Sunday, September 17, 2017
Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross
Tone 6 and Eothinon 4
Martyrs Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Love and Hope
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Troparion of the Resurrection – Tone 6
When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou that art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.
Troparion of the Holy Cross – Tone 1
O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting our believing kings victory over the Barbarians, and by the power of thy Cross preserving thy commonwealth.
Troparion 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 the Holy Cross – Tone 4
Do thou, who of thine own good will wast elevated upon the Cross, bestow thy bounties upon the new people, which is called by thy Name, O Christ our God; make glad with thy might our believing kings, granting them victory over their adversaries. May thine aid be a panoply of peace, a trophy invincible.
Epistle – Galatians 2:16-20 (The Sunday after the Elevation of the Precious Cross)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 103.24, 1. O Lord, how magnificent are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gospel – Mark 8:34-9:1 (The Sunday after the Elevation of the Precious Cross)
THE LORD SAID, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”
Next week’s homework: II Timothy 3:10-15 (Proto-Martyr Thekla)
Luke 5:1-11 (First 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.
HOLY BREAD – Dr. John Dalack has offered the Holy Bread for the month of September for the health of his family. Many years! Linda and George Salamy have also made a donation through the rest of the year. Many years!
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.
TODAY’S USHERS – Members of the Parish Council will serve as ushers. Please allow Church School students, teachers, volunteers and Choir members to commune first so that classes can 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.”
SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 – SUNDAY AFTER THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
TODAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Rose Awad, Elizabeth Ganim Cohen, George Fauty, Victor Hamaty, Katherine Jabara, Stephan Paul James, Addie, Mary Alice and Alfred Nahas, Alexander Orfaly, Adrienne Poulakakos, Wajieha Sabbagh, Barbara Salamy, Sadie Shamoun, and Edward Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Brenda Samman and Family offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of their beloved husband and father Samuel Samman and their dear friend Nancy Jean Davis. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lorraine Assatly, Nicholas Awad, Zakia Awad, Albert Ayoub, Victoria Baloutine, Ghassan Fattouh, Avjon and Dimitry Golam, Werda Hadad, George Haddad, Eleanor Kalesh, Shamseh Kaydouh, Alexander Khoury, Nazera Kinge, George Moore, Matilda Saba, Barbara Salamy, Very Rev. Fr. P.W.S. Schneirla, Donald O. Page, Shirley Schneirla, William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr. Memory eternal!
Dorothy Schneirla Downie will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, Shirley and Archpriest Paul W.S. Schneirla, her brother William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr., and her uncle Donald O. Page. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Lorraine Diahy, and Khalil Eid, (Hamilton Park), Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, Kenneth Jabara, Malak Karkenny, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, George and Loulou Malouf, Renee Najjar, Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Louis Savarese, Marie Tashji, Claudette Teen, and Jim Thompson (NJ) (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.
TEEN SOYO – We will offer a High School Christian Education Class on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-6:45 PM beginning on Wednesday, September 27. Watch for more details.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST – The Church School and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) invite everyone to join them for a “Welcome Back to Church School Pancake Breakfast” following the Divine Liturgy. All are welcome. Donations are always welcome.
PIZZERIA UNO FUNDRAISER – The Fellowship of St. John the Divine will sponsor another “Eat, Drink & Raise Money” fundraiser from September 15 through 30 at UNO of Bay Ridge, 9201 Fourth Avenue. Up to 20% of each check, either dine-in or takeout, will come back to the Fellowship for its charitable work. Pick up a certificate at the mahrida. The Fellowship will gather there as a group on Sunday, September 24 after the Divine Liturgy. Please see Carol Makhoul today if you plan to participate next Sunday.
FELLOWSHIP BOOKSTORE - The Fellowship Bookstore is selling a limited number of the book, Orthodoxy in Africa, at the price of $50 each to help Fr. Chrysostom with his mission and orphanage in Nigeria. It is a modest book but a wonderful charitable opportunity.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF OUTING – This Thursday is our largest and most important fundraiser of the year! This year our beloved Evelyn Shamoun will receive the parish’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and both Elaine and Edward Ateyeh will be honored with the Victor J. Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. If you cannot participate but wish to support this event, please Daria Mayrose or John Generale.
TEEN CLASS AND ADULT EDUCATION – This year our High School students will assist the younger students in the Church School on Sunday, and they will have a special class with Fr. Michael each Wednesday at 6:00 PM for 45 minutes. All teens are welcome! We will then resume our Adult Education classes at 7:00 PM. The topic will be “The Early Church in the Book of Acts.” Bring your Orthodox Study Bibles. Everyone is welcome!
FALL HAFLI – Save the date, Saturday, September 30, for the 2nd Annual Fall Hafli here at St. Mary’s Church. Please see Rima Alsifi Hazem or Samer Kaiami for more information.
HURRICANE HARVEY – IOCC is activating its Emergency Response Network, the Frontliners, to help the people in and around Houston and Florida affected by the storms with emotional and spiritual care. Even after their deployment, IOCC’s work to clean and rebuild homes will continue into the weeks and months following the storm’s devastation. Your gift to our Hurricane Harvey Response Fund will help us to react quickly and effectively to conditions in Southern Texas and Louisiana as they unfold. We also anticipate the need for many clean up buckets and hygiene kits. For details for collecting these kits, or to make a donation, go to iocc.org, or send a check to 110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, MD 21204.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS – Our September offering envelopes included a yellow envelope for the purpose of sponsoring a Coffee Hour, and a blue envelope for Orthodox Campus Fellowship, the church’s outreach program to college-aged students and young adults. Please either mail these donations to the church office, or place them in the collection basket any Sunday this month. If you are not currently receiving offering envelopes by mail, please see Fr. Michael or Parish Council Treasurer Diana Kaiami.
ORTHODOX EDUCATION DAY – St. Vladimir’s Seminary will host its annual Orthodox Education Day on Saturday, October 7, on its Crestwood, NY, campus. The day opens with Divine Liturgy at 8:00 AM and continues through Great Vespers. This year’s theme is “Modern Martyrs.” More details will follow.
COLLEGE CONTACT – The Department of Campus Ministry will soon contact us for the names, addresses and e-mail addresses of our college students, military service personnel and college-aged young people. If you know that information at this time, please give it to Fr. Michael or call the church office so that we can stay in touch with those near and far. Thank you.
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY – The Young Adult Ministry of the Antiochian Archdiocese will host a YAM Leadership Training Weekend November 3-5, 2017 at St. Mary’s Church, Palos Heights, IL. This weekend is for young adults from parishes and Diocese YAM officers who want to start their own Young Adult Ministry. Registration closes October 16. Schedule, costs and information are available at www.tinyurl.com/yamlt. Accommodations will be at the Holiday Inn Express in Crestwood, IL, 30 minutes away from Midway Airport at the group rate of $89/night.
PARENT/TEACHER ORGANIZATION – The Parent and Teacher Organization (PTO) provides support to our Church School with special events, volunteers, and resources. Every parent of a church school student should contact Co-Presidents Denise Alexander and Angela Athineos for more information. The PTO meets on the fourth Sunday of each month which is next Sunday, September 24, following the Divine Liturgy.
BROOKLYN CLERGY LECTURE SERIES – The Clergy Brotherhood will offer a series of lectures this year by noted experts on the topic of “Exploring Aspects of Church Life.” The first lecture will be Thursday, October 5, at 7:00 PM at St. Nicholas Cathedral. Mr. Steve Sarogiannis, Pastoral Assistant of Holy Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Stamford, CT, will speak on “Mission Work: Responding to Jesus Christ’s Call.” Light refreshments will follow.
HOUSE BLESSINGS – The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a traditional season for families to request the blessing of their homes. Call Fr. Michael for an appointment.
ESTATE PLANNING – Have you executed a durable power of attorney to provide for the management of your affairs if you are incapacitated? Have you included St. Mary’s Church in your estate plan?
ORTHODOX REWARDS PROGRAM – Earn money for St. Mary’s and the Retired Clergy Housing Fund. Shop online and in stores at over 4000 retailers. Take advantage of discounts and free shipping. Earn money for St. Mary’s on every dollar you spend at no additional cost. Register at Antiochian.org/rewardsprogram, select St. Mary’s Church, and install the “Support Button.”
PARISH WEBSITE – Go to www.smaoc.squarespace.com/bulletin, and view the bulletin at home.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and pagers are turned off in church.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, September 17 Welcome Back to Church School Pancake Breakfast
Fellowship of St. John the Divine Meeting
Thursday, September 21 Annual Saints and Sinners Golf Classic, Hempstead, NY
Sunday, September 24 Parent Teacher Organization Meeting
Tuesday, September 26 Orthodoxy in America Lecture @ Fordham/Lincoln Center, 7
Wednesday, September 27 Teen Education, 6:00 PM, Adult Education, 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 30 Great Vespers, 7:00 PM this Saturday only
Fall Hafli, 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 5 Brooklyn Clergy Lecture Series @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7
Saturday, October 7 Orthodox Education Day at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Teen SOYO Trip to Coney Island
Saturday, October 14 Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause
FROM THE FATHERS – “We must love Christ; this is necessary for the life of our soul. We also need to love God’s creation: animals, trees, flowers, birds, and above all, the most perfect of God’s creation, man.”
Elder Amphilochios of Patmos