Update for the week Friday, June 3, through Thursday, June 9, 2011
THIS WEEKEND
FASTING RESUMES – Regular Wednesday and Friday fasting resumes this Friday, June 3, the day after the Feast of the Ascension, and continues until Pentecost, June 12. The week after Pentecost there is no fasting; then the Apostles Fast begins on June 20 and continues until The Feast of the Apostles on June 29.
FR. ANTONY WILL BE AWAY- We are pleased to welcome Rev. Fr. Karl Kish, who will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Fr. Antony’s absence this Sunday. Fr. Karl is the father of our own Tatiana Kish.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
BE A GREETER - We are continuing the Greeters’ Program throughout the summer and would like volunteers. Every Sunday is available except June 26 and July 27. If you would like to be a Greeter for St. Mary’s, please contact Buddy Mabardy by e-mail buddy@cjmabardy.comor call him at 781-729-6303.
OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED– St. Mary Church and offices will be closed Friday through Sunday, June 17-19, for the Parish Life Conference. See Reminders, below, for more information about the conference.
GREEK FESTIVALS - St. Athanasios Church, Arlington is having a Greek festival this weekend, June 3-5, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm. For info see http://www.saintathanasius.org.
Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Cambridge is having its annual Grecian Festival June 17-19 from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
WOMEN’S CLUB – The next meeting of the Women’s Club will be held on Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 pm. All are welcome.
REMINDERS
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED– Volunteering always falls off this time of year, but the need for fellowship and hospitality stays strong. Please sign up to sponsor a coffee hour, individually or with friends. It can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies, and plenty of help is available. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall. Isn't it your turn by now?
NO VESPERS– There will be no Saturday Vespers services at St. Mary on June 4 or June 11.
BOOK DRIVE FOR ALBANIA – We’re having a charitable collection of gently used books (in English) to begin the upper elementary library (Grades 4-9) at Protagonist School in Tirana, Albania which was founded and is maintained by the Orthodox Church of Albania under His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios (see http://www.protagonistschool.org/english/about.htm). Please deposit books in the box outside of the Church Office through Wednesday, June 15. See Shannon Sakellariou or e-mail her at srsakellariou@gmail.comwith any questions.
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, 35 Scudder Ave. in Hyannis, hosted by St. John of Damascus Church in Dedham. It’s not too late to register – see www.stjohnd.org/conference2011. Or look for us on Facebook: “2011 Parish Life Conference.” 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
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - St. George Church, West Roxbury announces Vacation Bible School, Monday, June 28 through Thursday, July 1, 8:45 am-1:00 pm. Registration is open to preschoolers (at least 3 yrs old and potty trained) through 4th grade. Registration: $15/1 child; $20/2 children; $25/3 children Volunteers are also needed. Contact Elisabeth Lourie at elisabeth@stgeorgeofboston.orgor 617-323-0322 if you have any questions or would like to help.
CHURCH SCHOOL HELP NEEDED– St Mary’s Church School needs teachers or co-teachers for several classes for next year, as well as two administrative assistants to help with administrative tasks such as Church School calendar and registration. If you would like to be considered for a teaching or assisting role, please contact Andrea Popa at maryandreapopa@gmail.comor Arlene Marge at lanciani@alum.mit.edu.
NATIVE AMERICAN ORTHODOX - Check out a newly created website for the Native American Orthodox Christian Fellowship (NAOCF), at www.naocf.org. This is an outgrowth of the experience which the Native Peoples of Alaska have had with the Eastern Orthodox Church since the 18th century. Please pass along the site to anyone who may be interested (Orthodox or nonOrthodox, Christian or nonChristian, Native or nonNative).
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.
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 – St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services below or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us atlive@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
DONATE VIA eGIVE – Recently we have had special collections for Japan, for Seminarians, for the Antiochian Women’s project: the Convent of St. Thekla, and other causes. 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:
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
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.
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
"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: If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org.
COFFEE HOUR – FSJD
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, June 4: NoVespers at St. Mary
Sunday, June 5: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00
SCRIPTURE READINGS forJune 5:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36
… I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you,
not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Therefore be alert… And now I commend you to God and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance
among all those who are sanctified. … In all things I have shown you
that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the
Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Gospel: John 17:1-13
At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify
you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life
to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they
know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I
glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me
to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the
glory which I had with you before the world was made. ... Holy Father,
keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one,
even as we are one.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, June 11: NoVespers at St. Mary
Sunday, June 12, Feast of Pentecost: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00
Friday-Sunday, June 17-19: Parish Life Conference in Hyannis
Monday, June 20: Apostles Fast begins
Tuesday, June 28: Evening Liturgy for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul 6:30 pm
Sunday, July 31: Summer Hours begin - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30
Sunday-Sunday, July 24-31: Archdiocese Convention in Chicago
INSIGHT
If
there is a reward or punishment at the last judgment, it does not come
from God, but from the love or hate which reigns in our heart.
- St. Symeon
We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked from
hut to hut comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.
They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that
everything can be taken from a man, but one thing: the last human
freedom – to choose one’s own attitude in any given set of
circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
- Viktor Frankl
Do not rail against anyone, but rather say, "God knows each one." Do not
agree with him who slanders, do not rejoice at his slander and do not
hate him who slanders his neighbor. This is what it means not to judge.
Do not have hostile feelings towards anyone and do not let dislike
dominate your heart; do not hate him who hates his neighbor. This is
what peace is: Encourage yourself with this thought, "Affliction lasts
but a short time, while peace is for ever, by the grace of God the
Word."
- St. Moses the Ethiopian, Sayings of the Desert Fathers
The outcome of every affliction endured for the sake of virtue is joy,
of every labor rest, and of every shameful treatment glory; in short,
the outcome of all sufferings for the sake of virtue is to be with God,
to remain with Him for ever and to enjoy eternal rest
- St. Maximos, from the Philokalia
These, then, are the things in which you must stand firm and follow the
Lord's example: be steadfast and immovable in the faith; love the
brotherhood; cherish one another; be united in the truth; with the
meekness of the Lord give precedence to one another; despise no one.
When able to do a work of charity, do not put it off; for almsgiving
delivers from death. One and all, submit to each other's rights; for
life among the gentiles must be beyond reproach; thus by your good
example you will win praise for yourselves and the Lord will not be
blasphemed on your account.
- St. Polycarp, Epistles to the Philippians