Update for the week Friday, January 18, through Thursday, January 24, 2013

THIS WEEKEND

ICON NEEDED – Do you have an icon of Xenia Deaconess of Rome, Gregory the Theologian, or the New Martyrs of Russia? The Church School needs one of these to carry in procession this Sunday. If you can bring one in please contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu), and give it to her at the beginning of Liturgy.

PARISH MEETING – The Annual Meeting of the Parish will be held this Sunday, January 20, after Liturgy.  It is important that all members of St. Mary Church attend this meeting. 

There will be no coffee hour this week.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OFFICERS – The newly elected members of the Parish Council are Nick Bezreh, Shirley Bezreh, Mitch Bezreh, Deno Takles and Erick Straghalis.   Officers of the Parish Council for 2013 are Mary Winstanley O’Connor, President; Deno Takles, Vice President; Nick Bezreh, Treasurer; Marc Patacchiola, Recording Secretary; and Renay DiFiore, Corresponding Secretary.  Congratulations to all!

ICON NEEDED - Do you have an icon of Ephraim the Syrian, or the Three Hierarchs? The Church School needs one of these to carry in procession next Sunday, January 27. If you can bring one in please contact Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu), and give it to her at the beginning of Liturgy.

DO YOU LIKE COFFEE? – If you do, please sign up to provide a coffee hour. When no one volunteers, we don’t have one.  So please sponsor a coffee hour, individually or with friends.  Some do this to celebrate a special event or anniversary, but you don’t need a reason, and it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies.   Signup sheets are on the bulletin board downstairs outside the Hall. The next several weeks are available!

TEEN SOYO BREAKFAST SEARCH – Teens and young adults are welcome to join St. Mary\'s 2nd Breakfast Search after liturgy on Sunday, February 3. We will get a brief orientation by Theo Smith and will head out into the streets of Cambridge to provide smiles and doughnuts to those in need of either! Please consider joining us, as the last event was a huge success!

TEEN SOYO – Teens are welcome to attend an evening of discussion and fun after vespers on Saturday, February 9 (from after vespers till 8:30 pm). We\'ll have guests from the Crossroad Summer Program, pizza, and snacks. Feel free to bring a friend. Last year\'s event was a great success and everyone had a great time. We\'ll be talking about life, the future, and vocation!

ST. MARY’S GOT TALENT – Wanted: performers (singers, instrumentalists, bands, dancers, stand-up comedy) - contact Julie (julie31415pi@gmail.com)
   Wanted: art to display (painters, drawers, sculptors, needlework) - contact Julie (julie31415pi@gmail.com)
   Wanted: bakers (so the audience can buy dessert to eat while enjoying the show) - contact Socrates (dr.socrates@gmail.com)
   Wanted: an audience - plan to join us on the evening of Saturday, February 16, after vespers. More information to come.  Note: this event is not a competition, it is a talent expo.

CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAKFAST– Join the FSJD for the 2013 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast, to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC), on Sunday, February 17.  Suggested minimum donation is $5.00 per adult.  RSVP to Nelson Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, February 13.

MEMORY ETERNAL - Joseph Teebagy, husband of Helen Teebagy and brother of Julie Warfield, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, January 10, 2013. Funeral services were held here at St. Mary Church on Wednesday, January 16, with interment at Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park, MA.  Donations may be made in Joseph’s  memory  to St. Mary Church, Cambridge. May his memory be eternal. 

REMINDERS

BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany/Theophany (January 6)  and between Pascha (May 5) and Pentecost (June 23).  We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil;  to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God.  To schedule the blessing of your home, please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or call the church office at 617 547-1234.

PLEDGE CARDS – 2013 pledge cards have been mailed.  If you have not yet made your pledge, please return your signed card right away. Or you can make your pledge online at  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/stewardship.php

2013 CALENDARS AND ENVELOPES – New Church Calendars and 2013 Offering Envelopes are available for pick-up starting this Sunday, December 2.  They are in the Hallway outside of the Church Office.  If you would like to be issued envelopes, please call Marilyn Robbat in the Church Office during the week 617-547-1234.

MID-WINTER MEETINGS – The annual mid-winter meetings of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine,  Antiochian Women, and Teen SOYO of the Archdiocese will be held at Antiochian Village Friday through Sunday, February 1 - 3, 2013.

PASTORAL CHALLENGES IN MARRIAGE - The Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is hosting a conference at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Thursday through Saturday, February 7-9, 2013,  to inspire and equip those in the front lines of ministry with tools and resources to effectively serve the pastoral challenges of marriage they encounter. The conference is open to clergy, seminarians, pastoral care workers, professional counselors, ministry leaders, and all who minister to Orthodox Christian couples. Speakers include our own bishop, His Grace, Bishop John  (D.Min.), Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald (M.Div., Ph.D.), and Ary Christofidis (Ph.D., LCP). For more information and to register, see  http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/family/pc2013conf.

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE WINTER CAMP –  Winter Camp is a weekend of fun and spiritual growth at the Antiochian Village Camp, and is open to all campers in grades 7-12. It is held over Presidents Day holiday weekend,  February 15-18, 2013. For more information and to register, see http://antiochianvillage.org/camp/programs/wintercamp.html.

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE SUMMER CAMP – Summer Camp registration for 2013 is now open.  For information see  http://antiochianvillage.org/camp/programs/summercamp.html   To register see http://antiochianvillage.org/camp/programs/registration.html.  Please don\'t wait to register - camp fills up very quickly.  Please note that you are not registered until you have paid the $100 deposit and receive a confirmation email.  Also note that to take advantage of the early-bird discount you must have your camper tuition fees paid in full by March 1st.  Scholarships are available – contact Fr. Antony.

