Update for the week Thursday, May 8, through Thursday, May 15, 2014
Happy Mothers Day!
THIS WEEK
BIBLE STUDY – Join us tonight (Thursday, May 8) at 7:00 pm in the church library as we conclude our study of Genesis. Listen to the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-joseph-part-2/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-conclusion/. The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday, 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.
THEOPHANY SCHOOL BENEFIT & AUCTION – You are invited to “Growing Together,” the 14th Annual Benefit and Auction for Theophany School, to be held at St. George Orthodox Church, West Roxbury, on Saturday, May 10. Dinner and live music by Mitchell Kaltsunas. RSVP by Thursday, May 1. For more information visit their website, www.TheophanySchool.org.
MEMORIALS – After Liturgy this Sunday, Trisagion prayers of Mercy will be offered for Mary Robbat (1 year) and Robert Hamwey (5 years).
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – This year's Parish Life Conference will be held at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor Thursday through Sunday, June 19-22, hosted by St. George Church of Boston. Hotel reservations should be booked by May 16, using Promotional Code PLC14 – after that date no rooms will be available, because of another function using the hotel that weekend. (Other hotels in the area may have vacancies.) Discounted rate is $139 per night. See www.stgeorgeofboston.org/plc2014 for more information.
MEMORY ETERNAL – We regret to advise of the falling asleep in the Lord of Araya Yohannes on May 7, 2014. Araya was the dear Father of Azeb Urge Mitiku and Grandfather of Tenbit, Maedot and Emmanual Urge Mitiku.
DIOCESAN ORATORICAL FESTIVAL – The Diocese of Worcester and New England is looking for teens ages 13-19 to participate in the Oratorical Festival. Prepare an oration about loving God and your neighbor. Participants will present at the Parish Life Conference in Plymouth in June. Contact Marianna Sayeg at mksayeg@gmail.com if you are interested.
HELP PROVIDE A WARM WELCOME – Two things we do every week to welcome visitors and newcomers, and to strengthen the bonds of fellowship with all who worship at St. Mary, are: 1. Greet everyone who enters the church, and 2. Provide coffee hour after Liturgy. We need more help with both of these ministries. To become a greeter please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or email at Buddy@cjmabardy.com; to provide a coffee hour please sign up on the sheet downstairs on the bulletin board or contact Barbara in the office at 617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
REMINDERS
NO FASTING – Fasting is not required, not only during Bright Week, but for the entire forty days until the Feast of the Ascension, May 29. (This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch.) This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.
AABA ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – You are invited to the American Arabic Benevolent Association's 40th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 4:00 pm., at AABA Village, Cheriton Rd., West Roxbury. BBQ and DJ. Admission is FREE. Please call 617-323-2722 by May 12 to reserve a spot.
CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION – Please plan to join us on Sunday, May 18 as we close the 2013-2014 Church School year. All Church School children who attended Church School will be recognized as they move up to the next grade or graduate. The recognition ceremony will be followed by a Luncheon in the church hall to thank the Teachers and honor the Students for their weekly attendance. Suggested Donation: $5.00 for Adults, Children Free.
WOMEN'S CLUB DINNER - The Women’s Club will be going out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in the Chestnut Hill Mall on Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 pm to close the year. Everyone is welcome - any woman interested in going out, please call Mary Ellen Mabardy (781-729-6303) or the church office (617-547-1234) for more information. Think about joining the women’s club next year! We meet only once a month (usually not in the winter), and we would love to have you with us!
PARISH COUNCIL - The next Parish Council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 21,, at 7:30 pm at the church.
BLESSING OF GRAVES – On Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am. If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
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.
ST. MARY’S PENTECOST POTLUCK PICNIC – Come join FSJD as we’ll be gathering at nearby Dana Park (10-20 McTernan St, Cambridge) after church on Sunday, June 8 (rain date June 15). Bring a blanket, some eats or drinks to share, balls, frisbees, even bathing suits if you want to splash in the sprinklers! Dana Park is a 5-10 min walk south of the Church, with an enclosed playground, hoops, water spouts, and beautiful green space. This is a great opportunity to relax and spend time with our church family. If you would like to help us out, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu).
NATIONAL CONVENTION OPPORTUNITIES – 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.
HELP FOR THE TRAUMANN-DAVIS FAMILY – Anyone who would like to help Elisabeth Traumann (wife of Seraphim Davis and mother of Isis, Thais and Tycho Traumann-Davis) with meals, transportation, etc. may visit the family's Lotsa Helping Hands community at: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/713408/ 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. For updates on Elisabeth’s condition, just friend Elisabeth on Facebook and then check this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197726897092134/
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Thursday, May 8: Bible Study 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 10: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 11: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Creative Arts preparation
Scripture Readings for Sunday, May 11:
Epistle: Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42
… Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ... the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. ...
Gospel: John 5:1-15
At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" … Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, May 17: NO Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, May 18: Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School Closing/Graduation with Luncheon following Liturgy
Thursday, May 22: Bible Study
Monday, May 26, Memorial Day: Blessing of Graves at Fairview Cemetery 9:00 am.
Wednesday, May 28: Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord 6:30 pm
Sunday, June 8: St. Mary’s Pentecost Potluck Picnic
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22: Parish Life Conference, Plymouth, MA
REFLECTION
A mother feels less pleasure when she folds within her arms the dear infant whom she nourishes with her own milk, than the true child of charity [love] does when united - as he incessantly is - to his God, and folded as it were in the arms of his heavenly Father.
- St. John Climacus
For almsgiving is the mother of love, of that love which is the characteristic of Christianity, which is greater than all miracles, by which the disciples of Christ are manifested. It is the medicine of our sins, the cleansing of the filth of our souls, the ladder fixed to heaven; it binds together the body of Christ.
- St. John Chrysostom
No man professing a true faith, sins; neither does he who has charity hate anyone. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so they who profess themselves to be Christians are known by what they do. For Christianity is not the work of an outward profession; but shows itself in the power of faith.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
One who truly believes will also surely perform good works.
- St. Seraphim of Sarov
Whoever bears fruit with works of faith and love, he is a real disciple of Christ.
- Saint John Chrysostom