Update for the week Thursday, February 13, through Thursday, February 20, 2014
THIS WEEK
BIBLE STUDY – The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday in the church library, and is based on a series of talks originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome. Join us today, Thursday, February 13, at 7:00 pm as we conclude the pre-history portion of Genesis, and start part 1 of an overview of the Old Testament (listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-16/ andhttp://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-17/ ).
Weather note: Check with Marianne (mksayeg@gmail.com) before coming – this meeting may be cancelled because of today's snowstorm.
NO VESPERS – There will be NO service of Great Vespers at St. Mary this Saturday, February 15 (note change).
GUEST PRIEST – We are pleased to welcome Fr. Gregory Harrigle as our guest priest thisSunday, February 16.
NO CHURCH SCHOOL – There will be no church school classes this Sunday, February 16, or next Sunday, February 23.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at 7:30.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
THANK YOU – The FSJD wants to thank all those who helped to make the Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast a huge success. St. Mary’s parishioners contributed $695 to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China.
CHILDCARE DURING vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE – If you would be interested in onsite childcare while you attend the vonHolzhausen Lecture (3/30 at 1:00pm), please email Diana Yousef, Fellowship VP (yousefd@post.harvard.edu) right away. Indicate how many children and their ages. FSJD and Teen SOYO are considering the possibility of offering childcare for FSJD-sponsored events. Once we have a headcount, we can determine how many teens and what a shared cost might be.
WOMEN'S CLUB – The next Women’s Club meeting will be Tuesday, March 11, at 7:30 at the church. We welcome all women of the parish to join us in the Women’s Club. Everyone is welcome! Any woman interested in joining may call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303 for more information.
REMINDERS
SPRING DELEGATES MEETING – Note Change: The Spring Diocesan Delegates Meetings of Teen SOYO and Fellowship of St. John the Divine, but not Antiochian Women(since they met last month), will be held at St. George Church, West Roxbury, on Saturday, February 22. Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am, meetings immediately following.
MEATFARE SUNDAY BREAKFAST - Please join us on Sunday, February 23 for the FSJD's Meatfare Sunday coffee hour. The suggested donation – $8 per person, $15 per family – will help support the many activities of the Fellowship at St. Mary's, including the annual Lessons and Carols evening; Wednesday evening potluck suppers after Pre-Sanctified Liturgies during Lent; the annual Father John vonHolzhausen lecture; Coffee Hours and special meals; the weekly St. Mary e-Newsletter; and more. Contact Chef Socrates (dr.socrates@gmail.com ) to let him know if you can help with food preparation the day before (February 22) from 12:00-2:00 pm, or with cooking or serving on Sunday. We will need 6 volunteers.
BOSTON BYZANTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL - The Boston Byzantine Music festival, onMonday and Tuesday, February 24 and 25, 2014, will feature concerts by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir and by the ensemble En Chordais, with lectures by Dr. Emmanouil Giannopoulos, Assistant Professor at the Higher Ecclesiastical Academy of Ioannina, and Dr. Kyriakos Kalaitzidis, Faculty of Music Studies, University of Athens. For more information and tickets see http://www.maryjahariscenter.org/events/boston-byzantine-music-festival-2014/
WHAT IS FAMILY MINISTRY - The Center for Family Care's next webinar, entitled “What is Family Ministry?”, will feature their Associate Director, Melissa Tsongranis, exploring the who, what, where, and why of family ministry in the hope of the realization at the parish level. It will be Tuesday, February 25 at 1:30 pm (EST). Watch for further details.
HELP FOR THE TRAUMANN-DAVIS FAMILY: Our own Elisabeth Traumann, wife of Seraphim Davis and mother of Isis, Thais and Tycho Traumann-Davis, has been diagnosed with stomach cancer and will be starting chemotherapy soon, to be followed by surgery in late spring/early summer. Her prognosis is good, but prayers are appreciated. Anyone who would like to offer their help with meals, etc. may visit the family's Lotsa Helping Hands community at: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/713408/ For updates on Elisabeth’s condition, just friend Elisabeth on Facebook and then check this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197726897092134/
MARCH IS ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S MONTH. Our women will be reading the Epistle, taking the Collection each Sunday, and assisting during Communion. We are inviting all Women of St. Mary Church to be included: If you wish to participate, sign up on the sheet at the Bengarri or contact Mary Ellen Mabardy (781-729-6303) or the church office (617-547-1234).
