Brews & Bytes. Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory be forever!

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1 Brews & Bytes September 2013 Volume 1, Issue 2 Inside OCCGH/ Agia Sophia Info 2 September Charity Pledge 3 Donations YTD 4 Our Wish List 4 3rd in the Burg 5 Volunteer Spotlight 6 Rent Agia Sophia 7 Open House 8 Agia Sophia Coffeehouse and Bookstore, Harrisburg's only NON-PROFIT Coffeehouse will be celebrating its second anniversary in September Agia Sophia is operated by OCCGH (Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg), representing the four local Orthodox Christian Churches: Christ the Saviour in Colonial Park, Holy Apostles in Mechanicsburg, Holy Trinity in Camp Hill and St. Nicholas in Oberlin/Steelton. Proceeds from sales (after expenses) are donated on a monthly basis to a designated charity. Information about each month s charity pledge and amounts donated are published in this newsletter and on our website, Donations have totaled $5,190, year to date. The September designated charity is The Joshua Farm which you can read more about on Page 3. Harrisburg office workers, students and travelers alike find Agia Sophia to be a tranquil refuge in the heart of the busy city. You ll find people busily working on their laptops, chatting with friends or perusing an interesting book from our shelves as they enjoy delicious coffee and tea refreshments or a yummy bowl of soup. We feed the spirit, too, with a selection of beautiful ancient chants and hymns of the Eastern Church playing in the background as well as sacred art displayed on the walls. Agia Sophia outreach provides a vehicle for dialogue with those Open House Sunday September PM Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory be forever! continued on Page 7

2 Page 2 Agia Sophia Coffeehouse & Book Store 225 Market Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania At the corner of Third and Market Streets across from the Whitaker Center Phone: agiasophiaharrisburg@gmail.com Hours Monday-Friday, 7 AM 5 PM Saturday & Sunday CLOSED Robbin Staller, Manager James Latimer, Assistant Manager Harrisburg s only non-profit coffeehouse! Agia Sophia Coffeehouse & Bookstore is a South Central PA outreach project under the auspices of the Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. Our goal is to generate charitable contributions for area charities. We represent the following Orthodox communities: Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Harrisburg Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Mechanicsburg Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Camp Hill St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Oberlin-Steelton OCCGH Mission Established in 2009 the Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (OCCGH) was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the purpose of charitable giving and education in the greater Harrisburg environs. Visit us at to learn more about our organization or to make a donation.

3 Page 3 Agia Sophia September 2013 Charity Pledge The Joshua Farm Harrisburg s Urban Farm The Joshua Farm is an urban farm located in the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg. As a (non-profit) program of Joshua Group, our mission is: To provide employment opportunities for youth already involved in Joshua Group s mentoring and academic support programs To make locally grown and organic produce more accessible and affordable to our neighbors in Allison Hill and beyond To offer service-learning experiences to students of all ages All proceeds from Agia Sophia sales (after expenses) are donated to worthy charities. Thank you!!

4 Page 4 Help Us Help Others! The Agia Sophia Wish List Disposable plastic cups (to provide free tap water) 1 gallon pitcher with lid Large 5 qt. plastic bowl with lid (to store soup in fridge) Paper napkins Decorative tray (for customer use) Variety of tea light or votive candles (we light these on Friday evenings or overcast winter days) Standing mixer & mixing bowl Narrow shelf or stand to hold publications (i.e. The Burg, Capitol Watch, etc.) Used Bibles

5 Page 5 Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer Leave your busy, stressful world for a moment to discover the ancient and powerful Jesus Prayer. Known by generations of Eastern Christians, this mystical prayer has been in use since the Apostles, but remains largely unknown in the west. For the first time on film, desert hermits, monks and nuns reveal the simple prayer, bringing us into their private cells, caves and sanctuaries in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia. Narrated by Dr. Norris J. Chumley and Rev. Dr. John McGuckin. Please join us for this special film and time of fellowship! IN THE BURG About 3rd in the Burg: On the third Friday of every month, Harrisburg venues open their doors to streets full of culture lovers of all kinds. A collaboration begun in 2010 by a diverse group of galleries and businesses, 3rd in the Burg has grown into one of Harrisburg's most vital and recognizable city events. For more info and a schedule of participating venues, go to

