March 7, 2005

The Department of Outreach & Evangelism of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has launched a Clearinghouse of Liturgical Items to provide small parishes with censers, chalice sets, baptismal fonts, kouvouklia, and more. Parishes throughout the Archdiocese that find themselves in need of these basic items are being put in contact with established parishes that have several, some of which are rarely used.

All parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have been supplied with a checklist to indicate items needed or available. The Department will review the checklists and match up parishes to arrange for delivery of liturgical items. Donor parishes will receive a list of parishes needing those items that they have available and will be contacted by the Department to expedite their transfer. Shipping expenses are the responsibility of the receiving parish and the Department does not accept or store liturgical items.

Initial response to a pilot program was overwhelmingly positive. Sister parishes from across the Archdiocese are forming relationships as priests contacted one another to arrange for delivery of items. One recipient parish wrote, "We cannot tell you how wonderful it was to open it (the box) up and find the items all so necessary to establish our new house of worship?.What a blessing for us?.We cannot tell you how encouraging this is for our Mission!"

To obtain copies of the checklist, visit the Outreach & Evangelism website at http://www.outreach.goarch.org/ or contact the Department.

The Archdiocesan Department of Outreach & Evangelism was established by Archbishop Demetrios of America in January 2003 "?to bring the Gospel of our Lord to all those within the boundaries of our Archdiocese of America who thirst to know The Way, The Truth and The Life." The mission of the Department of Outreach & Evangelism is to revitalize the faith of active Orthodox, reach out to inactive Orthodox Christians, meet the needs of those inquiring about the Orthodox faith, offer tools for parish renewal, and offer guidance in the establishment of new parishes.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries.