Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, June 12, through Thursday, June 18, 2009
THIS WEEKEND
FR. ANTONY AWAY - Fr. Antony is out of town this weekend, Friday, June 12, through Monday, June 15. Fr. Peter Day of Manchester , NH, will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy this Sunday.
In case of emergency during Fr. Antony's absence, please contact Fr. John Teebagy at St. John Church, Dedham 781-326-3046.
APOSTLES' FAST - The Apostles' Fast begins this Monday, June 15, and continues until the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, on June 29.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Please sign up to provide a coffee hour - it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies, and it's easier now when summer attendance is lighter. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call Marilyn in the office.
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL - St. George Church, West Roxbury, MA, will be having a four-day summer program for Pre-School (at least age 3 & potty trained) through 4th grade to learn more about their faith. Dates are Monday - Thursday, June 29 - July 2, 2009, from 8:45 am to 1:00 pm. Theme is "Traveling on the Ark of Salvation." Each day includes a lesson, snack time, singing, playtime, crafts, and lots of fun! Snacks will be provided each morning, and participants should bring a bag lunch on Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday. Lunch will be provided on the last day (Thursday) to celebrate the end of the program. The suggested Registration Donation is $15 for one child; $20 for two children; $25 for three children. Any questions: Khalil Samara 617-323-0323 or khalil@stgeorgeboston.org
ORTHODOX WOMEN'S RETREAT - Holy Resurrection Church, Allston, MA invites you to an Orthodox Women's Retreat on Saturday, June 27, 2009, from 9 am - 5 pm (Lunch Included). Topic: Facing the Challenges of Life with Faith and Joy - Learning from Lynette Hoppe & Capturing the Mission Spirit. Speaker: Fr. Luke Veronis Cost: $35 pre-paid registration; $40 at the door; $25 for students. For more information, contact P. Paula Tishel: ptishel@yahoo.com or www.hrocboston.org or 617-680-5658. Registration deadline: June 22.
REMINDERS
ICONOGRAPHY LECTURE - Next Thursday, June 18, 2009, at 7:00 pm, the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA, will host a lecture by Sir Richard Temple in honor of the recent acquisition of a monumental Christ in Majesty Icon, the centerpiece of a 1580 iconostasis. The lecture, entitled The Iconography of Christ in Majesty: History, Symbolism, and Function, is free to museum members and $10.00 for others. For more information and to register, go to http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/calendar/2009/june/event2.html.
WOMEN'S CLUB SUMMER READING - This summer Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) will be reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a New York Times best seller. Read the book over the summer, and join us in the fall for an enjoyable evening of discussion, refreshments and fellowship!
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.
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.
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
TANGLEWOOD OUTING - Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary's as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, July 12. We'll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Beethoven, Bruch and Dvorak, with violinist Joshua Bell. (For more information see http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.jsp;jsessionid=3X3WSE4LGCMGMCTFQMGSFEQ?pid=prod2880017 ) The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $19. 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).
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
June 13: Dn. Jeffrey Smith and Socrates Deligeorges
LITURGICAL SERVICE
June 14: Epistle: Bob Kowalik
COFFEE HOUR
June 14:
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, June 13: NO Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, June 14: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
SCRIPTURE READINGS for June 14, All Saints Sunday:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2
... Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith.
Gospel: Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30
The Lord said to his disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, June 20: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 21: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28: Parish Life Conference at Wyndham Hotel, Andover - NO SERVICES (no Vespers, no Liturgy) at St. Mary; church offices closed
Monday, June 29: Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Sunday, July 5: Summer hours begin - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am
Sunday, July 19 - Sunday, July 26: 2009 Archdiocese Convention at Desert Springs JW Marriot Hotel, Palm Desert, California. Check their website for more information: www.archdiocesconvention2009.org
Sunday, July 19: 40 day memorial for Bob Hamwey
INSIGHT
Let the icons of the saints bring to your mind how many intercessors you have always praying for you before God, and how many allies fighting for you in your unceasing battles. Having themselves courageously fought the enemies throughout their lives and overcome them, they have revealed and shown you the art of waging war. If, with their help, you are alert in fighting your battles, you will, like them, be crowned with victory in the eternal glory of heaven.
- Lorenzo Scupoli, Unseen Warfare
He who celebrates alone in the heart of the wilderness is a great assembly. If two celebrate along the rocks, thousands and tens of thousands are present there. If three are gathered together, a fourth is among them. If there are six or seven together, twelve thousand thousand are assembled. If they range themselves in ranks, they fill the firmament with prayer. If they be crucified on the bare rock, they are marked with a cross of light. The Church is constituted when they come together. When they come together, the Spirit hovers over their heads. When they end their prayer, the Lord rises to serve his servants.
- St. Ephrem (5th century)
By the death of martyrs religion has been defended, faith increased, the Church strengthened; the dead have conquered, the persecutors have been overcome. And so we celebrate the death of those of whose lives we are ignorant. So, too, David rejoiced in prophecy at the departure of his own soul, saying: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." He esteemed death better than life. The death itself of the martyrs is the prize of their life.
- St. Ambrose of Milan, On Belief in the Resurrection
Lest we should start thinking we are sacrificing too much of our comfort by observing yet another fast, that of the Apostles, St. Neilos the Ascetic is reminding us of the devotion Christ's Holy Disciples have shown: "The Apostles received this way of life from Christ and made it their own, renouncing the world in response to His call, disregarding fatherland, relatives and possessions. At once they adopted a harsh and strenuous way of life, facing every kind of adversity, afflicted, tormented, harassed, naked, lacking even necessities; and finally they met death boldly, imitating their Teacher faithfully in all things. Thus through their actions they left behind a true image of the highest way of life. "
- St. Neilos the Ascetic, Ascetic Discourse, Philokalia, Vol. I (quoted at http://byzantinesacredart.com/blog/2006/06/apostles-fast.html )