Update for the week Friday, April 9, through Thursday, April 15, 2010
THIS WEEKEND
TEEN SOYO NEMO - New England Ministry Outreach (NEMO) will be held on Saturday, April 10, from 9:30 am – 7:30 pm at St. Mary, Pawtucket , RI followed by Vespers at 5:30 pm at St. John , Dedham . $5 per person. RSVP to Greg Abdalah by April 6: abdalah.g@gmail.com or 724-518-6811
FOOD SALE– The Women’s Club’s sale of Spinach Triangles (and now Hummus too) has been extended. You can still order them until this Sunday, April 11 – please use the order form in the Sunday Bulletin. Baking will be Saturday, April 24; orders may be picked up Sunday, April 25.
TEEN SOYO’S MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR HAITI – In support of the Medical Supply Collection for Haiti (see Reminders, below), the teens will be holding a "medical store" during coffee hour this Sunday, April 11.. They'll be selling medical supplies that parishioners can donate directly to the Haiti Medical Missions. At about 12:30 pm, a guest speaker from Haiti will come and give a short talk, with photos, about Haiti and the impact the supplies will have. All are invited to attend. The program will be around 30 minutes.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – If you have not yet returned your filled Food For Hungry People Boxes, please return them to the Bengarri or to Violet Robbat this Sunday.
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, not only during Bright Week,
but until the Feast of the Ascension (May 13), for the whole forty days. This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch. (This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.)
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHRIST IS RISEN! - Truly, He is Risen!
Arabic: Al Maseeh ‘Am! Ha’an ‘Am!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Slavonic: Khristos Voskrese! Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat! Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Tigrinian: Kristos Tensiu! Behake Tensiu!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew! Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
Spanish: Christo ha Resucitado! En Verdad ha Resucitado!
Gaelic: Kriost Eirgim! Eirgim!
[Language of your choice: ] To find how the Paschal Greeting is said in even more languages check out this site, which has text and voice recordings for over 250 languages: http://www.srbigham.com/en/langues.html
STREAMING VIDEO - Most of our Holy Week services at St. Mary this year were broadcast live via streaming video, and you will soon be able to view archives of this year’s services. Over 300 people viewed the stream, and many provided great feedback. We’ll let you know when 2010 archives are available; meanwhile, archived videos from our 2009 Holy Week services may be viewed at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live/archive-2009.php.
Now Divine Liturgy at St. Mary will be broadcast live every week! Our thanks to Erick Straghalis for bringing this to fruition, and to Marc Patacchiola for his invaluable assistance. Come to church… but if you can’t, then join us on your computer. We would welcome your feedback as we continue to find ways to improve and continue this ministry. To see live broadcasts go to https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/livestream. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 am every Sunday.
BOSTON GLOBE PHOTO – A color photograph of Fr. Antony holding the cross for Socrates Deligeorges to venerate appeared on the front page of the Boston Globe newspaper on Easter Sunday! See http://www.boston.com/news/graphics/04_04_10_front_page
HOLY WEEK PHOTOS – Photographs from Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, taken by Jeff Wasilko, have been posted on the St. Mary website – see https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/multimedia/photogalleries/pascha2010. Watch for more Holy Week photos in the coming weeks.
ST. GEORGE FEAST DAY – The patronal feast day of St. George Church, West Roxbury, will be celebrated April 16 – 18, 2010 ,with His Eminence +Metropolitan PHILIP. Saturday, April 17: Great Vespers 6 p.m. followed by a meeting with the His Eminence and Youth of the Parish. Sunday, April 18: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. followed by Parish Family Dinner in Church Hall. Adult Ticket ($35): Surf & Turf. Children’s Ticket ($15): Chicken Tenders & Fries. Reservations Required (prepaid preferred). Call Susan Jreige 617-640-1992 or Lara Lakis 617-771-6482. Reservation Deadline: Wed., April 14.
