Update for the week Friday, September 17, through Thursday, September 23, 2010
THIS WEEKEND
SERBIAN FESTIVAL - Friday through Sunday this weekend , September 17-19, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Alewife will be hosting its 5th annual SerbFest, featuring live music, ethnic food, photography exhibits, and much more! For more information, visit http://www.stsavaboston.org/festival.html
SONIA’S RUN – The second annual 5k road race to benefit the Theophany School, in honor of beloved friend Sonia Belcher, will be held on Saturday, September 18 , at St. George Church, West Roxbury. The 5K Run/Walk begins at 9:00 am; Kids Fun Run at 8:30 am. Be a runner….Be a volunteer….Be a sponsor! Call Kim Daly 781-510-1175 or kimdaly4@gmail.comor www.SoniasRun.org
CHURCH SCHOOL - Church School classes begin this Sunday. This first lesson will be brief, so the children can return for the Procession of the Cross immediately following Liturgy.
ON-LINE STEWARDSHIP SIGN-UP - There will be a table at Coffee Hour this Sunday for those who would like to try eGive. We’ll have a laptop to help walk you through the process on the spot. All you need to bring is a sample check from your checking account. Please e-mail Jamil Samara (jamil@jamilsamara.com) or Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) if you have any questions.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN CELEBRATION – You are cordially invited to a celebration honoring V. Rev. Fr. Ed Hughes, Spiritual Advisor to the Antiochian Women of the Diocese, Sunday, September 19, at St. George, West Roxbury (55 Emmonsdale Rd) from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served, and there will be a short program. You can win a lovely gift! Enjoy refreshments and fellowship! Everyone is welcome, including men, women and teens – and it’s free! Please to Gladys Laham at 617-469-0223, or Joyce Hanna at jnhanna@yahoo.com
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
INQUIRERS’ CLASS – The Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catechetical Group (the Inquirer's Class) will begin on September 26, 2010. This class is for non-Orthodox persons who wish to learn more about the Orthodox Faith or who are contemplating being received into the Church. It meets each Sunday from 9:00 am until 10:00 am in the St. Mary Library from September through May. If you are interested please contact David Vermette (dgvermette@gmail.comor 617-776-5635). A brochure is available at the bengarri.
FR. ANTONY to DN. MILAD’S ORDINATION - Fr. Antony will be out of town from Friday through Tuesday, September 24 – 28, 2010, attending the Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Dn. Milad Selim in Michigan.
In case of emergency, contact Fr. Timothy Ferguson at St. George Church, West Roxbury at 617-323-0323.
NO MORE CARE PACKAGES FOR SCOTT!– Scott Hakim, Fr. Antony’s "spiritual son, " a Marine who has been serving in Afghanistan for the past six months (and in Iraq before that), will be coming home in a couple of weeks. Therefore the FSJD no longer needs care package donations. We are very grateful for the generosity of all the St. Mary parishioners and friends who have contributed books, food, socks, candy, etc. for Scott and his fellow Marines. Thank you for your caring concern and prayers!
ATTENTION STUDENTS– If you are a new or returning college or university student, please fill out a green College Student Address Form on the Bengarri (desk in the Narthex) so that we have your current addresses and information and you can receive announcements about activities at St. Mary's and on campus. See Charlie Marge if you have questions.
ORTHODOX EDUCATION DAY– On Saturday, October 2, 2010, St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Yonkers, NYwill sponsor its annual Orthodox Education Day. The theme will be “Many Cultures, One Faith.” For more information see http://www.svots.edu/events/many-cultures-one-faith-orthodox-education-day
MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to inform you that William J. Matta of Quincy, father of Doreen Bargoot and her husband Andrew and grandfather of Rachel and Andrew, passed away on September 12, 2010, at the age of 78. He was the husband of the late Gloria M. (Zine) Matta. A funeral mass was celebrated at St. Agatha Church, Milton, on Thursday morning; Interment was at Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Anne Shrine 16 Church St., Fiskdale, MA 01518.
REMINDERS
WOMEN’S CLUB– The next meeting of the St. Mary Women’s Club will be Tuesday, September 21, at 7:30, in the small hall next to the kitchen. Feel free to join us!
DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING- Due to a generous donation, the church is about to install a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine downstairs in the church hall, and plans on hosting a professional training session for the AED machine in the fall for our parishioners. This training would be at no cost to parishioners and would last approximately 30-45 minutes.
In the alternative, the Parish council is requesting feedback from parishioners about interest in a combination CPR and AED class wherein attendees could receive their certification in these areas. This class would carry a small cost, would be sanctioned by the Red Cross or other entity, and would last about 4-6 hours. We need to know how many parishioners are interested in order to schedule the training. Please see Raymond Sayeg (rsayeg@dennerpellegrino.com) or Eric Straghalis (estraghalis@gmail.com) by next Sunday, September 26, if you are interested in these classes.
WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST– The Fellowship of St. John the Divine will hold its annual “Welcome Back College Students” Breakfast on Sunday, October 3, 2010. A suggested minimum donation of $5 will be gratefully accepted from non-students. Please RSVP by Sunday, September 26 – call the Church Office at 617-547-1234.
ST. THEKLA PILGRIMAGE – Theannual St. Thekla pilgrimage will take place over the weekend of September 24 – 26, 2010 at Antiochian Village. This year’s theme will be Ascending the Mountain: It’s a Family Road Trip. Presiding
Hierarch will be Rt. Rev. Bishop THOMAS, with Mother Alexandra, Abbess
of the Convent of St. Thekla, as an additional speaker. For more
information, visit www.antiochianvillage.orgor
contact the office at the Antiochian Village 724-238-3677. See
brochure on Church Bulletin Board. Registration and payment deadline:
September 1, 2010.
