Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, March 20, through Thursday, March 26, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

AKATHIST AND SPEAKER - Akathist service is  at 7:00 pm this Friday, and continues every Friday through April 3. After the service we'll meet in the Church hall for refreshments and a Learning in Lent presentation (approximately 8-9:30 pm). This evening's speaker is Robert Kowalik;   his topic is On Piety and Devotion

LENTEN RETREAT WITH FREDERICA MATHEWES-GREEN  - The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Newburyport, MA, invites you to its 3rd Annual Lenten Retreat, Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm with lunch.  Topic:  Transforming Our Life and Our World, with featured speaker,  Frederica Mathewes-Green.  Cost:  $15 per person ($10: Students & Seniors)  Registration deadline was March 16. For more information please e-mail annunciationlentenretreat@verizon.net or call Julie Ray at 978-462-5262.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANKS FROM THE WOMEN'S CLUB - A special Thank You to all those who helped on Saturday, March 14, to make the Spinach Triangles.  The fellowship was GREAT!!

PASCHA BAKE SALE - The Women's Club will hold its annual Pascha Bake Sale on Sunday, April 5, 2009 (The Sunday before Palm Sunday).  Plan on purchasing all your Pascha/Easter desserts, pastries and goodies!  If you can help bake or bring something for us to sell, please call

Selma Winstanley at 781-646-9405 or Marilyn Robbat at 617-547-1234.

FSJD BOOK CLUB - As you may recall, the book discussion sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine originally scheduled for last fall, was postponed to April 26. This will coincide with the vonHolzhausen lecture the following week, since our speaker will be the author of the book.  It's also great Lenten reading if you are still looking for some good reads this season.

Book: Mystic Street: Meditations on a Spiritual Path by Steve Georgiou

When: Sunday, April 26

Where: We'll meet up  in the church hall after coffee hour and discuss

What you need to do: You can order the book through Amazon.com  or Spirit Currents (http://www.spiritcurrents.com). Your local library or local bookstore may also have a copy if you'd rather go that route. 

Questions? Let Larisa Patachiola  or Brooke Wilcox know- snag them on Sunday or drop one of them an e-mail at larisademshuk@yahoo.com or brookewilcox@gmail.com. If you know someone who might want to join in on the reading fun, spread the word!

VonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine cordially invites you to the annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen dinner and lecture on Saturday, May 2, 2009, following Vespers. Dinner is at 6:00 p.m.; the lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m.

This year's speaker is S.T. Georgiou, Ph.D., who teaches Humanities and Comparative Religion at San Francisco City College and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.  He recently completed his GTU doctoral studies in Religion and Art,  and is the author of The Way of the Dreamcatcher: Spirit-Lessons With Robert Lax,  Poet-Peacemaker-Sage;  and Mystic Street: Meditations On A Spiritual Path (the subject of our Book Club discussion - see above).  The title of his lecture will be When Less is More: Sharing the Wisdom & Simplicity of Robert Lax, Poet, Hermit, Mystic of Patmos.  A book signing will follow his presentation.

REMINDERS

LENTEN POTLUCKS - Every Wednesday during Lent there will be a Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Potluck Supper sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John.  Do plan to come and bring something to share.  Any Lenten fare is welcome:  main courses, sides, salads, desserts, as well as beverages and snacks.  This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship during Lent, plus we get to sample each other's Lenten recipes.  Please stay for supper even if you can't bring food--there's room at the table for everyone. 

LEARNING IN LENT - The Fellowship of St John the Divine (FSJD) will offer its  annual lecture series on the following Fridays in Lent.  After Akathist, which starts at 7:00 pm, we'll meet in the Church hall for refreshments and a presentation (approximately 8-9:30 pm).

