Sixteen faithful pledged members of Saint Olga of Alaska Mission Station joined Archpriest Terenti Wasielewski and chanter Brother David for a beautiful celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the new Diocesan Mission Station in Plattsburgh, New York, on Saturday morning, August 24. Some of the regular communicants were absent due to work commitments and illness, but the fledgling community welcomed a SUNY Plattsburgh student from Brooklyn as well as an inquirer from nearby Lewis, NY. George and Nathaniel Foutch did a great job as altar boys, under the guidance of Andrew Christy.

A delicious fellowship meal was enjoyed by all, and a lively discussion of the next steps needed to be taken by the core group of the mission station ensued. Everyone assured Fr. Terry that storage of necessary materials will be divided among the core group, that people are committed to set up and take down icons, etc. for each Liturgy, and that congregational singing will continue to be worked on not only for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, but also for the monthly Reader’s Services being held at parishioners’ homes.

Reader’s Services have been scheduled for September 7 and October 5. The next Divine Liturgies will be celebrated on September 21 and October 26. Father Terry is confident that the commitment is there for this mission station to grow and flourish, and the communicants will continue to do all that they can to encourage other people to “come and see.”

The St. Olga of Alaska Mission Station Divine Liturgies are hosted at the Plattsburgh United Methodist Church, 127 Beekman Street, Plattsburgh, NY, at 10:00 a.m., usually the last Saturday of each month. Anyone who knows of Orthodox Christians or persons interested in embracing the Faith in the greater Plattsburgh area, is urged to visit the diocesan mission station. Contact information is available through email at: 1954tlw@gmail.com or by telephone: 518-369-2430.