Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, July 31, through Thursday, August 6, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

DORMITION FAST - The Feast of the Dormition, celebrated on August 15, commemorates the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ's mother, Mary.  To help us in our preparation for the feast, it is preceded by a two-week fast period which begins this Saturday, August 1, and continues through Friday, August 14.

FR. ANTONY IS AWAY - Father Antony will be serving at the Antiochian Village through August 8.  Fr. Peter Day of Manchester , NH , of the Greek Archdiocese, will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy this Sunday in Fr. Antony's absence.

In case of emergency, please contact Fr. Timothy Ferguson of St. George Church, West Roxbury at 617-323-0323.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

ST. MARY 80th ANNIVERSARY VIDEO - UPDATE - We are looking for materials (photos, video, etc.) and historical information for our research committee - both recent and not-so recent!  Over the next several weeks, we will have several tables and people downstairs during coffee hour leading these efforts. 
1.  Materials - if you have photographs, documents, booklets, brochures and/or video of the past 80 years at St. Mary's, please contact Juliet Burch (juliet.burch@gmail.com) who is coordinating the archiving committee, and will ensure your materials are returned to you once they have been scanned.  If you have video, please let them know the format it is currently in (VHS, Mini-DV, Hi8, or DVD).  Juliet and her team will be on hand Sunday to collect any materials you may have - Please bring them in a clearly marked box or bag so that your items may be archived and returned.
2.  Research Questionnaire - If you have any information on the past 80 years (both recent history and not-so-recent), we need your help!!!  There are two ways to fill out this questionnaire - Online or in person.    If you have any questions regarding the questionnaire, please contact Tiffany Conroy (trattus1@gmail.com).  If you would like to be interviewed on-camera, you MUST complete this questionnaire.

Online: Fill out the questionnaire online at http://StMaryVideo.ErickStraghalis.com (note: there is no "www" in the URL). It should only take about fifteen minutes. 
In Person: Several team members will be on hand to walk people through the questionnaire, during coffee hour. 

For all other questions, please contact Erick Straghalis (stmaryvideo@erickstraghalis.com). Thank you and God Bless!

TEEN SOYO -Diocesan Teen SOYO is sponsoring a trip to the Pawtucket Red Sox game on Thursday, August 20th.  Game starts at 7:00 pm and tickets are $10.  Transportation will be provided.  RSVP to Erick or Liz immediately or by Wednesday, August 5th if your teen is interested in attending, (617-645-2116 & 617-974-5005)... don't miss out on this great opportunity to kick back and relax before heading back to school in September!

MEMORY ETERNAL:

Metropolitan +ILYAS - His Eminence Metropolitan +ILYAS of Tripoli and El-Koura fell asleep in the Lord early Thursday morning, July 30, in Tripoli , Lebanon .   Metropolitan +Ilyas served as pastor of St. George Parish, Boston from 1957 to 1962.  As Metropolitan of Tripoli and El-Koura from 1962 to 2009, he was the Chief Shepherd from that area of Lebanon .  He was the senior member of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.  He will be greatly missed and we keep his memory eternal.   No further arrangements have been announced.

Leo Homsy - We are regret to advise of the falling asleep in the Lord of the servant of God, Leo Homsy, on Friday, July 17, 2009.  The wake was held on Monday, July 20, 2009 and the funeral was held at St. Mary Church on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 with interment at Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park, MA.  May his memory be eternal.

REMINDERS

DORMITION FEAST DAY CELEBRATION - Saturday, August 15  is  our Parish Feast Day: Dormition of the Theotokos.  Join us as we celebrate the Vigil for the Dormition on Friday, August 14, with   Vespers  at 4:15 pm, Orthros with Lamentations  at 5:30 pm; and Festal Divine Liturgy  at 7:00  pm, followed by a Parish Dinner at 8:15 pm.  Cost for the dinner is $5.00  for adults and students; children 12 and under are free.  Please RSVP by Thursday, August 6 to the Church Office at 617-547-1234.   Paid reservations are preferred - checks payable to St. Mary Church.

NEW SKETE FEAST DAY CELEBRATION-  The Monastic Communities and Chapel Community members of New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York, invite you to join them for a day of prayer and reflection celebrating their feast day on Saturday, August 8, 2009 (rain or shine).  The theme of the pilgrimage is "Jesus: The Heart of Renewal." As is the rule of monastic life, the day will begin and end with prayer--Matins at 8:30 am, followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am, and Vespers and Vigil at 5:30 pm.  In addition, a healing service will be held at approximately 4:15 pm.  Two main presentations will be held in the afternoon--"Christ in Theology: Conversion and Purification" with Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, who will bring a theological perspective to the theme and "The Face of Christ in the World" given by Sr. Rebecca, a nun of New Skete, who will explore the theme through the lens of iconography. In addition, the day will include tours of the monastery Churches, a demonstration of the monks' dog program, and time for hiking, conversation, reflection and quiet.  Activities for children and teens are also planned. Traditional ethnic and American style food will be available for purchase.  For more information, contact Teva Regule at teva@mit.edu.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Please sign up to provide a coffee hour this summer - it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies, and it's easier now when attendance is lighter.  Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call Marilyn in the office.  When no one volunteers there is no coffee.

LITURGICAL SERVICES HELP NEEDED - If you've ever assisted with Liturgical Services (holding the Communion Cloth or the bread basket), and you see one of those positions unfilled this summer, please feel free to step up and fill it.

BIBLE BOWL RESULTS - Our winning Teen Bible Bowl team (Thomas Marge, Theo Smith, and Gabe Smith, coached by Violet Robbat)   represented our Diocese in the Bible Bowl at the Archdiocese Convention.  Charlie Marge, one of their chaperones, reports "We came in 3rd in a very close contest.  Out of a possible 105 points, the top 3 were:  St George, Little Falls, NJ with 96 points;  St Elijah, Oklahoma City, OK, with 94; and  St Mary, Cambridge, MA with 91 points. The other 4 teams weren't even close.  Our teens were much younger than the others, who were all in high school.  Their compose under such pressure was amazing.  We are all very proud of how well they represented our parish and diocese in front all of our hierarchs.  Many thanks to Violet Robbat for all the time she spent preparing our kids." 

WOMEN'S CLUB SUMMER READING -  This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) will be reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a New York Times best seller. Read the book over the summer, and join us in the fall, Monday, September 14, for an enjoyable evening of discussion,  refreshments and fellowship!

SONIA'S RUN - You are invited to take part in an inaugural 5K road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of its beloved friend Sonia Belcher, on Saturday, September 19, 2009.  "Sonia's Run ... Building on a Dream" will start and end at St. George Church, West Roxbury, and includes both a 5k Run starting at 9:00 am and a Kids' 50-yard Dash which starts at 8:30 am.  For more information, go to:  www.SoniasRun.org

NEW CD AVAILABLE - The Voice of the Lord:  Selected Hymns from the Feast of Theophany is a new CD recorded by the Friends of the Theophany School under the direction of Rassem El-Massih. Each CD sells for $15 and all proceeds will benefit the "Building on a Dream" campaign for the Theophany School in memory of the school's founder, Sonia Daly Belcher.  To place an order online or listen to sample tracks, visit www.theophanyschool.org/cd.   For bulk orders (10 or more),  contact them directly at music@theophanyschool.org or 617-470-0546.

BISHOP ALEXANDER TO VISIT - On the evening of Saturday, October 3, 2009, we will welcome His Grace Bishop ALEXANDER for a visit to St. Mary's.  The evening will begin with Vespers at 6:00 pm, followed by a Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party at 7:30 pm.  The ticket price  of $35.00 per person will include a wide array of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, open bar, dessert and Arabic dancing.   Prepaid reservations only - no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets will be limited to 175 people.   For tickets and table reservations of eight, contact Renay DiFiore at (617) 327-6361, Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com  or Mary Winstanley O'Connor at either (617) 523-1010 or moconnor@koilaw.com.

On Sunday, October 4, His Grace will be with us for Orthros at 8:45 am and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am, followed by a celebratory Coffee Hour.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshippers and those in need.  Consider serving in one of these ways:

PARTICIPATION

Liturgical Service - Each Sunday, members of the congregation are needed to read the Epistle and assist during Communion by holding the Communion Cloths and Holy Bread Baskets.  All Orthodox Christians in the Parish are welcome and encouraged to participate. We usually need one Epistle reader and six people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org. 

 

Coffee Hour - People are needed every week to provide coffee, juice and cookies, or more if desired, and set it up Sunday morning. 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 Robbat in the Parish Office and she will write your name in. If you need any help with figuring out what to bring or do, check the list below the signup sheet (also printed in the Bulletin), or ask Marilyn at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.

VOLUNTEERING

Holy Resurrection Open Doors - The Holy Resurrection Open Door Meal Ministry in Allston needs volunteers every Monday evening (there is a special need in the summer).  The official hours of the project are 4:30 pm-7:30 pm, but it is fine to come anytime and leave any time.  Best times would be 5:30-5:45 to 7:15-7:30 pm.  You can serve meals, coffee and tea to the people who arrive for dinner (6-7 pm) or just stay behind the scenes doing set-up and clean-up.  It is a very rewarding, hands-on, face-to-face way to serve the community with (mostly) other Orthodox Christians-we even chant the Our Father together before the meal begins. Church info can be found at  http://hrocboston.org.    Questions? Please contact Liz Straghalis at liztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162.

