Update for the week Thursday, October 23, through Thursday, October 30, 2014
THIS WEEK
BIBLE STUDY - Join us this evening, Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 pm in the church library, as we discuss ritual impurity and its connection (or lack thereof) to Orthodox women, using the podcasts found at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/leviticus-part-5-2/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/leviticus-part-6-2/.
The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday, and is based on a course originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio, entitled Search the Scriptures. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mailto:mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (mailto:frawhj@gmail.com). New members are always welcome.
FLOROVSKY LECTURE – The Orthodox Theological Society will present a lecture on “Tradition as Reason and Practice” on Friday, October 24 at 7:30 pm, in the Maliotis Center at Holy Cross School of Theology. Lecturer will be Dr. Aristotle Papanikalaou. This event is free and open to the public.
HELP MAKE SFEEHA – Please come to the church on Saturday morning, October 25, starting at 9:30 am to help make meat pies 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.
HELP NEEDED – The furniture for the chapel at the National Convention is ready to be picked up in Newtonville for storage in our church basement. We will need at least four (4) volunteers to do the work. The target date is this Saturday, October 25 (postponed from last Saturday, October 18). Please let Father Antony know if you would be willing to help. (frawhj@gmail.com)
DIOCESE MEETINGS RESCHEDULED – The Fall Diocesan Delegates Meetings of Teen SOYO and Antiochian Women, originally scheduled for October 4, will be held on Saturday, October 25, at Emmanuel Church, Warren, MA. Morning Prayer (Western Rite) will be at 9:30 am, meetings at 10:30 am. A hot lunch will be served at noon – please RSVP to Fr. Chris at frchris@emmalueloc.org or 413-436-5582. (The rescheduled meeting for the Fellowship of St. John the Divine will be held at Bishop John's residence on Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30. More details to come.)
TEEN SOYO MINI-GOLF TRIP – On Saturday, October 25, teens from across the Diocese will enjoy an afternoon of mini-golfing at the McGolf range in Dedham. After we have conquered all 18 holes, we will celebrate Great Vespers for the feast of St. Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming together at St. George Church in West Roxbury.
ENQUIRERS CLASS - The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) meets every Sunday at 9:00am in the library (next door to Fr. Antony’s office). The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been – and continues to be – understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church who descend from the early Christian community of Antioch, where “the disciples were for the first time called Christians” (Acts 11:26). Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group using materials developed and piloted by St. Mary catechist emeritus David Vermette. If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by phone 617-889-3436 or e-mail r.kowalik@comcast.net. For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
WANT TO SEE THE MESSIAH? - If you want to go with others from St. Mary’s to see the Handel and Haydn Society’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah at the $20 group rate (on Sunday, November 30, at 3:00 pm), but forgot to let Melissa know, it's not too late. Contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com no later than this Sunday, October 26.
WOMEN'S CLUB – The Women’s Club will be going out to the Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill for an October dinner meeting on Monday, October 27, at 7:00. We welcome all women of the parish to join us! Any woman interested in going out, please call Mary Ellen Mabardy (781-729-6303) or the church office (617-547-1234) for more information. The Women’s Club does charitable work both locally and internationally, and supports the Church School. We would love for you to join us. Call Mary Ellen or the church office if you have any questions or want to be a part of this wonderful group of Women.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next Parish Council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 at 7:45 pm at the church.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MENTAL HEALTH WEBINAR – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care announces a webinar on Tuesday, October 28 from 1:30-2:30, entitled Mental Health 101: Caring for Emotional Distress in Pastoral Ministry, featuring George Stavros, Phd, MDiv, Executive Director of the Danielsen Institute and Clinical Associate Professor of Pastoral Psychology at Boston University. To register visit: http://gowoa.me/i/2st
THANK YOU - The Teens would like to thank all those who donated toward Special Olympics last Sunday. They collected $538, which will help support this ministry.
HARVEST FEST - St. George Orthodox Church, West Roxbury is holding their Harvest Fest 2014 Saturday, November 1 at 6:00pm. Pizza, games, pumpkin decorating and more. Cost is $35/family. Questions? E-mail stgeorgeharvestfest@gmail.com Hosted by the Church School PTO.
TEEN SOYO BOWLING - The Teens will be going bowling on Saturday Evening, November 8 (time to be determined). All teens should plan on joining them for a fun filled evening. Contact Greg or Hannah (greghakim@gmail.com / hoakley18@gmail.com) for more information.
SPAGHETTI DINNER - St. Mary's teens invite you to a spaghetti & meatball dinner on Sunday, November 9, 2014 following Liturgy. Your goodwill donation will be much appreciated.
REMINDERS
YOUTH MONTH – October is Youth Month throughout the Archdiocese. Our Liturgical Service volunteers will be teens, college students and young adults - they will carry the candles, icon, and bread baskets during the Procession, will read the Epistle, and will hold the cloths and blessed bread during Communion each Sunday.
All teens will sit together during Liturgy throughout the month of October – find us in the center row, towards the back of the church. Please contact Hannah or Greg if you would like to volunteer for liturgical service.
E-GIVE FOR SEMINARIANS - If you missed the collection for Antiochain Seminarians last Sunday, October 12, a special category on eGive has now been set up for this purpose.
MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND RELIGION CONFERENCE - The Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion presents "Exploring the Mind-Body-Soul Connection: Spirituality in Illness and Healing" at Hellenic College Holy Cross, Thursday-Saturday, November 6–8, 2014. For more information see https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B464h2ZqeC_oeTl0NEdoSHIzRzg/edit
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS - If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council please speak to Deno Takles or Fr. Antony by Saturday, November 8th. To be eligible to serve you must be a member of St. Mary’s for two years and in good financial standing.
