Sunday, September 16, 2018
Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Tone 7 and Eothinon 5
Martyrs Sophia and Her Daughters Faith, Love and Hope
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross. Thou didst open paradise to the thief. Thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim a warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world thy Great Mercy.
Apolytikion 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.
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 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:
Galatians 2:16-20 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
Mark 8:34-9:1 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
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.
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.”
HOLY BREAD – Roland Salloum and Wanda Salloum offer the Holy Bread for the month of September for the health of the Salloum and Kronfli Families. Donors are welcome for October and subsequent months. Linda and George Salamy have made a donation through the rest of the year.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 – THE SUNDAY AFTER THE EXALTATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS
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, SEPTEMBER 16 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Rose Awad, Elizabeth Ganim Cohen, George Fauty, Victor Hamaty, Katherine Jabara, Alexander Orfaly, Wajieha Sabbagh, and Edward Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Lily and Paul Lang offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of the handmaiden of God Lilly Malouf on the occasion of her 100th birthday! Many years!
Brenda Samman and Family offer prayers of oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Samuel Samman, Emileen Hanna, Nancy Jean Davis, P.J. Boyle and John Dalack. Memory eternal!
Bassam Maalouf offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his father George Maalouf. Bassam donated all the meat for last week’s Food Fair in his father’s honor. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Nicholas Awad, Zakia Awad, Albert Ayoub, Victoria Baloutine, George Haddad, Emileen Hanna, Stephen Paul James, Eleanor Kalesh, Shamseh Kaydouh, Nazera Kinge, George Moore, Donald O. Page, Matilda Saba, Very Rev. Fr. W.P.S. and Kh. Shirley Schneirla, William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr., and Sadie Shamoun. Memory eternal!
The Boyle, Howie, and Regnier Families will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Peter James (PJ) Boyle. Memory eternal!
The Family of Emileen Hanna will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of her soul. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Lorraine Diahy, and Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Clair Banat (Norwegian), Robert Forcina (Sloan), Tiriz Alsaifi, George Arbeeny, Charlie Bryant, Nadim Dahdouh, Joey Ganim (MD), Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Gregory Hamaty, Louise Hamwi, Malak Karkenny, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Brenda Samman, Louis Savarese, Susan Schocket-Obel, Leon Smatt, Marie Tashji, Claudette Teen, Marianne Trabulsi (PA), Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, 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.
GREAT VESPERS – There will be no Great Vespers this Saturday, September 22. Fr. Michael will be away Friday through Saturday.
CHURCH SCHOOL – This year we have combined the efforts of the Church School and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). All parents of students are automatically members of the Church School community. Registration for the new academic year continues today. Please see Co-Presidents Lorraine Deeb and Michael Regnier today. Classes begin today after the procession with the Holy Cross.
BEQUEST RECEIVED – St. Mary’s Church has received official notification that the late Nancy Davis has left a generous bequest in her estate plan for the parish. We pray fervently for the repose of Nancy’s soul, and we encourage all of our faithful members to emulate her example and include a provision in our wills and estate plans for our beloved community. Memory eternal!
FOOD FESTIVAL – We extend our congratulations to Co-Chairs Bassam Maalouf and Chris Athineos on last week’s inaugural St. Mary’s Feast and Food Fair. All the food disappeared in a little over an hour! We also thank all the ladies who cooked and baked both at home and in the church last Friday and Saturday: Sonia Abounaoum, Tiriz Alsaifi, Nour Baghdan, Siham Cawog, Majdeline Boutros Elkhoury, Kh. Laila Ellias, Marie Fallah, Aline Farkouh, Nahla Bittar Fattouh, Rima Alsifi Hazem, Samia Keriaky, Malakeh Keswani, Norma Khoury, Nahla Laham, Hanadi Maalouf, Razan Maalouf, Chaza Rafiaa, Lama Rajha, Lara Rustom, Samar Shahem, Lina Zaher, Maha Zaher, and Josephine Zgheib - , as well as all the people who served and cleaned on Sunday. We heard many good things, and some have suggested that we do this every year for our feast day! There will be a review meeting on Sunday, September 30.
OFFERING ENVELOPES – Our September offering envelopes included a beige envelope to sponsor a Coffee Hour and a blue envelop to support Orthodox Campus Fellowship (OCF). We will receive the OCF offering at the final blessing today.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF OUTING – Save the date, Thursday, September 27, for our largest and most important fundraiser of the year! This year our beloved Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh will receive the parish’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and our long-time supporter, the late Susan Rohan will be honored with the Victor J. Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. Please submit all journal subscriptions today.
PARISH WEBSITE – Did you know that we post the weekly bulletin on the web? Simply go to www.smaoc.squarespace.com/bulletin, and view the bulletin at home. Also, find us on Facebook.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and pagers are turned off in church.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, September 22 No Great Vespers
Thursday, September 27 Saints and Sinners Golf Outing
FROM THE FATHERS – “The joy of human life springs forth from the Cross.”
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America