Looking Ahead at St Mary (December 22 – 29)
Beloved in Christ,
Below you will find this week’s schedule, as well as some important notes about upcoming events.
THIS WEEK: December 22 – 29, 2024
This Week: The Advent Fast began on Nov 15 and continues through Dec 24; following Dec 24 Liturgy, there is no fasting through Jan 4.
Sun, Dec 22 at 5:00 pm – Church School Christmas Program (see note and flyer below)
Mon, Dec 23 at 6:00 pm – Advent Paraklesis
Tues, Dec 24 at 9:00 am – Royal Hours of the Nativity
Tues, Dec 24 at 4:50 pm – Festal Matins of the Nativity
Tues, Dec 24 at 6:00 pm – Divine Liturgy of the Nativity
Fri, Dec 27 – Scroll on Website
Sat, Dec 28 – No Confessions
Sat, Dec 28 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
Sun, Dec 29 – Scroll in Foyer
Sun, Dec 29 at 9:00 am – Matins
Sun, Dec 29 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
Other Notes
(1) CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Our annual Church School Christmas Program & Potluck is TONIGHT, Sunday, December 22, at 5:00 pm. See the flyer below for more details. Please be sure to bring a little extra than usual for the Potluck as St Michael parishioners have been invited to join us in fellowship that evening.
(2) HUMANITARIAN NATIVITY PROJECT: Our Humanitarian Ministry Team is sponsoring a Nativity project to help re-stock our food pantry that serves several hundred people per year. To learn more details about how you can help, please see the flyer linked below.
(3) CHURCH HALL OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS: Once again this year the Church Hall will be open for people to celebrate after Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, 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 and be sure to pick up any mess you make.
(4) FAMILY PROMISE 2025 HOST DATES: The following dates are our scheduled host weeks for Family Promise in 2025. As usual, we will circulate a sign up closer to each date, but we wanted to let everyone know about these dates in advance. Here are the host weeks for 2025: January 26 – February 2; March 30 – April 6; June 29 – July 6; and October 5 – 12.
(5) BISHOP BASIL ENDOWMENT FUND: The Bishop Basil Endowment Fund supports new missions and parish expansion projects in our diocese, such as land purchases, building projects, or monetary support for priest of a new mission community. Each year, to honor Bishop Basil on his name-day (January 1), we take a collection for a few Sundays near his name-day. If you would like to donate this year, please contribute by writing a check or making an online donation to St Mary, earmarked: Bishop Basil Endowment Fund. Please turn in your contribution by Sunday, January 12.
(6) 2025 PARISH COUNCIL OFFICERS: The following parishioners were elected as officers of the 2025 Parish Council: Paula Zarich (PC Chair); Tracy Namee (Vice Chair); Darren Minks (Treasurer); and Ken Dannenberg (Secretary). May God grant them many years!
(7) TEXT MESSAGE UPDATE REMINDERS: If you would like to join the St Mary text message group to receive important updates/reminders, you may do so at any time by texting @stmaryict to 81010. Please note you must include the @ sign to be able to join the group. No one in the group will see your phone number or be able to send you a message except through the parish office. You also will not be able to text others in the group, but will receive messages from the office and can respond to the office.
(8) METROPOLITAN SABA’S WEEKLY TEACHING: This week, His Eminence shares “The Nativity & Almsgiving – Part 2.” See the linkto read it.
(9) 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: Teach Me Thy Statutes.
(10) 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
