Update for the week Thursday, October 17 - Wednesday, October 23, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SATURDAY, 10/19 - 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 this Saturday, 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.
SUNDAY 10/20 – Orthros 8:45am; St. Ignatius Catechetical Group and Orthodoxy 102 9:00am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am, followed by Church School classes.
+ Special collection by the teens for Special Olympics Training Camp at Antiochian Village. Please be generous. For more information about this special ministry see https://avcamp.org/specialolympics
+ Women’s Club Charity Bake Sale immediately following Liturgy in the church hall. All proceeds will benefit the charitable projects we sponsor. Contact Renay DiFiore at renayanddon@aol.com or 617-327-6361 if you can help bake and/or donate.
+ Membership Sunday: During coffee hour 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.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support our Canned Food Drive! From October through December 31, bring in canned goods and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. (Canned goods only, please.) They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
NATIVITY FAST - The Nativity Fast, also known as the season of Advent, begins on Friday, November 15. This is the forty days of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
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.
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 this Sunday, 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 – St. Mary’s will be hosting the Parish Life Conference this year. The next meeting of the Parish Life Conference Committee will be on Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00pm in the Hall.
CHANT CLASS, 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 potluck and salsa lesson
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.
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, St. Mary’s teens 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)
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 10 (note deadline extended).
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. George, West Roxbury – St. George will be holding their annual Bazaar & Food Fair this weekend, 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
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
- St. Basil
Such are the souls of the saints: they love their enemies more than themselves, and in this age and in the age to come they put their neighbor first in all things, even though because of his ill-will he may be their enemy. They do not seek recompense from those whom they love, but because they have themselves received, they rejoice in giving to others all that they have, so that they may conform to their Benefactor and imitate His compassion to the best of their ability; "for He is bountiful to the thankless and to sinners" (cf. Luke 6:35).
- St. Peter of Damascus
Look at all the earth supplies in summer and in autumn! Every Christian … ought to imitate God's bountifulness. Let your table be open to everybody, like the table of the Lord. The avaricious is God's enemy."
- St. John of Kronstadt