Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, February 27, through Thursday, March 5, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

FORGIVENESS VESPERS - The last thing we do before beginning the Lenten fast is forgive each other, and ask everyone to forgive us.  Join us this Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. for Forgiveness Vespers.

LENTEN FOOD SALE - The Women's Club is now taking orders for Spinach Triangles, Hoomos (hummus) and Mjadara (lentils with rice).  Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin. Order deadline is this  Sunday, March 1.   Hoomos and Mjadara will be ready for pickup on Sunday, March 8. Spinach Triangles will be ready on Sunday, March 15.  If you would like to help cook, join us on Saturday, March 14  at 9:30 a.m.

MARCH 1 DEADLINES - In addition to the food sale, this Sunday is the deadline for several other upcoming events:  Pre-Lenten Retreat sponsored by Antiochian Women,  Antiochian Women's Spring Fling,  St. Ignatius scholarships for summer camp, and Crossroads for high school juniors and seniors. See Reminders, below,  for more  information.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

LENTEN POTLUCKS - Great Lent begins Monday, March 2.  Every Wednesday during Lent there will be a Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Potluck Supper sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John.  Do plan to come and bring something to share.  Any Lenten fare is welcome:  main courses, sides, salads, desserts, as well as beverages and snacks.  This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship during Lent, plus we get to sample each other's Lenten recipes.  Please stay for supper even if you can't bring food--there's room at the table for everyone. 

LEARNING IN LENT, UPDATED - The Fellowship of St John the Divine (FSJD) will offer its  annual lecture series on the following Fridays in Lent.  After Akathist, which starts at 7:00 pm, we'll meet in the Church hall for refreshments and a presentation (approximately 8-9:30 pm).

March 6:   Father Antony Hughes, (St Mary's Pastor) - Living Compassion: the Spiritual Path

March 13 (newly added):  Cameron Partridge,  (Priest at St Luke's and St Margaret's Episcopal Church; Master of Divinity, Harvard; Master of Sacred Theology, Yale) - Talk topic TBA

March 20:  Robert Kowalik, (Master of Divinity, Holy Cross Seminary; Master of Arts in Religion, Yale Divinity School) - Title of talk TBA

March 27:  Teva Regule, (Master of Divinity, Holy Cross Seminary) - Who are We?  Christian Identity Formation in the Services of Pascha

April 3:  David Vermette, (St Mary's Catechism Director) - "The Problem of Evil" and the Orthodox Tradition

April 10 (newly added): Brett Grainger, (Doctoral candidate at Harvard Divinity School; author of In the World but Not of It: One Family's Militant Faith and the History of Fundamentalism in America) - Talk topic TBA

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE - Money Boxes are on the Bengarri. Please be sure to pick one or two up and place them throughout your home. Our Church School Students will also be given their own boxes to fill. Be generous with your contributions during this Lenten season- use the Food For Hungry People 2009 35th Anniversary Calendar to help give you ideas!

BOSTON BYZANTINE CHOIR CONCERT - The Sound of Icons, a concert of Orthodox sacred chant in English before a visually expressive background of Orthodox Sacred Art, will be presented on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 7:00 pm in Manning Chapel, Brown University, Providence RI.  FREE Admission - Open to everyone.

LENTEN RETREAT WITH FREDERICA MATHEWES-GREEN  - The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Newburyport, MA, invites you to its 3rd Annual Lenten Retreat, Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm with lunch.  Topic:  Transforming Our Life and Our World, with featured speaker,  Frederica Mathewes-Green.  Cost:  $15 per person ($10: Students & Seniors)  For more information or to RSVP by March 16, please e-mail annunciationlentenretreat@verizon.net or call Julie Ray at 978-462-5262.

 

LENTEN RETREAT WITH KYRIAKI K. FITZGERALD - St. Michael, Cotuit invites you to an Adult Lenten Retreat, Saturday, April 4, 2009   Topic:  "Reflections on Psalm 50," with speaker,  Kyriaki K. Fitzgerald, M.Div., Ph.D.  Retreat & Luncheon cost:  $20.   Registration Deadline:  March 31, 2009.  For more information call Lorraine Reiley at 508-240-2412.

SYRIAN-LEBANESE SCHOLARSHIPS - The Women's Club of Greater Boston offers scholarships to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, living in Massachusetts within a 50-miles radius of Boston , who plan to pursue a 4-year college education.  Awards ($1,000) are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character.  Each applicant must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes which best serve the community.  Applications are available through our Church Office or call Mary Winstanley O'Connor at 617-523-1010 or e-mail at her moconnor@koilaw.com Application must be postmarked by March 31. 

