Update for the week Thursday, April 3, through Thursday, April 10, 2014
THIS WEEK
AKATHIST – This Friday we will pray the Akathist (Madayeh) to the Theotokos for the last time this Lent, at 7:00 pm.
HYMN FESTIVAL – Our own Boston Byzantine Choir will be featured in Lenten Journey, a concert of meditative music and images to be held this Saturday, April 5, at 4:00 pm, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 950 East St., Dedham. Light refreshments will follow; donations gratefully accepted. The church's website is www.stlukesdedham.org
PASCHA BAKE SALE – The Women's Club will be holding its annual Pascha Bake Sale this Sunday after Liturgy. Plan on purchasing all your Pascha/Easter pastries and goodies. If you can help bake please call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303.
FSJD MEETING – Please join us for an important meeting of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine during coffee hour this Sunday We will be sharing our revised calendar of events, and voting on whether or not to keep some of them. If you enjoy the activities we do throughout the year, then you'll want to attend this meeting to hear about the changes and the reasons for them. If you would like to know more about the Fellowship or join it, contact Julie at Julie31415pi@gmail.com
BREAKFAST SEARCH - This Sunday the teens will be heading out after Liturgy to Harvard Square to hand out coffee and breakfast to those in need. All teens are welcome to join them.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY and LENTEN POTLUCK – Next Wednesday, April 9. will be the final Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30 pm, followed by a Potluck Supper sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John. Do plan to come, and please bring something to share. Any Lenten fare is welcome: main courses, sides, salads, desserts, as well as beverages and snacks. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship during Lent, plus we get to sample each other's Lenten recipes. Note that we still need a lead to volunteer for a main dish and cleanup for April 9. Please contact Julie Wasilko (julie31415pi@gmail.com) to sign up.
BIBLE STUDY – The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday in the church library, and is based on a series of talks originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio, entitled Search the Scriptures. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome. Join us next Thursday, April 10 at 7:00 pm as we continue our study of Genesis, discussing the sacrifice of Isaac. Listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-sacrifice-of-isaac-part-1/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-sacrifice-of-isaac-part-2/
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
THANK YOU - St. Mary’s Women would like to thank all those who contributed financially to the Antiochian Women’s Project, Help the Orphans of War in Syria. Our hearts are overjoyed with the generosity of our parishioners and friends. Donations will continue to be accepted and can be left at the Bengarri, mailed to the Church Office or given to Mary Ellen Mabardy or Barbara Shoop. Make your checks payable to St. Mary Women’s Club.
APRIL HOMILIES and vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE ONLINE– Copies and YouTube videos of this year's Women's Month homilies can be found on the St. Mary website at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/sermons/. You can also watch this year's annual lecture: "If You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It: How Christ Transcends Good and Bad" with Dr. Jan Perkins, at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/news/events/2014/vonholzhausen
CHOIR CONCERT - Orthodox Christian Fellowship at Boston College will host the St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir of Holy Cross for a concert titled “Journey to the Resurrection" on Thursday, April 10, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m, at BC's St. Thomas More Chapel, 9 Lake Street, Brighton Campus
REMINDERS
LAZARUS SATURDAY – Please come and bring your friends and family on Saturday, April 12, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy (Matins 8:00 am; Liturgy 9:00 am), and enjoy a Communion Breakfast at 10:15 presented by the Women’s Club and offered by Selma Winstanley in loving memory of brother, Mitchell Mabardi. Following the Communion Breakfast, there will be a Church Clean-Up in preparation for Pascha. Everyone is encouraged to bring some rags, cleaning supplies, small buckets, brown paper bags, irons and extension cords for wax removal, etc. Please come and lend a hand in preparing God’s House for the Feast of Feasts.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – The 40th Anniversary Food for Hungry People program of our Archdiocese will begin this week with the start of Great Lent. Money Boxes for collecting alms at home will be on the Bengarri; please pick one or two up and place them throughout your home, fill them up, and return them on Palm Sunday, April 13. “Whoever gives a hand to help his neighbor is helped by God’s own hand.” - St. Isaac the Syrian
DONATIONS FOR HOLY WEEK – For the special services of Holy Week, the Church needs donations of olive oil for the Unction Service (Wednesday), flowers for the tomb of Christ (Friday), flowers to distribute on Great and Holy Friday, rose water to anoint the faithful (Friday), incense, Paschal lilies and other flowers, and candles. Deadline is Palm Sunday, April 13. Please use the donation form in the Sunday Bulletin.
PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER – Join us on Sunday, April 13 after Divine Liturgy for our annual Palm Sunday Fish Dinner, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine and provided by Ed and Lisa Brylczyk. Requested donations are $8/person or $16/family.
HOLY FRIDAY RETREAT – Spend the morning in fellowship and activities with friends and families at the St. Mary’s Holy Friday Retreat on Friday, April 18, 9:30-12:30. A variety of activities will be provided and luncheon served. Recommended for ages 5 through adult. Younger children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. We welcome your energy and talent if you are able to provide a craft, read stories, or spend time coloring with the children as part of the morning’s activities. Teens and adults are welcome to assist with egg dying and pysanky decorating, crafts with the children, or decoration of the tomb upstairs. Fr. Antony will be available to hear the children’s and teens' confessions before lunch.
Lunch is provided for everyone ($5 donation per person donation requested - make checks payable to St. Mary Orthodox Church). RSVP by Palm Sunday, April 13, to Trish Orlovsky at t_orlovsky@hotmail.com or call 781-641-0182, if you plan to attend or can help with activities that day.
LENTEN CDs – The Boston Byzantine Choir invites you to span the liturgical cycle from Lent to Pascha with their triad of recordings: Lenten Journey, Thy Passion, and Thy Resurrection. The CDs are $15 each or all three for $40, and may be purchased from the Church Office or from Charlie Marge.
NATIONAL CONVENTION NEWS – Both Mary Winstanley O’Connor’s and Ray Sayeg’s committees will meet at the Church on Wednesday, April 23 and Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 pm. (Note change of date and location.)
Letters have been mailed to all parishioners outlining the many opportunities for you to contribute to the 2015 Antiochian Archdiocesan National Convention. Please consider participating: volunteer your time and talent and/or financially support the event by sponsoring one of the many activities or placing an ad in the souvenir journal/ad book. Please complete the Volunteer Sign-up Sheet that was mailed to you and return it to Shirley Bezreh at the Bengarri/Narthex. Extra Sign-up Sheets are available on the table outside the hall.
WOMEN'S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be Tuesday, April 29, at 7:30 at the church. New members are welcome - any woman interested in joining may call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, April 30, at 7:30 pm.
IOCC HEALTH/BABY CARE KITS - As the Lenten Season is upon us, the Women’s Club asks you to participate in our project to send HEALTH CARE KITS and BABY CARE KITS to the displaced families and orphans of the Syrian Conflict. The IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) will handle the mailing and distribution. Our job is simply to buy and assemble the kits. This is a great way for our families and St. Mary’s parish to begin our Lenten journey, and show our children the true meaning of Christian charity. Shop with your children to make a kit, or more than one. If that’s not feasible, make a donation to the Women’s Club and we will do the shopping for you. Instructions for Kits can be found in the Sunday bulletin.
HELP FOR THE TRAUMANN-DAVIS FAMILY – Our own Elisabeth Traumann, wife of Seraphim Davis and mother of Isis, Thais and Tycho Traumann-Davis, has been diagnosed with stomach cancer and has started chemotherapy, to be followed by surgery in late spring/early summer. Her prognosis is good, but prayers are appreciated. For updates on Elisabeth’s condition, just friend Elisabeth on Facebook and then check this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197726897092134/
Anyone who would like to offer their help with meals, transportation, etc. may visit the family's Lotsa Helping Hands community at: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/713408/ New Information: If delivering a meal to Somerville would be difficult, you can bring it to Seraphim (or in his absence, to Natasha Smith) at the church on Sunday mornings, as long as you coordinate with them ahead of time.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
New England Region Fellowship of St. John the Divine Scholarships: The Fellowship is awarding scholarships to students who are faithful and active Orthodox Christians whose high school records indicate a potential for being successful in an accredited college and who are in need of financial assistance. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be received by the Scholarship Committee Chairperson by Thursday, May 1, 2014.
