Update for the week Friday, January 25, through Thursday, January 31, 2013
THIS WEEKEND
ICON NEEDED - Do you have an icon of Ephraim the Syrian, or the Three Hierarchs? The Church School needs one of these to carry in procession this Sunday, January 27. If you can bring one in please contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu), and give it to her at the beginning of Liturgy.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFICE CLOSED - The St. Mary Church Office will be closed on Thursday & Friday, January 31 and February 1, 2013, as our Parish Secretary will be attending the mid-winter meetings at the Antiochian Village. Note that the deadline for next Sunday’s bulletin is Wednesday, January 30, at 10:00 am.
COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS NEEDED – Please get your friends together and sign up to provide a coffee hour. Some do it to celebrate a special event or anniversary, but you don’t need a reason, and it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies. When no one volunteers, there’s no coffee! Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall. The next several weeks are available.
EVENING LITURGY – Next Friday, February 1, there will be Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, at 6:30 pm
BIBLE STUDY – The new Bible Study group, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, will begin Thursday, February 7. This discussion group will meet in a home every other Thursday, from 7:00-8:30 pm, and is open to all interested participants. We will be using the course Search the Scriptures, by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio. For more information contact Greg Patrick (greg@dailytradealert.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com).
PRE-LENTEN RETREAT – The Antiochian Women of the
Diocese invite you to a Pre-Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 2, 2013,
at St. George Church in Norwood. Featured speakers will be
father-daughter team, Dr. John Dalack and Kh. Laila Ellias, who will
talk about “Slow to
Anger” (see James 1:19-20). To register, send $15 registration fee
per person, payable to Antiochian Women – DOWNE, to Kh. Erin Kimmett,
17 Austin Street, Norwood, MA 02062. Lunch is included. All (men as
well as women) are welcome. Note – advance registration, by February 24, is required.
REMINDERS
MID-WINTER MEETINGS – The annual mid-winter meetings of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, Antiochian Women, and Teen SOYO of the Archdiocese will be held at Antiochian Village Friday through Sunday, February 1 - 3, 2013.
TEEN SOYO BREAKFAST SEARCH – Teens and young adults are welcome to join St. Mary\'s 2nd Breakfast Search after liturgy next Sunday, February 3. We will get a brief orientation by Theo Smith and will head out into the streets of Cambridge to provide smiles and doughnuts to those in need of either! Please consider joining us, as the last event was a huge success!
BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany/Theophany (January 6) and between Pascha (May 5) and Pentecost (June 23). We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil; to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God. To schedule the blessing of your home, please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or call the church office at 617 547-1234.
PASTORAL CHALLENGES IN MARRIAGE - The Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is hosting a conference at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Thursday through Saturday, February 7-9, 2013, to inspire and equip those in the front lines of ministry with tools and resources to effectively serve the pastoral challenges of marriage they encounter. The conference is open to clergy, seminarians, pastoral care workers, professional counselors, ministry leaders, and all who minister to Orthodox Christian couples. Speakers include our own bishop, His Grace, Bishop John (D.Min.), Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald (M.Div., Ph.D.), and Ary Christofidis (Ph.D., LCP). For more information and to register, see http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/family/pc2013conf.
TEEN SOYO – Teens are welcome to attend an evening of discussion and fun after vespers on Saturday, February 9 (from after vespers till 8:30 pm). We\'ll have guests from the Crossroad Summer Program, pizza, and snacks. Feel free to bring a friend. Last year\'s event was a great success and everyone had a great time. We\'ll be talking about life, the future, and vocation!
CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAKFAST– Join the FSJD for the 2013 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast, to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC), on Sunday, February 17. Suggested minimum donation is $5.00 per adult. RSVP to Nelson Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, February 13.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE WINTER CAMP – Winter Camp is a weekend of fun and spiritual growth at the Antiochian Village Camp, and is open to all campers in grades 7-12. It is held over Presidents Day holiday weekend, February 15-18, 2013. For more information and to register, see http://antiochianvillage.org/camp/programs/wintercamp.html.
ST. MARY’S GOT TALENT – Wanted: performers (singers, instrumentalists, bands, dancers, stand-up comedy) - contact Julie (julie31415pi@gmail.com)
Wanted: art to display (painters, drawers, sculptors, needlework) - contact Julie (julie31415pi@gmail.com)
Wanted: bakers (so the audience can buy dessert to eat while enjoying the show) - contact Julie (julie31415pi@gmail.com)
Wanted: an audience - plan to join us on the evening of Saturday, February 16, after vespers. More information to come. Note: this event is not a competition, it is a talent expo.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE SUMMER CAMP – Summer Camp registration for 2013 is now open. For information see http://antiochianvillage.org/camp/programs/summercamp.html To register see http://antiochianvillage.org/camp/programs/registration.html. Please don\'t wait to register - camp fills up very quickly. Please note that you are not registered until you have paid the $100 deposit and receive a confirmation email. Also note that to take advantage of the early-bird discount you must have your camper tuition fees paid in full by March 1st. Scholarships are available – contact Fr. Antony.
WINTER CAMP AT ST. METHODIOS – We are invited to participate in camps for Youth ages 12-18 (February 15-18) and for Families (March 1-3) at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH, sponsored by the Metropolis of Boston. For information and registration see http://www.boston.goarch.org/youth_ministries/mbc/winter_camps.html Registration is open now.
