Update for the week Thursday, November 21 - Wednesday, November 27, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SATURDAY 11/23 – This Saturday, November 23, the Orthodox Christian Witness Program: Spiritual Pilgrimage, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese of Worcester and New England, will hold the last retreat of this semester at St. Mary’s from 9:30am-4:00pm, entitled Mentorship Skills: Opening to the Other – Kenosis and Listening Skills. This retreat is an opportunity to deepen mentoring and listening skills, as we are invited into the reality of another person through their story, in order to witness and make authentic connections in Christ.
The retreat will use small presentations, personal reflections, and small and large group discussions. Although a donation of $35 per retreat is suggested (or any other amount), the donation is not a requirement for participation. Coffee, tea and a light breakfast will be provided at 9 am (lunch is not provided). Anyone can register. To register or for questions, please email IP.AlongTheJourney@gmail.com or call 617-274-8336.
SUNDAY 11/24 – Orthros 8:45am; St. Ignatius Catechetical Group, and Orthodoxy 102, 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, followed by Church School
+ The Women’s Club will be holding its annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale this Sunday, 11/24 after Liturgy. All proceeds will benefit the Convent of Saidnaya in Syria. Please bake or donate funds - contact our event Chair, Madeline Homsy (madeline2798@verizon.net).
MONDAY 11/25 - Parish Council Election ballots are due back at the church this Monday, November 25. If you are a member of the parish and did not receive a ballot by mail, please contact the church office.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHURCH SCHOOL – There will be no Church School classes on Sunday, December 1.
ANGEL TREE MINISTRY - St. Mary’s is once again participating in the Angel Tree Prison Ministry,
which provides Christmas gifts to children in our local community on behalf of their parent serving time in prison. Please see Gregg Flessas in the church hall this Sunday or e-mail him (flessas99@gmail.com) if you can help or have questions. If you already signed up to help, remember your gifts are due on Sunday, December 1.
REMINDERS
NATIVITY FAST – The Nativity fast (also known as Advent) began on Friday, November 15, and continues through December 24.
N.G. BERAM AWARDS BANQUET – The Nicholas G. Beram Veterans Association will hold its 73rd anniversary celebration and 53rd Scholastic Achievement awards banquet next Saturday, November 30, from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm at the Holiday Inn, Dedham. Andrew Bargoot II, one of our teens, will be receiving a Scholastic Achievement award. Tickets for the luncheon are $35.00 and tables of eight may be reserved. Luncheon reservation and ad book forms are available in the church office.
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD – Let the Women’s Club send a lovely Christmas card on your behalf to our parishioners. Save yourself time, let us do the work, and have all proceeds benefit the Antiochian Women’s Project 2019-2020: Building a New Cathedral at Antiochian Village You will receive this card with the names of parishioners, like yourself, who are wishing a Blessed Nativity and a Merry Christmas to all. Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin, and donate whatever amount you choose. Turn it in at the Bengarri or mail it to St. Mary’s Church Women ‘s Club, 8 Inman St., Cambridge MA 02139-2407 Deadline: Sunday, December 1.
PLC MEETING – The next meeting of the Parish Life Conference Committee will be on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00pm.
YOUNG ADULTS PAINT NIGHT – On Saturday, December 7, the Young Adults will have a 2nd Annual Orthodox Paint Night following Great Vespers. All young adults are invited to participate.
HOLIDAY CONCERT – You are invited to the MetWinds (Metropolitan Wind Symphony) 2019 Holiday Pops Concert at St. John of Damascus Church, Dedham, on Saturday, December 7, 6:00pm-9:00pm. Adults: $15 Children: $5. To purchase tickets, visit at http://www.stjohnd.org/pops.
WOMEN’S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday,December 8, during coffee hour. We invite all women of the parish to bake for our bake sales and 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.
NATIVITY DONATIONS – If you would like to donate toward the poinsettias and other decorations for Nativity please use the form in the Sunday bulletin or mail a check to St. Mary’s Church, 8 Inman St., Cambridge MA 02139-2407. Deadline is December 8, 2019.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT – The Church School Christmas Pageant is scheduled for Sunday, December 22, after Liturgy. If your child is interested in participating, please see Sarah Byrne-Martelli or Chris Addis. We also need parents to assist at the rehearsals, which will take place during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 8 and Sunday, December 15.
ST. MARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT – St. Mary’s will be hosting a concert of Christmas Carols and hymns from the Eastern and Western Christian traditions featuring local Orthodox Choirs on Sunday, December 8 at 4:00pm, followed by a reception to be sponsored by the Young Adult Ministry and the Hospitality Group. Joining St. Mary’s Parish Choir and the Boston Byzantine Choir will be the Arabic Choir of the Theotokos from St. Mary’s Pawtucket and the St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir from Hellenic College/Holy Cross. The concert will conclude with St. Mary’s choir leading a Western Christmas Carol Singalong accompanied by strings from the Boston Civic Symphony.
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, December 11.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support our Canned Food Drive! From October through December 31, bring in canned goods and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. (Canned goods only, please.) They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
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.
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
Bodily purity is primarily attained by fasting, and, through bodily purity, spiritual purity is also attained.
- Prologue of Ochrid
An old man said to a brother: Do not measure your heart against your brother, saying that you are more serious or more continent or more understanding than he. But be obedient to the grace of God, in the spirit of poverty, and in charity unfeigned. The efforts of a man swollen with vanity are futile. It is written, "Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he falls."
- The Desert Fathers
If you see a man who has sinned and you do not pity him, the grace of God will leave you. Whoever curses bad people, and does not pray for them, will never come to know the grace of God.
- St. Silouan the Athonite
The grace of God is preserved by the practice of the commandments, and the observance of these commandments is laid down like foundations through the gift of God. The grace of the Spirit cannot remain with us without the practice of the commandments, but the practice of the commandments is of no help or advantage to us without the grace of God.
- St. Symeon the New Theologian