Update for the week Friday, April 15, 2011 through Thursday, April 21, 2011
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL - We regret to announce that Peter A. W. Lewis, beloved father of Natasha Smith, father-in-law of Dn. Jeffrey Smith and loving grandfather of Theodore and Gabriel Smith, and beloved father of Vladimir Lewis, passed away on Friday, April 8, 2011. Calling hours at the Smiths’ home are Thursday, April 14, from 4:00 – 8:00. Further arrangements to be announced. Notes of condolence may be sent to the family at 112 Fuller St. # 2, Brookline, MA 02446.
THIS WEEKEND
LAZARUS SATURDAY
LITURGY AND BREAKFAST – Please come and bring your friends and family to
celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Lazarus Saturday, April 16 (Matins
8:00 am, Liturgy 9:00 am) and enjoy a Communion Breakfast afterward, at
10:15 am.
CHURCH CLEAN-UP – After the breakfast, plan to stay for a Church
Clean-Up in preparation for Pascha, coordinated by the Fellowship of St.
John the Divine. We will need parishioners to bring in any of the
following cleaning tools or supplies on Saturday:
Buckets, Electric Irons, Push Brooms, Extension Cords, Vacuum
Cleaners, Gardening Gloves, Disposable Gloves, Brown Paper Bags,
Rags and Sponges
Come and lend a hand in preparing God’s House for the Feast of Feasts. Remember, "Many hands make light work! "
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.
PALM SUNDAY
RETURN YOUR "FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE" BOXES – Please return your filled
boxes to the Bengarri on Palm Sunday, April 17. During this season of
prayer, self-discipline and fasting, please be very generous in your
contribution to the Food for Hungry People program of our Archdiocese –
He that feeds the hungry also feeds God.
PROCESSION WITH PALMS – There will be no Church School classes this Sunday. Following the Liturgy there will be the Procession with Palms (no lighted candles, please). All who wish to do so are invited to join the procession; children are especially encouraged to participate.
ARCHDIOCESE COLLECTION – This Sunday also we will be taking an Archdiocese collection in support of the continued work of on behalf of our Patriarchate of Antioch. Checks should be made payable to St. Mary Church.
PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER – After Liturgy on Sunday, April 17, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine will host its annual Palm Sunday Fish Dinner. Spend Palm Sunday with your family and friends at Church after Liturgy and let us do the cooking! Our thanks to Ed and Lisa Brylczek for their gift of part of the meal; your freewill donation will cover the rest.
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.
SUNDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY
On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 17, 18 and 19, there will be a Bridegroom Matins service at 7:00 pm. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, April 18, 19 and 20, Presanctified Liturgy will be celebrated at 7:00 am.
HOLY WEDNESDAY
The evening service on Wednesday, April 20, is Holy Unction at
7:00 pm. The service includes seven Epistles, seven Gospels, and seven
prayers, all about oil and healing and forgiveness and the Holy
Spirit. Seven wicks are lit in the bowl of oil, and at the end each of
us is anointed and given Holy Oil to take home.
HOLY THURSDAY
On Thursday, April 21, Vesperal Liturgy is at 7:00 am. The evening service begins at 6:45 pm with Washing of the Feet, followed at 7:00 pm by Twelve Gospels,
in which we hear by candlelight the entire story of Christ’s final
teaching, passion, trial, walk to Golgotha, crucifixion and burial, from
all four of the Gospel writers.
HOLY FRIDAY
The Children's Retreat, beginning at 9:30 am on Friday,
April 22, will include fellowship and age-appropriate craftsfor ages 4
through young adult. Children’s confessions will be heard between 11:00
and noon. The retreat ends with a simple luncheon. Parents of children
under age 5 should plan to stay with their child(ren). Volunteers are
welcome and needed to assist with activities and lunch. A $5 goodwill
donation is requested (not required) to defray costs. We ask that you
pick up your child by 12:30 if you do not plan on their attending Royal
Hours at 1:00. Please contact Trish Orlovsky at 781-641-0182 or t_orlovsky@hotmail.com if you have questions, can help with an activity, or plan to attend. RSVP by Palm Sunday, April 17.
Your help is needed to help decorate the Church on Great and Holy Friday at 9:30 am and on Great and Holy Saturday after the Liturgy and Coffee Hour at 1:00 p.m. We will be decorating the Bier of Christ on Friday, and preparing the church for Pascha on Saturday afternoon. Please come, stay and help. Parents: Come upstairs and help while your children are downstairs at their Retreat. You’re welcome to share lunch with the kids, but please let Trish know early in the week so there will be enough for everyone.
Royal Hours begins at 1:00 pm, followed by Unnailing Vespers at 3:00 pm, when the figure of Christ is removed from the Cross where it was nailed Thursday during the Twelve Gospels service, and is laid in the tomb, or bier.
Lamentations begins at 7:15 pmagain this year. During this service we will process with the Bier out of the church and down Massachusetts Avenue to Central Square, where we will meet worshippers from Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Church carrying their bier, and join them for prayers and blessings before processing back to St. Mary.
