Weekly Newsletter for the week of Friday, October 5 2007 through Thursday, October 11, 2007
Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, October 5, 2007 through Thursday, October 11, 2007
THIS WEEKEND
SATURDAY - There will be no Vespers at St. Mary this Saturday, October 6, as Fr. Antony will be out of town.
SUNDAY - This Sunday, October 7 , our Liturgy will celebrated by Fr. Alex Inyagwa, a Masters Program student from Holy Cross Seminary.
October is Youth Month throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese. In our parish young people will be reading the Epistle, holding the Communion cloth and Holy Bread baskets, and taking the collection.
There will be no Church School classes this Sunday, as it is Columbus Day weekend.
Trisagion Prayers of Mercy (40 Days) for Olga Hamwey will be chanted following Divine Liturgy this Sunday. A memorial Coffee Hour will be offered in her memory by the Hamwey Family.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORIALS - Trisagion Prayers of Mercy (40 Days) will be chanted following Divine Liturgy for Frank Hughes next Sunday, October 14; for Sobhy Mabardy on Sunday, October 21; and for Donna Boyko on Sunday, October 28. Memorial Coffee Hours will be offered in their memory by their families.
FOOTLAMPS - The first lecture in the 2007-2008 Footlamps series, sponsored by the Diocesan Fellowship of St. John the Divine, will be Saturday, October 20, at St. George Church in West Roxbury . The topic will be The Spirit of Mission, with Fr. Luke A. Veronis. All are invited to attend. Vespers begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by the lecture and light refreshments. Suggested donation $5. RSVP to Ghada Khouri at 781-275-7244 or nerfellowship@yahoo.com. Plan to go early and visit the St. George parish Bazaar.
BENEFIT DINNER - His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP and the churches of the Diocese of Worcester and New England invite you to a benefit dinner to support the work of the Al-Kafaat Foundation (www.al-kafaat.org), one of the leading vocational rehabilitation facilities in the Middle East, on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 55 Emmonsdale Road, West Roxbury, MA. Cocktails at 5 pm; Dinner at 6 pm. Donation is $100 per person. For tickets, please see your parish priest or call St. George at 617.323.0323.
Please make your checks payable to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, earmarked "Al-Kafaat"
REMINDERS
INQUIRERS CLASS - The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group adult inquirer's class at St. Mary Church is for non-Orthodox persons who are interested in exploring the Orthodox Faith. This group is for those who would like to be considered for reception into the Church, or for those who would like simply to learn more about our Faith. We will explore the basic elements of Orthodox teaching and practice, through reading, talks, discussion, and question & answer. The class, which began September 23, meets from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. on Sundays in the Library. For more information please see the brochure available at the bengarri or contact David Vermette, phone: 617-776-5635 or e-mail dgvermette@sysmatrix.net. New members can still join through this Sunday, October 7.
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Thursday, October 11, at 7:30, in the small hall next to the kitchen.
DIOCESAN FALL DELEGATES MEETING - Meetings for Antiochian Women, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine and Teen SOYO will be held Saturday, October 13, at St. George Cathedral, Worcester. Liturgy at 9 a.m. will be followed by light refreshments. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m.; Luncheon at 12:30. Everyone is welcome to attend.
SFEEHA AND KIBBEH SALE - The Women's Club is offering for purchase freshly made Middle Eastern Sfeeha (ground lamb meat pies with onions, pine nuts & seasonings) and Kibbeh (ground lamb meat with burghul). Orders and checks must be received by Sunday, October 14 for Kibbeh, and by October 21 for Sfeeha. See the order form in the Sunday Bulletin.
Plan to come to the church on Friday morning, October 19, to make the Kibbeh, and/or on Saturday morning, October 27, to help make the meat pies. Pick-up will be Sunday, October 21 for Kibbeh and Sunday, October 28 for Sfeeha.
ATTENTION
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY STUDENTS - If you are a new or returning
college or university student, please fill out a white College Student Address
Form on the Bengarri (desk in the Narthex) so that we have your current
addresses and information and you can receive announcements about activities at
St. Mary's and on campus. See
Charlie Marge if you have questions.
