Saturday, Sept. 24 – Thecla, Proto-Martyr
5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula
Sunday, Sept. 25 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Sept. 26 – The Passing of John the Apostle & Theologian
6:30 PM Prayer Service* for healing of Addictions and Mental Illness
Wednesday, Sept. 28 – Chariton, Venerable-Confessor
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy +Darryl from Sam Blessum
7:45 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, Oct. 1 – The Protection of the Theotokos
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula
6:30 PM Reader Vespers
Sunday, Oct. 2 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
12:00 PM Parish Family Day Celebration
*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing niemirick@gmail.com
(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)
Michael Hefferon, Shirley Kunze, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr, John Mina, Mila Mina, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $1,490.00; Candles: $69.50; Online: $130.00; Santa Paula: $1,830.00; Coffee Shop: $400.00; Bishop’s Appeal: $6,350.00; Insurance Payment: $675.00; Stipend: $20.00
Total: $10,964.50 / Attendance- PSM: 75
Donations are being accepted through Sept. 30. So far, we have raised $25,180.00 of our $25,544.72 goal. We need to raise $364.72 to meet our goal! You can use the instructions you received from the bishop, or you can visit our parish’s donation page here: https://ephx.org/st-marys-eparchial-appeal/ It is very important to reach our goal. There are repercussions for several years if we do not. Thank you for your generosity!
Thank you to those who have contributed: Anonymous, Bates, Blessum, Chirdon, Clemens, Cook, Crans, Davies, Golya, Haas, Herrera, Hillz, Jimenez, Kieselhorst, Koman, Koman-Keogh, Leparulo, Martini, Matthews, Michnya, Mina, Niemi, Fr. O’Loughlin, O’Neill Onufrak, Parrot, Patzwahl, Reichert, C. Roche, Seabright, Skocypec, M. Sumandra, Summe, Tabak, Theisen, Wiggins, Wiltz, Wrzesinski, P. Zimmerman, and W. Zimmerman
We have many new members, and we want to introduce everyone to some of the parishioners who came before us. This will be an ongoing project telling the stories of those who laid the foundation, and then built upon it, of the St. Mary’s we know today. We will kick off this project by featuring Nancy Sumandra. If you have any stories or experiences of Nancy, please email Father Michael. He will have them compiled and will share a parish memoir of Nancy in a Sunday bulletin and online. Please submit all stories by October 9. Thank you!
Our Annual Family Day is next Sunday, October 2nd, the Sunday closest to our Patron Feast, the feast of the Protection of the Theotokos (Oct. 1). The festivities begin with Divine Liturgy at its regular 9:30am time, and continues with a coffee social on the patio following liturgy. The Potluck lunch at 12 noon to allow those preparing food enough time for set-up inside the small hall. Sign-up sheets are in the small hall. There will be an inflatable pool and Slip-&-Slide for children, so a bathing suit or a change of clothes is recommended. Santa Paula Parishioners can sign-up by emailing admin@byzantineLA.com. Please include the number of adults and children attending, and any potluck item you wish to bring in your email.
On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, when the church was overflowing with those at prayer, the Fool-for-Christ St. Andrew, at the fourth hour, lifted up his eyes towards the heavens and beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through the air, resplendent with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints. Saint John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven. On bended knees the Most Holy Virgin tearfully prayed for Christians for a long time. Then, coming near the Bishop’s Throne, she continued her prayer.
After completing her prayer she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed “more than the rays of the sun.” St. Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, “Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?” Epiphanius answered, “I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.”
The Ever-Blessed Mother of God implored the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the prayers of all the people calling on His Most Holy Name, and to respond speedily to her intercession, “O Heavenly King, accept all those who pray to You and call on my name for help. Do not let them go away from my icon unheard.”
Saints Andrew and Epiphanius were worthy to see the Mother of God at prayer, and “for a long time observed the Protecting Veil spread over the people and shining with flashes of glory. As long as the Most Holy Theotokos was there, the Protecting Veil was also visible, but with her departure it also became invisible. After taking it with her, she left behind the grace of her visitation.”
from OCA.org
“When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.” Have you seen the Lord work in your life in such a powerful way that you would consider leaving everything to follow him? This is the response of the apostles in today’s gospel reading. The Church is fortified by men and women who follow him as priests, deacons, subdeacons, monks and nuns. If you may be hearing this call, Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Saturday, September 24 –
