| OCF's 2010 Day of Prayer |
"Let my prayers rise up as incense and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice." Psalm 142
Each year, college students across North America join together in offering their prayers for OCF's Day of Prayer held on Clean Monday.
February 15, 2010, OCF chapters will take part in 24 hours of unceasing prayer. Each school will take a one-hour slot to pray for themselves, their chapters and their fellow students. Contact your local OCF chapter if you would like them to include your name on their prayer list.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
If you would like to sign-up your chapter, please contact Kelli Phillips, OCF Program Director at kelli@ocf.net.
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"Finding a Focus During Lent" by Nicole Jokola
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The beginning of Lent is met with mixed feelings. People squeeze in their last steaks and ice cream cones and groan when they think of the next time they will taste these things. While this groan is not what Lent is really about, it is what we as humans seem to focus on in the beginning. However, after Forgiveness Sunday and even after a few hours of fasting things start to appear in a different light.
While fasting doesn't get any easier, your focus begins (maybe only a little at first) to shift to the things that really matter. Fasting opens the door to prayer and repentance along with forgiveness. Prayer is something that I am personally trying to focus on more this Lent so that by the end it will become a part of me and no longer be something I feel that I need to squeeze in at the beginning or end of the day. As a college student it is easy to call it quits at one or two in the morning and decide that you are just too tired to thank God for getting you through the long day and the horrific cram session for your exam the next day. Through prayer we bring ourselves closer to God and open ourselves up to his love. His love is always there waiting for us to accept it into our hearts and when we pray to Him we are finally unlocking the door.
With prayer we also ask for forgiveness from ourselves, others, and ultimately God. Forgiveness and repentance go hand in hand and are a big part of what Lent should be about. It is important to ask forgiveness of others before confessing the sins that may have hurt them and just the same it is every bit important to forgive yourself of your sins before asking God to forgive you. This year I plan on also focusing on confessing more regularly. In the past I feel as though I have not made the extra effort, but through my Lenten journey I would love to become closer to God and my church family and the only way to do this is by communing with them.
By preparing myself physically, mentally, and spiritually I will be able to unite myself with Christ and my other brothers and sisters in Christ. I look forward to this long and hard journey, but know that at the end will be the greatest reward of all: the resurrection of Christ and the security that no matter what happens as long as I devote my life to Christ He will be there and love me no matter what.
It is my hope and prayer that these thoughts will offer some encouragement as you experience this holy season of Great Lent. I would like to extend a special thank you to all who participate in Day of Prayer and also wish you all a Blessed Lent.
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| Transition DVD |
Order your copy today at www.ocf.net/store for $12.
Click here to see a trailer of the Transition DVD. |
| OCF Alumni Association |
The OCF Board of Directors is pleased to announce the formation of an OCF Alumni Association. Currently in its development stage the OCF Alumni Association will be an integral part of the OCF Mission in keeping our college students connected to the church and sustaining their faith as Orthodox Christians in the post-collegiate years.
The kick-off for the OCF Alumni Association will take place in 2010 with several events planned across North America. If you or someone you know is an OCF Alumni, become one of the first to join the OCF Alumni Family and submit your interest here.
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Events, Dates, Happenings...
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Upcoming Feasts:
Feb. 7 - Judgement Sunday
Feb. 14 - Forgiveness Sunday
Feb. 15 - Clean Monday
Feb. 21 - Sunday of Orthodoxy
Feb. 28 - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
Events:
Feb. 15 - OCF Day of Prayer
Apr. 9-11 - Northeast Regional Retreat:
"Angels & Demons: Navigating Pop-Culture"
Click here for more details
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Real Break 2010
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Spring Break is around the corner, don't miss out on a "Real" opportunity!
Register today at www.ocf.net/realbreak!
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| Francis Maria Scholarship Opportunity |
Through a generous gift of the Francis Maria Foundation for Justice and Peace, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America will once again grant several scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to students attending an accredited College.
Scholarships will be granted each July. Completed 2010 Francis Maria Scholarship Application and all supporting documentation must be postmarked by May 15, 2010.
For more information, please visit www.antiochian.org/scholarships.
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| Greek American Scholarship Opportunity |
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$5,000 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADUATE & UNDERGRADUATE JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATIONS MAJORS OF GREEK AMERICAN HERITAGE
Journalism and communications majors at the graduate and undergraduate level who are of Greek American heritage may apply for annual scholarships given in the amount of $5,000 in memory of Peter Agris, the late founder and publisher of The Hellenic Chronicle. The non-renewable grants have been offered by the Alpha Omega Council of New England and the Agris family for the last 18 years.
Criteria for candidates includes: Greek American heritage; current full-time enrollment as a journalism or communications major at the graduate or undergraduate level in an accredited college or university in the United States; active participation in school, community, church organizations; a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
Candidates may download an application on the Alpha Omega Council's website at alphaomegacouncil.com. The following items must be returned by email to nancyasavage@gmail.com or by mail to The Peter Agris Memorial Journalism Scholarships Committee, c/o Nancy Agris Savage, 9 Nonesuch Drive, Natick, MA 01760 by no later than March 1, 2010: 1) completed application; 2) current transcript; 3) required essay and 4) copies of any published articles or other professional materials that would enhance the application. Questions may be directed to nancyasavage@gmail.com.
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| Greek America's 40 Under 40 |
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Greek America's 40 Under 40
Recognizing the Young Leaders of Greek America
The Greek America Foundation will recognize 40 young leaders of our nation with a special award. We will identify and recognize young leaders (under 40 years old) involved in all fields, who are successful at what they do and are passionate about making the world around them a better place.
Help us identify Greek America's 40 Under 40. Nominate someone today by completing the form and providing all supporting documentation.
Nominations will be reviewed by a Blue Ribbon panel comprised of national leaders of community, business and other fields.
The 40 winners will be announced in the Spring of 2010 in a special edition of Greek America Magazine. They will also be recognized at a special awards party on June 12th in Chicago.
Nominate someone you know for Greek America's 40 Under 40 today!
Deadline for submissions is March 31, 2010.
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| Giving to OCF |
Please help OCF keep our students connected to Christ and His Church
by making a donation today. Thank you!
OCF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the official campus ministry of SCOBA. |
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