Update for the week Friday, April 26, through Thursday, May 2, 2013
THIS WEEK
BIBLE STUDY – Our Bible Study meets every other Thursday and is sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine. Join us this evening – Thursday, April 25 – in the church library, for a discussion about the Septuagint (http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/the-canon-part-1) and hellenized Jews (http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/the-canon-part-2). For more information contact Greg Patrick (greg@dailytradealert.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com).
AKATHIST – Since last week’s Akathist service had to be cancelled, the service originally scheduled for April 19 will be held this Friday, April 26, instead. His Grace, Bishop John will join us then.
LAZARUS SATURDAY
LITURGY AND BREAKFAST – Please come and bring your friends and family on
Saturday, April 27, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy (Matins 8:00 am;
Liturgy 9:00 am), and enjoy a Communion Breakfast at 10:15 presented by
the Women’s Club and offered by Selma Winstanley in loving memory of
brother, Mitchell Mabardi.
CHURCH CLEAN-UP – Following the Communion Breakfast, there will be a
Church Clean-Up in preparation for Pascha, coordinated by the Fellowship
of St. John the Divine.
Help needed – For the Church Clean-Up we will have
six cleaning teams: Carpets & Floors; Dewaxing: Wood & Dusting;
Glass; Altar & Brass; and Outside/Grounds. We still need leaders for
a couple of the teams - contact Julie Wasilko, julie31415pi@gmail.com, or Melissa Nassiff, mnassiff@gmail.com, if you’re willing to lead a team (complete directions provided).
Everyone is encouraged to bring cleaning supplies (Brasso,
Windex, Murpy’s Oil Soap, furniture polish), small buckets, empty spray
bottles, latex gloves; Swiffer dusters, step ladders; brown paper bags,
irons and extension cords; etc. Please come and lend a hand in preparing God’s House for the Feast of Feasts.
CHOIR REHEARSAL – Choir Rehearsal for Palm Sunday/Good Friday/ Pascha will be held after Liturgy/Breakfast on Lazarus Saturday, April 27, (approximately 10:45AM). St Mary Church Choir is very open to individuals interested in making a commitment to sing each Sunday at Divine Liturgy. Please feel free to join us and/or introduce yourself to the director, Michelle Mabardy, on any Sunday after Liturgy.
CONFESSIONS - It is preferred that you make your confession before Holy Week. However, if you are unable to do so, Fr. Antony is available for Confession before and after services from Monday to Wednesday evenings only of Holy Week, or by appointment. Please note that no confessions will be heard on Great and Holy Saturday before the Rush procession.
Palm Sunday
RETURN YOUR "FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE" BOXES – Please return your filled
boxes to the Bengarri on Palm Sunday, April 28. Please be very generous
in your contribution to the Food for Hungry People program of our
Archdiocese – He who feeds the hungry also feeds God.
PROCESSION WITH PALMS – There will be no Church School classes this Sunday. Following the Liturgy there will be the Procession with Palms (no lighted candles, please). All who wish to do so are invited to join the procession; children are especially encouraged to participate.
ARCHDIOCESE COLLECTION – This Sunday we will be taking an Archdiocese collection on behalf of our Patriarchate of Antioch. Checks should be made payable to St. Mary Church.
PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER – The Fellowship of St. John the Divine invites
you to their annual Palm Sunday Fish Dinner on Sunday, April 28, after
Liturgy, donated by Ed and Lisa Brylczyk. Spend Palm Sunday with your
family and friends at Church and let us do the cooking!
Help needed – Volunteers are needed Sunday morning to help set the tables, serve the food, and clean up after the fish dinner.
DONATIONS FOR HOLY WEEK – For the special services of Holy Week, the Church needs donations of olive oil for the Unction Service (Wednesday), flowers for the tomb of Christ (Friday), flowers to distribute on Great and Holy Friday, rose water to anoint the faithful (Friday), incense, Paschal lilies and other flowers, and candles. Deadline is Palm Sunday, April 28. Please use the donation form in the Bulletin.
PREPARE EGGS FOR PASCHA – Ten volunteers are needed to each hard-boil and dye three dozen brown eggs for Pascha eve. Names of volunteers are needed by Palm Sunday, April 28. See Khourieh Carol and she will provide the red dye and instructions. Thank you to all who volunteered!
HOLY WEEK
SUNDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY
On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 28, 29 and 30, there will be a Bridegroom Matins service at 7:00 pm. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, April 29, 30 and May 1, Presanctified Liturgy will be celebrated at 7:00 am.
