Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, July 10, through Thursday, July 16, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

TANGLEWOOD OUTING - Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary's as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy and Trisagion prayers for Steve's mom, this  Sunday, July 12. We'll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Beethoven, Bruch and Dvorak, with violinist Joshua Bell.  (For more information see http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.jsp;jsessionid=3X3WSE4LGCMGMCTFQMGSFEQ?pid=prod2880017 )  The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $19. Bring lawn chairs if you want them, and picnic food for yourself and to share.  Please let us know if you're coming so we can save plenty of space in the shade, and let us know if you'll need a ride - contact Melissa Nassiff by email (mnassiff@gmail.com) or phone (508 877-7483). 

SUMMER HOURS - Summer hours at St. Mary began last week and continue through the rest of the summer.  Orthros start at 8:15 am  and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am.  (Regular hours resume Sunday, September 6.)

MARROW REGISTRATION - A Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive will be held at St. George Church, 55 Emmonsdale Rd., West Roxbury, on Sunday, July 12,  from noon until 2:00 pm.  To register you must be between 16  and 60 years old and in general good health.  Please bring your health insurance card with you.  Sponsored by The Caitlin Raymond International Registry - see www.crir.org or call 508-334-8969 for more information.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANOTHER TANGLEWOOD OUTING - If you can't make it this Sunday - or if you'd like to go again - a second trip to Tanglewood is scheduled for Sunday, August 2. This time pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will join the BSO in playing Beethoven and Rachmaninoff - for more information see  http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.jsp?pid=prod2880027. This concert also starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are just $18.

LITURGICAL SERVICES HELP NEEDED - If you've ever assisted with Liturgical Services (holding the Communion Cloth or the bread basket), and you see one of those positions unfilled this month, please feel free to step up and fill it.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Please sign up to provide a coffee hour - it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies, and it's easier now when summer attendance is lighter.  Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call Marilyn in the office.

REMINDERS

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! - Representatives from St. Mary won several competitions at the Parish Life Conference:

BIBLE BOWL - Teen Team:  Thomas Marge, Theo Smith, Gabe Smith, Victoria Sayeg (Alternate), coached by Violet Robbat

BIBLE BOWL - Adult team:  Rev. Dn. Jeffrey Smith and Charles Marge

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL - Grade 4-5-6:  This class won the Archangel Award, the  highest award given, receiving  100 points out of a potential 100 points!  Justin Aroyan, Tommy Bezreh, Christine Dibrova, Kiely Goss, Rachel Bargoot, James Jabbour, Anthony Marge, John Mekonnen, Carolyn Mabardy, Lukas Nahass, Nathan Nebiye, Luke Porr, James Bezreh, Bridgette Goss, Julia Medwar, Rebecca Sayeg, Jessica Winstanley; teacher  Mary Winstanley O'Connor, with special thanks to Kate Jellinghaus.

CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL - Grade 7 & 8: Julia Shoop, Thomas Marge, Sophia Nahass, Sabrina Nebiye, Victoria Sayeg, Gabriel Smith and Jillian Winstanley; teacher Peter Nassiff.

Congratulations to all our winners!  Later this month our Teen Bible Bowl team will be representing our Diocese at the Archdiocese Convention in the Fellowship of St. John the Divine- North American Council (NAC) Bible Bowl.

ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - The national convention for the whole Archdiocese will be held July 20 - 26 at Desert Springs JW Marriot Hotel, Palm Desert , California, hosted by St. Michael Church, Van Nuys.   Check their website for more information:  www.archdioceseconvention2009.org   St. Mary Church Offices will be closed Monday through Friday, July 20 - 24.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRISON MINISTRY - OCPM, the official prison ministry of SCOBA, announces the 2009 Convocation, which will take place July 28-30 in Denver , Colorado .  The purpose of the convocation is to bring together the many Orthodox clergy and laity from throughout North America who are participating in prison ministry, or are interested in participating in prison ministry for a time of fellowship, education, encouragement, communal worship and the free exchange of ideas.  To register, please visit www.ocpm-scoba.org. Financial assistance is available. If you have questions, please contact Liz Straghalis at liztutella@gmail.com.

PILGRIMAGE TO NEW SKETE -  The Monastic Communities and Chapel Community members of New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York, invite you to join them for a day of prayer and reflection celebrating their feast day on Saturday, August 8, 2009 (rain or shine).  The theme of the pilgrimage is "Jesus: The Heart of Renewal." As is the rule of monastic life, the day will begin and end with prayer--Matins at 8:30 am, followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am, and Vespers and Vigil at 5:30 pm.  In addition, a healing service will be held at approximately 4:15 pm.  Two main presentations will be held in the afternoon--"Christ in Theology: Conversion and Purification" with Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, who will bring a theological perspective to the theme and "The Face of Christ in the World" given by Sr. Rebecca, a nun of New Skete, who will explore the theme through the lens of iconography. In addition, the day will include tours of the monastery Churches, a demonstration of the monks' dog program, and time for hiking, conversation, reflection and quiet.  Activities for children and teens are also planned. Traditional ethnic and American style food will be available for purchase.  For more information, contact Teva Regule at teva@mit.edu.

WOMEN'S CLUB SUMMER READING -  This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) will be reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a New York Times best seller. Read the book over the summer, and join us in the fall, Monday, September 14, for an enjoyable evening of discussion,  refreshments and fellowship!

SONIA'S RUN - You are invited to take part in an inaugural 5K road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of its beloved friend Sonia Belcher, on Saturday, September 19, 2009.  "Sonia's Run ... Building on a Dream" will start and end at St. George Church, West Roxbury, and includes both a 5K run starting at 9:00 am and a kids' 50-yard dash which starts at 8:30 am.  For more information, go to:  www.SoniasRun.org

NEW CD AVAILABLE - The Voice of the Lord:  Selected Hymns from the Feast of Theophany is a new CD recorded by the Friends of the Theophany School under the direction of Rassem El-Massih. Each CD sells for $15 and all proceeds will benefit the "Building on a Dream" campaign for the Theophany School in memory of the school's founder, Sonia Daly Belcher.  To place an order online or listen to sample tracks, visit www.theophanyschool.org/cd.   For bulk orders (10 or more),  contact them directly at music@theophanyschool.org or 617-470-0546.

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

July 11:   Sandra Kondratiuk, Lan Hu, and Socrates Deligeorges

LITURGICAL SERVICE

July 12:   Epistle: Jonathan Hill

COFFEE HOUR

July 12:   The Parish Council, Women's Club and Fellowship of St. John the Divine

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, July 11:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, July 12:  Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am, followed by Trisagion Prayers of Mercy for Barbara Walker (mother of Subdeacon Steve Walker)

SCRIPTURE READINGS for July 12: 

Epistle:  St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 10:1-10

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. ...  For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1

At that time, when Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one would pass that way.  ...  The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, July 18:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, July 19:  Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am, followed by 40-day Trisagion Prayers of Mercy for Bob Hamwey

Monday-Friday, July 20-24: St. Mary Church Offices closed (Archdiocese Convention)

Saturday, July 25:  No Vespers at St. Mary (Archdiocese Convention)

INSIGHT

Do not hate the sinner. For we are all laden with guilt. If for the sake of God you are moved to oppose him, weep over him. Why do you hate him? Hate his sins and pray for him, that you may imitate Christ Who was not wroth with sinners, but interceded for them. Do you not see how He wept over Jerusalem? We are mocked by the devil in many instances, so why should we hate the man who is mocked by him who mocks us also? Why, O man, do you hate the sinner? Could it be because he is not so righteous as you? But where is your righteousness when you have no love? Why do you not shed tears over him? But you persecute him. In ignorance some are moved with anger, presuming themselves to be discerners of the works of sinners.

   - St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 60

People should not worry as much about what they do but rather about what they are. If they and their ways are good, then their deeds are radiant. If you are righteous, then what you do will also be righteous. We should not think that holiness is based on what we do but rather on what we are, for it is not our works which sanctify us but we who sanctify our works.

    - Meister Eckhart

By faith one not only assents to propositions revealed by God, one not only attains to truth in a way that intelligence and reason alone cannot do, but one assents to God Himself. One receives God. One says "yes" not merely to a statement about God, but to the Invisible, Infinite God Himself. One fully accepts the statement not only for its own content, but for the sake of Him Who made it.

   - Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

The Lord sojourns in the hearts of the meek, while a rebellious soul is the seat of the devil.

   - St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent

They alone know how to believe in God who love God, who are Christians not only in name but also in action and [way of] life, because without love faith is empty. With love, it is the faith of a Christian -- without love, the faith of a demon. 

   - The Venerable Bede