Update for the week Friday, January 21, 2011 through Thursday, January 27, 2011

THIS WEEKEND

ALL GIRL TEEN RETREAT- On Friday, January 21, at 6:00 pm there will be a Diocesan All Girl Teen Retreat at St. George in West Roxbury.  It’s a sleepover and there will be movies, games and workshops!  The Retreat will continue through Youth Day on Saturday January  22 ( below).  Cost is $5.00.  Contact Nadia Abuelezam for more information:  nabuelezam@gmail.com  

YOUTH DAY 2011 – The second annual Youth Day for 4th grade through high school, sponsored by the Diocese of Worcester and New England, will be held at St. George, West Roxbury, on Saturday, January 22,  from 9:30 - 2:30. Registration is $5 ; see Nadia or rsvp to Lis Lourie at elisabeth.lourie@gmail.com

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE BBQ - This Sunday, January 23,  we will kick off St. Mary’s Antiochian Village Campaign.  Join us after church for a down-home BBQ to "experience" the Village summer camping program and support the parish’s goal to provide financial support for all our children and teens interested in attending. Fixin’s are being donated by The Firehouse BBQ in Amesbury, MA, so funds raised can go to support our kids.  Suggested minimum donation: Adults, $15.00; Children, students and seniors, $5.00. 

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

BAKE SALE FOR THEOPHANY SCHOOL – Next Sunday, January 30, the 7th & 8th Grade Sunday School class is having a bake sale coffee hour in order to get school supplies for Theophany School in Needham. Please come before or after the parish meeting and purchase a baked good, make a donation, or bring a school supply for the School. Thanks.

CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHER NEEDED – Due to the size of the 3rd & 4th grade class we need to split the class and are looking for a new teacher or team teachers willing to take one of the grades.  Teaching in the Church School is a very rewarding and delightful experience.  Please consider helping our children.  If interested please see or e-mail Andrea Popa (apopa@bu.edu) or Arlene Marge (Lanciani@alum.mit.edu).

TEEN SOYO HELP NEEDED – Our Teen Advisor, Nadia Abuelezam, is currently studying for her PhD at Harvard and due to her current workload and exam schedule, is looking for someone to help her organize events and activities for the Teens throughout the Spring.  If you are interested please see Nadia or e-mail her at nabuelez@hsph.harvard.edu . 

SCHMEMANN LECTURE AT ST VLAD’S– St.  Vladimir Theological Seminary will present its 28th annual Schmemann Memorial Lecture  on Saturday, February 5, at 3:30. This year’s presenter is  Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Affairs, who will speak on The Meaning of ‘Icon’ in the Orthodox Church.  The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information about His Eminence and about the event see http://www.svots.edu/events/bishop-hilarion-deliver-annual-schmemann-lecture

PARISH COUNCIL – The officers of the Parish Council for 2011, elected last week, are  Mary Winstanley O’Connor, President; Dino Takles, Vice President; Nicholas Bezreh, Treasurer; and Paul Nahass, Recording Secretary.  Congratulations them all!  The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, February 16, at 7:30 pm.

LENTEN FOOD SALE – The Women's Club is now taking orders for Hoomos (hummus), Mjadara (lentils with rice), and Spinach Triangles.  Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin.  Order deadline is Sunday, February 27;  pickup date is Sunday, March 13.  If you would like to help make Spinach Triangles, join us on Saturday, March 12,  at 9:00 am.

REMINDERS

PARISH MEETING – The Annual Meeting of the Parish will be held next Sunday, January 30, after Liturgy.  All members are urged to attend to approve the 2011 budget, review expenses for 2010, and hear committee reports and updates.  Snow date is Sunday, February 13.

EVENING LITURGY – On Tuesday, February 1, there will be an Evening Liturgy for the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple at 6:30 pm.

BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany(January 6)  and between Pascha (April 24) and Pentecost (June 12).  We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil;  to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God.  To schedule the blessing of your home, please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or call the church office at 617 -547-1234.

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL RETREAT – Church School students are invited to come on Saturday, February 5 for the Creative Arts Festival Afternoon Retreat.  The Retreat  will be from 3:00 – 5:00 pm, followed by Family Vespers and Confession.  For more information see Arlene Marge or Andrea Popa.

CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAKFAST– Join the FSJD for the 2011 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast, to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC), on Sunday, February 6, 2011.  Suggested minimum donation is $5.00 per adult.  RSVP to Nelson Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn or sign up on the sheet at the Bengarri by Wednesday, February 2.

MID-WINTER MEETINGS – The annual mid-winter meetings of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine,  Antiochian Women, and Teen SOYO of the Archdiocese will be held at Antiochian Village Friday through Sunday, February 4 - 6, 2011.

PRE-LENTEN RETREAT– The Antiochian Women of the Diocese invite you to a Pre-Lenten Retreat on Saturday, February 12, 2011, at St. George Church in Norwood. Featured speaker will be Presvytera Maria Mossaides, Executive Director of Cambridge Family and Children’s Service and one of Massachusetts Law Weekly’s “Top Women of Law.” Her topic will be “The Reluctant Presvytera: My Life’s Journey in the Church.” To register, call Erin Kimmett at 781-775-0789. All are welcome, 20including men, women, teens, and clergy. 

RETREATS AT ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE– Two more retreats and conferences at the Village are coming up in February:
Marriage Enrichment Retreat February 18-20.
Winter Camp @ Antiochian Village,   Theme: “We Need a Hero,”  February 18-21
 For more information see http://antiochianvillage.org/center/special_events/upcoming.html

ST. MARY’S ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMPAIGN, Part 2 – In support of the parish’s goal to provide financial help  for all our children and teens interested in attending AV camp,  St. Mary will host a Hafli on Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 in the church hall.  Mitchell Kaltsunas and his band will be there for a night of dancing, mazza and wonderful company.  Beer and wine and soda will be available for purchase.  Ticket price is $40.00/person and includes hot/cold mazza.  For tickets please call the Church Office at 617-547-1234, Mary Winstanley O’Connor, 617-523-1010 or Paul Nahass, 617-547-9065.

GIVING TO ST MARY:

Pledge Your Support - You may make your pledge for 2011 either by returning the Pledge Card you recently received to the church, or by filling out the Pledge Form on our web site (www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org). 

Envelopes - Pledge envelopes are available for pickup on the table downstairs outside the hall.  Look for your name in alphabetical order.  Remember:  if you have chosen to pay periodically or through eGive, you have not been assigned a weekly envelope. 

eGive - Please e-mail Jamil Samara (jamil@jamilsamara.com) or Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) if you have any questions about giving to the Church online through eGive.

MISSION TEAM OPPORTUNITIES- The Orthodox Christian Mission Center has announced their 2011 Mission Teams.  Teams will be heading to 9 locations around the globe to share the teachings of the faith and offer the gift of service through hands-on experience.  For more information go to  http://teams.ocmc.orgor call the OCMC at 877-463-6784.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – This year’s New England Parish Life Conference will be held  Friday, June 17, through Sunday, June 19,  at the Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis, hosted by St. John of Damascus Church of Dedham.

CROSSROAD- Attention High School Juniors & Seniors:  CrossRoad is an exciting summer vocation exploration program designed to help students discern their life callings and match their God-given gifts with the needs of the world.  CrossRoad session dates for summer 2011 are June 18-28 (first session) and July 5-15 (second session). For more information and to download an application:  www.crossroad.hchc.edu

PRISON MINISTRY– If you would like to find out more about Prison Ministry at St. Mary Orthodox Church, please subscribe to the mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/ocpm-concord

STREAMING VIDEO- Divine Liturgy at St. Mary is broadcast live every week!  Do come to church…  but if you can’t, then join us on your computer! To see live broadcasts go to https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/livestream. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 am every Sunday September through June, and at 9:30 am during the summer. 

If you are interested in helping, please contact Erick Straghalis (estraghalis@gmail.com). 

PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES  - Please do not leave valuables unattended in the Church Hall or Cloak Room.

FIRST IN, LAST OUT– Please do not park in the small lot behind the church unless you intend to stay through the end of coffee hour. The only way out is the single lane driveway.  Please pull all the way in to the parking space, and please do not block the driveway – if the lot is full, you can park on the street or in the lot at the corner of Prospect Street and Bishop Allen Drive.

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 Communionby 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 and six people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during 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.orgor 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 atliztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com.

St Paul’s Food Pantry - Volunteers are needed each week in the food pantry at St Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Harvard Square, Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. 

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.

Canned Goods-The annual Food For Hungry People canned food drive  is  held  October through  December each year.  Bring  in your canned goods to the Church and place them in the large, blue plastic containers outside the Church Office – they will be distributed to local food pantries in our area.

"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

LITURGICAL SERVICE  - Epistle:  James Wilcox;  Bread and Communion Cloth:   Gabriel and Natasha Madigan, Dimitrios Antos, and others TBD

COFFEE HOUR – Antiochian Village Campaign BBQ

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, January 22:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 23:  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am; Church School lesson 12;  followed by Antiochian Village Campaign BBQ

SCRIPTURE READINGS for January 23:
Epistle:  St. Paul's Letter to Timothy 1:15-17
Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Gospel:  Luke 18:35-43
At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside … And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" … And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, January 29:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 30:  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am; followed by Annual Meeting of the parish; 7th & 8th Grade Bake Sale coffee hour

Tuesday, February 1:  Evening Liturgy for the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple 6:30 pm

Saturday, February 5:  Creative Arts Festival Afternoon Retreat 3:00, followed by Family Vespers and Confession

Sunday, February 6:  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am; followed by Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast

Saturday, February 12:  Pre-Lenten Retreat sponsored by Antiochian Women, at St. George, Norwood; No Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, February 27:   Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am; Church School lesson 16; followed by FSJD Meatfare Breakfast

Monday, March 7:  Great Lent begins

Sunday, April 24:  Pascha

Sunday, May 1:  vonHolzhausen Lecture 1:00 pm

Friday-Sunday, June 17-19:Parish Life Conference 

INSIGHT

Miracles happen every day, and in medicine we like to attribute them to what we do or what others do around us. A lot of medicine is outside our control. We are wise to acknowledge miracles.
   - Dr. G. Michael Lemole Jr., chief of neurosurgery at University Medical Center in Tucson, speaking
     about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

Every one of us is in the image of God, and every one of us is like a damaged icon. But if we were given an icon damaged by time, damaged by circumstances, or desecrated by human hatred, we would treat it with reverence, with tenderness, with broken-heartedness. We would not pay attention primarily to the fact that it is damaged, but to the tragedy of its being damaged. We would concentrate on what is left of its beauty, and not on what is lost of its beauty. And this is what we must learn to do with regard to each person as an individual, but also  - and this is not always as easy - with regard to groups of people, whether it be a parish or a denomination, or a nation. We must learn to look, and look until we have seen the underlying beauty of this group of people. Only then can we even begin to do something to call out all the beauty that is there. Listen to other people, and whenever you discern something which sounds true, which is a revelation of harmony and beauty, emphasize it and help it to flower. Strengthen it and encourage it to live.
   - Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

A soldier asked Abba Mius if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things he said, "Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?" He replied, "No, I mend it and use it again." The old man said to him, "If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about his creature? "
   - The Desert Fathers

Inner and real humility is for one to feel that whatever he has - life, health, wealth, wisdom - all are foreign, are gifts of God.
   - Elder Joseph the Hesychast

Miracles are not impossible from a logical standpoint, and right reason does not deny them. Natural laws do not have the claim to be the only ones, nor are they threatened with being overturned by the appearance of other laws, supernatural ones, which also are conducive to the development and furtherance of creation... Miracles are consequence of the Creator's love for his creatures.
   - St. Nectarios of Aegina