Update for the week Friday, May 4, through Thursday, May 10, 2012
THIS WEEKEND
FR ANTONY AWAY– Fr. Antony will be out of town from Wednesday to Sunday, May 2 - 6. In case of emergency, please call Fr. Timothy Ferguson of St. George Church, West Roxbury 617-323-0323.
Orthros & Divine Liturgy will be celebrated this Sunday by Fr. Phillip Begley, a Senior at Holy Cross Seminary, who is assigned to St. George Church, Lawrence.
ORTHODOXY ON TAP – Come to Roggie’s Bar & Grille in Brighton tonight (Thursday, May 3) at 7:30 pm. for the second installment of the spring 2012 edition of Orthodoxy on Tap. Tonight’s speaker will be His Grace Bishop John Abdalah. Must be 21. Admission: free. Full bar & food available, plus stimulating conversation. Next week's speaker will be Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, (May 10).
THEOPHANY SCHOOL BENEFIT – Theophany School invites you to a Benefit Evening and Auction “Dinner Party” this Saturday, May 5, at 6:30 pm, at Apollo Functions in Norwood. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information call 781-444-3058 or visit www.TheophanySchool.org.
NEW ENGLAND’S GOT TALENT – One of the special and unique features of this year’s Parish Life Conference is New England's Got Talent. This is a time to showcase your abilities. There is a $500 first prize which will be given at the Awards Dinner at the PLC. BUT FIRST, there is a preliminary round of the competition: this takes place this Sunday May 6th at 5:00 pm at Saint John of Damascus Church in Dedham. Info and applications: http://stgeorgenorwood.org/PLC2012/talent.html
NEW ENGLAND’S GOT TASTE - In addition to the preliminary round of the talent contest, there will be New England's Got Taste, also this Sunday at Saint John's. Chefs and cooks from all our churches are entering a contest and everyone who comes will help judge the food. Info and applications: http://stgeorgenorwood.org/PLC2012/talent.html
BE A JUDGE – Admission to New England’s Got Taste/Talent (see above) is only $15 and includes food, five votes and a chance to watch the talent. Send an email by Monday, April 30th to reserve seats: norwoodplc2012@gmail.com
WOMEN’S CLUB NIGHT OUT– All women are invited to attend our end-of-the-year dinner at the Tavern in the Square on Mass. Avenue in Central Square, on Monday, May 7 at 7:00 pm. RSVP by May 3 to Priscilla Goss at 781-762-1527.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWLY ILLUMINED – Congratulations to Emanuel Gardiner and Bill Dalton, who were chrismated on Holy Saturday.
BREAKFAST SEARCH – All teens (13-18) are welcome to join a "breakfast search" on Sunday, May 13th after liturgy from 11:30am-1:30pm. A breakfast search involves taking coffee and donuts into the streets and offering food and company to anyone who wants either (homeless or not). The teens, accompanied by a slew of chaperones, will be roaming Central and Harvard Squares offering both conversation and coffee (in groups of 2-3 teens per chaperone). This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community! Please RSVP to Nadia (nabuelezam@gmail.com).
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, May 16 (note corrected date).
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS –The scholarship awards ceremony for the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s Club will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West Street, Dedham, MA. The guest speaker will be His Grace, Bishop John. For additional information, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010.
SACRED MUSIC FOR PLC – A vocal workshop for the Diocese in preparation for the Parish Life Conference will be held on Sunday, May 20,
from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, here at St. Mary. The workshop will be led by our
own Brooke Wilcox, a professional vocalist and voice coach.
Also, the Diocesan Choir Rehearsal for PLC will be held here on Sunday, June 10, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.
BLESSING OF GRAVES – On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am. If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com
REMINDERS
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, not only during Bright Week (April 16-21), but until the Feast of the Ascension (May 13) – for the whole forty days that Christ remained on earth following his resurrection. 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.)
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE - Boxes were due on Palm Sunday. Please return them to the Bengarri or Violet Robbat this Sunday if you have not already done so.
SUMMER GREETERS NEEDED – Please help out! Volunteers are needed for all Sundays in July and August through September 2 (Labor Day Weekend). Please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail: buddy@cjmabardy.com. Summer Hours: Orthros: 8:15 am & Liturgy: 9:30 am. Summer might be a great time for you to start participating in this Ministry!
CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION – Sunday, May 20, will be the closing of Church School, with Graduation and festivities.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP – Scholarships are available to Antiochian Women 25 years of age or older, who choose to continue their education. You must be a member in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, be actively involved in your parish, be applying for an academic or trade study program and demonstrate financial need. Scholarship applications are available in the office. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2012.
N.G. BERAM AWARDS - The N. G. Beram Veterans Assoc. is pleased to announce the continuation of its Scholastic Achievement Awards program for the 46th year, which was established to encourage, promote and support the education of students of Arabic speaking backgrounds. High school seniors can obtain the application along with the instructions by visiting the web page at: www.stjohnd.org/ngberam. All applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2012.
FSJD SCHOLARSHIP – Graduating High School Seniors who are actively involved in the parish and whose parents are members of the parish, are eligible for the Fellowship of St. John the Divine Scholarship. Please call the Church Office with your name so that an application will be mailed to you directly by Mary Winstanley O’Connor, or contact her at moconnor@koilaw.com or 617-523-1010.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – This year’s Parish Life Conference will be held at The Cliff House, Ogunquit, Maine, June 21-24, 2012. For conference registration and information go to the conference website: http://stgeorgenorwood.org/PLC2012/index.html
Rooms at the Cliff House are already sold out. Thanks to everyone
who made their reservations. Overflow hotels are being arranged;
details and rates will be posted on the conference website as soon as
they are available.
