Update for the week Friday, April 29, 2011 through Thursday, May 5, 2011
THIS WEEKEND
BENEFIT FOR THEOPHANY SCHOOL– This 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 – The Fellowship of St. John the Divine invites you to the annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen Lecture following coffee hour/lunch (provided by the Fellowship) this Sunday, May 1, 2011, at 12:30 pm. 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) His topic is “Hidden Holiness: The Holy Life Where You Least Expect It.”
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE - Boxes were due on Palm Sunday. Please return them to the Bengarri or Violet Robbat this Sunday if you have not already done so.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHRIST IS RISEN! – Truly He is risen!
- Audio: To learn how to say the Paschal Greeting in languages
other than the nine or so we use at St. Mary's, check out this site
which has text and voice recordings for over 250 languages: http://www.srbigham.com/en/langues.html .
- Video: To see a “flash mob” joyfully proclaiming it in the City Mall in Beirut, Lebanon last week, check out this site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt7cl6u4DjA&feature=player_embedded
NEWLY ILLUMINED – Congratulations to Mary Alice Mina, Tim Moore, and Dmitry Selivanov, who were baptized and/or chrismated on Holy Saturday last week.
STREAMING VIDEO - Did you watch any of our live streaming video through Lent and/or Holy Week? Tell us what you think! We'd love to hear your feedback. Send a message to Erick Straghalis at estraghalis@gmail.com or post a comment on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StMaryCambridge
MEMORY ETERNAL- We regret to inform you that MaryEllen Mabardy’s sister, Janet L. (Page) Taylor of Sandwich and formerly of Plymouth MA, died April 24, 2011. Janet was the beloved wife of Thomas Taylor, mother of Shaun Taylor and Ryan Taylor of Sandwich and daughter-in-law Pamela Taylor of Plymouth, and grandmother of Anniston Taylor of Sandwich. She is survived by her sisters: Susan Page of Plymouth and MaryEllen Mabardy and her husband Joseph (Buddy) Mabardy of Winchester; her nieces and nephew Tracey Dengler of Pennsylvania, Alison Mabardy of Charlestown MA, Lauren Mabardy of England, and Jamie Mabardy of Winchester, MA. She is also survived by her brothers Lawrence Page and his wife Teresa, and Richard Page and his wife Toni. Her funeral mass is Friday, April 29th at 11:00 am at St. Bonaventure Parish, 799 State Rd., Plymouth. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Janet’s memory to a charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be sent to MaryEllen and Buddy at 219 Ridge St., Winchester, MA 01890
CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL –All group and individual entries to the Antiochian Archdiocese Creative Arts festivals must be turned in to Andrea Popa by Sunday, May 8. Entries will be displayed for the parish during the Church School Graduation on May 15. Guidelines for submissions in the creative arts (sculpture, painting, fabric, photography, etc.), as well as poetry and creative writing can be found at: http://www.antiochian.org/festivals.
CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION– The Church School year will come to an end on Sunday, May 15. A brief graduation ceremony and a blessing will take place at the end of liturgy. Graduation festivities, with food and activities, will follow in the church hall.
CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED – St Mary’s Church School needs teachers for several classes for next year, as well as persons interested in helping with administration or event planning. If you would like to be considered for a teaching or coordinating role, please contact Andrea Popa at maryandreapopa@gmail.com or Arlene Marge at lanciani@alum.mit.edu.
REMINDERS
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, not only during Bright Week (April 25-30), but until the Feast of the Ascension (June 2) – for the whole forty days that Christ remained on earth following his resurrection. This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch. (This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.)
NO VESPERS – There will be no Saturday Vespers services during the month of May.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Monday, May 2, at 8:00 pm, at Mary Winstanley O’Connor’s home(note new time and place).
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!
SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS:
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 Americaannounces 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.
N. G. Beram Veterans Association: The N. G. Beram Veterans Association is pleased to announce the continuation of its Scholastic Achievement Awardsfor the 45th year. This program was established to encourage, promote and support the education of students of Arabic-speaking backgrounds. High school seniors can obtain the application along with the instructions by visiting the web page at: www.stjohnd.org/ngberam. All applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 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.
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: Teva Regule; Communion Cloth and Bread: volunteers needed. If you would like to assist during Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org.
COFFEE HOUR – FSJD potluck luncheon
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, April 30: Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, May 1, Thomas Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00; Church School lesson 22; vonHolzhausen Lecture 12:30
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Thomas Sunday:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20
In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the
hands of the apostles. … And more than ever believers were added to the
Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out
the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as
Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people
also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and
those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being
shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
among them and said to them: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, May 7: NoVespers at St. Mary
Sunday, May 8: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00; Church School lesson 23
Saturday, May 14: NoVespers at St. Mary
Sunday, May 15: Church School Graduation and Closing of Church School festivities
Friday-Sunday, June 17-19: Parish Life Conference in Hyannis
Sunday-Sunday, July 24-31: Archdiocese Convention in Chicago
INSIGHT
The
priesthood of all the faithful … is the most important identity for all
Christians. … [B]y initiation, by baptism and chrismation/confirmation,
each and every person is consecrated to offer the sacrifice of praise
and thanksgiving, to proclaim the Gospel, and to do the works of love as
a sign of the arrival of the kingdom of God. So each Christian is
priest, prophet, and king, but in all of these each is a servant of God
and of the rest of the people of God.
- Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness
In the immense cathedral that is the universe, we, the priests of this
life, whether workers or scholars, make of everything a human offering, a
hymn, a doxology … According to the spiritual writers, such a person is
described in the final words of St. Mark’s gospel: the one who will
tread on serpents, cure all sickness, move mountains and raise the dead,
of such is the will of God.
- Paul Evdokomov, Ages of the Spiritual Life (quoted by Michael Plekon in Hidden Holiness)
Eternal life consists in being continuously present before the face of
God and continuously seeing oneself in God’s light, from which one
cannot hide.
- Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness
For however much the world may betray our efforts, we must not betray
the world. We must actively love one another, and make this love known
through the power of good works, … and love God so strongly that in
doing so we are able to put aside our petty differences and live
together, in peace and unity, on this tiny planet.
- Paul Anderson, No East or West (quoted by Michael Plekon in Hidden Holiness)
… we might reject the perennial opposition of belief and prayer versus
action, the “Mary” versus “Martha” dichotomy. In the Gospel there is no
such conflict, thus in the life led according to the Gospel there can
be no valuation of prayer or doctrine or liturgical worship over doing
the works of love, caring for those around us, standing up for what is
right.
- Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness
The source of all holiness is the Holy One. … The holy life of God is
given to men and women by God’s work of creation, by his becoming human
in the Incarnation, and by his death, rising, and sending of the Spirit.
In the Hebrew Bible and Christian New Testament, all holiness is of God
but comes to dwell, literally “pitch its tent,” in the human person.
The very act of creation by God is also one of sanctification. We are
made “in the image and likeness” of God, so holiness must mean remaining
in that image and likeness, growing ever more “similar,” ever like
God. Despite the fall from God, Adam and Eve, and thus all of
humankind, retain the spark of divine life. Holiness is both divine and
human. Women and men, as “friends of God,” can be said to participate
with him in his work. Thus they invent, create, a life of holiness not
on their own, but in, with, and through him.
- Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness