Church Phone: (781) 585-8907

Administrator and Dean: Archpriest Vasily Lickwar | (401) 658-0874

Attached Priest: Archpriest John T. Bacon | burbank302@aol.com

President/Warden: Catherine Condrick | 781-635-7481 | catherinecondrick@yahoo.com

Third & Sixth Hour: Every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM

Divine Liturgy: Every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM followed by Church School and a fellowship meal

Vespers: The First Saturday of every month at 6:00 PM

To arrange a confession, baptism, marriage or funeral, please contact Fr. John Bacon.

You may also speak with him during the fellowship hour on Sundays.

St. Mark of Ephesus is blessed with a small, but actively participating congregation. We are a warm, family-oriented body of faithful believers and our members are of all age groups and we embrace many cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The parish conducts a regular and traditional cycle of Orthodox liturgical worship throughout the course of the year. Great Vespers takes place on the first Saturday of every month. Church School classes meet every Sunday after Divine Liturgy. The Parish Council meets the first Tuesday evening of every month, under the guidance of the parish rector to maintain and promote the wholesomeness, stability and well-being of the parish. 

Each Sunday, Divine Liturgy is followed by a time of pleasant fellowship and hospitality, as an expression of Eucharistic unity. The St. Mark parish participates regularly in several community charitable ministries such as on-going charities to aid local shelters, grocery collections for our on-going food pantry, and visiting the ill and shut-ins in our community. All these inititatives are supported by the free-will offerings and volunteer assistance of the parishioners.

Next Sunday, August 25 - Relics of the Apostle Bartholomew - Fr. John, Celebrant 

The Transfer of the Relics of the Apostle Bartholomew took place at the end of the sixth century. His apostolic activity and martyr's end are remembered by the Church on June 11. The Apostle Bartholomew suffered for Christ in Armenian Albanus (now Baku) in the year 71, where his holy relics were. Numerous miracles occured from the relics of the holy Apostle, and many of the unbelieving were converted to Christ. Under the emperor Anastasius (491-518) the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew were transferred into the newly constructed city of Anastasiopolis (or Dura) and remained there until the end of the sixth century. (If you would like to read more about the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew, please visit the OCA website under "Feasts and Saints" for August 25).

Readings: John 21:1-14

1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Matthew 17:14-23

Tuesday, August 20 at 6:00 pm - Parish Council Meeting

Saturday, August 31 - Membership Diocesan Dues Due Date- pledge forms are available on the prayer table in the narthex and were sent out by email. If you need a pledge form sent to you, please write Catherine Condrick at catherinecondrick@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Sunday, September 1: Confessions at 9:00 AM, Church New Year - special prayers

Saturday, September 7: Confessions at 5:00 PM & Great Vespers at 6:00 PM

Sunday, September 8: Great Feast of the Nativity of the Holy Theotokos & Commemoration of those Orthodox who died on September 11, 2001 in the terrorist attacks

Sunday, September 15: Great Feast of the Exaltation | Celebrant to be determined

Sunday, September 22: Church School begins & Service of Thanksgiving for the beginning of a church school year

Sunday, September 29: The St. Mark Book Club will hold its first meeting of the new church year after the fellowship hour. We will discuss our previous book "Truly Human" and we will discuss our next book and meeting dates and times.

Welcome to a new year at Church School on Sunday, September 22! A service of Thanksgiving will be held on this day as well to commemorate the beginning of the Church School year. Please click on the "Church School Tab" of our website for more information about church school.

For our elementary students, church school will begin immediately following Divine Liturgy. Ms. Jen is looking for a few simple, healthy, non-perishable and non-messy snacks that could be kept in a secure tote in the loft. Examples would be: fruit snacks, goldfish crackers and granola bars. If your child has a food allergy, please let Ms. Jen know. If you would like to donate snacks, please bring them with you on the first day of church school. Thank you!

Here are some highlights:

The Sunday school room has a new reading nook, which will allow each class to spread out and develop its own identity and focus on their work with minimal distractions

Class Break Down:

St. Anna: High School (independent study and teaching assistant)

St. Mary of Egypt: Fourth grade and up (church school time)

St. Jacob Netsetov: Third grade and younger (church school time)

Our St. Jacob students will continue to use the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese elementary curriculum; they are progressing to the second grade series: Loving God. The St. Mary class will use the Orthodox Christian Education Commission's fourth grade series: Jesus, the Promise of God.

Learing about Confession: This year, in coordination with Fr. John Bacon, we will be preparing all students for their first confession. Lessons relating to confession will be incorporated into the church school year. We hope to schedule a special time for all students to make their first confession and the commemorate this special occasion with a celebration.

Please send a "praying for you" card to His Eminence Archbishop Nikon to:

P.O. Box 149

Southbridge, MA 01550

*Be sure you mention you are from St. Mark in Kingston. His hospital stay has been extended and he will be spending a few days at the rehab facility.

Please consider sending a card to someone on our prayer list to show them that you care and please continue to pray for them.  Greeting cards are available in the bookstore at St. Mark for $3.00. If you would like to send a card to a parishioner and do not have their address, please contact Catherine Condrick at catherinecondrick@yahoo.com.

The ill and shut-in: George Sowpel, Greg Smith, Cecelia, Archbishop Nikon, Reader John Hood, Gina, Paula & Jeff Starr, Norma, Peter, Alexandra, Nicholas, Archpriest Steven Belonick, Alban Frank Ryles, Matushka Eleanor, Priest Antony, Child Joshua, Tatiana, Kh. Diana, Frances, Alexandra, Eugenia, Lydia, Reader George, Matushka Irene, Gregory, Alexandra; the Kidnapped Hierarchs Metropolitan Paul (Boulos Yazigi) & Archbishop John (Yohanna Ibrahim); the suffering Christians of Egypt/Syria; those who suffer from terrorist attacks, fires, storms, floods and earthquakes. 

Please pray for and visit those who are sick and suffering today, as many need our love and support.