Update for the week Thursday, January 30, through Thursday, February 6, 2014
THIS WEEK
BIBLE STUDY – The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday in the church library, and is based on a series of talks originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome. Join us today (Thursday, January 30), at 7:00 pm as we discuss Noah and the Flood in Genesis (listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-14/ andhttp://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-15/ ).
DIOCESAN FAMILY DAY – There will be a celebration of Diocesan Family Day at Saint John of Damascus in Dedham on Saturday, February 1. The day begins at noon with a luncheon for everyone; followed by various events (Fr. Benjamin Kjendal speaking on “My Journey to Christ” and Fr. Chris Nerrau on “Life in God: A Journey from Legalism to Liberty,” plus more), and concluding with Great Vespers at 5:00 pm. Family Day is coordinated by the Diocesan Mission Council. For information contact Father Joseph Kimmett (stgeorgenorwood@gmail.com or geonorwood@aol.com ) or Greg Abdalah (abdalah.g@gmail.com)
This year the Antiochian Women Pre-Lenten Retreat will be held in conjunction with Diocesan Family Day at Saint John of Damascus on Saturday, February 1. We are blessed to welcome V. Rev. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of Saint Vladimir's Seminary, as our featured speaker. His topic will be “Mary, Mysteries, & Mission – Rediscovering our Christian Identity.”Advance Registration by January 23 was required, just for this retreat.
NO VESPERS – Since the Family Day celebration at Saint John of Damascus on Saturday,February 1 will end with Vespers at 5:00 pm, and since we are all encouraged to take part in that event, there will be no Vespers at St. Mary on February 1.
CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS - There will be a brief Teacher’s Meeting on Sunday,February. 2, immediately following Liturgy, in the Library. It is very important that all Teachers and Assistants attend.
CONVENTION PLANNING – In our ongoing preparation to host the 2015 National Convention, Ray Sayeg’s committees will meet at the home of Mary Winstanley O’Connor on Wednesday, February 5, at 7:00 pm.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NO VOLUNTEERS = NO COFFEE HOUR - When no one signs up to provide a coffee hour, we don't have a coffee hour. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the hall outside the coat room. Please volunteer!
TEEN SOYO ACTIVITIES - The Teens will be going bowling on Friday, February 7 (time and place to be determined). Please let Greg (greghakim@gmail.com) or Hannah (hoakley18@gmail.com) know if you would like to join in the fun.
MARCH IS ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S MONTH. Our women will be reading the Epistle, taking the Collection each Sunday, and assisting during Communion. We are inviting all Women of St. Mary Church to be included: If you wish to participate, sign up on the sheet at the Bengarri or contact Mary Ellen at 781-729-6303 or the church office.
MORE GREETERS NEEDED – The Greeter program has been very successful for the past two years, thanks to all those who volunteer on a regular basis. However, we have had the same Greeters volunteer week after week. We are actively looking for new volunteers. Please consider being a Greeter and helping with this important ministry. For more information and to help out please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail:buddy@cjmabardy.com, or call the church office at 617-547-1234.
FAITH AND LEARNING SYMPOSIUM – The annual St. Photios Faith and Learning Symposium will be held on Friday-Saturday, February 7-8, hosted by the Office of Vocation and Ministry at Hellenic College. This year's topic will be “Let Me Google That! Knowledge in the Information Age.” It is intended for college students and young people (but open to anyone!) to explore the connection between their faith and education. The program will be held on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline, and will feature well known Orthodox poet and professor of English, Scott Cairns. There will also be student-led breakout discussion groups. For more information, contact Michael A. Tishel at 617-850-1309 or mtishel@hchc.edu or visit http://vocation.hchc.edu .
ONLINE SAFETY WEBINAR AVAILABLE - The GOA Center for Family Care recently offered a webinar featuring Theo Nicolakis, Chief Information Officer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on "Online Safety & Digital Citizenship". This webinar explored how you can keep your family safe in an ever-changing digital world, when the explosion of social media and mobile technologies has made safety and privacy issues even more complicated.If you missed it, the webinar has now been posted on their website:http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/family/document.2014-01-27.7613231766.
