Attention St. Michael’s Families – Church School will be starting again on Sunday, September 15. We are very excited to get back together and begin working on this year’s theme of The Gospel of Luke and Acts! As in past years, church school will be held every Sunday during Orthros. We have a lot of fun and all children of all ages are welcome to attend!!! To help us break the students into age groups, please complete the registration form below by September 7. If you have any questions, please contact Ned Chatelain at nedchatelain@gmail.com
Macrina and Ned
Category: News
Backpack Blessings 2024
It’s BACK-TO-SCHOOL time of year again! Cataumet Village, a transitional housing facility in Falmouth, supports families coming out of homelessness. These clients, mostly mothers and children, are getting ready for back to school and need our help. We are filling backpacks for 15 children this year and collecting items and monetary donations to be brought to St. Michael by August 18. Add your name for the items you would like to purchase to the list:
The bin for the school supplies is next to the bookstore. We will purchase what’s left. Please help to fill the backpacks on August 24 before Vespers. We will deliver the backpacks on August 25. If you’re not able to purchase the supplies, please consider making a monetary donation to St. Michael Outreach with Backpack Blessings in the memo.
As always, thank you for your generosity as we care for those in need. If you have any questions, please see Anastasia or Soraya.
June 2024 Outreach: Support ‘A Baby Center’
A Baby Center, Hyannis requested donations for:
- Desitin ointment for diaper rash
- Boy toddler clothing 2-5T
- Summer receiving blankets for babies
We will have a box at the church to collect items through June and deliver them to A Baby Center in the beginning of July.
Thank you for helping with this project as we strive to love our community!
Outreach – March/April, 2024
Help give to those in need!
The Outreach Team currently has a project creating personal care blessing bags for those in need. We plan to donate 25 blessing bags to the Falmouth Police Department for the program they have distributing care packages to those without homes or in need as they come across them on the job. Any questions or for more information please see Macrina Stewart, Soraya Bandeli, or Michelle Moeck.
We are requesting your help getting the items needed for this project!
Please drop off items at the church in the box marked “Outreach”
List of Items Needed:
- Toothbrushes
- Travel size Toothpaste
- Band-Aids
- Travel Size Deodorant
- Lip Balm
- Mylar/Survival Blankets
- Mini Neosporin/Antibiotic
- Ointment Packets
- Socks
- Body Wipes
- Bottles of water
- Granola Bars
- Small Bags of Nuts
- Granola
- Feminine Care Products
Please grab a tag on the bulletin board outside the Nave of what you’d like to contribute so we can avoid getting duplicate items. Please return items by April 7th. We will assemble bags on April 21st after coffee hour.
We Are Resuming Family Nights
SAVE THE DATE – February 10, 2024!
“Family night” is not only for families and kids but everyone in the parish! Come spend time and have fun with your church family!
- 3:30pm for games and fellowship (bring a board game to share)
- 5:00pm Vespers
- Potluck dinner to follow (please bring a soup, salad or pre-sliced bread).
Contact Macrina for more info.
Candles
Candles are used in the Orthodox Church as symbols and offerings during the liturgical services. In our parish we use traditional 100% beeswax tapers. (Note: Traditionally, oil-burning votive lamps are used in the Orthodox Church. However, vigil candles are often used, for reasons of convenience.)
In a general sense, the lighting of a candle in Church symbolizes the life of a Christian person. Until a candle is lit it is cold and hard. Once lit it is warmed and softened and then consumed by the flame. In the same way, we human beings can be spiritually “cold and hard” until our hearts and minds are “warmed and softened” by the grace of God. When we, faithful Christians, allow ourselves to become “on fire” with God’s love we can be consumed by that divine love in a beautiful and powerful way.
In a more particular and specific sense, the lighting of a candle in Church is an offering. The faithful purchase candles, thus making a monetary offering to the Church, and then they light those candles as an offering of prayer. Traditionally in Orthodox Churches candles are set in stands in significant parts of the Church, usually near a particular icon of Our Lord, His Mother, or a particular saint or group of saints. At this time we do not have candle stands near icons, but that might be a worthy goal. When we offer a candle by lighting it and placing it in a particular place in the Church we should simultaneously offer a prayer. For example, we may light a candle and place it to burn near an icon of a particular saint and, at the same time, ask that saint’s intercession before God on behalf of our self or a person for whom we wish to pray. We, also, may light and place candles as offerings of prayer on behalf of the departed. Additionally, candles may be lit not only as petitions asking for God’s blessings to be given, but as prayerful offerings of gratitude for blessings already received.
Yours in Christ,
Subdeacon Joseph, with information shared with permission from Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church
Knitting Club 2024
Anyone with or without experience is encouraged to join us every Saturday 10-12:30 at St. Michael’s Archangel. You will need:
- Knitting needles – circular needles, double-pointed or straight.
- If you are an advanced knitter and have your own project please join us to knit along.
- Bring your snacks/lunch.
We have some yarn you may pick for your project.
We hope to spread the knowledge of this ancient handcraft to our community and the next generation. With any questions please reach out to Olga DiSavino.