HOLY WEDNESDAY
The evening service on Wednesday, May 1, is Holy Unction
at 7:00 pm. The service includes seven Epistles, seven Gospels, and
seven prayers, all about oil and healing and forgiveness and the Holy
Spirit. Seven wicks are lit in the bowl of oil, and at the end each of
us is anointed and given Holy Oil to take home.
HOLY THURSDAY
On Thursday, May 2, Vesperal Liturgy is at 7:00 am. The evening service begins at 6:45 pm with Washing of the Feet, followed at 7:00 pm by Twelve Gospels,
in which we hear by candlelight the entire story of Christ’s final
teaching, passion, trial, walk to Golgotha, crucifixion and burial, from
all four of the Gospel writers.
HOLY FRIDAY
The Children's Retreat will be held on Friday, May 3,
from 9:30-12:30 (including lunch). Spend the morning in fellowship and
activities with friends. A variety of activities will be provided and
luncheon served. Recommended for ages 5 to adult - younger children are
welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Trish
Orlovsky at t_orlovsky@hotmail.com
or 781-641-0182 if you plan to attend or can help with activities that
day. We welcome your energy and talent if you are able to provide a
craft, read stories, or spend time coloring with the children as part of
the morning’s activities. Teens are welcome to assist with egg dying
and pysanky decorating, crafts with the children, or decoration of the
tomb upstairs. Fr. Antony will be available to hear the children’s and
teen’s confessions before lunch. Lunch will be provided for everyone!
($5 donation per person donation requested – checks payable to St. Mary
Orthodox Church)
RSVP to Trish by Palm Sunday, April 28.
Your help is needed to decorate the bier 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Holy Friday. Volunteers can drop by for as little as a half hour; but no small children, please. (They should be at the Children’s Retreat, downstairs.) Any questions, contact Bob Kowalik at 617-889-3436 or e-mail: r.kowalik@comcast.net Parents: Come upstairs and help while your children are downstairs at their Retreat. You’re welcome to share lunch with the kids, but please let Trish know early in the week so there will be enough for everyone.
Royal Hours begins at 1:00 pm, followed by Unnailing Vespers at 3:00 pm, when the figure of Christ is removed from the Cross where it was nailed Thursday during the Twelve Gospels service, and is laid in the tomb, or bier.
Lamentations begins at 7:15 pm. During this service we will process with the Bier out of the church and down Massachusetts Avenue to Central Square, where we will meet worshippers from Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Church carrying their bier, and join them for prayers and blessings before processing back to St. Mary. This year His Grace, Bishop JOHN, will join us.
Following the Lamentations Service on Holy Friday evening, St. Mary's Teen SOYO will hold an All-Night Vigil at the Church.All youth, ages 12-18 (grades 7-12), are encouraged to participate in reading Psalms, keeping watch at the tomb, and joining a discussion led by a special guest. The Vigil culminates Saturday morning with Vesperal Liturgy at 9:00 am. Teens across the Diocese will participate in similar vigils at their respective churches. The Church will be locked and several chaperones will remain with the Teens throughout the night, into the morning.
HOLY SATURDAY and GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil begins at 9:00 am on
Saturday, May 4. His Grace, Bishop JOHN will join us as we celebrate
Christ’s triumph over evil and death, with the scattering of bay leaves
and flowers. This service includes fifteen lessons from the Old
Testament, all prophesying the ultimate victory of God, and also
includes Chrismation of our newest catechumens. The service will be followed by a Coffee Hour/Reception, provided by Nadia and Bahig Kaldas.
Your help is needed to decorate the Church on Holy Saturday after the Liturgy and Coffee Hour, about 1:00 pm. We will be preparing the church for Pascha on Saturday afternoon. Please come, stay and help.
Saturday evening and into Great and Holy Pascha, all our Lenten efforts and Holy Week observances culminate in the celebration of Christ's resurrection. The services begin with the Vigil/Rush Service at 10:00 pm, followed by Resurrection Matins at 11:00 pm, and Divine Liturgy at 12:00 midnight. Paschal festivities, with plenty of food, will take place in the Church Hall after Liturgy.
Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) on Easter Sunday morning will be held at 11:00 am at St. John Church, Dedham, with a reception following
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW CD – The Boston Byzantine Choir announces the release of its 5th recording: Lenten Journey. The CD will be on sale after Liturgy this Sunday, April 28, for $15. Or you can purchase it together with their Holy Week and Pascha recordings, Thy Passion and Thy Resurrection, for $40.
