Update for the week Thursday, June 28 - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S

SUNDAY 7/1 Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONGRATULATIONS!! – In the Bible Bowl at the Parish Life Conference last weekend our Pre-Teen team - Nicholas Mazzoni, Joseph Solomon, Nico Bezzerides and Ruth Samson - won FIRST PLACE, beating the next best team by a wide margin!  And our Adult team - Theo Smith and Charlie Marge -  won SECOND PLACE! They competed against our sister churches in the Diocese of Worcester and New England. Many thanks to coach Violet Robbat, who does a wonderful job preparing and coaching our teams for the competition. 
 
GREAT VESPERS – Great Vespers will be Saturday, July 7, at 5:00pm

REMINDERS

HELP IN HOMELESS SHELTERS – One of our parishioners and young adults works for Y2Y, a local service organization looking to end homelessness. Their organization and the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter are both looking for volunteers for weekly or one-time shifts this summer. For more information see their Volunteer Handbooks at https://docs.google.com/document/d/14aipRhfW2kr4xqelHFzEMRlSBfZILP0VbU2-KkJtHiU/editfor Y2Y, and  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XsNKuFgPMQIAzqHDcjDVu3OdKVIcp0ppEvDDuiRarWc/edit for HSHS.

ICON EXHIBIT – The Museum of Russian Icons (203 Union Street, Clinton, MA) will be showing an exhibition of Icons of the Hellenic World, focusing exclusively on Greek and Byzantine iconography, June 22 through October 21. For information see http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/current-exhibitions

TANGLEWOOD OUTING – Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary’s as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, July 29. We’ll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Haydn, Prokofiev and Mozart, featuring violinist Gil Shaham, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Juanjo Mena. For more information see https://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/93218. The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $21.00 - pay at the door; children are free. 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 at mnassiff@gmail.com.
 
DORMITION – The fast preceding the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos, our patronal feast day, begins on Wednesday, August 1 and continues through Tuesday, August 14, the eve of the Feast.
   + On Wednesdays, August 1 and August 8, there will be a Paraclesis for the Dormition at 6:30 pm
   + On Tuesday, August 14, we will observe the Vigil for the Dormition of the Theotokos with Vespers at 4:15 pm, Orthros with Lamentations at 5:30 pm, and Festal Divine Liturgy at 7:00 pm.

NEW SKETE PILGRIMAGE – The annual New Skete Pilgrimage is set for Saturday, August 11this year - (the Saturday after Transfiguration). In years past, a number of St. Mary people have gone out for the weekend to help the Communities with this event - to be extra sets of "helping hands" for the day.  They are hoping a number of us will do so again this year. In the past, this has been a wonderful community-building activity for all of us.  Moreover, if you have never been to the monastery, this may be a good way to be introduced to their life and work.  In addition to the services, there are tours of the church and talks by various members of the communities about their lives. The main talk will be given by Alexei Krindatch who does survey work for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America.  His talk is entitled, "Singing an Old Song in a New World. How Orthodox Christian Churches Contribute to America’s Diverse Religious Landscape." There are also the dogs, great hiking trails, nearby tubing, etc. More information about the Pilgrimage can be found here: https://newskete.org/events .
 Once again, Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) will be coordinating the Boston helpers and as much housing as she can. (In particular, any women wanting to "camp out" at the nuns’, let her know.  The Emmaus house is now a guest house - anyone wishing to stay there should contact Br. Gregory directly at brgregory@newskete.org)  Housing is first come, first served.

PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22.

SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS – Antiochian Village Adult Camp for ages 21+ will be Friday-Monday, September 14-17. Adult Camp is open to all adults who want to spend the weekend in an Orthodox Christian environment growing in their faith.  Cost of $195 includes lodging, food and activities.  More information can be found at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/adult-camp.  Registration opens May 1.

SOYO FALL CAMP and FAMILY CAMP – Diocese of Worcester and New England SOYO Fall Camp and Family Camp will be held Thursday–Sunday, October 5-7, at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH.  All teens in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend the Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Family Camp is open to families of all ages. Parents of teenagers are welcome to attend Family Camp while their children attend Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Each camp will have its own distinct program. Watch for more information and registration details.
 
REFLECTION

Yes, you and I are keenly aware that our task is to reach out to our hurting world with the Master’s love.  But we will fail in our mission if it is accomplished out of an anxious, angry, guilt-ridden, or duty-bound heart.  Only the grateful of heart transform the world. … Jesus easily co-mingled with common folks like you and me.  The masses loved to be around Him, viewing Him as kind, approachable, and deeply compassionate. No wonder children naturally gathered around Him.  To be sure He was on His Father’s all-important mission, but He approached it with an air of grace and calm.
    - Dwight Hill, Facts of the Matter
 
In the life led according to the Gospel there can be no valuation of prayer or doctrine or liturgical worship over doing the works of love, caring for those around us, standing up for what is right.
   - Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness