Update for the week Thursday, March 27, through Thursday, April 3, 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, entitled Search the Scriptures. 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 27) at 7:00 pm as we continue our study of Abraham. Listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-abraham-part-2 / and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-abraham-part-3/
FR. ANTONY TO BE AWAY – This weekend Fr. Antony will be in New York for the funeral of Metropolitan Philip (see www.antiochian.org for updates and photos). There will be no Akathist on Friday, and no Vespers on Saturday at St. Mary. We are pleased to welcome Fr. James Katinas, who will be our guest priest this Sunday.
SYRIAN BISHOP TO SPEAK – Bishop Elias Toume of Wadi Al Nassara, a resident bishop in the region of Homs, Syria will offer a talk on “Christians in Syria at the Crossroads” in the Maliotis Center at Hellenic College Holy Cross (50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA)on Friday, March 28, at 7:00 pm. Living in the war-torn area of Homs, Bishop Elias will share an insider’s perspective on the great challenges and suffering that the Christian minority has faced over the past three years of the Syrian conflict. For more information see http://www.hchc.edu/about/news/news_releases/costas_consultation#sthash.JZstpnRf.dpuf
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.
WOMEN'S MONTH HOMILIES – Deuring the month of 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 Marianna Sayag will talk about "Creation, Renewal, Resurrection."
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. Copies and youtube videos of the homilies can be found on the St. Mary website (www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org)
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 and coffee hour). 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. This presentation will consider how false notions of good and evil are formed, and how relative human notions of good and evil often have very little to do with the GOOD of God, or with the Evil of Diabolos — the principle of fragmentation, dissociation, and division. Since 1975, Dr. Perkins has practiced as a psychoanalyst in the tradition of C. G. Jung. He believes that a chief function of religion is to both awaken and nourish the mysterious depths of the human soul. Dr. Perkins’ books will be available before and after the lecture at a special discount.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY and LENTEN POTLUCKS – Every Wednesday during Lent there is 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 leaders (April 2) will be Melissa and Peter Nassiff (mnassiff@gmail.com). It would be helpful if you can let them 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 volunteer to lead the last potluck. If no one volunteers there will probably not be a potluck on the 9th.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to advise of the falling asleep in the Lord of Charles Robbat on Wednesday March 26, 2014.Charles was the brother of Elaine Boudros, the late George, Joseph and Albert Robbat, Helen Matook and Alice Medwar. The Wake and Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 31 here at St. Mary Orthodox Church. The Wake will be from 9:30-10:30 am. The Funeral Service will begin at 10:30am with interment at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park.
BREAKFAST SEARCH - On Sunday, April 6 the teens will be heading out after Liturgy to Harvard Square to hand out coffee and breakfast to those in need. All teens are welcome to join them.
NATIONAL CONVENTION NEWS – Both Mary Winstanley O’Connor’s and Ray Sayeg’s committees will meet at the Church on Wednesday, April 23, at 7:30 pm. (Note change of date and location.)
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.
WOMEN'S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be Tuesday, April 29, at 7:30 at the church. New members are welcome - any woman interested in joining may call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, April 30, at 7:30 pm.
REMINDERS
MARCH IS ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S MONTH. Our women are reading the Epistle, giving the Homily, taking the Collection, and assisting during Communion each Sunday.
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.
FSJD MEETING – Please join us for an important meeting of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine during coffee hour on Sunday, April 6. We will be sharing our revised calendar of events, and voting on whether or not to keep some of them. If you enjoy the activities we do throughout the year, then you'll want to attend this meeting to hear about the changes and the reasons for them. If you would like to know more about the Fellowship or join it, contact Julie at Julie31415pi@gmail.com
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. Please come and lend a hand in preparing God’s House for the Feast of Feasts.
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.
PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER – Join us on Sunday, April 13 after Divine Liturgy for our annual Palm Sunday Fish Dinner, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine and provided by Ed and Lisa Brylczyk. Requested donations are $8/person or $16/family.
