Update for the week Friday, April 1, 2011 through Thursday, April 7, 2011
THIS WEEKEND
LEARNING IN LENT – After the Akathist service this Friday, April 1, we will have the third in a series of Learning in Lent talks. This week’s speaker will be Luis Smith, who will speak on the topic "Maximus the Confessor and ‘the inflexible habit of virtue.’”
LENTEN RETREAT – St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, Cotuit, MA will be holding a Lenten Retreat on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The speaker will be Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas, Professor Emeritus of Liturgical Theology at Holy Cross, who will talk about “The Making of a Christian” and “The Feeding of a Christian.” For more information, call Lorraine Reiley 508-240-2412.
WOMEN’S CLUB – The next meeting of the Women’s Club will be Monday, April 4, at 7:30 in the kitchen.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
BECOME A GREETER FOR ST MARY’S - The Parish Council has enacted the Greeter Program, similar to other churches, to greet and aid parishioners, guests and visitors each Sunday. As a Greeter, you will welcome people into the Church and help to direct visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the Vestibule, Hallways and Entrance ways during church. If you would like to help and volunteer as a Greeter once every few months, please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or email at Buddy@cjmabardy.com
WEEKLY ENVELOPES – If you currently receive weekly envelopes to fulfill your pledge and you either (a) don’t use them, or (b) are planning on not using envelopes next year, please send an e-mail to Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu). We are currently trying to decide how many boxes of envelopes to order for 2012. Thanks for your help!
CHORAL MUSIC WORKSHOP –The Diocese of Worcester and New England is sponsoring a Choral Music workshop on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at St. John Church, Dedham from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Focus will be on choral and vocal techniques and preparation for the Parish Life Conference. For more information, call Paul Jabara 514-738-8401 or pauljabara@gmail.com
ICON SYMPOSIUM – The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA, is presenting Christ Enthroned as Orthodox Image and Poetic Text: The Revolutionary Iconoclasm of Vladimir Mayakovsky, a symposium with Michael Flier and Sally Pratt, two of the most renowned experts in the field of Russian Iconography and history, on Friday, April 15, from 2:00-4:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers; includes reception following the talks. For more information see http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/calendar/2011/april/event3.html Advance reservations are encouraged at (978) 598-5000.
“FELLOWSHIP OF NEW SKETE” – New Skete is forming a "Third Order" group for those wishing to have a closer spiritual relationship with the monastery and incorporate monastic values in their own lives (in their own life circumstances). An inaugural retreat will be held at New Skete May 27–29, 2011. From their proposal: "At the heart of the vision of New Skete has always been the desire to live the Christian life as fully as possible by becoming true disciples of the Gospel. While this expressed itself initially through the life and witness of the three monastic communities, there have always been friends who sense a deep connection with the values of New Skete and who wish to be involved in its ministry from the context of their own lives. The Fellowship of New Skete supports such individuals who seek to deepen their spiritual lives through a more formal connection with the monastic life of New Skete...." A group formed in Portland a few years ago. How this will look in other contexts is still to be determined.
This retreat is for those interested in the possibility of such a connection with the monastery (no commitment necessary at this time). A few of us for the Boston area will be going out for this. Anyone interested, please let Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) know so she can add you to the list and relay any further developments.
HAPPY NEWS - Fr. Peter and Nadia DeFonce would like to send their greetings from Lubbock, TX to all of the St. Mary's parishioners and share with them the wonderful news that they are expecting a baby girl this coming June! If you wish to contact them, Fr. Peter's email address is pdefonce@yahoo.com or you can find either of them on Facebook.
REMINDERS
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY and LENTEN POTLUCKS – Every Wednesday during Lent there will be a Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30 pm, followed by a Potluck Supper sponsored by the FSJD. Do plan to come and bring something to share. Any Lenten fare is welcome: main courses, sides, salads, desserts, as well as beverages and snacks. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship during Lent, plus we get to sample each other's Lenten recipes. Please stay for supper even if you can't bring food--there's room at the table for everyone.
CONFESSIONS - It is preferred that you make your confession before Holy Week. However, if you are unable to do so, Fr. Antony is available for Confession before and after services from Monday to Wednesday evenings only of Holy Week, or by appointment. Please note that no confessions will be heard on Great and Holy Saturday before the Rush procession.
HELP STREAM LENTEN SERVICES OVER THE INTERNET - As we have been doing for the past several years, we are continuing our free live streaming ministry over the web this year for those who cannot join us in person. This ministry has already reached thousands of people across the country and in more than 40 countries around the world, who join us online to celebrate services with us through their computer! Erick Straghalis still needs additional people who plan to attend services regularly or semi-regularly throughout Lent, who can help to set up the video stream before each service. No experience is needed! You can be trained on how to turn on the computer, camera and microphones and start the streaming application in just a few minutes. If you are interested and able, please contact Erick Straghalis at estraghalis@gmail.com for more information and to set up schedules.
PASCHA BAKE SALE – The Women’s Club will be holding their annual Pascha bake sale on Sunday, April 10 (the Sunday before Palm Sunday). Plan on purchasing all your Pascha/Easter desserts, pastries and goodies then. This year we will also be offering Hoomos and Mjadarra – please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin; order deadline is Sunday, April 3, 2011. If you can help bake or bring something for us to sell, please call MaryEllen Mabardy at 781-729-6303.
PREPARE EGGS FOR PASCHA - Ten volunteers are needed to each hard boil and dye three dozen brown eggs for Pascha eve. Khourieh Carol will provide the red dye and instructions. Names of volunteers are needed by Sunday, April 10, 2011. See Khourieh Carol or call Fr. Antony at 781-507-5938.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE –You are urged during this season of prayer, self-discipline and fasting to be very generous in your contribution to the Food for Hungry People program of our Archdiocese . Money Boxes for collecting alms at home are on the Bengarri; please pick one or two up and place them throughout your home, fill them up, and return them on Palm Sunday, April 17. Our Church School Students have also been given their own boxes to fill. Please be generous!
HOLY WEEK PARKING - The Church Parking Lot will be available for parking throughout Holy Week; however it is not available for parishioner parking from 9:00 am. to 5:00 pm Mondays - Fridays any other week.
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.
Fellowship of St. John the Divine: Graduating High School Seniors who are actively involved in the parish and whose parents are members of the parish are eligible for the FSJD Scholarship. Please call the Church Office with your name so that an application will be mailed to you by Mary Winstanley O’Connor, or contact her directly at moconnor@koilaw.com or 617-523-1010. Application deadline is May 1, 2011.
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America announces the availability of scholarships for those graduating from high school, as well as those that will be in college during the 2011-2012 academic year. Scholarships are as high as $2,500 each. Deadline is May 15. Applications are now available on the Archdiocese website at www.antiochian.org/Scholarships
Antiochian Women: Scholarships are available to Antiochian Women 25 years of age or older, who choose to continue their education. You must be a member in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, be actively involved in your parish, be applying for an academic or trade study program and demonstrate financial need. Scholarship applications are available in the office. Deadline to apply is May 27, 2011.
BENEFIT FOR THEOPHANY SCHOOL – On Saturday, April 30 (note corrected new date!), starting at 6:30 pm, there will be a Benefit Evening & Auction for Theophany School at Apollo Functions, Norwood, MA For more information you can call the school at 781-444-3058, or see http://theophanyschool.org/assets/files/Annual%20Benefit%20Evening/evite%202011%20auction-1.pdf.
VON HOLZHAUSEN LECTURE & BOOK – 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 (see http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/academics/anthropology/mplekon.htm) We have copies of his book, Hidden Holiness, to sell and read before he comes. See Tiffany Conroy to get a copy for $18, a big discount over the retail price of $25! This would be an excellent book to read during Lent, and Fr Plekon is eager to have people prepared for a good discussion! The book is great!!!
2015 ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - St. Mary has obtained the permission of Metropolitan PHILIP to bid on the 2015 Archdiocese Convention. The Parish Council is preparing a bid to have the convention be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, MA from Sunday, July 19, through Sunday, July 26. The determination as to which church will be chosen will be made at the July 2011 National Convention. The convention co-chairs will be Mary Winstanley O’Connor and Raymond Sayeg. Mary and Ray are looking for volunteers to assist with a number of committees – see the list in Sunday’s bulletin. The Parish Council will need all parishioners to provide their time and talent to make this convention a significant success. Please call Mary at her office at 617-523-1010 or email her at moconnor@koilaw.com with any questions or your willingness to participate. Or contact Ray at his office at 617-742-1184 or email him at rsayeg@dennerpellegrino.com
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 May 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
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.org or call the OCMC at 877-463-6784.
