Looking Ahead at St Mary (February 10 – 16)

Beloved in Christ,

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

THIS WEEK: February 10 – 16, 2025
This Week: No fasting on any day of the week.
Mon, Feb 10 at 6:00 pm – Belles Meeting @ Namees’ (1958 N Sedgwick)
Wed, Feb 12 at 6:00 pm – Daily Vespers
Wed, Feb 12 at 6:30 pm – Film Showing: “Parallel Love: The Story of a Band Called Luxury”
Sat, Feb 15 – Scroll Deadline
Sat, Feb 15 – NO CONFESSIONS AND NO VESPERS AT ST MARY
Sat, Feb 15 at 6:00 pm – Biblical Greek Class
Sun, Feb 16 at 9:00 am – Matins
Sun, Feb 16 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
Sun, Feb 16 at 10:30 am – Catechism Class
Sun, Feb 16 at 11:00 am – Church School
Sun, Feb 16 at 12:00 pm – MF Prep: Make Meat for Meat Pies
Sun, Feb 16 at 5:00 pm – Lord’s Diner

Other Notes
(1) FESTIVAL PREP: Our annual Mediterranean Festival is coming up on Saturday, May 3. We have several prep days to ensure we are ready to open our doors and welcome our visitors on May 3. In addition to being a major help for this fundraiser, volunteering at these prep days is a wonderful way to get to know your fellow parishioners. Please see the current sign-up sheet for upcoming prep days and sign up for slots when you can make yourself available. Near-term prep dates include: Feb 16 at 12:00 pm (meat for meat pies); and Mar 1 (major prep date to make meat pies). You can sign up here: St Mary/Wichita, KS: Mediterranean Festival Prep Dates – 2025

(2) BIBLICAL GREEK CLASS: Several members of our parish are starting a biblical Greek class. All levels, including beginners, are welcome to attend the class. It will meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, beginning on Saturday, February 15, from 6:00-6:45 pm, at St Mary. Details can be found via the link below.

(3) LORD’S DINER: If you are interested in serving at the Lord’s Diner on Sunday, January 19; or if you wish to be added to the email list for future opportunities to serve on the 3rd Sunday of each month with your fellow parishioners and our brothers and sisters from St George Cathedral, please contact Beth Elliot (bethellio@gmail.com) for details.

(4) THE SCROLL: The next issue of our parish newsletter is scheduled to be online February 21 and in print February 23. The deadline for submission is Saturday, February 15. If you wish to submit items for consideration, you may do so to Brett Parrott (parrobre7014@yahoo.com).

(5) SATURDAY OF SOULS: Our pre-Lenten Saturday of Souls service, at which we commemorate all of the departed from time immemorial, is scheduled for Saturday, February 22, at 9:00 am. If you wish to submit names of departed loved ones to be remembered, please submit their FIRST and LAST names to me (not to the parish office) by Wednesday, February 19. If you have a list on file with the parish office, you may contact Frankie and have her send you the list so you can add last names. I am taking this approach this year as we have the same name often submitted by multiple families.

(6) BELLES MEATFARE TACO BAR: The Belles of St Mary will host a fundraising luncheon on Sunday, February 23, following the Divine Liturgy. Everyone is welcome to attend.

(7) ORTHODOXY ON TAP: On Sunday, February 23, at 5:00 pm we will have another “Orthodoxy on Tap” at Old School Tap House (210 E Kechi Rd, Kechi). Fr Mark Sultani from St George Cathedral will briefly discuss technology and the spiritual life. The rest of the time will be a time of food and fellowship.

(8) METROPOLITAN SABA’S WEEKLY TEACHING: This week His Eminence shares his message “The Parable of the Weeds, Part 1.” See the link to read it. You might also check out his new book, “A Life Testimony,” a deeply personal and inspiring account after nearly losing his life to Covid-19. The book reflects his spiritual journey, pastoral abilities, and insights into Orthodox Christianity. His book is available here >

(9) 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.

(10) 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.(11) 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