Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, August 28, through Thursday, September 3, 2009

THIS WEEK

ANNIVERSARY VIDEO INTERVIEWS - If you wish to be interviewed on-camera for the St. Mary 80th Anniversary Video, please complete the online questionnaire as soon as possible  at  http://StMaryVideo.ErickStraghalis.com .  On-camera interviews will be scheduled for this weekend,  August 29th and 30th,  and next weekend, September 5th and 6th, only.  Therefore, if you wish to be considered for an on-camera interview, please fill out the form online.  Your thoughts and sentiments about the church and your experiences can be invaluable to the project, regardless of your interest in being interviewed on camera--please fill out the questionnaire and share what you know! 

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE:  ST. THEKLA PILGRIMAGE - Registration is due by Tuesday, September 1st for  the annual St. Thekla pilgrimage, which will take place over the weekend of September 25-27, 2009, at Antiochian Village. This year's theme will be The Domestic Church, and His Grace Bishop JOSEPH of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West will preside over the pilgrimage. His Grace will preach on the Pilgrimage theme at services on Saturday. Also on Saturday, participants may join in small group talks including:

  • Dedicating your "house as something holy to the Lord": The Lives of Saintly Families
  • Dragging the Faith Home: Making God Real in the Orthodox Home
  • When It All Goes Wrong: Living the Faith in the Midst of Family Crisis
  • The Shack: Encountering God (A discussion of the New York Times Best-Seller)

Mother Alexandra of the recently established St. Thekla Convent will also attend the Pilgrimage and participate in services and group talks. 

For more information email barli@antiochianvillage.org  or call: 724-238-3677 x425. For prices, complete schedule or to register, please download the St. Thekla Pilgrimage registration form at http://www.antiochianvillage.org/assets/files/center_pdf/Pilgrimage%2009%20Brochure.pdf .

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

TEEN SOYO SERVICE PROJECT - St. Mary's Teen SOYO will kick off 2009-2010 by making dinner and serving it to the clients at the Boston Rescue Mission on Sunday, September 6th. We'll gather directly after church and carpool to the Rescue Mission.  Teens will arrive back at St. Mary's around 6:00 pm.  We need all the teens we can get!  If you are interested in helping out, please RSVP immediately to Liz Straghalis at (617) 974-5005 or elizabeth.straghalis@gmail.com.  (We are also accepting donations from parishioners - we will be making a spaghetti dinner for 150 people!  Monetary and/or food donations will be gladly appreciated.)

TICKETS ARE GOING FAST - Tickets for the Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party for Bishop ALEXANDER'S visit to St. Mary are going fast - better order yours quickly!  See "Bishop Alexander To Visit  St. Mary" under Reminders, below, for more information.

REMINDERS

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!

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Please sign up to provide a coffee hour;  it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies. 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, no fellowship, no hospitality.

ORTHODOX CONFERENCE ON MISSIONS & EVANGELISM - The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism is proud to welcome as their keynote speaker for the 2009 Orthodox Conference on Missions and Evangelism His Beatitude the Most Blessed JONAH, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. The conference will be held

September 4 - 7, 2009 at Antiochian Village . Theme:  The Necessity of Orthodox Unity in America to Bringing America to Orthodoxy.  For more information and to register,  see http://www.antiochian.org/missions/conference .

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

METROPOLITAN VISITING ST. GEORGE, NORWOOD - Metropolitan PHILIP will visit St. George, Norwood, on September 19th and 20th.  On Saturday evening, Vespers will be at 6:00 pm, followed by a banquet at the Apollo Restaurant in Norwood to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Ladies of Saint George.  On Sunday, His Eminence will serve the Liturgy at 10:00  am, including the one-year memorial for Father Nifon Abraham.   Dinner on Saturday is $55 and includes your choice of roasted prime rib or broiled haddock.  Please send your reservation to the Ladies of Saint George, c/o Beverly DiFlaminies, 35 Elm Street, Norwood, 02062.  For information phone 781-762-4396, see their website, www.StGeorgeNorwood.org or email Linda Thomas at LMThomas9@gmail.com

BISHOP ALEXANDER TO VISIT  ST. MARY- 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.

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, 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 29:   

LITURGICAL SERVICE

August 30:     Epistle: Jeff Wasilko;  volunteers are needed for other positions.  If you would like to assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org. 

COFFEE HOUR

August 30:   Peter and Melissa Nassiff

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, August 29:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, August 30:  Last Sunday of Summer Hours - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

SCRIPTURE READINGS for August 30: 

Epistle:  St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the  scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-26

And Jesus said to his disciples. "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God ."  When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, September 5:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, September 6:  Regular hours resume - Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Monday, September 7:  Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Tuesday, September 8:  Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (no services)

INSIGHT

   "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but salvation is in the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31).

   We are obligated to prepare ourselves but our success depends on God. All of our preparation is only a proposal to God but the proposal does not decide, but God decides. That is why people wisely say according to their experience: man proposes and God disposes.

   O Soldier of Christ, prepare your mind as a good horse, arm your heart with virtues, temper your will with mortifications, but know that "salvation is in the Lord."

   O Merchant of Christ, practice good trade every day, exchanging the material for the spiritual, the earthly for the heavenly and mortality for immortality, but know that "salvation is in the Lord."

   O Plowman of Christ, plow and re-plow your soul, sow the good evangelical seed on it every day, weed out the field of your soul from weeds, watch over it, but know that "salvation is in the Lord."

A horse did not help the pharaoh in the Red Sea. Neither did the riches of Babylon help in the day of reckoning with God. A person can have prepare everything, but nevertheless, in that decisive moment can lose everything. For salvation is not in preparation, but in the Lord. That is why the saints, even though they were most prepared for the Kingdom of God, sighed in their hour of death, not knowing whether they would be received into the Kingdom. Oh, how well they remembered the words of the Lord: "When you have done everything that was commanded you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants!' " (St. Luke 17:10). Brethren, let us be prepared for the day of temptation, well girded and armed, but let us not hope in our own preparation, but in the Lord.

    - Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, The Prologue from Ohrid

So blessed is the one who has never thought of evil. However, if through his wiles, the suggestions of the Enemy have found a foothold in your heart, do not remain inactive in the toils of sin. Be careful not to be utterly overcome by it. If the sin is already weighing you down, if the dust of riches has already settled on you, if your soul has been dragged right down by attachment to material things, then before you fall into utter ruin get rid of the heavy burden. Before the ship sinks, follow the example of sailors and cast overboard the possessions you have accumulated overmuch.

   - St. Basil the Great, Commentary on Psalm 1