HOLY FRIDAY RETREAT – Spend the morning in fellowship and activities with friends and families at the St. Mary’s Holy Friday Retreat on Friday, April 18, 9:30-12:30. A variety of activities will be provided and luncheon served. Recommended for ages 5 through adult. Younger children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. 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 and adults 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 teens' confessions before lunch.
Lunch is provided for everyone ($5 donation per person donation requested - make checks payable to St. Mary Orthodox Church). RSVP by Palm Sunday, April 13, to Trish Orlovsky at t_orlovsky@hotmail.com or call 781-641-0182, if you plan to attend or can help with activities that day.
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 CARE KITS 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.
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.
Nicholas G. Beram Scholastic Achievement Award - applications are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4 year college full time. Applications are available in the Church office or on-line at www.stjohn.org/ngberam. Application deadline is June 1, 2014.
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.
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: Barbara Shoop
Liturgical Service: Candle Bearers: Furtuna Solomon & Julie Wasilko; Icon Bearer (Great Entrance): Ioanna Chirieac; Bread Baskets (Great Entrance and Communion): Cindy Mazzoni & Larisa Patacchiola; Supervisor(s): Teva Regule and Doreen Bargoot
Coffee Hour: Fellowship of St. John the Divine
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Thursday, March 27: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Friday, March 28: NO Akathist (Madayeh)
Saturday, March 29: NO Great Vespers
Sunday, March 30, Sunday of St. John Climacus: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 20; Annual Fr. John vonHolzhausen Lecture 1:00 pm
SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, March 30:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20
Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.
Gospel: Mark 9:17-31
At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able ... if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" ... And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."
Wednesday, April 2: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm, followed by Pot Luck Supper
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday, April 4: Final Akathist (Madayeh) 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 5: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 6: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 21
Wednesday, April 9: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm
Thursday, April 10: 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; Great Vespers 4:00 pm
Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by FSJD Fish Dinner; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Monday, April 14: Presanctified Liturgy 7 :00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Tuesday, April 15: Presanctified Liturgy 7 :00 am; Bridegroom Matins 7:00 pm
Holy Wednesday, April 16: Presanctified Liturgy 7 :00 am; Holy Unction 7:00 pm
Holy Thursday, April 17: Vesperal Liturgy 7 :00 am; Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm and Twelve Gospels 7:00 pm
Holy Friday, April 18: 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, April 19: Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am
Saturday-Sunday, April 3-4: Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm; Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm; Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 12 midnight; Paschal Festivities in the Church Hall following
Sunday, April 20, Great and Holy Pascha: Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) 11:00 am here at St. Mary Church; reception following.
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22: Parish Life Conference, Plymouth, MA
REFLECTIONS
He who will not accept a reproof, just or unjust, renounces his own salvation. But he who accepts it with an effort, or even without an effort, will soon receive the remission of his sins.
- St John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent"
If you lean continuously on the staff of prayer, you will not stumble, but even if this should happen – you will not fall completely.
- St. John Climacus
A vainglorious person is a believing idolater; he apparently honors God, but he wants to please not God but men.
- St. John Climacus
All who ask and do not obtain their requests from God, are denied for one of the following reasons; because they ask at the wrong time, or because they ask unworthily and vaingloriously, or because if they received they would become conceited, or finally because they would become negligent after obtaining their request.
- St. John Climacus
Wrath is a reminder of hidden hatred, that is to say, remembrance of wrongs. Wrath is a desire for the injury of the one who has provoked you. Irascibility is the untimely blazing up of the heart. Bitterness is a movement of displeasure seated in the soul. Anger is an easily changeable movement of one’s disposition and disfiguration of soul.
- St. John Climacus
The beginning of freedom from anger is silence of the lips when the heart is agitated; the middle is silence of the thoughts when there is a mere disturbance of soul; and the end is an imperturbable calm under the breath of unclean winds.
- St. John Climacus