Update for the week Friday, June 10, through Thursday, June 16, 2011
THIS WEEKEND
NO VESPERS– There will be no Saturday Vespers services at St. Mary this Saturday, June 11.
PENTECOST – This Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost.We will be celebrating with Festal Orthros and Divine Liturgy, followed by the Kneeling Prayers.
BOOK DRIVE – Don’t forget to bring your books for the school library in Albania this Sunday, since the drive ends next week. See Reminders below for more information.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHURCH CLOSED – There will be no services at St. Mary (or at any other church in the diocese) next weekend. The church and church offices will be closed Friday through Sunday, June 17-19, for the Parish Life Conference. Join us for the Hierarchical Liturgy on Sunday morning at 10:00, at the Resort & Conference Center, 35 Scudder Ave. in Hyannis. More info at www.stjohnd.org/conference2011.
BIBLE BOWL and ORATORICAL FESTIVAL - Thomas and Anthony Marge and Theo Smith, with coach Violet Robbat, will represent St. Mary in the Bible Bowl at the Parish Life Conference, on Friday evening (June 17). Then Theo Smith will be our participant in the Senior Division Oratorical Festival on Saturday morning (June 18). We wish them all much success!
SUMMER HOURS – Our summer worship schedule begins on Sunday, July 3 and continues through August 28. During the summer, Orthros will be at 8:15 am and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am
TANGLEWOOD OUTING - Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary’s as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, July 10. We’ll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Higdon, Bruch and Tchaikovsky, with violinist Joshua Bell. (For more information see http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.jsp?pid=prod3880048 ) The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $25.50 (pay at the door). Bring lawn chairs if you want them, and picnic food for yourself and to share. For more information and to let us know you're coming, especially if you'll need a ride, contact Melissa Nassiff by email (mnassiff@gmail.com) or phone (508 877-7483).
REMINDERS
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.com with any questions.
FEASTS AND FASTS – Regular Wednesday and Friday fasting resumed the day after the Feast of the Ascension (June 2), and continues through this week. The week after the Feast of Pentecost (this Sunday, June 12) there is no fasting; then the Apostles Fast begins on June 20 and continues until The Feast of the Apostles on June 29.
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?
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.
GREEK FESTIVAL -Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Cambridge is having its annual Grecian Festival June 17-19 from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. Admission is free.
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.
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.
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
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.
LITURGICAL SERVICE–Epistle: David Vermette; Communion cloths and bread baskets: Linda Arnold, Teva Regule and others. If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org.
COFFEE HOUR – The Dalton and Smith families
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, June 11: NoVespers at St. Mary
Sunday, June 12, Feast of Pentecost: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00
SCRIPTURE READINGS forJune 12:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared
to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. … telling in our own
tongues the mighty works of God.
Gospel: John 7:37-52; 8:12
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and
proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who
believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow
rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those
who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been
given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. … Again Jesus spoke to
them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday - Sunday, June 17-19: Parish Life Conference in Hyannis - NO Services at St. Mary; Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:00 am at Parish Life Conference
Monday, June 20: Apostles Fast begins
Saturday, June 25: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 26: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00
Tuesday, June 28: Evening Liturgy for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul 6:30 pm
Sunday, July 3: Summer Hours begin - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30
Sunday-Sunday, July 24-31: Archdiocese Convention in Chicago
INSIGHT
The
Holy Spirit has always been, is now and ever shall be, having neither
beginning nor end, but one with the Father and the Son: life and
lifegiving; goodness itself and source of goodness, through Whom the
Father is made known and the Son is glorified, and is known by all: one
power, one unity, one worship, of the Holy Trinity.
- Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost: The Idiomela, Fourth tone
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, who has shown forth the fishermen as
most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. And through them
Thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.
- Troparion of the Feast of Pentecost, Tone 8
When the High One descended, confusing tongues, he divided the nations.
And when he distributed the fiery tongues, he called all to one unity.
Wherefore, in unison, we glorify the most Holy Spirit. Today's festival, dearly beloved, hallowed by the descent of the Holy
Spirit, is followed as you know, by a solemn fast, which being a
salutary institution for the healing of soul and body, we must keep with
devout observance... Therefore, after the days of holy gladness, which
we have devoted to the honor of the Lord rising from the dead and then
ascending into Heaven, and after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, a
fast is ordained as a wholesome and needful practice, so that, if
perchance through neglect or disorder even amid the joys of the festival
any undue license has broken out, it may be corrected by the remedy of
strict abstinence, which must be more scrupulously carried out in order
that what was on this day divinely bestowed on the Church may abide in
us. For being made the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and watered with a
greater supply than ever by the Divine Stream, we ought not to be
conquered by any lusts nor held in possession by any vices in order that
the habitation of divine power may be stained by no pollution. - St. Leo the Great
- Kontakion of the Feast of Pentecost, Tone 8
When we serve the Divine Liturgy, before we pronounce the epiklisis, in
which we call upon the Holy Spirit to change the bread to the Body of
Christ, we pray that God will send down the Holy Spirit upon all of us.
If we pray that the Holy Spirit comes upon all of us at this most sacred
and holy moment, it means that the fullness of the "Ekklisia," [the
Church] is the whole synaxis of the people of God and not only those who
are standing inside the altar. It means that we are all worshipping and
praying together and we all receive the Holy Spirit together.
- Archbishop Lazar Puhalo
...there is not a fraction of a moment during which He, as the
All-perfect, Most-wise, All-merciful, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Almighty
Spirit, does not shower benefits and wisdom upon His creatures. There is
not a fraction of a moment during which He does not apply His wisdom
and omnipotence, for God is a Self-acting Being, infinitely productive.
Thus you look upon the world, but look upon it and observe everywhere in
it its Author - God, everywhere present in it, filling everything,
moving in everything, and ordering everything.
- St. John of Kronstadt,My Life in Christ