Update for the week Friday, April 13, through Thursday, April 19, 2012
THIS WEEKEND
TRAFFIC AND PARKING – The Church parking lot is available during services throughout Holy Week. Note: You may need to allow extra travel time Thursday evening (Bruins playoff game) and Friday afternoon (Sox season opener) to get to church on time through heavy traffic.
HOLY THURSDAY
On Thursday, April 12, the evening service begins at 6:45 pm with Washing of the Feet, followed at 7:00 pm by Twelve Gospels, in which we hear the entire story of Christ’s final teaching, passion, trial, walk to Golgotha, crucifixion and burial, from all four of the Gospel writers.
HOLY FRIDAY
The Children's Retreat, beginning at 9:30 am on Friday, April 13, will include fellowship and age-appropriate crafts for ages 4 through young adult. Children’s confessions will be heard between 11:00 and noon. The retreat ends with a simple luncheon. Parents of children under age 5 should plan to stay with their child(ren). Volunteers are welcome and needed to assist with activities and lunch. A $5 donation is requested (not required) to defray costs. We ask that you pick up your child by 12:30 if you do not plan on their attending Royal Hours at 1:00. Please contact Trish Orlovsky at 781-641-0182 or t_orlovsky@hotmail.com if you have questions, can help with an activity, or plan to attend. RSVP by Palm Sunday, April 8.
Your help is needed to decorate the bier 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Holy Friday. Volunteers can drop by for as little as a half hour; but no small children, please. (They should be at the Children’s Retreat, downstairs.) Any questions, contact Bob Kowalik at 617-889-3436 or e-mail: r.kowalik@comcast.netParents: Come upstairs and help while your children are downstairs at their Retreat. You’re welcome to share lunch with the kids, but please let Trish know early in the week so there will be enough for everyone.
Royal Hours begins at 1:00 pm, followed by Unnailing Vespers at 3:00 pm, when the figure of Christ is removed from the Cross where it was nailed Thursday during the Twelve Gospels service, and is laid in the tomb, or bier.
Lamentations begins at 7:15 pm. During this service we will process with the Bier out of the church and down Massachusetts Avenue to Central Square, where we will meet worshippers from Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Church carrying their bier, and join them for prayers and blessings before processing back to St. Mary. This year His Grace, Bishop John, will join us.
Following the Lamentations Service on Holy Friday evening, St. Mary's Teen SOYO will hold an All-Night Vigil at the Church. All youth, ages 12-18 (grades 7-12), are encouraged to participate in reading Psalms, keeping watch at the tomb, and joining a discussion led by a special guest. The Vigil culminates Saturday morning with Vesperal Liturgy at 9:00 am. Teens across the Diocese will participate in similar vigils at their respective churches. The Church will be locked and several chaperones will remain with the Teens throughout the night, into the morning.
HOLY SATURDAY and GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil begins at 9:00 am on Saturday, April 3. We celebrate Christ’s triumph over evil and death, with the scattering of bay leaves and flowers. This service includes fifteen lessons from the Old Testament, all prophesying the ultimate victory of God, and also includes Chrismation of our newest catechumens. The service will be followed by a Coffee Hour/Reception, provided by Nadia and Bahig Kaldas.
Your help is needed to decorate the Church on Holy Saturday after the Liturgy and Coffee Hour, about 1:00 pm. We will be preparing the church for Pascha on Saturday afternoon. Please come, stay and help.
Saturday evening and into Great and Holy Pascha, all our Lenten efforts and Holy Week observances culminate in the celebration of Christ's resurrection. The services begin with the Vigil/Rush Service at 10:00 pm, followed by Resurrection Matins at 11:00 pm, and Divine Liturgy at 12:00 midnight. Paschal festivities, with plenty of food, will take place in the Church Hall after Liturgy.
Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) on Easter Sunday morning will be held at 11:00 am at St. George Church, 55 Emmonsdale Rd., West Roxbury, with a reception following.
REMINDERS
TEENS’ CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL EVENT – All teens are welcome to participate in putting the finishing touches on the Creative Arts Festival Photo Collage on Sunday, April 29, from 11:30 – 1:30 pm, immediately following Liturgy. Lunch will be provided! If you need instructions for photos or have questions, please contact Nadia Abuelezam (nabuelezam@gmail.com).
SUMMER GREETERS NEEDED – Please help out! Volunteers are needed for all Sundays in July and August through September 2 (Labor Day Weekend). Please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail: buddy@cjmabardy.com. Summer Hours: Orthros: 8:15 am & Liturgy: 9:30 am. Summer might be a great time for you to start participating in this Ministry!
THEOPHANY SCHOOL BENEFIT – Theophany School invites you to a Benefit Evening and Auction “Dinner Party” on Saturday, May 5, at 6:30 pm, at Apollo Functions in Norwood. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information call 781-444-3058 or visit www.TheophanySchool.org.
