Beloved in Christ,

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

THIS WEEK: October 23 – 29, 2023

This Week: Regular Wed/Fri fasting.      

• Wed, Oct 25 at 6:00 pm – Divine Liturgy ~ St Demetrios
• Fri, Oct 27 – Scroll on Website
• Sat, Oct 28 at 3:30 pm – Women’s Book Study
• Sat, Oct 28 at 4:30 pm – Confession
• Sat, Oct 28 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
• Sun, Oct 29 – Scroll in Foyer
• Sun, Oct 29 at 9:00 am – Matins
• Sun, Oct 29 at 9:00 am – Church School
• Sun, Oct 29 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
• Sun, Oct 29 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Fall Festival (see below)

Other Notes

(1) FALL FESTIVAL: Our annual festival, which serves as a fundraiser for the Church School, is coming up on Sunday, October 29, from 5-7 pm. Please see the linked flyer for more details, including how you can help.

(2) ANNUAL MEETING: Our parish’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 5, immediately following Divine Liturgy. Childcare will be available during the meeting in the Teen Center downstairs. In addition, the parish will be providing pizza for coffee hour. We encourage all members to stay for this meeting as we review our annual financials and budget, as well as learn about some opportunities to serve in our local community.

(3) SEMINARY COLLECTION: Each year, the Antiochian Archdiocese takes a collection in October from all our parishes to help support our Orthodox seminaries in the US. If you would like to contribute, please send a check to St Mary or drop it in the donation box by the choir loft. Checks should be made to St Mary, earmarked: Seminaries.

(4) 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/.

(5) 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

Beloved in Christ,

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

THIS WEEK: October 9 – 15, 2023

This Week: Regular Wed/Fri fasting.      

• Wed, Oct 11 at 6:30 pm – Choir Practice
• Sat, Oct 14 at 7:30 am – Belles Making Holy Bread
• Sat, Oct 14 at 3:30 pm – Women’s Book Study
• Sat, Oct 14 at 4:00 pm – Men’s Prayer Group
• Sat, Oct 14 at 4:30 pm – Confession
• Sat, Oct 14 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
• Sun, Oct 15 at 9:00 am – Matins
• Sun, Oct 15 at 9:00 am – Church School
• Sun, Oct 15 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
• Sun, Oct 15 at 10:30 am – Catechism Class

Other Notes

(1) EDUCATION NIGHT: Our Education Night for the fall will focus on the theme: “Orthodox Christians: Who Are We?” You can find the full class schedule/curriculum in the linked flyer below. Our next class is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, at 6:30 pm. All parish members, catechumens, and inquirers are invited to attend.

(2) BELLES MAKING HOLY BREAD: Our Belles of St Mary will be making Holy Bread on Saturday, October 14, beginning at 7:30 am. Anyone interested in learning to make the holy bread—including men—are welcome to attend and help.

(3) MEN’S PRAYER GROUP: All men of our parish are invited to the Men’s Prayer Group on Saturday, October 14, at 4:00 pm. The men will be praying an Akathist service together in the chapel/multipurpose room.

4) FALL FESTIVAL: The annual Fall Festival is Sunday, October 20 (see flyer below). Please see Justine to volunteer to work a shift. NEW THIS YEAR: Each volunteer gets $5 in tickets to spend at the Fall Festival! Also, please bring 2-liter bottles of soda and cake/cookies for the Cake Walk.

(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

Beloved in Christ,

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

THIS WEEK: September 24 – October 1, 2023

This Week: Regular Wed/Fri fasting.      

• Sun, Sept 24 at 6:00 pm – 20/40 Fellowship Group @ Blaise Webster’s (803 S Elizabeth)
• Mon, Sept 25 at 5:30 pm – Parish Council Meeting
• Tues, Sept 26 at 8:00 am – Divine Liturgy ~ St John the Apostle, Evangelist, & Theologian
• Wed, Sept 27 at 6:30 pm – Education Night: “What is Israel? A Search for Meaning in Biblical Times & Today”
• Sat, Sept 30 at 3:30 pm – Women’s Book Study
• Sat, Sept 30 at 4:30 pm – Confession
• Sat, Sept 30 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
• Sun, Oct 1 at 9:00 am – Matins
• Sun, Oct 1 at 9:00 am – Church School
• Sun, Oct 1 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy

Other Notes

(1) YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES: As announced in a previous e-mail and this Sunday during announcements, the Assembly of Bishops designated Sunday, September 24, as Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM) Sunday. As such we took a collection for OYM, the official youth and young adult ministries organization of the Assembly of Bishops. If you wish to donate but were unable to do so this Sunday, you may make a direct donation to OYM via their website (https://www.theoym.org/donate).

(2) EDUCATION NIGHT: Our Education Night for the fall will focus on the theme: “Orthodox Christians: Who Are We?” You can find the full class schedule/curriculum in the linked flyer below. Our first class is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, at 6:30 pm. All parish members, catechumens, and inquirers are invited to attend.