NO PARKING – This year, because of the demolition and construction behind the church, there is NO parishioner parking in the Church parking lot Monday through Thursday until after 6:00 pm. For morning services, parking spaces are readily available on the street or in the public parking lot across Mass Ave, behind the Post Office. The church parking lot, though reduced in size, will be available Holy Friday through Pascha.
ST. MARY ON FACEBOOK - Did you know St. Mary is on Facebook (www.facebook.com/StMaryCambridge)? If you are already a Facebook member, Like our page to get timely updates on scheduled services, quick access to video sermons, learn about events of interest in the greater Boston area and more! If you’re not on Facebook, don’t worry; you can always access this information through our website at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
REMINDERS
NEW ENGLAND’S GOT TASTE AND TALENT – Attention All
Talents & Chefs!! If you have a hidden talent or can cook an award
winning appetizer, showcase your talent at this year's New England's Got Taste and Talent event hosted by Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church - Lowell, held on Friday, May 17
at 6:00 pm at our sister Parish in Dedham, MA! Download the document
and please review our rules and details of the event on the website: http://www.saintgeorgelowell.org. If you are interested in signing up for either a chef or as a talent, please e-mail Soraya at LowellPLC2013@gmail.com; deadline to register was Monday, April 22.
Everyone – get your tickets for New England's Got Taste and Talent by Friday, May 10.
Tickets will NOT be sold at the door. They are $20 for Adults and $10
for Children under 12. Please send in the ticket purchase form along
with your checks; you can find this form at the end of the New England's
Got Taste and Talent Document located on the Saint George Lowell
website.
VIDEO EDITING HELP WANTED – We are looking for volunteers to assist with some basic video editing to post the sermons and lectures from St. Mary's online. If you have experience with digital video editing, please let Jamil Samara or Erick Straghalis know you are interested in helping by emailing live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND GRAPHIC DESIGNERS WANTED – Are you a photographer or a graphic designer and want to share your talents with St. Mary Church and her ministries? We are looking to get you involved to help photograph the divine services and events and to design promotional material for events and programs at our parish. Please contact Jamil Samara at webmaster@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org with any questions and to let him know that you are interested in getting more involved.
OCMC AGAPE CANISTER PROGRAM – The is an Orthodox non-profit development program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. It is dedicated to meeting the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or creed. All funds collected by the Agape Canister Program are earmarked for medical care and clinics, water wells, agricultural development, food and clothing, support personnel (e.g. doctors, nurses, teachers), the construction of schools, and the education of indigenous people in their own communities. Please contribute each Sunday—a clear plastic box is on the Bengarri.
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS – The Nicholas G. Beram Veterans Association announces its 47th annual Scholastic Achievement Awards, a program to encourage and support the education of students of Arabic speaking backgrounds. High school seniors can obtain an application with instructions by visiting the web page at: www.stjohnd.org/ngberam (note corrected website address) or by contacting our Church Office. All applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2013.
CROSS†ROAD – 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 this coming year (2013): CrossRoad June: June 22-July 1 AND CrossRoad July: July 8-18. Download an application and view a video clip at www.crossroad.hchc.edu
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. Scholarships are available – contact Fr. Antony.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The 2013 Parish Life Conference for our diocese will be held June 27 – 30, 2013,
at the Wyndam Hotel in Andover, MA, hosted by St. George Church,
Lowell. Room Rate is just $99.00 per night – this special price ends May 30. Book your hotel rooms at: http://www.wyndham.com/groupevents2013/BOSAM_STGEORGE/main.wnt.
For Registration, please go too: https://www.antiochianevents.org/event/96, or go to St. George’s site: http://www.saintgeorgelowell.org. Please feel free to e-mail the Chairperson, Soraya or Co-Chair, +Rt. Rev. Fr. Leonard at: LowellPLC2013@gmail.com.
ROOMMATE WANTED – Jerred Endsley and Tom Perkins are looking for a roommate to move in in June. Nice three bedroom apt, 2 baths, spacious kitchen, fireplace. Near BC and on the T line in Brighton. Call Jerred @ 317-938-3543 if interested or if you know someone who might be. Thank you.
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – The 2013 national convention of the Antiochian Archdiocese will be held July 21-28 in Houston TX, hosted by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. For information and registration see http://www.achouston2013.com.