ORTHODOX INSTITUTE - The Archdiocesan Department of Christian Education is sponsoring its annual Orthodox Institute at the Antiochian Village , November 1 through 4. This year's theme is Orthodox Unity, and the keynote speaker will be The Very Rev. Fr. Peter Gillquist, Director of the Department of Missions and Evangelism. There will be courses for teachers, church school directors, and those wanting to learn more about Orthodoxy. For more information see http://www.antiochian.org/node/16413
SOUP KITCHEN - Three or four St. Mary's volunteers are needed to help each week at the Open Doors Meal Ministry at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Allston, Mondays any time between 4:00 p.m. and 7:30. Contact Liz Tutella at 617-974-5005 or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.
INSIGHT
... he who claims to believe in Christ must rejoice in all Christ's judgments. Am I in health? I thank my Creator. Am I sick? In this case, too, I praise God's will. For "when I am weak, then am I strong," and the strength of the spirit is made perfect in the weakness of the flesh. Even an apostle must bear what he dislikes, that ailment for the removal of which he besought the Lord thrice. God's reply was: "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Lest he should be unduly elated by his revelations, a reminder of his human weakness was given to him, just as in the triumphal car of the victorious general there was always a slave to whisper constantly, amid the cheerings of the multitude, "Remember that thou art but man."
- St. Jerome, Letters
The one who has come to understand the weakness of human nature has had experience of the divine power, and such a person who because of it has succeeded in some things and is eager to succeed in others, never looks down on anyone. For he knows that in the same way that God has helped him and freed him from many passions and hardships, so can He help everyone when He wishes, especially those who are striving for His sake. Although for his own reasons He does not deliver all from their passions right away, still as a good and loving physician He heals in His own good time each one of those who are striving.
- St. Maximus the Confessor, Four Centuries on Love
When we humbly prostrate before God, when we know ourselves to be dust and ashes, when we ponder the weakness of our proper condition and do not adopt a stance of stiffness and pride, Almighty God through His Spirit raises us and sets us upon our feet.
- St. Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Behold, you have learned that you are clay, poor, and naked. Now, seek from Him Who is able to regenerate nature, to make you rich. And whether He gives you a lot or a little, acknowledge your Benefactor. And do not boast of foreign things as your own. You will receive grace with pain and tears. And then with tears, thanksgiving, and fear of God, you will keep it. With fervency and zeal it is attracted; with coldness and negligence is it lost.
- Jospeh the Hesychast, Monastic Wisdom: The Letter of the Elder
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, October 6:
Sunday, October 7: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.; No Church School
SCRIPTURE READINGS for October 7:
Epistle: St. Paul 's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:31-33; 12:1-9 [The Lord] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=311 )
Gospel: Luke 7:11-16 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow... And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her... (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=182&event=855&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, October 13: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 14: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.
Saturday, October 13: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 20: NO Vespers at St. Mary; Vespers at St. George, West Roxbury 5:00 p.m. followed by Footlamps
Sunday, October 21: Christian Education Sunday (parents visit their children's classes), followed by lunch
VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES
FOOD PANTRY
Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. If you are willing to help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com or (617) 876-5684.
October 6: Paul Joseph and David Vermette
LITURGICAL SERVICE
The Epistle each Sunday is read by a member of the congregation, and six members of the congregation hold the cloth and Holy Bread baskets during Communion. If you would like to help with these services, please contact Jeff Wasilko at jeffw@smoe.org or 781-820-0882.
October 7: Teens of the parish (Youth Month)
COFFEE HOUR
To sign up for an available Sunday, please put your name on the signup sheet on the bulletin board outside the Hall or call Marilyn in the Office 617-547-1234 and she'll write your name in.
October 7: Olga Hamwey 40 Days, given by her family
October 14: Frank Hughes 40 Days, given by his family
October 21: Sobhy Mabardy 40 Days, Lunch donated by his family
October 28: Donna Boyko 40 Days, Share-Our-Harvest Coffee Hour assisted by her family