| November 28, 2023 |
Dear Beloved Family of St. Peter and St. Paul,
Joy fills my heart as I write to you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. “Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing” (Ps. 100:2). This verse always reminds me of the warmth and love that fills our church, especially now, as we entered the blessed season of Advent.
What a joyous time it is! The Nativity of our Lord is drawing near, and it’s time for us to prepare our hearts with fasting, prayer, and acts of kindness. Our parish is bustling with activities, and I am so excited to share them with you.
We have a special lineup of Divine services, including our soul-stirring Saturday Vigils. I can’t wait to see your faces, illuminated by the candlelight, as we pray together. For our younger and older parishioners alike, we’ve prepared engaging educational programs to deepen our faith.
Our outreach efforts are blooming wonderfully. Thanks to your generous hearts, we gathered 70 pounds of food for the Open Pantry last month! Let’s keep this spirit of giving alive; our next collection is on December 10. Please visit our website at stspp.org for all the details and updates.
A special day is approaching – on December 6, we remember Saint Nicholas, the real-life Santa Claus. His spirit of giving is a beacon of hope and love, reminding us of the joy in giving.
I’m particularly excited about our Prayer Service (Moleben) on December 13 at 5 pm. It’s a time for us to come together, to strengthen our bonds of family and community with prayers for love, peace, and understanding. In these turbulent times, this unity is our sanctuary.
And for our delightful young ones, mark your calendars for the Christmas party (Yolka) on December 30! It’s going to be a day of joy and celebration – more details will be on their way soon.
Your love and support for our parish are the pillars that hold us strong. Since the pandemic, our church has felt your absence, and our resources have been stretched. We have some essential repairs coming up – the cupolas, entrance staircase, fence, restrooms, and floor need your loving attention. Let’s join hands to restore the beauty of our spiritual home.
Please consider setting up a recurring donation through your bank or scan with your phone the PayPal QR code below to help sustain our beloved parish.
Our church doors are always open for you, ready to welcome you with the warmth of Christ’s love. I eagerly await the moment I can greet each of you in person, to share in prayer and sacraments. Your presence truly makes our church a family.
With all my love and prayers,
Fr. Michael
