Weekly Newsletter for the week of Friday, August 10, 2007 through Thursday, August 16, 2007

ST. MARY UPDATE

Weekly Newsletter for the week

Friday, August 10, 2007 through Thursday, August 16, 2007

 

 

THIS WEEKEND

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED SATURDAY - Five to seven people are needed for a couple of hours this Saturday, August 11, to help clean and set up the altar, so we can resume worshipping in our newly painted and repaired Sanctuary. We need this completed not only for Sunday, but also for our festal celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos, our Patronal feast day, this coming Tuesday.  Plan to come at 10:00 a.m. and bring rags for dusting and/or equipment for vacuuming. You can park in the church parking lot; there will be no tenants using the building or parking lot that day.

Please let Steve Walker know ASAP if you can help, or if you have any questions - phone 617-964-1100 x 256, or cell phone 617-448-9128, or email smwalk@gmail.com

PILGRIMAGE TO NEW SKETE  - The New Skete monastic communities in Cambridge , NY  are hosting their 2007 Annual Pilgrimage this Saturday, August  11.  To coordinate rides  call our local contact:  Teva Regule at 617-734-0210 or teva@mitlns.mit.edu  

FR. ANTONY RETURNS SUNDAY - Fr. Antony is serving at the Antiochian Village through this Saturday, August 11.  Consequently there will be no Vespers services on August 11.  In case of emergency through August 11,  call Fr. Timothy Ferguson 617-323-0323 (St. George Church, West Roxbury )

FEAST DAY CELEBRATION - Our parish's Patronal Feast Day, the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos, is Wednesday, August 15.  Join us on Tuesday, August 14, for the Vigil for the Dormition (Vespers 4:15 p.m., Orthros with Lamentations 5:30, Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m.) followed at 8:15 p.m. by a light supper offered by Charles Arbeely (adults & students $5.00, children free).  Please use the sign-up sheet on Bengarri this Sunday if you have not already called the Church Office with your reservation. Paid reservations preferred.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

NATIONAL YOUNG ADULT RETREAT  -  Young adults age 18-35 are invited to a retreat September 14-16 at Hellenic College/Holy Cross, Brookline , MA   The keynote speaker is  Fr. Luke Veronis, whose  topic will be  Responding to God's Call: Love that Makes a Difference.  Information and online registration are available at www.yal.org

ST. THEKLA PILGRIMAGE - The 2007 St. Thekla Pilgrimage at the Antiochian Village will be September 21-23.  The keynote speaker is  H. Tristram Engelhardt, whose topic will be  Wholeness and Health in a Secular World.  Information and registration forms are available at

http://www.antiochian.org/2007-pilgrimage

REMINDERS

COFFEE HOUR -  Please sign up to provide a coffee hour - it need not be more elaborate than coffee, juice, and cookies. Sign-up Sheet is on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall & Church Office, or just reply to this e-mail.  Summer is a good time to "stick your toe in the water," as attendance is usually lower during these warm months.   Most of the Sundays in August are still available

WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB - This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini.  The author of The Kite Runner takes his storytelling powers to the next level with this instant classic. Following the lives of two Afghan women over 30 years, this beautiful, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting novel will sweep you away.  We'll be discussing it on Wednesday, September 19 - start your summer reading now!

FOOD PANTRY -   Two to four St. Mary's volunteers are needed each week to help in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. Contact Christian Alcala  at 617-876-5684 or  cmalcala1989@yahoo.com.

SOUP KITCHEN - Three or four St. Mary's volunteers are needed to help each week at the Open Doors Meal Ministry at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Allston, Mondays any time between 4:00 p.m. and 7:30. Contact Liz Tutella at 617-974-5005 (note new phone number) or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.   

INSIGHT

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.
   - Mark Twain

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
   - Mohandas Gandhi

Forgiveness is the final form of love.
   - Reinhold Niebuhr

The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness.
   - William Blake

When we forgive evil we do not excuse it, we do not tolerate it, we do not smother it. We look the evil full in the face, call it what it is, let its horror shock and stun and enrage us, and only then do we forgive it.
   - Lewis B. Smedes

You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.
   - Lewis B. Smedes

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, August 11:  No Great Vespers at St. Mary's

Sunday, August 12: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.

SCRIPTURE READINGS for August 12:

Epistle:  St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12  For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." ... the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop.  (The entire reading may be found at  http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=123&event=1112

Gospel: Matthew 17:14-23  Then his lord ... said to him, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?" And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailors, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to everyone of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.  (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=126&event=1112&DL=EN )

Tuesday, August 14, Vigil for the Dormition:

      Vespers 4:15 p.m.

      Orthros with Lamentations 5:30 p.m.

      Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m.

      Light supper 8:15 p.m.

Wednesday, August 15:  The Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, August 18:  Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 19:  Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 25:  Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 26:  Last day of Summer hours

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES

FOOD PANTRY

Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45.  If you are willing to help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com or (617) 876-5684.

August 11:   John Rodriguez and Christian Alcala

LITURGICAL SERVICE

The Epistle each Sunday is read by a member of the congregation, and six members of the congregation hold the cloth and Holy Bread baskets during Communion.  If you would like to help with these services,  please contact Jeff Wasilko at jeffw@smoe.org or 781-820-0882.

August 12:  Epistle - Andrea Jabbour

Communion Assistance - Abra Greene, Chris Magnusson, John Rodriguez, and one other

COFFEE HOUR

To sign up for an available Sunday, please put your name on the signup sheet on the bulletin board outside the Hall or call Marilyn in the Office 617-547-1234 and she'll write your name in.

August 12:      

August 19:  The Chin family