March 20:  Robert Kowalik (Master of Divinity, Holy Cross Seminary; Master of Arts in Religion, Yale Divinity School) - On Piety and Devotion

March 27:  Teva Regule (Master of Divinity, Holy Cross Seminary) - Who are We?  Christian Identity Formation in the Services of Pascha

April 3:  David Vermette  (St Mary's Catechism Director) - "The Problem of Evil" and the Orthodox Tradition

(April 10 - No Akathist service the sixth week of Lent; therefore there will be no speaker)

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN'S MONTH - March is Antiochian Women's Month throughout the Archdiocese. Women of the parish will be reading the Epistle, holding the Communion cloths and bread baskets, taking the collection, and delivering the homily. 

BOSTON BYZANTINE CHOIR CONCERT - The Sound of Icons, a concert of Orthodox sacred chant in English before a visually expressive background of Orthodox Sacred Art, will be presented on March 28 at 7 p.m. at Ss. Constantine & Helen Church, 35 Lake Parkway, Webster, MA . The concert will be preceded by Vespers at 6 p.m.  Goodwill donations will be welcomed. Lenten dinner to follow.

LENTEN RETREAT WITH KYRIAKI K. FITZGERALD - St. Michael, Cotuit invites you to an Adult Lenten Retreat, Saturday, April 4, 2009   Topic:  "Reflections on Psalm 50,"  with speaker,  Kyriaki K. Fitzgerald, M.Div., Ph.D.  Retreat & Luncheon cost:  $20.   Registration Deadline:  March 31, 2009.  For more information call Lorraine Reiley at 508-240-2412.

SYRIAN-LEBANESE SCHOLARSHIPS - The Women's Club of Greater Boston offers scholarships to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, living in Massachusetts within a 50-miles radius of Boston , who plan to pursue a 4-year college education.  Awards ($1,000) are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character.  Each applicant must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes which best serve the community.  Applications are available through our Church Office or call Mary Winstanley O'Connor at 617-523-1010 or e-mail at her moconnor@koilaw.com Application must be postmarked by March 31. 

RETREAT AT NEW SKETE #2 -  On May 22-24 (Memorial Day weekend), the Fellowship of St. John the Divine is sponsoring a weekend retreat Friday through Sunday at New Skete Monastery. The details of the retreat are still in the planning stages, but SAVE THE DATE!  Please RSVP to Tiffany Conroy (trattus1@gmail.com or 617-990-7162) by April 1, or contact her for more information.

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN'S SPRING FLING - On April 4, 2009, the women of the diocese will sponsor a visit to the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA.  Bus transportation is available, departing at 9:45 am from the Russian Church of the Epiphany at 961 South St . , Roslindale, and returning approximately 3:15 pm.  The cost for this package, which includes bus transportation, museum admission with guided tour, and a $10 voucher for lunch at a local restaurant, is $49.95.  For those who prefer to drive, the museum admission alone is $4.  Please RSVP to Priscilla Goss, or contact her for further information,  at pagoss@aol.com or phone 781-762-1527.

BASKETS FOR BATTERED WOMEN - The Women's Club is requesting your support with monetary donations toward the purchase of items for our annual Baskets for the Battered Women's Family Shelter.  Each year, gifts baskets are made up of household items and given to the families to facilitate their moves into new homes and apartments.  Please see Louise Homsy or Shirley Bezreh at the Bengarri.  Make checks payable to St. Mary Women's Club and earmark:  Battered Women.  Thank you.

RETREATS AT ST. VLADIMIR'S - St. Vladimir's Seminary, Yonkers, NY, has announced two public events:

Annual Public Lenten Retreat, Saturday, April 4:  Speaker:  V. Rev. Dr. Alexander Atty

Topic: "Good & Faithful Servants." 

Summer Conference for Clergy & Laity, June 18 - 20, 2009 Keynote:  Archpriest Alexander Garklavs. Topic: "The Council & the Tomos: 20th Century Landmarks towards a 21st Century Church." E-mail or call 914-961-8313 Ext. 343

Register:  www.svotsedu or email: events@svots.edu   See  flyers on church bulletin board.

PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine is hosting its annual fish dinner on Sunday, April 12 after Liturgy.  Instead of cooking, spend your Palm Sunday with your family and friends in Church. A freewill donation will be collected and we need lots of help with serving and cleanup.  Please let us know how many will be coming - contact Lan Hu at hulan0@gmail.com or 617-953-8724, by Sunday, April 5th.

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE - Money Boxes are on the Bengarri. Please be sure to pick one or two up and place them throughout your home. Our Church School Students have been  given their own boxes to fill. Be generous with your contributions during this Lenten season. Return the filled FFHP boxes to the Bengarri or to Violet Robbat on Palm Sunday, April 12, 2009.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE - St. George Church in Lawrence will be hosting the 2009 Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of New England, June 25-28, at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover , MA .  Singles and Doubles:  $95.  Triples: $105 and Quads: $115.  Hotel reservation deadline is June 4, 2009; mention Parish Life Conference for special rates.   More information can be found on St. George's website at www.stgeorgelawrence.org/Conf2009     

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP - Schedules have been announced for the 2009 camping program at the Village - see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html

CROSSROADS - High School Juniors and Seniors:  The Office of Vocation & Ministry at Hellenic College is now accepting applications for its summer CrossRoad program.  Two sessions are offered:  June 20 - 30 and July 7 - 17, 2009.  For more information and application see  www.crossroad.hchc.edu or call 617-850-1309. 

ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - The national convention for the whole Archdiocese will be held July 19 - 26 at Desert Springs JW Marriot Hotel, Palm Desert , California, hosted by St. Michael Church, Van Nuys. Check out their website at www.archdioceseconvention2009.org  for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshippers and those in need.  Consider serving in one of these ways:

PARTICIPATION

Liturgical Service - Each Sunday, members of the congregation are needed to read the Epistle and assist during Communion by holding the Communion Cloths and Holy Bread Baskets.  All Orthodox Christians in the Parish are welcome and encouraged to participate. We usually need one Epistle reader and six people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org

Coffee Hour - People are needed every week to provide coffee, juice and cookies, or more if desired, and set it up Sunday morning. 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 Robbat in the Parish Office and she will write your name in. If you need any help with figuring out what to bring or do, check the list below the signup sheet (also printed in the Bulletin), or ask Marilyn at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.

VOLUNTEERING

Holy Resurrection Open Doors - The Holy Resurrection Open Door Meal Ministry in Allston needs volunteers every Monday evening (there is a special need in the summer).  The official hours of the project are 4:30 pm-7:30 pm, but it is fine to come anytime and leave any time.  Best times would be 5:30-5:45 to 7:15-7:30 pm.  You can serve meals, coffee and tea to the people who arrive for dinner (6-7 pm) or just stay behind the scenes doing set-up and clean-up.  It is a very rewarding, hands-on, face-to-face way to serve the community with (mostly) other Orthodox Christians-we even chant the Our Father together before the meal begins. Church info can be found at  http://hrocboston.org.  

 Questions? Please contact Liz Straghalis at liztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162.

St Paul's Food Pantry - Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St Paul 's Roman Catholic Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

DONATIONS

Food and Clothing - Holy Resurrection in Allston takes donations of non-perishable food items and clothing to distribute at the Open Door Ministry on Monday evenings.  You can bring your donations by on Monday nights between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm or contact Tiffany Conroy, trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162, for more information.

- St. Paul 's Food Pantry in Harvard Square , where volunteers from St. Mary help every Saturday, depends upon regular donations of canned and packaged foods.  To help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

Monetary Contributions - The Agape Canister Program is an Orthodox non-profit development program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center .  It is dedicated to meeting the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or creed. All funds collected by the Agape Canister Program are earmarked for medical care and clinics, water wells, agricultural development, food and clothing, support personnel (e.g. doctors, nurses, teachers), the construction of schools, and the education of indigenous people in their own communities.  Please contribute each Sunday - A clear plastic box is on the Bengarri.

