Sunday, January 13, 2019
Sunday after the Theophany of Christ
Tone 8 and Eothinon 11
Martyrs Hermylos and Stratonikos of Belgrade
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 8
O Compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou mightest deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Troparion of Epiphany – Tone 1
By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity hath made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord did come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee His beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and lighted the world, O Christ, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe. For from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Kontakion of Epiphany – Tone 4
Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hath been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou has come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.
Epistle – Ephesians 4:7-13 (Sunday after Epiphany)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 32.22, 1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Gospel - Matthew 4:12-17 (Sunday after Epiphany)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled;
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Next week’s homework:
II Corinthians 4:6-15 (Euthymios the Great)
Luke 17-12-19 (Twelfth Sunday of Luke)
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to reverence the cross and to partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – As the faithful approach to reverence the cross, receive a blessing and a piece of antidoron (holy bread) at the dismissal, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please greet each other quietly as we reverently hear these prayers.
HOLY BREAD – Because we are ordering more bread, and the cost has gone up slightly, we will now ask for a donation of $50/week. Donors are welcome for January and succeeding months.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and pagers are turned off in church.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 – THE SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST
Mission Statement - The mission of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world.
TODAY, JANUARY 13 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eli T. Abdallah, Juad Arida, Pearl Arida, Nora and Kalel Ballan, Samia Arida, Adele Azeez, Mary Fadool, Ameenie Freije, Edward Ghazal, Emily Ghazal, Pauline Haddad, James Hamod, Maria Hindelly, Tofeek Kaidy, Leila M. Khouri, George John Nahas, Edma Saab, Madeleine H. Salamy, Alberta Samaha, Alexander Trabolsi, Nora Trefz, and Emil Tweel. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Ida and Gabriel Ashie, Alexander Azar, Barbara Boragi, Leon Ayoub Brown, Mary Fadool, Loretta Fianni, Rev. Melatios Fianni, Nora Hawa, Ramez Elhelou, Alex A. Howie, Riad Malouf, Frank Morgan, James D. Pappas, Ethel K. Phillips, Farieda Sarafien, Robert Samara, George and Renate M. Sheheri, Minas Sparsidis, Edmund Swaya, and Thomas A. Zarr. Memory eternal!
TODAY’S USHERS – Members of the Parish Council will serve as ushers. Please allow the Church School students, teachers and volunteers to receive Holy Communion first so that they can proceed to their classes and begin in a timely fashion. The ushers will assist us in proceeding row by row so that we can distribute Holy Communion “decently and in order.”
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercession, especially, Lorraine Diahy, and Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Louis Savarese (Haym Salomon Home), George Arbeeny, Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, Malak Karkenny, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Leon Smatt, Marie Tashji, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), Marianne Trabulsi (PA), and Rose Zrake (at home). If a member of your family is in the hospital or recuperating at home, please call the church office and let us know as soon as possible.
PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – St. Mary’s Church will host a service of “Prayer for Christian Unity” following Great Vespers on Saturday, January 19. A Pot Luck Supper will follow. Please see Aline Farkouh for more information. All are welcome.
CANNED FOOD DRIVE AND WINTER COAT DRIVE – Teen SOYO has placed large containers in the narthex for their annual Canned Food and Winter Coat Drives. The Coat Drive includes gloves, hats, socks, blankets and sweaters, and will continue into January. Thank you for your support.
FESTIVAL MEETING – There will be a meeting for the Spring Festival on the balcony this morning following the Divine Liturgy. All are welcome.
ICON EXHIBIT – The Sheen Center for Though and Culture, 18 Bleecker Street in Manhattan, will present a free Mosaic Icon Exhibition by Ukrainian artist Oksana Prokopenko from now until January 18, 2019 from 9 AM – 9 PM. For more information go to www.oksanapro.com.
When Thou, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bare witness unto thee, and called thee His beloved Son. And the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed these words. O Christ our God, who has appeared to us and has enlightened the world, glory to thee!
- Troparion of the Feast of Epiphany, Tone 1
EPIPHANY 2019
Blessing of Homes
The blessing of homes during the season of Theophany is a long-standing tradition of our Orthodox Church. Following the Great Blessing of Water, it is customary for the priest to visit the homes of the faithful, bringing with him the “blessings of the Jordan.” Through the solemn prayers, we rededicate our home to be a place where a family is guided by Jesus Christ. Since this is the time in our Church Year when we remember the coming of Christ and the beginning of His ministry, when He descended into the Jordan to be baptized by St. John the Forerunner, it is fitting that the Lord enter our homes and our hearts now. It reminds us that we must “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) This is why our homes must be blessed and sanctified on a regular basis.
When the priest comes for the house blessing, please use these guidelines:
Have as many family members as possible present for the appointment.
Set up a place for prayer in the dining room or kitchen with an icon and candle.
Print a list of the first names of all family members, making a distinction between the living and the departed.
Turn off the television, radio, stereo, computer or any other distraction.
Make the priest aware of any special needs or issues you may have.
Tell the priest about any family members who are ill or in need of a visit.
Either complete the form below and return it to the office, or call the office at (718) 238-8008. The Church also blesses homes between Holy Pascha and Pentecost and between the Feast of the Cross and October 1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Father Michael:
I/we would like to have you bless my/our home in 2019.
Name: _________________________________ Phone: _____________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Best Season: Between Epiphany (January 6) and Great Lent (March 10)
(Please circle one) Between Holy Pascha (April 28) and Pentecost (June 16)
Between the Feast of the Cross (September 14) and October 1
Best Day: Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun (Please circle)
Best Time: ________________ AM PM
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
MEMORY ETERNAL! St. Mary’s Choir invites our parishioners to join them in a celebration of Nancy Schmidt, their dedicated choir director for 43 years. The tribute will be held in the Church on Sunday, January 27, at 1 PM after coffee hour. All are welcome.
RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE – As usually happens in projects of this nature, the Church has run into unbudgeted expenses which the Parish Council will discuss after the first of the year. These expenses make it vitally important that everyone does what he or she can to bring this project to a successful conclusion. If you have not yet made a pledge or contribution toward this project, please find a pledge card on the table at the back of the hall, or see any Parish Council member. To date the following friends and families have made pledges or donations towards this project:
Renee Abate, Rose Abdallah, Albert Absey, Fadi Albishara and Ann Nardone, Beverly and Alexander Araman, Dr. Kenneth and Euginia Arida, Sandra Arida, Michele Ateyeh, Angela and Christopher Athineos, Kenneth Azar, Michael and Maria Azar, Joan Bacon, Diana and Timothy Bittar, Charles and Marie Bryant, Nancy Collette, Drs. Gregory and Amal Dalack, Michael Nassif Dalack, Gloria Darzi, Barbara Deeb, Janice Deeb, Fr. Michael and Laila Ellias, John and Anita Eyd, Peter Elkas, Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh, Diana Finger, Alice Carolyn and David Furer, Gary Gagnone, Marc and Helen Galloway, Mary Ganim, Josette and John Generale, Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Ghiz, Dr. George Haddad, Nissar Haddad, Gregory Hamaty, Lola Hamra, Edward Hanna, Marianne Hindelly, Gloria and Kenneth Jabara, Lina and Sam Kaiami, Joyce Katen, Anthony Kirshy, Shelly and Patricia Kaufman, George Khoury, Jr., Dr. Nidal and Christine Khoury, Debbie and Robert Mackoul, Sabry and Anne Glynn Mackoul, Rafik Mahab, Carol Makhoul, Michael and Corrine Mallia, Linda Mantia, Denise and Christopher McBride, Edith Tadross O’Donnell, Dr. Amer and Chaza Rafiaa, Marian Russo, Karen Sadaka, Theodore Sadaka, Audrey and Charles Sahadi, Louise Sahadi, Linda and George Salamy, Victor and Joyce Samaha, Louis Saverese, Caroline and Peter Schneirla, Gladys Schroeder, Dennis and Barbara Shawah, William and Nadia Soued, Anthony Speer, Karen and Matthew Spolar, Hiam Sukkarieh, Karen and Tony Tadross, Michael Tadross, Irene Tashji, Marie Tashji, Marilyn and Michael Tulaney, Gisele and George Wardi, Henry Wardi, Jeffrey Zahka, Gale Zarr, Marie Zarr, Metropolitan JOSEPH (Zehlaoui), Malakie and Richard Zogob, Cindy and Gregory Zrake, and Rose Zrake.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, January 14 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Friday, January 18 Midnight Run
Saturday, January 19 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Prayers for Christian Unity
Sunday, February 3 Ladies of St. Mary’s Meeting
FROM THE FATHERS – “Passion was not planted by God in nature, for He is not the Creator of passions. God is not the cause of evil. Those who teach that passions are natural to the soul are wrong, not realizing that it is we who have turned natural things into passions. For example, by nature we have within us the seed necessary for childbearing – but we have perverted this into lust. Nature gave us the feeling of anger, which we are supposed to use against the Evil One – instead we use it against our neighbor.”
St. John Climacus