Update for the week Thursday, October 30, through Thursday, November 6, 2014
THIS WEEK
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS – Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend - don’t forget to set your clocks back. Liturgy begins at 10:00am Eastern Standard Time this Sunday!
BIBLE STUDY - Join us next Thursday, November 6 at 7:00 pm in the church library, as we conclude our study of Leviticus, using the podcasts found at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/leviticus-part-7-2/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/leviticus-part-8-2/
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.
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
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANGEL TREE MINISTRY - Give joy to a prisoner's child this Christmas - participate in the Angel Tree Ministry! On Sunday, November 9, Linda and Kate Arnold will be available at the Angel Tree Ministry Table in the parish hall during coffee hour. For those of you who participated last year, thank you! We hope you will once again, or for the first time, volunteer to take the name of a child and shop for designated gifts, wrap them and return them with tag to the church by the predetermined date. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ with those in need!
We are also looking for volunteers to assist with gift delivery. Please talk with either Linda or Kate about this wonderful experience.
NATIVITY FAST - The Nativity Fast, also known as the season of Advent, begins Tuesday, November 15. This is the forty days of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Every Wednesday during this period (except November 26, the eve of Thanksgiving) there will be a Paraklesis service at 6:30 pm.
NATIONAL CONVENTION – There will be a meeting of the 2015 National Convention committee on Tuesday, November 18, at the church.
PRESENTATION OF THE THEOTOKOS - The Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple will be celebrated with Evening Divine Liturgy on Thursday, November 20, at 6:30pm
CHARITY BAKE SALE –The Women’s Club will hold its annual Thanksgiving Charity Bake Sale on Sunday, November 23, 2014 (the Sunday before Thanksgiving). Plan on purchasing all your holiday breads, pies, goodies, Syrian pastries and much more! All proceeds will benefit the Convent of Saidnaya in Syria. Call Mary Ellen Mabardy at 781-729-6303 if you can help bake or donate something to sell.
CHURCH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - If your child is interested in participating in the 2014 Christmas Pageant, please see Charlie Marge. We also need parents to assist at all rehearsals. Rehearsal #1 will be Sunday, December 7, during coffee hour; Rehearsal #2 is Sunday, December 14, during coffee hour; and Dress Rehearsal is Saturday, December 20, 2:30 – 4:30pm. The Pageant will be Sunday, December 21, after liturgy.
REMINDERS
BAZAARS AND FESTIVALS:
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.
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.
St. Mary Antiochian Church, Pawtucket will hold their annual Holiday Bazaar Friday, November 7 (5:00pm-8:00pm), Saturday, November 8 (10:00am-8:00pm), and Sunday, November 9 (11:00am-4:00pm). For more information call 401-726-1202.
St. George's Orthodox Church, Lawrence, is having a Food Fair on Saturday, November 8 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, with lunch served 11:00-3:00 – Mediterranean and American foods and baked goods for sale. Questions? Call 978-685-4052.
TEEN SOYO BOWLING - The Teens will be going bowling on Saturday evening, November 8. 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.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS - If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council please speak to Deno Takles or Fr. Antony by Saturday, November 8. 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.
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.
SPAGHETTI DINNER - St. Mary's teens invite you to a spaghetti & meatball dinner on Sunday, November 9, 2014 following Liturgy. Menu: Spaghetti, Meatballs (Just before the Fast!), Salad, Bread, Dessert and Coffee/Beverage. A suggested minimum donation of $5.00/person will be greatly appreciated (no charge for Teen SOYO).
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. For more information or to register contact Doreen Bargoot: dbargoot@aol.com
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: Ray Sayeg
Liturgical Service
Procession: Danait Teclezghi, Zanta Ephrem, Essey Teclezghi, Meley Ephrem, Saimon Teclezghi, George Mayeh
Epistle: James Wilcox
Communion: Nadine Rebovich, Teva Regule, James Wilcox, and others TBD
Coffee Hour: The Alcala family
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
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
Scripture Readings for Sunday, November 2:
Epistle: Galatians 2:16-20
... by works of the law shall no one be justified. ...For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gospel: Luke 16:19-31
...There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table... The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. ...Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. … [The rich man] said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to [his brothers] from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"
Thursday, November 6: Bible study 7:00 pm
LOOKING AHEAD
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. Teen Spaghetti Dinner
Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day): Church School Family Retreat
Saturday, November 15: Nativity Fast begins; Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 16: Enquirers Class (St. Ignatius Catechetical Group) 9:00 am; Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by Church School lesson 8
Wednesday, November 19: Paraclesis 6:30 pm
Thursday, November 20: Evening Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple 6:30 pm
Saturday, November 22: No Vespers at St. Mary's
Sunday, November 23: Enquirers Class (St. Ignatius Catechetical Group) 9:00 am; Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; followed by Church School lesson 9; Women's Club Bake Sale
Wednesday, November 26: No Paraclesis (Thanksgiving eve)
Saturday, November 29: No Vespers at St. Mary's
Wednesday, December 3: Paraclesis 6:30 pm
REFLECTION
You do wrong to everyone you could help but fail to help.
- Basil of Caesarea
...a man has no right to be called faithful, if his faith is a bare word and if he has not in him a faith made active by love or the Spirit. Thus faith must be made evident by progress in works, or it must act in the light and shine in works, as the divine Apostle says: "Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18), thus showing that the faith of grace is made evident by works performed in accordance with the commandments, just as the commandments are fulfilled in deed and are made bright through the faith which is in grace.
- St. Gregory of Sinai, Texts on Commandments and Dogmas no. 119
The more a person loves God, the more he loves other people. He loves them with holiness, respect and refinement, as images of God. … We must have Love; even if they do us the greatest harm, we must love them. We will be able to enter Paradise only with love.
- Elder Amphilochios Makris
Those who are suffering in hell, are suffering in being scourged by love.... It is totally false to think that the sinners in hell are deprived of God’s love. Love is a child of the knowledge of truth, and is unquestionably given commonly to all. But love’s power acts in two ways: it torments sinners, while at the same time it delights those who have lived in accord with it.
- Saint Isaac the Syrian