BOSTON
MARATHON FUNDRAISER FOR IOCC - Emily Howard, IOCC Boston
Secretary, Norwood parishioner and friend of the Fellowship of St. John
the Divine, is running this year in the 114th
Boston Marathon on April 19. She is using the opportunity to
raise funds for IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) –
please use the link following to find out more and donate to this worthy
cause!
http://www.active.com/donate/emilyelizabeth4iocc
REMINDERS
WOMEN’S CLUB – The next meeting of the Women’s Club will be Monday, April 12, at 7:30 pm.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 pm.
vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine cordially invites you to the annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen dinner and lecture next Saturday, April 17, 2010, following Vespers. Dinner is at 6:00 p.m.; the lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m. The cost is your generous freewill donation to the Fellowship. This year's speaker is Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of dogmatic theology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
MEDICAL SUPPLY COLLECTION FOR HAITI – FSJD of St. Mary is sponsoring a collection of inexpensive, over-the-counter medical supplies for Haiti . This project is co-sponsored by the Boston-Haiti Health Support Team and the Association of Haitian Women of Boston. A Boston-based medical team will make a series of one-week medical mission trips to Haiti in the coming several months to assist in providing medical treatment to earthquake victims. There will be a labeled collection bin in the hall outside the Church Office. Please consider donating even one of the following items: Masks, Gloves, Gauze, Stethoscopes, Blood Pressure Kits, Hand Sanitizers, Wound Cleaner, Bacitracin, Iodine, Neosporin, Pain Killer (over-the-counter-e.g. Tylenol), Vitamins (adults’ & children's) and Nutritional bars. If you would like more information about this project, please see Juliet Burch or contact her at jburch@brandeis.edu; phone 617-797-8036.
CARE PACKAGES FOR “OUR” MARINE – Fr. Antony's "spiritual son" Scott is still in the Marines, and has recently been deployed to Afghanistan. The Fellowship of St. John the Divine is once more helping collect items for care packages for him. Scott will share what he receives with his fellow Marines, and has sent a list of things he would especially like to receive. The Fellowship is purchasing some of those items, but would be happy to receive contributions of the following:
Tuna, Beef jerky, Sunflower seeds, Sour skittles, Non perishable junk food, Paperback books (legal thrillers or murder mysteries), and Long white socks.
A box will be set up in the entry to the Church Offices for your donations, and we would also welcome monetary contributions to help with postage, shopping, etc. - make checks payable to Fellowship of St. John the Divine or to St. Mary Church (earmarked FSJD), and give them to any member of the FSJD Steering Committee (Tiffany Conroy, Mike Decerbo, Melissa or Peter Nassiff, Socrates Deligeorges or Steve Walker), or mail them to the Church. Thank you for your caring concern and prayers for Scott and his fellow Marines!
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN SPRING FLING – The Women’s Club of the Diocese is sponsoring an outing to the Boston Museum of Science on Saturday, May 1, at 11:00 am, to see ARABIA in the I-Max Theater. Travel to this exotic and fascinating land, discover an extraordinary culture, and experience modern day Arabia in the midst of monumental change. Tickets: $8/Adults and $7/Seniors & Children 3 to 11, for the movie only. Lunch can be purchased at the Museum Food Court following the 50-minute movie. New Reservation Deadline: Sunday, April 25 with payment (checks made payable to Antiochian Women-DOWNE) For more info, contact Cindy Lee Hayes, 401-722-5297 or dhayes66@cox.net Everyone is welcome!
COFFEE HOURS – We need volunteers for most of the month of April, so please sign up to sponsor a coffee hour, individually or with friends. This can be done to celebrate a special event or anniversary, or simply as an act of hospitality. It can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall. Isn't it your turn by now?
