Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, July 11, 2008 through Thursday, July 17, 2008
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEAL MINISTRY NEEDS HELP - The Holy Resurrection Open Door Meal Ministry needs volunteers every Monday evening (there's a special need in the summer). The official hours of the project are 5pm-7:30pm, but it is fine to come anytime and leave any time. Best times would be 5:30-5:45 to 7:15-7:30pm. You can serve meals, coffee and tea to the people who arrive for dinner (6-7pm) or just stay behind the scenes doing set-up and clean-up, or ideally a combination of both. It's a very rewarding, hands-on, face-to-face way to serve the community with (mostly) other Orthodox Christians (we even chant the Our Father together before the meal begins). Church info can be found at http://hrocboston.org/ Questions? Call Tiffany Conroy, St Mary's FSJD, 617-990-7162
RECOMMENDED READING - In last week's sermon Fr. Antony mentioned a brief article by Fr. Thomas Hopko entitled How Can I Know, which he recommended very highly. That article can be found on the St. Mary website at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/articles/2008-07-01-how_can_i_know.php
REMINDERS
FR. ANTONY TO BE AWAY - Fr. Antony will be at the Antiochian Village for the Clergy Symposium from July 21-25, and then will be assisting in pastoral ministry to the young people attending the 4th session of Summer Camp from July 27 through August 8. In case of emergency from July 21-26, contact the Church Office 617-547-1234 or Ray Sayeg 781-769-6171. For emergencies from July 27 to August 9, contact Fr. John Teebagy of St. John Church , Dedham at 781-326-3046.
6th ANNUAL TANGLEWOOD OUTING - Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary's as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, July 27. We'll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Tower, Mendelssohn and Beethoven, with violinist Sarah Chang and the Orchestra of St. Lukes. (For more information see http://www.bso.org/bso/index.jsp;jsessionid=0SBOWRKHPVKWACTFQMGSFEQ?id=bcat5240070 ) The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are just $18. Bring picnic food for yourself and to share, or buy it on the way. For more information and to let us know you're coming, especially if you'll need a ride, contact Melissa Nassiff by email (mnassiff@gmail.com) or phone (508 877-7483).
PILGRIMAGE TO NEW SKETE - The Monastic Communities and parishioners of New Skete Monastery (OCA) in Cambridge , New York , invite you to join them for a day of prayer and reflection celebrating their feast day on Saturday, August 9, 2008 (rain or shine). The theme of the pilgrimage is "Healing: New Life in Christ." As is the rule of monastic life, the day will begin and end with prayer-- Matins at 8:30 am, followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am, and Vespers and Vigil at 5:30 pm. In addition, a special healing service will be held at approximately 4:15 pm. Two main presentations will be held in the afternoon--"Perspectives on Healing" with Dr. Demetra Velisarios Jaquet and Fr. Steven Voytovich and "Holy Unction: Human Illness, Healing, and Wellness" given by Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas. In addition, the day will include tours of the monastery Churches, a demonstration of the monks' dog program, as well as time for hiking, conversation, reflection and quiet. Activities for children and teens are also planned. Traditional ethnic and American style food will be available for purchase. For more information (or to be part of the band of volunteers from the area), see the flier on the church bulletin board and/or contact Teva Regule at teva@mitlns.mit.edu.
MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM - The 20th Anniversary Orthodox Conference on Mission & Evangelism will be held August 29 - September 1, 2008 at University of California in Santa Barbara . The topic will be "The Bible and Evangelism." Speakers are Fr. Peter Gillquest, Fr. Jon Braun, and Fr. Dan Suciu. Check Church Bulletin Board for more information, or contact 888-968-4014 or missions@antiochian.org
ONE MORE CHANDELIER - New Chandeliers have been ordered for the Church, and we expect to have them installed by the end of the summer, in plenty of time for our 80th Anniversary Celebration in October. There will be one large chandelier, which has been donated as a memorial, and six smaller chandeliers, all but one of which have been donated so far. We are presently looking for someone to donate the one remaining chandelier, plus donations to cover the cost of the electrical work. Donations can be made through the Bengarri or you can speak with Ray Sayeg or Mary Winstanley O'Connor.
CELL PHONES FOR SERVICEMEN - The Lebanese-Syrian Ladies Aid Society is sending 150-minute international phone cards to our young people involved in the Iraq-Afghanistan War, or stationed elsewhere. If you know of any young people they can help, please provide names, parents' names, addresses and phone numbers. Please contact Rose Dow 671-323-6883 or Emily Eknoian 617-323-7135.
COFFEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - The services of the Church continue all year round, and volunteers continue to be needed throughout the summer! If you've never given a coffee hour before, now's a good time to start. It's never difficult, but it's even easier in the summer. 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. Plenty of help is available if you need it.
SUMMER HOURS - Summer hours at St. Mary's will continue through August 31. Orthros begins at 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am.
WOMEN'S CLUB SUMMER READING: This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) will be reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, currently #2 on the New York Times best-seller list. Read the book over the summer, and join us in the fall for an enjoyable evening of discussion, refreshments and fellowship!
LITURGICAL SERVICE - Each Sunday, members of the congregation are needed to read the Epistle and assist during Communion by holding the Communion Cloths and Holy Bread Baskets. If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, email: jeffw@smoe.org and/or use the sign-up sheet on the Bengarri.
FOOD DONATION NEED CONTINUES - Please continue to bring cans, jars, and boxes of food and place them in the container outside the Church Office. The need is still great at St. Paul 's Food Pantry in Harvard Square , where volunteers from St. Mary help every Saturday. To help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com or (617) 876-5684.
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 pm and 7:30. Contact Liz Tutella at 617-974-5005 or ETutella@sovereignbank.com.
INSIGHT
The following excerpts are from a sermon Fr. Antony preached on June 28, 2008 at the Parish Life Conference, whose theme this year was Christian Marriage. The full text of the sermon can be found on the St. Mary website at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/sermons/2008-06-28-hughes.php
It will take great wisdom for the Church to address the issues of our times. Every age presents both dilemma and opportunity. Being an optimist I rather see these days as an opportunity to dig deep into our spiritual tradition, to reexamine and reaffirm what we believe to be true and to find new ways to minister to our suffering world. ... [Regarding the controversy over same sex marriage:] this is our moment! Will we be able to rise to the occasion and bring peace and healing and clarity to the world in which we live?
One thing I do not believe is that we need to be afraid. If Christ is in our midst, then we have nothing to fear. We do not need to circle our wagons and drag out the ammunition. We must not go into self-defense mode! That will undermine our efforts to preach the Gospel, like nothing else. If we are unwilling to listen and to love, then no one will listen to us.
We are called to do what is right, to love justice and to walk humbly before the Lord. The results are not in our hands; they are in God's. ... Let us never think that we can sacrifice the love of neighbor and at the same time preach the Gospel.
Two things are clear and self-evident. The first is that we must never be guilty of treating another human being [with harsh rejection when they ask for help]. The second is that we cannot change our understanding of marriage. It is what it is for a variety of reasons, theological and anthropological. Anything other than a sacramental marriage between one man and one woman is simply, for us, not a marriage. It may be something else, but it is not a marriage. We do not mean this to be mean-spirited at all, or to deny anyone their civil rights. We are not talking about civil rights, although at some point we probably should consider that side of the issue. We are talking about sacramental marriage. There is no reason to say what we believe in a harsh or offensive way. We can and must speak truth in love. If we do not, our hearers will not get the message. All they will hear is our anger and defensiveness.
The Church is a hospital for the sick, the lonely and the dispossessed. The Lord came to save sinners, not the righteous.
Unconditional love is the way to facilitate transformation. If confession is the way to healing, then we must not be afraid to hear and acknowledge what is confessed. The Church must be the place where people are unafraid to be completely honest about the struggles of their life in Christ.
We are responsible to bring people to Christ. It is the Lord who transforms and heals.
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, July 12: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, July 13: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am
SCRIPTURE READINGS for July 13:
Epistle: Titus 3:8-15
But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious [divisive], after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. ... And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
Gospel: 5:14-19
The Lord said to his disciples, "... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished."
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, July 19: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, July 20: Summer hours - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am
Saturday, July 26: No Vespers at St. Mary's
Saturdays, August 2 & 9: No Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, August 31: Last Sunday of summer hours
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 12: 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.
July 6: Epistle: Kowalik Robert; Left Cloth: Larisa and Marc Patacchiola; Right Cloth: Sarah Gosselin and James Wilcox; Left Bread: TBD; Right Bread: Zeda
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 13: Socrates Deligeorges