Looking Ahead at St Mary (January 26 – February 2)

Beloved in Christ,

Below you will find this week’s schedule, as well as some important notes about upcoming events.
THIS WEEK: January 26 – February 2, 2025
This Week: Regular Wed/Fri fasting.     
Sun, Jan 26 – Sun, Feb 2: FAMILY PROMISE HOST WEEK (thank you, volunteers!)
Wed, Jan 29 at 5:30 pm – Divine Liturgy ~ Three Great Hierarchs
Wed, Jan 29 at 6:30 pm – Film Showing: “New Men” (chronicles one year of life @ a monastery in West Virginia)
Sat, Feb 1 at 4:30 pm – Confessions
Sat, Feb 1 at 5:00 pm – Great Vespers
Sun, Feb 2 at 9:00 am – Matins
Sun, Feb 2 at 10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
Sun, Feb 2 at 11:00 am – Church School
Sun, Feb 2 at 11:30 am – Potluck Coffee Hour

Other Notes
(1) HOUSE BLESSINGS:  Each year it is customary that beginning on Theophany, the Parish Priest is invited to bless parishioner homes with the Holy Water blessed at the January 6 Theophany Divine Liturgy. All parishioners and catechumens are encouraged to sign up for a house blessing. If you would like to schedule a house blessing, please contact Fr Aaron.

(2) 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 4 at 5:30 pm (MEN needed to core/steam cabbage); Feb 6 at 5:30 pm (trim cabbage); and Feb 8 (major prep date to roll cabbage). You can sign up here: St Mary/Wichita, KS: Mediterranean Festival Prep Dates – 2025

(3) FR CAL VISIT: Fr Calinic Berger, Archiepiscopal Vicar for our Diocese, plans to make an unofficial visit to our parish on Sunday, February 2. Fr Cal is bringing with him Fr Seraphim Daoud, another Archimandrite who is touring the United States to visit our churches and who permanently resides at the Archdiocese headquarters.

(4) WILDFIRE RELIEF: As you are surely aware, disastrous wildfires have been ravaging the Los Angeles area recently and thousands of homes have been destroyed, including those of some of our brothers and sisters of St Nicholas Cathedral/Los Angeles, CA. If you would like to donate to help, you may consider donating to FOCUS North America’s fund for this purpose. You can read more and donate here: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

(5) METROPOLITAN SABA CONNECTS WITH YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS: Metropolitan Saba recently set up an Instagram account intended to help foster communication between himself and our youth/young adults. Feel free to ask him questions, or to let your children know they can ask him questions, by leaving a message on his page or by direct messaging him. His account is here: Ask Sayidna (@asksayidna) • Instagram photos and videos

(6) ORTHODOX VOLUNTEER CORPS (OVC): OVC is an immersive service opportunity for young adults (21-29 years old), combined with Orthodox formation, community living, and engagement with local parishes. Programming began in Pittsburgh in 2022 with 6 Corps Members, grew to 30 participants in 2023, and expanded to a second city, Boston, in 2024. Our Corps Members serve alongside neighbors in need–at homeless shelters, after-school programs, free medical clinics, and more. If you are interested in learning more you can follow this link and/or contact me so I may nominate you to serve: Orthodox Volunteer Corps

(7) METROPOLITAN SABA’S WEEKLY TEACHING: This week His Eminence shares his message “On Salvation: My Salvation and the Salvation of Others.” See the link to read it.

(8) 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.

(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