Update for the week Friday, November 23 - Wednesday, November 28, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 11/25 – Orthros 8:45am, St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) 9:00am, Divine Liturgy 10:00am; no Church School this week
+ Please do not enter the hall today, as the floors have been refinished
+ If you ordered our discounted ($29) tickets for Handel’s Messiah, please see Melissa Nassiff after church this Sunday (near the Bengarri), to pay for and receive your tickets! The performance is next Sunday, December 2, at 3:00 pm. We will carpool to (or meet at) Symphony Hall after Liturgy and have lunch together at a nearby restaurant before the concert.
MONDAY 11/26 - The 2019 Parish Council Ballot has been mailed to all members of St. Mary’s. Please vote for no more than 5 people and return to the church in the self-addressed envelope by this Monday, November 26.
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
SATURDAY 11/24 – The Nicholas G. Beram Veteran's Association will hold its 72nd Anniversary Celebration and Scholastic Achievement Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 24 at the Hilton Inn, Dedham, 12noon-4pm. Our own Alexander Dalton is one of the Scholastic Achievement Award recipients!
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
LESSONS AND CAROLS – Join us for a Western Rite Service of prayers, scripture readings, and Christmas Carols on Sunday, December 9 at 5:30pm, featuring the Boston Civic Symphony Brass Quintet and St. Mary's Choir. Please bring a canned food item for our food drive. More details to follow.
BIBLE STUDY – St. Mary’s Bible Study/Adult Education Program will not meet again until early January. Each bi-weekly session will be an in-depth look at the lectionary reading for the next Sunday. Come join us - everyone is welcome to attend! For questions or directions please contact the co-leaders: Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com or Christina Palis at christina_palis@mail.harvard.edu.
THEOPHANY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE – Thursday, December 6, 3:30-6:30pm, 754 Greendale Ave., Needham, MA. A St. Nicholas craft for children and refreshments will be provided. The school serves ages 18months-6 years of age.
2019 COFFEE HOUR - The 2019 Sign-Up Sheet for has been Posted! Please sign up to provide a coffee hour – it can be as simple as coffee, juice, and cookies. Plenty of help is available! Signup sheets are on the bulletin board outside the Hall, or contact Linda Arnold (mmarmee52@aol.com) or the Church Office (617-547-1234 or Secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org ). Remember - no volunteers = no coffee hour!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY - For many years, St. Mary's Technology Ministry has had a tremendous reach and impact through the Internet for parishioners and friends of St. Mary's and seekers of the faith near and far. We are looking for new volunteers to assist in the following areas: the parish website, social media channels, photography, videos of sermons and life of the parish, live streaming, and more! If you are interested to learn more, contact Jamil at webmaster@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
WINTER FAMILY CAMP – Register now for Winter Family Camp at Antiochian Village. Family Camp is an opportunity for your family to get away from everyday life and take a weekend as a family to grow closer to Christ.. Registration is now open at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/winter-family-camp/ Cost: $150/parent, $50/child, includes meals and lodging.
REMINDERS
OFFERING ENVELOPES – If you use offering envelopes, the 2019 envelopes are now available for pick-up in the Hall. If you would like to learn about fulfilling your pledge through eGive, please e-mail stewardship@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
CHANT REHEARSAL, VESPERS and YOUNG ADULTS – On Saturday, December 1 there will be a Chant Rehearsal at 4:00pm preceding Great Vespers at 5:00. After Vespers, at 6:00pm, the Young Adult group will have a Fellowship Night with potluck dinner and Christmas crafts and games. They'll be singing Christmas carols and decorating the church and Iconostasis for the Nativity season! Bring a friend and a delicious Lenten dish or drink to share.
MARRIAGE AND ENRICHMENT WORKSHOP – On Saturday, December 1, the Diocese of Worcester and New England will offer a Marriage and Enrichment Workshop with Bishop JOHN. Time: 10:00am-3:00pm. Place: Chancery - 2 Lydias Path, Westborough, MA. Cost, $30 per couple, includes lunch and workshop materials. RSVP to Bp. JOHN at frjpa@aol.com
HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT - St. John’s Dedham invites you to a Holiday Pops Concert presented by the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, on Saturday, December 1 from 6:00 to 9:00pm. Cocktail hour and Mazza 6pm; Concert 7pm, Coffee and pastry 8pm. $15 for adults; $5 for children. To reserve tickets call 781-326-3046, or go to www.stjohnd.org/pops
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD – Let the Women’s Club send a lovely Christmas card on your behalf to our parishioners. Save yourself time; let us do the work, and have all proceeds benefit the Antiochian Women’s Project. You will receive this card with the names of parishioners, like yourself, who are wishing a Blessed Nativity and a Merry Christmas to all. Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin, or mail to: St. Mary Church, 8 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139-2407, and donate whatever amount you choose. Deadline: Sunday, December 2.
CHURCH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - If your child is interested in participating in the Christmas Pageant, please see Sarah Byrne-Martelli or Chris Addis. We also need parents to assist at rehearsals. Rehearsal 1: Sunday, December 2 during Coffee Hour. Rehearsal 2: Sunday, December 9 during Coffee Hour. Pageant: Sunday December 16 at the end of Liturgy.
WOMEN’S CLUB DINNER - On Monday, December 3 the Women’s Club will be going out to dinner for our Christmas gathering. We will meet at the Cheesecake Factory at the Mall at Chestnut Hill at 7:00pm. All women of the parish are welcome to join us. If you are interested contact Barbara (barbara @dsaarchitects.com ) or the church office (617-547-1234 or secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org ). We hope you will join us!
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5 at 7:30pm.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support our Canned Food Drive! From now 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. Since 1984, churches throughout the Archdiocese have collected and distributed over 5,000,000 pounds of food!
ST. MARY’S ANNIVERSARY – Save the date: On May 18, 2019 we will celebrate our 90thAnniversary at the Crown Plaza in Woburn. Plan to join us for dinner, dancing and other festivities. More details to follow.
JOIN THE HOSPITALITY GROUP – 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).
BE A GREETER - We could use your help in being a Greeter. This is a great opportunity to meet all the parishioners of St. Mary’s. As a Greeter, you will welcome people into the church and help to direct visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the Vestibule, Hallways and Entrance ways during Church. Arrive at church 15 minutes before Liturgy (9:45am). Greeting time ends when Communion starts. Sign up for one Sunday or several Sundays. If you are interested, contact Buddy Mabardy at buddy@cjmabardy.com or 781-729-6303, or the church office at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.
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