ROOM NEEDED - A young medical school graduate, Simeon Sheih, would like to rent a room with an Orthodox individual or family near the center of Boston, as he has been offered an unpaid fellowship at Harvard. He is very willing to help clean or care for an elderly or invalid person if it might help with the rent. He is also is looking for a job in the Boston area. If you know of a place where he could live, please call Mother Nectaria McLees at 617-824-0650, or send an email to mnmclees@gmail.com
REMINDERS
HELP FOR THE TRAUMANN-DAVIS FAMILY: Our own Elisabeth Traumann, wife of Seraphim Davis and mother of Isis, Thais and Tycho Traumann-Davis, has been diagnosed with stomach cancer and will be starting chemotherapy soon, to be followed by surgery in late spring/early summer. Her prognosis is good, but prayers are appreciated. Anyone who would like to offer their help with meals, etc. may visit the family's Lotsa Helping Hands community at: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/713408/
BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany (January 6) and between Pascha (April 20) and Pentecost (June 8). 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.
CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAKFAST - Please join the FSJD on Sunday, February 9 after Liturgy, for the 2014 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC). Volunteers will be needed to help decorate, setup, serve, cook and/or donate a food item. Please RSVP to Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, February 5. We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and to seeing you at this event!
WOMEN'S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be Tuesday, February 11, at 7:30 at the church. We welcome all women of the parish to join us in the Women’s Club. Everyone is welcome! Any woman interested in joining may call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303 for more information.
CONVENTION PLANNING – In our ongoing preparation to host the 2015 National Convention, Mary Winstanley O’Connor’s committees will meet at her home on Wednesday, February 12, at 7:00 pm.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at 7:30.
SPRING DELEGATES MEETING – The Spring Diocesan Delegates Meetings of Teen SOYO, Fellowship of St. John the Divine and Antiochian Women will be held at St. George Church, West Roxbury, on Saturday, February 22. Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am, meetings immediately following.
MEATFARE SUNDAY BREAKFAST - Please join us on Sunday, February 23 for the FSJD's Meatfare Sunday coffee hour. The suggested donation – $8 per person, $15 per family – will help support the many activities of the Fellowship at St. Mary's, including the annual Lessons and Carols evening; Wednesday evening potluck suppers after Pre-Sanctified Liturgies during Lent; the annual Father John vonHolzhausen lecture; Coffee Hours and special meals; the weekly St. Mary e-Newsletter; and more. Contact Chef Socrates (dr.socrates@gmail.com ) to let him know if you can help with food preparation the day before (February 22) from 12:00-2:00 pm, or with cooking or serving on Sunday. We will need 6 volunteers.
LENTEN FOOD SALE – The Women's Club is now taking orders for Spinach Triangles, Hoomos (hummus), and Mjadara (lentils with rice). Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin. Order deadline is Sunday, March 2; pickup date is Sunday, March 16. Also, please plan to come help make the Spinach Triangles on Saturday, March 15, at 9:30 am.
LENTEN POTLUCKS – Every year during Lent, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine sponsors a potluck supper after each weekly Wednesday evening Pre-Sanctified Liturgy.We need 3 leads for each potluck - for Food, for Setup, and for Cleanup - on March 5, March12, March 19, March 26, April 2, and April 9. (Note that volunteering for food means simply providing a main dish and coordinating what others bring if they ask.) Please contact Julie Wasilko (julie31415pi@gmail.com ) to sign up to be one of the leads for a potluck.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE - For important announcements about Summer Camp registration, check out their FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/AntiochianVillage) because the 2014 Summer Camp registration is now open. You may register online or the old-fashion way with paper applications. Please note that you are not registered until they receive a deposit and you receive a confirmation email. Please visit their Registration Page for instructions on how to register. We look forward to summer 2014 and can't wait for our campers to return. For more information go to http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html.
REAL BREAK – OCF Real Break aims to prepare college students to be socially informed Orthodox Christian citizens of this world, while directing their focus on the world to come, the kingdom of heaven. Built on a foundation of fellowship, education, worship, and service, Real Break provides students the opportunity to understand the true meaning of seeing Christ in the other – traveling to all parts of the world deepening their faith, serving those in need, and cultivating relationships with like-minded peers. To find detailed information regarding the 2014 Real Break trips and to register, please visit www.ocf.net/realbreak. Be a part of this year's life-changing week-long Real Break experience.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - Scholarships ($1,000) are available to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, residing in Massachusetts within 50-mile radius of Boston, who plan to pursue a four-year college education. Scholarships are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character; and applicants must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes which best serve the community. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be postmarked by March 31, 2014. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS – Parishioners must not park in the City Hall Electric Car Charging Station across from the Church. This spot must be available at all times to Cambridge residents who have electric cars.
