No Parish

[Theodot]

Hello all, I am new to the forum although I have been "haunting the sight for the past month or so, I've gotten lots of good info here and I have a quick question.
 I converted to Holy Orthodoxy from Roman Catholicisim in aug/06 so I am fairly new to the faith, I am from the Denver area and am moving with my parents to Montana and will attend a vocation school up there. Anyway my problem and question is where I have had to move is in the North East of Montana there is no Orthodox church around for at least a four hour drive. Our town only has 1 Catholic, 1 lutheran and 1 baptist Church. So what I am wondering is while I am stuck up here for two years finishing my schooling. What does one do about Church and Sundays are there ways to start a mission( as far as I can tell I am the only Orthodox in the town), or are there other things one can do? I am very confused about this any suggestions would help a lot.

Thanks, Bless

[arimethea]

Not sure if you have checked this out yet http://www.scoba.us/directory/ but it list most of the parishes in North America.

You might also want to check out parishes in North Dakota because they may be closer to North-East Montana. If you are still unable to find a parish make I would make contact with the closest parish and ask that priest what he suggest you do.

I know that this may not be realistic for many reason but the best advice I can give you is to move to a town with an Orthodox church. Maybe it is time to leave the parents house?

P.S. Welcome to the site!!!

[PeterTheAleut]

Welcome to the OC.net forum, Theodot.  I hope your time here continues to be edifying.

In answer to your question, one of the first things I would recommend is that you buy a book of Orthodox readers' prayers and learn the basics of how to conduct a reader's service at home.  It looks as if you're going to be doing this quite a bit already, so you might as well learn how to do it right.  (Heck, as it is, I often use my reader's book to conduct services at home, and I live only twenty minutes away from my church, so having a reader's service book cannot be a bad thing for anyone.)  Many on this forum recommend the Jordanville Prayer Book as one of the best in English print, at least for those who follow the Slavic traditions.  If you want something that follows the Greek practice more closely, I think Arimethea, our Liturgy section moderator, might be able to help you more than I.  I hope this helps.


In Christ,
PeterTheAleut
Faith Issues Section Moderator

[arimethea]

If you want something that follows the Greek practice more closely, I think Arimethea, our Liturgy section moderator, might be able to help you more than I. 

Okay here ya go
http://www.networks-now.net/litresswraoc/Services.htm
Look in the bottom right for Services without a Priest.

[Theodot]

Ah thanks looks like I'll be doing the reader service for awhile I will be moving out of the Parents house soon but I'll still be in this city as I am attending a community college here.
I looked at that scoba site too and I am surprised this part of the country does not have many Orthodox churches so I suppose I am not the only one who encounters this problem.

[scamandrius]

Theodot,

How close are you to the Canadian border?  There may be some mission parishes nearby.  This link may give you some more options than the scoba website.
http://www.orthodoxyinamerica.org/

Good luck.

[Aristibule]

Talk to the bishops and missions departments - colleges are great places to start a mission. There might even be some folk who have just been waiting for some Orthodox meetings to discover Orthodoxy (or might even be aware of Orthodoxy, but haven't considered converting due to the lack of a nearby mission or parish?)

[Thomas]

Since you obviously have access to a computer that you can watch a live  Divine Liturgy on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website every Sunady and on major feast days. Their site is www,goarch.org
When I was in the military and away from a local Orthodox Church, I would read the services without a priest.  In such a case you would have an opportunity to learn the hours of the church, something even cradle orthodox often  are not fully awarethey can do, as well as your own private prayers.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) offers support for kids in College and Vocational Schools often sending a pastor from a parish close to you to meet once a month for support and counseling.

Thomas

[serb1389]

There is a Serbian Orthodox church in Butte, Montana, i'm not sure how close you are to that...

[Salpy]

How close are you to the Canadian border?  There may be some mission parishes nearby.  This link may give you some more options than the scoba website.
http://www.orthodoxyinamerica.org/

Yes, it seems going across the border into southern Canada may be the best bet.  How easy is that to do, however?

[Entscheidungsproblem]

Yes, it seems going across the border into southern Canada may be the best bet.  How easy is that to do, however?

If you have a passport, and it is in central/western Canada, quite easy.

[Theodot]

Hmm.. looks like Canada Saskatchawan may be my best bet I'll have to look into that more.

[Theodot]

There is a Serbian Orthodox church in Butte, Montana, i'm not sure how close you are to that...

I live just outside of GLasgow Mt. About 5 hours from Butte. Which is to bad I was at Holy Trinity in Butte once about a year ago, that is a breathtaking church. Very beautiful Iconography done by some Serbian Icon writers.

[jsenner]

Yes - it's my parish you're speaking about! We just got a new priest and are trying to get into more mission work now. I became Orthodox this past Easter and the church had to purchase a horse watering tank for my baptism. It's been used at least once since then though!

Jeremiah

http://jeremiahsviolins.com
http://holytrinitybutte.org

There is a Serbian Orthodox church in Butte, Montana, i'm not sure how close you are to that...

[arimethea]

http://www.orthodoxyinamerica.org/

Make sure you double check the information you get on this website. They have many errors in address and zipcode that can make a parish seem a lot closer to you then they actually are.

[Αριστοκλής]

But they will quickly correct inaccuracies if notified - at least in other data.

[Theodot]

Yes - it's my parish you're speaking about! We just got a new priest and are trying to get into more mission work now. I became Orthodox this past Easter and the church had to purchase a horse watering tank for my baptism. It's been used at least once since then though!

Jeremiah

http://jeremiahsviolins.com
http://holytrinitybutte.org

What kind of mission work is your parish planning on?

[Ebor]

Talk to the bishops and missions departments - colleges are great places to start a mission. There might even be some folk who have just been waiting for some Orthodox meetings to discover Orthodoxy (or might even be aware of Orthodoxy, but haven't considered converting due to the lack of a nearby mission or parish?)

Meaning no offense, but Montana does not seem to be a state that is looked on for missions by the EO.  From what I last knew the Greek Orthodox parish in Great Falls has not had a priest in several years.  It's mentioned in the photo article from the Great Falls Tribune that I linked to here a while back.  Someone here on the forum was in Missoula and said that the priest there was retiring. Billings might be closest "as the crow flies" but there aren't any direct roads.  One has to go around Fort Peck Resevoir/cross the Missouri River.  The places that have any kind of EO parish are in the largest cities where there is a large (for Montana) population. Glasgow on the 2000 census had about 3250 people.  A priest for a mission there would have to have another job, I'll warrent, as well as be able to get along with the winters (though it's a *dry* cold  )  and the long distances and other factors that don't apply to people who come from big cities/heavy population areas. 

In the early years the RC's and the Methodist (Brother Van) and the Episcopalians (a circuit riding bishop who according to legend once sent someone down to the bar for some water for a baptism  ) all came and established little places as well as the larger ones in the cities. Butte is the oldest EO parish and that came with the Serbian miners working for Anaconda Copper.

Montana and Wyoming and the Dakotas and other parts of the West aren't the same kind of situation as the two coasts and places like Chicago and other high density areas.

Ebor

[Ebor]

There is a Serbian Orthodox church in Butte, Montana, i'm not sure how close you are to that...

It's over 400 miles from Glasgow to Butte and that's not on big superhighways either. We no longer have the "no daytime speed limit/"reasonable and prudent" there.  Though we did for about 3 1/2 years.  Now the limit is 75 for Interstates.  But that's not all of the roads there by a long chalk.  So that trip would take a good while.
http://www.us-highways.com/montana/mtspeed.htm

For an east coast comparison, it's farther then from Boston to Washington DC and no I-95 either.

Ebor

[Ebor]

If you have a passport, and it is in central/western Canada, quite easy.

With a car or truck.  There isn't alot of public transport outside of the cities.

Was it work related that your family is moving to Glasgow, Theodot?

Ebor (Montanan in exile    )

[Theodot]

Meaning no offense, but Montana does not seem to be a state that is looked on for missions by the EO.  From what I last knew the Greek Orthodox parish in Great Falls has not had a priest in several years.  It's mentioned in the photo article from the Great Falls Tribune that I linked to here a while back.  Someone here on the forum was in Missoula and said that the priest there was retiring. Billings might be closest "as the crow flies" but there aren't any direct roads.  One has to go around Fort Peck Resevoir/cross the Missouri River.  The places that have any kind of EO parish are in the largest cities where there is a large (for Montana) population. Glasgow on the 2000 census had about 3250 people.  A priest for a mission there would have to have another job, I'll warrent, as well as be able to get along with the winters (though it's a *dry* cold  )  and the long distances and other factors that don't apply to people who come from big cities/heavy population areas. 

In the early years the RC's and the Methodist (Brother Van) and the Episcopalians (a circuit riding bishop who according to legend once sent someone down to the bar for some water for a baptism  ) all came and established little places as well as the larger ones in the cities. Butte is the oldest EO parish and that came with the Serbian miners working for Anaconda Copper.

Montana and Wyoming and the Dakotas and other parts of the West aren't the same kind of situation as the two coasts and places like Chicago and other high density areas.

Ebor

This is very true. I have family in Montana and have been here many times since being Orthodox (and before) and this does not seem to be mission territory. I have a former Girlfriend living in Missoula and I have found out from her that the Greek OC there has no Priest and that the one in Great Falls hasn't had a Priest in about 7 years. So things are not looking well for me.

[Theodot]

With a car or truck.  There isn't alot of public transport outside of the cities.

Was it work related that your family is moving to Glasgow, Theodot?

Ebor (Montanan in exile    )

Yep my Dad got a job through some family connections here, and I am attending the community college/vocation school where an Aunt of mine teaches.


Fixed

[Theodot]

Oh crud, I posted that wrong my reply starts in the quote under the smiley.

[Aristibule]

I have family in Montana and have been here many times since being Orthodox (and before) and this does not seem to be mission territory. I have a former Girlfriend living in Missoula and I have found out from her that the Greek OC there has no Priest and that the one in Great Falls hasn't had a Priest in about 7 years. So things are not looking well for me.

That's still just the Greek Archdiocese, right? The Antiochians have a mission in Wyoming, and one in the Dakotas. Fr. James Thayer was serving both (he had been the deacon previously at my parish.) So - yes, it is a mission territory, but someone has to show interest. Don't let non-Orthodox nay-sayers talk you out of what could be an opportunity. Contact the bishops, contact the college ministry - there still might be a possibility.

[Ebor]

This is very true. I have family in Montana and have been here many times since being Orthodox (and before) and this does not seem to be mission territory. I have a former Girlfriend living in Missoula and I have found out from her that the Greek OC there has no Priest and that the one in Great Falls hasn't had a Priest in about 7 years. So things are not looking well for me.

Have you been EO for some time?  If you prefer to not answer, I apologize for asking and withdraw the question.  Montana is a small population that is very spread out.  One might well ask if any EO jurisdiction could send a priest to Glasgow, but there may not be many who want to live in Montana.  Also, such a person would need to learn how the people there think and live, to know them where they are, as it were.

Ebor

[Ebor]

The Antiochians have a mission in Wyoming, and one in the Dakotas. Fr. James Thayer was serving both (he had been the deacon previously at my parish.)

Just a data point.  I looked these up.  One's in Rapid City SD,(population of about 62,000 with a metro area population of around 138,000) and the other is in Gillette Wy (pop. about 20,000) which are about 140 miles apart with Interstate Highway 90 joining them point to point.  Not the same kind of situation as in large parts of Montana and certainly not up on the "Hi Line" which is where Glasgow is located or in many other parts of the West.

How are things going for you, Theodot?

Ebor

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