Update for the week Friday, December 13 - Wednesday, December 19, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 12/16 - Orthros 8:45am, St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) 9:00am, Divine Liturgy 10:00am, followed by Christmas pageant.
+ No church school classes this Sunday, or on 12/23 or 12/30.
+ The Young Adults Advent Clothing Drive will be collecting new and slightly used clothing, new toiletries, and new socks this Sunday during coffee hour. Clothing will go to the Emmanuel Gospel Center's Starlight Ministries. All are invited to donate! If you would like to help on either of those Sundays, please email youngadults@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org.
+ Every year, our community participates in the Angel Tree Prison Ministry, which provides Christmas gifts to children in our local community on behalf of their parent serving time in prison. This Sunday, December 16, the Young Adults will be delivering these gifts to those families. Please contact Gregg Flessas (flessas99@gmail.com) if you'd like to purchase a gift.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
THEOPHANY – There will be a Joint Diocesan Celebration of Theophany at St. George Cathedral, Worcester, on Saturday, January 5. Orthros 9:00am, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:00 am with the Blessing of the Waters. A reception will follow.
+ There will also be Vespers at St. Mary’s at 5:00pm.
CHANT CLASS, VESPERS, AND YOUNG ADULTS – On Saturday, January 12 we will have Chant Class at 4:00pm, Great Vespers at 5:00pm, and Young Adult Fellowship Night following Vespers
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING - The Annual Meeting of St. Mary’s parish will be held Sunday, January 27, 2019, immediately after Liturgy (snow date: Sunday, February 3). At this meeting the members of the parish will approve the Year 2019 budget. The proposed budget will be available on the previous Sunday, January 20. It is important that all members of St. Mary’s Church attend this meeting.
SCHOLARSHIPS - Students graduating in 2019 from high school who are children of membersof St. Mary’s may apply for the Diocese of Worcester and New England Scholarship. Deadline is March 31, 2018. Contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com for more information, including what it means to be a member.
+ Scholarships ($1,000) are available from the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s club of Greater Boston to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, residing in Massachusetts within 50-mile radius of Boston, who plan to pursue a four-year college education. Scholarships are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character; and applicants must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes, which best serve the community. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be postmarked by March 31, 2018. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com .
REMINDERS
NATIVITY SERVICES:
Monday, December 24 Royal Hours for the Nativity at 9:00 am
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 11:00 am
Orthros: 6:30pm
Festal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 8:00 pm
Tuesday, December 25, Feast of the Nativity of our Lord – Christmas Day: No services at St. Mary’s
PLEDGE CARDS - Pledge cards have been mailed to the homes of St. Mary’s parishioners and friends. Please return your pledge card to the church office or fill out the ePledge form on our website by December 31, 2018. A new pledge card is requested each year, even if your financial and volunteer contributions aren’t changing. If you did not receive a pledge card and would like to become of member of St. Mary’s, please see Fr. Antony or Barbara Shoop for a new member packet.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support St. Mary’s Canned Food Drive! From nowthrough 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!
SUMMER CAMP – Registration for Summer Camp at the Antiochian Village is open NOW. See https://avcamp.org/summer-camp. Be sure to register early, as sessions fill up quickly. St. Mary’s children attend 3rd Session, July 14-26.
NYE 2019 CELEBRATION – St. John of Damascus invites everyone to a New Years Eve Celebration on Monday, December 31, starting at 8:00pm. Cost is $35 per person, $30 under 18, or $100 per family. DJ Bob Moses & Arabic dancing, Appetizers 8:00pm, Delicatessen buffet 10:00pm, and Champaign toast at Midnight. Reservation required by December 24 – send payment to St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St., Dedham MA 02026.
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
PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council has been scheduled forWednesday, January 16 at 7:30
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.
WINTER FAMILY CAMP – Register now for Winter Family Camp at Antiochian Village to be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, January 18 – 21, 2019. 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.
IOCC HOME BUILD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - IOCC is calling all young adults for home-builds this winter and spring in Texas (Dec 17-22 and Jan 1-5) and Florida (Feb 11-16)! Sign-up deadlines are quickly approaching! You will be able to help those affected by recent natural disasters and get to spend a week with other amazing Orthodox people from around the country! Cost is $100 which includes lodging, food and transportation on location. Flight not included in the cost. Sign up today and/or e-mail Liza Kotar at volunteercoordinator@iocc.org with questions or call 425-891-4614. To learn more, go to https://www.iocc.org/take-action/join-action-team/home-build-volunteers
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.
2019 COFFEE HOURS - 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 volunteer = no coffee hour!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ST.MARY’S 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.
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