Update for the week Friday, June 8, through Thursday, June 14, 2012

THIS WEEKEND

DIOCESAN CHOIR REHEARSAL– There will be a Diocesan Choir Rehearsal to prepare for the Parish Life Conference this Sunday, June 10, 2:30 – 5:30pm at St. George, Norwood.  The PLC Host Parish has offered to serve dinner afterwards so we need to know who is coming.  If you are coming, please sign up at www.mysignup.com/diocesanchoir.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

BIBLE BOWL and ORATORICAL FESTIVAL –Thomas and Anthony Marge and Alex Dalton, coached by Violet Robbat,  will represent St. Mary in the Bible Bowl at the Parish Life Conference on Friday evening, June 22.  Then Thomas Marge and Andrew Dalton will be our participants in the Oratorical Festival on Saturday morning.  Come and support our participants. We wish them all much success!
 
SUMMER GREETERS NEEDED – Volunteers are needed for Sundays in July: 15, 22 and August: 5, 12, 19 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! 

ARCHDIOCESE SCHOLARSHIPS – In order to download scholarship applications and instruction available through our Archdiocese, log on to www.anticohian.org, click on Youth Ministry and Scholarships.
 
GREEK FESTIVAL- Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 14 Magazine St., Cambridge, will hold a Greek Festival Friday - Sunday, June 15 - 17 from  11:00 am to 11:00 pm.   There will be live music, dancing, foods, pastries, Children’s Game Room, Flea Market, etc.   FREE Admission
 
MIDDLE EASTERN FESTIVAL– St. John, Dedham will hold a Middle Eastern Festival/Mahrajan on Saturday, June 16, from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm on the Church grounds.  There will be food, live music from 3-8 pm, and family fun!  Adults: $10 &  Children: $5
 
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL 2012– St. George Church, West Roxbury will offer Vacation Church School, Tuesday through Friday, August 21 – 24, for Pre-School (at least 3 yrs. old AND potty trained)  through 4th Grade.  Theme:  Heroes of the Bible. There will be lessons, crafts, playtime, singing and fun!  Snack provided each morning.  Registration Donation:  $15/1 child; $20/2 children; $25/3 children. Volunteers are needed.  Contact Elisabeth: Elisabeth@stgeorgeofboston.org  or call 617-323-0323.

 
REMINDERS

APOSTLES FAST - The week after the Feast of Pentecost there has been no fasting.  The Apostles Fast begins on Monday, June 11 and continues until The Feast of the Apostles on June 29.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE UPDATE– This year’s Parish Life Conference, with His Grace Bishop John, will be held at The Cliff House, Ogunquit, Maine, June 21-24, 2012.  Note: the last day to register for the Lobster Bake is June 15th.  We also anticipate a sell-out at the Awards & Talent Competition Dinner.  For conference registration and information go to the conference website:  http://stgeorgenorwood.org/PLC2012/index.html
   Hotel info -  The overflow hotels in the area are filling up fast, and as demand increases, many places are raising their prices.  Internet travel sites will give you the best rates and locations.

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! 

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.

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.

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:  Paul Demerjian

LITURGICAL SERVICE: Epistle: Melissa Nassiff; Left Cloth: Maggie Arnold and Dimitrios Antos; Right Cloth: James and Brooke Wilcox; Left Bread and Right Bread: to be determined

COFFEE HOUR:  Azeb Urge and family

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, June 9:  No Vespers at St. Mary

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

SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, June 10, the Sunday of All Saints: 
Epistle: Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2
Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness… Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging …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, "Everyone 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. … And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first."

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, June 16:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, June 17:  Matins 8:45 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Thursday-Sunday, June 21-24:  Parish Life Conference at the Cliff House, Ogunquit, ME (No services at St. Mary, and church offices will be closed.)

Saturday, June 23:  No Vespers at St. Mary, Vespers will be at Parish Life Conference

Sunday, June 24:  No Liturgy at St. Mary; Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Parish Life Conference

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

   Each man, woman and child in the great history of the Church who witnessed for Christ is regarded a Saint by the Orthodox Church.  Since we have no way of knowing all of them, and since the list of Saints has increased many times over and continues to do so, our church sets aside the Sunday after Pentecost as the Feast Day for All Saints.
   On the Feast Day of All Saints, we celebrate the memory of all the Saints; Prophets, Martyrs, Confessors, Clergy, teachers and pious men, women and children, who spent their lives in piety and true worship, glorifying God with their deeds and thoughts.
   - Rev. Fr. George Poulos, Lives of the Saints and Major Feast Days
 
Many think sainthood is a privilege reserved only for the chosen few.  Actually, to become a saint is the task of every Christian, and what’s more, we could even say it’s the task of everyone! How many times have we thought that the Saints are merely “eccentrics” … We need the example of these holy women and men who had no moderation but only exuberance!  They were people with ordinary affections, who took God seriously and were therefore free to act with exuberance. Not measured or moderate, the Saint’s response to God’s extravagant love is equally immoderate, marked by fidelity and total commitment.
   - Thomas Rosica,“Is there Room for God in Our World Today?” from http://www.zenit.org/article-21438?l=english  
 
The Saints are called stars in the spiritual firmament. May we, by remembering the Saints of God, also begin to shine in that firmament. And by making the Saints our friends and preceptors now, may we have them as our heavenly companions in the never-ending Kingdom of Light.
   - Hieromonk Damascene
 
Let us also live in imitation of all the Saints, to have them always as aids and protectors. Let us imitate their struggles and virtues and especially humility, faith, hope and love.
   - Elder Joseph the Hesychast
 
If you love your neighbor, then all of heaven will love you. If you are united in spirit with your fellow creatures, then you will be united with God and all the company of heaven; if you are merciful to your neighbor, then God and all the angels and saints will be merciful to you. If you pray for others then all of heaven will intercede for you. The Lord our God is holy; be holy yourself also.
   - St. John of Kronstadt