McKinney, Texas
Electronic Newsletter
January 23/ February 5
Publican and Pharisee / New Martyrs of Russia
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Announcements
The Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America Youth Committee is hosting a Lenten Retreat on the weekend of the Sunday commemorating St. Mary of Egypt (Friday evening, 3/30 – Sunday, 4/1). This event is open to all Orthodox Christian youth of college and graduate student age. See the diocesan website for more information.
The Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America announces open registration for a pilgrimmage this fall to the Holy Land led by Bishop Peter. The pilgrimmage will take place between Sept. 14 and Sept. 28 and will include the feast days of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Elevation of the Holy and Life-Creating Cross. For further information, see the diocesan website.
We will be holding a Pysanky class every Saturday from February 11th through March 31st, from 1pm – 4pm. If you are interested in participating, you are encouraged to buy you own Kitski set, which is available for $20 if you order it through Matushka Marina. You will also need to bring your own eggs in a cardboard carton. Contact Matushka Marina for further information.
February 19th will be the first monthly activity sponsored by the Sisterhood. We will have a movie night, with two movies: Ostrov for the adults, and Miracle Maker for the children. The admission cost is $10 per person or $25 per family, which includes refreshments.
Our Annual Parish Meeting will be held on next Sunday, February 12th. Anybody who considers this parish home and who has attended regularly for some time but has not yet become a member is encouraged to do so before the meeting. Please contact Dn. Nicholas for a membership form.
As you know, our deck has been completed, and is a wonderful addition to our facility. We need to complete the work by cleaning and sealing the deck as soon as possible. Please contact Fr. Seraphim or Dn. Nicholas if you can help with this work.
Our parish has a brotherhood, named in honor of St. John of San Francisco. It's mission is one of both service and fellowship, and one of its roles is to help with tasks that need to be done around our building and grounds. So far our membership is very small, however. If you are interested in joining the brotherhood, please contact Dn. Nicholas.
"Mighty Mites" Collection
This week, we collected $103 for St. George's Food Pantry.
Next week, we will collect for the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America's fund for Seminaries and Seminarians. This is our opportunity to support the future clergy of our Church.
Prayer Requests
For the Health and Salvation.
- Alexandra (4 y/o girl wih brain cancer)
- Priests Jean and Grégoire and all the faithful and suffering of Haiti, and our sponsored household: Catherine and her family.
For a more complete listing, please see our parish prayer list. Anyone can make requests.
Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week
Monday 2/6
- 7PM Molieben
Wednesday 2/8
- 7PM Vespers
Thursday 2/9
- 9AM Divine Liturgy
Saturday 2/11.
- 4PM Confession
- 5PM Vigil
Sunday 2/12.
- 10AM Divine Liturgy
- 12:30PM Annual Parish Meeting. No Church School.
Fasting in the Coming week
In this week following the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, there is no fasting. This is a reminder to us that we should not, like the Pharisee, take pride in our fasting. Fasting is merely a (very important) spiritual exercise to help us cultivate a spirit of repentance.