(3) OCTOBER FELLOWSHIP GROUPS: I will be organizing the October Fellowship Groups for October this coming week and will plan to get your assignments out to those participating by Friday. If you need to opt-out for the month of October and have not already communicated that to me, please let me know ASAP.

(4) 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/.

(5) 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

Beloved in Christ,

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

THIS WEEK: September 4 – 11, 2023

This Week: Regular Wed/Fri fasting.      

• Mon, Sept 4 – Happy Labor Day (Office Closed)
• Wed, Sept 6 at 6:00 pm – Choir Practice
• Thurs, Sept 7 at 4:30 pm – Great Vespers ~ Nativity of the Mother of God
• Fri, Sept 8 at 8:00 am – Divine Liturgy ~ Nativity of the Mother of God
• Sat, Sept 9 at 4:00 pm – Men’s Prayer Group
• Sat, Sept 9 at 4:30 pm – Confession
• Sat, Sept 9 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
• Sun, Sept 10 at 9:00 am – Matins
• Sun, Sept 10 at 9:00 am – Church School
• Sun, Sept 10 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
• Sun, Sept 10 at 11:30 am – Parish Feast Day Banquet (see note below)

Other Notes

(1) CSA GOLF CLASSIC: Join us for the Inaugural Christ the Savior Academy Golf Classic on Friday, September 22 at Willowbend Golf Club.  Not an avid golfer?  Join us for an awards banquet with dinner and dancing at Odd Fellow Hall in Delano.  We’ll have a silent acution and raffle items as well as a late night cigar lounge.  Proceeds from the golf tournament and banquet will benefit our growing school and thriving students.  Tickets can be purchased at http://buytickets.at/csagolf.  Questions?  Call Vanessa Farha (714) 293-2644 or Jacob Corbin (714) 315-0859.  Don’t miss out on this fun, eventful day!  We hope to see you there! The flyer is linked below.

(2) WOMEN’S BOOK DISCUSSION: The women’s book discussion will start back up on Saturday September 23, at 3:30 pm. The book being used is Face to Face: Knowing God Beyond Our Shame by Father Stephen Freeman. By Sunday September 10, let Vicki Jones (316-650-0658 or vawj55@gmail.com) know if you plan to attend and/or if you need to order a copy of the book.

(3) PARISH FEAST DAY & WEEKEND: Our parish’s feast day, the Nativity of the Mother of God, is Friday, September 8. We will celebrate Great Vespers on Thursday, September 7, at 4:30 pm (the relatively early time is due to several parishioners attending the Hope Ranch for Women Annual Gala that same evening). Divine Liturgy for our feast day is at 8:00 am on Friday, September 8. We will continue our celebration with a Festal Banquet in our Church Hall on Sunday, September 10, following Divine Liturgy. The parish will be providing the main dishes (BBQ), but we ask parishioners to bring sides/desserts/drinks, similar to how we celebrate at our Paschal Banquet each year.

(4) MEN’S PRAYER GROUP: Several men have asked to start a Men’s Prayer Group to meet on a monthly basis. The group plans to pray at Akathist service each month. The first meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 9, at 4:00 pm. All men of our parish are welcome to join.

(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

Beloved in Christ,

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

THIS WEEK: August 21 – 28, 2023

This Week: Regular Wed/Fri fasting.      

• Mon, Aug 21 at 6:00 pm – Ladies Night Out (see below)
• Fri, Aug 25 – Scroll on Website
• Sat, Aug 26 at 4:30 pm – Confession
• Sat, Aug 26 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
• Sun, Aug 27 – Scroll in Foyer
• Sun, Aug 27 at 9:00 am – Matins
• Sun, Aug 27 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
• Mon, Aug 28 at 6:00 pm – Divine Liturgy Beheading of St John the Forerunner & Baptist

Other Notes

(1) LADIES NIGHT OUT: The Belles of St Mary will have a Ladies Night Out on Monday, August 21, at 6:00 pm. See the flyer below for more details about the event.

(2) PART TIME JOB AT DUI VICTIMS CENTER: DUI Victims Center of Kansas is growing and has acquired a grant for a part-time Victim Advocate as follows: $23,000-$26,000 a year. Approximately 25 hours per week Monday to Friday. The position will work directly with victims of DUI crimes and accompany them to court when the offender is charged. We are innovative, rewarding, collaborative and our goal is to provide the highest quality of support to victims of impaired driving and to their families. We do this through consistent and dedicated support, as well as through preventative work in the community. We believe that prevention and education are part of how we help save lives. For more information Google Indeed and search for Victim Advocate. To apply, contact the DUI Victims Center of Kansas directly and ask for Heather Plaza, Executive Director, at 316-768-2096. Or email director@duivcks.com.

(3) 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/.

(4) 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