it up withThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow.There have been many greatdiscussions, and some aregoing on even now. Everymorning the students havesomething to copy into theirnotebooks which they will bereferring back to throughoutthe year. The copy work hasto do with writing techniquesfound in the literature theyare reading. This year has

xstarted out well and promisesto continue so.

Contributed by SusannaDorham

Level 6 LiteratureAs of this writing, two

weeks and four class sessionshave passed for the students ofAncient Literature (taught byAdam Lockridge). They havebegun to read the Homericepic The Iliad, writing biweekly"reading journal" exercises, i.e.summarizing or outlining thereading. Most of the topicsdiscussed in class so far havebeen introductory, such as thedefining characteristics of epicpoetry and the differentgenres that will be exploredthroughout the school year.

Contributed by OwenBender

Level 6 HistoryThe Level 6 Ancient

History students have begunthe school year by reading TheLandmark Herodotus. Afterevery reading assignment, thestudents complete theirreading journals by followingone of nine reading journaltechniques, which include (but

Xare not limited to) writingsummaries/outlines ordrawing a picture inspired bythe reading. So far, the classhas held productivediscussions, attempting toanswer questions such as:What is justice? How doesHerodotus view justice?Overall, the first month of theschool year has been veryfruitful!

Contributed byGabrielle WoolmanX

Level 5 CatechismIn Catechism level 5,

students have learned how toread the Bible and have beenreading the beginning ofGenesis. Students have beentaking in-class notes about thenature of man and how man ismade out of the body, soul,and mind. Students also havelearned that Adam hadauthority over all animalsbefore sin and lost thatauthority after sin. When welost our connection with God,the entire world sufferedbecause of us. Studentslearned that some saints havethat same connection withanimals that Adam first hadbefore sin, because they have

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St. Raphael School Journal October 2020 7

More School News

Month Highlights Cont.Collected and Edited by Erika Kjendal

returned to a sense ofparadise. So far Catechismlevel 5 is going quite well.

Contributed by SamuelJenkins

Level 6 CatechismThis month, the

Catechism Level 6 class hasbegun to read the well-knownspiritual work The Ladder ofDivine Ascent; theexploration of which will takeup the entire school year. Outof class, Fr. Noah Bushelli hasstudents write a shortsynopsis on the weeklyreading. In class, one personper week presents theirsynopsis, while anotherperson presents a "spiritualreflection" on an experienceof theirs, usually in the recentpast. In addition, the studentshave already written theoutline for their first essay ofthe year, on adapting thewisdom in The Ladder, whichis directed toward monastics,to life "in the world."

Contributed by OwenBender.

Russian 2In Russian 2, everyone

has been learning to identifyfamily members in Russian

and to talk about extendedrelations. They have also beenreviewing year one material.Before each class someonereads the “Our Father” inSlavonic, and then everyonelearns a new verse from ``It isTruly Meet” towards the end ofclass.

Contributed by KatyaFredricks.

Greek 1 In the first few weeks of

Greek, level 1 students havesuccessfully learned the Greekalphabet and also the wordgrapho (meaning I write).Students have also taken theirfirst two tests and learned thefirst line in the Trisagion inGreek. For homework,students have been writing theGreek alphabet from memory,writing the first line of theTrisagion, as well as makingflashcards for Greek letters.Greek 1 is going quite well sofar.

Contributed by SamuelJenkins

Greek 2The students in Greek 2

(taught by Mallory Stripling)have had a productive month.They spent two weeks

brushing up on the Greekalphabet and are currentlyreviewing their Greek 1content (previously learnedGreek verbs and nouns,declensions, conjugations,etc.). After completing that,they will dive headlong intothe Greek 2 materials.X

Contributed by AislinnHawkinsX

IconographyApprenticeship In this first month of the

Iconography Apprenticeship(taught by Randi Sider-Rose)the new Iconophiles havebeen learning the basicsneeded to start them on theirjourney. They learned how tomake their own transfer paperand how to make the eggemulsion (what they mix withthe pigments to make the eggtempera). They have also beentesting the different ways todraw lines and the best waysto control them. And finallythey have experimented withthe most efficient ways toorganize their supplies andpapers, so they can have readyaccess to anything neededwithout hassle. As you can seeit has been a quite productiveand fun month!

Contributed by AislinnHawkins.

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St. Raphael School Journal October 2020 8

Theosis Through the Arts

Prep time: 1 hour

Total time: 3 hours (includes cooling and frosting)

Yield: One 9 inch, two-layer cake

Ingredients

3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks or 180 g) butter, melted, plus more for greasing

1 3/4 cups (190 g) sifted, all purpose flour, plus more for pans

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar

1 cup (235 ml) milk

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Arrange the oven racks do that the cakes sit in the middle if the oven. Preheat oven to350 degrees F. Butter and flour pans.

2. In small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Set small metal or heatproof bowl over boilingwater and add chocolate. Reduce heat to low and melt chocolate. Remove bowl fromheat and let cool.

3. Add sifted flour, baking soda and powder, salt and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Mixwith a wooden spoon.

4. Add the melted butter, chocolate, and milk to flour mixture. Mix with wooden spoon,then beat with mixer for 1 minute.

5. Crack eggs into a small bowl. Add eggs and vanilla to cake batter. Beat with mixer for 3minutes, constantly scraping down sides with spatula.

6. Pour batter into pans, then bake for 30-35 minutes.

7. Test with toothpick. When done, let cool in pans for 10 minutes.

8. Run metal spatula around the edges. Let cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Goblin's Food CakeSubmitted by Thea Frederick – Column Writer

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St. Raphael School Journal October 2020 9

Meet the Newsletter Team!

Katherine Thomas

Column Writer

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,but of power, and love, and of a

sound mind.” - 2 Timothy1:7

John Dye

Column Writer

“ Behold, I have commanded you. Bestrong and courageous. Do not be

cowardly or fearful, for the Lord your Godis with you in all things, wherever you go.”

- Joshua 1:9

Erika Kjendal

Column Writer"Any soul that seriously andconstantly desires joy willnever miss it. Those whoseek find. To those who

knock it is opened. " - C.S. Lewis

Thea Frederick

Column Writer“God has not forgotten the

man to whom He sendssuffering and trails, but in

this way is proving Hiscloseness to him."

- St. John Chrysostom

Andrea Woolman

Managing EditorWebsite Coordinator

“The person, be it agentleman or lady, who has

not pleasure in a good novel,must be intolerably stupid.”

- Jane Austen