Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, February 6, 2009 through Thursday, February 12, 2009

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN'S MONTH - March is Antiochian Women's Month throughout the Archdiocese. Women of the parish will be reading the Epistle, holding the Communion cloths and bread baskets, and taking the collection.  If you can help, please contact Marilyn Robbat in the church office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org. 

MESSAGE TO ST. MARY WOMEN FROM FR. ANTONY -

Dear Sisters in Christ,

Christ is in our midst!

For Women's Month this year I hope to have four women from the Ladies Club and/or the Fellowship of St. John deliver short homilies as usual with this difference.  The homilies should be on one of these themes or topics:

1)      The themes of the particular Sunday of Great Lent or
2)      The life of a female saint, her ministry, its impact on the Church and implications for women's ministry in our times.

We will have two resource people other than me on call for reference if any questions or the need for materials arise:  Teva Regule and David Vermette.   The homilies will need to be presented to me a week in advance so I will have a chance to review them. I sincerely hope some of you will choose to participate in this important ministry.  The work of women in the Church is vital.  Your voices need to be heard.

With love in Christ,

Fr. Antony Hughes

REMINDERS

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED - Volunteers are needed for February 8 and  15, and beyond. When no one volunteers we don't have a coffee hour, so please sign up to sponsor one, individually or with friends.  Some do this to celebrate a special date or event, but you don't need a reason, and it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies.   Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call Marilyn in the office at 617-547-1234.

PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, February 11, in the small hall next to the kitchen.

MEATFARE SUNDAY BREAKFAST - The annual Meatfare Sunday Breakfast sponsored by  the Fellowship of St. John the Divine will be  Sunday, February 22.  The suggested donation  -$7 per person, $14 per family - will help support the many activities of the Fellowship at St. Mary's, including the annual Lessons and Carols evening; Learning in Lent lecture series; Wednesday evening potluck suppers after Pre-Sanctified Liturgies during Lent; the annual Father John vonHolzhausen lecture; Coffee House ministry; coffee hours and special meals;  this weekly St. Mary Update e-mail newsletter; and much more.

LENTEN FOOD SALE - The Women's Club is now taking orders for Spinach Triangles, Hoomos and Mjadara (lentils with rice).  Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin. Order deadline is Sunday, March 1.   If you would like to help cook, join us on Saturday, March 14  at 9:30 a.m.

PRE-LENTEN RETREAT - A Pre-Lenten Retreat will be held on Saturday, March 7,  at St. George Orthodox Church, Norwood MA , sponsored by diocesan Antiochian Women. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at Boston University, will speak on Orthodox Christian Unity: What, Why, Why Not Yet?  See the registration form on the Church Bulletin Board. The requested donation, including lunch, is just $15; registration deadline is Sunday, February 28.  All are welcome - this is not for women only!

BLESSING OF HOMES - Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany (January 6)  and between Holy Pascha (April 8) and Pentecost (May 27).  We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil;  to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God.  To schedule the blessing of your home please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or the monthly Cornerstone, or call the church office at 617 547-1234.

BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER - The Women's Club is requesting your support with monetary donations toward the purchase of items for our annual Baskets for the Battered Women's Family Shelter.  Each year, gifts baskets are made up of household items and given to the families to facilitate their moves into new homes and apartments.  Please see Louise Homsy or Shirley Bezreh at the Bengarri.  Make checks payable to St. Mary Women's Club and earmark:  Battered Women.  Thank you.

CROSSROADS - High School Juniors and Seniors:  The Office of Vocation & Ministry at Hellenic College is now accepting applications for its summer CrossRoad program.  Two sessions are offered:  June 20 - 30 and July 7 - 17, 2009.  For more information and application see  www.crossroad.hchc.edu or call 617-850-1309.  Application deadline is March 1, 2009 for first consideration.

2009 WEEKLY OFFERING ENVELOPES are ready for pick-up outside of the Church Office.  Look for your name alphabetically.  Remember:  if you have chosen to pay periodically, you have not been assigned weekly envelopes.  If you wish to change your payment arrangements, see or call Marilyn Robbat in the Church Office 617-547-1234.

CALENDARS - 2009 Church Calendars have arrived.  Please take one per family.

2009 PLEDGE CARDS - Please take the time to fill out your 2009 pledge card, which was mailed out recently, and return it to the Church Office as soon as possible in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided.  We especially need your pledge this year - not just a bare minimum, but a percentage of your income (10% is the biblical ideal). Everyone, including students and new arrivals, is encouraged to make a stewardship commitment to St. Mary's.  If you do not have a pledge card, please contact the Parish Office so that you may receive a New Member Packet.  Or you can take advantage of the new convenient electronic pledge card on the Stewardship page of our parish website:  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/stewardship.php

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP 2009 - Schedules have been announced for the 2009 camping program at the Village - see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html Two scholarships are available - see Fr. Antony for details.