6 Page 6 Volunteer S P OT L I G H T This month we feature volunteer, Sharon Caba. How long have you volunteered at Agia Sophia? Since April of 2012 Why did you decide to volunteer here? I enjoy interacting with people; I thought it would be fun; and I had the time since I am retired from paid work. What's your favorite aspect of volunteering at Agia Sophia? Meeting people from all walks of life and hearing the story of how they discovered Agia Sophia. I also like the Cheers type atmosphere where everybody knows your name. Favorite Agia Sophia beverage? This is a tough one because I don t drink coffee! I guess it would be the frappe without the espresso. (Is that still a frappe?) Bonus question: "What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" No clue! But I googled it (I think that s cheating) and it s 38.6 millimeters per hour. Sharon Caba A Vignette from Sharon James & the Giant Soapsuds I had asked one of our high school volunteers to mop the floor. I explained how to prepare the mop water and use the bucket and wringer. Then I left him to it! After a few minutes I decided to check on his progress in the restrooms. When I opened the door, I was greeted by a tidal wave of soapsuds foaming across the floor. I quickly walked into the next restroom where he stood ankle deep in soapsuds. I asked him what he had done to create such cleaning power. He had mistakenly poured dish washing liquid into the mop bucket instead of the floor cleaning solution. Needless to say, I made sure that the dish detergent was under lock and key when he was on duty. As for the restrooms, they never looked as clean again! Agia Sophia is primarily staffed with volunteers which keeps overhead costs down. Those interested in volunteering at the shop are encouraged to submit a volunteer application. September Special Caramel Latte Hot or Iced Caramel Green Apple Smoothie

7 Page 7 continued from Page 1 interested in learning about the Orthodox Church and the history of the Christian faith. Agia Sophia is primarily staffed with volunteers which keeps our costs lower. Those interested in volunteering at the shop are encouraged to submit a volunteer application either in person at the shop or through the website. Our volunteers are diverse and come from many different backgrounds. Some of our volunteers have used their experience at Agia Sophia to fulfill their community service obligations. The coffeehouse is ideally situated on the corner of 3rd and Market Streets, across from the Whitaker Center. It is close to the CAT transfer center and the Amtrak/Greyhound Station. Shop hours are Monday- Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM. In addition to our extensive selection of coffees from Fat Puppy Roasters in Lebanon County, we offer Mighty Leaf teas, bakery muffins, yogurt, hummus and fresh soup made daily on the premises. Agia Sophia participates in Harrisburg s 3rd in the Burg (third Friday of the month) with extended hours and entertainment. This month we will feature a film, Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer. For more information, go to Page 5. Stop in and say hello. We look forward to meeting you! Time, Talents, Treasure The mission of Agia Sophia Coffeehouse and Bookstore is to provide Orthodox Christian outreach and to generate charitable contributions to local charities. You can help! Donate your time by volunteering at the shop, let us know about any skills you have that may apply (marketing/research/business), or make a donation. Did You Know? Agia Sophia can provide a lovely rental space for your business, social, and family functions. Our lower level conference room is available during the day for meetings. Evening and weekend private parties may be held in either the lower level conference room or the main level. (photo of main level). Call us for more information or to reserve your date!

8 Page 8 It s the Second Anniversary of Agia Sophia Coffeehouse & Bookstore! You re invited to celebrate with us at an Open House Sunday, September 29 from 2-5 pm Enjoy your favorite Agia Sophia beverages and h orderves as we give thanks for the goodness of God with a brief Service of Thanksgiving. Everyone is welcome! All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. II Corinthians 4:15