Update for the week Thursday, June 14 - Wednesday, June 20, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SUNDAY 6/17 Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
FRIDAY 6/15 – This Friday the Young Adults will head over to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church for their annual Cambridge Greek Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday – see http://www.greekboston.com/event/festival-cambridge-ma/ Join them around 7:30 pm Friday for food, fun, fellowship, and of course, Greek dancing! Be on the lookout for Chris and others when you get there!
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cheriton Heights Family Housing is celebrating its 5 year anniversary on Friday, June 22. Join them at 12:00 pm for a celebratory Brunch.
NEW SKETE PILGRIMAGE – The annual New Skete Pilgrimage is set for Saturday, August 11this year - (the Saturday after Transfiguration). In years past, a number of St. Mary people have gone out for the weekend to help the Communities with this event - to be extra sets of "helping hands" for the day. They are hoping a number of us will do so again this year. In the past, this has been a wonderful community-building activity for all of us. Moreover, if you have never been to the monastery, this may be a good way to be introduced to their life and work. In addition to the services, there are tours of the church and talks by various members of the communities about their lives. The main talk will be given by Alexei Krindatch who does survey work for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America. His talk is entitled, "Singing an Old Song in a New World. How Orthodox Christian Churches Contribute to America’s Diverse Religious Landscape." There are also the dogs, great hiking trails, nearby tubing, etc. More information about the Pilgrimage can be found here: https://newskete.org/events .
Once again, Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) will be coordinating the Boston helpers and as much housing as she can. (In particular, any women wanting to "camp out" at the nuns’, let her know. The Emmaus house is now a guest house - anyone wishing to stay there should contact Br. Gregory directly at brgregory@newskete.org) Housing is first come, first served.
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 www.antiochianevents.com/worcester.html (note new website address)
HOSPITALITY GROUP PICNIC – Please come join the Hospitality Group for our Annual Potluck Picnic at Riverside Press Park, (note revised location - River St. and Memorial Drive across from Whole Foods, Cambridge) on Sunday, June 24, directly after Liturgy. Bring a blanket, some eats or drinks to share, balls, Frisbees! 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 ).
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
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.
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.
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.
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
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22.
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
He has not treated us according to our sins. For we are his children. How do we prove this? The only Son died for us so that he would not remain the only child. He did not want to be alone, who died alone. The only Son of God made many children for God. He bought himself brothers and sisters with his blood; rejected, he accepted us; sold, he bought us back; dishonored, he honored us; killed, he brought us life.
So then, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord, not in the world; that is, rejoice in faithfulness and not in iniquity; rejoice in the hope of eternity and not the brief flower of vanity. Rejoice thus, and wherever you are here, as long as you are here, the Lord is very near: do not be anxious about anything.
- St. Augustine
"f you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
- Lao Tzu