REMINDERS

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN'S MONTH - March is Antiochian Women's Month throughout the Archdiocese. Women of the parish will be reading the Epistle, holding the Communion cloths and bread baskets, taking the collection, and delivering the homily.  If you can help, please contact Marilyn Robbat in the church office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org

PRE-LENTEN RETREAT - A Pre-Lenten Retreat will be held on Saturday, March 7, at St. George Orthodox Church, Norwood MA , sponsored by diocesan Antiochian Women. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at Boston University, will speak on Orthodox Christian Unity: What, Why, Why Not Yet?  See the registration form on the Church Bulletin Board. The requested donation, including lunch, is just $15; registration deadline is Sunday, March 1.  All are welcome - this is not for women only!

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN'S SPRING FLING - On April 4, 2009, the women of the diocese will sponsor a visit to the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA.  Bus transportation is available, departing at 9:45 am from the Russian Church of the Epiphany at 961 South St . , Roslindale, and returning approximately 3:15 pm.  The cost for this package, which includes bus transportation, museum admission with guided tour, and a $10 voucher for lunch at a local restaurant, is $49.95.  For those who prefer to drive, the museum admission alone is $4.  Please RSVP to Priscilla Goss, or contact her for further information,  at pagoss@aol.com or phone 781-762-1527, by March 1, 2009.

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP 2009 - Schedules have been announced for the 2009 camping program at the Village - see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html Two Order of St. Ignatius scholarships are available - application must be submitted no later than March 1.  See Fr. Antony for details ASAP.

CROSSROADS - High School Juniors and Seniors:  The Office of Vocation & Ministry at Hellenic College is now accepting applications for its summer CrossRoad program.  Two sessions are offered:  June 20 - 30 and July 7 - 17, 2009.  For more information and application see  www.crossroad.hchc.edu or call 617-850-1309.  Application deadline is March 1, 2009 for first consideration.

UPCOMING RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES - New Skete Monastery is offering a one-day Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 14, entitled, "Self-discovery and Spiritual Growth."  The day will consist of presentations on aspects of self discovery, spiritual direction and sacramental confession and include time for discussions, meditation and reflection.  An opportunity for sacramental confession will also be available.  A donation of $15 is asked to help cover the expenses for the day.  The number of retreatants is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.  To register for the retreat, contact Robin Hetko at robin.hetko@gmail.com.  In addition, the monastery will celebrate the Liturgy of St. James (the ancient rite of Jerusalem) on that Sunday (March 15).  Those wishing to visit the monastery for the weekend (to take advantage of both opportunities), please contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) for housing arrangements.

Also, May 22-24 (Memorial Day weekend), the Fellowship of St. John the Divine is sponsoring a weekend retreat Friday through Sunday at New Skete Monastery. The details of the retreat are still in the planning stages, but SAVE THE DATE!  Please RSVP to Tiffany Conroy (trattus1@gmail.com or 617-990-7162) by April 1, or contact her for more information.

BLESSING OF HOMES - Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany (January 6)  and between Holy Pascha (April 19) and Pentecost (June 7).  We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil; to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God.  To schedule the blessing of your home please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or the monthly Cornerstone, or call the church office at 617 547-1234.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE - St. George Church in Lawrence will be hosting the 2009 Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of New England, June 25-28, at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover , MA .  Singles and Doubles:  $95.  Triples: $105 and Quads: $115.  Hotel Reservation Deadline is June 4, 2009; mention Parish Life Conference for special rates.   More information can be found on St. George's website at www.stgeorgelawrence.org/Conf2009     

ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - The national convention for the whole Archdiocese will be held July 19 - 26 at Desert Springs JW Marriot Hotel, Palm Desert , California, hosted by St. Michael Church, Van Nuys. Check out their website at www.archdioceseconvention2009.org  for more information.

2009 PLEDGE CARDS - Please take the time to fill out your 2009 pledge card, which was mailed out recently, and return it to the Church Office as soon as possible in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided.  We especially need your pledge this year - not just a bare minimum, but a percentage of your income (10% is the biblical ideal). Everyone, including students and new arrivals, is encouraged to make a stewardship commitment to St. Mary's.  If you do not have a pledge card, please contact the Parish Office so that you may receive a New Member Packet.  Or you can take advantage of the new convenient electronic pledge card on the Stewardship page of our parish website:  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/stewardship.php

PARKING - Please note:  If you do not plan on staying for the entire Coffee Hour on any given Sunday, please do not park in the Church Parking Lot. The first in will be the last out! Similarly, if you park in the driveway please plan to leave very promptly.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshippers and those in need.  Consider serving in one of these ways:

PARTICIPATION

Liturgical Service - Each Sunday, members of the congregation are needed to read the Epistle and assist during Communion by holding the Communion Cloths and Holy Bread Baskets.  All Orthodox Christians in the Parish are welcome and encouraged to participate. We usually need one Epistle reader and six people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org

Coffee Hour - People are needed every week to provide coffee, juice and cookies, or more if desired, and set it up Sunday morning. 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 Robbat in the Parish Office and she will write your name in. If you need any help with figuring out what to bring or do, check the list below the signup sheet (also printed in the Bulletin), or ask Marilyn at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.

