Update for the week Thursday, December 20 - Wednesday, December 26, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 12/23 - Orthros 8:45am, St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) 9:00am, Divine Liturgy 10:00am
+ No church school classes this Sunday, or on 12/30.
MONDAY 12/24 – Nativity Services:
Royal Hours for the Nativity at 9:00 am
Vesperal Liturgy 11:00 am
Orthros: 6:30pm
Festal Divine Liturgy of St. Chrysostom 8:00 pm
TUESDAY 12/25, Feast of the Nativity of our Lord – Christmas Day: No services at St. Mary’s
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of Julie Warfield on December 15. Julie was the beloved wife of William (Bill) Warfield. She was also survived by 4 children, many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Julie’s Funeral Services were held Thursday December 20, with interment at Blue Hill Cemetery. Contributions in Julie’s memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.
BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany (January 6) and between Pascha and Pentecost. We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil; to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God. To schedule the blessing of your home, please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or call the church office at 617-547-1234.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED TO ASSIST WITH VIDEO EDITING - We are looking for volunteers to assist with some basic video editing to post the sermons and lectures from St. Mary's online. If you have experience with digital video editing, please let Jamil Samara or Erick Straghalis know you are interested in helping: email live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org .
REMINDERS
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support St. Mary’s Canned Food Drive! From now through Monday, December 31, bring in canned goods and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. (Canned goods only, please.) They will be distributed to food pantries in our area. Since 1984, churches throughout the Archdiocese have collected and distributed over 5,000,000 pounds of food!
PLEDGE CARDS - Pledge cards have been mailed to the homes of St. Mary’s parishioners and friends. Please return your pledge card to the church office or fill out the ePledge form on our website by Monday, December 31. A new pledge card is requested each year, even if your financial and volunteer contributions aren’t changing. If you did not receive a pledge card and would like to become of member of St. Mary’s, please see Fr. Antony or Barbara Shoop for a new member packet.
NYE 2019 CELEBRATION – St. John of Damascus invites everyone to a New Years Eve
Celebration on Monday, December 31, starting at 8:00pm. Cost is $35 per person, $30 under 18, or $100 per family. DJ Bob Moses & Arabic dancing, Appetizers 8:00pm, Delicatessen buffet 10:00pm, and Champaign toast at Midnight. Reservation required by December 24 – send payment to St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St., Dedham MA 02026.
SUMMER CAMP – Registration for Summer Camp at the Antiochian Village is open NOW. See https://avcamp.org/summer-camp. Be sure to register early, as sessions fill up quickly. St. Mary’s children attend 3rd Session, July 14-26.
OFFERING ENVELOPES – If you use offering envelopes, the 2019 envelopes are now available for pick-up in the Hall. If you would like to learn about fulfilling your pledge through eGive, please e-mail stewardship@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
THEOPHANY – There will be a Joint Diocesan Celebration of Theophany at St. George Cathedral, Worcester, on Saturday, January 5. Orthros 9:00am, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:00 am with the Blessing of the Waters. A reception will follow.
+ There will also be Festal Vespers for Theophany at St. Mary’s at 5:00pm, with 13 Old Testament readings
+ On Sunday, January 6 we will have a second Blessing of the Waters following Liturgy
CHANT CLASS, VESPERS, AND YOUNG ADULTS – On Saturday, January 12 we will have Chant Class at 4:00pm, Great Vespers at 5:00pm, and Young Adult Fellowship Night following Vespers
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council has been scheduled forWednesday, January 16 at 7:30
BIBLE STUDY – St. Mary’s Bible Study/Adult Education Program will not meet again until early January. Each bi-weekly session will be an in-depth look at the lectionary reading for the next Sunday. Come join us - everyone is welcome to attend! For questions or directions please contact the co-leaders: Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com or Christina Palis at christina_palis@mail.harvard.edu.
WINTER FAMILY CAMP – Register now for Winter Family Camp at Antiochian Village to be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, January 18 – 21, 2019. Family Camp is an opportunity for your family to get away from everyday life and take a weekend as a family to grow closer to Christ.. Registration is now open at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/winter-family-camp/ Cost: $150/parent, $50/child, includes meals and lodging.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING - The Annual Meeting of St. Mary’s parish will be held Sunday, January 27, immediately after Liturgy (snow date: Sunday, February 3). At this meeting the members of the parish will approve the Year 2019 budget. The proposed budget will be available on the previous Sunday, January 20. It is important that all members of St. Mary’s Church attend this meeting.
IOCC HOME BUILD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - IOCC is calling all young adults for home-builds this winter and spring in Texas (Dec 17-22 and Jan 1-5) and Florida (Feb 11-16)! Sign-up deadlines are quickly approaching! You will be able to help those affected by recent natural disasters and get to spend a week with other amazing Orthodox people from around the country! Cost is $100 which includes lodging, food and transportation on location. Flight not included in the cost. Sign up today and/or e-mail Liza Kotar at volunteercoordinator@iocc.org with questions or call 425-891-4614. To learn more, go to https://www.iocc.org/take-action/join-action-team/home-build-volunteers
SCHOLARSHIPS - Students graduating in 2019 from high school who are children of membersof St. Mary’s may apply for the Diocese of Worcester and New England Scholarship. Deadline is March 31, 2019. Contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com for more information, including what it means to be a member.
+ Scholarships ($1,000) are available from the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s club of Greater Boston to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, residing in Massachusetts within 50-mile radius of Boston, who plan to pursue a four-year college education. Scholarships are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character; and applicants must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes, which best serve the community. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be postmarked by March 31, 2019. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com .
ST. MARY’S ANNIVERSARY – Save the date: On May 18, 2019 we will celebrate our 90thAnniversary at the Crown Plaza in Woburn. Plan to join us for dinner, dancing and other festivities. More details to follow.
2019 COFFEE HOURS - The 2019 Sign-Up Sheet for has been posted! Please sign up to provide a coffee hour – it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies. Plenty of help is available! Signup sheets are on the bulletin board outside the Hall, or contact Linda Arnold (mmarmee52@aol.com) or the Church Office (617-547-1234 or Secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org ). Remember, no volunteer = no coffee hour!
BE A GREETER - We could use your help in being a Greeter. This is a great opportunity to meet all the parishioners of St. Mary’s. 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. Arrive at church 15 minutes before Liturgy (9:45am). Greeting time ends when Communion starts. Sign up for one Sunday or several Sundays. If you are interested, contact Buddy Mabardy at buddy@cjmabardy.com or 781-729-6303, or the church office at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.
JOIN US ONLINE - 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 or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org