Update for the week Thursday, June 7 - Wednesday, June 13, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SUNDAY 6/10 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am - His Grace Bishop JOHN will be with us for a Hierarchical visit.
MONDAY 6/11 – The St. Mary’s Women’s Club will go out for an end-of-year dinner on Monday, June 11, at 7:00pm at the Cheesecake Factory in the Mall at Chestnut Hill. All women of the parish are welcome to join us. If you are interested contact Priscilla (781-762-1527 or pagoss@aol.com) or Barbara in the church office (617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org ).
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL - In addition to the Parish Life Conference on 6/23, the Diocese of Worcester and New England will have an Oratorical Festival THIS SATURDAY, June 9, at St. George Norwood beginning at 4:00 pm. Also plan to stay for Great Vespers at 5:00, followed by Dinner for everyone present at 6:00.
Do come and support the participants!
HELP IN HOMELESS SHELTERS – One of our parishioners and young adults works for Y2Y, a local service organization looking to end homelessness. Their organization and the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter are both looking for volunteers for weekly or one-time shifts this summer. For more information see their Volunteer Handbooks at https://docs.google.com/document/d/14aipRhfW2kr4xqelHFzEMRlSBfZILP0VbU2-KkJtHiU/editfor Y2Y, and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XsNKuFgPMQIAzqHDcjDVu3OdKVIcp0ppEvDDuiRarWc/edit for HSHS.
ICON EXHIBIT – The Museum of Russian Icons (203 Union Street, Clinton, MA) will be showing an exhibition of Icons of the Hellenic World, focusing exclusively on Greek and Byzantine iconography, June 22 through October 21. For information see http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/current-exhibitions
PAPPAS PATRISTICS SUMMER PROGRAM – The Pappas Patristic Institute at Holy Cross announces its twelfth annual Summer Program in Patristic Studies, for anyone interested in learning more about the Church Fathers. This program, Monday-Friday, June 25-29, provides a unique opportunity to study and discuss the writings and lives of the Church Fathers through small group discussions and brief faculty lectures. Twelve courses are offered, including one by our own Dr. Teva Regule. For more information see http://www.hchc.edu/assets/files/patristics/2018%20SumInst%20AnnouncmentProgram_180430.pdf
TANGLEWOOD OUTING – Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary’s as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, July 29. We’ll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Haydn, Prokofiev and Mozart, featuring violinist Gil Shaham, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Juanjo Mena. For more information see https://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/93218. The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $21.00 - pay at the door; children are free. Bring lawn chairs if you want them, and picnic food for yourself and to share. For more information and to let us know you're coming, especially if you'll need a ride, contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com.
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22.
REMINDERS
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL – St. George Boston and Theophany School Vacation Church School will be held at St. George, West Roxbury, Monday through Friday, June 25-29, from 8:30am-12:00pm. Ages: 2.9 (must be potty trained) through 11 years old. Cost: $30 for 1 child, $35 for 2, and $40 for 3 or more. Checks addressed to St. George, PO Box 320164, W. Roxbury, must be received by June 17. See Barbara in the St. Mary church office for a registration form.
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 – Divine Liturgy, Keynote Speakers, Kids Activities, Bible Bowl, Family Dinner and Awards Ceremony – will take place at St. John of Damascus, Dedham. Register online at https://antiochianevents.org/158 (note new website address)
HOSPITALITY GROUP PICNIC – Please come join the Hospitality Group for our Annual Potluck Picnic at Dana Park (10-20 McTernan St, Cambridge) on Sunday, June 24, directly after Liturgy – the same park as previous picnics! Bring a blanket, some eats or drinks to share, balls, frisbees, even bathing suits if you want to splash in the sprinklers! Dana Park is a 5-10min walk south of the Church (walk down Magazine St), with an enclosed playground, hoops, water spouts, and beautiful green. This is a great opportunity to relax and spend time with our church family. Open to all ages!!! For people who need assistance getting to the park, we will coordinate rides. If you would like to help us out, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu ).
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.
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.
BIBLE STUDY - The biweekly Bible Study/Adult Education group has finished for the year, and is scheduled to resume in the fall. For questions or information contact Ioana Popa at drioanapopa@gmail.com or Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com
REFLECTION
It is pointless for someone to say that he has faith in God, if he does not have the works which go with that faith.
- St. Gregory Palamas
In the life led according to the Gospel there can be no valuation of prayer or doctrine or liturgical worship over doing the works of love, caring for those around us, standing up for what is right.
- Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness