Update for the week Friday, September 17, through Thursday, September 23, 2010

THIS WEEKEND

SERBIAN FESTIVAL - Friday through Sunday this weekend , September 17-19, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Alewife will be hosting its 5th annual SerbFest, featuring live music, ethnic food, photography exhibits, and much more!  For more information, visit http://www.stsavaboston.org/festival.html

SONIA’S RUN – The second annual 5k road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of  beloved friend Sonia Belcher, will be held on Saturday,  September 18 , at St. George Church, West  Roxbury.  The 5K Run/Walk  begins at 9:00 am;  Kids Fun Run at 8:30 am.  Be a runner….Be a volunteer….Be a sponsor!  Call Kim Daly 781-510-1175 or kimdaly4@gmail.comor  www.SoniasRun.org

CHURCH SCHOOL  - Church School classes begin this Sunday. This first lesson will be brief, so the children can return for the Procession of the Cross immediately following Liturgy.

ON-LINE STEWARDSHIP SIGN-UP - There will be a table at Coffee Hour this Sunday for those who would like to try eGive.  We’ll have a laptop to help walk you through the process on the spot.  All you need to bring is a sample check from your checking account.  Please e-mail Jamil Samara (jamil@jamilsamara.com) or Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) if you have any questions.

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN CELEBRATION – You are cordially invited to a celebration honoring V. Rev. Fr. Ed Hughes, Spiritual Advisor to the Antiochian Women of the Diocese, Sunday, September 19, at St. George, West Roxbury (55 Emmonsdale Rd)  from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.  Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served, and there will be a short program. You can win a lovely gift! Enjoy refreshments and fellowship!   Everyone is welcome, including men, women and teens – and it’s free! Please to Gladys Laham at 617-469-0223, or Joyce Hanna at jnhanna@yahoo.com

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

INQUIRERS’ CLASS – The Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catechetical Group (the Inquirer's Class) will begin on September 26, 2010. This class is for non-Orthodox persons who wish to learn more about the Orthodox Faith or who are contemplating being received into the Church. It meets each Sunday from 9:00 am until 10:00  am  in the St. Mary Library from September through May. If you are interested please contact David Vermette (dgvermette@gmail.comor 617-776-5635). A brochure is available at the bengarri.

FR. ANTONY to DN. MILAD’S ORDINATION - Fr. Antony will be out of town from Friday through Tuesday, September 24 – 28, 2010, attending the Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Dn. Milad Selim in Michigan. 

In case of emergency, contact Fr. Timothy Ferguson at St. George Church, West Roxbury at 617-323-0323.

NO MORE CARE PACKAGES FOR SCOTT!– Scott Hakim, Fr. Antony’s  "spiritual son, " a Marine  who has been serving in Afghanistan for the past six months (and in Iraq before that), will be coming home in a couple of weeks.  Therefore the FSJD  no longer needs  care package donations.   We are very grateful for the generosity of all the St. Mary parishioners and friends who have contributed books, food, socks,  candy, etc.  for Scott and his fellow Marines.  Thank you for your caring concern and prayers!

ATTENTION STUDENTS– If you are a new or returning college or university student, please fill out a green College Student Address Form on the Bengarri (desk in the Narthex) so that we have your current addresses and information and you can receive announcements about activities at St. Mary's and on campus.  See Charlie Marge if you have questions.

ORTHODOX EDUCATION DAY– On Saturday, October 2, 2010, St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Yonkers, NYwill sponsor its annual Orthodox Education Day. The theme will be  “Many Cultures, One Faith.” For more information see http://www.svots.edu/events/many-cultures-one-faith-orthodox-education-day

MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to inform you that William J. Matta of Quincy, father of Doreen Bargoot and her husband Andrew and grandfather of Rachel and Andrew, passed away on September 12, 2010, at the age of 78. He was the husband of the late Gloria M. (Zine) Matta. A funeral mass was celebrated at St. Agatha Church, Milton, on Thursday morning; Interment was at Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Anne Shrine 16 Church St., Fiskdale, MA 01518.

REMINDERS

WOMEN’S CLUB– The next meeting of the St. Mary Women’s Club will be  Tuesday, September 21, at 7:30, in the small hall next to the kitchen. Feel free to join us!

DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING- Due to a generous donation, the church is about to install a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine downstairs in the church hall, and plans on hosting a professional training session for the AED machine in the fall for our parishioners.  This training would be at no cost to parishioners and would last approximately 30-45 minutes.

In the alternative, the Parish council is requesting feedback from parishioners about interest in a combination CPR and AED class wherein attendees could receive their certification in these areas.  This class would carry a small cost, would be sanctioned by the Red Cross or other entity, and would last about 4-6 hours. We need to know how many parishioners are interested in order to schedule the training. Please see Raymond Sayeg (rsayeg@dennerpellegrino.com) or Eric Straghalis (estraghalis@gmail.com) by next Sunday, September 26, if you are interested in these classes.  

WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST– The Fellowship of St. John the Divine will hold its annual “Welcome Back College Students” Breakfast on Sunday, October 3, 2010.  A suggested minimum donation of $5 will be gratefully accepted from non-students.  Please RSVP by Sunday, September 26 – call the Church Office at 617-547-1234.

ST. THEKLA PILGRIMAGE – Theannual St. Thekla pilgrimage will take place over the weekend of  September 24 – 26, 2010 at Antiochian Village.  This year’s theme will be  Ascending the Mountain:  It’s a Family Road Trip.   Presiding Hierarch will be  Rt. Rev. Bishop THOMAS, with Mother Alexandra, Abbess of the Convent of St. Thekla, as an additional speaker.  For more information, visit www.antiochianvillage.orgor contact the office at the Antiochian Village 724-238-3677.  See brochure on Church Bulletin Board.  Registration and payment deadline:  September 1, 2010.
(Note:  If you are going to this event, please contact Joyce Kilsey at 401-636-0268.  She’s interested in finding people to go with.)

SFEEHA AND KIBBEH SALE  - The Women’s Club is offering for purchase freshly made Sfeeha (ground lamb-meat pizza pies with onion, pine nuts & seasonings) and Kibbeh (8 ½”x 11” tray made with ground lamb-meat and burghul).  Everything is cooked with the finest of ingredients and ready to eat now or freeze for the holidays!  Please use the order form in the  Sunday bulletin, or contact the church office for a copy.  Order deadline is Sunday, October 3.  Pick-Up Dates are  Sunday, October 17  for Sfeeha, and Sunday, October 24, for   Kibbeh.
WOMEN’S CLUB BOOK DISCUSSION -  The Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  Read the book  and join us on Tuesday, October 5  for an enjoyable evening of discussion,  refreshments and fellowship! Book discussion will begin at 8:00 pm, following a brief business meeting to begin at 7:30 pm.

ST.  MARY PAWTUCKET CENTENNIAL– St. Mary, Pawtucket RI, will be celebrating their 100th anniversary the weekend of October 8-10, with Metropolitan PHILIP presiding.  Events include a “Walk Down Memory Lane,” a Grand Hafli (Saturday, in Parish Hall, $40 per person),  Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and a Grand Banquet ( Sunday, at Providence Marriott Downtown, $85 per person).   Combo ticket:  $120 per person. Call the Church Office at 401-726-1202 for tickets.

HELP MAKE SFEEHA AND KIBBEH– Please come to the church on Saturdaymorning, October 16, starting at 9:00 am to help make meat pies with the Women's Club.   Lots of help will be needed – young and old, women and men are all welcome - and it's always lots of fun.  Also, if you can, come at 9:00 Friday morning, October 22, to help the Women’s Club cook Kihbbeh.

HELP NEEDED: FOOD PANTRY COORDINATORTwo to four volunteers from St. Mary are scheduled to 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 volunteer to be the new coordinator - contact outgoing coordinator Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684. Our grateful thanks to Christian for serving in this capacity for the past several years.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please sign up to provide a coffee hour – it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies.  Lots of Sundays are available in the Fall, and plenty of help is available! Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call Marilyn in the office at 617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org

STREAMING VIDEO- Divine Liturgy at St. Mary is broadcast live every week!  Do come to church…  but if you can’t, then join us on your computer! To see live broadcasts go tohttps://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/livestream.  Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 am every Sunday  September through June, and at 9:30 am during the summer.

This ministry is looking for more volunteers who can help set up the streaming service prior to Liturgy on Sunday mornings and potentially during other events (speakers, vespers, etc.).  Volunteers would rotate weekly, taking turns setting up the camera, computer and microphones each week.  Some technical expertise may be required, but training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Erick Straghalis (estraghalis@gmail.com).   Thank you!

FIRST IN, LAST OUT– Please do not park in the small lot behind the church unless you intend to stay through the end of coffee hour. The only way out is the single lane driveway.  Please pull all the way in to the parking space, and please do not block the driveway – if the lot is full, you can park on the street or in the lot at the corner of Prospect Street and Bishop Allen Drive.

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 Communionby 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 eight people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during 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.orgor 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 atliztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com.

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 volunteer to be the new coordinator -  contact outgoing coordinator 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, for more information.

"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

LITURGICAL SERVICE – Epistle:  Tiffany Conroy; Communion Cloth and Bread: Melissa Nassiff, Linda Arnold, and others

If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko,  jeffw@smoe.org.   If you have held the bread or communion cloth before, and see an empty space, feel free to step in and help.

COFFEE HOUR – The Nebeye and Mazzoni Families

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, September 18:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, September 19, Sunday After the Elevation of the Cross:  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am,  followed by  Procession of the Holy Cross;  Church School classes start

SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 19:
Epistle:  St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20
Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, … I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel:  Mark 8:34-9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? "

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, September 25:  NO Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, September 26:  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am;  Church School lesson 2

Saturday,  October 2:  Great Vespers 5:00

Sunday, October 3:  Welcome Back Breakfast

Saturday, October 9:  No Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, October 10:  No Church School

INSIGHT

We must bear our cross because we want to be with Christ and to participate in His glory. If Jesus Christ, our Master and Teacher, gained heavenly glory through suffering, would it not be shameful for us to share His glory when we faintheartedly shun any trials or sorrows?
   - St. Innocent of Irkutsk, Indication of the Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven

All the works of our life and its various activities will pass away and disappear... Nothing will remain except these two peculiar acts: God's love for us and our worship of him. These two shall never pass away even after this life is over. They shall last forevermore in the life to come. 
   - Abba Matthew the Poor

Morality is a heresy when it becomes a substitute  for our life in Christ, . . . when we reduce religion to a moral code, when we reduce the faith to a system of correct behavior instead of a struggle to purify the conscience and acquire the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
   - Archbishop Lazar Puhalo

O Lord, Thou didst reproach the Pharisee when he justified himself, boasting of his deeds; and justified the Publican when he approached humbly, seeking forgiveness with sighs; for Thou dost not draw near to arrogant thoughts, nor turn away contrite hearts. Wherefore, we also kneel before Thee meekly, O Thou Who didst suffer for our sakes. Grant us forgiveness and thy Great Mercy.
   - Doxasticon from Orthros, Tone 8