Update for the week Thursday, November 7 - Wednesday, November 13, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 11/10 – Orthros 8:45am; St. Ignatius Catechetical Group 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, followed by Church School
+ Spaghetti and Meatball Luncheon 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)
+ Teen SOYO retreat after luncheon
MONDAY, 11/11 – The annual St. Mary Fall Liturgy Retreat (for Church School Children/Teens and Families) is this coming Monday, 9:30am-3:00pm. (This is Veterans’ Day, usually a day off from school for many and work for some.) This year’s theme will be “The Liturgy of the Word;” we plan to explore the multi-dimensionality of "the words/Word. " As in past years, this year's retreat offers something for everyone. You can register by sending an email to Teva Regule at tregule@gmail.com . $5/child, $10/family
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
HOLIDAY CONCERT – You are invited to the MetWinds (Metropolitan Wind Symphony) 2019 Holiday Pops Concert at St. John of Damascus Church, Dedham, on Saturday, December 7, 6:00pm-9:00pm. Adults: $15 Children: $5. To purchase tickets, visit at http://www.stjohnd.org/pops.
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, December 11.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT – The Church School Christmas Pageant is scheduled for Sunday, December 22, after Liturgy. If your child is interested in participating, please see Sarah Byrne-Martelli or Chris Addis. We also need parents to assist at all rehearsals, which will take place during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 8 and Sunday, December 15.
REMINDERS
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support our Canned Food Drive! From October through December 31, bring in canned goods and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. (Canned goods only, please.) They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
PLEDGE CARDS - Pledge cards have been mailed to the homes of St. Mary’s parishioners and friends. Please return your pledge card to the church office or fill out the ePledge form on our website (https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/stewardship/) by Friday, November 15. A new pledge card is requested each year, even if your financial and volunteer contributions aren’t changing. If you did not receive a pledge card and would like to become of member of St. Mary’s, please see Fr. Antony or the church secretary for a new member packet.
NATIVITY FAST - The Nativity Fast, also known as the season of Advent, begins on Friday, November 15. This is the forty days of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
CAMP AT HOME – St. George Cathedral in Worcester will be holding “Camp at Home” Friday and Saturday, November 15-16. This is a program meant to introduce young people to camp and Antiochian Village. AV staff Alumni help run the program. Teen SOYO members (7th-12th Grade) are welcome to arrive Friday November 15 at 7:00pm for an overnight camp experience. Campers age 8 years old or older will begin at 9:00am on Saturday November 16.
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 1, 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 17 (note deadline extended) if you would like a ticket.
ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS - Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 20, at 6:30pm
WITNESS PROGRAM RETREAT – Witness Program Retreat 3: “Mentorship Skills: Opening to the Other — Kenosis and Listening Skills” will be held at St. Mary’s on Saturday, November 23.
BAKE SALE – The Women’s Club will be holding its Thanksgiving Bake Sale on Sunday, November 24 after Liturgy. All proceeds will benefit the Convent of Saidnaya, northwest of Damascus in Syria. If you can bake or donate funds please contact our event Chair, Madeline Homsy (madeline2798@verizon.net).
N.G. BERAM AWARDS BANQUET – The Nicholas G. Beram Veterans Association will hold its 73rd anniversary celebration and 53rd Scholastic Achievement awards banquet on Saturday, November 30, from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm at the Holiday Inn, Dedham. Andrew Bargoot II, one of our teens, will be receiving a Scholastic Achievement award. Tickets for the luncheon are $35.00 and tables of eight may be reserved. Luncheon reservation and ad book forms are available in the church office.
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD – Let the Women’s Club send a lovely Christmas card on your behalf to our parishioners. Save yourself time, let us do the work, and have all proceeds benefit the Antiochian Women’s Project 2019-2020: Building a New Cathedral at Antiochian Village You will receive this card with the names of parishioners, like yourself, who are wishing a Blessed Nativity and a Merry Christmas to all. Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin, and donate whatever amount you choose. Deadline: Sunday, December 1.
PLC meeting – The next meeting of the Parish Life Conference Committee will be on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00pm.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT – St. Mary’s will be hosting a concert of Christmas music from the Eastern and Western Christian traditions featuring local Orthodox Choirs on Sunday, December 8 at 4:00pm, followed by a reception to be sponsored by the Young Adult Ministry.
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
Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith [Rom. 4:3]. Therefore, even if they do good works now, it is of no advantage to them after death, if they do not have faith.
- Clement of Alexandria
Rightly did the Lord say, "My burden is light". For what sort of weight is it, what sort of toil is it to forgive one's brother his offences, which are light and of no importance, and to be pardoned for one's own, and immediately justified? He did not say, "Bring me money, or calves, or goats, or fasting, or vigils," so that you could say, "I have none; I cannot," but he ordered you to bring what is light and easy and immediate, saying, "Pardon your brother his offences, and I will pardon yours. You pardon small faults, a few halfpennies, or three pennies, while I give you the ten thousand talents. You only pardon without giving anything, I nevertheless both grant you pardon and give you healing and the Kingdom.
- St Ephrem the Syrian, "Three Short Discourses"
For the man who believes, all things are possible because "Faith is counted as righteousness," and "Christ is the end of the Law." Belief in Him justifies and perfects the believer, for belief in Christ is considered to correspond to the works of the law. It is confirmed and witnessed by the evangelic precepts and so earns for the faithful a participation in eternal life, in Christ Himself.
- St. Symeon the New Theologian