Update for the two weeks Thursday, April 16, through Thursday, April 23, 2015
NOTE: This edition of the St. Mary e-Newsletter covers two weeks; there will not be a separate issue on Thursday, April 23. However, if any important announcements need to be made in the meantime, they will be sent out in a separate email and will also be posted on the St. Mary website: https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/
THIS WEEK AND NEXT
THURSDAY, 4/16 – The Bible Study group meets tonight - Thursday, April 16 - at 7:00 pm in the church library. This week’s discussion will focus on Ruth and Samuel & Hanna, using the podcasts at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/ruth/ and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/samuel-and-hanna-part-1/
The Bible Study at St. Mary meets every other Thursday, and is based on a very interesting 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:mksayeg@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 4/17-19 - St. George Church, West Roxbury, invites you to join them this weekend in celebrating their Feast Day and the 115th Anniversary of the founding of their parish, with Metropolitan JOSEPH and Bishop JOHN. Saturday Banquet and Hafli and Sunday Hierarchical Divine Liturgy followed by Brunch. For more information, Call the church Office: 617-323-0323 or Amal Hourani: 781-793-0219.
SATURDAY, 4/18 – There will be NO Vespers at St. Mary this Saturday.
SUNDAY, 4/19 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School resumes, with Creative Arts Festival preparation
+ Any teen interested in being on St. Mary's Bible Bowl Team please see Violet Robbat or call her at 781-862-4388. We will be studying the life of St. Raphael beginning this Sunday, April 19, during coffee hour. Participants must be present for all sessions. The Bible Bowl will be held at our Diocesan Parish Life Conference June 18-21.
+ There is NO coffee hour this Sunday, because no one volunteered to provide one. Please check the sign-up sheet outside the coat room, and sign up.
MONDAY, 4/20 – The next meeting of the Women's Club will be this Monday at 7:30 at the church.
WEDNESDAY, 4/22 – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 pm.
SATURDAY, 4/25 – Great Vespers 5:00 pm
SUNDAY, 4/26 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson
+ Memorials, including one-year memorial for Donald DiFiore 11:30
THURSDAY, 4/30 – The Bible Study group meets again on Thursday, April 30, at 7:00 pm in the church library.
The Bible Study at St. Mary meets every other Thursday, and is based on a very interesting 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:mksayeg@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWLY ILLUMINED – Aura Brosnan was baptized on Holy Saturday; she and Matthew Ambrose Keaveney were chrismated then. Congratulations and welcome to them both!
FIND YOUR VOICE - A workshop for all choir members in the Diocese will be held Saturday, May 3, 2:30 – 5:30pm at St. John of Damascus in Dedham. Led by Orthodox Church musician, choral singer and scholar Richard Barrett, the workshop, entitled “Find Your Voice,” will focus on breath coordination, posture, healthy projection, vocal stamina, intonation, and how to apply these ideas to singing in church. To register, e-mail Charlie Marge, marge@alum.mit.edu
THEOPHANY SCHOOL BENEFIT - The 15th Annual Benefit for Theophany School will be held Saturday, May 9, at 6:30 pm, at St. George, West Roxbury. Tickets: $65. Contact: Alexis 781-444-3058 or theophanyschool@gmail.com.
CONVENTION COMMITTEE – The next meeting of the planning committee for the 2015 Antiochian Archdiocese Convention will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00 pm at the church.
CHINESE NEW YEAR MISSIONS BREAKFAST – Please join us on Sunday, May 17, for the 2015 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of china (OFASC). RSVP to Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, May 13. We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and seeing you at this event! This event is being held in conjunction with the Church School Graduation festivities. Suggested minimum donation $5 per adult (Checks made payable to “St. Mary Orthodox Church-Fellowship” earmarked “Chinese Missions”).
AWARDS CEREMONY – The Syrian-Lebanese Women’s Club Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 6:30pm at St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St. Dedham, MA. This year’s guest speaker will be Attorney Albertina Hajjar, President of the American Arabic Benevolent Association.
HAFLI - St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Worcester, will be sponsoring a Hafli featuring Superstar Joseph Attieh on Saturday, May 30. Doors open at 8:00 pm, Mazza and Dinner are at 9:00 pm. For reservations contact Michael Houssan 508-981-4327, email: hafli2009@gmail.com.
REMINDERS
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Your “Food for Hungry People” boxes are due. Please fill them with cash and pass them in at the Bengarri.
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, not only during Bright Week but for the entire forty days from Pacha 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.
CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION – The St. Mary Church School Closing and Graduation festivities will be Sunday, May 17. Please plan on joining us as we close the 2014-2015 Church School year. All Church School children who attended Church School for most of the school year will be recognized as they move up to the next grade or graduate.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
- The New England Region Fellowship of St. John the Divine 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 May 1, 2015.
- The Francis Maria Scholarship is available through the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Several $2500 scholarships will be awarded to students attending an accredited 4-year college. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2015.
- Antiochian Women’s 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 June 1, 2015. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail cindy@cnyhondas.com with any questions.
- Nicholas G. Beram 49th Scholastic Achievement Awards 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 http://www.stjohnd.org/ngberam. Application deadline is June 1, 2015.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE - The 2015 Diocese of Worcester Parish Life Conference will be hosted by St. Mary Church of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Thursday to Sunday, June 18-21.
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN - On Saturday, June 27 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, volunteers from all over the Diocese will be measuring and scooping 100,000 meals of MannaPack Rice, a scientifically formulated food that is culturally acceptable worldwide, for starving children. Organizations in nearly 70 countries distribute these meals to children in greatest need. We need 500 volunteers on that day as well as donations to help meet the $22,000 goal for the cost of the MobilePack Rice. This Humanitarian project is being conducted in conjunction with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) a Christian non-profit organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. You can help in these ways:
- Volunteers - Registration will be live 6 weeks prior to the event at www.fmsc.org/mobilepack .
- Donations - submit online at http://www.fmsc.org/mobilepack or checks, made out to FMSC, Memo line Mobil Pack #1506-99, can be given at the Bengarri or church office.
Please consider volunteering and/or making a donation to this worthy cause. If you would like to learn more you can contact Fr. Milad Selim at St. George Worcester 508-752-9150 or mailto:fr.milad.selim@gmail.comfr.milad.selim@gmail.com.
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – The 52nd Antiochian Archdiocese Convention, hosted by St. Mary Church, will be held Sunday, July 19, 2015-Sunday, July 26, 2015 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, MA. The convention room rate is $199.00 per night, plus tax. To book rooms at the hotel, register for the convention, purchase convention event tickets and tickets for Boston excursions and obtain forms to place a message in the Souvenir Journal, go to www.acboston2015.com. Rooms are booking quickly for this historic convention. Please call the church at (617) 547-1234 with any questions.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE SUMMER CAMP - Summer Camp registration is now open. Last year most sessions were full by the end of February, so make sure you register right away! There are currently over 300 campers registered. Please visit the Registration Page for instructions on how to register. Please note that you are not registered until they receive a deposit and you receive a confirmation email. For more information go to http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html
THEOPHANY SCHOOL REGISTRATION - Theophany School is now enrolling for Fall 2015. They are excited to announce Theophany School's expansion into Elementary School and offering Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade Enrollment for this Fall. For more information visit their website at http://www.theophanyschool.org or contact them at 781-444-3058 or theophanyschool@gmail.com
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY, April 19, Thomas Sunday
Epistle:
In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
- Acts 5:12-20
Gospel:
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
- John 20:19-31
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY, April 26, Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
Epistle:
In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
- Acts 6:1-7
Gospel:
… And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
- Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8
REFLECTION
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!
Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! Haqan Qam!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Slavonic: Khristos Voskrese! Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat! Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Albanian: Krishti u Ngjall! Vërtet u Ngjall!
Tigrinian: Kristos Tensiu! Behake Tensiu!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew! Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
Spanish: Christo ha Resucitado! En Verdad ha Resucitado!
Amharic: Kristos Tenesa! Bergit Tenesa!
- The languages used at St. Mary Church
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
– St. Augustine
It is manifest, then, and let none presume to doubt it, that the Savior has raised His own body, and that He is very Son of God, having His being from God as from a father, whose word and wisdom and whose power He is. He it is who in these latter days assumed a body for the salvation of us all, and taught the world concerning the Father. He it is who has destroyed death and freely graced us all with incorruption through the promise of the resurrection, having raised his own body as its first-fruits, and displayed it by the sign of the cross as the monument to his victory over death and its corruption.
- St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation
Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority. The more uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is right and what is wrong. All human progress, even in morals, has been the work of men who have doubted the current moral values, not of men who have whooped them up and tried to enforce them. The truly civilized man is always skeptical and tolerant, in this field as in all others. His culture is based on "I am not too sure."
- H.L. Mencken
A man who sits in stillness and who receives experience of God's kindness has little need of persuasive argument, and his soul is not sick with the disease of unbelief, like those who are doubtful of the truth. For the testimony of his own understanding is sufficient to persuade him above endless words having no experience behind them.
- St. Isaac of Syria, Ascetical Homilies
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.
Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
- Rumi