Update for the week Friday, February 18, 2011 through Thursday, February 24, 2011

THIS WEEKEND

ORTHODOXY ON TAP– You are invited to a three-part series of lectures and discussion at Roggies Brew and Grille (356 Chestnut Hill Ave, Boston), with Dr. Timothy Patitsas, Professor of Ethics at Holy Cross Seminary, sponsored by the 20/40 club at St. George. The first one,  "Acting Thinking Being an Orthodox Christian,"  is tonight ( if you get this Update in time) -Thursday, February 17th.  Next week, February 24th, Dr. Patitsas will discuss "The City as Liturgy" and on March 3rd he will be discussing "The American Dream and the Orthodox Worldview". Each one begins at 7:30 pm in the downstairs room at Roggies. Admission is free, full bar and food menu will be available. Open to all (21+) in the Boston area.

RETREATS AT ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE– Two events are being held at the Village this weekend:
   Marriage Enrichment Retreat Friday – Sunday, February 18-20.
   Winter Camp @ Antiochian Village,   Theme: “We Need a Hero,”  Friday – Monday, February 18-21
 For more information see http://antiochianvillage.org/center/special_events/upcoming.html

THEOPHANY CD- Experience the beauty of the Feast of Theophany all year around – The Voice of the Lord: Selected Hymns from the Feast of Theophany is available for purchase either as a hard copy or as a download through iTunes and Liturgica.com!   Chanted in a traditional Byzantine style, this CD was made in memory of Sonia Daly Belcher, the founder of the Theophany School in Boston, MA. For more information or to purchase, go to http://www.theophanyschool.org/cd.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU!– Volodymyr, Lidia, Sophia and Christina Dibrova are exceedingly grateful to everybody at St. Mary for your continued support and prayers during our long quest for our Permanent Residence (Green Cards).  Our special thanks go to:  Fr. Antony Hughes, Judy DeFreitas, Mary Winstanley O’Connor, Selma Winstanley, Donald and Renay DiFiore, Shirley Bezreh, Jennifer and Paul Nahass, Louise Homsy, Michelle Chin and Walter Porr.  We know that without your intercession and your help our success would have been impossible.  We will always be grateful!

LENTEN RETREAT AT NEW SKETE– New Skete Monastery is offering a one-day Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 26, 2011, entitled, "Living Our Baptismal Covenant."  The day will consist of presentations on Christian Initiation as well as Monastic Life, and will include time to discussions, meditation, and reflection. Our own Teva Regule will give a presentation.  An opportunity for spiritual direction and sacramental confession will also be available.  A donation of $25 is asked to help cover the expenses for the day.  The number of retreatants is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.  To register for the retreat, contact Sr. Macrina at the Nuns (srmacrina@gmail.com).     In addition, the monastery will celebrate the Liturgy of St. James (the ancient rite of Jerusalem) on that Sunday, March 27.  Those wishing to visit the monastery for the weekend, to take advantage of both opportunities, please contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) for housing arrangements (by March 14).

BE PART OF A FAMILY MISSION TEAM –This year the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is proud to announce a collaboration with the Center for Family Care (of the Greek Archdiocese) by offering a Family Mission Team.  For two weeks, July 17-29, 2001, families from North America, along with Albanian families, will participate in this outreach assisted by OCMC missionaries and Albanian church leaders. The primary focus is to offer a “family witness” while sharing the faith and growing as a family in Christ. Consider being part of this first OCMC and Center for Family Care collaboration and family mission witness! Visithttp://teams.ocmc.org1, or e-mail teams@ocmc.org, for more information or to apply.

ARCHDIOCESAN CONVENTION– The 50th Antiochian Archdiocese Convention will be held July 24-31 at the  Marriott Chicago Downtown, Chicago, Illinois.   For more information see www.archdioceseconvention2011.org or email info@archdioceseconvention2011.org 

REMINDERS

NO VOLUNTEERS = NO COFFEE! Please sign up to provide a coffee hour – it it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies.  Many upcoming Sundays are still available.    Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or email
secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S MONTH – March is Antiochian Women’s Month throughout the Archdiocese. Our women will be reading the Epistle (1 woman), taking the Collection each Sunday (2 women) and assisting during Communion (6 women).  We are inviting all Women of St. Mary Church to be included:  If you wish to participate please sign up on the sheet at the Bengarri or, contact MaryEllen Mabardy at 781-729-6303. 

HAFLI FOR  THE ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMPAIGN– 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.  (If you can’t attend, consider making a donation anyway!) For tickets please call the Church Office at 617-547-1234, Mary Winstanley O’Connor, 617-523-1010 or Paul Nahass, 617-547-9065.  No tickets will be sold at the door.
  
MEATFARE SUNDAY BREAKFAST – The annual Meatfare Sunday breakfast sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine will be  held on Sunday, February 27, 2011 after Liturgy.  Suggested donation: $7 per person, $14 per family.  Your donations will help support the many activities of the Fellowship at St. Mary's, including the annual Lessons and Carols evening; Learning in Lent lecture series; Wednesday evening potluck suppers after Pre-Sanctified Liturgies during Lent; the Annual Father John vonHolzhausen lecture; Coffee House ministry; coffee hours and special meals;  the weekly St. Mary Update e-mail newsletter; and more.

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.

