Weekly Newsletter for the week of Friday, August 31, 2007 through Thursday, September 6, 2007
ST. MARY UPDATE
Weekly Newsletter for the week
Friday, August 31, 2007 through Thursday, September 6, 2007
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST - After Liturgy on Sunday, September 23, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine will host a special Breakfast to welcome college students back to Cambridge and their "church home away from home." Please join us in welcoming and supporting students who strive to remain connected to the Church while away from their families. All are welcome; a free-will donation will be gratefully accepted from non-students! Please RSVP so we'll know how much food to prepare: call the church office at 617-547-1234, or reply to this e-mail, or use the sign-up sheet on the Bengarri (the desk in the vestibule).
NO EVENING LITURGY NEXT FRIDAY - Fr. Antony will be out of town from Wednesday through Friday, September 5 - 7. Therefore the evening Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos scheduled for Friday evening, September 7, is cancelled.
In case of emergency during Fr. Antony's absence, please call Fr. Timothy Ferguson at St. George Church, West Roxbury at 617-323-0323.
ATTENTION COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY STUDENTS - If you are a new or returning college or university student, please fill out a white College Student Address Form on the Bengarri (desk in the Narthex) so that we have your current addresses and information and you can receive announcements about activities at St. Mary's and on campus. See Charlie Marge if you have questions.
REMINDERS
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m.
CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION - Attention Church School Parents, Students & Teachers: Church School Pre-Registration starts during Coffee Hour Sunday, September 9. Parents, please register your child(ren) and make sure their registration materials and information are up-to-date. Teachers, please stay for teacher training after coffee hour. Church School lessons begin Sunday, September 16, 2007.
NATIONAL YOUNG ADULT RETREAT - Young adults age 18-35 are invited to a retreat September 14-16 at Hellenic College/Holy Cross, Brookline , MA The keynote speaker is Fr. Luke Veronis, whose topic will be Responding to God's Call: Love that Makes a Difference. Information and online registration are available at www.yal.org
WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB - This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) are 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 - finish up your summer reading now!
ST. THEKLA PILGRIMAGE - The 2007 St. Thekla Pilgrimage at the Antiochian Village will be September 21-23. The keynote speaker is H. Tristram Engelhardt, whose topic will be Wholeness and Health in a Secular World. Information and registration forms are available at
http://www.antiochian.org/2007-pilgrimage
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. More volunteers are needed for the next few weeks. If you would like to help with these services, please contact Jeff Wasilko at jeffw@smoe.org or 781-820-0882.
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 617-974-5005 (note new phone number) or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.
INSIGHT
A teacher ought to be a stranger to the desire for domination, vain-glory, and pride; one should not be able to fool him by flattery, nor blind him by gifts, nor conquer him by the stomach, nor dominate him by anger; but he should be patient, gentle and humble as far as possible; he must be tested and without partisanship, full of concern and a lover of souls.
- Amma Theodora, Saying of the Desert Fathers
A man who teaches without doing what he teaches is like a spring of water which cleanses and gives drink to everyone, but is not able to purify itself. ... If a man understands something and does not practice it, how can he teach it to his neighbor?
- Abba Poemen
An old man said: "How can anyone teach someone else something which he has not learnt himself and also put into practice? Therefore always be humble enough to learn."
- Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers, by an unknown Greek author
Faith comes not through pondering but through action. Not words and speculation but experience teaches us what God is. To let in fresh air we have to open a window; to get tanned we must go out into the sunshine. Achieving faith is no different; we never reach a goal by just sitting in comfort and waiting, say the holy Fathers. Let the Prodigal Son be our example. He "arose and came."
- Tito Colliander
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, September 1: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 2: Regular schedule resumes - Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 2:
Epistle: St. Paul 's Second Letter to the Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:1-4 Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=306&event=807 )
Gospel: Matthew 22:2-14 The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. " (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=147&event=807&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday, September 7: NO Evening Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos at St. Mary's
Saturday, September 8: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 9: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.
Church School registration, and Blessing of Teachers
Thursday, September 13: Evening Liturgy for the Elevation of the Holy Cross 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 16: Church School classes begin
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.
September 1: Sandra Kondratiuk and Christian Alcala
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.
September 2: Epistle - Walter Porr
Communion Assistance - Peter and Melissa Nassiff, Marc and Larisa Patacchiola, and two 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.
September 2: Abra Greene
September 9: Parish Council