Weekly Newsletter for the two weeks from Friday, July 20, 2007 through Thursday, August 3, 2007
Weekly
Newsletter for the two weeks
Friday, July 20, 2007
through Thursday, August 2, 2007
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
Note: This issue of the St. Mary Update covers the next two weeks. The next Update will be issued August 2.
PAINTING - The church is in the midst of being repainted, so Liturgy this Sunday, July 22, will be held downstairs in the Hall.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DEACON JEFF - Deacon Jeffery Smith has just completed the requirements for the Master of Arts in Theology degree from Balamand University . He will be awarded his degree by Metropolitan Philip next week during the Archdiocesan Convention.
ARCHDIOCESAN CONVENTION - The 48th Antiochian Archdiocese Convention will be held in Montreal , Canada , this Monday, July 23 through Sunday, July 29, 2007. Father Antony and parish secretary Marilyn Robbat will both be attending. Therefore:
- The church office will be closed during that week.
- In case of emergency call our Parish Council President, Ray Sayeg 617-872-9774 (cell)
- There will be no Vespers service on Saturday, July 28.
- We will have a supply priest on Sunday, July 29.
FR. ANTONY AWAY - After the Convention, Fr. Antony will be serving at the Antiochian Village from Monday, July 30, through Saturday, August 11. In case of emergency:
- From July 30 - Aug. 6: call Fr. John Teebagy 781-326-3046 ( St. John Church , Dedham )
- From Aug. 7-11: call Fr. Timothy Ferguson 617-323-0323 (St. George Church, West Roxbury )
- There will be no Vespers services on August 4 or 11.
- We will have a supply priest on Sunday, August 5.
DORMITION FAST - The fast before the Dormition of the Theotokos begins August 1, and continues until the Dormition feast (our Patronal Feast Day - see below) on August 15.
HELP WANTED: PRESCHOOL TEACHER- Theophany School has an opening for a Preschool teacher. For requirements and application instructions see the notice in the Sunday bulletin, or call the school at 781-444-3058.
REMINDERS
COFFEE HOUR - Please sign up to provide a coffee hour - it need not be more elaborate than coffee, juice, and cookies. Sign-up Sheet is on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall & Church Office, or just reply to this e-mail. Summer is a good time to "stick your toe in the water," as attendance is usually lower during these warm months. Most of the Sundays in August are still available
PILGRIMAGE TO NEW SKETE - The New Skete monastic communities in Cambridge , NY are hosting their 2007 Annual Pilgrimage on Saturday, August 11, with the theme Encountering God through Creation. The day will include services (Matins at 8:30 a.m., Divine Liturgy 9:30, Vigil 5:00 p.m.), talks, food, church tours, hiking, dog training demonstration, exhibits, monastic conversations, time for quiet reflection, and activities for children and teens. To coordinate rides and/or offer to help for the day, call our local contact: Teva Regule at 617-734-0210 or teva@mitlns.mit.edu See flyer on Church Bulletin Board.
PATRONAL FEAST DAY - Our parish's Patronal Feast Day, the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos, is Wednesday, August 15. Join us on Tuesday, August 14, for the Vigil for the Dormition (Vespers 4:15 p.m., Orthros with Lamentations 5:30, Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m.) followed at 8:15 p.m. by a light supper (adults & students $5.00, children free). Please RSVP to the Church Office, 617-547-1234) by August 7.
WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB - This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) will be reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. The author of The Kite Runner takes his storytelling powers to the next level with this instant classic. Following the lives of two Afghan women over 30 years, this beautiful, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting novel will sweep you away. We'll be discussing it on Wednesday, September 19 - start your summer reading now!
FOOD PANTRY - Two to four St. Mary's volunteers are needed each week to help in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. Contact Christian Alcala at 617-876-5684 or cmalcala1989@yahoo.com.
SOUP KITCHEN - Three or four St. Mary's volunteers are needed to help each week at the Open Doors Meal Ministry at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Allston, Mondays any time between 4:00 p.m. and 7:30. Contact Liz Tutella at 617-974-5005 (note new phone number) or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.
INSIGHT
Seek God daily. But seek Him in your heart, not outside it. And when you find Him, stand with fear and trembling, like the Cherubim and the Seraphim, for your heart has become a throne of God. But in order to find God, become humble as dust before the Lord, for the Lord abhors the proud, whereas He visits those that are humble in heart, wherefore He says: "To whom will I look, but to him that is meek and humble in heart?
-- St. Nectarous of Aegina
The Savior commanded: Enter thy closet and pray there to God your Father Which is in secret. This closet, according to the interpretation of St. Dmitri of Rostov , signifies the heart. Consequently, the Lord's command obliges us to pray to God secretly, with the mind in the heart. This command extends to all Christians.
-- Bishop Theophany the Recluse
When we strive with diligent sobriety to keep watch over our rational faculties, to control and correct them, how else can we succeed in this task except by collecting our mind, which is dispersed abroad through the senses, and bringing it back into the world within, into the heart itself, which is the storehouse of all our thoughts?
-- St. Gregory Palmas
Our heart is like a mirror; as the objects of the outer world are reflected in an ordinary mirror, so ought the truth to be reflected with all exactitude in our hearts.
- St. John of Krista
Seat yourself before the Lord continually, keeping the memory of Him in your heart, lest having lingered outside His memory, you are unable to speak boldly when you enter in before Him, because boldness with God comes from constant conversing with Him and from much prayer. Our connection and continuance with men is through the body; but our connection and continuance with God is through the soul's recollection [Syriac:meditation] and the vigilance and sacred offering of frequent prayer. From long continuance in His recollection, a man is transported at times to astonishment and wonder. For, "The heart of them that seek the Lord shall rejoice."
- St. Isaac the Syrian
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, July 21: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, July 22: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 28: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, July 29: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
SCRIPTURE READINGS for the next two Sundays:
July 22
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17 Bretheren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=74
Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22 At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, ... he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=106&event=979&DL=EN )
July 29:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=106&event=993 )
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-34 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=113&event=993&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, August 4: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, August 5: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 11: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's
Tuesday, August 14: Vigil for the Dormition (Vespers 4:15 p.m., Orthros with Lamentations 5:30, Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m., followed by supper)
Wednesday, August 15: The Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos
Sunday, August 26: Last day of Summer hours
VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES
FOOD PANTRY
Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. If you are willing to help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com or (617) 876-5684.
July 21: Mitrophan and Michelle Chin and family, and Christian Alcala
July 28: John Rodriguez and Jeff Wasilko
LITURGICAL SERVICE
The Epistle each Sunday is read by a member of the congregation, and six members of the congregation hold the cloth and Holy Bread baskets during Communion. If you would like to help with these services, please contact Jeff Wasilko at jeffw@smoe.org or 781-820-0882.
July 22: Epistle - Ashley Clampitt
Communion Assistance - Peter and Melissa Nassiff, Louise Homsy, Erick Straghalis, Liz Tutella, Lan Hu and Socrates Deligeorges
July 29: Epistle - Bob Kowalik
Communion Assistance - Thomas and Anthony Marge, and four others
COFFEE HOUR
To sign up for an available Sunday, please put your name on the signup sheet on the bulletin board outside the Hall or call Marilyn in the Office 617-547-1234 and she'll write your name in.
July 22: Tiffany Conroy
July 29: Socrates Deligeorges
August 5:
August 12: