Update for the week Friday, September 2, through Thursday, September 9, 2011

THIS WEEKEND

 REGULAR HOURS RESUME - This Sunday, September 4, we return to our regular worship schedule: Orthros will once again begin at 8:45am and Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.

Also, regular office hours resume again: Marilyn will be in the office Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

MEMORIAL PRAYERS – Trisagion Prayers of Mercy will be offered following the Liturgy this Sunday for all those departed during the month of August, since the hurricane forced our services to be cancelled last week.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

 ELEVATION OF THE CROSS – There will be an Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Crosson Tuesday, September 13, at 6:30 pm.  Come worship with us then.

ORTHODOX SCHOLARS’ INITIATIVE - Orthodox Christian faculty from colleges and universities across New England are invited to discuss how your Orthodox Christian faith is connected to your work as a professor or researcher - come explore ways in which your faith and reason intersect. Join us onFriday, September 16, 2011 for the first regional meeting of the Orthodox Scholars’ Initiative at Hellenic College.  The afternoon program runs concurrent with the annual meeting of the Orthodox Theological Society in America.  For more information, including a schedule of events, see www.osi.hchc.edu. Please RSVP to Dr. Ann Bezzerides at abezzerides@hchc.edu to attend the events free of charge. Panel, reception and lecture will be in the Maliotis Cultural Center, 50 Goddard Ave, Brookline, MA.

LEARN ABOUT ORTHODOXY - The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group will begin meeting on Sunday, September 18th at 9:00 A.M in the library (next door to Fr. Antony’s office). The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been - and continues to be - understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church, who descend from the early Christian community of Antioch, where “the disciples were for the first time called Christians” (Acts 11:26).  Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group, using materials developed and piloted by St. Mary catechist emeritus David Vermette.  If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by phone 617-889-3436 or e-mail r.kowalik@comcast.net.  For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.

BAKE SALE – The Women’s Club will be having an Early Fall Bake Sale on Sunday, September 18 during coffee hour, to benefit the programs/charities of the Women’s Club including all St. Mary Church School Programs and Operating Supplies, YWCA Family Shelter, Children’s Relief Fund, and General Funds donated to Parish Council.  If you can help bake, please contact Priscilla Goss at 781-762-1527 or Renay DiFiore 617-327-6361.  Enjoy something special with your coffee or take home a special dessert for later.

PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Wednesday, September 21, at 7:30 pm.

WOMEN’S CLUB OFFICERS - Newly elected officers of the Women’s Club are:  President:  Priscilla Goss; Vice President: Renay DiFiore; Treasurer:  S. Louise Homsy, and Recording Secretary:  Shirley Bezreh.  Congratulations to them all!

COLLEGE STUDENTS AND PARENTS - If you are a new or returning college or university student, please fill out a pink College Student Address Form on the Bengarri (desk in the Narthex) so that we have your current addresses and information and you can receive announcements about activities at St. Mary's and on campus.  See Charlie Marge if you have questions.

Parents, If you would like your sons or daughters to receive a copy of the CORNERSTONE each month while they are away at school to keep them in touch with what’s going on at St. Mary’s, please fill out one of the College Student Address Forms and return it to Marilyn Robbat.

REMINDERS

NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS– On Wednesday, September 7, join us for theEvening Liturgy for Feast of Nativity of the Holy Theotokos at 6:30 pm.

FRANK SCHAEFFER LECTURE - Frank Schaeffer will present a lecture about his new book, Sex, Mom and God:How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics - and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway, at St. Mary on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 6:00 pm in the Church Hall.  Please join us for a stimulating lecture and discussion!  More information and reviews of the book can be found on his website at http://www.frankschaeffer.com.

SONIA’S RUN - The third annual 5k road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of  beloved friend Sonia Belcher, will be held on Saturday, September 17, at St. George Church, West  Roxbury.  The 5K Run/Walk  begins at 9:00 am;  Kids Fun Run at 8:30 am.  Be a runner….Be a volunteer….Be a sponsor!   To walk, run, volunteer or sponsor, call Al or Jack Day, 781-608-5138 or go to www.SoniasRun.org.

HONOR OUR SEMINARIANS – The Antiochian Women of the Diocese of New England cordially invite you to a Celebration honoring the Antiochian Seminarians serving in our parishes. The event will be held on Sunday, September 25, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at St. George Community Center, 55 Emmonsdale Rd., West Roxbury. Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served. Come and enjoy refreshments and fellowship – all are welcome!

DANCING WITH THE STARS - The American Arabic Benevolent Association is having a “Dancing with the AABA stars” on Saturday, October 1, 2011, to be held at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church Auditorium in West Roxbury. Cost is $40.00, by reservation only - please contact either David Franciosi at 617-347-1007 or Olivia Waishek at 617-694-9783.  Each parish will have one contestant; St. Mary will be represented by Karen Winstanley Noonan. The winner will be determined based on each entrant’s dancing and the amount contributed by sponsors.  Sponsor forms can be found on the Bengarri and given to Mary Winstanley O’Connor.

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 Lea Crea at leacrea@hotmail.com. (Note personnel change – thanks to Lea for stepping in, and thanks to Arlene Marge for all her hard work.)

COFFEE HOUR  –  Please volunteer! Several Sundays are still available.  Signup sheet is on the bulletin board downstairs.

WHY DOES ST. MARY’S GROW  -  Pravmir.com, a Russian Orthodox Church website, recently asked clergy from different countries and different jurisdictions to share their experience of church attendance in the west, after printing a translation from Russian of Fr. Serafim Gan’s article, “Why is Attendance Declining in Russian Churches in the West?”  Fr. Antony was one of the priests asked to reflect on this topic. His article can be seen at http://www.pravmir.com/the-heart-of-the-parish-community-must-be-love

2015 CONVENTION –  Our bid to host the 2015 Convention was presented by Fr. Antony Hughes, Mary Winstanley O’Connor and Raymond Sayeg, and was  accepted! The 52nd  Antiochian Archdiocese Convention will be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel from Sunday, July 19 – Sunday, July 26, 2015, hosted by St. Mary Church, Cambridge, MA. 

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 the Sunday Bulletin.  The Parish Council will need all parishioners to provide their time and talent to make this convention a significant success.  Please contact Mary at her office (617-523-1010 or moconnor@koilaw.com)  or Ray at his office (617-742-1184 or rsayeg@dennerpellegrino.com) with any questions or with your willingness to participate.

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:

BE A GREETER -  The Parish Council is continuing the Greeter Program, similar to other churches, to greet and aid parishioners, guests and visitors into the Church 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, arriving at Church at 9:45 am.  Greeting time ends when Communion starts.  We need volunteers.  If you would like to be a Greeter, a Sign-Up Sheet is posted on the Church Bulletin Board.  If you have any questions, please contact Buddy by e-mail buddy@cjmabardy.comor call him at 781-729-6303. “I was a stranger, and you invited me in………”   (Matthew 25:35)  

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–  Peter and Melissa Nassiff

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, September 3:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, September 4:  Regular Sunday hours resume – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 4: 
Epistle: St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11
Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast - unless you believed in vain.

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-26
A young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" … Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.“

Wednesday, September 7:  Evening Liturgy for Feast of Nativity of the Holy Theotokos 6:30 pm

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, September 10:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, September 11:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School registration

Tuesday, September 13:  Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross 6:30 pm.  

Sunday, September 18:  Church School classes start

INSIGHT

People should not worry as much about what they do but rather about what they are. If they and their ways are good, then their deeds are radiant. If you are righteous, then what you do will also be righteous. We should not think that holiness is based on what we do but rather on what we are, for it is not our works which sanctify us but we who sanctify our works.
   - Meister Eckhart

You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not just to the rich.
   - St. Ambrose

 In tempting our ancestors, Satan offered them a counterfeit of something that God had already given them. In accepting Satan’s false promise, they entered into egoism, self-love and self-absorption. Unselfish love became distorted and deadened within them even though not completely snuffed out.
   - Archbishop Lazar Puhalo, Neurobiology of Sin 

In the present life the things we have relations with are numerous, for instance time, air, locality, food and drink, clothing, sunlight, lamplight, and other necessities of life, none of which, many though they be, are God; that blessed state which we hope for is in need of none of these things, but the Divine Being will become all, and in the stead of all to us, distributing Himself proportionately to every need of that existence. It is plain, too, from the Holy Scriptures that God becomes to those who deserve it, locality and home and clothing and food and drink and light and riches and kingdom, and everything that can be thought of and named that goes to make our life happy.
   - Saint Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection