Weekly Newsletter for the week of Friday, October 12 2007 through Thursday, October 18, 2007
ST. MARY UPDATE
Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, October 12, 2007 through Thursday, October 18, 2007
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPDATE YOUR PROFILE - Does this St. Mary Update have a colored banner across the top, with a picture of the church? If not, you may want to update your profile on Topica, our distribution service. For a more attractive version of the Update (if your email supports HTML formatting), click on Update Profile at the bottom of this email. When you're connected, choose HTML for your Content Format. And while you're at it, please make sure we have your first and last name as well as your email address.
CANNED FOOD DRIVE - October 16, 2007 is World Food Day, a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger. The Antiochian Archdiocese is one of its sponsoring organizations. During October through December this year, please bring CANNED GOODS ONLY and place them in the container outside the Church Office. Our Teens will then weigh them and the canned goods will be given to the CEOC Food Pantry at 11 Inman St. for distribution. Please be generous - it takes 42 pounds of food to feed a family of four for 3 days.
REMINDERS
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 this Sunday, October 14 for Kibbeh, and by October 21 for Sfeeha. See the order form in the Sunday Bulletin.
Plan to come to the church on Friday morning, October 19, to make the Kibbeh, and/or on Saturday morning, October 27, to help make the meat pies. Pick-up will be Sunday, October 21 for Kibbeh and Sunday, October 28 for Sfeeha.
FOOTLAMPS - The first lecture in the 2007-2008 Footlamps series, sponsored by the Diocesan Fellowship of St. John the Divine, will be Saturday, October 20, at St. George Church in West Roxbury (not here at St. Mary as originally announced). The topic will be The Spirit of Mission, with Fr. Luke A. Veronis. All are invited to attend. Vespers begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by the lecture and light refreshments. Suggested donation $5. RSVP to Ghada Khouri at 781-275-7244 or nerfellowship@yahoo.com. Plan to go early and visit the St. George parish Bazaar.
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.
ORTHODOX INSTITUTE - The Archdiocesan Department of Christian Education is sponsoring its annual Orthodox Institute at the Antiochian Village , November 1 through 4. This year's theme is Orthodox Unity, and the keynote speaker will be The Very Rev. Fr. Peter Gillquist, Director of the Department of Missions and Evangelism. There will be courses for teachers, church school directors, and those wanting to learn more about Orthodoxy. For more information see http://www.antiochian.org/node/16413
BENEFIT DINNER FOR AL-KAFAAT - His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP and the churches of the Diocese of Worcester and New England invite you to a benefit dinner to support the work of the Al-Kafaat Foundation (www.al-kafaat.org), one of the leading vocational rehabilitation facilities in the Middle East, on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 55 Emmonsdale Road, West Roxbury, MA. Cocktails at 5 pm; Dinner at 6 pm. Donation is $100 per person. For tickets, please see your parish priest or call St. George at 617.323.0323. Please make your checks payable to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, earmarked "Al-Kafaat"
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 or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.
INSIGHT
Rejoice at every opportunity of showing kindness to your neighbor as a true Christian who strives to store up as many good works as possible, especially the treasures of love. Do not rejoice when others show you kindness and love - consider yourself unworthy of it; but rejoice when an occasion presents itself for you to show love. Show love simply, without any deviation into cunning thoughts, without any trivial, worldly, covetous calculations, remembering that love is God Himself. Remember that He sees all your ways, sees all the thoughts and movements of your heart.
- Saint John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ
If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
- Arab Proverb
Whoever bears fruit with works of faith and love, he is a real disciple of Christ.
- Saint John Chrysostom
It is a true saying, that the fruit of good deeds is honorable. For those who wish to lead lives pure and undefiled as far as is possible for men, Christ will adorn with His gifts, and grant them an abundant recompense for all their saintly deeds, and make them partakers of His glory. For it is impossible that He should ever lie who says, "As I live, saith the Lord, those who honor Me, I will honor."
- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, October 13: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 14: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.
SCRIPTURE READINGS for October 14:
Epistle: St. Paul 's Letter to the Philippians 4:10-23 It was kind of you to share my trouble ... you sent me help once and again. Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit. ... And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=epistle&code=146 )
Gospel: Luke 8:5-15 The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; ... And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold. ... And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." (The entire reading may be found at http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/lectionary.asp?type=gospel&code=189&event=883&DL=EN )
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, October 20: NO Vespers at St. Mary; Vespers at St. George, West Roxbury 5:00 p.m. followed by Footlamps
Sunday, October 21: Orthros 8:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.
Christian Education Sunday (parents visit their children's classes), followed by lunch
Saturday, October 27: Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
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.
October 13: The Chin family, Steve Walker and John Rodriguez
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.
October 14: Teens of the parish (Youth Month)
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.
October 14: Frank Hughes 40 Days, given by his family
October 21: Sobhy Mabardy 40 Days, Lunch donated by his family
October 28: Donna Boyko 40 Days, Share-Our-Harvest Coffee Hour assisted by her family