Update for the week Thursday, April 13 - Thursday, April 20, 2017
Update for the week Thursday, April 13 - Thursday, April 20, 2017
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
HOLY THURSDAY, 4/13 – Vesperal Liturgy 7:00 am; Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm, 12 Gospels 7:00 pm
HOLY FRIDAY, 4/14 – Children’s Retreat 9:30 am; Royal Hours 1:00 pm, Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm; Lamentations 7:15 pm followed by Procession to Central Square
+ Following the Lamentations Service on Holy Friday evening, St. Mary's Teen SOYO will hold an All-Night Vigil at the Church. All youth ages 13-18 (grades 7-12), are encouraged to participate in reading Psalms, keeping watch at the tomb.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, 4/15-16 – Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am, with Coffee Reception to follow;
+ Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm, Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm
+ Great and Holy Pascha – Divine Liturgy 12:00 midnight, Paschal Festivities in the Church Hall following, with Paschal Buffet hosted by Selma Winstanley and Mary Winstanley O’Connor
+ “Food for Hungry People” boxes are due – please pass them in at the Bengarri
+ Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) 11:00am here at St. Mary’s; Reception following. At this service, the Gospel is read in many different languages. If you would like to read the Gospel in your native language or a language you speak well, please e-mail charlie.marge@verizon.net.
THURSDAY, 4/20 – The Bible Study group will meet on Thursday, April 20, at 7:00pm in the church library. We will continue discussing the book, "The Divine Dance" by Richard Rohr. New members are always welcome. Our next meeting will be Thursday, May 4.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANOTHER ROAD RACE – Next Sunday, April 23, the Spring Classic 5K road race will restrict access to parking around the church and behind the Post Office. The race starts at 9:30am. The end of Inman St. will be closed off to accommodate runners on Massachusetts Ave. until approximately 10:30am. Traffic will be diverted on Inman but if you advise the police officers that you are attending services at St. Mary’s they will let you down Inman to the church only(you will not be able to get onto Mass. Ave). Please plan accordingly. Log on to http://classic5k.com/Spring-classic to view the race route.
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday during Bright Week (the week after Pascha), as well as for the entire forty days until the Feast of the Ascension on May 25. 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.
CHOIR WORKSHOP and CHANT CLASS – On Saturday, May 6, there will be a Diocese Choir Workshop at St. Mary’s at 9:00am, and Chant Class at 3:30pm
+ ADULT FELLOWSHIP – The next Adult Fellowship Night will be on May 6. Details to follow soon.
+ Note that there will be NO Vespers at St. Mary’s on Saturday, May 6.
BYZANTINE NIGHT - St. Mary Church of Pawtucket, RI invites you to share with them A Byzantine Night, with Bishop John and their Arabic Choir led by Kh.Rouba, on Saturday, May 6 at 6:00pm. Immediately following, there will be refreshments at the Parish center.
WOMEN’S CLUB DINNER - The Women’s Club will have an End of the Year Dinner on Monday, May 15. Place and time TBD. . If you are interested contact Marilyn at 781-729-3033 or Barbara in the church office (secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234). Stay tuned for further information. It’s always a fun evening!
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30.
ASCENSION LITURGY – Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord will be Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30pm.
REMINDERS
BIBLE BOWL – We are still in need of 13-19 year olds to be part of our Teen Team in the Bible Bowl - please contact Violet Robbat at 781-862-4388 or by e-mail at vmkrobbat@yahoo.com. We are studying the Gospel of Mark as written in the Orthodox Study Bible. Participants must be present for all sessions. The Bible Bowl will be held at our Diocesan Parish Life Conference in June.
MARRIAGE WORKSHOP – The Diocese of Worcester and New England will host a “Marriage Preparation and Enrichment” Workshop on Saturday, April 22, to be held here at St. Mary’s, from 10:00am-3:00pm. The Workshop leader will be Bishop JOHN. This workshop is open to anyone, not just those getting married. Register by April 15. To register, email (secretary@stmaryrthodoxchurch.org) with your name and phone number or call Barbara at 617-547-1234. This workshop is free of charge.
ST. GEORGE WEEKEND – On Friday through Sunday, April 28-30, St. George West Roxbury will be welcoming his Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH and his Grace Bishop JOHN. Come for Family night on Friday, International night on Saturday - featuring Asian, Mexican, New England and Middle Eastern cuisine - and Festal Luncheon on Sunday. For more information visit www.stgeorgeofboston.org.
SERIOUS ABOUT SYRIA – Come to a humanitarian relief effort Benefit Dinner entitled “Serious About Syria” on Saturday, April 29, at the Second Church in Newton, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Cost is $45 per person. All proceeds go to Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), who provide medicine and medical services to Syrian refugees in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Greece. For more information go to www.SeriousAboutSyria.org or www.sams-usa.net.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE – Francis Maria Scholarships are available through the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Several $2500 scholarships will be awarded to Orthodox students attending an accredited 4-year college in the fall. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2017.
+ Scholarships from the Antiochian Women 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, 2017. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail cindy@nimeys.com with any questions.
+ Nicholas G. Beram 2017 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 online at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm . Application deadline is June 1, 2017.
PARENTING WORKSHOP – The Diocese of Worcester and New England invites you to a workshop, “Parenting within Orthodox Families,” on Saturday, June 10 (rescheduled from April 1), 9:00am-3:00pm in the hall at St. George Cathedral, 30 Anna St., Worcester. To register email stgeorgeworc@gmail.com or call 508-752-9150. Cost: $20/person, $30/couple.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The 2017 Diocese of Worcester and New England Parish life Conference will be hosted by St. George Cathedral, Worcester. Dates: Saturday, June 17 (Pre-Conference) and Friday-Sunday, June 23-25 (Conference). All events will take place at St. George Orthodox Cathedral. For more information and to register go to https://www.antiochianevents.org/143
COFFEE HOUR MADE EASY! - To make sponsoring a Coffee Hour a little bit easier, St. Mary’s offers a delivery service through “Instacart”, for the basic foods necessary to host a Coffee hour. Simply select a date, mail a check to the office and we will order the food and have it delivered to the church on that Sunday between 9:00 and 10:00 am. You will need to be at the church to accept the order and you will be required to set up for the coffee hour and clean up both the kitchen and hall at the end of the coffee hour. Two menus will be offered. Menu one will include: bagels, mini muffins, fruit, hummus/Syrian bread, juice and coffee for $160. Menu two will include: bagels, juice and coffee for $70. Prices DO NOT include a 20% tip for delivery and are subject to change based on current market pricing of items. Cream cheese, peanut butter, jam and coffee creamer are included with each menu. As usual, St. Mary’s will provide the plates, cups, napkins, utensils, serving platters, and sweetener for coffee. If you are interested in taking advantage of this service and signing up for a coffee hour please contact the office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
REFLECTION
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
- The Paschal Apolytikion
O Immortal One, when Thou didst descend into the tomb, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades; and Thou didst rise victorious, O Christ God. Thou hast said to the ointment‑bearing women: Rejoice! And Thou gavest peace to thy disciples, O bestower of resurrection to those who had fallen.
- Kontakion Of Pascha In Tone Eight
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! Check out this site which has text and voice recordings for over 250 languages: http://www.srbigham.com/en/langues.html. Here's how we say it in ten of the languages we use at St. Mary's:
English: Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!
Arabic: Al Maseeh ‘Am! Ha’an ‘Am!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Slavonic: Khristos Voskrese! Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat! Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Tigrinian: Kristos Tensiu! Behake Tensiu!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew! Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
Armenian: Krisdos Haryav ee Merelotz! Orhnyal Eh Haryootyoonun Krisdosee!
Spanish: Christo ha Resucitado! En Verdad ha Resucitado!
Amharic: ChristosTenesa! Bergit Tenestwall!