Weekly Newsletter for the week of Friday, September 14, 2007 through Thursday, September 20, 2007
Weekly Newsletter for the week
Friday, September 14, 2007 through Thursday, September 20, 2007
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOOK DISCUSSION - This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) have been 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 this coming Wednesday, September 19, at 7:30, in the small hall off the kitchen. Refreshments will be served. Please join us!
WOMEN'S CLUB MEETING - There will be a brief meeting of the Women's Club on Wednesday, September 19, at 6:45, before the book discussion.
WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST: HELP NEEDED - Several volunteers are needed to help with preparation, cooking and serving for the Welcome Back Breakfast next weekend (see further information under Reminders, below). Please contact Socrates Deligeorges (dr.socrates@gmail.com ) if you can help on Saturday (between 2:30 and Vespers at 5:00) or Sunday (before, during, or after the meal).
SFEEHA AND KIBBEH SALE - The Women's Club is offering for purchase freshly made Middle Eastern Sfeeha (ground lamb meat pies with onions, pine nuts & seasonings) and Kibbeh (ground lamb meat with burghul). Orders and checks must be received by Sunday, October 14 for Kibbeh, and by October 21 for Sfeeha. See the order form in the Sunday Bulletin.
DIOCESAN FALL DELEGATES MEETING - Meetings for Antiochian Women, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine and Teen SOYO will be held Saturday, October 13, at St. George Cathedral, Worcester. Liturgy at 9 a.m. will be followed by light refreshments. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m.; Luncheon at 12:30. Everyone is welcome to attend.
SEMINARIAN - We are pleased to have a new seminarian from Holy Cross Seminary this year. Please welcome John Daly, from Grand Rapids , MI .
REMINDERS
WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST - After Liturgy next 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 by this Sunday, September 16, 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). Note: You are welcome to come even if you haven't RSVP'd!
OCF COLLEGE STUDENT SUNDAY - The third Sunday of September every year (September 16 this year - this Sunday) has been designated as College Student Sunday by the SCOBA bishops - a day to support the Orthodox Christian Fellowship working on campuses in the area, and to welcome the college students among us. Please make an effort to greet any students sitting near you in church, and invite them down to the Coffee Hour. To read the Encyclical issued by The Hierarchs of SCOBA (the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas ) for this year's College Student Sunday go to http://www.goarch.org/en/news/NewsDetail.asp?id=1829. A collection for OCF will be taken after the Liturgy.
NATIONAL YOUNG ADULT RETREAT - Young adults age 18-35 are invited to a retreat this weekend, 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
INQUIRERS CLASS - The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group adult inquirer's class at St. Mary Church is for non-Orthodox persons who are interested in exploring the Orthodox Faith. This group is for those who would like to be considered for reception into the Church, or for those who would like simply to learn more about our Faith. We will explore the basic elements of Orthodox teaching and practice, through reading, talks, discussion, and question & answer. The class will begin September 23, 2007 and meets from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. on Sundays in the Library. For more information please see the brochure available at the bengarri or contact David Vermette, phone: 617-776-5635 or e-mail dgvermette@sysmatrix.net .
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.
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
FAMILY CAMP - The Antiochian Village will be have a Family Camp on Friday through Monday, October 5-8, 2007 (Columbus Day Weekend). Family Camp is an opportunity for the whole family take a break from the stress and business of their daily lives, and enjoy time as a family at the Village in fellowship, worship, and fun. For more information see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html
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
Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith [ Rom. 4:3]. Therefore, even if they do good works now, it is of no advantage to them after death, if they do not have faith.
- Clement of Alexandria (190 AD)
Every work which does not have love as its beginning and root, is nothing.
- Saint John Chrysostom
Love to be love must be more than words, more than a concept, more the a hope, more than a possibility. Love that does not become incarnate is a false love. "Love without works is dead," teaches the Apostle James, but he learned it first from Christ. We are able to love because God first loved us.
- Fr. Antony Hughes, Sermon 9/9/07 https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/sermons/2007-09-09-hughes.php
Some think they believe rightly, while not practicing the commandments; others, while practicing them, expect the kingdom as a just reward. Both sin against truth.
- St. Mark the Ascetic
There would be no need for sermons, if our lives were shining; there would be no need for words, if we bore witness with our deeds. There would be no pagans, if we were true Christians.
- Saint John Chrysostom
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, September 15: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 16: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.; Sunday celebration of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross with procession; Church School classes begin
SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 16:
Epistle: St. Paul 's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20 Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=206 )
Gospel: Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 The Lord said: " ... For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=324&event=1162&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, September 22: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 23: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m., followed by Welcome Back breakfast
Saturday, October 6: NO Vespers at St. Mary
Saturday, October 20: Vespers 5:00 p.m. followed by Footlamps Lecture
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 15: John Rodriguez and Nadine Rebovich
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 16: Epistle - Teva Regule
Communion Assistance - Abra Greene, Jennifer Nahass, Andrea Jabbour, Elana Jabbour, Mitrophan Chin
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 16: Church School parents
September 23: Fellowship of St. John the Divine - Welcome Back breakfast