Update for the week Thursday, January 24 - Wednesday, January 30, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 1/27 - Orthros 8:45am, Enquirers’ Class 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, Church School following Liturgy
+ The Annual Meeting of St. Mary’s parish will be held this Sunday, immediately after Liturgy. At this meeting the members of the parish will approve the Year 2019 budget and hear brief presentations from the various organizational chairs. The proposed budget will be available at the Bengarri. It is important that all members of St. Mary’s Church attend this meeting.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEMORY ETERNAL - We regret to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of John Demerjian. John was the Father of St. Mary’s Parishioner Paul Demerjian. John’s funeral service was held this morning at 10:00am at Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Cathedral in West Roxbury, with interment at Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Guestbook and other information can be found at KfouryFuneral.com. Our parish family extends heartfelt sympathies to Paul and family.
CONGRATULATIONS - The newly elected and re-elected officers of the parish council for 2019 are President: Mary Winstanley O’Connor, Vice President: Deno Takles, Treasurer: Nicholas Bezreh, and Secretary: Marc Patacchiola
WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS! - The Young Adult Ministry is collecting photos of St. Mary's from past and present for the 90th Anniversary Celebration in May. If you have photos of family, relatives and friends from events at St. Mary's, please email to stmarys90thphotos@gmail.comor share them through GoogleDrive. Suggestions are photos of Holy Days, sacraments or other milestones; however all photos are welcome!
THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM: SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE will hold three retreats at St. Mary's on the topic of "Christian Hospitality - True Self and the Inner Kingdom" on Saturdays January 26, February 16, and March 23, from 9:00am-3:30pm. The retreats are an opportunity to reflect on your personal journey with God, expand your inner awareness, and deepen your faith and your contemplative and/or prayer practices.
The retreat will use small presentations, personal reflections, and small and large group discussions. Attendance to all three retreats is not required, although it could be beneficial. Although a donation of $35 per retreat is suggested (or any other amount), the donation is not a requirement for participation. Coffee, tea and a light breakfast will be provided (lunch is not provided). To register or for questions, please email popalifecoach@gmail.com or call 617-274-8336.
SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICE – There will be a Special Needs Service and Music Therapy at St. Demetrios, Weston on Sunday, February 17 at 12:30pm. Join them for a brief, sensory-friendly special needs service with Fr. Vinnie followed by a music therapy session and coffee/fellowship. RSVP to Peter at ptp212@yahoo.com .
REMINDERS
PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD – On Friday, February 1, there will be an Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple at 6:30pm
HELP WANTED - At the end of this Church School year our current Superintendent, Barbara Shoop, will be retiring. Therefore we are looking for someone willing to take over the position. The Church School ministry is extremely important to our children in helping them understand the faith, learn church doctrine and how to use their faith in their everyday lives. Barbara is willing to stay on as Assistant Superintendent for the first year to assist with the weekly responsibilities. If you are interested in taking on this role, please see Fr. Antony or Barbara Shoop.
TEEN SOYO SERVICE DAY – Diocese of Worcester and New England Teen SOYO will hold a service day on Saturday, February 2 from 12:30pm-6:00pm at St. George Cathedral, Worcester. Teens will meet at the Cathedral then head into town for a day of service projects and activities. Lunch and rides will be provided. Vespers at 5:00pm. Cost: $10. RSVP by January 27 to https://goo.gl/forms/5VK1VVUjwE6eGZnul
CROSSROAD SUMMER INSTITUTE - CrossRoad Summer Institute, a 10-day academic summer institute for Orthodox high school juniors and seniors to help them grow closer to Christ, will be held June 15-25 and July 2-12 at Hellenic College Holy Cross. Apply today at www.crossroadinstitute.org Priority deadline: February 1.
VESPERS AND YOUNG ADULTS – Join the Young Adults on Saturday, February 2 for Great Vespers at 5:00pm, followed by an evening of connections with fellow Orthodox Christians entitiled "Young Adults Connections Beyond Coffee Hour: An Evening of Networking.” Whether you’re a student, just starting your career, or bringing years of experience, engage with other Orthodox Christians in the area to enhance your current role or network for your next career steps. We encourage all to attend! Dinner and drinks will be provided. Please email Hannah Hakim at hoakley18@gmail.com or Katia Reilly at katerina.reilly5@gmail.com to register or get more information.
SCOUT SUNDAY OBSERVANCE - Scout Sunday is the primary date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. This year, St. Mary’s will observe Scout Sunday on February 10. Look for the scouts and scout leaders in our parish to be involved in liturgical service that day. If your scout would like to participate, please contact Charlie Marge: charlie.marge@verizon.net.
WINTER CAMP - Grades 7-12 register now for Winter Camp at Antiochian Village, February 15-18. Winter Camp will examine how faith, hope, love and wisdom play an important role in the Orthodox Christian faith. See https://avcamp.org/other-programs/winter-camp
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.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30.
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, 2019. 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, 2019. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com .
ST. MARY’S ANNIVERSARY – Save the date: On Saturday, May 18 we will celebrate our 90th Anniversary at the Crown Plaza in Woburn. Plan to join us for dinner, dancing and other festivities. More details to follow.
FAMILY CAMP - Register now for Family camp at Antiochian Village, Friday-Monday, May 24-27. The theme is “Fostering a Healthy Family” with Speaker Fr. Nicholas Louh. Visit www.avcamp.org for more information.
ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CONVENTION – This year’s Convention will be in Grand Rapids, MI, July 21-28, 2019. Hundreds of Antiochian Orthodox have already registered and purchased tickets. 60% of hotel rooms are already booked. See https://ac2019gr.org
2019 COFFEE HOURS - The 2019 Sign-Up Sheet for Coffee Hour 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, when no volunteers, there is no coffee hour!
PRISON MINISTRY- Please continue to bring or mail all your Orthodox books, icon cards, magazines and/or icons to the church office so they can be taken to the prison for use by our prison ministry team. Thank you!
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.or
REFLECTION
Anyone who prays shares in the prayer of the Word of God, who is present even among those who do not know him and is not absent from anyone's prayer. The Son prays to the Father in union with the believer whose mediator he is. The Son of God is, in fact, the high priest of our offerings and our advocate with the Father. He prays for those who pray and pleads for those who plead.
- Origen
During a service, the priest does not only cense the icons of the Savior, the Mother of God, and the Saints. He also censes the icon-people, the image of God in the people who are present. And as they leave the church precincts, these people remain as much the images of God, worthy of being censed and venerated. Our relations with people should be an authentic and profound veneration. … The "churching" of life is the sense of the whole world as one church, adorned with icons that should be venerated, that should be honored and loved, because these icons are true images of God that have the holiness of the Living God upon them.
- St. Maria Skobtsova