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL –The Church School’s Creative Arts Retreat scheduled for February 5 was postponed because of weather; watch for more information on a possible alternate date. Meanwhile, students wishing to prepare creative art projects for entry to the Antiochian Archdiocese Creative Arts Festivals on their own (including entries in drawing, clay, fabric, photography, performance, poetry, or creative writing) should contact Andrea Popa at maryandreapopa@gmail.comor their church school teacher for further information.

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.
  
DIOCESAN SPRING MEETINGS– St. George, Lawrence, will be hosting the General Assembly meetings of the Fellowship, Women, and Teens on Saturday, March 5.  Morning prayers begin at 10:00 am, with meetings following at 10:30. 

SCHOLARSHIPS  - Syrian Lebanese Women’s Club of Greater Boston will make available a number of scholarship awards in the amount of $1000.00 each to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, residing in Massachusetts within a 50 mile radius of Boston, who plan to pursue a four-year college education.  Applications are available in the Church Office or by calling or e-mailing Mary Winstanley O’Connor (617-523-1010 or moconnor@koilaw.com) and must be postmarked by March 31, 2011.

VONHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE– The Fellowship of St. John the Divine  invites you to the annual vonHolzhausen Lecture following coffee hour on Sunday, May 1, 2011.   This year’s speaker will be   Fr. Michael Plekon, professor at Baruch College’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, Orthodox priest,  and author.  Watch for more information.

OCF REAL BREAK– College Students: Do something REAL this spring Break! The Real Break program provides alternatives to the “traditional” Spring Break for college students. It exists to provide students with the most authentic experience possible, and is modeled as a full Christian lifestyle, which includes fellowship, prayer within community, witness and service. Each Spring, over 100 students attend various trips, both domestic and international, to give of themselves to those less fortunate and to do something “real” for themselves and for God. OCF Real Break has been running since 2000 with over one thousand students participating in these life-changing opportunities. Past and current trips include: Mexico, Guatemala, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Raphael House, St. Basil Academy, Greece, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Romania, Buenos Aires, Alaska, and more. For information about the 2011 trips see http://www.ocf.net/wikis/programs/real-break-2011-trips.aspx

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.  Register today - early bird discount through 5/14.  Look for us on Facebook: “2011 Parish Life Conference”.

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

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. 

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

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: Melissa Nassiff;  Left Cloth: David Vermette and Rose Njuguma; Right Cloth: Gabriel and Natasha Madigan;  Left Bread: Martin Scriverner;  Right Bread: Meg Butler

COFFEE HOUR – No one volunteered

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, February 19:  Great Vespers 5:00

Sunday, February 20, Sunday of the Prodigal Son:  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am;  NO Church School

SCRIPTURE READINGS for February 20:
Epistle:  St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20
Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.  … Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel:  Luke 15:11-32
The Lord told this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. …”

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, February 26:  Great Vespers 5:00

Sunday, February 27, Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meatfare Sunday):  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am;  Church School lesson 16; followed by FSJD Meatfare Breakfast

Sunday, March 6,  Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday):  Orthros 8:45 am,  Divine Liturgy 10:00  am;  Church School lesson 17;  Forgiveness Vespers 6:00 pm

Monday, March 7:  Great Lent begins

Sunday, April 24:  Pascha

Sunday, May 1:  vonHolzhausen Lecture 12:30

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

INSIGHT

On the third Sunday of preparation for Lent, we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Together with the hymns of this day, the parable reveals to us the time of repentance as man's return from exile. The prodigal son, we are told, went to a far country and there spent all that he had. A far country! It is this unique definition of our human condition that we must assume and make ours as we begin our approach to God. A man who has never had that experience, be it only very briefly, who has never felt that he is exiled from God and from real life, will never understand what Christianity is all about. And the one who is perfectly "at home" in this world and its life, who has never been wounded by the nostalgic desire for another Reality, will not understand what is repentance.
   … It is very easy indeed to confess that I have not fasted on prescribed days, or missed my prayers, or become angry. It is quite a different thing, however, to realize suddenly that I have defiled and lost my spiritual beauty, that I am far away from my real home, my real life, and that something precious and pure and beautiful has been hopelessly  broken in the very texture of my existence. Yet this, and only this, is repentance, and therefore it is also a deep desire to return, to go back, to recover that lost home.
   -Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent

 The human soul is a spirit created by God, and only in God, who has created it in His own image and likeness, can it find contentment and rest, peace, consolation and joy. Once separated from Him, it seeks for satisfaction among created things, and feeds itself on passions, on husks, food for pigs; but finding not its true repose, nor its true satisfaction, it dies at length of hunger. For spiritual food is a necessity to the soul.
   - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

 At least from this time forth arise and do not put off, my beloved soul, holy repentance, contrition of heart and penance for your sins. Putting them off year after year, month after month, day after day, you will not at all desire with your whole heart to repent, and you will not find one to have compassion on you.
   -  St. Paisius Velichkovsky

 How can a man call God just when he comes across the passage on the prodigal son who wasted his wealth with riotous living, how for the compunction alone which he showed, the father ran and fell upon his neck and gave him authority over all his wealth? (Luke 15:11 ff.). None other but His very Son said these things concerning Him, lest we doubt it; and thus He bore witness concerning Him. Where, then, is God’s justice, for whilst we are sinners Christ died for us! (cf. Rom. 5:8). But if here He is merciful, we may believe that He will not change.
   - St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 60