Weekly Update for February 5, 2021

THIS COMING WEEK AT ST. MARY’S

Sunday 2/7: Orthros: 8:45am; Divine Liturgy: 10:00am  

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE CHURCH YEAR

SUNDAY 2/21 - Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee 
SUNDAY 2/28 - Sunday of the Prodigal Sun 
SUNDAY 3/7- Judgement (Meatfare) Sunday 
SUNDAY 3/14 - Forgiveness (Cheesefare) Sunday 
MONDAY 3/15 - Lent begins 

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS  

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - March is Antiochian Women’s Month in the Archdiocese, where women particularly are invited to participate in our liturgical services.  We need women to read the Epistle and help with Communion service, holding the cloths and bread basket at Communion.   Women are also invited to carry the icons at the Gospel and in the Great Entrance Procession, and one man to carry the bread basket for the Great Entrance and present the bread for the blessing towards the end of the Anaphora.  Please email Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) to volunteer, this week if possible. (Please specify date and service.)   
     Once you have volunteered for a date for service, you will need to then sign up for liturgy (see Registration for Liturgy, below) for that date as well.  
     We are blessed to have many opportunities for service at St. Marys! 

NEW BOOK – Our own Stephani Nur Colby is the author of a new book, Walking with the Inffable, published by Green Writers Press and available on Amazon.com as well as other online bookstores. This is an interesting memoir/autobiographical book on one woman's spiritual journey and her interactions with the indefinable energies of the Holy Spirit. 

REMINDERS

WINTER CAMP – The Antiochian Village will be sponsoring a Virtual Winter Camp via Zoom for those in grades 7 – 12, on Saturday, February 13 from 2:00 to 4:00. Guest Speaker will be Fr. Nick Belcher.  
   To join the Zoom Meeting go to 
https://zoom.us/j/94553785827?pwd=UFhyaTROd29SbzgvSnlZTDNFcm5rdz09 
Meeting ID: 945 5378 5827 
Passcode: 704433 

CROSSROAD SUMMER INSTITUTE - CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. CrossRoad offers a space for young people to form authentic and lifelong friendships, ask hard questions, and explore their calling as an Orthodox Christian in the 21st century. Session 1 is June 12-22, Session 2 is June 29-July 9. Both are in Boston; a third (July 19-29) will be in Chicago. High school juniors and seniors between the ages of 16-18 years old can apply; application deadline is February 16, 2021. Go to www.crossroadinstitute.org 

HOUSE BLESSINGS – Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Fr. Antony will not be visiting homes for house blessings this year. However, you are encouraged to bless your own homes with your family using your Holy Water bottle from Theophany and the Service for the Blessing of Homes (which you can print as a two-sided booklet) found at this link: www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/houseblessing. You may pick up a Holy Water bottle the next time you are in church. 

REGISTRATION FOR LITURGY (New Procedure) - Due to the governor's updated order, we are at a further reduced capacity in our efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy.  All other requirements (mask wearing, distancing, etc.) remain in effect. Reserve a spot at the beginning of each month at the following link: https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/signup. You can sign up for one Sunday per month.  
     If additional spots are still available after 6:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to a Sunday liturgy, both members and non-members may sign up to fill the remaining spots.  When we are in that 48-hour window prior to a service, it also does not matter if you've attended a Sunday service already during the month. 
     Weekday services are open ahead of time to all, members and non-members alike. 
     Services for the following month will be made available at the end of each month, at the same link as above. 

LIVE-STREAMED SERVICES - All the Divine Services held in St. Mary’s Church can also be seen live-streamed at  www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live  or  https://www.facebook.com/stmarycambridge  or www.youtube.com/stmarycambridge   For the safety of all during the pandemic, please pray with us from home if you have a cough or cold. 

MORNING PRAYER - The daily morning prayer group on Zoom, led by Subdeacon James Wilcox and his wife Brooke is open to anyone who wants to take part.  Note change: Prayers now run Monday through Friday (no longer Saturday), beginning at 8:30am (no longer 8:45): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/377381275  password: 28052020   

ORTHODOXY 102 - This adult education class is led by Subdeacon James (drjamesis@gmail.com) on Zoom.  Orthodoxy 102 is an adult education class designed for Christians who have spent many years in the Orthodox church, but have never had any formal teaching on the theology and liturgical structure of Eastern Christianity. This is the second year the class is being offered. It will meet weekly 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 want to join, please email drjamesis@gmail.com (or introduce yourself to Subdeacon James on any Sunday following the liturgy, if you’re there in person). The class begins at 7:00pm every Monday on Zoom. 

ORTHODOX WITNESS TO CHRIST - Registration for the Orthodox Witness to Christ Program: A spiritual Journey is now open for the spring 2021 semester, and we would like to invite you to join us! Registration is limited to the first 30 people who register. For all questions, please email admin@witnesstochrist.org . 
     We began on Thursday, January 14, with ten all-online Round Table sessions on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm, and a Retreat on Saturday, February 20 from 10:00am-3:30pm. Please see program details on the flyer here.  
     The program covers four semesters, and participants can join at the beginning of ANY semester, in either the fall or the spring. The Witness to Christ Program Certificate will be awarded at the completion of the four semesters, even if not taken in order.  
     The purpose of the program is to offer an opportunity for a spiritual journey for anyone interested to learn, reflect, and be transformed through the Orthodox Christian Faith in preparation for various ministries. It aims to empower and equip Orthodox Christians to nourish and share the faith in the 21st century. 
     This program is sponsored by the Diocese of Worcester and New England – offered to the laity, Christian educators, parents, chaplains, counselors, therapists, physicians, and clergy. The program has eight units over four semesters led by His Grace Bishop JOHN, D.Min.; Archpriest Antony Hughes, M.Div.; Ioana Popa, MD, BCC; Mary Lou Catelli, M.Ed.; Sebastien Falardeau, a Ph.D. candidate in Theology; and Tenbit Mitiku, MS.  
     To register for the upcoming semester, please fill out the Registration Form
To receive general program updates, please Sign Up. 

 DONATIONS TO THE CHURCH - One-time donations to the church (For the Good Health of, In Memory of, etc.) can be made on our website using this form:  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/donate/donate-now 
      In addition to bank ACH transfers, we now accept credit cards for these donations, but kindly ask that you check the box to cover the 2.6% fee incurred by the church for this convenience.  For pledge contributions, please sign up for eGive to make ACH transfers. 

STEWARDSHIP – Our 2021 Stewardship Pledge Drive is 100% on-line this year and we are asking every member to make a pledge for 2021. If you haven’t yet, you can still make a pledge by going to: https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/donate/stewardship-2021-pledge-card  For more information on our Pledge Drive, including frequently asked questions, see: https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/donate/stewardship-2021-pledge-drive  
  
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE - A number of parishioners have made known their desire to help people who need assistance. The church office is keeping a list of volunteers. Call the office if you would like your name added to the list of volunteers. There can’t be too many! 
     If you know of anyone who needs any sort of help call the church office (617) 547-1234 to make the connection.  Remember, many people are ashamed/afraid to ask for help. Keep your eyes and ears open and ask about needs with kind concern. 

REFLECTION

Be persecuted, rather than be a persecutor.  Be crucified, rather than be a crucifier.  Be treated unjustly, rather than treat anyone unjustly.  Be oppressed, rather than be an oppressor. Be gentle rather than zealous.   Lay hold of goodness, rather than justice. 
   - St. Isaac the Syrian - The Ascetical Homilies 

Virtue in the sight of others is to bear with those who oppose us, but virtue in God's sight is to love them. This is the only sacrifice acceptable to God.   
   - Saint Gregory the Great  

We were given charity and peace, which are powerful in battle; for the enemy cannot approach the place they have occupied. In the matter of joy we have our orders to use it to fight sadness. We have also been taught generosity and goodness. We have been given holy prayer and steadfastness, which fill the soul with light. We have been given candor and simplicity, to disarm wickedness. We have it in writing to abstain from judging, so that we may conquer lying, that shabby vice which is in man. For if we do not judge, we shall not be judged on the day of judgement. We have been given endurance in the face of suffering and injustice, not to be struck by weariness.  
   - St. Pachimius - Pachomian Koinonia, Vol. III: Instructions, Letters and Other Writings