VOLUNTEERING

Holy Resurrection Open Doors - The Holy Resurrection Open Door Meal Ministry in Allston needs volunteers every Monday evening (there is a special need in the summer).  The official hours of the project are 4:30 pm-7:30 pm, but it is fine to come anytime and leave any time.  Best times would be 5:30-5:45 to 7:15-7:30 pm.  You can serve meals, coffee and tea to the people who arrive for dinner (6-7 pm) or just stay behind the scenes doing set-up and clean-up.  It is a very rewarding, hands-on, face-to-face way to serve the community with (mostly) other Orthodox Christians-we even chant the Our Father together before the meal begins. Church info can be found at  http://hrocboston.org.  

 Questions? Please contact Liz Straghalis at liztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162.

St Paul's Food Pantry - Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St Paul 's Roman Catholic Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

DONATIONS

Food and Clothing - Holy Resurrection in Allston takes donations of non-perishable food items and clothing to distribute at the Open Door Ministry on Monday evenings.  You can bring your donations by on Monday nights between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm or contact Tiffany Conroy, trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162, for more information.

- St. Paul 's Food Pantry in Harvard Square , where volunteers from St. Mary help every Saturday, depends upon regular donations of canned and packaged foods.  To help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

Monetary Contributions - The Agape Canister Program is an Orthodox non-profit development program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center .  It is dedicated to meeting the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or creed. All funds collected by the Agape Canister Program are earmarked for medical care and clinics, water wells, agricultural development, food and clothing, support personnel (e.g. doctors, nurses, teachers), the construction of schools, and the education of indigenous people in their own communities.  Please contribute each Sunday - A clear plastic box is on the Bengarri.

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.

THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS

FOOD PANTRY

February 28:   Eric Ayoub

LITURGICAL SERVICE

March 1:   Epistle:  Melissa Nassiff;  Left Cloth: Violet Robbat;  Right Cloth: Julie Warfield and Melissa Nassiff;  Left Bread: Louise Homsy;  Right Bread: Maria Walcott.   

Collection:  Louise Homsy and Melissa Sayeg

COFFEE HOUR

March 1:   American Arabic Benevolent Association (AABA)

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, February 28: No Vespers at St. Marys

Sunday, March 1, Cheesefare Sunday,  Forgiveness Sunday:   Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy

10:00 am;  Church School lesson 16;  Forgiveness Vespers 6:00 pm

SCRIPTURE READINGS for March 1: 

Epistle:  St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Monday, March 2,  beginning of Great Lent:  Great Canon of  St. Andrew 7:00 pm;

Lenten Compline at St. George, Norwood 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday,  March 3:  Great Canon of  St. Andrew 7:00 pm

Wednesday, March 4:  Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper (every Wednesday in Lent)

Thursday, March 5:  Great Canon of  St. Andrew 7:00 pm

Friday, March 6: Akathist Service 7:00 pm,  followed by Learning in Lent (every Friday in Lent).   This week's speaker:  Fr. Antony Hughes

LOOKING AHEAD

Sunday, March 8,  Sunday of Orthodoxy:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;  Church School lesson in the Sanctuary;   Procession with icons.  Pan-Orthodox Vespers cancelled

Sunday, April 19: Holy Pascha

Saturday, May 2:  FSJD von Holzhausen lecture

Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28:  Parish Life Conference

INSIGHT

In the future life the Christian is not examined if he has renounced the whole world for Christ's love, or if he has distributed his riches to the poor or if he fasted or kept vigil or prayed, or if he wept and lamented for his sins, or if he has done any other good in this life, but he is examined attentively if he has any similitude with Christ, as a son does with his father.

   -  Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Considering all these things then, and ... remembering that to wipe away sins does not entail much labor and zeal, let us pardon those who have wronged us.  For that which others scarcely accomplish - I mean the blotting out of their own sins by means of fasting and lamentations, and prayers, and sackcloth, and ashes - this it is possible for us easily to effect without sackcloth and ashes and fasting, if only we blot out anger from our heart, and with sincerity forgive those who have wronged us.

   -  St. John Chrysostom

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

Be extremely careful not to offend anyone in word or deed, for it is a grave sin. When someone is offended, God, Who loves the man, is also offended, for there can be no offending man without offending God. Whoever sins against man, also sins against God. This is a serious matter, as you can see for yourself. And when you offend your neighbor, straightway humble yourself before Him and beg forgiveness of him humbly, lest you fall under God's just condemnation.

   - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, Journey to Heaven.