Update for the week Thursday, August 22 - Wednesday, August 28, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 8/25 – Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 10:00am
- Women’s Club Meeting following Liturgy, during Coffee Hour
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHANT CLASS AND VESPERS - There will be a chant rehearsal at 4:00pm on Saturday, September 7, preceding Festal Vespers for the Nativity of the Theotokos at 5:00pm.
PLC COMMITTEE MEETING – There will be a meeting of the Parish Life Conference Committee on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00pm at the church
SCAM E-MAIL – Please be advised that a scam e-mail was sent to people late last week saying it was from Fr. Antony requesting urgent help. Please do not open the email or respond to the e-mail. The e-mail address is revantony.stmaryorthodoxchurch@gmail.com or orthodoxfather@gmail.com. If you click on the e-mail it is requesting you to buy a $300 gift card and send back the PIN from the card. Delete this e-mail if you should receive one. DO NOT OPEN!!!
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM – The Orthodox Christian Witness Program: Spiritual Pilgrimage will start the Fall Semester in September. This program and journey is an opportunity for anyone interested to learn, to reflect, and to be transformed through the Orthodox Christian Faith in preparation for various ministries. This spiritual pilgrimage is an interdisciplinary approach to create a cadre of leaders in the church. It is aimed to empower and equip Orthodox Christians to nourish and share the faith in 21st century. This semester the program has a Round Table discussion unit and a Retreat unit. Anyone can join at any point in the program. To register or for questions, please email IP.AlongTheJourney@gmail.com or call at 617-274-8336.
REMINDERS
WOMENS CLUB – The first meeting of the St. Mary Women‘s Club this year will be on Sunday, August 25 in the hall during Coffee Hour. If you are a woman and you attend St. Mary’s Church, you are one of us. Come to the meeting! This will be a brief one, with just one major agenda item. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Nassiff (mnassiff@gmail.com).
NEW YEAR – The new Ecclesiastical Year of the church begins on Sunday, September 1. The brief Service of Supplication on the First Day of the New Year will be included at the end of Divine Liturgy.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN – The Fall Diocesan Meeting of Antiochian Women will be held at the Diocese Chancery (2 Lydia’s Path, Westboro) on Saturday, September 7. Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:00am followed by the meeting. If you are interested in attending, please contact Melissa Nassiff, 508-877-7483 or mnassiff@gmail.com .
CHURCH SCHOOL – Registration for new students, and for children who have reached the age of 3, will be held on Sunday, September 8. Classes will begin on Sunday, September 15.
+ Please contact Deno Takles, our Church School Superintendent at takles67@yahoo.com if you would be able to help with the Church School. We are looking for a teacher for Grades 4/5.
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS – Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross will be celebrated on Friday, September 13 at 6:30pm
CHURCH SCHOOL – Church School classes begin with a short lesson on Sunday, September 15 after Communion and the Procession of the Holy Cross
WELCOME BACK BBQ – The Parish Council and the Women’s Club invite you to join us in welcoming everyone back from their summer activities at our Welcome Back BBQ on Sunday, September 15 following Liturgy. We invite all members of the Parish, Church School Families, and College Students to join us for food and fellowship. We will also be honoring the St. Mary Bible Bowl and Oratorical Festival participants, who all won First Place at the Parish Life Conference, and their coach. The BBQ will take place outside in the parking lot (weather permitting). The parking lot will be unavailable for parking.
SEMINARIAN WELCOME RECEPTION – All are invited to St. George Church in West Roxbury on Sunday, September 15 at 4:00pm for Vespers followed by a Welcome Reception to greet the new Seminarians at Holy Cross School of Theology and Hellenic College. Please join us as we welcome these students from all over the country to our Diocese. The Reception is sponsored by the Diocese Antiochian Women.
ADULT CAMP – Antiochian Village Adult Camp is summer camp for adults at the Village, Friday-Monday, September 13-16. Adult Camp is open to all adults ages 21+ who want to spend the weekend in an Orthodox Christian Environment growing in their faith. Cost of $195 includes lodging, food and activities. More information can be found at https://avcamp.org/other-programs/adult-camp.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18
MEN’S RETREAT – A Men’s Retreat will be hosted by the St. Stephen’s Group at St. Methodios Retreat Center, Contoocook, NH, on Friday-Sunday, September 20-22. This year’s topic is Relationships. Cost: $239 for 2 nights, meals included. For more info or to register contact Jeff St. Jean 413-348-2878 or jeffstjean11@gmail.com .
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) will begin meeting on Sunday, September 22 at 9:00am in the hall. Enrollment will be open until October 20. The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been – and continues to be – understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church. Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group. If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by phone 617-889-3436 or r.kowalik@comcast.net. For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
“ORTHODOXY 102” – Orthodoxy 102 is an Adult Sunday Class designed for Christians who've spent many years in the Orthodox church, but have never been given any formal teaching on the theology and liturgical structure of the Eastern Christian faith. Beginning Sunday, September 22 at 9:00am, this new class will meet weekly to journey through the structure of the Divine Liturgy, while taking an in-depth look at Scripture, the Ecumenical Councils, our iconography, and the meaning and application of Orthodox theology. If you would like more information or would care to join, please email drjamesis@gmail.com (Or introduce yourself to Subdeacon James on any Sunday following the liturgy).
FAMILY CAMP – You’re invited to Diocese Family Camp Friday-Sunday, October 4-6 at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. Families from our Diocese come together for a weekend of camp activities, prayer, relaxation, fellowship, and learning. More information and pictures can be found at www.soyofallcamp.org Registration information will be posted soon.
CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED - The Choir is looking for new members, especially Alto (woman) and Bass/Baritone (men), but of course we welcome all parts. Please e-mail Michelle Mabardy at mmmabardy@gmail.com if you are interested.
GREETERS NEEDED – The Greeter Ministry 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 Entranceways during the service. Arrive at Church 15 minutes before Liturgy (9:45am). Greeting time ends when Communion starts. We hope you will consider being a greeter! If you are interested, contact Buddy Mabardy, buddy@cjmabardy.com or 781-729-6303, or the church office, secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO JOIN 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. Contact Diana Yousef at dymartinek@gmail.com if you’re interested.
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
Let yourself be persecuted but do not persecute others. Be the friend of all. But in your spirit remain alone.
- St. Isaac of Syria
Do not rail against anyone, but rather say, "God knows each one." Do not agree with him who slanders, do not rejoice at his slander and do not hate him who slanders his neighbor. This is what it means not to judge. Do not have hostile feelings towards anyone and do not let dislike dominate your heart; do not hate him who hates his neighbor. This is what peace is: Encourage yourself with this thought, "Affliction lasts but a short time, while peace is for ever, by the grace of God the Word."
- St. Moses the Ethiopian, Sayings of the Desert Fathers
When you pray to God in time of temptation do not say, 'Take this or that away from me', but pray like this: 'O Jesus Christ, sovereign Master, help me and do not let me sin against Thee...'
- Abba Isaiah the Solitary