Update for the week Thursday, April 5 - Wednesday, April 11, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY
HOLY THURSDAY 4/5 - Vesperal Liturgy 7:00 am;
+ Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm, Twelve Gospels 7:00 pm
HOLY FRIDAY 4/6 – Children’s Retreat 9:30-12:30. Luncheon served ($5 donation per person requested). Recommended for ages 5 - adult. Younger children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Fr. Antony will be available to hear the children’s and teens’ confessions before lunch.
+ Royal Hours 1:00 pm; Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm; Lamentations 7:15 pm with Procession to Central Square
+ Teen SOYO All-Night Vigil at the Church following Lamentations and Procession. All youth ages 13-18 (grades 7-12), are encouraged to participate. The Vigil culminates Saturday morning with Vesperal Liturgy at 9am. Teens across the Diocese will participate in similar vigils at their respective churches. The Church will be locked and several chaperones will remain with the Teens throughout the night, into the morning.
HOLY SATURDAY 4/7 – Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 9:00 am with Coffee Reception to follow
SATURDAY-SUNDAY 4/7-8 – Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm; Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm; Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 12 midnight, followed by Paschal Feast in the Church Hall
SUNDAY 4/8 – Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) will be held on Pascha Sunday at 11:00 am at St. George Church, 55 Emmonsdale Rd., West Roxbury.
+ Following Agape Vespers there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the children. Parents please bring your own baskets if your children will participate.
TUESDAY 4/10 – All Teens ages 13-19, and Pre-Teens ages 10-12, interested in competing in this year's Bible Bowl please call Violet Robbat at 781-862-4388 by Tuesday, April 10 for further instruction. This year we will be studying Acts as found in the Orthodox Study Bible. We look forward to having two great teams once again this year!
WEDNESDAY 4/11 – The bi-weekly meetings of the Bible Study group will resume on Wednesday, April 11 at 7:00 pm in the Church hall. Newcomers are welcome. For questions, study materials, or to be added to the email list, contact Ioana Popa at drioanapopa@gmail.com or Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRIGHT WEEK – Monday 4/9 through Saturday 4-14 is Bright Week. There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday during Bright Week and until the Feast of the Ascension (May 17), for the entire forty days. (This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch.) This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary. You may fast if you wish.
MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of James Higgins. Jim was the husband of Anna Higgins and father of Isabelle. In lieu of a wake there was a viewing at St. Mary’s at 10am Thursday morning, April 5, followed by the Funeral service at 11am, with interment at Gethsemane Cemetery, West Roxbury. Donations in Jim’s name can be made to the IOCC for Syrian Relief.
MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of Kathryn Nassiff Keeler. Kate was the daughter of Peter and Melissa Nassiff, wife of John M. Keeler, and sister of Jeffery Nassiff, and Andrew Nassiff and his wife Lauren and their children Will and Emma. Visiting hours in the Eaton Funeral Home,1351 Highland Ave Needham, will be Friday 4:00-7:00 pm; her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday April 7 at 10:00 am in St. Joseph Catholic Church Needham, followed by interment in St. Mary's Cemetery Needham. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathryn's name to Tippett Hospice House, 920 South St, Needham, MA 02492, would be appreciated.
WOMEN’S CLUB – The next meeting of the Women’s Club will be Monday, April 16 at 7:30
VESPERS and YOUNG ADULTS – Great Vespers will be celebrated at 5:00 pm on Saturday, May 5. Young Adults Coffeehouse and dinner will follow at 6:00 pm.
REMINDERS
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Collection Boxes for collecting alms at home were due last week. Please pass them in at the Bengarri.
EASTER PARTY to WELCOME the Newly illumined, their sponsors and families – Please join us for a Slavic Easter celebration and house blessing on St. Thomas Sunday, April 15, 2:00-6:00pm at the home of Deacon Jeffrey, Natasha, Theo and Gabriel Smith: 1342 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA 01742. Limited public transportation is available to Concord Center, 3 miles from our home. 617 803 1490 You must RSVP to Natasha at nasmith05@gmail.com to coordinate food.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30.
YOUNG ADULTS – The next meeting of the Young Adults ministry will be Saturday, May 5, after Great Vespers.
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
- Francis Maria Scholarship - The Archdiocese will be awarding several Scholarships of $2500 each to students attending an accredited 4year college. This scholarship is available on the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by May 15.
- Antiochian Women’s Scholarships are available to females 26 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is June 1. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail lferris130@yahoo.com with any questions.
- Nicholas G. Beram 2018 Scholastic Achievement Awards are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4-year college full time. Applications are available online at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm . Application deadline is June 1.
COFFEE HOUR MADE EASY! - To make sponsoring a Coffee Hour a little bit easier, St. Mary’s offers a delivery service through “Instacart”, for the basic foods necessary to host a Coffee hour. Simply select a date, mail a check to the office and we will order the food and have it delivered to the church on that Sunday between 9:00 and 10:00 am. You will need to be at the church to accept the order and you will be required to set up for the coffee hour and clean up both the kitchen and hall at the end of the coffee hour. Two menus will be offered. Menu one will include: bagels, mini muffins, fruit, hummus/Syrian bread, juice and coffee for $160. Menu two will include: bagels, juice and coffee for $70. Prices do not include a 20% tip for delivery and are subject to change based on current market pricing of items. Cream cheese, peanut butter, jam and coffee creamer are included with each menu. As usual, St. Mary’s will provide the plates, cups, napkins, utensils, serving platters, and sweetener for coffee. If you are interested in taking advantage of this service and signing up for a coffee hour please contact the office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
JOIN US ONLINE - 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 or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
REFLECTION
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
- Troparion, Tone 5
English: Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!
Arabic: Al Maseeh ‘Am! Ha’an ‘Am!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Slavonic: Khristos Voskrese! Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat! Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Tigrinian: Kristos Tensiu! Behake Tensiu!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew! Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
Armenian: Krisdos Haryav ee Merelotz! Orhnyal Eh Haryootyoonun Krisdosee!
Spanish: Christo ha Resucitado! En Verdad ha Resucitado!
French: Le Christ est ressuscité! En vérité, il est ressuscité!
Amharic: ChristosTenesa! Bergit Tenestwall!