Beloved in Christ,

Please find our December 2021 Parish Calendar. Notes are also included below about important upcoming services and activities.

HMT NATIVITY PROJECT: The Humanitarian Ministry Team is sponsoring a Nativity Project to benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County. They are collecting items from the Center’s wish list for the children in program. The Advocacy Center is the first place for children who are victims of abuse and before they are placed into a new home. The Agency also offers multiple services including medical, investigatory, mental health and advocacy for the children. The collection begins Sunday, Nov 21, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 12. See the linked flyer for details.

ST MARY CHRISTMAS CARD: As announced at our Annual Meeting, to celebrate our 90^th anniversary, one project we are undertaking is to support the non-profit organization, Wichita’s Littlest Heroes. The first fundraising effort is the St Mary Christmas Card. You can see details about how to order this card linked below. Please note the due date to order is Sunday, December 5.

BELLES CHRISTMAS PARTY: The Belles Christmas Party is Monday, December 6, at 6:00 pm at the home of Donna & Robbie Namee. Please see the linked invite below, inviting all women of our parish to attend.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: We are happy to announce our annual Christmas Program is back again this year. Details can be found in the linked flyer below. The Program & Potluck are scheduled for Sunday, December 12, beginning at 5:00 pm.

INSTALLATION OF THE 2022 PARISH COUNCIL: Towards the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 19, we will hold the service of installation for the 2022 Parish Council. If you have not already, please turn in your ballot in the drop box in the foyer before Sunday, November 28; alternatively, you can mail in your ballots/drop them off during office hours of Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES: We celebrate several services on Friday, December 24, for the Great Feast of the Nativity in the Flesh of Our Lord & God & Savior Jesus Christ (Christmas). Services are: Royal Hours & Typika (8:00 am); Festal Matins (4:50 pm); and Divine Liturgy (6:00 pm). Following Christmas services, no confessions will be heard, except in cases of emergency, until after the Great Feast of Theophany on January 6.

CHURCH HALL OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS: Once again this year the Church Hall is open for people to celebrate after Divine Liturgy on Friday 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.

BISHOP BASIL’S NAMEDAY: We once again celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision & St Basil the Great (Bishop Basil’s Nameday) on New Year’s Eve at St George Cathedral. Festal Matins at 5:15 pm and Divine Liturgy at 6:30 pm.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Aaron