Update for the week Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 9, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY'S
SATURDAY 5/5 - The St. Mary's Young Adult Ministry invites all St. Mary's parishioners to an Evening Coffeehouse this Saturday:
- Great Vespers 5:00 pm
- Delicious dinner sponsored by the Young Adult Group following Vespers
- Live performances for the evening by our parishioners and local musicians and artists, starting at 6:15 pm. Guests of all ages are welcome! Questions? Email: Adam Murphy (adammurphystg@gmail.com)
SUNDAY 5/6 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 24
+ Please join us after Liturgy for the 2018 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China (OFASC). RSVP to Nelson Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn ASAP. We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and seeing you at this event! Suggested minimum donation $8/adult, $16/family (Checks made payable to “St. Mary Orthodox Church-Hospitality” earmarked “Chinese Missions”).
MONDAY 5/7 - The Women’s Club is scheduled to meet again on Monday, May 7, in the Church.
WEDNESDAY 5/9 – The next meeting of the biweekly Bible Study/Adult Education group will be Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00. We learn about the word of God, pray and have fellowship together. Everyone is welcome to attend. For questions, study materials, or to be added to the email list, contact Ioana Popa at drioanapopa@gmail.com or Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
LEARN PYSANKY – A Pysanky Class to learn the art of Ukrainian egg coloring, hosted by the Young Adults Group and the Hospitality Group, will be held after church on Sunday, May 13, from 1:00 to -5:00 pm. Please RSVP. Participants will need an old shirt or smock; and snack or coffee contributions would be welcome. If you need childcare, please let us know ASAP. Email Diana Yousef with RSVPs or questions: yousefs@post.harvard.edu
DIOCESAN CHOIRS – Diocesan Choirs Day will be held on Saturday, June 29 from 9:30am-3:00pm at St. John of Damascus, Dedham. Featured will be Robin Freeman, Director of Music at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and our own Fr. Antony Hughes of St. Mary’s. RSVP by May 20 to your Choir Director or to Charlie.Marge@verizon.net.
REMINDERS
BIBLE BOWL - All Teens ages 13-19, and Pre-Teens ages 10-12, interested in competing in this year's Bible Bowl please call Violet Robbat at 781-862-4388 for further instruction. This year we are studying the book of Acts as found in the Orthodox Study Bible. We look forward to having two great teams once again this year!
CHURCH SCHOOL – The final Church School class will be held on Sunday, May 13, 2018.
FR. ANTONY ON VACATION – Fr. Antony and Khouria Carol will be out of town Monday, May 14 – Monday, May 21 (note corrected dates). In case of emergency please call Fr. Timothy Ferguson at 617-323-0323 or Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 ext.223.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – St. Mary’s church office will be closed Wednesday, May 16 – Monday, May 21. The deadline for the May 20th Bulletin will be Monday May 14 by 11am.
NO FASTING - There is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday until the Feast of the Ascension, May 17 – for the entire forty days. (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.
ASCENSION - There will not be Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s for the Feast of the Ascension this year.
BIBLE STUDY - The biweekly Bible Study/Adult Education group will meet on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:00. We learn about the word of God, pray and have fellowship together. Everyone is welcome to attend. For questions, study materials, or to be added to the email list, contact Ioana Popa at drioanapopa@gmail.com or Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com
BLESSING OF GRAVES - On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am. If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
- Francis Maria Scholarship - The Archdiocese will be awarding several Scholarships of $2500 each to students attending an accredited 4-year college. This scholarship application is available on the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by May 15.
- Antiochian Women’s Scholarships are available to females 26 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. Applications are available in the Church Office. E-mail lferris130@yahoo.com with any questions.
- Nicholas G. Beram 2018 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.
CHURCH SCHOOL – Church School Recognition will be on Sunday, June 3, following Liturgy.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 pm.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The Diocese of Worcester and New England Parish life Conference will be held on Saturday June 23 and hosted by the Diocese Mission Council. All events will take place at St. John of Damascus, Dedham. Register online at www.antiochianevents.com/Worcester
SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS – Antiochian Village Adult Camp for ages 21+ will be Friday-Monday, September 14-17. Adult Camp is open to all adults who want to spend the weekend in an Orthodox Christian environment growing in their faith. Cost of $195 includes lodging, food and activities. More information can be found at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/adult-camp. Registration opens May 1.
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.
JOIN US ONLINE - St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person, or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
REFLECTION
In the life led according to the Gospel there can be no valuation of prayer or doctrine or liturgical worship over doing the works of love, caring for those around us, standing up for what is right.
- Michael Plekon, Hidden Holiness
Prayer “in secret” and prayer “in common” actually belong to each other inseparably as aspects of the same devotional commitment and action. There is no choice: they must be practiced together. Indeed, it is the rule of the Church that believers should prepare themselves for corporate worship by their personal devotions “at home,” “in the closet.” It is spiritually dangerous to ignore this regulation.
- Georges Florovsky, The Worshipping Church
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!
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!
French: Le Christ est ressuscité! En vérité, il est ressuscité!
Amharic: ChristosTenesa! Bergit Tenesa!