Update for the week Thursday, March 13, through Thursday, March 20, 2014
Update for the week Thursday, March 13, through Thursday, March 20, 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 tonight (Thursday, March 13) at 7:00 pm as we conclude an overview of the Old Testament and begin our study of Abraham. Listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-18/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-abraham-part-1/ .
AKATHIST – On the first five Fridays of Lent, beginning this Friday, March 7, we will pray the Akathist to the Theotokos at 7:00 pm.
MARRIAGE SEMINAR FOR COUPLES - The Diocese of Worcester and New England is sponsoring a seminar for couples preparing for marriage at St. John of Damascus church on Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15. His Grace Bishop JOHN is the featured speaker. Cost is $30 per couple. See registration form in the Sunday bulletin - make check payable to NER Deanery and mail along with the registration form to St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St., Dedham, MA 02026.
HELP MAKE SPINACH TRIANGLES – Please come to the church on Saturday morning, March 15, starting at 9:00 am to help make Spinach Triangles with the Women's Club. Lots of help will be needed – young and old, women and men are all welcome - and it's always lots of fun. Lunch will be provided.
If you ordered Hoomos (hummus), Mjadara (lentils with rice), or Spinach Triangles, they will be ready for pickup this Sunday, March 16.
WOMEN'S MONTH HOMILIES – For the remaining Sundays in March some of the women at St. Mary have been asked to give the homilies, exploring the themes in the fifteen Old Testament readings for the Paschal Vigil on Holy Saturday morning. This Sunday Andrea Popa will talk about "The Mission of the Servant."
Copies of the readings will be available at the Bengarri for those who would like to follow them as they are discussed. Please return them after the service.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY and LENTEN POTLUCKS – Every Wednesday during Lent there will be a Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Potluck Supper sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John. Do plan to come, and please bring something to share. Any Lenten fare is welcome: main courses, sides, salads, desserts, as well as beverages and snacks. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship during Lent, plus we get to sample each other's Lenten recipes.
Next week's leader will be Bob Kowalik (r.kowalik@comcast.net ). It would be helpful if you can let him know what you'll be bringing, and how you will help with cleanup afterward (put away tables & chairs, or help in the kitchen).
We still need a leader for the April 9 potluck. Please contact Julie Wasilko (julie31415pi@gmail.com ) to sign up to lead the last potluck.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, March 19, at 8:00 pm, at the church.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CAPTIVE NUNS RELEASED – The thirteen nuns who were taken captive three months ago from their monastery in Maaloula, Syria, were released last week on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. More information can be found here: http://antiochian.org/rejoicing-release-captive-nuns
PRAY FOR METROPOLITAN PHILIP – His Eminence Metropolitan Philip suffered a mild heart attack last Sunday, March 9. His status has improved since last week but he is still in ICU in a Florida hospital. Please pray for his speedy recovery.
RICE COOKER WANTED – The FSJD needs a rice cooker for the March 26 Lenten potluck supper. If you have one we could borrow, please contact Natasha Smith (nasmith05@gmail.com ). Thank you!
HYMN FESTIVAL – Our own Boston Byzantine Choir will be featured in Lenten Journey, a concert of meditative music and images to be held on Saturday, April 5, at 4:00 pm, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 950 East St., Dedham. Light refreshments will follow; donations gratefully accepted. The church's website is www.stlukesdedham.org
PASCHA BAKE SALE – The Women's Club will be holding its annual Pascha Bake Sale on Sunday, April 6, after Liturgy. Plan on purchasing all your Pascha/Easter pastries and goodies. If you can help bake please call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303.
LAZARUS SATURDAY – Please come and bring your friends and family on Saturday, April 12, 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. Following the Communion Breakfast, there will be a Church Clean-Up in preparation for Pascha. Everyone is encouraged to bring some rags, cleaning supplies, small buckets, brown paper bags, irons and extension cords for wax removal, etc. The Fellowship of St. John the Divine will coordinate this activity. Please come and lend a hand in preparing God’s House for the Feast of Feasts.
REMINDERS
MARCH IS ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S MONTH. Our women are reading the Epistle, delivering the Homily, taking the Collection, and assisting during Communion each Sunday.
IOCC HEALTH/BABY CARE KITS - As the Lenten Season is upon us, the Women’s Club asks you to participate in our project to send HEALTH and BABY CARE KITS to the displaced families and orphans of the Syrian Conflict. The IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) will handle the mailing and distribution. Our job is simply to buy and assemble the kits. This is a great way for our families and St. Mary’s parish to begin our Lenten journey, and show our children the true meaning of Christian charity. Shop with your children to make a kit, or more than one. If that’s not feasible, make a donation to the Women’s Club and we will do the shopping for you. Instructions for Kits can be found in the Sunday bulletin.
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 has started chemotherapy, to be followed by surgery in late spring/early summer. Her prognosis is good, but prayers are appreciated. For updates on Elisabeth’s condition, just friend Elisabeth on Facebook and then check this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197726897092134/
Anyone who would like to offer their help with meals, transportation, etc. may visit the family's Lotsa Helping Hands community at: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/713408/ New Information: If delivering a meal to Somerville would be difficult, you can bring it to Seraphim (or in his absence, to Natasha Smith) at the church on Sunday mornings, as long as you coordinate with them ahead of time.
TEEN RETREAT – The New England Diocese Annual Teen Lenten Retreat will be held Friday through Sunday, March 28-30, at St. Methodios in New Hampshire. Teens from all over New England will be in attendance. The cost is $95 per teen, which covers food, lodging and everything you need for the weekend.
vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE – The Fellowship of St. John the Divine invites you to its annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen lecture on Sunday, March 30, at 1:00 pm (following Divine Liturgy at 10am and Coffee Hour at 12pm). Our speaker, Jan N. H. Perkins, MDiv, will speak on the topic, “If you Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It:” How Christ Transcends Good and Bad.
CHILDCARE DURING vonHOLZHAUSEN LECTURE – If you would be interested in onsite childcare while you attend the vonHolzhausen Lecture, please email Diana Yousef, Fellowship VP (yousefd@post.harvard.edu ) ASAP. Indicate how many children and their ages. FSJD and Teen SOYO are considering the possibility of offering childcare for FSJD-sponsored events. Once we have a headcount, we can determine how many teens and what a shared cost might be.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – The 40th Anniversary Food for Hungry People program of our Archdiocese will begin this week with the start of Great Lent. Money Boxes for collecting alms at home will be on the Bengarri; please pick one or two up and place them throughout your home, fill them up, and return them on Palm Sunday, April 13. “Whoever gives a hand to help his neighbor is helped by God’s own hand.” - St. Isaac the Syrian
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 13. Please use the donation form in the Sunday Bulletin.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
Syrian and Lebanese Women - 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 Monday, March 31, 2014. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com.
New England Region Fellowship of St. John the Divine Scholarships: The Fellowship is awarding scholarships to students who are faithful and active Orthodox Christians whose high school records indicate a potential for being successful in an accredited college and who are in need of financial assistance. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be received by the Scholarship Committee Chairperson by Thursday, May 1, 2014.
Antiochian Women’s Scholarship: Scholarships are available to females 25 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2014. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail cindy@cnyhondas.com with any questions.
LENTEN CDs – The Boston Byzantine Choir invites you to span the liturgical cycle from Lent to Pascha with their triad of recordings: Lenten Journey, Thy Passion, and Thy Resurrection. The CDs are $15 each or all three for $40, and may be purchased from the Church Office or from Charlie Marge.
NATIONAL CONVENTION – Letters have been mailed to all parishioners outlining the many opportunities for you to contribute to the 2015 Antiochian Archdiocesan National Convention. Please consider participating: volunteer your time and talent and/or financially support the event by sponsoring one of the many activities or placing an ad in the souvenir journal/ad book. Please complete the Volunteer Sign-up Sheet that was mailed to you and return it to Shirley Bezreh at the Bengarri/Narthex. Extra Sign-up Sheets are available on the table outside the hall.
