Update for the week Thursday, October 10 - Wednesday, October 16, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 10/13 – Orthros 8:45am; St. Ignatius Catechetical Group, and Orthodoxy 102 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am. No Church School classes.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
WOMENS CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be Sunday November 3 after Liturgy during, Coffee Hour. The St. Mary Women’s Club does charitable work locally, nationally and internationally, and also supports the Church School. And we hold delicious fund-raising events! We invite all women of the parish to join us at our monthly meetings. E-mail Melissa Nassiff (mnassiff@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to join us.
REMINDERS
OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH – During the Month of October, at St. Mary’s and throughout the archdiocese, our teens will be taking an active role in the Liturgy by helping with communion, taking collections and reading the Epistle. To get involved, please see Theo Smith.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WITNESS PROGRAM - The Orthodox Christian Witness Program: Spiritual Pilgrimage, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese of Worcester and New England, will hold a second day-long retreat at St. Mary's on Saturday, October 19, focusing on “Social Group Dynamics: Hierarchical Systems and the Church.” To register or for questions, please email IP.AlongTheJourney@gmail.com or call 617-274-8336.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS – On Sunday, October 20 the teens will request your financial donations to enable them to sponsor the 39th Annual Special Olympics Training Camp at Antiochian Village. Please be generous. For more information about this special ministry see https://avcamp.org/specialolympics
BAKE SALE – The St. Mary Women’s Club will hold a Charity Bake Sale on Sunday, October 20 immediately following Liturgy in the church hall. All proceeds will benefit the charitable projects we sponsor, from the YWCA Family Shelter in Cambridge to the Antiochian Women’s project. Contact Renay DiFiore at renayanddon@aol.com or 617-327-6361 if you can help bake and/or donate.
MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY – We’ll be sending out the 2020 pledge cards in October this year, so Membership Sunday will be Sunday, October 20. There will be a table set up during coffee hour where people can sign up to join St. Mary’s parish. We’ll be able to answer questions about membership and ways to give, financially and by volunteering time and talents. We’ll also be able to answer questions about eGive.
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) has begun meeting on Sundays 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.
CPR/AED TRAINING - The Parish Council will be sponsoring a training session to cover CPR and AED use, choking prevention and relief, and use of Narcan, in the church hall on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 pm. The class will be limited to the first 10 Parish members to sign up. The cost for members of St. Mary’s is $25.00. If there is room, others may participate for a $50.00 per person course fee. Please contact Raymond Sayeg at (617) 872-9774 or email at rsayeg@koilaw.com to sign up for the class. The deadline to sign up is Monday, October 14, 2019.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS - If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council please speak to Mary Winstanley O’Connor or Fr. Antony by Sunday, October 27. To be eligible to serve you must be a member of St. Mary’s for two years and in good financial standing.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE – The next meeting of the Parish Life Conference Committee will be on Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00pm in the Hall.
CHANT REHEARSAL, VESPERS, and POTLUCK – On Saturday, November 2 there will be a Chant Class at 4:00pm and Great Vespers at 5pm, followed by a Young Adult Fellowship Salsa Lesson
COME SEE THE MESSIAH – Join friends from St. Mary’s for the Handel and Haydn Society’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, on Sunday afternoon, December 2, at 3:00 pm. Tickets are just $29 ($36 without our group discount!). We will carpool to (or meet at) Symphony Hall after Liturgy and have lunch together at a nearby restaurant before the concert. Those who have done this before have thoroughly enjoyed it - not only do we hear a world-class orchestra and chorus with famous soloists singing glorious words (taken directly from the Bible), but we also have an opportunity to spend time getting to know some fellow parishioners we normally may not encounter. Good seats go fast - please contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com by Sunday, November 3.
PARISH COUNCIL - The next Parish Council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30pm in the Hall.
SPAGHETTI DINNER – On Sunday, November 10 following Liturgy, the teens at St. Mary invite you to a Teen SOYO Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner featuring Spaghetti, Meatballs (just before the Fast!), Salad, Bread, Dessert and Coffee/Beverage. A suggested minimum donation of $5.00/person will be greatly appreciated. (No charge for Teen SOYO members)
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 formal teaching on the theology and liturgical structure of the Eastern Christian faith. This new class meets weekly at 9:00am 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 Sunday following the liturgy).
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.
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
BAZAARS, FOOD AND YARD SALES
St. Micheal’s Cotuit – On Saturday, October 12 St. Michael’s will hold an International Food/Bake and Yard Sale, 10:00am-2:00pm with the widest selection of homemade ethnic food on Cape Cod.
St. George, West Roxbury – St. George will be holding their annual Bazaar & Food Fair on Friday-Sunday, October 18-20. Friday & Saturday hours: 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 12:00-3:00pm. Admission is free. Middle Eastern cuisine and Pastries, baked goods, Country Store, kids’ corner, handmade Holiday and craft items.
St. George Norwood – The 100th Anniversary of the Ladies of St. George Norwood will be celebrated with a Celebration Luncheon on Sunday, October 27 at the Four Points Sheraton, from 1:00-5:00pm. $45 per ticket. RSVP by October 10.
St. John of Damascus – Annual Bazaar of St. John of Damascus will be held Friday-Sunday, November 1-3: Friday 12pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm- 2pm. 300 West St., Dedham. Featured will be Middle Eastern Cuisine, Country Store, Christmas Corner and more. For more information visit www.stjohnd.org/bazaar.
REFLECTION
It is the devil that challenges us in lengthy debates and fruitless discussions, but he flees from the power of good deeds. Do good in the name of Christ, and the devil will flee. You will be working with men, men who are devout and intelligent and good. Everything, therefore, that you do, be sure that you do it in the name of Christ.
- Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue from Ochrid
Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.
- St. John Climacus
“I have sown my fruits in the hearts [of mortals]
And I have changed them into myself …
They are my members, and I am their head.”
Glory to thee, Lord Christ, our Head! Alleluia!
- Odes of Solomon (2nd century, author unknown)