Update for the week Thursday, September 19 - Wednesday, September 25, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
Note - This Sunday, September 22, the Fall Classic 5K road race will restrict access to parking around the church and behind the Post Office. The race starts at 9:30am. The end of Inman St. will be impacted from 9:33am-9:50am to accommodate runners on Massachusetts Ave. Please plan accordingly. To view the route log on to https://runsignup.com/Race/FallClassic5K/Page-10
SUNDAY 9/22 – Orthros 8:45am; St. Ignatius Catechetical Group and Orthodoxy 102 (see Reminders, below) 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, followed by Church School classes.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
THURSDAY 9/19 – Join the Young Adults for Orthodox Young Professionals Happy Hour today at 6:00pm, at the 730 Tavern, located at 730 Mass Ave, Cambridge, to mingle with other Orthodox Young Adults in the Boston area. First drink on us from 6-7pm, and free appetizers! Sponsored by Young Adult Ministry: St. Mary Orthodox Church of Cambridge, MA in conjunction with The Telos Project and the Metropolis of Boston Youth & Young Adult Office.
+ If you are interested in getting involved with the Young Adult Ministry at St. Mary’s, please talk with them at coffee hour or send them an email: youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
THURSDAY 9/19 – The Orthodox Christian Witness Program: Spiritual Pilgrimage starts the Fall Semester today. This program and journey is an opportunity for anyone interested to learn, to reflect, and to be transformed through the Orthodox Christian Faith in preparation for various ministries. This spiritual pilgrimage is an interdisciplinary approach to create a cadre of leaders in the church. It is aimed to empower and equip Orthodox Christians to nourish and share the faith in 21st century. This semester the program has a Round Table discussion unit and a Retreat unit. Anyone can join at any point in the program.
The Round Table unit will meet for 10 Thursday evening discussions, from 7:00-9:00pm: Thursday, September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, Nov 7, 14, 21, and Dec 5. Location: the Diocesan Chancellory: 2 Lydia’s Path, Westborough MA 01581.
The day-long Retreats will be held on Sept 28, Oct 19, and Nov 23 at St. Mary’s Church.
To register or for questions, please email at IP.AlongTheJourney@gmail.com or call at 617-274-8336.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY 9/20-22 – A Men’s Retreat will be hosted by the St. Stephen’s Group at St. Methodios Retreat Center, Contoocook, NH, this Friday-Sunday. This year’s topic is Relationships. Cost: $239 for 2 nights, meals included. For more info or to register contact Jeff St. Jean 413-348-2878 or jeffstjean11@gmail.com .
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
FR. ANTONY AWAY - Fr. Antony will be out of town Tuesday-Friday, September 24-October 4. In case of emergency, please call Fr. Timothy Ferguson at 617-323-0323.
CHANT CLASS and VESPERS – On Sunday, October 5 there will be a Chant Class at 4:00pm and Great Vespers at 5:00pm.
+ After Vespers, the Young Adults will be going out to dinner.
BAZAAR & FOOD FAIR - St. George, West Roxbury will be holding their annual Bazaar & Food Fair on Friday-Sunday, October 18-20. Friday & Saturday hours: 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 12:00-3:00pm. Admission is free. Middle Eastern cuisine and Pastries, baked goods, Country Store, kids’ corner, handmade Holiday and craft items.
BAKE SALE – The St. Mary Women’s Club will hold a Charity Bake Sale on Sunday, October 20 immediately following Liturgy in the church hall. All proceeds will benefit the charitable projects we sponsor, from the YWCA Family Shelter in Cambridge to the Antiochian Women’s project. Contact Renay DiFiore at renayanddon@aol.com or 617-327-6361 if you can help bake and/or donate.
MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY – Do you know the difference between being a Parishioner and being a pledging Member? We need you to be a Member! On Membership Sunday, October 20, we will have a table set up during coffee hour where people can sign up to join St. Mary’s parish. We’ll be able to answer questions about membership and ways to give, financially and by volunteering time and talents. We’ll also be able to answer questions about eGive.
PARISH COUNCIL –The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30pm, in the Hall
REMINDERS
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) will begin meeting this Sunday, September 22 at 9:00am in the hall. Enrollment will be open until October 20. The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been – and continues to be – understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church. Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group. If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by phone 617-889-3436 or r.kowalik@comcast.net. For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
ORTHODOXY 102 – Orthodoxy 102 is an Adult Sunday Class designed for Christians who've spent many years in the Orthodox church, but have never been given formal teaching on the theology and liturgical structure of the Eastern Christian faith. Beginning this Sunday, September 22 at 9:00am, this new class will meet weekly to journey through the structure of the Divine Liturgy, while taking an in-depth look at Scripture, the Ecumenical Councils, our iconography, and the meaning and application of Orthodox theology. If you would like more information or would care to join, please email drjamesis@gmail.com (Or introduce yourself to Subdeacon James on Sunday following the liturgy).
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS – All people and the animals they love are welcome at the 2019 Blessing of the Animals at New Skete Monasteries, in celebration of the Feast of Saint Francis, on Saturday, September 28. Go to newskete.org for the schedule of the day.
AWARENESS AND SAFETY PRESENTATION – Next Sunday, September 29 following liturgy, Gary J. Eblan, a thirty-year veteran and Sergeant Detective with the Boston Police Department, will be making a presentation to the parish on best practices for increased awareness and safety when faced with an unsafe environment. The presentation will include human response to crisis and best practices for safety and risk indicators/behaviors. The Parish Council has decided to offer this informational session given what has been unfortunately occurring in meeting places of assembly throughout the world.
WOMEN’S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be Sunday, October 6 after Liturgy, during Coffee Hour. The St. Mary Women’s Club does charitable work locally, nationally and internationally, and also supports the Church School. And we hold delicious fund-raising events! We invite all women of the parish to join us at our monthly meetings. E-mail Melissa Nassiff (mnassiff@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to join us.
FAMILY CAMP – You’re invited to Diocese Family Camp Friday-Sunday, October 4-6 at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. Families from our Diocese come together for a weekend of camp activities, prayer, relaxation, fellowship, and learning. More information and pictures can be found at www.soyofallcamp.org. Registration information will be posted soon.
FOOD, BAKE, & YARD SALE – On Saturday, October 12, St. Micheal’s Cotuit will hold an International Food/Bake and Yard Sale, 10:00am-2:00pm with the widest selection of homemade ethnic food on Cape Cod.
CPR/AED TRAINING - The Parish Council will be sponsoring a training session to cover CPR and AED use, choking prevention and relief, and use of Narcan, in the church hall on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 pm. The class will be limited to the first 10 Parish members to sign up. The cost for members of St. Mary’s is $25.00. If there is room, others may participate for a $50.00 per person course fee. Please contact Raymond Sayeg at (617) 872-9774 or email at rsayeg@koilaw.com to sign up for the class. The deadline to sign up is Monday, October 14, 2019.
ST. GEORGE NORWOOD LUNCHEON – The 100th Anniversary of the Ladies of St. George Norwood will be celebrated with a Celebration Luncheon on Sunday, October 27 at the Four Points Sheraton, from 1:00-5:00pm. $45 per ticket. RSVP by October 10.
CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED - The Choir is looking for new members, especially Alto (woman) and Bass/Baritone (men), but of course we welcome all parts. Please e-mail Michelle Mabardy at mmmabardy@gmail.com if you are interested.
GREETERS NEEDED – The Greeter Ministry is a great opportunity to meet all the parishioners of St. Mary’s. As a Greeter, you will welcome people into the Church and help to direct visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the Vestibule, Hallways and Entranceways during the service. Arrive at Church 15 minutes before Liturgy (9:45am). Greeting time ends when Communion starts. We hope you will consider being a greeter! If you are interested, contact Buddy Mabardy, buddy@cjmabardy.com or 781-729-6303, or the church office, secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.
JOIN THE HOSPITALITY GROUP – The St. Mary’s Donald DiFiore Memorial Hospitality Group works to build community among the larger St. Mary’s Congregation, so that we can come together in service, celebration and fellowship outside of liturgy and coffee hour. We need members to join us, and help with planning fellowship events such as Lenten Potluck Suppers, the Dormition Feast, our annual Picnic, etc. Even if you could commit to just one event per year, this would help strengthen the sense of community and family in our parish. We also welcome new ideas for fellowship gatherings. Contact Diana Yousef at dymartinek@gmail.com if you’re interested.
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
He is not yet a faithful servant who bases himself on bare knowledge alone; a faithful servant is he who professes his faith by obedience to Christ, Who gave the commandments.
- St. Mark the Ascetic
Ultimately…the secret is perfect abandonment to the will of God in all things you cannot control, and perfect obedience to Him in everything that depends on your own volition, so that in all things, in your interior life and in your outward works for God, you desire only one thing, which is the fulfillment of His will.
- Fr. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Brothers, we shall hymn with praise the tongues of the disciples, because not with elegant speech but in divine power they have revived all men. Because they took up His Cross as a reed, so that they might again use words as fishing lines and fish for the world. Since they had speech as a sharp fishhook, since the flesh of the Master of all has become for them a bait, it has not sought to kill but it attracts to life those who worship and praise the All-Holy Spirit.
- St Romanos the Melodist