New info: Mary Winstanley O’Connor’s and Ray Sayeg’s committees will both meet at the Church on Wednesday, May 7, at 7:30 pm.
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-fashioned 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.
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, see https://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: Paul Demergian
Liturgical Service: Candle Bearers: Melissa Nassif & Sarah Byrne-Martelli; Icon Bearer: Shannon Sakellariou; Bread Baskets: Mary Michael & Anna Higgins
Coffee Hour: Teen SOYO
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Thursday, March 20: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Friday, March 14: Akathist (Madayeh) 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 15: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 16: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 18
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, March 16, Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-2:3
... But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12
...And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." ... “But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the paralytic - "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God ...
Wednesday, March 19: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper
Thursday, March 20: Bible Study 7:00 pm
LOOKING AHEAD
Wednesday, March 19: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper
Friday, March 21: Akathist (Madayeh) 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 22: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 23: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 19
Monday, March 24, Feast of the Annunciation to the Holy Theotokos: Evening Divine Liturgy 6:30 pm
Wednesday, March 26: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper
Friday, March 28: Akathist (Madayeh) 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 29: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 30: Annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen Lecture, 1:00 pm
Thursday, April 3: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 12, Lazarus Saturday: Matins 8:00 am; Liturgy 9:00 am; Communion Breakfast 10:15, followed by Church Clean-Up
Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by FSJD Fish Dinner
Monday-Saturday, April 14-19: Holy Week
Sunday, April 20: Pascha
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22: Parish Life Conference, Plymouth, MA
REFLECTIONS
When you fast and are nourished with abstinence, do not store the leftovers for tomorrow, but, as the Lord became poor and enriched us, feed someone who does not want to be hungry, you who hunger willingly. Then your fast will be like the dove who brings and joyfully proclaims salvation to your soul from the flood.
- St. Gregory Palamas
When we strive with diligent sobriety to keep watch over our rational faculties, to control and correct them, how else can we succeed in this task except by collecting our mind, which is dispersed abroad through the senses, and bringing it back into the world within, into the heart itself, which is the storehouse of all our thoughts?
- St. Gregory Palamas
Because the Deity is goodness itself, true mercy and an abyss of loving bounty - or, rather, He is that which embraces and contains this abyss, since He transcends every name that is named and everything we can conceive - we can receive mercy only by union with Him. We unite ourselves to Him, in so far as this is possible, by participating in the godlike virtues and by entering into communion with Him through prayer and praise. Because the virtues are similitudes of God, to participate in them puts us in a fit state to receive the Deity, yet it does not actually unite us to Him.
- St. Gregory Palamas
The kingdom of heaven or, rather, the King of heaven - ineffable in His generosity - is within us (cf. Luke 17:21); and to Him we should cleave through acts of repentance and patient endurance, loving as much as we can Him Who so dearly has loved us.
- St. Gregory Palamas, Philokalia
Since the Word of God though His descent to us has brought the kingdom of heaven close to us, let us not distance ourselves from it by leading an unrepentant life. Let us rather flee the wretchedness of those who sit "in darkness and the shadow of death" (Isa. 9:2). Let us acquire the fruits of repentance: a humble disposition, compunction and spiritual grief, a gentle and merciful heart that loves righteousness and pursues purity, peaceful, peace-making, patient in toil, glad to endure persecution, loss, outrage, slander and suffering for the sake of truth and righteousness. For the kingdom of heaven - or, rather, the King of heaven ,ineffable in His generosity - is within us (cf. Luke 17:21); and to Him we should cleave through acts of repentance and patient endurance, loving as much as we can Him Who so dearly has loved us.
- St. Gregory Palamas
Many, unable to endure the self-constraint needed for acquiring the virtue of prayer, do not attain a plenitude of divine gifts; but those who do persist are rewarded with greater manifestations of divine aid, which sustain, support and joyfully carry them forward. Then what is difficult to accomplish is easily achieved, for they are invested with what one might call an angelic capacity, which empowers our human nature to commune with what lies beyond it. This accords with the words of the prophet, that those who persist will grow wings and will gain new strength (cf. Isa. 40:31).
- St. Gregory Palamas