NEW ENGLAND’S GOT TASTE and TALENT – St. George Norwood, sponsor of this year’s Parish Life Conference, is sponsoring a talent competition and an appetizer cooking competition for talented competitors and chefs from throughout the diocese. Preliminary competition will be Sunday, May 6, at 5:00 pm, at St. John of Damascus in Dedham (final competition at the Conference). To purchase tickets ($15 adults / $10 12 & under) and/or submit talent, call David Franciosi at 617-347-1007. “Church Chefs” call Erin Kimmett at 781-775-0789. Or, download applications for “Taste” & “Talent” at www.http://stgeorgenorwood.org/PLC2012See the flyer in this Sunday’s Bulletin for more information.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP – Scholarships are available to Antiochian Women 25 years of age or older, who choose to continue their education. You must be a member in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, be actively involved in your parish, be applying for an academic or trade study program and demonstrate financial need. Scholarship applications are available in the office. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2012.
FSJD SCHOLARSHIP – Graduating High School Seniors, who are actively involved in the parish and whose parents are members of the parish, are eligible for the Fellowship of St. John the Divine Scholarship. Please call the Church Office with your name so that an application will be mailed to you directly by Mary Winstanley O’Connor, or contact her at moconnor@koilaw.com or 617-523-1010.
CROSSROAD - CrossRoad is a summer institute for high school juniors and seniors on the campus of Hellenic College/Holy Cross. Participants take part in daily classes, visit neighboring Orthodox parishes and participate in service activities. CrossRoad now offers two sessions. Download an application and view a video clip at www.crossroad.hchc.edu
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – This year’s Parish Life Conference will be held at The Cliff House, Ogunquit, Maine, June 21-24, 2012. Amazing Room Rate: $149 (Regularly $310) Call 207-361-1000or visit their website www.CliffHouseMaine.com/attendees User Name: PARISH Password: pa986B
REGULAR REMINDERS
COFFEE HOUR SIGNUP – A signup sheet for coffee hours is posted on the bulletin board outside the coat room. There are plenty of dates to choose from after Pascha – sign up now for the date you will sponsor the coffee hour!
CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR – Church School continues through May 20, 2012. The Church School calendar can be found online at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/assets/files/2011-2012-ChurchSchoolCalendar.pdf
DONATE VIA eGIVE– Did you know that you can make your donations to St. Mary through eGive, and have no more envelopes or checks to worry about? If you have not yet set up an account, you can do it at www.egive-usa.com, or contact Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) for help. The Recipient Organization is “St. Mary’s Orthodox Church.”
STREAMING VIDEO – St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services below or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES – Please do not leave valuables unattended in the Church Hall or Coat Room.
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.
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:
BE A GREETER - The Parish Council is continuing the Greeter Program, similar to other churches, to greet and aid parishioners, guests and visitors into the Church each Sunday. As a Greeter, you will welcome people into the Church and help to direct visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the Vestibule, hallways and entrance ways during church, arriving at Church at 9:45 am. Greeting time ends when Communion starts. We need volunteers. If you would like to be a Greeter, a Sign-Up Sheet is posted on the Church Bulletin Board. If you have any questions, please contact Buddy by e-mail buddy@cjmabardy.comor call him at 781-729-6303. “I was a stranger, and you invited me in………” (Matthew 25:35)
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 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 new 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.orgor 617-547-1234.
PRISON MINISTRY – If you would like to find out more about Prison Ministry at St. Mary’s Church, please subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/ocpm-concord
"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Holy Thursday, April 12: Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm and Twelve Gospels 7:00 pm
Holy Friday, April 13: Children’s Retreat 9:00 am; Royal Hours 1:00 pm; Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm; Lamentations 7:15 pm with Procession to Central Square
Holy Saturday, April 14: Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am, followed by coffee hour/reception
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Holy Saturday Liturgy:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 6:3-11
Brethren, all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.
Gospel: Matthew 28:1-20
But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said.”
Great And Holy Pascha, Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15: Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm; Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm; Divine Liturgy 12 midnight; Paschal Festivities in the Church Hall following
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8
… To them [the Apostles] he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, “… before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Gospel: John 1:1-17
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. …And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, April 21: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 22, Thomas Sunday: Matins 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 20
INSIGHT
Today is hung upon the tree, he who suspended the earth upon the waters. A crown of thorns crowns him, who is the King of Angels. He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery, who wrapped the heavens in clouds. He was struck, who freed Adam in the Jordan. He was transfixed with nails, who is the Bridegroom of the Church. He was pierced with a spear, who is the son of the Virgin. We worship thy passion, O Christ; show us also thy glorious resurrection!
- 15th Antiphon of Holy Friday Matins
For each year Lent and Easter are, once again, the rediscovery and the recovery by us of what we were made through our own baptismal death and resurrection.
- Fr Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent
When we were buried with Thee in baptism, 0 Christ God, we were made worthy of eternal life by Thy resurrection. Now we praise Thee and sing: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!
- Second Troparion of Palm Sunday
Let us purify our senses and we shall behold Christ, radiant with the ineffable light of the Resurrection, and shall hear Him saying clearly, 'Rejoice!', as we sing the triumphant hymns!
- St. John of Damascus
Christ is the head, we are the body.... He is the foundation, we are the building; He is the Vine, we are the branches; He is the Bridegroom, we are the bride; He is the Shepherd we are the sheep; He is the Way and we are the travelers; again we are the temple and He is the occupant; He is the firstborn, we are the brothers, He is the Heir, we are co-heirs; He is the Life, we are the living; He is the Resurrection, we are the resurrected; He is the Light, we are the illumined....
- St. John Chrysostom, Patrologia Graeca