ORTHODOX MISSION TEAMS – The Orthodox Mission Center
has announced their 2013 Mission Teams. Mission teams will be heading
to 10 locations around the globe to share the teachings of the faith and
offer the gift of service through hands-on experience. For more
information call the OCMC at 877-463-6784 or e-mail teams@ocmc.org, or see
http://www.ocmc.org/about/open_teams.aspx. Note that the July mission to Albania is led by our own Panayiotis and Shannon Sakellariou.
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.
PRISION 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.
If you are interested joining the Prison Ministry, there will be an
upcoming training. Training is required if you would like to come into
prison to volunteer. Please see Deacon Jeff or Father Anthony if you
have questions or would like to join, and are not already a member of
the OCPM online listserv.
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, or by appointment.
PARKING – The parish Council reminds all parishioners that there is no
parishioner parking in the church parking lot Monday through Friday
until after 6:00 pm. Our parking lot is rented to others during the day.
If you park in the Church parking lot on Sunday morning, 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. (That No Parking area
is now being marked with orange cones.) 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.
Also - please donate unwanted past issues of Orthodox magazines such as
The Word, OCMC or other periodicals to our prison ministry to hand out
to inmates. Please remove any personal mailing address for security
purposes and give them to Mitrophan Chin.
"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: Andrew Bargoot
COFFEE HOUR: FSJD Fish Dinner
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Friday, April 26: Final Akathist (Madayeh) Service, postponed from 4/19 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 27, Lazarus Saturday: Matins 8:00 am, Divine Liturgy 9:00 am, Communion Breakfast 10:15 am, followed by Church Cleanup and choir rehearsal; Great Vespers 4:00 pm
Sunday, April 28, Palm Sunday: Matins 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by FSJD annual Fish Dinner. Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Palm Sunday, April 28:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9
Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all
men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about
anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
Gospel: John 12:1-18
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom
Jesus had raised from the dead... The next day a great crowd who had
come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took
branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of
Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is
written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt!"
Holy Monday, April 29: Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Tuesday, April 30: Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Wednesday, May 1: Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 am; Holy Unction 7:00 pm
Holy Thursday, May 2: Vesperal Liturgy 7:00 am; Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm, and Twelve Gospels 7:00 pm
LOOKING AHEAD
Holy Friday, May 3: Children’s Retreat 9:30 am; Royal Hours 1:00 pm; Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm; Lamentations 7:15 pm with Procession to Central Square; Teen Vigil overnight
Holy Saturday, May 4: Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am, followed by coffee hour/reception
Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5: Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm; Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm; Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 12 midnight, followed by Paschal Festivities in the Church Hall
Sunday, May 5: Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) 11:00 am at St. John Church, Dedham, with reception following
Saturday, May 11: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 12: Matins 8:45 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 22
REFLECTION
During this last week of preparation, the celebration of the mystery
begins. Lenten effort has made us capable of putting aside all that
which usually and consistently obscures the central object of our faith,
hope, and joy. Time itself comes, as it were, to an end. It is measured
now not by our usual preoccupations and cares, but by what happens on
the way to Bethany, and beyond to Jerusalem. And, once more, all this
is not rhetoric. To anyone who has tasted of the true liturgical life –
be it only once and however imperfectly – it is almost self-evident that
from the moment we hear, "Rejoice, O Bethany, home of Lazarus…" and
then "… on the morrow Christ is coming …," the external world becomes
slightly unreal … "Reality" is that which is going on in the Church…
- Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent
O Christ God, when you raised Lazarus from the dead before your Passion,
you confirmed the resurrection of the universe. Therefore we, like
children, carry the banner of triumph and victory; and we cry to you, O
conqueror of death, hosanna in the highest; Blessed is He who comes in
the name of the Lord.
- Troparion of Lazarus
Upborne upon the heavenly throne, and seated upon the earthly foal, O
Christ our God, receive the praises of angels and the hymns of men,
exclaiming before you: Blessed is he who comes to restore Adam.
- Kontakion for Palm Sunday
He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but when he rose from the tomb he
laid aside the shroud… He had "no form or comeliness" (Isaiah 53:2), but
on the mountain he shone with a splendor more dazzling than the sun, a
foretaste of his future glory. … He knew weariness, but he is rest for
"all who labor and are heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28). He prays, but he
answers prayers. He weeps, but wipes away tears. He asks where Lazarus
has been laid, for he is man; but he raises him to life, for he is God.
He is sold, dirt cheap, for thirty pieces of silver, but he redeems the
world, at great cost, with his own blood. … He dies, but he brings to
life, and by his own death destroys death. He is buried, but he rises
again. He descends into hell, but rescues the souls imprisoned there.
- Gregory Nazianzen