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, 2011, 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! Visit http://teams.ocmc.org, 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
REGULAR REMINDERS
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.
DONATE VIA eGIVE – Recently we have had special collections for Japan, for Seminarians, and most recently for the Antiochian Women’s project: the Convent of St. Thekla. If you didn’t have a chance to contribute to those collections, or would like to give more, you can do so through eGive at www.egive-usa.com. If you have not yet set up an account, you can do it there, or contact Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) for help. The Recipient Organization is “St. Mary’s Orthodox Church,” and when you get to Step 4 after selecting that, you have the option of designating how your gift will be used.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES - Please do not leave valuables unattended in the Church Hall or Coat 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 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 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: Jamil Samara; Communion Cloth and Bread: James Wilcox, Linda Arnold and others
COFFEE HOUR – The Landon family
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Friday, April 1: Akathist (Madayeh) Service 7:00 pm, followed by “Learning in Lent” Lecture Series
Saturday, April 2: Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, April 3: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00; Church School lesson 20
SCRIPTURE READINGS for April 3, Sunday of St. John Climacus:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20
… we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Gospel: Mark 9:17-31
"… if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" … his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."
… he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."
Wednesday, April 6: Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by pot luck supper
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday, April 8: Akathist (Madayeh) Service 7:00 pm, followed by final “Learning in Lent” Lecture
Saturday, April 9: Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, April 10: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00; Church School lesson 21
Wednesday, April 13: Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by pot luck supper
Saturday, April 16, Lazarus Saturday: Matins 8:00 am, Divine Liturgy 9:00 am, Communion Breakfast 10:15 am, followed by Church Cleanup and choir rehearsal ; Great Vespers 5:00 pm.
Sunday, April 17, Palm Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am with Procession, followed by FSJD annual Fish Dinner (no Church School); Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Monday, April 18: Presanctified Liturgy 7 :00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Tuesday, April 19: Presanctified Liturgy 7 :00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Wednesday, April 20: Presanctified Liturgy 7 :00 am; Holy Unction 7:00 pm
Holy Thursday, April 21: Vesperal Liturgy 7 :00 am; Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm and Twelve Gospels 7:00 pm
Holy Friday, April 22: Children’s Retreat 9:30 am; Royal Hours 1:00 pm; Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm; Lamentations 7:15 pm with Procession to Central Square; Teen SOYO All-Night Vigil
Holy Saturday, April 23: Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am
Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24, Great and Holy Pascha: Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm; Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm; Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 12 midnight; Paschal Festivities in the Church Hall following
Sunday, April 24: Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) 11:00 am here at St. Mary; Reception following
Sunday, May 1: vonHolzhausen Lecture 12:30
Friday-Sunday, June 17-19: Parish Life Conference
INSIGHT
The memory of insults is the residue of anger. It keeps sins alive, hates justice, ruins virtue, poisons the heart, rots the mind, defeats concentration, paralyses prayer, puts love at a distance, and is a nail driven into the soul.
- St John Climacus
Remembrance of Jesus’ passion will heal your soul of resentment, by making it ashamed of itself when it remembers the patience of the Lord.
- St John Climacus
Love in its nature makes a human being like God, as far as is possible for a human being. The soul is intoxicated by the effects of it. Its characteristics are a fountain of faith, an abyss of patience, an ocean of humility.
- St John Climacus
Love, unchangeable tranquility, and our adoption as children of God are different from each other only in name. As light, fire and flame are present in the selfsame operation, so are these three manifestations of the Spirit.
- St John Climacus
When someone is completely permeated with the love of God, the brightness of his soul is reflected by his whole personality as if in a mirror.
- St John Climacus
My God, I pretend to nothing upon this earth, except to be so firmly united to you by prayer that to be separated from you may be impossible. Let others desire riches and glory; for my part, I desire but one thing, and that is to be inseparably united to you, and to place in you alone all my hopes of happiness and repose.
- St John Climacus