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Welcome, and thank you for visiting St. Mary Orthodox Church online. We hope that our website highlights the wide variety of worship, fellowship, ministery and education opportunities available. Please feel free to read more about our church on this site, or come join with us in prayer. We would love to greet you and share with you our love for Jesus Christ and for you, our neighbor.

Sunday, May 29, 2022

files/Bulletin-May-29-2022.pdf (3000kb)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

This past week, nineteen students and two teachers were killed in a fourth grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvaldea, Texas, in what is yet another in a line of senseless shootings we struggle to come to terms with. How do we understand what has happened and what is our response?

As Christians we are to exhibit God’s love, grace, and forgiveness here on earth. Though we can’t understand why this happened and why God allows this to happen, we are faced with the challenge to forgive those who carry out these evil acts by remaining in God’s love. We are called to pray for God’s love to be poured out on those who carry out these evil acts. We are also called to pray for those who have been victims of this shooting as well as their loved ones. Pray for peace and comfort for all who have been affected by this tragedy.

When we face situations like these where we see injustice, we are comforted only through the peace of Christ that is poured out to us. Christ Himself had to suffer injustice while he lived on this earth. But his suffering brought us hope because his death has conquered death for us. Through him, we are given a hope and peace that is beyond our understanding.

Our God is a God of forgiveness, mercy, justice, wisdom, truth and love.

NOTES:

** Attached to this email is The Weekly Bulletin. Please take a few minutes to read through it.

** The church would like to recognize students graduating this year on Sunday, June 12th. If you have a child or a loved one graduating from Elementary, Middle, High School, College or Graduate School, please give Fr. Peter their names and where they are graduating from by Wednesday, June 8th. We will offer their names in prayer on June 12th, and host a Coffee Hour in their honor.

** Please join us in prayer this coming week:

Sunday, May 29th: Matins begins at 8:45 AM, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM.

Wednesday, June 1st: We will celebrate the Feast of Ascension with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy at 6:30 PM.

In conclusion, some words by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

Be safe this Memorial Day Weekend. Let us not forget the men and women who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy.

In the Risen Lord,

Fr. Peter

Sunday, May 22, 2022

files/Bulletin-May-22-2022.pdf (10129kb)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

This week, I came across the following words by +Saint Issac the Syrian that I would like to share with you.

"God is greater! Greater than your illness whatever it may be. Greater than your deepest disappointment. Greater than your greatest worry. Greater than your worst enemy. Greater than your most difficult problem. Greater than life. Greater than death. God is greater! Believe it! Live by it! Affirm it! Claim it by faith and use it as a pillow to rest your weary soul. God is greater! If your God is not greater, then the God you believe in is too small. He is not the God the Church believes in." + St Isaac the Syrian

NOTES:

Attached is The Weekly Bulletin for May 22nd.
'Family Movie Night' is this coming Saturday, May 21st, at 6:00 PM. Donation is $5.00 per person to cover food costs. The movie is 'Wish Man,' a true story about Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona motorcycle cop with a troubled past, survives a near-fatal accidentwhich leads to the creation of the Make-A-Wish foundation.
This coming Sunday, May 22nd, is the last day of Sunday School until August. Thank you to all the parents who have faithfully brought their children, and the teachers who have volunteered.
Join in prayer this coming week:

Sunday, May 22nd: Matins at 8:50 AM, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM. A Memorial (Trisagion) Service will be offered by Fr. Elia and Odette Shalhoub in memory of his newly departed sister Hooda Shalhoub. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow.

Wednesday, May 25th: Vespers Service at 6:30 PM. 'Ask Abouna' will follow the service.

I look forward to seeing you in church this coming Sunday.

In the Risen Lord,

Fr. Peter

Sunday May 17, 2022

files/Bulletin-May-15-2022.pdf (9862kb)

Beloved in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

The definition of 'hopelessness' is the feeling or condition of having no hope; despair; desperation. In the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday - John 5: 1-15, we learn of an encounter between Jesus Christ and a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. For quite some time, he sat by the 'Sheep Pool' hopeless, in despair and desperately looking to be healed. Christ would grant him healing that he sought with one condition: "Go and sin no more."

Most of us no doubt have felt hopeless at times, enduring times in our life when everything around us seems to be crumbling, and nothing can be done about it. If we’re not careful, the sense of hopelessness can morph into an ongoing outlook on life where we expect the worst to happen. We believe things are already decided against us—and there’s nothing we can do. The Paralytic believed this.

Christ restored the Paralytic who had all but lost hope. If we trust in Him, Christ can give us a fresh perspective on the darkness that can surround us. He is our true hope.

Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and sure hope, glory to Thee!

NOTES:

**Attached is The Weekly Bulletin.

**Mark Your Calendars for 'Family Movie Night' on Saturday, May 21st. Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by a movie. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 5 years and under. This is being hosted by our Teen SOYO and is open to everyone!

**"Ask Abouna" where you can get your questions answered is held each Wednesday following Vespers at 6:30 PM. Bring a friend and your questions.

**Attention Parents and Graduates: On Pentecost Sunday, June 12th, we will honor all of our elementary, middle school, high school and college graduates for 2022. All our graduates will have their names offered in prayer during the Divine Liturgy, with a Coffee Hour in their honor afterwards. Please submit names of those graduating by June 8th to be included in the bulletin and prayer list.

**The Parish Council is working on updating our Church Directory. If you have not done so already, please take a couple of minutes to complete the form and return it to Shannon Pasley or Jane Pasley. Forms can be found on the table in the Church Narthex.

**Join with us in prayer this week at Saint Mary's"

Sunday, May 15th: Matins begin at 8:50 AM, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM.

Wednesday, May 18th: Vespers Service at 6:30 PM.

In closing, some wisdom from the Church Fathers.

"The heart naturally seeks happiness—and the Devil gives a false direction to this tendency, and allures it by earthly happiness, that is—by riches, honors, splendor of dress, furniture and various amusements." St. John of Kronstadt

God bless,

Fr. PeterBeloved in Christ,