Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, April 24, through Thursday, April 30, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

FSJD BOOK CLUB - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine invites you to a book discussion this  Sunday, April 26.

Book: Mystic Street: Meditations on a Spiritual Path by Steve Georgiou
When: Sunday, April 26, around noon, following Liturgy and Coffee Hour
Where: We'll meet up in the church hall after coffee hour and discuss
To buy the book: You can still order the book through Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Street-S-T-Georgiou/dp/2895079021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240246437&sr=8-1)

This discussion will coordinate with the vonHolzhausen lecture the following week, since our speaker then will be the author of this book.  Questions? Conctact Larisa Patachiola or Brooke Wilcox at larisademshuk@yahoo.com or brookewilcox@gmail.com.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHRIST IS RISEN! - Truly, He is Risen!
Arabic:          Al Maseeh Qam!  Haqan qam!
Greek:            Christos Anesti!  Alithos Anesti!
Slavonic:      Khristos Voskrese!  Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat!  Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Tigrinian:   Kristos Tensiu!  Behake Tensiu!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew!                  Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
Armenian:  Krisdos Haryav ee Merelotz!  Orhnyal Eh Haryootyoonun Krisdosee!
Spanish:       Christo ha Resucitado!  En Verdad ha Resucitado!
[Language of your choice: ] To find how the Paschal Greeting is said in even more languages check out this site, which has text and voice recordings for over 250 languages: http://www.srbigham.com/en/langues.html

NEWLY ILLUMINED - Congratulations to Sushma Agam, Joshua Cole,  Amy Gray, Jonathan Hill, Brea Salib,            Rose Njuguna, and Patricia Bangert,  who were all chrismated last week.

REMINDERS

PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, April 29, at 7:30 pm.

vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine cordially invites you to the annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen dinner and lecture next Saturday, May 2, 2009, following Vespers. Dinner is at 6:00 p.m.; the lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m.  The cost is your generous freewill donation.

This year's speaker is S.T. Georgiou, Ph.D., who teaches Humanities and Comparative Religion at San Francisco City College and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.  He recently completed his GTU doctoral studies in Religion and Art,  and is the author of The Way of the Dreamcatcher: Spirit-Lessons With Robert Lax,  Poet-Peacemaker-Sage;  and Mystic Street: Meditations On A Spiritual Path (the subject of our Book Club discussion - see above).  The title of his lecture will be When Less is More: Sharing the Wisdom & Simplicity of Robert Lax, Poet, Hermit, Mystic of Patmos.  A book signing will follow his presentation.

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN - There will be a Diocesan Antiochian Women's Meeting here at St. Mary Church next Saturday, May 2, 2009 at starting at 10:00 am, followed by lunch.  We encourage all women to join us.

HOLY WEEK VIDEO and PHOTOS-Most of the services at St. Mary's this past week were broadcast over the web.  In fact, nearly 200 people logged in to watch a variety of services throughout the week!  If you missed any of the services or would like to watch video recorded from our live Holy Week broadcasts, visit https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live. 

As we continue to seek out new ways to extend the ministry of the Church beyond our walls, we ask you to help us by providing your feedback.  If you had the opportunity to view any of the services (whether live or pre-recorded) on the church's web site, please send us an email describing your experience.  In your email, please include: the circumstances for watching the services online, what you think of this ministry, whether you would be interested in the continuation of this type of ministry, and any suggestions you may have for bettering this ministry if it were to continue.  Send your feedback via email to: webmaster@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org

Photographs from Holy Week and Pascha are also available for viewing on the St. Mary website. See  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/multimedia/photogalleries/pascha2009

NO FASTING - There is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, not only during Bright Week, but for the whole forty days from Pascha until the Feast of the Ascension on May 28.  (This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch .)  This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.

CELEBRATION WITH THE METROPOLITAN -  St. George Church, West Roxbury, is having its Feast Day Celebration 2009 with Metropolitan PHILIP on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3.  May 2: Church School Program & Luncheon; International Extravaganza after Vespers.  May 3: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy followed by Parish Family Dinner.  Combo Tickets:  Adults $50; Children 8-16 yrs $20; Children 4-7 yrs $10.  For reservations, call Pat Ayoub 781-326-6755.  Reservation Deadline:   Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

PENTECOST RETREAT AT NEW SKETE - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine is sponsoring a community building retreat for St. Mary's (and friends) at New Skete Monastery, Cambridge, NY, May 22-24 (Friday night until Sunday afternoon).  In the spirit of the Paschal/Pentecost season, the theme for the weekend is "Gifts of the Spirit," taken from 1 Cor. 12:7: "To each one has been given the Gifts of the Spirit for the Common Good."  Plans for the weekend include talks focusing on the theme with personal reflective time and group discussions as well as one introducing retreatants to the community and liturgical life of the monastery, opportunities to join the New Skete Communities for worship, and free time for hiking, journaling, playing with the dogs, etc.  Opportunities for personal spiritual direction and/or sacramental confession are also available.  For more information about the weekend and/or to reserve a spot, contact Tiffany Conroy (trattus1@gmail.com).  Retreatants will be housed at the various monastic communities' guest facilities (and possibly, nearby hotels).  Contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) to reserve housing at the monastery.      Please RSVP by Sunday, May 10.

