St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church

Update for the week Friday, May 11, through Thursday, May 17, 2012

THIS WEEKEND

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY -   Our Teens will be celebrating the day by giving a carnation to each woman in the parish today this Sunday.

SPECIAL COLLECTION - There will be an Archdiocese Collection following Liturgy THIS Sunday for the Syrian Appeal. Please make checks payable to St. Mary Church and ear-mark: Syrian Appeal. 

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

Church School Graduation Festivities - Come celebrate the end of the Church School year next Sunday, May 20th. Graduation certificates and teacher acknowledgements will be held in the church after liturgy, with special recognition of graduating seniors. Lunch and ice cream sundaes will follow in the church hall. Familes wishing to contribute food (chili or ice cream fixings) please contact Lea Crea at leacrea@hotmail.com.

PLC UPDATE -  Rooms at the Cliff House in Ogunquit are 99% sold out. Rooms are available at the Best Western in York, just 8 miles away.  Rates are $99 / night. Phone them direct at 207-363-8903.

Taste & Talent” Update -  “Taste” Winner: Carol Hezerjian of Dedham; “Talent:” After the First Round, top three (3) were Greg Abdalah of Worcester, Tyler Campbell of Norwood and Heather Feldman of Dedham; however all acts will be going through to the Finals at the Parish Life Conference. Thank you to all who participated from St. Mary Church, Cambridge - our Talent competition included: Anthony Marge, Charlie & Arlene Marge and a quartet of Paul Nahass, Michelle Mabardy, Charlie & Arlene Marge; and our chefs were Socrates Deligeorges, Natasha Smith, Marilyn Robbat and Selma Winstanley.  

REMINDERS

PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, May 16.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS –The scholarship awards ceremony for the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s Club will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West Street, Dedham, MA.  The guest speaker will be His Grace, Bishop John.  For additional information, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010.

CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION – Sunday, May 20, will be the closing of Church School, with Graduation and festivities.

SACRED MUSIC FOR PLC –  A vocal workshop for the Diocese in preparation for the Parish Life Conference will be held on Sunday, May 20, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, here at St. Mary. The workshop, which will also serve as the first rehearsal for the PLC, will be led by our own Brooke Wilcox, a  professional vocalist and voice coach. We would like people to register so we can plan ahead - www.mysignup.com/vocalworkshop.
   Also, the Diocesan Choir Rehearsal for PLC will be held at St. George in Norwood (note change in location) on Sunday, June 10, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.

NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, not only during Bright Week, but until the Feast of the Ascension (Thursday, May 24) – 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.)

BLESSING OF GRAVES – On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am.  If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP – 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 June 1, 2012.

N.G. BERAM AWARDS - The N. G. Beram Veterans Assoc. is pleased to announce the continuation of its Scholastic Achievement Awards program for the 46th year, which 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, 2012.

FSJD SCHOLARSHIP – Graduating High School Seniors who are actively involved in the parish  and whose parents are members of the parish, are eligible for the Fellowship of St. John the Divine Scholarship.  Please call the Church Office with your name so that an application will be mailed to you directly by Mary Winstanley O’Connor, or contact her at moconnor@koilaw.com or 617-523-1010.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – This year’s Parish Life Conference will be held at The Cliff House, Ogunquit, Maine, June 21-24, 2012.  For conference registration and information go to the conference website:  http://stgeorgenorwood.org/PLC2012/index.html 

NEWLY ILLUMINED – Congratulations to Emanuel Gardiner and Bill Dalton, who were chrismated on Holy Saturday.

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.   

SUMMER GREETERS NEEDED – Please help out!  Volunteers are needed for all Sundays in July and August through September 2 (Labor Day Weekend).  Please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail: buddy@cjmabardy.com. Summer Hours: Orthros: 8:15 am & Liturgy: 9:30 am.  Summer might be a great time for you to start participating in this Ministry! 

CROSSROAD - CrossRoad is a summer institute for high school juniors and seniors on the campus of Hellenic College/Holy Cross.  Participants take part in daily classes, visit neighboring Orthodox parishes and participate in service activities.  CrossRoad now offers two sessions.  Download an application and view a video clip at www.crossroad.hchc.edu

REGULAR REMINDERS

COFFEE HOUR SIGNUP – A signup sheet for coffee hours is posted on the bulletin board outside the coat room.  There are plenty of dates to choose from after Pascha – sign up now for the date you will sponsor the coffee hour!

CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR – Church School continues through May 20, 2012. The Church School calendar can be found online at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/assets/files/2011-2012-ChurchSchoolCalendar.pdf

DONATE VIA eGIVE– Did you know that you can make your donations to St. Mary through eGive, and have no 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.”

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 at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.

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 not block the driveway – if the lot is full, you can park on the street.

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 new 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 SUNDAY'S VOLUNTEERS

GREETER:  Marc Patacchiola

LITURGICAL SERVICE: Epistle: Ioana Chirieac; Left Cloth: Dimitrios Antos and Brooke Wilcox;
Right Cloth: James and Anna Higgins; Left Bread: Cassandra Chirieac; Right Bread: TBD

COFFEE HOUR:  The Dalton family 

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, May 12:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, May 13:  Matins 8:45 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 23

SCRIPTURE READINGSfor Sunday, May 6, the Sunday of the Paralytic: 
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30
…  some of [the apostles], … on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. … and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.

Gospel: John 4:5-42
Jesus came to a city of Samaria…Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. … There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." … The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. … Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. … the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, May 19:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, May 20:  Matins 8:45 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Graduation and festivities

Wednesday, May 23:  Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord 6:30 pm

Saturday, May 26:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, May 27:  Matins 8:45 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Thursday-Sunday, June 21-24:  Parish Life Conference

INSIGHT

The Well-spring of the principle of life, Jesus, our Savior, came to the well of the Patriarch Jacob, and sought water from a Samaritan woman that He might drink. And when she addressed Him and said that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, the wise Creator diverted her by the sweetness of His words rather to seek of Him the everlasting water, the Knower of things hidden, God Who is come in the flesh to save man.
   - Doxasticon (Glory of the Stichera) of Vespers of Friday of the Samaritan Woman

Ascesis is an awakening from the sleep-walking of daily life. It enables the Word to clear the silt away in the depth of the soul, freeing the spring of living waters. The Word can restore to its original brightness the tarnished image of God in us, the silver coin that has rolled in the dust but remains stamped with the king's likeness (Luke 15:8-10).  It is the Word who acts, but we have to co-operate with him, not so much by exertion of will-power as by loving attentiveness.
   - Olivier Clement

… the purity which we see in Christ and in the person who has part in Him is by nature one. But Christ is the source and he who takes part draws the water.
   - St. Gregory Palamas, On Perfection

What shall I say to Thee, O Knower of the heart who searchest the heart and inner workings of men? Indeed, Thou knowest that, like a waterless land, my soul thirsts after Thee and my heart longs for Thee. And Thy grace has always sated those that love Thee. … Send Thy grace, that it may satisfy my hunger and quench my thirst. For insatiably do I desire Thee, O my Master! And who can have enough of Thee if he truly loves Thee and thirsts for Thy truth?
   - St. Ephraim the Syrian