Update for the week Thursday, April 26 - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY


SUNDAY 4/29 Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Children’s Sermon (children remain upstairs after Communion) 
   + Bible Bowl participants will meet after Liturgy in the Church Hall

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS


WOMEN’S CLUB –
The Women’s Club is scheduled to meet again on Monday, May 7, in the Church.

FR. ANTONY ON VACATION – Fr. Antony and Khouria Carol will be out of town Saturday, May 12 – Saturday May 19.

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – St. Mary’s church office will be closed Wednesday, May 16 – Monday, May 21

ASCENSION -
There will not be Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s for the Feast of the Ascension on Wednesday, May 16.

TRAINING LABORERS FOR THE LORD – You are invited to take part in Training Laborers for the Lord, a five-day summer program June 25-29 at Hellenic College Holy Cross, offering Orthodox Christians of all jurisdictions an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the faith and enrich their spiritual lives.  Courses will include “Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality” with V. Rev. Dr. Maximos Constas, and “Reading Scripture through the Church Year” with Dr. Bruce Beck. For more information, contact Jay Ostrosky, Registrar, at jostrosky@hchc.edu. Please register via Eventbrite by May 1, 2018: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/training-laborers-for-the-lord-tickets-42724393812
 
REMINDERS


NO FASTING - There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday 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.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS – The Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion, a resource for Orthodox Christian care-givers, has issued a call for proposals for this year’s conference entitled “Compliance and Resistance: Discerning the Spirit,” to be held on Thursday-Saturday, November 8-10, 2018. The keynote address, by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, will be presented by His Grace Bishop John. For proposals a one paragraph abstract is required no later than Tuesday, May 1 to ocamprinfo@gmail.com. For more details on the submission and conference details go to www.ocampr.org.  The conference will be held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Somerset, NJ.

COFFEEHOUSE FEATURING LOCAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS - The St. Mary's Young Adult Ministry invites all St. Mary's parishioners to an evening coffeehouse on Saturday, May 5. The evening begins with Great Vespers at 5:00 pm, followed by a delicious dinner and live performances for the evening by our parishioners and local musicians and artists, starting at 6:15 pm. Guests of all ages are welcome! Do you have a talent you'd like to share? Email: Adam Murphy (adammurphystg@gmail.com)

CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAKFAST - Please join us Sunday May 6 for the 2018 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC). RSVP to Nelson Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday May 2.  We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and seeing you at this event! Suggested minimum donation $8/adult, $16/family (Checks made payable to “St. Mary Orthodox Church-Hospitality” earmarked “Chinese Missions”).

BIBLE STUDY – The next meeting of the biweekly Bible Study/Adult Education group will be Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00. We learn about the word of God, pray and have fellowship together.  Everyone is welcome to attend. 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

BIBLE BOWL - 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 for further instruction.  This year we will be studying the book of Acts as found in the Orthodox Study Bible.  We look forward to having two great teams once again this year!

CHURCH SCHOOL – The final Church School class will be held on Sunday, May 13, 2018.
   + Church School Recognition will be on Sunday, June 3, following Liturgy.

BLESSING OF GRAVES - On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am.  If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
  
- Francis Maria Scholarship - The Archdiocese will be awarding several Scholarships of $2500 each to students attending an accredited 4-year college.  This scholarship application 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.

PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 pm.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The Diocese of Worcester and New England Parish life Conference will be held on Saturday June 23 and hosted by the Diocese Mission Council.  All events will take place at St. John of Damascus, Dedham. Register online at www.antiochianevents.com/Worcester 

SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS – Antiochian Village Adult Camp for ages 21+ will be Friday-Monday, September 14-17. Adult Camp is open to all adults who want to spend the weekend in an Orthodox Christian environment growing in their faith.  Cost of $195 includes lodging, food and activities.  More information can be found at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/adult-camp.  Registration opens May 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


The grace of working miracles is to be found among specially chosen and just men. It is quite evident that the apostles and many saints worked miracles and wonders. This was in accordance with what the Lord Himself had commanded when He said, 'Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, expel the demons. You have freely received. Give freely.' (Matthew 10:8)
   - St. John Cassian, "Conferences"

At the Sheep's Pool, a man lay in illness; and on seeing Thee, O Lord, he cried: "I have no man, that, when the water is troubled, he might put me in it. But when I go, another precedes me and receives the healing, and I lie in illness." And immediately, taking compassion him, the Savior said to him: "For you I became man, for you I am clothed in flesh, and do you say, 'I have no man?' Take up your bed and walk." All things are possible for Thee, all things are obedient to Thee, all things are subject to Thee. Remember us all and have mercy on us, O Holy One, since Thou art the Friend of man.
   - Glory of the Entreaty (Liti) from The Pentecostarion
 
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!
Albanian:      Krishti u Ngjall!  Vërtet u Ngjall!
Tigrinian:       Kristos Tensiu!  Behake Tensiu!
Cantonese:   Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew!  Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
Spanish:       Christo ha Resucitado!  En Verdad ha Resucitado!
French:         Le Christ est ressuscité!  En vérité, il est ressuscité!
Amharic:       ChristosTenesa!  Bergit Tenesa!