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS - The   N.G. Beram Veterans Association announces the 43rd year of its Scholastic Achievement Awards, which were established to encourage, promote and support the education of students of Arabic-speaking backgrounds.  High school seniors can obtain an application in the Church Office or by visiting the web at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam.   Applications must be postmarked no later than June 1.

SUMMER CONFERENCE AT ST. VLADIMIR'S - St. Vladimir's Seminary, Yonkers, NY, has announced a Summer Conference for Clergy & Laity, June 18 - 20, 2009 Keynote:  Archpriest Alexander Garklavs. Topic: "The Council & the Tomos: 20th Century Landmarks towards a 21st Century Church." E-mail or call 914-961-8313 Ext. 343.  To register:  www.svotsedu or email: events@svots.edu   See flyer on church bulletin board.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE - St. George Church in Lawrence will be hosting the 2009 Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of New England, June 25-28, at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover , MA .  Singles and Doubles:  $95.  Triples: $105 and Quads: $115.  Hotel reservation deadline is June 4, 2009; mention Parish Life Conference for special rates.   More information can be found on St. George's website at www.stgeorgelawrence.org/Conf2009     

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP - Schedules have been announced for the 2009 camping program at the Village - see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html

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. 

ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - The national convention for the whole Archdiocese will be held July 19 - 26 at Desert Springs JW Marriot Hotel, Palm Desert , California, hosted by St. Michael Church, Van Nuys. Check out their website at www.archdioceseconvention2009.org  for more information.

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 - April 25:  Socrates Deligeorge, Lan Hu, and the Chin Family

LITURGICAL SERVICE - April 26:   Epistle:  Mary Long;  Left Cloth: Chris Minidis;  Right Cloth: Mary and George Sioras;  Left Bread: Antonia Atanasova;  Right Bread: Martin Scrivener

COFFEE HOUR - April 26:   Bill and Julie Warfield

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, April 25:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, April 26, Thomas Sunday:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by FSJD Book Discussion;   Church School Lesson 20

SCRIPTURE READINGS for April 26: 

Epistle:  Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20  In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. ... And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Gospel: John 20:19-31  Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." ... Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!"

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, May 2:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm;  FSJD dinner 6:00 pm; Fr. John vonHolzhausen lecture 7:00 pm
Sunday, May 3:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Lesson 21
Sunday, May 17:  Church School Graduation and Picnic
Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28:  Parish Life Conference

INSIGHT

You cannot be a man of faith unless you know how to doubt. You cannot believe in God unless you are capable of questioning the authority of prejudice, even though that prejudice may seem to be religious. Faith is not blind conformity to a prejudice - a "pre-judgment. " It is a decision, a judgment that is fully and deliberately taken in the light of a truth that cannot be proven. It is not merely the acceptance of a decision that has been made by someone else.

   - Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

We, as reverent partakers of the host, are also changed; we "en-God" ourselves in consuming the Eucharist. Once we drink from the holy cup, the timeless God enters into us, and we too become eternal chalices meant to contain and distribute him in love. Our mortality takes on immortality; we realize our role as Spirit-bearers and sharers, created from the beginning to disseminate light and joy forever.

   - S.T.Georgiou, Mystic Street (from the chapter entitled "Timelessness")

The oft-quoted Biblical phrase "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) simply tells us to become what we already are: reflective vessels filled with the light of God's presence. Both in this life and in the Spirit-filled vastness of eternity, the only thing we can ever truly be is still. We have nowhere to go, because we are already there in God. So, as contemplatives, there is nothing left to do - all doing is effected through the Almighty, who desires that we empty ourselves of our egoistic selves in order to purely be in him. So many of life's lessons seem to point to this ultimate teaching.

   - S.T.Georgiou, Mystic Street (from the chapter entitled "Already There")

We may die and leave the earth, but our prayers go on forever, healing and protecting creation unto eternity, for anything good, directed toward God, becomes infinite. ...  A prayer said in complete faith and fullness of heart permeates time and space; it mystically vibrates through every dimension of earth and heaven. It carries with it the irrepressible energy of the Big Bang, and of the Resurrection, even anticipating the Second Coming, because it invokes the ever-present Power through which creation was born, and in which life will one day be transfigured. Ultimately, prayer is about love.  ...  The channels of communion between our Maker and ourselves must always be kept as clear as possible, precisely tuned to the frequency of love, that we might help to pray everyone (and everything) home.

   - S.T.Georgiou, Mystic Street (from the chapter entitled "Prayer Trails")