Update for the week Friday, September 16, through Thursday, September 22, 2011
Update for the week Friday, September 16, through Thursday, September 22, 2011
THIS WEEKEND
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 thisFriday, 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.
SONIA’S RUN - The third annual 5k road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of beloved friend Sonia Belcher, will be held this 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.
INQUIRERS CLASS - The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group will begin meeting this Sunday, September 18th at 9:00am 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.
CHURCHSCHOOL - Following Liturgy this Sunday, there will be a short church school lesson, then the children will rejoin their families for the Presentation of the Cross.
BAKE SALE – The Women’s Club will be having an Early Fall Bake Sale this 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.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
SFEEHA AND KIBBEH SALE - The Women’s Club is offering for purchase freshly made Sfeeha (ground lamb-meat pizza pies with onion, pine nuts & seasonings) and Kibbeh (8 ½” x 11” tray made with ground lamb-meat and burghul). Everything is cooked with the finest of ingredients and ready to eat now or freeze for the holidays! Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin, or contact the church office for a copy. Order deadline is Sunday, October 9. Pick-Up Dates are Sunday, October 23 for Sfeeha, and Sunday, October 30, for Kibbeh.
COME SEE THE MESSIAH - Join friends from St. Mary’s for the Handel and Haydn Society’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, on Sunday afternoon, December 4, at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are just $25 – even less if we have a big enough group. We will carpool to Symphony Hall after Liturgy and have lunch together before the concert. Those who have done this before have thoroughly enjoyed it - not only do we hear a world-class orchestra and chorus with famous soloists singing glorious words (taken directly from the Bible), but we also have an opportunity to spend time getting to know some fellow parishioners we normally may not encounter. Good seats go fast - please contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.comby Sunday, October 16, or order your own tickets online at http://www.handelandhaydn.org.
ST. GEORGE WEEKEND - St. George Orthodox Cathedral of Worcester invites you to join them for the weekend of October 13-16, for the celebration of St. George weekend with a visit from his Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, the Bishops of our Archdiocese, and members of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees. Thursday night is a women’s fashion show, Saturday Vespers will be followed by a grand banquet, and Sunday Hierarchical Divine Liturgy followed by a luncheon. This weekend is sponsored by the University of Balamand Education Foundation to benefit the Metropolitan PHILIP Saliba Scholarship Fund. Watch for registration forms and more information, coming soon.
WOMEN’S CLUB – The next meeting of the Women’s Club will be Tuesday, September 27, in the kitchen. All St. Mary women are welcome.
REMINDERS
HELP OUR SEMINARIAN- We have a new seminarian! He and his family - Christopher, Jessica, and Christian - are looking for some basic furniture for their apartment on campus: they need a dining table, a desk, and a crib. Please call the office, at 617-547-1234, if you can provide any of these things.
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.
FSJD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING – The Fellowship of St John the Divine (FSJD) at St. Mary will have an Organizational Meeting for 2011-2012 next Sunday, September 25th in the Hall during Coffee Hour (around 12:15pm). This meeting is for all current members, officers and all interested persons! Membership in the FSJD is open to all adults in the Parish, as well as Inquirers and their friends, families, etc. Please join us! If you have any questions, contact Tiffany Ann Conroy Moore, FSJD Chair, at trattus1@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/6722916525, and more information is available on the parish website at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/fellowship.php
HONOR OUR SEMINARIANS – The Antiochian Women of the Diocese of New England cordially invite you to Vespers and a Celebration honoring the Antiochian Seminarians serving in our parishes, with special guest, Bishop-Elect Rt.Rev. John Abdalah. The event will be held next 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!
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Wednesday, September 28, at 7:30 pm.
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. Tickets are sold out, but sponsorships are still available.
“WELCOME BACK COLLEGE STUDENTS" BREAKFAST – After Liturgy on Sunday, October 2, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine (FSJD) will host a special breakfast to welcome college students back to their "Church home away from home." Please join us in welcoming and supporting students who strive to remain connected to the Church while away from their families. All are welcome! A suggested minimum donation of $5 will be gratefully accepted from non-students.
ORTHODOX INSTITUTE – The Orthodox Institute for 2011 will be held at Antiochian Village Thursday through Sunday, November 3-6. Topic: Scripture through the lens of the Holy Land. Keynote Speaker will be Fr. Thomas Hopko and Tour Guide Dr. Maria Khourey. Additional speakers will be our own Dr. Ann Bezzerides, as well as Kh. Gigi Shadid, Dr. Nicolae Roddy and Kh. Myra Kovalak. For more information see www.antiochian.org/christianeducation/oi2011
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.)
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 – The 52nd Antiochian Archdiocese Convention will be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel from Sunday, July 19 through 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.
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 – Did you know that you can make your donations to St. Mary through eGive, and haveno more envelopes or checks to worry about ? If you have not yet set up an account, you can do it at www.egive-usa.com, or contact Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) for help. The Recipient Organization is “St. Mary’s Orthodox Church.”
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: Epistle: Teva Regule. If you would like assist during Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org.
COFFEE HOUR: Women’s Club Bake Sale
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, September 17: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, September 18: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School classes start
SCRIPTURE READINGS forSeptember 18, the Sunday after the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20
BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but
through faith in Jesus Christ, ... I have been crucified with Christ; it
is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.
Gospel: Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life
will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's
will save it. … For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be
ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, September 24: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, September 25: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 2
Saturday, October 1: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 2: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 3
INSIGHT
A
strange and marvelous sight is here before our eyes, the precious
Cross. As a fountain it flows with gifts of grace for our soul; it
causes sin to cease, destroys disease, and gives strength to the minds
of those who approach it with sincerity.
- Matins Canon for the Fourth Week in Lent, Ode 1
The Most High planted in the middle of Paradise the thrice blessed wood,
the gift of life for us, in order that, in approaching it, Adam might
find eternal and immortal life. But he did not strive earnestly to know
this life, and he failed to attain it, and revealed death. However, the
robber, seeing how the plant in Eden had been beautifully transplanted
in Golgotha, recognized the life in it and said to himself: `This is
what my father lost formerly In Paradise.'
- St Romanos the Melodist, On the Adoration at the Cross
The Cross is the guardian of the world. The Cross is the beauty of the
Church. The Cross is the strength of Orthodox Christians. The Cross is
the support of the faithful. The Cross is the glory of the angels and
the wonder of demons."
- Exapostilarion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
We must offer the bloodless sacrifice, the sacrifice of
self-surrendering love not only in a specific place, upon the altar of a
particular temple; the whole world becomes the single altar of a single
temple, and for this universal liturgy we must offer our hearts, like
bread and wine, in order that they may be transformed into Christ’s
love, that he may be born in them, that they may become “divine-human”
hearts and that he may give these hearts of ours as food for the world,
that he may bring the whole world into communion with these hearts of
ours that have been offered up. … Then truly in all ways Christ will be
all in all.
- Mother Maria Skobtsova, Essential Writings