Christmas Bake sale part 2 of 2



Sunday morning has arrived and it’s time for our bake sale! This year, the sale fell on November 11th,  the 24th Sunday after Pentecost. Today, in the Orthodox Church we commemorate the Martyrs Menas, Victor, Vincent, Stephanida and St. Theodore of the Studion.

Troparion - Martyrs (tone 4)
Thy holy martyrs Menas, Victor, Vincent, Stephanida, O Lord * through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God * For having their strength they laid low their adversaries * and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.// Through their intercessions save our souls!

Troparion - St. Theodore (tone 8)
Champion of Orthodoxy and teacher of purity and true worship, * enlightener of the universe and adornment of hierarchs: * all-wise father Theodore, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things. * Intercede before Christ God to save our souls!

You can read more about these precious saints and their lives here

Divine Liturgy begins at 9:00 am at St. Mary’s and at 8:00 am there is already a flurry of activity in the parish center. Quite a lot of the bake sale was set up the day before and today we arrange and display Christmas cookies baked by our ladies and parish volunteers.




We also had a table dedicated to selling holubki, perohi and leftover bacon bits!  Those sold out fast.





The Russian tea was served with an extra-large Russian tea cake.




St. Mary’s Cathedral has a robust attendance to Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings, especially on Sundays when there is church school. Accordingly, an “average” coffee hour needs to provide sustenance for 300+ hungry and thirsty men, women and children.  Take a look at what coffee hour at St. Mary’s looks like!



We need a small team of volunteers to set up, serve and clean up coffee hour. Typically, different clubs (Women’s Club, Saints, Perohi Group, Church School...) within the church take turns hosting a coffee hour. Sometimes several individuals will sign- up together to host a Sunday. We prep 18-20+ trays with simple treats and a double line of hungry church-goers file through the buffet line. Volunteers are on hand to replace empty trays, pour hot tea, juice and milk. The coffee is made earlier in the morning, poured into carafes and placed on all of the tables, along with sugar, creamers and disposable cups. Our parish center coffee maker was recently replaced with a new one and we thank God for it!  This wonderful addition to our kitchen is a joy to use!



The coffee hour and bake sale was a wonderful success! We are so very grateful for all of our volunteers and helpers! We had help baking bread, coring cabbage, preparing holubki and perohi, serving the coffee hour, provided baked goods, and a thousand other details! Thank you so much!

In Christ,

The Saint Mary’s Women’s Club


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