Update for the week Thursday, May 31 - Wednesday, June 6, 2018

THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S

FRIDAY 6/1 – Application deadline for Antiochian Women’s Scholarships and Nicholas G. Beram 2018 Scholastic Achievement Awards – see Reminders, below.
 
SATURDAY 6/2 – Chant rehearsal 4:00 pm
   + Great Vespers 5:00 pm
   + Young Adult Fellowship Night: carpool to the Arlington Greek Festival for dinner, dancing, and fun! 

SUNDAY 6/3 Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
   + Church School Recognition for regular attendance and graduating seniors, after Liturgy.
   + Following the recognition ceremony a Family Barbecue will take place outside in the parking lot (weather permitting; otherwise the meal will be served in the Hall.)
 
WEDNESDAY 6/6 – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 pm.

REMINDERS

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
  
- Antiochian Women’s Scholarships are available to females 26 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 June 1.  Applications are available in the Church Office.  E-mail lferris130@yahoo.com with any questions.
   - Nicholas G. Beram 2018 Scholastic Achievement Awards are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4-year college full time.   Applications are available online at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm .  Application deadline is June 1.

WOMEN’S CLUB DINNER – The St. Mary’s Women’s Club will go out for an end-of-year dinner on Monday, June 11, at 7:00pm at the Cheesecake Factory in the Mall at Chestnut Hill.  All women of the parish are welcome to join us. If you are interested contact Priscilla (781-762-1527or pagoss@aol.com) or Barbara in the church office (617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org ).  It’s always a fun evening.

VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL – St. George Boston and Theophany School Vacation Church School will be held at St. George, West Roxbury, Monday through Friday, June 25-29, from 8:30am-12:00pm.  Ages: 2.9 (must be potty trained) through 11 years old. Cost: $30 for 1 child, $35 for 2, and $40 for 3 or more. Checks addressed to St. George, PO Box 320164, W. Roxbury, must be received by June 17.  See Barbara in the St. Mary church office for a registration form.

BIBLE BOWL - All Teens ages 13-19, and Pre-Teens ages 10-12, interested in competing in this year's Bible Bowl please call Violet Robbat at 781-862-4388 for further instruction.  This year we are studying the book of Acts, as found in the Orthodox Study Bible.  
 
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE
– The Diocese of Worcester and New England Parish life Conference will be held on Saturday June 23 and hosted by the Diocese Mission Council.  All events – Divine Liturgy, Keynote Speakers, Kids Activities, Bible Bowl, Family Dinner and Awards Ceremony – will take place at St. John of Damascus, Dedham. Register online at https://antiochianevents.org/158 (note new website address)

HOSPITALITY GROUP PICNIC – Please come join the Hospitality Group for our Annual Potluck Picnic at Dana Park (10-20 McTernan St, Cambridge) on Sunday, June 24, directly after Liturgy – the same park as previous picnics! Bring a blanket, some eats or drinks to share, balls, frisbees, even bathing suits if you want to splash in the sprinklers! Dana Park is a 5-10min walk south of the Church (walk down Magazine St), with an enclosed playground, hoops, water spouts, and beautiful green. This is a great opportunity to relax and spend time with our church family. Open to all ages!!! For people who need assistance getting to the park, we will coordinate rides. If you would like to help us out, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu ).

TRAINING LABORERS FOR THE LORD – You are invited to take part in Training Laborers for the Lord, a five-day summer program June 25-29 at Hellenic College Holy Cross, offering Orthodox Christians of all jurisdictions an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the faith and enrich their spiritual lives.  Courses will include “Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality” with V. Rev. Dr. Maximos Constas, and “Reading Scripture through the Church Year” with Dr. Bruce Beck. For more information, contact Jay Ostrosky, Registrar, at jostrosky@hchc.edu.

SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS – Antiochian Village Adult Camp for ages 21+ will be Friday-Monday, September 14-17. Adult Camp is open to all adults who want to spend the weekend in an Orthodox Christian environment growing in their faith.  Cost of $195 includes lodging, food and activities.  More information can be found at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/adult-camp.  Registration opens May 1.

BIBLE STUDY - The biweekly Bible Study/Adult Education group has finished for the year, and is scheduled to resume in the fall. For questions or information contact Ioana Popa at drioanapopa@gmail.com  or Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com

DIOCESAN CHOIRS – Because of graduation and end-of-academic-year conflicts, the Diocesan Choirs Day event originally scheduled for June 2 has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 20.

REFLECTION

Let it be understood that those who are not found living as He taught are not Christian - even though they profess with the lips the teaching of Christ.
   - Justin Martyr
 
If we truly think of Christ as our source of holiness, we shall refrain from anything wicked or impure in thought or act and thus show ourselves to be worthy bearers of His name. For the quality of holiness is shown not by what we say but by what we do in life.
    - St. Gregory of Nyssa
 
Do not rail against anyone, but rather say, "God knows each one." Do not agree with him who slanders, do not rejoice at his slander and do not hate him who slanders his neighbor. This is what it means not to judge. Do not have hostile feelings towards anyone and do not let dislike dominate your heart; do not hate him who hates his neighbor. This is what peace is: Encourage yourself with this thought, "Affliction lasts but a short time, while peace is for ever, by the grace of God the Word."
   - St. Moses the Ethiopian, Sayings of the Desert Fathers