St. Basil Academy is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese home away from home for children in need. The academy is in Garrison, N.Y.

Read an article about the Catholic bishops of the United States urging their followers to lobby for a bill that does not cut support for the needy. They have published parish bulletin inserts and prayer cards “to help you pray and advocate for a 2012 Farm Bill that addresses domestic and global hunger and malnutrition.”

Greek Orthodox chaplains serve full-time as chaplains in the armed forces; others have assumed additional responsibilities as chaplains at Veterans Administration hospitals, with local police forces, at prisons and in hospitals.

The Hellenic Cultural Center of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was established in 1986 with the goal of cultivating the Orthodox heritage and Hellenic customs, culture and traditions within the Greek-American community.

Several monasteries are scattered across the country. See a list with their contact information.

The website of the Greek Orthodox Church.  Is a resource for relevant texts, monasteries, churches, seminaries, and other relevant resources related to the church.

The Rev. Ben Daniel is pastor of Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, Calif. He is the author of Neighbor: Christian Encounters With “Illegal” Immigration.

Read a Dec. 5, 2011 Patheos column in which the author writes about her fascination with Mary.

Richard B. Wilke is a retired United Methodist Bishop and the author of Christmas: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly (August 2010), an Advent study focusing on Herod, the shepherds and others from the Christmas story.