St. Mary Orthodox Church

Update for the week Friday, May 25, through Thursday, May 31, 2012

THIS WEEKEND

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

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

FASTING RESUMES - Regular Wednesday and Friday fasting resumes this Friday, May 25, the day after the Feast of the Ascension, and continues until Pentecost, June 3.  We fast  “on Wednesday because on this day the council of the Jews was gathered to betray our Lord; and on Friday because on this day He suffered death for our salvation.” (http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/exo_fasting.aspx)

VIDEO STREAMING FOR EVENTS – Now you can video stream your wedding or baptism live from St. Mary’s to friends and family who can't attend your event in person.  The cost for Event Video Streaming is $150 for members, $300 for non-members, and includes a password- protected viewing page and setup and breakdown of the streaming service for your event by a trained staff member.   You can also get a copy of your streamed event on CD: $50 for members, $100 for non-members. Fees are payable to the church. Streaming is subject to staff availability. For general questions on the video streaming ministry or event streaming, please contact live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.  To schedule your event and/or request Event Video Streaming, please contact the Church Office.

THEOPHANY SCHOOL CAMP – Theophany School will be hosting a one-week session of summer enrichment camp from Monday-Friday, June 4-8, 2012.  This exciting week will be geared  toward children ages 2.9—6 years.  We will be making maps, searching for treasures, and taking an imaginary voyage.  Daily programs will begin at 9:00 am and will end with pickup at 1:00 pm.  Cost is $220.00 per child and spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  For more information or to register your child, please call 781-444-3058.

REMINDERS

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.

PLC CHOIR REHEARSAL – The Diocesan Choir Rehearsal for the Parish Life Conference will be held at St. George in Norwood on Sunday, June 10, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.

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 
   Hotel info -  Rooms at the Cliff House in Ogunquit are sold out.Rooms are available at the Best Western in York, just 8 miles away.  Rates are $99 / night.Phone them direct at 207-363-8903.
   Talent competition -  After the First Round, the top three were Greg Abdalah of Worcester, Tyler Campbell of Norwood, and Heather Feldman of Dedham; however all acts will be going through to the Finals at the Parish Life Conference.  St. Mary’s competitors include: Anthony Marge, Charlie & Arlene Marge, and a quartet of Paul Nahass, Michelle Mabardy, Charlie and Arlene Marge.

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! 

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!

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:  Michael Decerbo

LITURGICAL SERVICE: Epistle: Sarah Byrne;  Cloth and Bread: Maggie Arnold, Dimitrios Antos, and others to be determined

COFFEE HOUR:  No volunteers; no coffee hour 

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, May 26:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, May 27:  Matins 8:45 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, May 27: 
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36
… be alert… In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Gospel: John 17:1-13
Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. … Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. … now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

Monday, May 28: Blessing of Graves at Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park 9:00 am

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, June 2:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, June 3, Feast of Pentecost:  Matins 8:45 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Saturday, June 9:  No Vespers at St. Mary

Thursday-Sunday, June 21-24:  Parish Life Conference - No services at St. Mary

Friday, June 29:  Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul, the Apostles - No services at St. Mary

Saturday, June 30:  No Vespers at St. Mary

Sunday, July 1:  Summer Hours begin - Orthros 8:15 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

INSIGHT

The path God had set before Adam and Eve involved unceasing communion with God, so that they could attain the goal of likeness to God. In this communion they would love God and depend on his love toward them. In taking and eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve chose instead to become “like God” by a different path. In so doing, they freely chose to disobey the divine command, “going their own way.” Thus Adam and Eve violated the communion they had previously known with God and rebelled against their Creator.
   - James R. Payton Jr., Light from the Christian East

When a man begins to perceive the love of God in all its richness, he begins also to love his neighbor with spiritual perception. This is the love of which all the scriptures speak. Friendship after the flesh is very easily destroyed on some slight pretext, since it is not held firm by spiritual perception. But when a person is spiritually awakened, even if something irritates him, the bond of love is not dissolved; rekindling himself with the warmth of the love of God, he quickly recovers himself and with great joy seeks his neighbor’s love, even though he has been gravely wronged or insulted by him. For the sweetness of God completely consumes the bitterness of the quarrel.
   - St. Diadochos of Photiki, The Philokalia, Vol. 1

The kingdom of God is the life of the Holy Trinity in the world. It is the kingdom of holiness, goodness, truth, beauty, love, peace and joy. These qualities are not works of the human spirit. They proceed from the life of God and reveal God.
   - excerpted from http://lent.goarch.org/palm_sunday/learn  

True faith, then, is an unconditional orientation of the whole person toward the will of God. … God has set as the destiny of all people: immortality, participation in the glory of the Godhead, the joy of the all-embracing Divine Love. God has set this as our destiny and not only taught us how to attain to it, but in Christ has made it clearly possible for us to arrive at it. Because of his sins, man always falls short of this destiny, but because of Christ Who, as true human, arrived at this destiny and attained to it for all mankind, (Romans.5:12) we can inherit it anyway by choosing to strive for a life in Christ (Romans 3:24-30).
   - Archbishop Lazar Puhalo, from "The Neurobiology of Sin"