Update for the week of September 21- 28, 2017
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY
SUNDAY 9/24 – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) will begin meeting this Sunday at 9:00am in the Fellowship Hall. Enrollment will be open until October 15. If you would like to participate, please contact Bob Kowalik - 617-889-3436 or r.kowalik@comcast.net. Note: For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
+ His Grace Bishop John will be with us at St. Mary’s this Sunday for a Hierarchical visit, to celebrate liturgy and kick off our 90th Year celebration. The Parish Council will provide an extended coffee hour for the occasion.
+ Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am, followed by Church School lesson 2
+ After Liturgy, join the Young Adults on a trip to the Museum of Russian Icons to explore the exhibit, “Fantastic Beasts of Iconography” (last day of this exhibit). Leaving during coffee hour, this outing is open to the entire community. Cost: $10/adult, $5/student. Contact: Theo Smith (617-997-6740)
MONDAY 9/25 – Bible Study meets in the Fellowship Hall downstairs every other Monday at 7:00pm. During the coming year we will focus on podcasts that introduce the History of the Bible, the Church Fathers, and the first three books of the Hebrew Scriptures. This Monday we will discuss the podcasts found at http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/inspiration-and-inerrancy-part-2 and http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/the-oral-tradition. If you are interested but do not have time to listen to the podcasts, please join us anyway! Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact the new co-leaders, Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com or Ioana Popa at drioanapopa@gmail.com for more information. Note: The church parking lot is rented until 8:00pm. We are allowed to park in open parking spaces only; we cannot stack park or block anyone.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
SATURDAY 9/23 - Sonia’s Run and Fall Fair in memory of Sonia Daly Belcher, at St. George’s, West Roxbury, will be held on Saturday, September 23. Registration begins at 7:30am, kids run at 8:30am, and the 5K starts at 9:00am (note corrected times). St. Mary’s will run as a team again this year (last year we came in 2nd place). Just choose team “STMARYCAMBRIDGE” when you register. For questions about our team, please e-mail Charlie Marge, charlie.marge@verizon.net. All proceeds from the run will benefit Theophany School. Vendor tables are available. For more information go to www.soniasrun.org .
SUNDAY 9/24 - The Antiochian Women of the Diocese of Worcester and New England will sponsor a reception to welcome local Seminarians this Sunday at St. George Church, West Roxbury. Vespers at 4:00pm will be followed by a coffee and pastry reception.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
ROAD RACE - Next Sunday, October 1 the Octoberfest Road Race will begin at 9:30am from Cambridgeside Galleria and affect traffic from First St. to Columbia St. and Main St. If you come to church via Lechmere or Kendall Square you may encounter delays. For map of the race https://www.cambridge5k.com/oktoberfest
BAKE SALE - The Women’s Club will hold a Charity Bake Sale next Sunday, October 1 immediately following Liturgy in the church hall. All proceeds will benefit the charitable projects we sponsor from the YWCA Family Shelter in Cambridge to the Antiochian Women’s project. Call Priscilla Goss @ 781-762-1527 or the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or email secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org if you can help bake and/or donate.
YOUNG ADULTS APPLE PICKING AND PICNIC – Next Sunday, October 1 following Liturgy, join the Young Adults for delicious fruit and crisp fall weather to Carver Hill in Stow! Open to the entire community, we’ll leave during coffee hour. Pack a lunch and your adventurous spirit! Contact: Anna Furry (540-797-7452)
HARVEST FEST FOR HARVEY - St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, Cotuit, MA invites you to a festival on Sunday, October 1, at noon. All proceeds benefit the Victims of Hurricane Harvey. Live music, games, pumpkins and food.
YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP NIGHT: Exploring Vocation – On Saturday, October 7, following Great Vespers at 5:00 pm, join us for a delicious potluck dinner and a discussion on vocation - “What is my Calling” - with Nicholas Mamey. To learn more or to get involved, send an email to youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or call/text Jamil (617-501-4427)
WOMEN’S CLUB – The next meeting of the Women’s Club will be on Monday, October 16, at the church.
OLDIES DINNER DANCE – You are invited to an “Oldies Dinner Dance”, to benefit the St. George Norwood Building Fund. Event will be held at the Norwood Sportsman’s Club on Saturday, October 21, 6:30-11:00pm. Dinner, DJ, Cash Bar and Trivia. Tickets sold in advance, $25. Contact 508-488-0347 for tickets.
REMINDERS
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY MONTH - September is “Young Adult Ministry Month” in our Archdiocese, when Young Adults can become more involved in the life of the parish. (see the Opportunities for Service section below.) To learn more or to get involved, send an email to youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or call/text Jamil (617-501-4427) or Adam (315-719-2101)
HURRICANE APPEAL - Metropolitan JOSEPH has requested that every parish appeal to its parishioners and hold special collections after Liturgy throughout the month of September to help those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. If you would like to contribute by check please put on the memo line of the check “Hurricane appeal”. At the end of the month St. Mary’s contribution will be sent to the archdiocese for distribution to our parishes in need and to IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities). You can also donate through eGive by selecting “Hurricane Appeal.”
- For a copy of the Metropolitan’s revised letter to each parish please see the following link: http://antiochian.org/metropolitan-joseph-urges-prayer-and-practical-assistance-wake-hurricanes-harvey-and-irma
- A page of Prayers for Deliverance from Hurricanes has been added to the Antiochian Archdiocese website: http://antiochian.org/prayers-deliverance-hurricanes
eGIVE UPGRADE - eGive recently upgraded their systems. To access your account going forward, you must now take the following steps:
> Go to the new eGive page for St. Mary’s: https://give.egive-usa.com/dl/?uid=eGive13834Conv
> Click on the “Forgot Password?” link and request a new password using the e-mail you signed up with. You will get an e-mail with a temporary password
> Log in with this temporary password
TEEN SOYO ANNUAL RETREAT – Since in past years the annual Teen SOYO Retreat held during Lent has had to deal with too much snow, this year it is moving to the Fall. Now it will coincide with the Diocesan Family Camp at the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH, Friday to Sunday, October 13-15. The campers will be staying at the Center and the teens (grades 7-12) will be staying in the cabins and have their own program and events. Everyone will come together for the services and most of the meals. The cost is $85 per teen. NOTE: Registration forms must be returned by October 1. For information or scholarship information, contact Fr. Joseph Kimmett, Diocese Spirituaul Advisor, at geonorwood@aol.com, 781-762-4396 or John Abud, Diocese Youth Director, at abudjohn@gmail.com, 810-252-5769.
DIOCESE FAMILY CAMP – Our first Diocese Family Camp will be held the weekend of Friday-Sunday, October 13-15, 2017 at the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. Our Family Camp is modeled after the program at Antiochian Village. We will have daily services, Christian Education for children, a Keynote Speaker (TBD) for the parents, and sports and games for the whole family to participate. Experienced AV Staff Members are being recruited to serve as counselors for the weekend. More registration details and tentative schedule are online at http://antiochian.org/FamilyCampNE . There is also a facebook event under the Diocese Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1425084937546643
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN DIOCESAN MEETING – The Fall Diocesan Delegates Meetings of Antiochian Women – General Assembly Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 14 at St. John of Damascus Church, Dedham, starting at 10:00am.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS – If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council please speak to Mary Winstanley O’Connor or Fr. Antony by Sunday October 22. To be eligible to serve you must be a member of St. Mary’s for two years and in good financial standing.
BAZAAR & FOOD FAIR – St. George West Roxbury is having their annual Bazaar and Food Fair on Friday October 20 through Sunday, October 22 - Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sunday from 12pm to 3:pm. Admission is free. Middle Eastern cuisine and pastries, baked foods, country store, kids corner, photo booth
SFEEHA SALE (NEW DATES) - The Women’s Club is offering for purchase freshly made Sfeeha (ground lamb-meat pizza pies with onion, pine nuts & seasonings). Everything is cooked with the finest of ingredients and ready to eat now or freeze for the holidays! This product contains pine nuts; no special orders will be accepted. Please use the REVISED order form in the Sunday bulletin, or contact the church office for a copy. New order deadline is Sunday, October 29. Pick-Up Date is Sunday, November 5. Note: no kibbeh will be available this year.
HELP MAKE SFEEHA – Please come to the church on Saturday morning, November 4 (not October 28 as originally announced), 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.
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
After she heard the preaching of the holy Apostle Paul about the Savior, Saint Thekla with all her heart came to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and she steadfastly resolved not to enter into marriage, but rather to devote all her life to preaching the Gospel. …
Saint Thekla was sentenced to be burned. Without flinching, the holy martyr went into the fire and made the Sign of the Cross over herself. At this moment the Savior appeared to her, blessing her present deed, and inexpressible joy filled her holy soul. The flames of the fire shot up high, but the martyr was surrounded by a light and the flames did not touch her. Thunder boomed, and a strong downpour of rain and hail extinguished the fire. The torturers scattered in fear. Saint Thekla, kept safe by the Lord, left the city and with the help of a certain Christian youth, searched for the Apostle Paul. The holy apostle and his companions, among whom was Saint Barnabas, were hidden in a cave not far from the city, praying fervently that the Lord would strengthen Saint Thekla in her sufferings. …
The holy Church glorifies the Protomartyr Thekla as “the glory of women and guide for the suffering, opening up the way through every torment.”
- From https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/09/24/102715-protomartyr-and-equal-of-the-apostles-thekla