Update for the week Friday, April 23, through Thursday, April 29, 2010

THIS WEEKEND

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

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!

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to inform you that Gloria M. (Zine) Matta, devoted mother of Doreen (Matta) & Andrew Bargoot and loving “Sitto” to Rachel & Andrew Bargoot, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, April 19. Funeral Mass was held at St. Agatha Church, Milton on Thursday, April 22. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Anne Shrine, 16 Church St., Fiskdale, MA 01518.  Notes of condolence may be sent to Doreen and Andrew Bargoot, 6 West Elm Av., Quincy, MA 02170.

SEEKING VIDEO STREAMING VOLUNTEERS – The video streaming ministry has been a GREAT success!  A special THANK YOU to Erick Straghalis and Marc Patacchiola who have been instrumental in making this possible.  Marc and Erick are looking for 3 - 4 volunteers who can help set up the streaming service prior to Liturgy on Sunday mornings and potentially during other events (speakers, vespers, etc.).  Volunteers would rotate weekly, taking turns setting up the camera, computer and microphones each week.  Some technical expertise may be required, but training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Erick Straghalis (estraghalis@gmail.com).   Thank you!

YOUTH EQUIPPED TO SERVE – The  Youth Equipped to Serve (YES) Program of FOCUS North America provides opportunities for junior high and high school students to participate in formative weekends of service, with the ultimate purpose being to raise up a generation of Orthodox Christians who lead others in living out the true mission of the church--to love and serve our most needy neighbors.  We are blessed to have YES coming to Boston May 7-9, 2010! Spend the weekend learning, experiencing, growing and helping others. Don't miss this chance;   register online now: https://focusnorthamerica.org/drup/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=17   Space is limited!  For more information, please contact Elisabeth Lourie: elisabeth.lourie@gmail.com, (617) 323-0323. 

Also, check out YES on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLRMH2_nioU 

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:

Antiochian Women’s Scholarship – 2010 scholarships are available from the North American Board of Antiochian Women to women who are 25 years old or older, in good standing and actively involved in their parish, applying for or registered in an academic or trade program of study and in financial need.  Applications can be obtained in the Church office.  Deadline:  May 14, 2010.

 

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 44th 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.

Fellowship of St. John the Divine – 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.

REMINDERS  

THEOPHANY SCHOOL BENEFIT -  The Theophany School’s 10th 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.

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 on the table outside 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.

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.

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.

STREAMING VIDEO - Divine Liturgy at St. Mary is broadcast live every week!  Do come to church…  but if you can’t, then join us on your computer. To see live broadcasts go to https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/livestream.  Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 am every Sunday.

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

LITURGICAL SERVICE – Epistle: Bob Kowalik;  Left Cloth: Chris and Kristin Smith;  Center Cloth:  Maggie and Linda Arnold;  Right Cloth: Melissa Nassiff and TBD; Left and Right Bread: TBD

COFFEE HOUR – Mary W. Michael

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, April 24: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

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

SCRIPTURE READINGS for April 25:

Epistle:  St. Peter's First Universal Letter 5:6-14  Brethren, humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone  to devour.  Resist him …

Gospel:  John 5:1-15  … One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, May 1: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, May 2:  Orthros 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;   Church School lesson 19

Wednesday, May 12: Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension 6:30 pm

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

Watchfulness is a spiritual method which, if diligently practiced over a long period, completely frees us with God’s help from impassioned thoughts, impassioned words and evil actions. It leads…to a sure knowledge of inapprehensible mysteries. It enables us to fulfill every divine commandment in the Old and New Testaments and bestows upon us every blessing of the age to come. It is, in a true sense purity of heart, a state blessed by Christ when he says:  ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’
   - St. Hesychios

Flee idleness and laziness; stand on guard watchfully, in all things peering closely at your thoughts, and wisely arranging and conducting the activities, demanded by your position.

   - Lorenzo Scupoli, Unseen Warfare

...when we stand praying, beloved brethren, we ought to be watchful and earnest with our whole heart, intent on our prayers. Let all carnal and worldly thoughts pass away, nor let the soul at that time think on anything but the object only of its prayer. For this reason also the priest, by way of preface before his prayer, prepares the minds of the brethren by saying, 'Lift up your hearts,' that so upon the people's response, 'We lift them up unto the Lord,' he may be reminded that he himself ought to think of nothing but the Lord.  Let the breast be closed against the adversary, and be open to God alone; nor let it suffer God's enemy to approach to it at the time of prayer. For frequently he steals upon us, and penetrates within, and by crafty deceit calls away our prayers from God, that we may have one thing in our heart and another in our voice, when not the sound of the voice, but the soul and mind, ought to be praying to the Lord with a simple intention.
     But what carelessness it is, to be distracted and carried away by foolish and profane thoughts when you are praying to the Lord, as if there were anything which you should rather be thinking of than that you are speaking with God!  How can you ask to be heard of God, when you yourself do not hear yourself? Do you wish that God should remember you when you ask, if you yourself do not remember yourself? This is absolutely to take no precaution against the enemy; this is, when you pray to God, to offend the majesty of God by the carelessness of your prayer; this is to be watchful with your eyes, and to be asleep with your heart, while the Christian, even though he is asleep with his eyes, ought to be awake with his heart, as it is written in the person of the Church speaking in the Song of Songs, 'I sleep, yet my heart waketh.'  Wherefore the apostle [Paul] anxiously and carefully warns us, saying, 'Continue in prayer, and watch in the same;' teaching, that is, and showing that those are able to obtain from God what they ask, whom God sees to be watchful in their prayer.
   - Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise IV: "On The Lord's Prayer"