st mary

Looking Ahead at St Mary (Dec 17 – 24)

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Beloved in Christ,

Many thanks to all who contributed to our Humanitarian Ministry Team Christmas Project. Please remember that tonight we have our annual Christmas Program and Potluck. Everyone is invited.

Below you will find this week’s schedule, as well as some important notes about upcoming events.

THIS WEEK: Dec 17 – 24, 2023
This Week: The Advent Fast began on Wednesday, November 15, and runs through the Divine Liturgy for Christmas.      

  • Sun, Dec 17 at 5:00 pm – Christmas Program & Potluck (see flyer)
  • Wed, Dec 20 at 6:00 pm – Advent Paraklesis
  • Fri, Dec 22 at 8:00 am – Royal Hours ~ Christmas/Nativity
  • Scroll Deadline (see note below)
  • Sat, Dec 23 at 4:30 pm – Confession
  • Sat, Dec 23 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
  • Sun, Dec 24 – Sun, Dec 31: Family Promise Host Week (see note below)
  • Sun, Dec 24 at 9:00 am – Matins
  • Sun, Dec 24 – NO Church School
  • Sun, Dec 24 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
  • Sun, Dec 24 at 8:00 pm – Festal Matins ~ Christmas/Nativity
  • Sun, Dec 24 at 9:15 pm – Divine Liturgy ~ Christmas/Nativity

Other Notes
(1) SCROLL CONTACT INFO UPDATE: We welcome Brett Parrott as the new chair of The Scroll Ministry Team. If you’d like to submit any items for consideration, please contact him at parrott.brett.117@gmail.com.

(2) FAMILY PROMISE HOST WEEK: Our host week for Family Promise is coming up soon. This year we only hosted three times total (compared to the normal four), in large part because we have one of the most difficult—yet special—times of the year to host: Christmas. Please consider sharing with our hosted families during this holy season. To volunteer, follow the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49AAAF2BAAF94-46363079-family#/. Sign up includes providing food for breakfast and snacks, evening meals, transportation to and from the Day House, and spending the night at the church. Thanks for your support of this important ministry. Contact Vicki Jones, 650-0658, with any questions.

(3) CHURCH HALL OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS: Once again this year the Church Hall will be open for people to celebrate after Divine Liturgy on Sunday evening, December 24. The parish will not be providing any food or beverage, but people are welcome to bring their own. As always, please be sure not to drink and drive and to shut the lights off if you are the last person to leave. Please also ensure the doors are locked behind you and you pick up any mess that you make.

(4) METROPOLITAN SABA’S WEEKLY TEACHING: This week His Eminence teaches us about “The Saints and Us.” You can read it online here: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/1863.

(5) TEACH ME THY STATUTES PODCAST: If you would like to listen to this week’s Teach Me Thy Statutes podcast (with Fr Aaron & Jason Ewertt), you can find it here: https://tmts.transistor.fm/.

(6) PASTORAL VISITS: If you would like a pastoral visit for any reason, or if you know of a family member/parishioner who needs a visit, please feel free to contact me via cell phone at 204-6725.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Aaron