Update for the week Thursday, October 3 - Wednesday, October 9, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
THURSDAY 10/3 - The Young Adults would like to invite all members of our Parish community to join them on Sunday, October 6th for an afternoon of apple picking and fellowship at Honey Pot Hill Orchard. Apple cider donuts and your first bag of picked apples on us! If interested please RSVP to Katie Boardman at kboard@bu.edu by TODAY (Thurs.10/3).
SATURDAY 10/5 – Chant Class at 4:00pm; Great Vespers at 5:00pm.
SUNDAY 10/6 – Orthros 8:45am; St. Ignatius Catechetical Group, and Orthodoxy 102 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, followed by Church School classes.
+ The Women’s Club will meet this Sunday after Liturgy, during Coffee Hour, in the room outside the Secretary’s office. All women of the parish are invited to join us. E-mail Melissa Nassiff (mnassiff@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 10/4-10/6 – You’re invited to Diocese Family Camp at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. Families from our Diocese come together for a weekend of camp activities, prayer, relaxation, fellowship, and learning. More information and pictures can be found at www.soyofallcamp.org.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL - We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of Elizabeth Regule of The Villages, Florida on Monday September 16th. Elizabeth was the Mother of Teva Regule and Chaplain Christina Regule. Elizabeth is survived by her Husband of 59 years John J. Regule. Donations can be made to The Child Development Center at the Buhl Club, 28 Pine St., Sharon, PA 16146 • A needy school of your choice (e.g. Santos Elementary School, 9600 US-441, Belleview, FL 34420) • St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church (GOA), 9926 SE 36th Ave/CR 467, Belleview, FL 34420 • Holy Cross Orthodox Church (ROEA), 950 Maple Dr., Hermitage, PA 16148. May her memory be eternal.
NO CHURCH SCHOOL – There will be no Church School classes on Sunday, October 13(Columbus Day weekend)
CHANT REHEARSAL, VESPERS, and POTLUCK – On Saturday, November 2 there will be a Chant Class at 4:00pm and Great Vespers at 5pm, followed by a Young Adult Fellowship Potluck
REMINDERS
OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH – During the Month of October, at St. Mary and throughout the archdiocese, our teens will be taking an active role in the Liturgy by helping with communion, taking collections and reading the Epistle. To get involved, please see Theo Smith.
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) has begun meeting on Sundays at 9:00am in the hall. Enrollment will be open until October 20. The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been – and continues to be – understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church. Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group. If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by phone 617-889-3436 or r.kowalik@comcast.net. For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
ORTHODOXY 102 – Orthodoxy 102 is an Adult Sunday Class designed for Christians who've spent many years in the Orthodox church, but have never been given formal teaching on the theology and liturgical structure of the Eastern Christian faith. This new class meets weekly at 9:00am to journey through the structure of the Divine Liturgy, while taking an in-depth look at Scripture, the Ecumenical Councils, our iconography, and the meaning and application of Orthodox theology. If you would like more information or would care to join, please email drjamesis@gmail.com (Or introduce yourself to Subdeacon James on Sunday following the liturgy).
FOOD, BAKE, & YARD SALE – On Saturday, October 12, St. Micheal’s Cotuit will hold an International Food/Bake and Yard Sale, 10:00am-2:00pm with the widest selection of homemade ethnic food on Cape Cod.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM - The Orthodox Christian Witness Program: Spiritual Pilgrimage, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese of Worcester and New England, will hold a second day-long retreat at St. Mary's on Saturday, October 19. To register or for questions, please email IP.AlongTheJourney@gmail.com or call 617-274-8336.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS – On Sunday, October 20 the teens will request your financial donations to enable them to sponsor the 39th Annual Special Olympics Training Camp at Antiochian Village. Please be generous. For more information about this special ministry see https://avcamp.org/specialolympics
BAKE SALE – The St. Mary Women’s Club will hold a Charity Bake Sale on Sunday, October 20 immediately following Liturgy in the church hall. All proceeds will benefit the charitable projects we sponsor, from the YWCA Family Shelter in Cambridge to the Antiochian Women’s project. Contact Renay DiFiore at renayanddon@aol.com or 617-327-6361 if you can help bake and/or donate.
MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY – We’ll be sending out the 2020 pledge cards in October this year, so Membership Sunday will be Sunday, October 20. There will be a table set up during coffee hour where people can sign up to join St. Mary’s parish. We’ll be able to answer questions about membership and ways to give, financially and by volunteering time and talents. We’ll also be able to answer questions about eGive.
BAZAAR & FOOD FAIR - St. George, West Roxbury will be holding their annual Bazaar & Food Fair on Friday-Sunday, October 18-20. Friday & Saturday hours: 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 12:00-3:00pm. Admission is free. Middle Eastern cuisine and Pastries, baked goods, Country Store, kids’ corner, handmade Holiday and craft items.
CPR/AED TRAINING - The Parish Council will be sponsoring a training session to cover CPR and AED use, choking prevention and relief, and use of Narcan, in the church hall on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 pm. The class will be limited to the first 10 Parish members to sign up. The cost for members of St. Mary’s is $25.00. If there is room, others may participate for a $50.00 per person course fee. Please contact Raymond Sayeg at (617) 872-9774 or email at rsayeg@koilaw.com to sign up for the class. The deadline to sign up is Monday, October 14, 2019.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS - If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council please speak to Mary Winstanley O’Connor or Fr. Antony by Sunday, October 27. To be eligible to serve you must be a member of St. Mary’s for two years and in good financial standing.
ST. GEORGE NORWOOD LUNCHEON – The 100th Anniversary of the Ladies of St. George Norwood will be celebrated with a Celebration Luncheon on Sunday, October 27 at the Four Points Sheraton, from 1:00-5:00pm. $45 per ticket. RSVP by October 10.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE – The next meeting of the Parish Life Conference Committee will be on Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00pm in the Hall.
COME SEE THE MESSIAH – Join friends from St. Mary’s for the Handel and Haydn Society’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, on Sunday afternoon, December 2, at 3:00 pm. Tickets are just $29 ($36 without our group discount!). We will carpool to (or meet at) Symphony Hall after Liturgy and have lunch together at a nearby restaurant before the concert. Those who have done this before have thoroughly enjoyed it - not only do we hear a world-class orchestra and chorus with famous soloists singing glorious words (taken directly from the Bible), but we also have an opportunity to spend time getting to know some fellow parishioners we normally may not encounter. Good seats go fast - please contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com by Sunday, November 3.
BAZAAR - St. John of Damascus Annual Bazaar will be held Friday-Sunday, November 1-3: Friday 12pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm- 2pm. 300 West St., Dedham. Featured will be Middle Eastern Cuisine, Country Store, Christmas Corner and more. For more information visit www.stjohnd.org/bazaar.
PARISH COUNCIL - The next Parish Council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30pm in the Hall.
SPAGHETTI DINNER – On Sunday, November 10 following Liturgy, the teens at St. Mary invite you to a Teen SOYO Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner featuring Spaghetti, Meatballs (just before the Fast!), Salad, Bread, Dessert and Coffee/Beverage. A suggested minimum donation of $5.00/person will be greatly appreciated. (No charge for Teen SOYO members)
CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED - The Choir is looking for new members, especially Alto (woman) and Bass/Baritone (men), but of course we welcome all parts. Please e-mail Michelle Mabardy at mmmabardy@gmail.com if you are interested.
JOIN US ONLINE - 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 or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
REFLECTION
The value of compassion cannot be overemphasized. Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands.
- Arthur H. Stainback
To love as Christ loves, with the love of God who is Love, is the chief commandment for human beings according to Christianity. It can only be accomplished by God’s grace, by faith. It is not humanly possible. It is done by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
- Fr. Thomas Hopko
This [raising of the widow’s son] is one of three resurrections performed by our Lord as recorded in the Gospels (see also Luke 8:41-56; John 11:1-44). They confirm the promise given to the prophet Ezekiel that God will one day open the graves and raise all the dead (Ezk 37:1-14). Many people have exercised authority over the living; only the Son of God “has power over both the living and the dead.” While Christ has power through His word alone, (Jn 11:43), here He also touched the coffin to show that His very body is life-giving. This event prefigures Christ’s own Resurrection. As Mary would weep for Jesus at the Cross, yet her tears would be turned to joy by the Resurrection, here a widow’s only son is raised from the dead, putting an end to her weeping.
- The Orthodox Study Bible, footnote to Luke 7:11-17