Update for the week Thursday, August 30 - Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Note: Work has begun on replacing the water main on Inman St. from Mass. Ave. to Harvard St. The City has assured us that we will be able to access the church at all times. However traffic patterns and parking on Inman St. will be altered and expect heavier traffic in the area. They plan to work on the weekends and nights to get the job completed. Expect this situation to last a few weeks.
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SATURDAY 9/1 – The new Ecclesiastical year begins on Saturday, September 1. Happy New Year!
SUNDAY 9/2 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL - We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of Mary K. Bezreh of Arlington, MA on Thursday August 30, 2018. Mary was the loving Mother of Dr. James and Christine Bezreh. Mary was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s church and a past member of the Women’s Club. Visiting hours will be held Monday September 3rd, 2018 from 5-8 p.m. at the Kfoury Keefe Funeral Home, 8 Spring St. West Roxbury. Funeral Service will be held Tuesday September 4th at 10 a.m. at St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St., Dedham, MA. Interment will conclude Services at Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Mary Church, Cambridge.
YOUNG ADULT MONTH – September is Young Adult Month in the Antiochian Archdiocese. The young adults of St. Mary’s will be taking part in the Great Procession, reading the Epistle and assisting with Communion.
REMINDERS
NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS – We will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos on the eve of the feast, Friday, September 7, with Divine Liturgy at 6:30pm.
WELCOME BACK COOKOUT – On Sunday, September 9 in the parking lot after Liturgy there will be delicious meal and celebration of the new school year, sponsored by the Young Adults and the Hospitality Group, welcoming parishioners and students back to our parish. (Note: the parking lot will not be available for parking.)
- Church School Registration for new students, and for children who have reached the age of 3, will also be held on Sunday, September 9. Classes will begin on Sunday, September 16 with a short lesson.
WOMEN’S CLUB – The Women’s Club will hold its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30pm. We welcome all women of the parish to join us. Call Priscilla (781-762-1527) or the church office (617-547-1234) if you have any questions.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM – The Diocese of Worcester and New England is offering an opportunity for anyone interested to learn, reflect and be transformed through the Orthodox Faith in preparation for various ministries. It is aimed to empower and equip Orthodox Christians to nourish and share the faith in the 21st Century. This is a 2 year program (4 semesters, 8 Units), starting Thursday, September 13. The leadership team includes His Grace Bishop John, our own Father Antony Hughes, Ioana Popa, Richard Robbat, and Sebastien Falardeau. Registration fee: $100/unit. For questions e-mail Ioana Popa at popalifecoach@gmail.com or call 617-455-7192. Pamphlets are at the Bengarri and a poster is on the bulletin board.
GREAT VESPERS - Great Vespers will be Saturday, September 15, at 5:00pm
- Chanters’ Rehearsal will precede Vespers, at 3:30
- Young Adult Fellowship Night will follow Vespers.
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.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN DELEGATES MEETING – The Fall Diocesan Delegates Meeting of Antiochian Women – General Assembly Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 15 at St. Michael Church, Cotuit, MA at 10:00am. If you are interested in attending please contact Barbara Shoop at the church office (617-547-1234)
- TEEN SOYO MEETING - The Diocesan SOYO meeting will also take place on Saturday, September 15 at Saint Michael on the Cape. If you have questions, please email Father Joseph Kimmett, StGeorgeNorwood@gmail.com
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS – Note change: We will not celebrate the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross on Thursday, September 13, as previously announced. Instead we will observe the Feast on Sunday, September 16.
SONIA’S RUN – The 10th annual Sonia’s Run and Fall Fair, in memory of Sonia Daly Belcher, will be held at St. George Church, West Roxbury on Saturday, September 22. Registration begins at 7:30am, race starts at 9:00am (note change in times). If you would like to be a part of St. Mary’s team, choose “St Mary Cambridge” as your team when you register and e-mail Charlie Marge, charlie.marge@verizon.net. All proceeds from the run will benefit Theophany School. Please visit www.soniasrun.org to register, volunteer or donate.
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) will begin meeting on Sunday September 30 at 9:00am in the hall. Enrollment will be open until October 21. The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been – and continues to be – understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church. Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group. If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by email r.kowalik@comcast.net. For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, in the Hall.
BIBLE STUDY - Welcome back to the Bible Study/Adult Education Program at St. Mary's Church! Meetings will be on Fridays this year, meeting once every 2 weeks. Our first meeting will be Friday, October 5 at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend! If interested, please contact the co-leaders: Christina Palis at christina_palis@mail.harvard.edu or Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com .
SOYO FALL CAMP and FAMILY CAMP – Diocese of Worcester and New England SOYO Fall Camp and Family Camp will be held Thursday–Sunday, October 5-7, at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. All teens in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend the Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Family Camp is open to families of all ages. Parents of teenagers are welcome to attend Family Camp while their children attend Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Each camp will have its own distinct program. Watch for more information and registration details.
REFLECTION
According to Saint Gregory of Nyssa, heaven and hell are not about location, but about relationship. God is everywhere, and He did not create a heaven for some, and a hell for others. If we love God, His fire will be a comforting warmth, but if we choose not to have a relationship with Him, His fire will be as hell fire. We choose how we will experience the presence of God in the afterlife, and since God can not be absent from anywhere, those who have chosen to ignore Him, will, nevertheless, be in His presence for all of eternity.
- Abbot Tryphon, All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
If we refuse to love, then we have also chosen to reject God’s love. The anxiety we feel when we face those we will not love is the direct result of our personal rejection of God’s love in our lives.
- Fr. Antony Hughes, sermon https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/sermons/2008-05-04-hughes.php