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE – Any high school senior graduating in the spring of 2010 may apply for a scholarship offered by the Diocesan Fellowship of St. John the Divine. Inquiries and application requests may be addressed to Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617- 523-1010 or moconnor@koilaw.com.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE - The 72nd Annual Parish Life Conference of the diocese will be hosted by St. George Cathedral Worcester, the weekend of June 18-20 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel (www.sturbridgehosthotel.com). Rooms start at only $98 - call 508-347-7393 to book yours today. Conference registration, schedules, and other information can be found at www.stgeorgeworcester.org/2010plc.html
ORATORICAL RESTIVAL – Teen volunteers/participants are needed for the upcoming Oratorical Festival at the Parish Life Conference in Sturbridge, June 18-20, 2010. Contact Liz and Erick Straghalis for more information.
PRAY FOR JAMIL SAMARA- To keep up with the progress of Jamil’s recovery from Necrotizing Fasciitis, you can visit the Facebook page that has been created for this purpose and is being updated regularly. You do not need to have a Facebook account to view it: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Well-Jamil-Samara/242122979853 Cards and notes can be sent to his home at 34 Bradwood Street, Apt 2; Roslindale MA 02131.
FIRST IN, LAST OUT – Please do not park in the small lot behind the church unless you intend to stay through the end of coffee hour. The only way out is the single lane driveway. Please pull all the way in to the parking space, and please do not block the driveway – if the lot is full, you can park on the street or in the lot at the corner of Prospect Street and Bishop Allen Drive.
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR PROFILE – If you haven’t done it yet, please take a moment to click the “Update your profile” link at the very bottom of this email and type “yes” or “no” in the new “Currently attend St. Mary?” box. And while you’re there, please make sure your name is shown correctly as well. A special Thank You to everyone who has already done so!
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 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 – The Food for Hungry People canned food drive continues through December 27, 2009 – see Reminders, above. Bring in canned goods to the Church and place them in the large, blue plastic containers outside the Church Office.
- 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.
"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
Saturday, April 10: John Rodriguez and Kern Ormond
LITURGICAL SERVICE
Sunday, April 11: Volunteers needed – contact Jeff Wasilko 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org.
COFFEE HOUR
Sunday, April 11: FSJD
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, April 10: Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, April 11, Thomas Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 18
SCRIPTURE READINGS for April 11:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20 In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. ... But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
Gospel: John 20:19-31 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them … "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." … Jesus said to [Thomas] "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, April 17: Fr. John vonHolzhausen lecture – Vespers 5:00 pm, Dinner 6:00; Lecture 7:00
Sunday, April 18: Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; No Church School
Thursday, May 13: Feast of the Ascension
Sunday, May 23, Pentecost: Church School Graduation
Friday – Sunday, June 18-20: Parish Life Conference in Sturbridge, MA
INSIGHT
While the tomb was sealed, thou didst shine forth from it, O Light. While the doors were closed, thou didst come in to thy disciples, O Christ God, Resurrection of all, renewing in us through them an upright spirit, according to the greatness of Thy mercy.
- Troparion of St. Thomas Sunday
Christ forms Himself by grace and faith in the souls of all who love Him, and at the same time He draws them all together in Himself to make them One in Him. And the Holy Ghost, Who is the life of this One Body dwells in the whole Body and in every one of the members so that the whole Christ is Christ and each individual is Christ.
Therefore if you want to have in your heart the affections and dispositions that were those of Christ on earth, consult not your own imagination but faith. Enter into the darkness of interior renunciation, strip your soul of images and let Christ form Himself in you by His Cross.
- Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Creation is a slave; the Spirit sets free. Creation stands in need of life; the Spirit is the Life-Giver. Creation needs instruction; the Spirit is the Teacher. Creation is sanctified; the Spirit is the Sanctifier.
- St. Basil the Great
It is not enough to say prayers: we must become, be prayer, prayer incarnate. All of life, each act, every gesture, even the smile of the human face, must become a hymn of adoration, an offering, a prayer. One should offer not what one has but what one is.
- Paul Evdokimov
In the Hesychast tradition, we are centered in the heart, the place where vitality and thinking are integrated. The heart is the organ of relation, moving from the world of objects to the world of presences. Life is no longer an anonymous energy, but a Presence.
- Jean-Yves Leloup, Compassion and Meditation