St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church

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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 can 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.

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.

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 this Monday, April  19.  She is using the opportunity to raise funds for IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) – please use the following link to find out more and donate to this worthy cause:  http://www.active.com/donate/emilyelizabeth4iocc

HELP BAKE SPINACH TRIANGLES – The Women’s Club will be making Spinach Triangles in the Church Hall next Saturday, April 24, starting at 9:30 am.  Please join in and help! Lunch will be provided, and you can park in the Church Parking Lot. Orders may be picked up  Sunday, April 25.

THEOPHANY SCHOOL BENEFIT -  The Theophany School’s 10^th annual Benefit Evening will be held on Saturday, May 1 at the Apollo Restaurant in Norwood, MA.  Thanks to the support of many, last year's event was a great success.  For this Event we need sponsors and/or items to offer as prizes for our raffles/auction.  Please visit http://theophanyschool.org for a copy of the 2010 Event form, or call the school for more details.  Tickets and more information regarding the event will be available soon.

SPEAKER ON HAITI - On Sunday, May 2 during coffee hour, we will host a guest from the Boston-Haiti Health Support Team, who will talk with the teens and share photos from the most recent mission trip, as well as general information about current conditions and developments in Haiti. All are welcome to attend.

IOCC COOKOUT – The IOCC Boston Metropolitan Committee invites you to a Spring Cookout Saturday, May 22 from 4-7 pm on the Halki Lawn of Hellenic College.  The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.  For more information, please  e-mail bostonmet@gmail.com.

2010 N.G.  BERAM SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS – The N.G. Beram Veterans Association is pleased to announce the continuation of its Scholarship Achievement Awards program for the 44^th year. The program is established to encourage, promote and support the education of students of Arabic speaking backgrounds.  High school seniors can obtain the application along with the instruction by visiting the web page at:  www.stjohnd.org/ngberam  or copies are on the Bengarri.  All applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2010.

REMINDERS

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.)

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 has been 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!

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 to contribute other kinds of supplies or cash, or would like more information about this project, please see Juliet Burch or contact her at   jburch@brandeis.edu; phone 617-797-8036.

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!

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 FESTIVAL – 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 17:  Volunteers are needed – contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com or (617) 876-5684.

LITURGICAL SERVICE

Sunday, April 18:    Epistle: Jonathan Hill; Left Cloth: Chris and Kristin Smith;  Center Cloth: Rachel Smith and Amelia; Right Cloth: Melissa Nassiff and  TBD;  Left Bread: TBD;  Right Bread: Larisa Patacchiola

COFFEE HOUR

Sunday, April 18:  The Dooley family

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, April 17:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm , Dinner 6:00 pm,   Fr. John vonHolzhausen Lecture 7:00 pm

Sunday, April 18, Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday:  Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;   No Church School

SCRIPTURE READINGS for April 18:

Epistle:  Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7

… And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." …  And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.

Gospel:  Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. …  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, April 24: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, April 25:  Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;   Church School lesson 19

Thursday, May 13:  Feast of the Ascension

Sunday, May 16: Church School Graduation (note change in date)

Sunday, May 23:  Pentecost

Monday, May 31 – June 28:  Apostles’ Fast

Friday – Sunday, June  18-20:  Parish Life Conference in Sturbridge, MA

INSIGHT

The angel came to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb and said, "Myrrh is meet for the dead, but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption! So proclaim: 'The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy! '"

   - Troparion for the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

Whenever we enter the church and draw near to the heavenly mysteries, we ought to approach with all humility and fear, both because of the presence of the angelic powers and out of the reverence due to the sacred oblation; for as the Angels are said to have stood by the Lord's body when it lay in the tomb, so we must believe that they are present in the celebration of the Mysteries of His most sacred Body at the time of consecration.

   - Venerable Bede

You have heard, dearly beloved, that holy women who had followed the Lord came to the sepulcher with spices. They had loved Him when He was alive, and they showed Him their eager tenderheartedness even when He was dead. Their deed points to something that must be done in our holy Church. Thus as we hear of what they did, we must also think of our responsibility to imitate them. We too, who believe in Him Who died, approach His sepulcher with spices if we are strengthened with the sweet smell of the virtues, and if we seek the Lord with a reputation for good works. And the women who came with spices saw angels, since those who advance toward God through their holy desires, accompanied by the sweet smell of the virtues, behold the citizens from on high.

   - St. Gregory the Great, Forty Gospel Homilies

We have also as a Physician the Lord our God Jesus the Christ the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin. For 'the Word was made flesh.' Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passable body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, that He might free our souls from death and corruption, and heal them, and might restore them to health, when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts.

   - St. Ignatius of Antioch

Do you wish to honor the body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside you are leaving it numb with cold and naked. He who said "this is my body," and made it so by his word, is the same that said, "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me." Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.

   - St. John Chrysostom