Update for the week Friday, July 27, through Thursday, August 2, 2012
THIS WEEKEND
VESPERS – There will be Great Vespers this Saturday, July 28, at 5:00 pm.
SUMMER HOURS – Every Sunday during July and August, Orthros begins at 8:15 am, and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am.
NEW SKETE PILGRIMAGE –The Monastic Communities of New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York (www.newskete.org), invite you to their Annual Summer Festival on Saturday, August 11, 2012, between 8:30am - 6:00pm. The day will include Church Services, Church Tours, Food Court, Photo Exhibit, Gardens, Children's Activities, Gift Shops, Guided Hike, and a Healing Service with Anointing. This year’s guest speaker will be Dr. Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald, Theologian and Psychologist, whose theme will be Persons in Communion: A Theology of Authentic Relationships. Information and Registration: http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1x7fv/NewSketeAnnualPilgri/resources/index.htm For housing arrangements and more information contact Teva Regule, teva@mit.edu no later than this Sunday, July 29.
DORMITION FAST – The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, August 15, is our Patronal feast day. The Dormition fast begins this coming Wednesday, August 1, and continues through Tuesday, August 14, the eve of the Feast. There will be a Paraclesis Service at 6:30 pm on Wednesday evenings, August 1 and August 8.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
BIBLE BOWL – St. Mary’s Bible Bowl team, consisting of Alex Dalton, Anthony Marge and Theo Smith, and coached by Violet Robbat, came in fourth in the nation at the North American Bible Bowl Competition at Antiochian Village at the Summer Meetings last weekend! Winning team was the Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada and Upstate New York. St. Mary's has now represented New England 4 years in a row at the Nationals. Many thanks to Violet Robbat for the many hours of coaching she spent with our team! For photos and a nice write-up see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp/memories/photos.html?setID=72157630688962562&title=Day%206%20Session%203&parent=2012%20Session%203&parent_id=80407044-72157630595990068 (find their photos 3rd and 5th rows from the bottom)
STARTING COLLEGE – The Orthodox Christian Fellowship wants to identify all Orthodox students who will be beginning college this fall, in order to reach out to them and give them information regarding the OCF chapter on campus and nearby Orthodox parishes. To give your student’s information, please go to www.ocf.net/wikis/resources/new-student-contact-form.aspx download the New Student Contact Form and once you’ve filled it out, please e-mail to contacts@ocf.net OR call the Church Office 617-547-1234 for assistance. This information is requested by the end of July. NOTE: All information remains CONFIDENTIAL.
CHURCH SCHOOL – Registration for Church School for 2012-2013 will be Sunday, September 9. Church School classes will begin Sunday, September 16.
SONIA’S RUN - The fourth annual 5k road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of beloved friend Sonia Belcher, will be held on Saturday, September 17. Watch for more information to come.
REMINDERS
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – Eighteen of St. Mary's kids have been attending camp, with generous partial scholarships. You can view photos for Session 3, July 15 – 27, 2012, (when our kids have been attending) at http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp/memories. The spiritual growth they experience at The Village returns with them to St. Mary's each fall.
BAPTISM INVITATION – Nelson Mitrophan and Michelle Chin cordially invite the parish to the Holy Baptism and Chrismation of their daughter, Mariah Elisabetta, at St Mary’s Orthodox Church on Sunday August 5, 2012 at 2:00 pm, followed by a Chinese reception in the church hall. Please RSVP with number of attendees by August 3 to javachip23@hotmail.com
SUMMER GREETERS NEEDED – Volunteers are needed for most Sundays in July and August, plus September 2 (Labor Day Weekend). Please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail: buddy@cjmabardy.com. Summer Hours: Orthros: 8:15 am & Liturgy: 9:30 am. Summer might be a GREAT time for you to start participating in this Ministry!
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED– Volunteering always falls off this time of year, but the need for fellowship and hospitality stays strong. Please sign up to sponsor a coffee hour, individually or with friends. It can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies, and plenty of help is available. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall.
VIGIL FOR THE DORMITION – There will be a Vigil for the Dormition of the Theotokos (our Patronal Feast) on Tuesday, August 14, the eve of the Feast. Vespers at 4:15 pm; Orthros with Lamentations 5:30 p.pm; Festal Divine Liturgy 7:00 pm; followed by a reception offered by Charles Arbeely.
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL 2012 – St. Mary Church, 535 Salisbury St., Worcester, will offer Vacation Church School for Grades K – 7, Tuesday through Friday, August 14 – 17. Theme: Our God-Bearing Fathers. Registration: $40 per child (includes ticket for Tornadoes Picnic & Game); Adult Ticket: $25. For more information, contact Greg Abdulah 724-518-6811; abdulah.g@gmail.com
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL 2012 – St. George Church, West Roxbury will offer Vacation Church School, Tuesday through Friday, August 21 – 24, for Pre-School (at least 3 yrs. old AND potty trained) through 4th Grade. Theme: Heroes of the Bible. There will be lessons, crafts, playtime, singing and fun! Snack provided each morning. Registration Donation: $15/1 child; $20/2 children; $25/3 children. Volunteers are needed. Contact Elisabeth: Elisabeth@stgeorgeofboston.org or call 617-323-0323.
PLC PHOTOS – You can still enjoy photos of the Parish Life Conference in Ogunquit at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hi2aackz154gtw/TN3PpUQb8M, or check out the slide show at www.stgeorgenorwood.org.
REGULAR REMINDERS
COFFEE HOUR SIGNUP – A signup sheet for coffee hours is posted on the bulletin board outside the coat room. There are plenty of dates to choose from – sign up now for the date you will sponsor the coffee hour!
DONATE VIA eGIVE– Did you know that you can make your donations to St. Mary through eGive, and have no more envelopes or checks to worry about? If you have not yet set up an account, you can do it at www.egive-usa.com, or contact Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) for help. The Recipient Organization is “St. Mary’s Orthodox Church.”
STREAMING VIDEO – St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services below or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
VIDEO STREAMING FOR EVENTS – Now you can video stream your wedding or baptism live from St. Mary’s to friends and family who can't attend your event in person. The cost for Event Video Streaming is $150 for members, $300 for non-members, and includes a password- protected viewing page and setup and breakdown of the streaming service for your event by a trained staff member. You can also get a copy of your streamed event on CD: $50 for members, $100 for non-members. Fees are payable to the church. Streaming is subject to staff availability. For general questions on the video streaming ministry or event streaming, please contact live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org. To schedule your event and/or request Event Video Streaming, please contact the Church Office.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES – Please do not leave valuables unattended in the Church Hall or Coat Room.
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.
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:
BE A GREETER - The Parish Council is continuing the Greeter Program, similar to other churches, to greet and aid parishioners, guests and visitors into the Church each Sunday. As a Greeter, you will welcome people into the Church and help to direct visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the Vestibule, hallways and entrance ways during church, arriving at Church at 9:45 am. Greeting time ends when Communion starts. We need volunteers. If you would like to be a Greeter, a Sign-Up Sheet is posted on the Church Bulletin Board. If you have any questions, please contact Buddy by e-mail buddy@cjmabardy.comor call him at 781-729-6303. “I was a stranger, and you invited me in………” (Matthew 25:35)
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 and six 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 new 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.
PRISON MINISTRY – If you would like to find out more about Prison Ministry at St. Mary’s Church, please subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/ocpm-concord
"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.
THIS SUNDAY'S VOLUNTEERS
GREETER: Dino Takles
LITURGICAL SERVICE: Epistle: Sarah Byrne-Martelli; Communion cloth and bread baskets: Robert Kowalik, Maggie Arnold, and others to be determined.
COFFEE HOUR: FSJD
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, July 28: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, July 29: Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am (Summer Hours)
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, July 29:
Epistle: St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17
Brethren, 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.
Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22
At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on
them, and healed their sick. … Then 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. And they took up twelve baskets full of
the broken pieces left over.
Wednesday, August 1: Dormition Fast begins; Paraklesis 6:30 pm
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, August 4: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, August 5: Orthros 8:15 am, Festal Divine Liturgy with Blessing of Grapes 9:30 am (Summer Hours)
Monday, August 6: Feast of the Transfiguration (observed previous Sunday)
Saturday, August 11: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, August 12: Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am (Summer Hours)
Tuesday, August 14: Vigil for the Dormition of the Theotokos (Patronal Feast) eve of the Feast - Vespers 4:15 pm; Orthros with Lamentations 5:30 pm; Festal Divine Liturgy 7:00 pm, followed by a Reception offered by Charles Arbeely.
Saturday, August 25: No Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, August 26: Last day of summer hours
Sunday, September 2: Regular hours begin: Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
Sunday, September 9: Church School registration
Sunday, September 16: Church School classes begin
INSIGHT
The more one is united to his neighbor the more he is united to God.
- St. Dorotheos of Gaza
It is a sign of love to pray for all men, even when we need the prayers
of all. We also pray to be directed by God and to become what he wishes
us to be; and to be united with others, so that through their prayers we
may receive mercy, all the while regarding them as superior to
ourselves.
- St. Peter of Damaskos
You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your
treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him
who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All
condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other. We condemn
others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own
failings, we see such a swamp that nothing in another can equal it. That
is why we turn away, and make much of the faults of others. Instead of
condemning others, strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent, refrain
from judgement. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander,
insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.
- St. Seraphim of Sarov
Abba John said, “We have rejected the light burden of
condemning ourselves, and have chosen to carry the heavy one of
justifying ourselves and condemning others.”
- Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
- St. Philo of Alexandria