Update for the week of July 6-13, 2017
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SUNDAY 7/9 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TANGLEWOOD OUTING – Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary’s as we carpool out to Tanglewood immediately after Liturgy on Sunday, July 16, 2017. We’ll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by John Williams, Tchaikovsky and Berlioz, featuring violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Nelsons. For more information see https://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/85537 . The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $23.00 - pay at the door; children are free. Bring lawn chairs if you want them, and picnic food for yourself and to share. For more information and to let us know you're coming, especially if you'll need a ride, contact Melissa Nassiff by email (mnassiff@gmail.com) or phone (508 877-7483).
CONGRATULATIONS – Bible Bowl! Our Bible Bowl teams made a clean sweep last month and won FIRST PLACE in all three Divisions: Pre-teen, Teen and Adult, at the Parish Life Conference in Worcester. They competed against our sister churches in the Diocese of Worcester and New England. The Pre-teen team participants were Nicholas Mazzoni, Sophia and Iliana Sakellariou and Joseph Soloman. The Teen Team participants were Gabrielle Mazzoni, Amanuel Kassa and Ben Crea. The Adult participants were Cindy Mazzoni and Charlie Marge. Many thanks to coach Violet Robbat, who does a wonderful job preparing and coaching our teams for the competition. Next the Teens are off to Miami to participate in the National Archdiocesan Bible Bowls. Wish them luck!!!
CONGRATULATIONS – Creative Arts Competition! St. Mary’s Church School is pleased to announce that all five classes that submitted projects to the Diocese of Worcester and New England Creative Arts Competition won awards. There were three achievement levels, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Pre-school and Grade 4/5 won Bronze, Grades K/1 and 2/3 won Gold and Grade 6 won Silver. A total of 41 ribbons were awarded to our Church School children. In addition, Grade K/1 won 1st place overall in their age group. WELL DONE! Award ribbons will be given to the children in the fall at a special presentation.
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – The 53rd Biennial Archdiocese Convention, honoring His Grace Bishop ANTOUN, will be held Sunday, July 23 through Sunday, July 30, hosted by St. George Cathedral, Coral Gables, FL. Visit www.AC2017Miami.org for more details. On-line registration closes July 15th. After that date you must register in person at the conference.
DORMITION FAST – The fast preceding the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos, our patronal feast day, begins on Tuesday, August 1 and continues through Monday, August 14, the eve of the Feast.
+ On Wednesdays, August 2 and August 9, there will be a Paraclesis for the Dormition at 6:30 pm
+ On Monday, August 14, we will observe the Vigil for the Dormition of the Theotokos with Vespers at 4:15 pm, Orthros with Lamentations at 5:30 pm, and Festal Divine Liturgy at 7:00 pm.
+ Immediately after the Liturgy please join us in the church hall for a Dormition Feast, sponsored by the Hospitality Group. Cost: $8 person/$16 family. Checks payable to St. Mary's with "Hospitality Group" on the memo line.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DORMITION FEAST – For the feast on Monday, August 14, the Hospitality Group needs 5 volunteers - if you can help, please contact Diana Yousef at dymartinek@gmail.com . We look forward to seeing you there!
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, August 16, at 7:30.
SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY – Save the date for a training session on building social justice ministry teams in the church on September 16, 2017 at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA. More information will be forthcoming at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHER NEEDED - For Fall 2017 we are in need of a Teacher and an Assistant for the 4th-5th grade class. And we are always in need of substitutes. Please consider being a teacher and helping with this very important ministry. Contact Barbara Shoop in the Church office if you are interested.
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY - The Young Adult Ministry is an active, dynamic group that hosts monthly social, spiritual, and outreach events and programs. We have lots of great plans for 2017, and we hope you'll join us! If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Jamil at 617-501-4427 or youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
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
When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration.
- Saint John Chrysostom