Weekly Newsletter for the week of Friday, September 21, 2007 through Thursday, September 27, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007 through Thursday, September 27, 2007
THIS WEEKEND
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 this Sunday, September 23, 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 .
IOCC - Peter Polychroni, Development Officer from the International Orthodox Christian Charities, will speak to us during Liturgy this Sunday.
WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST - After Liturgy, 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. Note: You are welcome to come even if you haven't RSVP'd!
HELP NEEDED - Several volunteers are needed to help with preparation, cooking and serving for the Welcome Back Breakfast. 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).
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
ARCHDIOCESE MEETING - For the first time ever, St. George Cathedral of Worcester will host the Fall Meeting of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of the Order of St. Ignatius. These meetings will take place on the weekend of September 28-30, 2007. Here are some of the events that are open to the general public:
* Saturday, September 29th, the Governing Council of the Order of St Ignatius will meet from 1:00-5:00 PM. That meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend as an observer.
* Saturday, September 29th, Vespers at the Cathedral at 5:30 PM.
* Saturday, September 29th, Open House at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough. This
presents attendees the opportunity to spend some time with the Hierarchs, members of the Board and the Order of St Ignatius. This event begins with cocktails at 7:00pm and a reservation is required. Please call the Cathedral at (508) 752 - 9150 to make reservations
* Sunday, September 30th, Orthros at 9:00AM and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10AM at the Cathedral. After Divine Liturgy, the Diocese of Worcester and New England members of the Archdiocese Board will sponsor a Parish Dinner in the Auditorium. For dinner reservations contact Lorna Omidi at 508-963-7058 or archdiodinner@yahoo.com
REMINDERS
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 is this weekend, 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
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.
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.
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.
SEMINARIAN - We are pleased to have a seminarian from Holy Cross Seminary this year. Please welcome John Daly, from Grand Rapids , MI .
INSIGHT
A truly intelligent man has only one care -- wholeheartedly to obey Almighty God and to please Him. The one and only thing he teaches his soul is how best to do things agreeable to God, thanking Him for His merciful Providence in whatever may happen in his life. For just as it would be unseemly not to thank physicians for curing our body, even when they give us bitter and unpleasant remedies, so too would it be to remain ungrateful to God for things that appear to us painful, failing to understand that everything happens through His Providence for our good. In this understanding and this faith in God lie salvation and peace of soul.
- St. Antony the Great, A.D. 250-350
He is not yet a faithful servant who bases himself on bare knowledge alone; a faithful servant is he who professes his faith by obedience to Christ, Who gave the commandments.
- St. Mark the Ascetic
There is no shorter ascent to the royal and Divine mansions...than through subduing the five passions hostile to obedience, namely: disobedience, argumentativeness, self-gratification, self-justification and pernicious high opinion of oneself. ... But he who, through obedience, conquers the first, by one stroke cuts off all the rest and with one stride reaches heaven.
- St. Gregory of Sinai
...willing obedience is an action which shows more courage and strength of spirit than subjugating great kings and ruling over them...
- Lorenzo Scupoli, Unseen Warfare
The Lord said, "When you have done all that is commanded you, say: We are useless servants: we have only done what was our duty." (Luke 17:10) Thus the kingdom of heaven is not a reward for works, but a gift of grace prepared by the Master for His faithful servants.
- St. Hesychius the Priest
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
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
SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 23:
Epistle: St. Paul 's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27 Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory... (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=212&event=215 )
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 [Jesus] said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=169&event=1038&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, September 29: NO Vespers at St. Mary; Vespers at the Cathedral in Worcester at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 30: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.
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 22: Steve Walker and Kern Ormond
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 23: Epistle -
Communion Assistance -
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 23: Fellowship of St. John the Divine - Welcome Back breakfast