WINTER CAMP  AT  ST. METHODIOS – We are invited to participate in camps for Youth ages 12-18 (February 15-18) and for Families (March 1-3) at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH, sponsored by the Metropolis of Boston. For information and registration see http://www.boston.goarch.org/youth_ministries/mbc/winter_camps.html Registration is open now.

REAL BREAK – This spring, be a light to the world! Real Break is a popular alternative to the traditional spring break for college students.  Entering its 12th year, OCF Real Break continues to offer transformative, priest-led trips both domestically and internationally.  To find detailed information regarding the Real Break trips in March 2013 and to register, please visit www.ocf.net/realbreak.  Be a part of this year\'s life-changing week-long Real Break experience.

FAMILY MISSION TO ALBANIA – All Orthodox Christians from North America who have experience with children are invited to prayerfully consider helping with a family retreat program in Albania this coming July, sponsored jointly by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care. Families with children, couples, and individuals are encouraged to apply. The mission will be led by our own Panayiotis and Shannon Sakellariou. For more information see http://www.ocmc.org/resources/view_article.aspx?ArticleId=899

REGULAR REMINDERS

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.”
     If you missed the opportunity to contribute to some of the special collections held recently,  you can still do so online – Special Categories have been set up in eGive for these one-time donations. 
     Parishioners can also use their credit cards to make one-time donations on our website:  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/contact/donate.php    Just type the donation target (e.g. Hurricane Sandy) in the Additional Notes area.

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.

CONFESSIONS –  Confessions are heard each Saturday evening before and after Vespers, which start at 5:00 pm,  or by appointment.

PARKING –  If you park in the Church parking lot, you need to plan on remaining until after the Coffee Hour or other church function.  Do not park in the Church parking lot if you need to leave immediately after church. 
   Additionally, do not park beyond the sign that prohibits parking at the corner of Inman Street and Bishop Allen Drive.  It is difficult for large vehicles to turn the corner if cars are parked there.  Failure to heed this warning may result in the City preventing parishioners from parking on Inman Street.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

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:

BECOME A GREETER – If you do not sing in the choir, or chant, serve in the Altar or at the Bengarri, and  are not a Church School teacher,  please consider serving the Church as a GREETER!  Greeters arrive at 9:45 am., get a Greeter Name Tag  from the Bengarri, pin it on and greet visitors/parishioners at the Church Entrance and direct them upstairs to the Church, or to the CloakRoom or RestRooms.  Greeting time ends when Communion starts.  Send your name and e-mail address to Buddy Mabardy: buddymabardy@cjmabardy.com or phone him 781-729-6303. 

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.org or 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:  Mike DeCerbo

LITURGICAL SERVICE:  Epistle: James Wilcox, Left Cloth: Bob Kowalik and Cyatharine Alias, Right Cloth: James and Brooke Wilcox, Left Bread: Barbara Shoop, Right Bread: Melissa Nassiff

COFFEE HOUR:  No coffee hour

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, January 19:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 20:  Orthros  8:45 am; Enquirers’ Class 9:00 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Lesson 12;  Annual Parish Meeting following Liturgy

SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, January 20:
   Epistle: St. Paul\'s Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15
Brethren, it is the God who said, \"Let light shine out of darkness,\" who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.

   Gospel: Luke 17:12-19
At that time, as Jesus entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: \"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.\" When He saw them He said to them, \"Go and show yourselves to the priests.\" And as they went they were cleansed.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, January 26:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 27:  Orthros  8:45 am; Enquirers’ Class 9:00 am;  Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Lesson 13

Friday, February 1:  Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple 6:30 pm

Sunday, February 17:  Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast, sponsored by FSJD (note new date)

Saturday, March 2:  Antiochian Women 2013 Pre-Lenten Retreat

Sunday, March 10:  FSJD Meatfare Sunday Breakfast following Liturgy

Monday, March 18:  Lent begins

REFLECTION

...we carry as in earthen vessels - that is to say, in our bodies - the Father\'s Light in the Person of Jesus Christ, and so can experience the glory of the Holy Spirit.
   - St. Gregory Palamas

On Mount Tabor divine glory shone through Christ’s humanity. His humanity, without ceasing to be humanity, was transformed by and suffused with divine glory: Christ’s humanity was deified. This showed forth his deity as the Son of God incarnate, in confirmation of St. Peter’s confession a few days earlier (Mt. 16:16). However, the glory manifested was not simply the glory he had from eternity as the Son of God; rather, as the last Adam, he had so acquired likeness to God  that divine light shone forth through his humanity itself.
   - James R. Payton, Jr., Light from the Christian East

O Lord, we cannot go to the pool of Siloe to which you sent the blind man. But we have the chalice of Your Precious Blood, filled with life and light. The purer we are, the more we receive.
   - St. Ephrem of Syria

Just as the thought of fire does not warm the body, so faith without love does not actualize the light of spiritual knowledge in the soul.
   - St. Maximos the Confessor

Just as the darkness does not go away unless the light is present, so the disease of the soul is not banished unless He Who takes away our infirmities comes and unites Himself with us. He is called health when He comes because He chases away every disease and infirmity of the soul and gives us back our health; and He is called light, Who transcends all light, because He illumines us; and life, Who is beyond all life, because He vivifies us. Shining around us all, and encircling and cherishing us with the glory of His divinity, He is called raiment, and so we say that we clothe ourselves with Him Who is intangible in every way and Who cannot be grasped. Uniting Himself without mingling with our souls, and making it all as light, He is said to indwell us and, uncircumscribed, become circumscribed. O the miracle!
   - St. Symeon the New Theologian, On the Mystical Life