Update for the week Thursday, July 24, through Thursday, July 31
THIS WEEK
NEW SKETE PILGRIMAGE - The Monastic Communities of New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York (www.newskete.org), invite you to their Annual Pilgrimage on Saturday, August 9, 2014, between 8:30am - 6:00pm. The day will include Church Services, Church Tours, a Photo Exhibit, and a Healing Service with Anointing as well as talks by the monastics on Monastic Life and Iconography and by Chapel Community members on their relationship with the monastery. This year’s guest speaker will be Sr. Vassa Larin. She is a noted liturgical scholar and is now known popularly from her YouTube videos, "Coffee with Sr. Vassa." Her talk is entitled, "Mystery and History: Two Pillars of Tradition." A event flier can be found here: http://www.newskete.org/pdfs/2014%20Pilgrimage%20Schedule%20Poster%20FINAL.pdf
In the past, a crew from Boston has usually gone out to help with the logistics of the day. If you would like to do so (and also stay at the monastery), please contact Teva Regule at teva@mit.edu by this Sunday, July 27.
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL - St. George West Roxbury will offer Vacation Church School 2014, Monday through Thursday, July 28-31, from 9:00 am-noon each day. Join them for lessons about the major feasts of the church, crafts, and fun; Preschool through grade 5. Cost is $20 for 1 child, $30 for 2 children, $40 for 3 children. Registration was due by Sunday, July 13. Download a registration form at http://www.stgeorgeofboston.org/ministries/vcs. For more information contact John Abud at abudjohn@gmail.com.
BIBLE STUDY – Come join us next Thursday, July 31, at 7:00 pm in the church library as we continue our study of Exodus. Listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/exodus-part-9/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/exodus-part-10/. The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday, and is based on a course originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio, entitled Search the Scriptures. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mailto:mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (mailto:frawhj@gmail.com). New members are always welcome.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
BIBLE BOWL – The team from St. Mary (Thomas and Anthony Marge and Alex Dalton, coached by Violet Robbat) represented the Diocese of Worcester and New England at the national Bible Bowl competition last Saturday. This year’s winning team was St. Mary’s Church from Palos Hills, IL, with a score of 104 out of a possible 105 points.
DORMITION FEAST – You are invited to stay for supper after the Festal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition (our patronal feast) on Thursday, August 14. The Fellowship will be providing a meal, and needs 5 volunteers to help – please contact Socrates Deligeorges at dr.socrates@gmail.com if you can help.
FELLOWSHIP PICNIC - Come join FSJD on Sunday, August 17 for some fellowship and fun in the sun! WHAT TO BRING: blankets or lawn chairs, some eats or drinks (for yourself or to share), balls, frisbees, bathing suits (if you want splash in the sprinklers)! TIME: after church (rain-date September 14). LOCATION: Dana Park again (10-20 McTernan St, Cambridge, 5-10 minute walk from Church). Dana Park has an enclosed playground, hoops, water spouts, and beautiful green. WHY: This is a great opportunity to relax and spend time with our church family!!!
If you would like to help us out, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu ).
SONIA'S RUN/WALK – The 6th annual Sonia’s 5K Run/Walk., at St. George Orthodox Church, West Roxbury, MA, will be held on Saturday, September 20. The 5k road race is held annually to benefit the Theophany School in honor of beloved friend Sonia Belcher. The proceeds from Sonia's Run go towards Theophany School's "Building on a Dream" campaign, to fulfill Sonia's dream of a permanent home for Theophany School. For details, registration, etc see http://www.soniasrun.org/ or contact Theophany School at 781-444-3058.
MEN'S RETREAT WITH BP. JOHN – There will be a Men’s Retreat with His Grace, Bishop John, at the St. Methodios Center in New Hampshire on September 19-21. The retreat will be a four-part call to action addressing Jesus’ final commandment. Cost: $199, includes meals. Contact Jeff St. Jean at 413-348-2878 or mensgroup@stoc.org for more info.
ROOM NEEDED #2 – A young woman from Kentucky will be starting at Harvard this fall to work on an Ed.M. degree, and needs a place to live. If you, or anyone you know, are looking for a female roommate in the Cambridge/Somerville area, please let Fr. Antony know (frawhj@gmail.com) and he will put you in touch with her.
REMINDERS
ROOM NEEDED # 1 – Lianour Barakat, a Syrian student from the Antiochian Orthodox church in Mezze, Damascus, will be a graduate student at Northeastern this fall and is looking for a room or roommates in the Boston area. Please feel free to contact Lianour at 857-389-4313 or by e-mail: lia.barakat@gmail.com .
ICON WORKSHOP - St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, Woonsocket, RI, is offering an intense six day course Monday through Saturday, August 11-16, where the student will create an icon. Tuition $450. Class size limited to 10 students. For complete info and registration: archangelicons@verizon.net or 412-527-5359.
DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS – Friday, August 15 is the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, our feast day at St. Mary's. Watch for information on how we'll celebrate this year. And meanwhile, you can listen to not one but two new CDs:
(1) An audio CD of the hymns of Great Vespers, the Lamentations, and the Orthros hymns for the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, chanted by Dr. Sam N. Cohlmia, Protopsaltis of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America at St. George Cathedral in Wichita, KS. This CD is available for $15.00 by contacting Dr. Cohlmia at samcohlmia@yahoo.com
(2) Full of Grace: Great Vespers for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, chanted by the St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale – which includes St. Mary alums Brooke Wilcox, Sophia Stratakis Huling and Danielle Miller, among others. Cost is $18; for full information and to order, see http://www.svspress.com/full-of-grace-great-vespers-for-the-feast-of-the-dormition-of-the-theotokos/
PARISH COUNCIL - The next Parish Council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the church.
HELP PROVIDE A WARM WELCOME – Two things we do every week - all through the summer too! - to welcome visitors and newcomers, and to strengthen the bonds of fellowship with all who worship at St. Mary, are: 1.) Greet everyone who enters the church, and 2.) Provide coffee hour after Liturgy. We need more help with both of these ministries. To become a greeter please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or email at Buddy@cjmabardy.com ; to provide a coffee hour please sign up on the sheet downstairs on the bulletin board or contact Barbara in the office at 617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org .
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.
Also - please donate unwanted Orthodox books, icon cards, and magazines to our prison ministry to share with inmates. Please remove any personal mailing address for security purposes and give them to Mitrophan Chin. Note: Our inmates are specifically interested in the recent June 2014 issue of The Word magazine, as they recognize Fr Antony, Bp John and couple of parishioners in one of the photos taken at St Mary's. They recollect with fondness the hierarchical Orthodox baptismal service performed a couple of years ago, for the first time in a Massachusetts correctional facility, for one of the inmates (Michael in baptism), and still remember the chanters Abraham and Thecla.
CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED – The Church School is looking for Teachers, Assistants and Substitutes for the 2014-2015 school year. In particular, we are looking for 2 Assistants for 2nd and 3rd Grade. As an assistant you would help the Teacher during Church School as required or substitute when the Teacher is absent. Teachers are provided with all the materials they will need. Anyone interested in Teaching or being an Assistant or Substitute please contact Barbara@dsaarchitects.com. Being a Church School Teacher/Assistant can be a very rewarding and exciting opportunity.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
Liturgical Service - Candle Bearers: Danait & Saimon Teclezghi; Icon Bearer: Essey Teclezghi; Bread Baskets: Mr. and Mrs. Teclezghi; Adult Supervisor: Teva Regule
Epistle: Teva Regule; Communion Cloth and Bread holders: Michelle Chin, Larisa Patacchiola and others TBA.
Coffee Hour – Peter and Melissa Nassiff and Seraphim Davis
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, July 26: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, July 27: Summer hours - Orthros: 8:15 am, and Liturgy: 9:30 am
Scripture Readings for Sunday, July 27:
Epistle: Second Timothy 2:1-10
Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. … Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, …
Gospel: Matthew 9:27-35
… two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. … And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
LOOKING AHEAD
Thursday, July 31: Bible Study
Friday, August 1: Dormition fast begins (continuing until August 14)
Tuesday, August 5: Vespers/Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration 6:30 pm
Wednesday, August 6: Paraclesis for the Dormition 6:30 pm
Saturday, August 9: No Vespers at St. Mary
Wednesday, August 13: Paraclesis for the Dormition 6:30 pm
Thursday, August 14, Vigil for the Dormition of the Theotokos (Patronal Feast): Vespers 4:15 pm, Orthros with Lamentations 5:30, Festal Divine Liturgy 7:00 pm, followed by Dormition Feast
Saturday, August 23: No Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, August 24: Last Sunday of summer hours
Thursday, August 28: Bible Study
Sunday, August 31: Regular hours begin – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
REFLECTION
Remember that while you pray, God expects from you a positive answer to His question: "Do you believe that I can fulfill your prayer?" You must be able to answer from the bottom of your heart: "Yes, I believe, O God," and then you will be answered according to your faith.
- St. John of Kronstadt
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
… there is one kind of faith, the dogmatic, involving an assent of the soul on some particular point...But there is a second kind of faith which is bestowed by Christ as a gift of grace...The faith then which is given of grace from the Spirit is not merely doctrinal, but also works things above man's power.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Faith is not a supposition that something might be true, but the assurance that someone is there.
- Bishop Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way
Anyone who prays shares in the prayer of the Word of God, who is present even among those who do not know him and is not absent from anyone's prayer. The Son prays to the Father in union with the believer whose mediator he is. The Son of God is, in fact, the high priest of our offerings and our advocate with the Father. He prays for those who pray and pleads for those who plead.
- Origen