ROOM NEEDED - A young medical school graduate, Simeon Sheih, would like to rent a room with an Orthodox individual or family near the center of Boston, as he has been offered an unpaid fellowship at Harvard. He is very willing to help clean or care for an elderly or invalid person if it might help with the rent. He also is looking for a job in the Boston area. If you know of a place where he could live, please call Mother Nectaria McLees at 617-824-0650, or send an email to mnmclees@gmail.com.
MORE GREETERS NEEDED – The Greeter program has been very successful for the past two years, thanks to all those who volunteer on a regular basis. However, we have had the same Greeters volunteer week after week. We are actively looking for new volunteers. Please consider being a Greeter and helping with this important ministry. For more information and to help out please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail:buddy@cjmabardy.com, or call the church office at 617-547-1234.
CROSSƗROADS - CrossRoads is a summer institute for high school juniors and seniors on the campus of Hellenic College in Brookline. Participants take part in daily classes, visit neighboring Orthodox parishes, and participate in service activities. CrossRoads offers two sessions. Download an application and view a video clip at www.crossroad.hchc.edu. Application priority deadline is Saturday, March 1.
LENTEN FOOD SALE – The Women's Club is now taking orders for Spinach Triangles, Hoomos (hummus), and Mjadara (lentils with rice). Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin. Order deadline is Sunday, March 2; pickup date is Sunday, March 16. Also, please plan to come help make the Spinach Triangles on Saturday, March 15, at 9:30 am.
CONVENTION PLANNING – In our ongoing preparation to host the 2015 National Convention, Ray Sayeg’s committees will meet at the home of Mary Winstanley O’Connor on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 pm (not 2/5 as previously announced). Mary Winstanley O’Connor’s committees will meet at her home on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 pm (not 2/12as previously announced).
LENTEN POTLUCKS – Every year during Lent, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine sponsors a potluck supper after each weekly Wednesday evening Pre-Sanctified Liturgy.We still need 3 leads for each potluck - for Food, for Setup, and for Cleanup - on March 5,March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2, and April 9. (Note that volunteering for food means simply providing a main dish and coordinating what others bring if they ask.) Please contact Julie Wasilko (julie31415pi@gmail.com ) to sign up to be one of the leads for a potluck.
MARRIAGE SEMINAR FOR COUPLES - The Diocese of Worcester and New England is sponsoring a seminar for couples preparing for marriage at St. John of Damascus church onFriday and Saturday, March 14 and 15. His Grace Bishop JOHN is the featured speaker. Cost is $30 per couple. See registration form in the Sunday bulletin - make check payable to NER Deanery and mail along with the registration form to St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St., Dedham, MA 02026.
vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE – The Fellowship of St. John the Divine invites you to its annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen lecture on Sunday, March 30, at 1:00 pm (following Divine Liturgy at 10am and Coffee Hour at 12pm). Our speaker, Jan N. H. Perkins, MDiv, will speak on the topic, “If you Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It:” How Christ Transcends Good and Bad.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - Scholarships ($1,000) are available to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, residing in Massachusetts within 50-mile radius of Boston, who plan to pursue a four-year college education. Scholarships are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character; and applicants must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes which best serve the community. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be postmarked by March 31, 2014. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE - For important announcements about Summer Camp registration, check out their FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/AntiochianVillage ) because the 2014 Summer Camp registration is now open. You may register online or the old-fashioned way with paper applications. Please note that you are not registered until theyreceive a deposit and you receive a confirmation email. Please visit their Registration Pagefor instructions on how to register. We look forward to summer 2014 and can't wait for our campers to return. For more information go to http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshipers, and those in need. Consider serving in one of these ways:
- Be a Greeter
- Participate in Liturgical Service*
- Provide a Coffee Hour
- Join the Prison Ministry
- Help with Video Editing
- Share your talent as Photographer Or Graphic Designer
For information about these opportunities, and who to contact, seehttps://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/volunteering
*Also, during the school year, the Church School students participate in our liturgical celebration by holding candles at the Gospel reading; processing with candles, a festal icon, and the baskets of Antidoron (i.e. extra bread) at the Great Entrance; and then presenting the Antidoron for a blessing during the Hymn to the Theotokos.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
Greeter: Paul Nahass
Church School Liturgical Service: Candle Bearers: Meley Ephrem & Rahal Mahari; Icon Bearer: Matthew Keamy; Bread Baskets: Joseph & Ava Keamy; Team Leader: Zanta Ephrem; Adult Supervisor: Doreen Bargoot
Coffee Hour: Fr. Antony and Khouria Carol Hughes
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, February 15: NO Vespers
Sunday, February 16: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;No Church School
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, February 16, Sunday of the Prodigal Son:
Epistle: St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20
...But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. ... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32
... But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ...[T]he father said ... this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunday, February 23, Meatfare Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; No Church School; FSJD annual Meatfare Breakfast following Liturgy
Thursday, February 27: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 2, Forgiveness Sunday: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Bishop JOHN; Forgiveness Vespers 6:00 pm
Monday, March 3: Great Lent begins; Great Canon of St. Andrew 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 4: Great Canon of St. Andrew 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 5: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper
Thursday, March 6: Great Canon of St. Andrew 7:00 pm
Friday, March 7: Madayeh (Akathist) 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 12: Lazarus Saturday
Sunday, April 20: Pascha
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22: Parish Life Conference, Plymouth, MA
REFLECTIONS
On the third Sunday of preparation for Lent, we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Together with the hymns of this day, the parable reveals to us the time of repentance as man's return from exile. The prodigal son, we are told, went to a far country and there spent all that he had. A far country! It is this unique definition of our human condition that we must assume and make ours as we begin our approach to God. A man who has never had that experience, be it only very briefly, who has never felt that he is exiled from God and from real life, will never understand what Christianity is all about. And the one who is perfectly "at home" in this world and its life, who has never been wounded by the nostalgic desire for another Reality, will not understand what is repentance.
… It is very easy indeed to confess that I have not fasted on prescribed days, or missed my prayers, or become angry. It is quite a different thing, however, to realize suddenly that I have defiled and lost my spiritual beauty, that I am far away from my real home, my real life, and that something precious and pure and beautiful has been hopelessly broken in the very texture of my existence. Yet this, and only this, is repentance, and therefore it is also a deep desire to return, to go back, to recover that lost home.
-Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent
The human soul is a spirit created by God, and only in God, who has created it in His own image and likeness, can it find contentment and rest, peace, consolation and joy. Once separated from Him, it seeks for satisfaction among created things, and feeds itself on passions, on husks, food for pigs; but finding not its true repose, nor its true satisfaction, it dies at length of hunger. For spiritual food is a necessity to the soul.
- St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Even if you are not what you should be, you should not despair. It is bad enough that you have sinned, why in addition do you wrong God by regarding Him as powerless? Is He, who for your sake created the great universe that you behold, incapable of saving your soul? And if you say that this fact, as well as His incarnation, only makes your condemnation worse, then repent and He will receive your repentance as He accepted that of the prodigal son and the prostitute. But if repentance is too much for you and you sin out of habit even when you do not want to, show humility like the publican, this is enough…For he who sins without repenting, yet does not despair, must of necessity regard himself as the lowest of creatures, and will not dare to judge or censure anyone. Rather he will marvel at God’s compassion.
- St. Peter of Damascus, From A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, “That We Should Not Despair Even if We Sin Many Times”
How can a man call God just when he comes across the passage on the prodigal son who wasted his wealth with riotous living, how for the compunction alone which he showed, the father ran and fell upon his neck and gave him authority over all his wealth? (Luke 15:11 ff.). None other but His very Son said these things concerning Him, lest we doubt it; and thus He bore witness concerning Him. Where, then, is God’s justice, for while we are sinners Christ died for us! (cf. Rom. 5:8). But if here He is merciful, we may believe that He will not change.
- St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 60