Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, May 1, through Thursday, May 7, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

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

vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine cordially invites you to the annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen dinner and lecture this  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.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHURCH SCHOOL CLOSING AND PICNIC - On Sunday, May 17, immediately following Divine Liturgy, we will be celebrating the close of the Church School year with  food and festivities.  The entire parish is invited to attend.  Watch for further details.

REMINDERS

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 Clay (misspelled last week; sorry!), Jonathan Hill, Brea Salib,  Rose Njuguna, and Patricia Bangert,  who were all chrismated on Holy Saturday.

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.

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.

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

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

SCRIPTURE READINGS for May 3, Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women: 

Epistle:  Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7  In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

Gospel: Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, May 9:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 10:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Lesson 22 (last class)
Sunday, May 17:  Church School Graduation and Picnic
Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28:  Parish Life Conference

INSIGHT

Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with him.
Yesterday I was dead with him; today I am sharing in his resurrection.
Yesterday I was buried with him; today I am waking with him from the sleep of death.

   - Gregory Nazianzen, Oration I, For Easter

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead,  has become  the First-fruits of them that slept.
To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.

   - St. John Chrysostom, Paschal Homily

You have heard, dearly beloved, that holy women who had followed the Lord came to the sepulcher with spices. They had loved Him when He was alive, and they showed Him their eager tenderheartedness even when He was dead. Their deed points to something that must be done in our holy Church. Thus as we hear of what they did, we must also think of our responsibility to imitate them. We too, who believe in Him Who died, approach His sepulcher with spices if we are strengthened with the sweet smell of the virtues, and if we seek the Lord with a reputation for good works. And the women who came with spices saw angels, since those who advance toward God through their holy desires, accompanied by the sweet smell of the virtues, behold the citizens from on high.

   - St. Gregory the Great, Forty Gospel Homilies

Do you wish to honor the body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside you are leaving it numb with cold and naked. He who said "this is my body," and made it so by his word, is the same that said, "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me." Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls."

   - St. John Chrysostom