(Note: If you are going to this event, please contact Joyce Kilsey at
401-636-0268. She’s interested in finding people to go with.)
SFEEHA AND KIBBEH SALE - The Women’s Club is offering
for purchase freshly made Sfeeha (ground lamb-meat pizza pies with
onion, pine nuts & seasonings) and Kibbeh (8 ½”x 11” tray made with
ground lamb-meat and burghul). Everything is cooked with the finest of
ingredients and ready to eat now or freeze for the holidays! Please use
the order form in the Sunday bulletin, or contact the church office
for a copy. Order deadline is Sunday, October 3. Pick-Up Dates are Sunday, October 17 for Sfeeha, and Sunday, October 24, for Kibbeh.
WOMEN’S CLUB BOOK DISCUSSION - The Women's Club members (and anyone else who'd like to join us) are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Read the book and join us on Tuesday, October 5
for an enjoyable evening of discussion, refreshments and fellowship!
Book discussion will begin at 8:00 pm, following a brief business
meeting to begin at 7:30 pm.
ST. MARY PAWTUCKET CENTENNIAL– St. Mary, Pawtucket RI, will be celebrating their 100th anniversary the weekend of October 8-10, with Metropolitan PHILIP presiding. Events include a “Walk Down Memory Lane,” a Grand Hafli (Saturday, in Parish Hall, $40 per person), Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and a Grand Banquet ( Sunday, at Providence Marriott Downtown, $85 per person). Combo ticket: $120 per person. Call the Church Office at 401-726-1202 for tickets.
HELP MAKE SFEEHA AND KIBBEH– Please come to the church on Saturdaymorning, October 16, starting at 9:00 am to help make meat pies with the Women's Club. Lots of help will be needed – young and old, women and men are all welcome - and it's always lots of fun. Also, if you can, come at 9:00 Friday morning, October 22, to help the Women’s Club cook Kihbbeh.
HELP NEEDED: FOOD PANTRY COORDINATOR– Two to four volunteers from St. Mary are scheduled to 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 volunteer to be the new coordinator - contact outgoing coordinator Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684. Our grateful thanks to Christian for serving in this capacity for the past several years.
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please sign up to provide a coffee hour – it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies. Lots of Sundays are available in the Fall, and plenty of help is available! Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall, or call Marilyn in the office at 617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
STREAMING VIDEO- Divine Liturgy at St. Mary is broadcast live every week! Do come to church… but if you can’t, then join us on your computer! To see live broadcasts go tohttps://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/livestream. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 am every Sunday September through June, and at 9:30 am during the summer.
This ministry is looking for more volunteers who can help set up the streaming service prior to Liturgy on Sunday mornings and potentially during other events (speakers, vespers, etc.). Volunteers would rotate weekly, taking turns setting up the camera, computer and microphones each week. Some technical expertise may be required, but training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Erick Straghalis (estraghalis@gmail.com). Thank you!
FIRST IN, LAST OUT– Please do not park in the small lot behind the church unless you intend to stay through the end of coffee hour. The only way out is the single lane driveway. Please pull all the way in to the parking space, and please do not block the driveway – if the lot is full, you can park on the street or in the lot at the corner of Prospect Street and Bishop Allen Drive.
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
Communionby 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 eight people to hold
cloths and baskets. If you would like to read the Epistle or assist
during 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.orgor 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 atliztutella@gmail.com phone 617-974-5005, or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com.
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 volunteer to be the new coordinator - contact outgoing coordinator 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, for more information.
"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
LITURGICAL SERVICE – Epistle: Tiffany Conroy; Communion Cloth and Bread: Melissa Nassiff, Linda Arnold, and others
If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, jeffw@smoe.org. If you have held the bread or communion cloth before, and see an empty space, feel free to step in and help.
COFFEE HOUR – The Nebeye and Mazzoni Families
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, September 18: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, September 19, Sunday After the Elevation of the Cross: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am, followed by Procession of the Holy Cross; Church School classes start
SCRIPTURE READINGS for September 19:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20
Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but
through faith in Jesus Christ, … I have been crucified with Christ; it
is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.
Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life
will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's
will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and
forfeit his life? "
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, September 25: NO Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, September 26: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 2
Saturday, October 2: Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, October 3: Welcome Back Breakfast
Saturday, October 9: No Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, October 10: No Church School
INSIGHT
We must bear our cross because we want to be with Christ and to
participate in His glory. If Jesus Christ, our Master and Teacher,
gained heavenly glory through suffering, would it not be shameful for us
to share His glory when we faintheartedly shun any trials or sorrows?
- St. Innocent of Irkutsk, Indication of the Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven
All the works of our life and its various activities will pass away and
disappear... Nothing will remain except these two peculiar acts: God's
love for us and our worship of him. These two shall never pass away even
after this life is over. They shall last forevermore in the life to
come.
- Abba Matthew the Poor
Morality is a heresy when it becomes a substitute for our life in
Christ, . . . when we reduce religion to a moral code, when we reduce
the faith to a system of correct behavior instead of a struggle to
purify the conscience and acquire the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
- Archbishop Lazar Puhalo
O Lord, Thou didst reproach the Pharisee when he justified himself,
boasting of his deeds; and justified the Publican when he approached
humbly, seeking forgiveness with sighs; for Thou dost not draw near to
arrogant thoughts, nor turn away contrite hearts. Wherefore, we also
kneel before Thee meekly, O Thou Who didst suffer for our sakes. Grant
us forgiveness and thy Great Mercy.
- Doxasticon from Orthros, Tone 8