REAL BREAK – This spring, be a light to the world! Real Break is a popular alternative to the traditional spring break for college students. Entering its 12th year, OCF Real Break continues to offer transformative, priest-led trips both domestically and internationally. To find detailed information regarding the Real Break trips in March 2013 and to register, please visit www.ocf.net/realbreak. Be a part of this year\'s life-changing week-long Real Break experience.
FAMILY MISSION TO ALBANIA – All Orthodox Christians from North America who have experience with children are invited to prayerfully consider helping with a family retreat program in Albania this coming July, sponsored jointly by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care. Families with children, couples, and individuals are encouraged to apply. The mission will be led by our own Panayiotis and Shannon Sakellariou. For more information see http://www.ocmc.org/resources/view_article.aspx?ArticleId=899
PLEDGE CARDS – 2013 pledge cards have been mailed. If you have not yet made your pledge, please return your signed card right away. Or you can make your pledge online at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/stewardship.php
REGULAR REMINDERS
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.”
If you missed the opportunity to contribute to some of the special
collections held recently, you can still do so online – Special
Categories have been set up in eGive for these one-time donations.
Parishioners can also use their credit cards to make one-time donations on our website: https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/contact/donate.php Just type the donation target (e.g. Hurricane Sandy) in the Additional Notes area.
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.
CONFESSIONS – Confessions are heard each Saturday evening before and after Vespers, which start at 5:00 pm, or by appointment.
PARKING – If you park in the Church parking lot, you need to plan on remaining until after the Coffee Hour or other church function. Do not park in the Church parking lot if you need to leave immediately after church.
Additionally, do not park beyond the sign that prohibits parking at
the corner of Inman Street and Bishop Allen Drive. It is difficult for
large vehicles to turn the corner if cars are parked there. Failure to
heed this warning may result in the City preventing parishioners from
parking on Inman Street. Your cooperation is appreciated.
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 – If you do not sing in the choir, or chant, serve in the Altar or at the Bengarri, and are not a Church School teacher, please consider serving the Church as a GREETER! Greeters arrive at 9:45 am., get a Greeter Name Tag from the Bengarri, pin it on and greet visitors/parishioners at the Church Entrance and direct them upstairs to the Church, or to the CloakRoom or RestRooms. Greeting time ends when Communion starts. Send your name and e-mail address to Buddy Mabardy: buddymabardy@cjmabardy.com or phone him 781-729-6303.
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.org or 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: Deno Takles
LITURGICAL SERVICE: Epistle: Tatiana Dalton, Communion Cloths and Bread Baskets: Ioana Chirieac, Melissa Nassiff, and others TBD
COFFEE HOUR: FSJD
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, January 26: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, January 27: Orthros 8:45 am; Enquirers’ Class 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Lesson 13
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, January 27:
Epistle: St. Paul\'s Letter to the Hebrews 7:26-8:2
Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy,
blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens…
the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who
has been made perfect for ever.
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43
… And [the blind beggar] cried, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\"
… Jesus asked him, \"What do you want me to do for you?\" He said, \"Lord,
let me receive my sight.\" And Jesus said to him, \"Receive your sight;
your faith has made you well.\" And immediately he received his sight and
followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it,
gave praise to God.
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday, February 1: Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple 6:30 pm
Saturday, February 2: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, February 3: Orthros 8:45 am; Enquirers’ Class 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Lesson 14
Sunday, February 17: Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast, sponsored by FSJD
Saturday, March 2: Antiochian Women 2013 Pre-Lenten Retreat
Sunday, March 10: FSJD Meatfare Sunday Breakfast following Liturgy
Monday, March 18: Lent begins
REFLECTION
He will save assuredly; yet he will do so just in the way he has
promised. But in what way has he promised? On our willing it, and on our
hearing him. For he does not make a promise to blocks of wood.
- St. John Crysostom, Homily on 2 Thessalonians 3-4
By prayer I mean not that which is only in the mouth, but that which
springs up from the bottom of the heart. In fact, just as trees with
deep roots are not shattered or uprooted by storms … in the same way
prayers that come from the bottom of the heart, having their roots
there, rise to heaven with complete assurance and are not knocked off
course by the assault of any thought. That is why the psalm says, \"out
of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord.\"
- John Chrysostom
For God seeks nothing else from us, save a good purpose. Say not, How
are my sins blotted out? I tell thee, By willing, by believing. What can
be shorter than this? But if, while thy lips declare thee willing, thy
heart be silent, He knoweth the heart, who judgeth thee. Cease from this
day from every evil deed. Let not thy tongue speak unseemly words, let
thine eye abstain from sin, and from roving after things unprofitable.
- St Cyril of Jerusalem, Procatechesis
Therefore, casting out of our souls all faithlessness, sloth, and
hesitation, let us draw near with all our heart, with unhesitating faith
and burning desire, like slaves who have been newly purchased with
precious blood. Indeed, with reverence for the price paid on our
behalf, and with love for our Master Who paid it, and as having accepted
His love for us, let us recognize that, if He had not wished to save by
means of Himself us who have been purchased, He would not have come
down to earth, nor would He have been slain for our sake. But, as it is
written, He has done this because He wills that all should be saved.
Listen to Him say it Himself: \'I did not come to judge the world, but to
save the world\' (Jn. 12:17).
- St. Symeon the New Theologian, On the Mystical Life