Update for the week Thursday, June 26, through Thursday, July 3, 2014

THIS WEEK

ANTIOCHIAN UNITY CONFERENCE – His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, has called together representatives from all Antiochian Archdioceses throughout the world this week for a conference at Balamand, Lebanon, Thursday through Sunday, June 26-28, 2014 entitled: "Antiochian Unity: Its Dimensions and Exigencies." Our own Mary Winstanley-O'Connor, National Chairwoman of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and Violet Robbat, NAB President of the Antiochian Woman, are among the ten delegates invited to represent North America, along with four bishops including our own, His Grace Bishop John. For more information see
http://www.antiochian.org/patriarch-john-x-announces-antiochian-unity-conference-june-26-28 and http://www.antiochian.org/archdiocese-delegation-antiochian-unity-conference-lebanon.

FEAST OF THE APOSTLES – This Sunday, June 29, is the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul, the patronal feast of the Patriarchate of Antioch, where “the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26).  Sts. Peter & Paul bookmarks will be available on the Bengarii for you to take home.

OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED - The St. Mary Church Secretary will be out of the office from Friday, July 4 through Friday, July 11. Therefore the deadline for both the July 6 and July 13 Sunday Bulletins will be noon on Tuesday, July 1. Any information and/or donations made to the church after the July 1 deadline will appear in the July 20 Bulletin.

BIBLE STUDY – Come join us next Thursday, July 3, at 7:00 pm in the church library as we continue our study of Exodus. Listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/exodus-part-3/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/exodus-part-4/ . The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday, and is based on a series of talks originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio, entitled Search the Scriptures. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONGRATULATIONS: BIBLE BOWL WINNERS - Congratulations to our Bible Bowl team, Thomas and Anthony Marge and Alex Dalton, and their coach Violet Robbat! The St. Mary team took first place in the Bible Bowl at the Parish Life Conference in Plymouth. The team and their coach will continue on to the National Bible Bowl in July. We wish them well!

CONGRATULATIONS: SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS - Congratulations to Victoria Sayeg and Thomas Marge, recipients of 2014 New England Region FSJD Scholarships, which were presented to them at the Parish Life Conference in Plymouth. The scholarships are awarded to those high school seniors who are faithful and active Orthodox Christians and whose high school records indicate a potential for being successful in an accredited college.
   Thomas Marge is also the recipient of the National Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting Scholarship!

VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL - St. George West Roxbury will offer Vacation Church School 2014, Monday through Thursday, July 28-31, from 9:00 am-noon each day. Join them for lessons about the major feasts of the church, crafts and fun, Preschool through 5th grade. Registration must be received by July 13. Download a registration form at http://www.stgeorgeofboston.org/ministries/vcs. For more information contact John Abud at abudjohn@gmail.com.

ICON WORKSHOP - St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, Woonsocket, RI, is offering an intense six day course Monday through Saturday, August 11-16, where the student will create an icon. Tuition $450. Class size limited to 10 students. For complete info and registration: archangelicons@verizon.net or 412-527-5359.

DORMITION CD - An audio CD of the hymns of Great Vespers, the Lamentations, and the Orthros hymns for the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos has been made available in anticipation of the August 15, 2014 feast day. Chanted by Dr. Sam N. Cohlmia, Protopsaltis of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America at St. George Cathedral in Wichita, KS, the CD is available for $15.00 by contacting Dr. Cohlmia at samcohlmia@yahoo.com


REMINDERS

SUMMER HOURS – Next Sunday, July 6 we will change to Summer Hours –  Orthros: 8:15 am, and Liturgy: 9:30 am. 

SPEAKER SERIES – You are invited to the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Speaker Series in Salem, MA, on Tuesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 10. Very Reverend Dr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament at St. Vladimir’s, will lead you through 1 Corinthians. For more information see http://orthodoxsalem.com/ There is no charge, but seating is limited. Time: 6:30-9:00 pm. Contact: Fr. Theophan at 978-744-5869 or fr.theophan.whitfield@gmail.com.

MEMORIALS – Trisagion Prayers for Donald DiFiore (40 days) and for Fr. Gregory Phelan (25 years) will be prayed Sunday, July 13, 2014.

TANGLEWOOD OUTING – Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary’s as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, July 20. We’ll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Beethoven and others, with violinist Joshua Bell and new BSO conductor Andris Nelsons. For more information see http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/60929. (Rain date August 10: http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/60938.) The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $21.00 (pay at the door). Bring lawn chairs if you want them, and picnic food for yourself and to share. For more information and to let us know you're coming, especially if you'll need a ride, contact Melissa Nassiff by email (mnassiff@gmail.com) or phone (508 877-7483).

PAPPAS PATRISTICS INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM - The Pappas Patristics Institute is pleased to announce its eighth annual week-long Summer Patristic Studies Program at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, Sunday through Friday, July 20-25, 2014.  This week-long program is a unique opportunity to study and discuss classic texts of the early Church through small group-study and brief lectures.  The intended audience for the program includes theology and religious studies students at the masters and undergraduate levels, along with clergy, lay people, and undergraduates with an interest in learning more about the Church Fathers.  Course offerings include "Exploring the Ancient Baptismal Liturgies" taught by our own Teva Regule, Doctoral Candidate at Boston College.  For more information, or to register, please send an email to the Pappas Patristic Institute at pappaspatristic@comcast.net at your earliest convenience. You will then be sent a registration form. Complete information found here: http://www.hchc.edu/assets/files/patristics/2014_SumInst_AnnouncmentProgram_140503.pdf

CAMP COUNSELORS NEEDED - The Greek Metropolis of Boston Camp in Contoocook, NH is looking for male staff who have completed at least one year of college and have prior camp experience for the following weeks: Week 4 (July 21-27), Week 5 (July 28-August 3), Week 6 (August 4-11). To learn more, visit http://boston.goarch.org/ministries/mbc/ .  If you are interested, please email mbcamp@boston.goarch.org

HELP PROVIDE A WARM WELCOME – Two things we do every week - all through the summer too! - to welcome visitors and newcomers, and to strengthen the bonds of fellowship with all who worship at St. Mary, are: 1.) Greet everyone who enters the church, and 2.) Provide coffee hour after Liturgy. We need more help with both of these ministries. To become a greeter please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or email at Buddy@cjmabardy.com ; to provide a coffee hour please sign up on the sheet downstairs on the bulletin board or contact Barbara in the office at 617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org .

CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED – If you are interested in teaching Church School next year, or being an assistant or substitute teacher, please contact Barbara Shoop at Barbara@dsaarchitects.com.


THIS SUNDAY'S VOLUNTEERS

Greeter: Bob Kowalik

Liturgical Service: Candle Bearers: Panayiotis & Shannon Sakellariou; Icon Bearer: Elenor Bourell; Bread Baskets: Sophia Sakellariou & Iliana Sakellariou
   Epistle: Subdeacon Peter Porr; Right Cloth:  Peter Nassiff and Subdeacon Peter Porr; Left Cloth: Paul Demerjian and Marc Paul Patacchiola; Right and Left Bread: TBD

Coffee Hour: No volunteers; no coffee hour (See “Help Provide a Warm Welcome” under Reminders, above.)


LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, June 28: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, June 29: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Scripture Readings for Sunday, June 28, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul:
Epistle: St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:21-12:9
… If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ... I refrain from [boasting], so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ... And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
Jesus ... asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”


LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, July 5: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, July 6: Summer hours begin - Orthros: 8:15 am, and Liturgy: 9:30 am 

Saturday, July 12: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, July 13: Summer hours - Orthros: 8:15 am, and Liturgy: 9:30 am , followed by Trisagion Prayers for Donald DiFiore (40 days) and for Fr. Gregory Phelan (25 years)

Saturday, July 19: No Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, July 20: Summer hours - Orthros: 8:15 am, and Liturgy: 9:30 am 

Friday, August 1: Dormition fast begins

Tuesday, August 5: Vespers/Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration 6:30p.m.

Saturday, August 23: No Vespers at St. Mary


REFLECTION

The one who has come to understand the weakness of human nature has had experience of the divine power, and such a person who because of it has succeeded in some things and is eager to succeed in others, never looks down on anyone. For he knows that in the same way that God has helped him and freed him from many passions and hardships, so can He help everyone when He wishes, especially those who are striving for His sake. Although for his own reasons He does not deliver all from their passions right away, still as a good and loving physician He heals in His own good time each one of those who are striving.
- St. Maximus the Confessor, Four Centuries on Love

Behold, you have learned that you are clay, poor, and naked. Now, seek from Him Who is able to regenerate nature, to make you rich. And whether He gives you a lot or a little, acknowledge your Benefactor. And do not boast of foreign things as your own. You will receive grace with pain and tears. And then with tears, thanksgiving, and fear of God, you will keep it. With fervency and zeal it is attracted; with coldness and negligence is it lost.
- Jospeh the Hesychast, Monastic Wisdom: The Letter of the Elder

There are said to be five reasons why God allows us to be assailed by demons. The first is so that, by attacking and counter-attacking, we should learn to discriminate between virtue and vice. The second is so that, having acquired virtue through conflict and toil, we should keep it secure and immutable. The third is so that, when making progress in virtue, we should not become haughty but learn humility. The fourth is so that, having gained some experience of evil, we should 'hate it with a perfect hatred' (cf. Ps. 139:22). The fifth and most important is so that, having achieved dispassion, we should forget neither our own weakness nor the power of Him who has helped us.
- St. Maximos the Confessor, Second Century on Love no. 67

Having fallen from his heavenly rank through pride, the devil constantly strives to bring down also all those who wholeheartedly wish to approach the Lord; and he uses the same means which caused his own downfall, that is pride and love of vainglory. These and similar things are the means by which the demons fight us and hope to separate us from God.
- St. Anthony the Great, Early Fathers From the Philokalia