Prayer Ministry

The purpose of the Prayer Shawl Ministry is to care for those of the All Holy Spirit community, including friends and family, that are in need of healing from illness and afflictions. We are a ministry team under the Philoptochos Organization of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.


Prayer Shawl Prayer Services:

A short service of prayers for healing is held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the AHS Chapel.

Everyone is invited to come and pray with us during the prayer services. We follow a set prayer service that includes praying for people by name in a manner similar to other Orthodox services.

Besides the prayer services, we have a team committed to faithfully praying for the requests we receive.


Prayer Shawl Gifts:

Following the example of other congregations with prayer shawl ministries, we have a team of makers that lovingly knit or crochet Prayer Shawls while also weaving in prayers seeking Christ’s comfort and healing for the recipient. Once it is finished, Fr. Alexander blesses it in acknowledgement that everything is within God’s love and concern. Alongside the shawl, recipients receive an icon of Pentecost, holy oil, and a group of printed prayers.


Getting Involved:

If you would like someone to receive care from this ministry, please contact one of the Prayer Shawl Ministry leaders.

Anyone one 18 years and older interested in making a prayer shawl or becoming a member of our prayer team, must meet with one of the Prayer Shawl leaders to clearly understand the guidelines and commitment of this work.


Leaders:
Debbie Birge
Annie Gorder
Mona Gutierrez
Tammy Honke
Shelly Petrow

Panera Bread Ministry

Have you thought about feeding the poor? All Holy Spirit's Panera Bread Ministry partners with Panera Bread. Volunteers pick up bread weekly from the Panera Bread located at 13410 West Maple Road, and deliver to the Siena Francis House, 1702 Nicholas Street. Pick-ups are made on Thursday evening or Friday morning.


Leader:
Paul Nader

Foodbank of the Heartland - Mobile Food Pantry

The Foodbank of the Heartland-Mobile Food Pantry offers food directly to the Omaha Community. All Holy Spirit partners with Messiah Lutheran Church and Harrison Street Baptist Church on the second Saturday of February, May, August and November. The Mobile Food Pantry is held at Harrison Street Baptist Church, 8015 Harrison Street. The pantry is held the second Saturday of every month if you wish to volunteer other months.

The Mobile Pantry runs from 6:30am - 2:00pm. Volunteers can work at any time, for any length. Tentative schedule:

6:30am-8:00am Truck Unloading
8:00am-1:30pm Food Distribution
1:30pm-2:00pm Clean up


Leader:
Sandi Kriha

Philoptochos

The All Holy Spirit Philoptochos Chapter, is part of the National Philoptochos Society, which is made up of more than 400 chapters and 26,000 members across the U.S. Celebrating 85 years, Philoptochos is the largest Christian women's philanthropic organization in the nation.

Philoptochos, which means "friends of the poor" in Greek, is a philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Church, providing aid to the poor, the hungry and those in need in our parish, community, country and across the globe. We connect members of our parish to one another through service to those in need.

In the past 13 years Philoptochos has donated time, talent, money to various causes including St. Basil Academy, IOCC, Sheltering Tree – Bellevue, Siena Francis House, Foodbank of the Heartland, Open Door Mission, Autism Center of Nebraska, The Miracle League All Play Complex, Bethlehem House, Nebraska Flood Relief, and of course, our own parishioners and neighbors in need. Philoptochos has supported service projects with Bethlehem House, Nebraska Children’s Home Society and Eastern Nebraska Veteran’s Home.

In addition to our philanthropic/service projects, Philoptochos supports the Prayer shall Ministry, the Prosforo Ministry and the Bereavement Ministry.

Every woman in our parish, 18 years and older is invited and encouraged to join Philoptochos. Meetings are typically held monthly on at a luncheon meeting Saturday or a Tuesday Evening. Beginning in the fall of 2019, All Holy Spirit will be focusing on hands-on, Christ-centered philanthropic work along with fund-raising endeavors.


Leaders:
Nikki Nader
Lisa Rakes
Deb McDonnell

Prosforo

To bake Prosforo is to participate in the heart of the Divine Liturgy, as the bread is to be used for Holy Communion.

Baking prosforo is a beautiful and significant act of worship as you and your family prepare and mix the ingredients to sacred hymns; knead the dough while in prayer; set the seal; and bake the bread, all the while mindful of the sacred act of worship as you offer this gift to the One Who is the true Bread of Life.

Any parishioner who is willing and able to make bread is encouraged to do so. Sign up at the ‘Hot Spot’ in the hall following Liturgy. Seals are available for purchase at the Bookstore at the Chapel; contact Joan for a recipe.


Leader:
Joan Rakes

The Love Squad

The Love Squad is an arm of All-Holy Spirit's Love Project. Though essentially an entertainment vehicle, for patients at Douglas County Hospital, the underlying mission is a complex of cognition stimulation through nostalgic reminiscences, oldie songs and humor, one-on-one contact with caring Christians (volunteers bringing residents down to performances, sitting with them, helping find hymns in hymn-singalong books, etc.), a gentle witnessing of our Faith without preaching or proselytizing and of course, a chance to fulfill the Lord's desire that,”We do it unto the least of these”, though these lonely, often forgotten folks really need to be shown they're not in any way the least, but are as worthy of love as any of us. I have heard from some who've participated that they got more out of the experience than they put into it.

The Love Squad meets on the third Thursday of the month, April through November. Volunteers should arrive at 9:45am, park in the south parking lot at Douglas County Hospital. The programs start at 10:30am and lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Leaders:
Jack Prohaska

Sunday Fellowship

Sunday Fellowship is an opportunity for parishioners to interact socially with other parishioners, clergy and visitors. There is always coffee and donuts, and often other types food including an occasionally brunch!

Volunteers are solicited to prepare for the Sunday Fellowship by making coffee and setting up the hall. Following Fellowship, volunteers also clean up the hall.

If you are interested in volunteering for Sunday Fellowship, contact Sheila Zacharaie.


Leaders:
Sheila Zacharaie
Brian Zacharaie

Ushers and Greeters

Ushers and Greeters work in the Narthex on Sunday mornings and other services to greet and assist parishioners and visitors. Members of the Welcoming Committee, the Parish Council and any interested parishioners are welcome to be an Usher and Greeter.

If you are interested in being an Usher and Greeter, please contact the church office to be placed on the schedule. Ushers and Greeters serve approximately every 6 weeks.


Usher Schedule
February 2020

February 2 - Bill & Cindy Lambert, George Poullos

February 9 - Brian & Sheila Zachariae, Alex Kinsey

February 16 - Mike & Sandi Kriha, Mike Bouzis

February 23 - Paul & Dora Bitsos, John Birge


March 2020

March 1 - Mike & Nikki Moravec, Jim McDonnell

March 8 - Anna Petrow, William Bakke, Alex Bakke-Kinsey

March 15 - Bill & Cindy Lambert, Shelly Petrow

January 26 - Mike & Nikki Moravec, Shelly Petrow


Leaders:
Paul Bitsos
AHS Parish Council