Also, there is no parishioner parking in the Church parking lot Mondays through Fridays until after 6:00 pm.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshipers, and those in need. Consider serving in one of these ways:
- Be a Greeter
- Participate in Liturgical Service*
- Provide a Coffee Hour
- Join the Prison Ministry
- Help with Video Editing
- Share your talent as Photographer Or Graphic Designer
For information about these opportunities, and who to contact, seehttps://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/volunteering
*Also, during the school year, the Church School students participate in our liturgical celebration by holding candles at the Gospel reading; processing with candles, a festal icon, and the baskets of Antidoron (i.e. extra bread) at the Great Entrance; and then presenting the Antidoron for a blessing during the Hymn to the Theotokos.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
Greeter: Ray Sayeg
Church School Liturgical Service - Candle Bearers: Ben Crea & Saron Nebiye; Icon Bearer: Nick Crea; Bread Baskets: Selina Nebiye & Daniela Minides; Team Leader: Danait Teclezghi; Adult Supervisor: Azeb Mitiku
Coffee Hour: No one volunteered
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday, February 1: No Vespers at St. Mary (Diocesan Family Day at Saint John of Damascus in Dedham will conclude with Great Vespers at 5:00 pm)
Sunday, February 2: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am;Church School Teachers/Assistants brief meeting following Liturgy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, February 2, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:7-17
... Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? … For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ... [A]nother priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons." … And inspired by the Spirit [Symeon] came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunday, Februrary 9: FSJD Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast following Liturgy
Thursday, February 13: Bible Study
Sunday, February 23, Meatfare Sunday: FSJD Annual Meatfare Breakfast following Liturgy
Sunday, March 2, Forgiveness Sunday: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Bishop JOHN; Forgiveness Vespers 6:00 pm
Monday, March 3: Great Lent begins
Sunday, April 20: Pascha
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22: Parish Life Conference, Plymouth, MA
REFLECTIONS
As the Father called the Gentiles to the Church, saying: "I will call her My People which was not my people, and her Beloved who was not beloved"; and elsewhere: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations," so, too, the Lord Jesus said that Paul was chosen by Him to call forth and gather together the Church, as you find it said by the Lord Jesus to Ananias: "Go, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me to bear My name before all nations."
- St. Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Spirit, Book II
I have observed that you are settled in an immoveable faith, as if you were nailed to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, both in the flesh and in the spirit; and are confirmed in love through the blood of Christ; being fully persuaded of those things which relate unto our Lord - who truly was of the race of David according to the flesh, but the Son of God according to the will and power of God; truly born of the Virgin, and baptized of John; that so all righteousness might be fulfilled by him. He was also truly crucified by Pontius Pilate, and Herod the Tetrarch, being nailed for us in the flesh; by the fruits of which we are, even by his most blessed Passion - that he might set up a token for all ages through his resurrection, to all his holy and faithful servants, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, in one body of his church.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
I have heard Holy Scripture somewhere condemn those who are guilty of blaspheming God. "Woe to those," it says, "through whom my Name is blasphemed among the Gentiles." Now the meaning of these words is something like this: Those who have not yet believed the word of truth closely examine the lives of those who have received the mystery of the faith. If, therefore, people are "faithful" only in name, but contradict this name by their life, whether by committing idolatry for the sake of gain or by disgracing themselves by drunkenness and revelry, being immersed in profligacy like swine in the mud - then the pagans immediately attribute this not to the free choice of these evil-living men, but to the mystery which is supposed to teach these things. For, they say, such and such a man who has been initiated into the Divine mysteries would not be such a slanderer, or so avaricious and grasping, or anything equally evil, unless sinning was lawful for them. "Woe to those through whom my Name is blasphemed among the Gentiles."
- St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Lord's Prayer
In Eastern Christian practice, from antiquity to the present, meditation and contemplation are the paths to knowledge of God. Divine revelation offers a foundation for all such meditation and contemplation, of course, but the Orthodox emphasis falls not on speech about but on silence before God and his revelation. The person who would know God must drink deeply of, and not just analyze, what God has made known about himself and his ways toward humankind; one must by saturated with it through wonder rather than seek to connect its elements in curiosity.
- James R. Payton Jr, Light from the Christian East