Update for the week Thursday, August 16 - Wednesday, August 22, 2018
SUNDAY 8/19 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am.
WEDNESDAY 8/22 - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22 at 7:30pm in the Church Hall.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUMMER BAND CONCERT – Join the Hospitality Group for a family-friendly slice of Americana at the final outdoor summer concert of the Lexington Bicentennial Band this Tuesday, August 21 at 7:15pm, at the Hastings Park Gazebo in Lexington. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. For more information contact Charlie Marge (who plays in the band) at charlie.marge@verizon.net.
TEEN SOYO OUTING - The diocesan Teen SOYO is planning its annual end of summer baseball outing. This year we are going to a Lowell Spinners game on Saturday, August 25. We will meet at Saint George in Lowell for Vespers at 4:00 pm. After the service we will make a short walk to the stadium for a 5:30 game. The past few years we have had SOYO members, alumni, campers, brothers, sisters and young adults join us. All are welcome. Tickets are $7 - 10 each, plus you will need money for popcorn and hot dogs!
WELCOME BACK COOKOUT – On Sunday, September 9 in the parking lot after Liturgy there will be delicious meal and celebration of the new school year, welcoming parishioners and students back to our parish. Watch for more information!
TEEN SOYO MEETING - The Diocesan SOYO meeting will take place on Saturday, September 15 at Saint Michael on the Cape. If you have questions, please email Father Joseph Kimmett, StGeorgeNorwood@gmail.com
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS – Note change: We will not celebrate the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross on Thursday, September 13, as previously announced. Instead we will observe the Feast on Sunday, September 16.
REMINDERS
ECCLESIASTICAL NEW YEAR – The new Ecclesiastical year begins on Saturday, September 1.
NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS – We will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos on the eve of the feast, Friday, September 7, with Divine Liturgy at 6:30pm.
CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION - Registration for new students, and for children who have reached the age of 3, will be held on Sunday, September 9.
- Classes will begin on Sunday, September 16 with a short lesson.
WOMEN’S CLUB – The Women’s Club will hold its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30pm. We welcome all women of the parish to join us. Call the church office (617-547-1234) if you have any questions.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM – The Diocese of Worcester and New England is offering an opportunity for anyone interested to learn, reflect and be transformed through the Orthodox Faith in preparation for various ministries. It is aimed to empower and equip Orthodox Christians to nourish and share the faith in the 21st Century. This is a 2 year program (4 semesters, 8 Units), starting September 13. The leadership team includes His Grace Bishop John, our own Father Antony Hughes, Ioana Popa, Richard Robbat, and Sebastien Falardeau. Registration fee: $100/unit. For questions e-mail Ioana Popa at popalifecoach@gmail.com or call 617-455-7192. Pamphlets are at the Bengarri and a poster is on the bulletin board.
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.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN DELEGATES MEETING – The Fall Diocesan Delegates Meeting of Antiochian Women – General Assembly Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 15 at St. Michael Church, Cotuit, MA at 10:00am. Anyone interested in attending contact Barbara Shoop at Barbara@dsaarchitects.com or at the church office (617-547-1234)
SONIA’S RUN – The 10th annual Sonia’s Run and Fall Fair, in memory of Sonia Daly Belcher, will be held at St. George Church, West Roxbury on Saturday, September 22. Registration begins at 7:30am, race starts at 9:00am (note change in times). If you would like to be a part of St. Mary’s team, choose “St Mary Cambridge” as your team when you register and e-mail Charlie Marge, charlie.marge@verizon.net. All proceeds from the run will benefit Theophany School. Please visit www.soniasrun.org to register, volunteer or donate.
SOYO FALL CAMP and FAMILY CAMP – Diocese of Worcester and New England SOYO Fall Camp and Family Camp will be held Thursday–Sunday, October 5-7, at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. All teens in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend the Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Family Camp is open to families of all ages. Parents of teenagers are welcome to attend Family Camp while their children attend Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Each camp will have its own distinct program. Watch for more information and registration details.
ICON EXHIBIT – The Museum of Russian Icons (203 Union Street, Clinton, MA) will be showing an exhibition of Icons of the Hellenic World, focusing exclusively on Greek and Byzantine iconography, through October 21. For information see http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/current-exhibitions
REFLECTION
Complacency begins when we no longer see the gift of each new day, when we lose our gratitude for what we have been given. God gives us all things simply because He loves us, yet He lets us work for these things so we will appreciate them more.
- His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph
"…should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord's love. For if He so chooses, He can deal mercifully with our weakness. Only we should not cut ourselves off from Him or feel oppressed when constrained by His commandments, nor should we lose heart when we fall short of our goal...let us always be ready to make a new start. If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again. Only do not abandon your Physician, lest you be condemned as worse than a suicide because of your despair. Wait on Him, and He will be merciful, either reforming you, or sending you trials, or through some other provision of which you are ignorant."
- St. Peter of Damascus