PARKING - Please note:  If you do not plan on staying for the entire Coffee Hour on any given Sunday, please do not park in the Church Parking Lot. The first in will be the last out! Similarly, if you park in the driveway please plan to leave very promptly.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshippers and those in need.  Consider serving in one of these ways:

PARTICIPATION

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.  All Orthodox Christians in the Parish are welcome and encouraged to participate. We usually need one Epistle reader and six people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org. 

Coffee Hour - People are needed every week to provide coffee, juice and cookies, or more if desired, and set it up Sunday morning. 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 Robbat in the Parish Office and she will write your name in. If you need any help with figuring out what to bring or do, check the list below the signup sheet (also printed in the Bulletin), or ask Marilyn at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.

VOLUNTEERING

Holy Resurrection Open Doors - The Holy Resurrection Open Door Meal Ministry in Allston needs volunteers every Monday evening (there is a special need in the summer).  The official hours of the project are 4:30 pm-7:30 pm, but it is fine to come anytime and leave any time.  Best times would be 5:30-5:45 to 7:15-7:30 pm.  You can serve meals, coffee and tea to the people who arrive for dinner (6-7 pm) or just stay behind the scenes doing set-up and clean-up.  It is 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? Please contact Liz Straghalis at liztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162.

St Paul's Food Pantry - Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St Paul 's Roman Catholic Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

DONATIONS

Food and Clothing - Holy Resurrection in Allston takes donations of non-perishable food items and clothing to distribute at the Open Door Ministry on Monday evenings.  You can bring your donations by on Monday nights between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm or contact Tiffany Conroy, trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162, for more information.

- St. Paul 's Food Pantry in Harvard Square , where volunteers from St. Mary help every Saturday, depends upon regular donations of canned and packaged foods.  To help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

Monetary Contributions -  The Agape Canister Program is an Orthodox non-profit development program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center .  It is dedicated to meeting the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or creed. All funds collected by the Agape Canister Program are earmarked for medical care and clinics, water wells, agricultural development, food and clothing, support personnel (e.g. doctors, nurses, teachers), the construction of schools, and the education of indigenous people in their own communities.  Please contribute each Sunday - A clear plastic box is on the Bengarri.

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.

THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS

FOOD PANTRY: February 7:   John Rodriguez and Socrates Deligeorges
LITURGICAL SERVICE: February 8:   Epistle: David Vermette
COFFEE HOUR: February 8:   No one has volunteered

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, February 7:  Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, February 8:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;  Church School lesson 14 

SCRIPTURE READINGS for February 8, beginning of Lenten Triodion:  

Epistle:  St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy Chapter 3:10-15 

Timothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, ...  yet from them all the Lord rescued me.  Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ...

Gospel: Luke 18:10-14

The Lord spoke this parable:  "Two men went up into the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a Publican, (a tax collector).  ...  every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, February 14:  Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, February 15:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;  NO Church School (vacation week)
Saturday, February 21: No Vespers at St Marys
Sunday, February 22:  Meatfare Sunday
Saturday, February 28: No Vespers at St Marys
Sunday, March 1:  Cheesefare Sunday; Forgiveness Vespers 6:00 pm
Monday, March 2:  Great Lent begins
Sunday, March 8,  Sunday of Orthodoxy:  Pan Orthodox Vespers at St. Marys 5:00 pm

INSIGHT

Neither asceticism, nor vigils nor any kind of suffering are able to save, only true humility can do that.

   - Amma Theodora, Saying of the Desert Fathers

Let us beware therefore of saying anything about ourselves, for this renders us both odious with men and abominable to God. For this reason, the greater the good works we do, the less let us say of ourselves; this being the way to reap the greatest glory both with men and with God. Or rather, not only glory from God, but a reward, yea, a great recompense. Demand not therefore a reward that thou mayest receive a reward.

   - St John Chrysostom

This is the mark of Christianity--however much a man toils, and however many righteousnesses he performs, to feel that he has done nothing, and in fasting to say, "This is not fasting," and in praying, "This is not prayer," and in perseverance at prayer, "I have shown no perseverance; I am only just beginning to practice and to take pains;" and even if he is righteous before God, he should say, "I am not righteous, not I; I do not take pains, but only make a beginning every day."

   -  St. Macarius the Great

But look: if we are humble, God helps us to fight our sinfulness; if we are proud, He does not. And how can we acquire humility unless we are constantly humbled through seeing ourselves as we are - the worst of sinners - unless we are constantly brought to our knees in penitence?

   - St. Macarius, the Elder of Optina

When humility delivers a man from attachment to his own works and his own reputation, he discovers that perfect joy is possible only when we have completely forgotten ourselves. And it is only when we pay no more attention to our own deeds and our reputation and our own excellence that we are at last completely free to serve God in perfection for His sake alone.

   - Fr. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation