Update for the week Thursday, September 27 - Wednesday, October 3, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 9/30 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am, with Church School following
WEDNESDAY 10/3 - The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, in the Hall.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 9/28-30 – A retreat for the men of the diocese will be held at St. Methodios Retreat Center in NH on Friday-Sunday, September 28-30. This year’s topic is “Theosis: What it is and Why it Matters”. Bishop JOHN will lead the four-part discussion. The cost of $199 includes lodging and meals. Contact John DeVoie at john@hottable.com.
SUNDAY 9/30 – The Antiochian Women of the Diocese are hosting a Welcome Reception for our Seminarians attending Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary, on Sunday, September 30.(Note: The seminarian assigned to St. Mary’s is our own Adam Murphy.) Please join Bishop JOHN and the clergy at St. George West Roxbury for Vespers at 4:00pm followed by dinner in the Parish Hall. This is also a celebration in honor of Bishop John’s 40th Anniversary in the service of the Lord. AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS!
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL - We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of Karen Diane (Fritz) Chamberlin of Kittanning, PA, 72, on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. Karen was the mother of Jeff and Julie Wasilko. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, October 1, in Kittanning, PA.
NO CHURCH SCHOOL – On Sunday, October 7 there will be no Church School classes.
YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP NIGHT – Join the Young Adults on Saturday, October 13 for Great Vespers at 5:00pm, followed by Potluck Dinner, Fellowship, and Panel Discussion: Why Should I Go to Church Anyway? Seeking Meaning in an Age of Confusion
BIBLE STUDY - Welcome back to the Bible Study/Adult Education Program at St. Mary's! Our first meeting will be Tuesday, October 16 from 7-8:30 and we will meet at Christina's apartment in Cambridge. Each bi-weekly session will be an in-depth look at the lectionary reading for the coming two Sundays. Everyone is welcome to attend! If interested, please contact the co-leaders: Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com or Christina Palis at christina_palis@mail.harvard.edu.
KIBBEH and GRAPE LEAVES SALE - This year the Women’s Club will be offering freshly made Kibbeh (ground lamb, onion, pine nuts, cracked wheat and seasoning) and Grapeleaves (rolled with ground lamb, rice and seasoning) for purchase to enjoy during the holidays. Kibbeh will be frozen raw, to be cooked at your convenience. Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin, include payment and mail to the church or pass it in at the Bengarri or the office. Order deadline is Sunday, October 21 and order pick-up will be November 4 at the church. We look forward to receiving your order!
WOMEN’S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be held in one corner of the Hall on Sunday, October 28, immediately after Liturgy
BAZAARS:
- St. George, West Roxbury will be holding their Annual Bazaar & Food Fair Friday and Saturday, October 19-21 10am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-3pm. Admission is free. Middle Eastern cuisine and pastries, baked goods, country store, kids’ corner, handmade holiday and craft items.
- St. John of Damascus in Dedham (300 West St.) will be holding their Annual Bazaar, Friday through Sunday, November 3-5: Friday 12pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 12pm- 2pm.. Middle Eastern cuisine, country store, Christmas corner and more. For more information visit www.stjohnd.org/bazaar.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support our Canned Food Drive! From October through December 31, bring in canned goods and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. (Canned goods only, please.) They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
REMINDERS
YOUNG ADULT MONTH – September is Young Adult Month in the Antiochian Archdiocese. The young adults of St. Mary’s are taking part in the Great Procession, reading the Epistle and assisting with Communion.
OUT OF TOWN - The church Secretary, Barbara Shoop, will be out of town for two weeks October 4-18. Marilyn Robbat will come into the office for a couple of days each week to handle any urgent matters.
- Also, Fr. Antony will be out of town October 16-24. In case of emergency October 16-18 call Mary Winstanley O’Connor, our Parish Council President. For any emergency on the remaining days call the church office or Mary.
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.
VESPERS and YOUNG ADULTS – On Saturday, October 13 Great Vespers will be at 5:00pm, followed by a Young Adult Fellowship night.
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) will begin meeting on Sunday, October 14 (note new date) at 9:00am in the hall. 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 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.
BAKE SALE - The Women’s Club will hold a Charity Bake Sale Sunday, October 21immediately 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. E-mail Renay DiFiore, renayanddon@aol.com or Barbara Shoop, barbara@dsaarchitects.com or call the Church Office at 617-547-1234, or email secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org, if you can help bake and/or donate.
HOSPITALITY GROUP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS – St. Mary’s Donald DiFiore Memorial Hospitality Group works to build community among the larger St. Mary’s congregation, so that we can come together in service, celebration and fellowship outside of liturgy and coffee hour. We need members to join our ranks, and help with planning and running fellowship events such as Lenten Potluck Suppers, the Dormition Feast, special coffee hours, our annual Picnic, etc. Even if you could commit to just one event per year, this would immeasurably help strengthen the sense of community and family in our parish. We also welcome new ideas for fellowship gatherings – anything that brings us together in communion. If interested, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu).
REFLECTION
Helping a person in need is good in itself. But the degree of goodness is hugely affected by the attitude with which it is done. If you show resentment because you are helping the person out of a reluctant sense of duty, then the person may receive your help but may feel awkward and embarrassed. This is because he will feel beholden to you. If, on the other hand, you help the person in a spirit of joy, then the help will be received joyfully. The person will feel neither demeaned nor humiliated by your help, but rather will feel glad to have caused you pleasure by receiving your help. And joy is the appropriate attitude with which to help others because acts of generosity are a source of blessing to the giver as well as the receiver.
- St. John Chrysostom
You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives.
- St Seraphim of Sarov
The person who is genuinely charitable not only gives charity out of his own possessions, but gladly tolerates injustice from others and forgives them. Whoever lays down his soul for his brother acts generously, rather than the person who demonstrates his generosity by his gifts.
– St. Isaac of Syria