Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, July 13, 2007 through Thursday, July 19, 2007
ST. MARY UPDATE
Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, July 13, 2007 through Thursday, July 19, 2007
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Thursday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m.
MORE COFFEE - Please sign up to provide a coffee hour - it need not be more elaborate than coffee, juice, and cookies. Sign-up Sheet is on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall & Church Office, or just reply to this e-mail. Summer is a good time to "stick your toe in the water," as attendance is usually lower during these warm months. July 29 is still available, as are most of the Sundays in August.
PATRONAL FEAST DAY - Our parish's Patronal Feast Day, the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos, is Wednesday, August 15. Join us on Tuesday, August 14, for the Vigil for the Dormition (Vespers 4:15 p.m., Orthros with Lamentations 5:30, Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m.) followed at 8:15 p.m. by a light supper (adults & students $5.00, children free). Please RSVP to the Church Office, 617-547-1234) by August 7.
REMINDERS
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - The 48th Antiochian Archdiocese Convention will be held in Montreal , Canada , July 23 - 29, 2007, hosted by St. Nicholas Church of Montreal. Father Antony and Marilyn Robbat will both be attending, and the church office will be closed during that week.
PILGRIMAGE TO NEW SKETE - The New Skete monastic communities in Cambridge , NY are hosting their 2007 Annual Pilgrimage on Saturday, August 11, with the theme Encountering God through Creation. The day will include services (Matins at 8:30 a.m., Divine Liturgy 9:30, Vigil 5:00 p.m.), talks, food, church tours, hiking, dog training demonstration, exhibits, monastic conversations, time for quiet reflection, and activities for children and teens. To coordinate rides and/or offer to help for the day, call our local contact: Teva Regule at 617-734-0210 or teva@mitlns.mit.edu See flyer on Church Bulletin Board.
WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB - This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) will be reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. The author of The Kite Runner takes his storytelling powers to the next level with this instant classic. Following the lives of two Afghan women over 30 years, this beautiful, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting novel will sweep you away. We'll be discussing it on Wednesday, September 19 - start your summer reading now!
FOOD PANTRY - Two to four St. Mary's volunteers are needed each week to help in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. Contact Christian Alcala at 617-876-5684 or cmalcala1989@yahoo.com.
SOUP KITCHEN - Three or four St. Mary's volunteers are needed to help each week at the Open Doors Meal Ministry at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Allston, Mondays any time between 4:00 p.m. and 7:30. Contact Liz Tutella at 610- 507-0488 or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.
INSIGHT
Let the light of your good works shine before men, and let not Christ be blasphemed on your account. Wear a garment of incorruption, resplendent in good works; and whatever matter you receive from God to administer as steward, administer profitably.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem
If we shall be eager to make brighter by good deeds the light within us -- I mean the grace of the Spirit -- so that it is never quenched, we shall enjoy the title of "newly baptized" for all times. But just as the sober and vigilant person whose conduct is worthy can continue to be a "neophyte," so it is possible after a single day for one to relax his vigilance and become unworthy of that title.
- St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions
It is difficult, my brethren, to dispute with an atheist; it is difficult to converse with a stupid man; it is difficult to change an embittered man. It is only with the greatest difficulty that you will convince an atheist, a stupid man or an embittered man with words. Firstly, you must sway them by your deeds. They will come, "by your good works, which they shall behold, to glorify God" (I Peter 2:12). Do good to him who would quarrel with you, and you will win the argument. A single act of compassion will penetrate to a stupid man and soften a bitter man more quickly than hours of discussion. ...
- Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue from Ochrid
http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=June&day=30&Go.x=16&Go.y=6
Every day you provide your bodies with good to keep them from failing. In the same way your good works should be the daily nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies are fed with food and your spirits with good works. You must not deny your soul, which is going to live forever, what you grant to your body, which is going to die.
- St. Gregory the Great
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, July 14: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 15: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
SCRIPTURE READINGS for July 15:
Epistle: St. Paul 's Letter to Titus 3:8-15 Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=365&event=1182
Gospel: Matthew 5:14-19 The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=402&event=1182&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, July 21: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, July 22: Orthros 8:15 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 28: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's (Fr. Antony at Archdiocese Convention)
Saturdays, August 4 and 11: No Great Vespers at St. Mary's (Fr. Antony serving at Antiochian Village )
VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES
FOOD PANTRY
Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St. Paul 's RC Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45. If you are willing to help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com or (617) 876-5684.
July 14:
LITURGICAL SERVICE
The Epistle each Sunday is read by a member of the congregation, and six members of the congregation hold the cloth and Holy Bread baskets during Communion. If you would like to help with these services, please contact Jeff Wasilko at jeffw@smoe.org or 781-820-0882.
July 15: Epistle - David Vermette
Communion Assistance - Brett Grainger, Melissa Nassiff, Peter Nassiff, Elaina Matook plus 2 others
COFFEE HOUR
To sign up for an available Sunday, please put your name on the signup sheet on the bulletin board outside the Hall or call Marilyn in the Office 617-547-1234 and she'll write your name in.
July 15: The Robbat family
July 22: Tiffany Conroy
July 29: