Update for the week Thursday, November 5, through Thursday, November 12, 2015
THE COMING WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SATURDAY, 11/7 – Please come to the church this Saturday morning, starting at 9:30 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.
+There will be no Vespers at St. Mary until further notice, while Fr. Antony continues his recovery.
SUNDAY, 11/8 – Adult catechism 9:00; Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00; Church School lesson 7
+ If you ordered Sfeeha (meat pies) from the Woman’s Club, you can pick it up this Sunday. Any not picked up will be frozen. (Note: The Women’s Club would like to thank Mary Winstanley O’Connor for her kind donation toward the expenses incurred in making the Sfeeha. The donation is for the continued good health of her Mother, Selma Winstanley.)
+ The teens invite you to a Spaghetti Luncheon this Sunday, following Liturgy. The menu includes Spaghetti, Meatballs (just before the Nativity fast!), Salad, Bread, Dessert and Coffee/Beverage. Suggested minimum donation of $5.00/person will be greatly appreciated - no charge for Teen SOYO members.
WEDNEDAY, 11/11 - A Fall Liturgy Retreat for Church School children and families will be held on Wednesday, November 11, from 9:30-3:00 pm. (This is Veteran’s Day - a day off of school for many students and off of work for some adults.) The theme of this event is “Let us love one another... Liturgy as Philanthropy.” We will be exploring how we love and care for one another by our prayers, petitions, and actions in the Divine Liturgy and in the "liturgy after the Liturgy." We will show our love for our Church Family by making Prosphora (Holy Bread) and our love and care for our neighbor through a number of service projects. Planned projects include a YES (Youth Equipped to Serve) "lunch" search (Teens), assembling soup mixes for St. Paul's Pantry, Knitting for the Needy, composing Greeting Cards for parish shut-ins and more. Donation: $5/student, $10/family; Also, we ask each participant to bring a non-perishable food item that will then be given to the needy.
For more information: Contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu), Shannon Sakellariou (srsakellariou@gmail.com) or Natasha Smith (nasmith05@gmail.com) To register: Contact Doreen Bargoot (dbargoot@aol.com)
THURSDAY, 11/12 – The Bible Study group meets next Thursday at 7:00 pm in the church library. This week’s discussion will conclude the book of Elijah and begin an introduction to the prophets, using the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/elijah-part-4/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/introduction-to-the-prophets-part-1/
The Bible Study at St. Mary meets every other Thursday, and is based on a very interesting course originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio, entitled Search the Scriptures. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mailto:mksayeg@gmail.com ) or Fr. Antony (mailto:mksayeg@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome.
SUNDAY, 11/15 – How does a punk rock drummer from Washington, D.C. end up helping to archive Syrian history? This year's annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen Lecturer will answer that question next Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 12:30 pm, in a talk entitled Music, Photographs and Stories from Syria. Our speaker, Jason Hamacher, is an internationally recognized musician, photographer, writer, and public speaker, and massage therapist. His work has taken him across the globe documenting the sights and sounds of culture, music, people and food. Jason was profiled last year in a fascinating NPR interview – see http://www.npr.org/2014/08/07/338586411/before-war-a-punk-drummer-preserved-syrian-chants This event is free and open to the public; donations to St. Mary’s Hospitality Group are welcome.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 11/6-8 – The Church of St. John of Damascus will hold its annual bazaar this weekend. Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, Christmas Crafts, Country Store, Raffles and more. For more information visit them at www.stjohnd.org/bazaar
SATURDAY, 11/7 – Women: Healing, Authority and Ministry in the Orthodox Church is the topic of Divine Compassion Conference III, this Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm at Hellenic College, Brookline. Donation: $35 includes lunch. Register online at www.divinecompassionconferenceiii.eventbrite.com.
SATURDAY, 11/7 – The Second Annual Archbishop Michael Memorial Men's Retreat, Responding to God's Call, sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, will be held this Saturday, at St. Basil Academy in Garrison, NY, from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm. Retreat Leader will be Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos. For more information, please contact: familycare@goarch.org, phone (845) 424-8184
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANGEL TREE - St. Mary's will once again be participating in the Angel Tree Prison Ministry, which provides Christmas gifts to children in our local community on behalf of their parent serving time in prison.1 in 28 American children live with the shame of a parent's incarceration, and many of their guardians struggle to meet their basic needs while caring for them. Together with Angel Tree, we can help these children feel loved and valued--unlocking their potential for a brighter future.
Our parish has received the names of 20 children in need this season. There are many more that we can serve, but we need volunteers to help make gift deliveries. This can be done at a time convenient for you. Please see or email Kate Arnold (katherine.arnold@gordon.edu) or Linda Arnold (mmarmee52@aol.com) if you can help or have questions.
There will be a table set up during coffee hour this Sunday (11/8) where you can select a child to support. Thank you for helping with this important ministry!
NATIVITY FAST – The Nativity Fast, also known as the season of Advent, begins Sunday, November 15. This is the forty days of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
WOMENS CLUB POSTPONED - The next meeting of the Women's Club will be Monday, November 16, at 7:30, not November 9 as originally scheduled.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, at 7:30 pm, at the church.
CHURCH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - If your child is interested in participating in the Christmas Pageant, please see Sarah Byrne-Martelli or e-mail her at sarahebyrne@gmail.com . We also need parents to assist at all rehearsals, which will take place Sunday, December 6 during coffee hour; Sunday, December 13 during coffee hour; and Saturday, December 19, 2:30 – 4:30pm (dress rehearsal). The Pageant will be on Sunday, December 20 after liturgy.
DONATIONS FOR THE HOLY NATIVITY - If you would like to donate toward the Poinsettias and Nativity decorations for the Nativity services please use the form printed in the Sunday bulletin. Deadline is December 14, 2015. Please pass it in with your check at the Bengarri on Sundays or mail to: St. Mary Church, 8 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139-2407. Donations will be printed in the December 20 bulletin.
REMINDERS
PRESENTATION OF THE THEOTOKOS – On Friday, November 20, we will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple with Evening Liturgy at 6:30 pm.
MARRIAGE SEMINAR – A Seminar for Couples preparing for marriage will be held on Saturday, November 21, at the Chancery, 2 Lydia’s Path, Westborough, MA. Bishop JOHN will be the featured speaker. $35/couple. RSVP by November 14: make checks payable to NER Deanery, and mail to St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St., Dedham, MA 02026.
THANKSGIVING BAKE SALE – The Women's Club will sponsor its annual Thanksgiving Charity Bake Sale on Sunday, November 22. All proceeds will benefit the Convent of Saidnaya, northwest of Damascus in Syria. Plan on purchasing all your holiday breads, pies, goodies, Syrian pastries and much more – and please volunteer to bake! Call Marilyn Robbat@ 781-729-3033 or the church office, if you can bake and/or donate.
TRUMPET OF THE SWAN - St. Mary’s own Gabi Popa, daughter of Cristian and Andrea Popa, will be performing in The Trumpet of the Swan at Wheelock Family Theatre from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, November 22 - Friday nights at 7:30; Saturday & Sunday matinees at 3:00. St. Mary's Orthodox Church parishioners can purchase tickets for only $10 by using the promo code "community" when ordering online. The performance will run 1 hour 45 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. The play, which is based on E. B. White’s award-winning novel, is recommended for all ages, 6 through adult. For more information and to order tickets online, go to www.wheelockfamilytheatre.org .
SEE THE MESSIAH – You can still join friends from St. Mary’s for the Handel and Haydn Society’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, on Sunday, November 29, at 3:00 p.m., and meet us for lunch before the concert. Discounted tickets, possibly separate from the rest of the St. Mary group, may still be available – contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com. Or order your own tickets online at http://www.handelandhaydn.org.
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD - Save yourself time, let us do the work and have all proceeds benefit the Antiochian Women Project 2015-2016: Help Feed Hungry Children Home and Abroad. Let the Women’s Club send a lovely Christmas card on your behalf to our parishioners. You will receive this card with the names of parishioners, like yourself, who are wishing a Blessed Nativity and a Merry Christmas to all. Please use the form in the Sunday Bulletin – deadline is Sunday, December 6.
DIOCESAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT - A Christmas Concert, sung by the combined choirs and chanters of the Diocese of Worcester and New England, will be held on Saturday, December 5 at 6:00 pm at St. George Cathedral in Worcester immediately following Vespers, and on Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 pm at St. John of Damascus in Dedham. Mark Haddad, choir director at St. John’s, will be conducting the Diocesan Choir with Charles Marge of St. Mary’s conducting the Diocesan Chanters. This will be a beautiful event open to parishioners, families, and friends as well as the public. Please plan on joining us! For more information or questions, please contact: Mark Haddad at mhh42@me.com or Charlie Marge at marge@alum.mit.edu.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Once again St. Mary's is holding its annual Canned Food Drive: October, 2014 – December 31, 2015. Since 1984, we have collected over 3,281,200 pounds of food. Please bring in canned goods ONLY and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
FAMILY SHELTER - The Women’s Club provides the Cambridge YWCA Family Shelter with baskets filled with household goods, to help residents ready to move to their own apartments. We ask for your help by providing monetary donations to offset the cost of the items. Please give your donation to Marilyn Robbat or Barbara Shoop or mail it to the Church office c/o the Woman’s Club.
ADULT CATECHISM – Open registration is now available for the Adult Catechism program at St. Mary's Church. Classes will be held every Sunday morning at 9:00 am, running regularly through April 2016. These classes are free and open to new members of our community who are exploring the Orthodox Faith. Contact Richard Robbat at learn@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org for more information and registration.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
Greeter: Paul Demerjian
Liturgical Service:
Epistle: Katie Boardman
Procession: Gabi Popa, Ben Crea , Nick Mazzoni, Maia Popa & Macaela Mazzoni
Communion: Teva Regule, Linda Arnold, Jeanne Brickman, ant othersTBD
Coffee Hour: Teen SOYO Spaghetti Dinner
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY
Epistle:
Brethren, if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? ... But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
- Hebrews 2:2-10
Gospel:
At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. ... And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." ... taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
- Luke 8:41-56
REFLECTION
Man... sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.
- The Dalai Lama
Everyone is in the Lord's power, and Christ is all things to us. If you desire to heal your wounds, he is your doctor; if you are on fire with fever, he is your fountain; if you are burdened with iniquity, he is your justification; if you need help, he is your strength; if you fear death, he is your life; if you desire heaven, he is your way; if you are fleeing from darkness, he is your light; if you are seeking food, he is your nourishment: Taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy is the man who takes refuge in him.
- St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men. For one who wanted to make a display the thing would have been just to appear and dazzle the beholders. But for Him Who came to heal and to teach the way was not merely to dwell here, but to put Himself at the disposal of those who needed Him, and to be manifested according as they could bear it.
- St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation
I have found a Physician. He dwells in Heaven and distributes His healing on earth. He alone can heal my pains Who Himself has none. He alone Who knows what is hidden, can take away the grief of my heart, the fear of my soul — Jesus Christ. Christ is grace, Christ is life, Christ is Resurrection! Amen.
- St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
Since thou art a divine river of mercy, like unto a fathomless gulf of plentiful sympathy, O Bountiful One, manifest the divine streams of thy mercy, and heal all men. Pour forth abundantly fountains of wonders and cleanse all; for resorting ever unto thee, we fervently implore thy grace.
- Kathisma for Wednesday of Holy Week