BE A MEMBER - If you are not a Member of St. Mary’s, please consider becoming a member and pledging to enable St. Mary’s to fulfill her ministry and to keep up with her increasing annual expenses. Only members can serve on the Parish Council, and vote in the Annual Meeting. Please see Fr. Antony, Deno Takles or Barbara Shoop for a Member Packet or if you have any questions. Member packets are also available on the wall, to the right of the Bengarri. If you are currently a member of St. Mary’s we want to thank you for continued participation both spiritually and financially.
BAZAAR – The Church of St. John of Damascus, Dedham, will hold its annual Bazaar Friday-Sunday, November 7-9. Fri. 12 noon-9pm, Sat. 10am-9pm and Sun. noon-2pm. Live and silent auctions, Middle Eastern Cuisine, Country Store, craft items, kid’s games and face painting.
MEN'S RETREAT - The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care will host a day-long men's retreat, "Finding Peace and Wisdom in our Prayer Time," on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at the campus of Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, New York. The schedule will begin with Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m. The retreat leader will be Holy Cross alumnus Rev. Dr. Alexander Goussetis, whose latest book, Seed for the Sower, is now available from Holy Cross Orthodox Press. For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.family.goarch.org/mensministry or call 845-424-8175.
FALL LITURGY RETREAT FOR CHURCH SCHOOL STUDENTS & FAMILIES – Save the date: On Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day), from 9:30 - 3:00 pm there will be a retreat at St. Mary entitled The Liturgy of the Body. The retreat will explore the theme of the "Body" from different perspectives—physical, ecclesial, social, etc. In particular, we will look at the body in Worship, the body at Work (e.g. making Prosphora for the church), the body in the Body of Christ (with a particular focus on understanding baptism), and the body of the Community in Motion (e.g. learning dances from the various ethnic traditions here at St. Mary). Open to all children, teachers, parents and friends. Donation: $5/Child; $10/Family, helps to cover the expense of lunch, snacks and materials.
BYZANTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL - The Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture at Hellenic College Holy Cross invites you to its Second Boston Byzantine Music Festival, presenting a dynamic and engaging collection of performances that explore the musical tradition of the Byzantine Empire and its points of contact with the music of Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire. A series of free lectures and workshops related to the concerts will be presented throughout the day on November 14 and 15. For details and to buy tickets see www.BostonByzantineMusic.org
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE - Canned Food Drive: October, 2014 – December 31, 2014. Since 1984, we have collected over 3,281,200 pounds of food. Please bring in canned goods ONLY and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS
Greeter: Barbara Shoop
Liturgical Service: Young people of St. Mary: Krystyna Resavy, Cyatharine Alias, Maria Kallina, Katrina Braun, Katia Christakis, Chris Abdelahad, Christina Palis, and others
Coffee Hour: The Arnold and Rodriguez families
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Thursday, October 23: Bible study 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 25: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 26: Enquirers Class (St. Ignatius Catechetical Group) 9:00 am; Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by Church School lesson 5
Scripture Readings for Sunday, October 26:
Epistle: 2 Timothy 2:1-10
… Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.
Gospel: Luke 8:26-39
… as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; ...Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. ... Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; ...
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, November 1: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 2: Enquirers Class (St. Ignatius Catechetical Group) 9:00 am; Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by Church School lesson 6
Thursday, November 6: Bible study 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 8: Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 9: Enquirers Class (St. Ignatius Catechetical Group) 9:00 am; Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by Church School lesson 7
Tuesday, November 11: Church School Family Retreat
Saturday, November 15: Nativity Fast begins; Great Vespers 5:00 pm
REFLECTION
Why do demons wish to excite in us gluttony, fornication, greed, anger, rancor and other passions? So that the mind, under their weight, should be unable to pray as it ought; for when the passions of our irrational part begin to act, they prevent the mind from acting rationally.
- St. Nilus of Sinai
How many myriads there are of evil demons and how numberless are their varied wiles! ... They urge us to speak evil of one another, or, speaking sweet words, to conceal bitterness in our hearts, to criticize the outer aspect of our brother, while we harbor a wild beast in ourselves, to quarrel among ourselves and oppose one another, wishing to have our own way and appear as the most upright. Every man who enjoys sinful thoughts falls willingly when he welcomes (as in sympathy with) the suggestions of the enemies and when he expects to justify himself solely by his visible deeds, while within he is the abode of the spirit of wickedness, who teaches him every evil. The body of such a man will be full of shameful uncleanness - for he becomes a prey to devilish passions, which he does not repulse from himself. Demons are not visible bodies, but we become their bodies when our souls accept dark thoughts from them. For, having accepted these thoughts, we accept the demons themselves and make them bodily manifest.
- St Anthony the Great, from "Early Fathers From the Philokalia"
A man ... wrestles with many ... demons; and often the demon, whom many men could not master with iron bands, has been mastered by the man himself with words of prayer which is in him of the Holy Spirit; and the mere breathing of the Exorcist becomes as fire to that unseen foe. A mighty ally and protector, therefore, have we from God; a great Teacher of the Church, a mighty Champion on our behalf. Let us not be afraid of the demons, nor of the devil; for mightier is He who fights for us.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures
There are said to be five reasons why God allows us to be assailed by demons. The first is so that, by attacking and counter-attacking, we should learn to discriminate between virtue and vice. The second is so that, having acquired virtue through conflict and toil, we should keep it secure and immutable. The third is so that, when making progress in virtue, we should not become haughty but learn humility. The fourth is so that, having gained some experience of evil, we should 'hate it with a perfect hatred' (cf. Ps. 139:22). The fifth and most important is so that, having achieved dispassion, we should forget neither our own weakness nor the power of Him who has helped us.
- St. Maximos the Confessor, Second Century on Love no. 67