Update for the week Thursday, May 30 - Wednesday, June 5, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 6/2 - Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 10:00am
+ Church School recognition following Liturgy
+ Cookout in the church parking lot, sponsored by the Parish Council
WEDNESDAY 6/5 – Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension 6:30pm
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
RACHMANINOFF LITURGY – There will be a performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Liturgy of St John Chrysostom this Sunday, June 2 at 3:00 at the Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury St, Boston. For more information see http://www.coroallegro.org/season/rachmaninoff
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL - The Diocese of Worcester & New England Oratorical Festival will be held on Saturday, June 8 at St. George Church, 6 Atwood Ave, Norwood. Please come and cheer on our own Nicholas Mazzoni, who is representing St. Mary’s in the Junior Division. Oratorical Presentations will begin at 4:00pm, followed by Vespers at 5:00pm and dinner at 6:00pm.
TANGLEWOOD OUTING – Join your music-loving friends from St. Mary’s as we carpool out to Tanglewood after Liturgy on Sunday, August 4. We’ll picnic on the lawn and listen to music by Rachmaninoff and Sibelius, featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For more information see https://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/100161. The concert starts at 2:30; lawn tickets are $22.00 - pay at the door; children are free. Bring lawn chairs if you want them, and picnic food for yourself and to share. For more information and to let us know you're coming, contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com.
NEW SKETE PILGRIMAGE – The annual New Skete Pilgrimage is set for Saturday, August 10 this year (the Saturday after Transfiguration). In years past, a number of St. Mary people have gone out for the weekend (this year, 8/9-11, 2019) to help the Communities with this event—to be extra sets of “helping hands” for the day. They are hoping a number of us will do so again this year. In the past, this has been a wonderful community building activity for all of us. Moreover, if you have never been to the monastery, this may be a good way to be introduced to their life and work. In addition to the services, there are tours of the church and talks by various members of the communities about their lives. The main talk will be given by Gayle Woloshak, Ph. D. who is a Professor of Radiation Oncology, Radiology, and Cell and Molecular Biology at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. (In addition, she is Past President of the Orthodox Theological Society of America and Treasurer of the International Orthodox Theological Association and wears MANY other “hats” in the Orthodox world. (Her ecclesial resume is quite long…) Her talk is entitled, “Good Earth: Caring for God’s Creation." There are also the dogs, great hiking trails, nearby tubing, and more (e.g. usually a picnic at Hedges Lake on that Sunday), etc. More information about the Pilgrimage can be found here: https://newskete.org/events.
Once again, Teva Regule (teva@mit.edu) will be coordinating the Boston helpers and as much housing as she can. (In particular, any women wanting to "camp out" at the nuns’, let her know. The Emmaus house is now a guest house - anyone wishing to stay there should contact Br. Gregory directly at brgregory@newskete.org) Housing is first come, first served.
REMINDERS
CHURCH SCHOOL RECOGNITION – Church School Recognition will be this Sunday, 6/2following Liturgy. Church School children who attend church school on a regular basis will be recognized as they move up to the next grade or graduate, including Andrew Bargoot who will be graduating from high school. Additionally, we will recognize and thank the church school teachers and staff, especially those who are retiring this year: Barbara Mabbet Shoop, who is stepping down as Church School Superintendant and will be replaced by Deno Takles, and Peter Nassiff, Cyatharine Alias and Rose Njuguna, all retiring as teachers.
After all the recognitions there will be a parish cookout, provided by the Parish Council. Do plan to stay for that.
There will be no parking in the lot behind the church.
NO FASTING – There is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, not only during Bright Week but for the entire forty days from Pascha until the Feast of the Ascension, June 6. (This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch.) This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.
SCHOLARSHIPS
+Antiochian Women’s Scholarship: Scholarships are available to females 26 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is Saturday, June 1. Applications are available at the Bengarri and in the Church Office. E-mail lferris130@yahoo.com with any questions.
+ Nicholas Beram Scholastic Achievement award: applications are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4-year college full time. Applications are available on-line at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm and in the church office. Application must be postmarked by Saturday, June 1.
WOMEN’S CLUB DINNER – The Women’s Club will have its end-of-the-year dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in the Mall of Chestnut Hill, on Monday, June 17 at 7:00pm
PARISH LIFE CELEBRATION – The Diocese of Worcester & New England Parish Life Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 22 at St. George, West Roxbury, hosted by St. Stephen Church, Springfield and Emmanuel Church, Warren. Register online at www.antiochianevents.com/worcesterhtml. Registration forms are also available at the Bengarri.
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
SACRED MUSIC INSTITUTE – This year’s Sacred Music Institute will be held Wednesday-Sunday, July 10-14, at Antiochian Village. The theme this year is “Sacraments and Song.” Contact Charlie Marge with any questions: charlie.marge@verizon.net. Online registration is available through the Village website.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday, July 17 at 7:30.
ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – This year’s Convention will be in Grand Rapids, MI, July 21-28, 2019. See https://ac2019gr.org
HOSPITALITY GROUP – The 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 us, and help with planning fellowship events such as Lenten Potluck Suppers, the Dormition Feast, our annual Picnic, etc. Even if you could commit to just one event per year, this would help strengthen the sense of community and family in our parish. We also welcome new ideas for fellowship gatherings. If interested, please email Tiffany Conroy (dr.taconroy@gmail.com)
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
In the souls of the Pharisees and sectarians, the law and mercy do not stand together, i.e., they are unable to fulfill the regulations of the law and to show mercy, but they argue about which is more important of these two; one they omit, and the other they adhere to. The Pharisees literally observed the letter of the Law, but they completely abandoned mercy and love for men.
- Prolog of Ochrid - reflection for Jan 31
Zeal is not reckoned among men to be a form of wisdom, but one of the illnesses of the soul, namely narrow-mindedness and deep ignorance. The beginning of divine wisdom is clemency and gentleness, which arise from greatness of soul and the bearing of infirmities of men. For, he [the Apostle Paul] says, "let the strong bear the infirmities of the weak," and "Restore him that has fallen in the spirit of meekness." The Apostle numbers peace and patience among the fruits of the Spirit.
- St. Isaac of Nineveh
Paschal Greetings:
English: Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!
Albanian: Krishti u Ngjall! Vërtet u Ngjall!
Amharic: Kristos Tenesa! Bergit Tenesa!
Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! Haqan Qam!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew! Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
French: Le Christ est ressuscité! En vérité, il est ressuscité!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat! Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Slavonic: Khristos Voskrese! Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Spanish: Christo ha Resucitado! En Verdad ha Resucitado!
Tigrinian: Kristos Tensiu! Behake Tensiu!