Following the Lamentations Service on Holy Friday evening, St. Mary's Teen SOYO will hold an All-Night Vigil at the Church. All youth, ages 12-18 (grades 7-12), are encouraged to participate in reading Psalms, keeping watch at the tomb, and joining a discussion led by a special guest. The Vigil culminates Saturday morning with Vesperal Liturgy at 9:00 am. Teens across the Diocese will participate in similar vigils at their respective churches. The Church will be locked and several chaperones will remain with the Teens throughout the night, into the morning.
HOLY SATURDAY and GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil begins at 9:00 am on
Saturday, April 3. We celebrateChrist’s triumph over evil and death,
with the scattering of bay leaves and flowers. This service includes
fifteen lessons from the Old Testament, all prophesying the ultimate
victory of God, and also includes Chrismation of our newest catechumens. The service will be followed by a Coffee Hour/Reception.
Saturday evening and into Great and Holy Pascha, all our Lenten efforts and Holy Week observances culminate in the celebration of Christ's resurrection. The services begin with the Vigil/Rush Service at 10:00 pm, followed by Resurrection Matins at 11:00 pm, and Divine Liturgy at 12:00 midnight. Paschal festivities, with plenty of food, will take place in the Church Hall after Liturgy.
Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth)on Easter Sunday morning will be held at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s, with a reception following.
REMINDERS
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
BENEFIT FOR THEOPHANY SCHOOL– On Saturday, April 30, 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!!!
SCHOLARSHIPS:
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.comor 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.
“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.
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 in Dedham. Register today - discounted hotel rates are only guaranteed through May 1, and early bird discount through May 14. Look for us on Facebook: “2011 Parish Life Conference,” or visit us at www.stjohnd.org/conference2011. You can email questions to the conference chairpeople at Conference2011@stjohnd.org
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.orgor 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! Visithttp://teams.ocmc.org, or e-mail teams@ocmc.org, for more information or to apply.
2011 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.orgor email info@archdioceseconvention2011.org
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
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 notblock 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.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
LITURGICAL SERVICE:
Lazarus Saturday- Epistle: Trish Orlovsky; Left
Cloth: Linda Arnold and TBD; Right Cloth: Trish Orlovsky and Elias
Orlovsky; Left Bread: TBD; Right Bread: Melissa Nassiff
Palm Sunday- Epistle: chanters; Left Cloth: Barbara Shoop and: Bob Kowalik; Right Cloth: Michelle Chin and TBD; Left Bread: Dimitrios Antos; Right Bread: TBD
COFFEE HOUR – FSJD Fish Dinner
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, April 16, Lazarus Saturday: Matins 8:00 am, Divine Liturgy 9:00 am, Communion Breakfast 10:15 am, followed by church cleanup; 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
SCRIPTURE READINGS for April 17, Palm Sunday:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9
Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all
men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about
anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
Gospel: John 12:1-18
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom
Jesus had raised from the dead. …The next day a great crowd who had
come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took
branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of
Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is
written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt!"
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
LOOKING AHEAD
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
He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but when he rose from the tomb he laid aside the shroud… He had "no form or comeliness" (Isaiah 53:2),
but on the mountain he shone with a splendor more dazzling than the
sun, a foretaste of his future glory. … He knew weariness, but he is
rest for "all who labor and are heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28).
He prays, but he answers prayers. He weeps, but wipes away tears. He
asks where Lazarus has been laid, for he is man; but he raises him to
life, for he is God. He is sold, dirt cheap, for thirty pieces of
silver, but he redeems the world, at great cost, with his own blood. …
He dies, but he brings to life, and by his own death destroys death. He
is buried, but he rises again. He descends into hell, but rescues the
souls imprisoned there.
- Gregory Nazianzen
When we were buried with Thee in baptism, 0 Christ God, we were
made worthy of eternal life by Thy resurrection. Now we praise Thee and
sing: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of
the Lord!
- Troparion for Palm Sunday
Upborne upon the heavenly throne, and seated upon the earthly foal, O
Christ our God, receive the praises of angels and the hymns of men,
exclaiming before Thee, Blessed is He that cometh to restore Adam.
- Kontakion for Palm Sunday
During this last week of preparation, the celebration of the mystery
begins. Lenten effort has made us capable of putting aside all that
which usually and consistently obscures the central object of our faith,
hope, and joy. Time itself comes, as it were, to an end. It is measured
now not by our usual preoccupations and cares, but by what happens on
the way to Bethany, and beyond to Jerusalem. And, once more, all this
is not rhetoric. To anyone who has tasted of the true liturgical life –
be it only once and however imperfectly – it is almost self-evident that
from the moment we hear, "Rejoice, O Bethany, home of Lazarus…" and
then "… on the morrow Christ is coming …," the external world becomes
slightly unreal … "Reality" is that which is going on in the Church…
- Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent
Having accomplished the forty days for the benefit of our souls, we pray
to Thee, O Lover of Man, that we may see the holy week of Thy passion,
that in it we may glorify Thy greatness and Thine unspeakable plan of
salvation for our sake. ...
- Vesper Hymn for the Friday before Lazarus Saturday