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.

THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS

FOOD PANTRY

March 21:   David Vermette and Christian Alcala

LITURGICAL SERVICE

March 22:   Women of the Church - Epistle: Trish Orlovsky;  Left Cloth:  ;  Right Cloth: Renay DiFiore  and Melissa Nassiff;  Left Bread: Louise Homsy;  Right Bread: Maria Walcott;  Collection:  Priscilla Goss and Meg Butler;  Homily: Melissa Nassiff

COFFEE HOUR

March 22:   Samer & Helen Mosallam.

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Friday, March 20: Akathist Service 7:00 pm,  followed by Learning in Lent
Saturday, March 21: 
Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, March 22:
  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;  Church School music lesson downstairs 

SCRIPTURE READINGS for March 22, Sunday of the Adoration of the Holy Cross: 

Epistle:  St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Gospel: Mark 8:34-38; 9:1  The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. "

Monday, March 23:  Lenten Compline at All Saints, So. Weymouth 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 24:
  Evening Liturgy for Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos 6:30 pm
Wednesday, March 25,
Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos:  Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by pot luck supper

LOOKING AHEAD

Friday, March 27: Akathist Service 7:00 pm,  followed by Learning in Lent
Saturday, March 28:
 Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, March 29
:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;  Church School lesson 18
Wednesday, April 1:
  Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by pot luck supper
Friday, April 3:
Final Akathist Service 7:00 pm,  followed by Learning in Lent
Sunday, April 19:
Holy Pascha
Saturday, May 2
:  FSJD von Holzhausen lecture
Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28
:  Parish Life Conference

INSIGHT

Hail! life-giving Cross, the fair Paradise of the Church, Tree of incorruption that brings us the enjoyment of eternal glory: through thee the hosts of demons have been driven back; and the hierarchies of angels rejoice with one accord, as the congregations of the faithful keep the feast. Thou art an invincible weapon, an unbroken stronghold; thou art the victory of kings and the glory of priests.

   - Great Vespers on Saturday Evening before the Third Sunday of Lent

Why do we honor the Cross with such reverence that we make mention of its power in our prayers after asking for the intercession of the Mother of God and the Heavenly Powers, before asking for that of the Saints, and sometimes even before asking for that of the Heavenly Powers? Because after the Savior's sufferings, the Cross became the sign of the Son of Man, that is, the Cross signifies the Lord Himself, incarnate and suffering for our salvation.

   - St. John of Kronstadt

The purpose of ascesis is to divest oneself of surplus weight, of spiritual fat. It is to dissolve in the waters of baptism, in the water of tears, all the hardness of the heart, so that it may become an antenna of infinite sensitivity, infinitely vulnerable to the beauty of the world and to the sufferings of human beings, and to God who is Love, who has conquered by the wood of the cross.

   - Olivier Clément

Today[Pascha]  we celebrate our shining victory. Today our Master has set up the trophy against death, has undone the tyranny of the Devil, and has granted us the way of salvation through the Resurrection. We all rejoice, exult, and leap with joy. Even though it was our Master Christ Who conquered and set up the trophy, we all share in common the joy and happiness. All this He did for our salvation, and with the same means with which the Devil battled against us, with the same means did Christ conquer him. He took up the same weapons and He fought against him. How? Listen to it. The virgin, the wood, and death were the symbols of our defeat. Eve was a virgin. When she suffered the fraud, she had not known man. The wood is the tree, and death is the punishment given to Adam. Do you see how the virgin, the wood, and death became the symbols of our defeat? Behold, therefore, how they again became the causes of victory. In the place of Eve, Mary; in the place of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the wood of the Cross; in the place of the death of Adam, the death of the Master. Do you see by what means He conquered, with the same means Adam had been defeated?

   - St. John Chrysostom, A Homily  on the Holy Pascha