Update for the week Thursday, April 27 - Thursday, May 4, 2017
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SUNDAY, 4/30 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 22
+ Bible Bowl practice session right after church in the Library.
THURSDAY, 5/4 – The Bible Study group will meet next on Thursday, May 4, at 7:00pm in the church library. We will continue discussing the book, "The Divine Dance" by Richard Rohr. New members are always welcome. Our next meeting will be Thursday, May 18.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
ST. GEORGE WEEKEND – On Friday through Sunday, April 28-30, St. George West Roxbury will be welcoming his Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH and his Grace Bishop JOHN. Come for Family night on Friday, International night on Saturday - featuring Asian, Mexican, New England and Middle Eastern cuisine - and Festal Luncheon on Sunday. For more information visit www.stgeorgeofboston.org.
SERIOUS ABOUT SYRIA – Come to a humanitarian relief effort Benefit Dinner entitled “Serious About Syria” on Saturday, April 29, at the Second Church in Newton, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Cost is $45 per person. All proceeds go to Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), who provide medicine and medical services to Syrian refugees in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Greece. For more information go to www.SeriousAboutSyria.org or www.sams-usa.net.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED - The Church office will be closed Wednesday-Friday, May 3-5. If there is an emergency please contact Fr. Antony directly at 781-507-5938.
CIRCUS TRIP - AABA (Arab American Benevolent Association) has reserved 100 tickets for the last New England showing of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Saturday May 6, 2017 at 3:00pm, at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. They are offering the tickets at $27.25 each. As their gift to the community, AABA has hired and paid for two buses to transport everyone to the event, leaving the parking lot of St. John of Damascus Church in Dedham, at 1:00pm. You don’t have to drive or worry about parking! To reserve your tickets, please call the AABA office at: 617.323.2722 #4 or email daryag@aabausa.org Tickets are available on a first come first served basis! Remember they have only 100 seats reserved!
YET ANOTHER ROAD RACE – On Sunday May 7 the “Race 4 Research” will begin at 10:00 am and head down Broadway from Kendall Square, take a left on Ware St. and return on Harvard Ave. back to Kendall Square. If you come to church via Inman St., Prospect St. or any other streets that run parallel to Inman, you may encounter delays at Broadway and Harvard Ave. Please plan accordingly
REMINDERS
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday during Bright Week (the week after Pascha), as well as for the entire forty days until the Feast of the Ascension on May 25. 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.
CLERGY AND CHOIRS DAY – Anyone interested in church music is invited to Clergy & Choirs Day sponsored by the Diocese of Worcester & New England at St. John of Damascus, Dedham on Saturday, May 6 from 10:00am-3:00pm. The schedule includes the Role of Clergy and Church Musicians, Choir Festival, and Improving vocal technique. Presenters include our own Katie Boardman. RSVP by April 30 to Charlie.marge@verizon.net or 781-863-5015.
YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP – The next Young Adult Fellowship Night will be on May 6. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Jamil at 617-501-4427 or youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
BYZANTINE NIGHT - St. Mary Church of Pawtucket, RI invites you to share with them A Byzantine Night, with Bishop John and their Arabic Choir led by Kh.Rouba, on Saturday, May 6 at 6:00pm. Immediately following, there will be refreshments at the Parish center.
WOMEN’S CLUB DINNER - The Women’s Club will have an End of the Year Dinner on Monday, May 15 at 7:00. Place TBD. If you are interested contact Marilyn at 781-729-3033 or Barbara in the church office (secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234). Stay tuned for further information. It’s always a fun evening!
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30.
ASCENSION LITURGY – Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord will be Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30pm.
BLESSING OF GRAVES - On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am. If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE – Francis Maria Scholarships are available through the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Several $2500 scholarships will be awarded to Orthodox students attending an accredited 4-year college in the fall. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2017.
+ Scholarships from the Antiochian Women are available to females 25 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is June 1, 2017. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail cindy@nimeys.com with any questions.
+ Nicholas G. Beram 2017 Scholastic Achievement Awards are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4-year college full time. Applications are available online at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm . Application deadline is June 1, 2017.
GRADUATION AND LUNCHEON – Church School Graduation will be Sunday, June 4, followed by the annual Chinese New Year Breakfast/Luncheon. Please join us for the 2017 Chinese Martyrs Missions Breakfast/Luncheon to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC). RSVP to Mitrophan at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, May 31. We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and seeing you at this event! Suggested minimum donation $8/adult, $16/family (Checks made payable to “St. Mary Orthodox Church-Hospitality” earmarked “Chinese Missions”).
+ Adult volunteers are needed on Saturday, June 3 to help make dumplings for the luncheon. At the same time children can make dumplings that they will take home to enjoy.
PARENTING WORKSHOP – The Diocese of Worcester and New England invites you to a workshop, “Parenting within Orthodox Families,” on Saturday, June 10 (rescheduled from April 1), 9:00am-3:00pm in the hall at St. George Cathedral, 30 Anna St., Worcester. To register email stgeorgeworc@gmail.com or call 508-752-9150. Cost: $20/person, $30/couple.
POTLUCK PICNIC - Please come join the Hospitality Group for our Annual Potluck Picnic on Sunday, June 11 at DANA PARK (10-20 McTernan St, Cambridge) - the same park as previous picnics! Bring a blanket, some eats or drinks to share, balls, frisbees, even bathing suits if you want splash in the sprinklers! Dana Park is a 5-10 minute walk south of the Church (walk down Magazine St), with an enclosed playground, hoops, water spouts, and a beautiful green. This is a great opportunity to relax and spend time with our church family. OPEN TO ALL AGES!!! For people who need assistance getting to the park, we will coordinate rides. If you would like to help us out, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The 2017 Diocese of Worcester and New England Parish life Conference will be hosted by St. George Cathedral, Worcester. Dates: Saturday, June 17 (Pre-Conference) and Friday-Sunday, June 23-25 (Conference). All events will take place at St. George Orthodox Cathedral. For more information and to register go to https://www.antiochianevents.org/143
COFFEE HOUR MADE EASY! - To make sponsoring a Coffee Hour a little bit easier, St. Mary’s offers a delivery service through “Instacart”, for the basic foods necessary to host a Coffee hour. Simply select a date, mail a check to the office and we will order the food and have it delivered to the church on that Sunday between 9:00 and 10:00 am. You will need to be at the church to accept the order and you will be required to set up for the coffee hour and clean up both the kitchen and hall at the end of the coffee hour. Two menus will be offered. Menu one will include: bagels, mini muffins, fruit, hummus/Syrian bread, juice and coffee for $160. Menu two will include: bagels, juice and coffee for $70. Prices DO NOT include a 20% tip for delivery and are subject to change based on current market pricing of items. Cream cheese, peanut butter, jam and coffee creamer are included with each menu. As usual, St. Mary’s will provide the plates, cups, napkins, utensils, serving platters, and sweetener for coffee. If you are interested in taking advantage of this service and signing up for a coffee hour please contact the office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.