Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, September 25, through Thursday, October 1, 2009
THIS WEEKEND
FR. ANTONY IS AWAY - Fr. Antony will be out of town through Saturday, September 26. In case of emergency while he is away, please contact Fr. Timothy Ferguson at St. George Church, West Roxbury at 617-323-0323.
INQUIRER'S CLASS - Classes will begin this Sunday, September 27, 2009, for the St. Ignatius of Antioch Catechetical Group: Inquirer's Class. This is open to any Non-Orthodox adult who is interested in learning more about the Orthodox Church. It meets each Sunday from September to May from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. The class meets in the St. Mary library which is next to Fr. Antony's office. For more information please contact David Vermette: dgvermette@sysmatrix.net or 617-776-5635.
AXIOS! - This Sunday our seminarian, Rev. Deacon Milad Selim, will be celebrating his first Divine Liturgy here as a Deacon. He was ordained to the Diaconate last Sunday by Metropolitan PHILIP at St. George Church in Norwood, sponsored by our pastor, V. Rev. Antony Hughes and Rev. Deacon Nicholas Belcher of St. George Church, West Roxbury. Axios! He is worthy! Axios!
CHURCH CLEANUP - Please plan to stay after coffee hour this Sunday afternoon, September 27, and help clean up the church in preparation for the Bishop's visit next week. If many people help, it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. Pizza will be served at the end.
INTER-ORTHODOX YOUNG ADULT RETREAT -An Inter-Orthodox Young Adult Retreat, sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Department of Youth and the Antiochian Archdiocese FSJD, is being held this weekend, September 25 - 27, 2009 at Hellenic College/Holy Cross, Brookline, MA. For more information, see www.youth.goarch.org.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
OCMC NEEDS HELP - On October 11th there will be a coffee hour to help the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) raise funds for their Agape Canister Program. Here's an excerpt from a letter from Ted Theodorou, the Agape program coordinator: " it is with great sadness, however, that I must convey to you that the Agape Canister Program is projecting a deficit of nearly $8,500 this year. This shortfall in revenue is attributed to a number of factors, most notably a decline in charitable giving during the last six months. If these funds are not raised, projects like the Kosovo Day Camps, the Fellowship of Love Soup Kitchen, the Protection of the Theotokos Family Center, and the St. Dimitrie Program may go unsupported in the future." There will be a canister there for those wishing to give a freewill donation. For those donating by check, please make it out to St. Mary's Orthodox Church. To learn more about OCMC and its Agape Canister program, see http://ocmc.org/programs/agape.aspx. If you have any questions, or would like to help with the coffee hour, please contact Michelle Chin at javachip23@hotmail.com.
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 6, at 3:00 p.m. We will carpool to Symphony Hall after Liturgy and have lunch together 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 - for discounted tickets ($22.50) please contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com by Sunday, October 18, or order your own tickets online at http://www.handelandhaydn.org .
TEEN SOYO - Congratulations to the newly elected officers of Teen SOYO: Alexa Jabbour, President; Theo Smith, Vice President; Victoria Sayeg, Secretary; and Sabrina Nebiye, Treasurer. On Sunday, October 25, the Teen SOYO will go apple picking - watch for details.
HELP MAKE SFEEHA AND KIBBEH- Plan to come to the church on Saturday morning, October 24, starting at 9:30 am to help make meat pies with the Women's Club. Lots of help will be needed - young and old, women and men are all welcome - and it's always lots of fun. Also, come at 9:30 Friday morning, October 30, to help the Women's Club cook Kihbbeh
REMINDERS
BISHOP ALEXANDER COMING TO ST. MARY- Next Saturday evening, October 3, 2009, we will welcome His Grace Bishop ALEXANDER for a visit to St. Mary's. The evening will begin with Vespers at 6:00 pm, followed by a Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party at 7:30 pm. The ticket price of $35.00 per person will include a wide array of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, open bar, dessert and Arabic dancing. Prepaid reservations only - no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets will be limited to 175 people. For one of the 6 tickets remaining, contact Renay DiFiore at (617) 327-6361.
On Sunday, October 4, His Grace will be with us for Orthros at 8:45 am and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am, followed by a celebratory Coffee Hour.
SFEEHA AND KIBBEH SALE - The Women's Club is offering for purchase freshly made Sfeeha (ground lamb-meat pizza pies with onion, pine nuts & seasonings) and Kibbeh (8 ½"x 11" tray made with ground lamb-meat and burghul). Everything is cooked with the finest of ingredients and ready to eat now or freeze for the holidays! To order, please use the order form in the Bulletin or Cornerstone. Deadline for orders is October 11. Pick-Up dates will be Sunday, October 25 for Sfeeha, and Sunday, November 1 for Kibbeh.
"WELCOME BACK COLLEGE STUDENTS" BREAKFAST - After Liturgy on Sunday, October 18, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine (FSJD) will host a special breakfast to welcome college students back to their "Church home away from home." Please join us in welcoming and supporting students who strive to remain connected to the Church while away from their families. All are welcome! A suggested minimum donation of $5 will be gratefully accepted from non-students. Please RSVP so we'll know how much food to prepare: call the church office at 617-547-1234, or reply to this e-mail.
ATTENTION COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY STUDENTS - If you are a new or returning college or university student, please fill out a blue 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.
ATTENTION PARENTS OF ST. MARY PARISH COLLEGE STUDENTS - If you would like your sons or daughters to receive a copy of the CORNERSTONE each month while they are away at school to keep them in touch with what's going on at St. Mary's, please fill out one of the blue College Student Address Forms and return it to Marilyn Robbat.
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.
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, 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
September 26: John Rodriguez and Philip Straghalis
LITURGICAL SERVICE
September 27: Epistle: Andrea Jabbour; Left Cloth: Trish and Nika Orlovsky; Right Cloth: Rose Njuguna and ; Left Bread: ; Right Bread: Melissa Nassiff
COFFEE HOUR
September 27: The Order of St. Ignatius
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, September 26: No Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, September 27: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;
Church School lesson 2
SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 27:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10
Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
... [Jesus] said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; .... And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, October 3: Vespers 6:00 pm, followed by Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party for Bishop ALEXANDER 7:30 pm (advance reservations only)
Sunday, October 4: Orthros 8:45 am; Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; No Church School
Saturday, October 10: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 11: Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; No Church School
INSIGHT
He is not yet a faithful servant who bases himself on bare knowledge alone; a faithful servant is he who professes his faith by obedience to Christ, Who gave the commandments.
- St. Mark the Ascetic
The greatest thing each person can do is to give himself to God utterly and unconditionally - weaknesses, fears, and all. For God loves obedience more than good intentions or second-best offerings, which are all too often made under the guise of weakness.
-- St. Dionysius
Ultimately...the secret is perfect abandonment to the will of God in all things you cannot control, and perfect obedience to Him in everything that depends on your own volition, so that in all things, in your interior life and in your outward works for God, you desire only one thing, which is the fulfillment of His will.
- Fr. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
There is no shorter ascent to the royal and Divine mansions...than through subduing the five passions hostile to obedience, namely: disobedience, argumentativeness, self-gratification, self-justification and pernicious high opinion of oneself. ... But he who, through obedience, conquers the first, by one stroke cuts off all the rest and with one stride reaches heaven.
- St. Gregory of Sinai
...willing obedience is an action which shows more courage and strength of spirit than subjugating great kings and ruling over them...
- Lorenzo Scupoli, Unseen Warfare