Update for the week Thursday, February 7 - Wednesday, February 13, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 2/10 - Orthros 8:45am, Enquirers’ Class 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, Church School following Liturgy
+ Scout Sunday observance - Scout Sunday is the primary date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. Churches throughout the country are observing Scout Sunday this Sunday, February 10. Look for the scouts and scout leaders in our parish to be involved in liturgical service. If your scout would like to participate, please contact Charlie Marge: charlie.marge@verizon.net.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
WOMEN’S MONTH - March is Antiochian women’s month. Our women will be reading the Epistle, taking the collection each Sunday, and assisting during Communion. We are inviting all women of St. Mary Church to be included. This is your opportunity to participate in the Liturgical Ministry of the Church. You can sign up for multiple tasks and dates. If you wish to participate please e-mail Barbara Shoop at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org, sign up on the sheet at the Bengarri, or contact Barbara in the church office (617-547-1234). We look forward to your help with Women’s Month.
NO CHURCH SCHOOL – There will be no Church School classes on Sunday, February 17.
NO VESPERS – There will not be a Great Vespers service at St. Mary’s on Saturday, March 2. However, the parish is invited to St. Sava’s in Cambridge for Vespers at 6:00pm, where our Boston Byzantine Choir will be chanting and our Young Adult Ministry will be attending.”
LENTEN FOOD SALE – The St. Mary Women’s Club is once again having a Lenten Food Sale, featuring Spinach Triangles, Hoomos, and Mjadara. Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin. Order deadline is Sunday, March 10; pickup will be Sunday, March 17.
+ Baking of spinach triangles will be Saturday, March 16. Please come and help, starting at 9:30 am. Lunch will be provided.
DIOCESE LENTEN RETREAT – The Antiochian Women invite you to a Lenten retreat at St. George West Roxbury on Saturday, March 30. We welcome back His Grace Bishop ANTHONY. This event will begin with Divine Liturgy at 9:00am and conclude with Great Vespers at 3:00pm. Lunch is included. Registration $20, teens (12-18) and Children (3-11) free.
FAMILY CAMP - Register now for Family Camp Friday through Monday, May 24-27 at Antiochian Village The theme is “Fostering a Healthy Family” with Speaker Fr. Nicholas Louh. Visit www.avcamp.org for more information.
REMINDERS
THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM: SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE will hold retreats at St. Mary's on the topic of "Christian Hospitality - True Self and the Inner Kingdom" on Saturdays, 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 .
CHURCH SCHOOL HELP NEEDED - 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.
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.
GREAT LENT – This year Great Lent begins on Monday, March 11. Pascha will be on April 28.
FORGIVENESS VESPERS – The last thing we do before beginning the Lenten fast is forgive each other, and ask everyone to forgive us. Join us Sunday evening, March 10, at 6:00 pm for the very moving service of Forgiveness Vespers.
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 90thAnniversary at the Crown Plaza in Woburn. Plan to join us for dinner, dancing and other festivities. More details to follow.
+ 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.com or share them through GoogleDrive. Suggestions are photos of Holy Days, sacraments or other milestones; however all photos are welcome!
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.
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
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 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.org
REFLECTION
Remember that while you pray, God expects from you a positive answer to His question: "Do you believe that I can fulfill your prayer?" You must be able to answer from the bottom of your heart: "Yes, I believe, O God," and then you will be answered according to your faith.
- St. John of Kronstad
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
– St. Augustine
Faith is not a supposition that something might be true, but the assurance that someone is there.
- Bishop Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way