CROSSROAD - CrossRoad is a summer institute for high school juniors and seniors on the campus of Hellenic College/Holy Cross. Participants take part in daily classes, visit neighboring Orthodox parishes and participate in service activities. CrossRoad now offers two sessions. Download an application and view a video clip at www.crossroad.hchc.edu
REGULAR REMINDERS
COFFEE HOUR SIGNUP – A signup sheet for coffee hours is posted on the bulletin board outside the coat room. There are plenty of dates to choose from after Pascha – sign up now for the date you will sponsor the coffee hour!
CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR – Church School continues through May 20, 2012. The Church School calendar can be found online at https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/assets/files/2011-2012-ChurchSchoolCalendar.pdf
DONATE VIA eGIVE– Did you know that you can make your donations to St. Mary through eGive, and have no more envelopes or checks to worry about? If you have not yet set up an account, you can do it at www.egive-usa.com, or contact Charlie Marge (marge@alum.mit.edu) for help. The Recipient Organization is “St. Mary’s Orthodox Church.”
STREAMING VIDEO – St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services below or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES – Please do not leave valuables unattended in the Church Hall or Coat Room.
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.
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:
BE A GREETER - The Parish Council is continuing the
Greeter Program, similar to other churches, to greet and aid
parishioners, guests and visitors into the Church each Sunday. As a
Greeter, you will welcome people into the Church and help to direct
visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the
Vestibule, hallways and entrance ways during church, arriving at Church
at 9:45 am. Greeting time ends when Communion starts. We need
volunteers. If you would like to be a Greeter, a Sign-Up Sheet is
posted on the Church Bulletin Board. If you have any questions, please
contact Buddy by e-mail buddy@cjmabardy.comor call him at 781-729-6303. “I was a stranger, and you invited me in………” (Matthew 25:35)
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 and six 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 new 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.
PRISON MINISTRY – If you would like to find out more about Prison Ministry at St. Mary’s Church, please subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/ocpm-concord
"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.
THIS SUNDAY'S VOLUNTEERS
GREETER: Arthur Mabbett
LITURGICAL SERVICE: Epistle: Robert Kowalik; Communion Cloths and Holy Bread baskets: Julie Jamieson, Melissa Nassiff , and others to be determined
COFFEE HOUR: Natasha & Dmitry Selivanov
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, May 5: No Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, May 6: Matins 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 22
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, May 6, the Sunday of the Paralytic:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42
Peter … came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found
a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was
paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise
and make your bed." And immediately he rose. … Now there was at Joppa a
disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. … she fell sick and died ... Peter
put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the
body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw
Peter she sat up.
Gospel: John 5:1-15
Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a
pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a
multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving
of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into
the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the
troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man
was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him
and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do
you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man
to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going
another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your
pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his
pallet and walked.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, May 12: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 13: Matins 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 23
Sunday, May 20: Church School Graduation
Wednesday, May 23: Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord 6:30 pm
Thursday-Sunday, June 21-24: Parish Life Conference
INSIGHT
At the Sheep's Pool, a man lay in illness; and on seeing Thee, O Lord,
he cried: "I have no man, that, when the water is troubled, he might put
me in it. But when I go, another precedes me and receives the healing,
and I lie in illness." And immediately, taking compassion him, the
Savior said to him: "For you I became man, for you I am clothed in
flesh, and do you say, 'I have no man?' Take up your bed and walk." All
things are possible for Thee, all things are obedient to Thee, all
things are subject to Thee. Remember us all and have mercy on us, O Holy
One, since Thou art the Friend of man.
- Glory of the Entreaty(Liti) from The Pentecostarion
Observe … the faith of the paralytic. When he had heard, "Take up thy
bed and walk," he did not mock, nor say, "What can this mean? An Angel
comes down and troubles the water, and heals only one, and do You, a
man, by a bare command and word hope to be able to do greater things
than Angels?"... But he neither said nor imagined anything like this,
but at once he heard and arose, and becoming whole, was not disobedient
to Him that gave the command.
- St. John Chrysostom,Homily 37 on the Gospel of St. John.
It is in this way that we are accounted worthy of mercy, that is,
through the fifth commandment: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will
receive mercy." (Mt. 5:7) The merciful person is he who gives
to others what he has himself received from God, whether it be money, or
food, or strength, a helpful word, a prayer, or anything else that he
has through which he can express his compassion for those in need. At
the same time he considers himself a debtor, since he has received more
than he is asked to give.
- St. Peter of Damascus, The Seven Commandments, Philokalia, Vol. 3
Accordingly, dearly-beloved, being mindful of our weakness, because we
easily fall into all kinds of faults, let us by no means neglect this
special remedy and most effectual healing of our wounds. Let us remit,
that we may have remission; let us grant the pardon which we crave; let
us not be eager to be revenged when we pray to be forgiven. Let us not
pass over the groans of the poor with a deaf ear, but with prompt
kindness bestow our mercy on the needy, that we may deserve to find
mercy in the judgment.
- Leo the Great,On Lent I