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

DONATIONS

Food and Clothing - Holy Resurrection in Allston takes donations of non-perishable food items and clothing to distribute at the Open Door Ministry on Monday evenings.  You can bring your donations by on Monday nights between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm or contact Tiffany Conroy, trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162, for more information.

- St. Paul 's Food Pantry in Harvard Square , where volunteers from St. Mary help every Saturday, depends upon regular donations of canned and packaged foods.  To help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

Monetary Contributions - The Agape Canister Program is an Orthodox non-profit development program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center .  It is dedicated to meeting the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or creed. All funds collected by the Agape Canister Program are earmarked for medical care and clinics, water wells, agricultural development, food and clothing, support personnel (e.g. doctors, nurses, teachers), the construction of schools, and the education of indigenous people in their own communities.  Please contribute each Sunday - A clear plastic box is on the Bengarri.

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.

THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS

FOOD PANTRY

August 1:  Volunteers are needed! If you are interested in helping, please contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

LITURGICAL SERVICE

August 2:     Volunteers are needed!  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org. 

COFFEE HOUR

August 2:   No volunteers = no coffee hour

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, August 1:  No Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, August 2:  Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

SCRIPTURE READINGS for August 2: 

Epistle:  St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17  Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.  ...   For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 

Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22  At that time, as Jesus went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.  ...   Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."  They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."  And Jesus said, "Bring them here to me."  Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  And they all ate and were satisfied. 

 Thursday, August 6:  Feast of the Transfiguration - No Services at St.  Mary (for services elsewhere, see below)

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, August 8:  No Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, August 9:  Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

Wednesday, August 12:  Paraclesis Service 6:30 pm

Friday, August 14:  Vigil for the Dormition of the Theotokos - Vespers  4:15 pm, Orthros with Lamentations  5:30 pm, Festal Divine Liturgy  7:00  pm; Parish Dinner  8:15 pm

Saturday, August 15:  No Vespers at St. Mary           

AT OTHER AREA CHURCHES

Below is  a listing of services in neighboring parishes during the Dormition Fast, should you wish to attend while Fr. Antony is away serving at Antiochian Village:

 

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, West Roxbury:

Wed 8/5:  6:30 pm Liturgy (Transfiguration w/Blessing of Fruit)

Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 14 Magazine St., Cambridge:

Mon 8/3:  7 pm Paraclesis

Thurs 8/6:  8 am Orthros (Transfiguration),  9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Fri 8/7:  7 pm Paraclesis

Mon 8/10:  7 pm Paraclesis

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 17 Meriam St, Lexington Center:

Mon 8/3:  6pm Paraclesis

Wed 8/5:  6pm Great Vespers (Transfiguration)

Thu 8/6:  8:45am Orthros (Transfiguration),  9:30am Divine Liturgy (Transfiguration)

Fri 8/7:  6pm Paraclesis

Mon 8/10:  6pm Paraclesis

INSIGHT

"Our concern is the Church as idea, as institution, as an organization, as a teaching. Our concern is the services and the choir, the social and cultural groups and the religious instruction and church-tourism and so forth. It is not that these questions aren't sometimes important. But there is one thing needful: the purification of the heart and the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. This is a deviation from the essence of the matter that keeps those who are considered believers-- most pastors and flock equally-- pagans, worshipping themselves, seeking their own glory. They are only concerned with their own power and their own reputation and their own honor. They are satisfied with only the outward form of the worship of God. What is sought in any case, in the understanding of the people, is not change of heart but rather some practices and the keeping some obligations and giving lip service. In what pertains to the exterior of the church, today, it is sometimes, but not always, gleaming by worldly standards, souls graze in their own impurities and lack of awareness. Is this not the ideal church the devil desires and lords over? A worldly church, ritualistic, like a museum, a nominal Christianity but without Christ and without holiness and without truth and without Spirit and without new life, filled with the thoughts of the world and the concerns of the world! Is this not the church that most people receive today and for which they work? The devil has succeeded in making people think that this is the true and desirable church of modernity!

This is exactly a church against Christ! And we, without our attention to holiness, are building it contentedly, persistently and continuously!"

   - Archimandrite Touma (Bitar), Abbot of the Monastery of St. Silouan the Athonite  Douma

Sunday July 19, 2009