Antiochian Women’s Scholarship: Scholarships are available to females 25 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2014. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail cindy@cnyhondas.com with any questions.
Nicholas G. Beram Scholastic Achievement Award - applications are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4 year college full time. Applications are available in the Church office or on-line at www.stjohn.org/ngberam. Application deadline is June 1, 2014.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshipers, and those in need. Consider serving in one of these ways:
- Be a Greeter
- Participate in Liturgical Service*
- Provide a Coffee Hour
- Join the Prison Ministry
- Help with Video Editing
- Share your talent as Photographer Or Graphic Designer
For information about these opportunities, and who to contact, see https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/volunteering
*Also, during the school year, the Church School students participate in our liturgical celebration by holding candles at the Gospel reading; processing with candles, a festal icon, and the baskets of Antidoron (i.e. extra bread) at the Great Entrance; and then presenting the Antidoron for a blessing during the Hymn to the Theotokos.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
Greeter: Mike Decerbo
Coffee Hour: Women’s Club Pascha Bake Sale
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Friday, April 4: Final Akathist (Madayeh) 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 5: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 6: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 21
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, April 6, the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14
Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come... he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45
... And Jesus ... said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Monday, April 7: Great Compline, St. George Cathedral, Worcester, MA, 7:00 pm
Wednesday, April 9: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper
LOOKING AHEAD
Wednesday, April 9: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm
Thursday, April 10: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 12, Lazarus Saturday: Matins 8:00 am; Liturgy 9:00 am; Communion Breakfast 10:15, followed by Church Clean-Up; Great Vespers 4:00 pm
Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am (no Church School); followed by FSJD Fish Dinner; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Monday, April 14: Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Tuesday, April 15: Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Wednesday, April 16: Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 am; Holy Unction 7:00 pm
Holy Thursday, April 17: Vesperal Liturgy 7:00 am; Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm and Twelve Gospels 7:00 pm
Holy Friday, April 18: Children’s Retreat 9:30 am; Royal Hours 1:00 pm; Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm; Lamentations 7:15 pm with Procession to Central Square; Teen Vigil overnight
Holy Saturday, April 19: Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am, followed by coffee hour
Saturday-Sunday, April 19-20: Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm; Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm; Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 12 midnight; Paschal Festivities in the Church Hall following
Sunday, April 20, Great and Holy Pascha: Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) 11:00 am; reception following.
Thursday, April 24: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22: Parish Life Conference, Plymouth, MA
REFLECTIONS
'He who has genuinely renounced worldly things, and lovingly and sincerely serves his neighbor, is soon set free from every passion and made a partaker of God's love and knowledge.'
- St. Maximos the Confessor
You see, to love of God is joined also love of neighbor: the person who loves God doesn't neglect his brother; nor esteem money ahead of a limb of his own but shows him great generosity, mindful of Him Who has said, 'Whoever did it to the least of My brothers did it to Me.' He is aware that the Lord of all considers as done to Himself the service given to his fellow servant, and so he will perform every service with great enthusiasm and give evidence of great generosity in almsgiving, considering not the lowliness of appearance but the greatness of the One Who has promised to accept as done to Himself what is given to the poor.
- St. John Chrysostom
When humility delivers a man from attachment to his own works and his own reputation, he discovers that perfect joy is possible only when we have completely forgotten ourselves. And it is only when we pay no more attention to our own deeds and our reputation and our own excellence that we are at last completely free to serve God in perfection for His sake alone.
- Fr. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Though [Christ] was the object of derision He was not angry, and are you annoyed? He submitted to being spat upon, struck and scourged, and yet you cannot endure a harsh word! He accepted the cross and a shameful death and the agonies of the nails; do you refuse to perform the lowliest services? How will you be a partaker in His glory when you refuse to be a partaker of His shameful death?
- St. Symeon the New Theologian
He is not yet a faithful servant who bases himself on bare knowledge alone; a faithful servant is he who professes his faith by obedience to Christ, Who gave the commandments.
- St. Mark the Ascetic
The humility of our Lord Jesus Christ is a matter for as great wonder as are His miracles, together with His Resurrection - that Wonder of wonders. Clothing Himself in the cramped human body of a slave, He became the Servant of His servants.
- St. Nicolai Velimirovich