Sunday, January 12, 2020
Sunday after the Theophany of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
Tone 5 and Eothinon 8
Martyr Tatiana of Rome and Those with Her
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For he took pleasure in ascending the cross in the flesh to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.
Apolytikion 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: Colossians 3:4-11 (29th Sunday after Pentecost)
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 – Karen and Matthew Spolar offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the months of January and February. Many years! The Farkouh Family also offers the Holy Bread for the month of January in memory of the Economous Farid and Khouryee Wassila Farkouh. Memory eternal! Donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
JANUARY 12, 2020 – 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, SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 – 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, 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!
Rose Abdallah and Family offer Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Eli Abdallah. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 - 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 and readers. Because there is no church school today, they children may stay with their parents to receive Holy Communion together. 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 intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (Norwegian), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Anissa DeGroat, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, Malak Karkenny, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Emily Maren (ME), Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Raymond Saleeby, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), Marianne Trabulsi (NJ), Dr. Sam Zamaria (MD), 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.
CHURCH SCHOOL - As of TODAY, Church School as returned to our prior schedule. All students will receive Holy Communion together, then proceed downstairs for classes. We will begin to discuss this year's Archdiocese Creative contests theme: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the word, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)
POINSETTIAS – Please feel free to take home a poinsettia after today’s Divine Liturgy. The church would appreciate any free will offerings.
BROOKLYN CLERGY LECTURE SERIES – The Clergy Brotherhood of Brooklyn sponsors a lecture series each year. The theme this year is Living the Life of the Apostles: Then and Now, A Contemporary View of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. St. Mary’s Church will host the first lecture this Thursday, January 16, at 7:00 PM. Fr. Gerasimos Makris, pastor of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, will speak on “The Life of the Early Christians (Acts 2:43-47, 4:32-5:11). Light refreshments will follow the lecture. All are welcome, and there is no cost.
PROJECT MEXICO – St. Mary’s Church and Holy Cross Church, under the auspices of Project Mexico, are planning to build a house for a needy Mexican family in Baja California, Mexico, from Thursday, June 25 to Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Come join us on this beautiful offering of love. To register and for more information please contact Christina at Holy Cross at (718) 836-3510 or Angela Athineos at (646) 522-2859. Please see the flyer in this bulletin.
MIDNIGHT RUN – On the third Friday of each month our Teens and Young Adults participate in the “Midnight Run” in cooperation with Holy Cross G.O. Church. If you would like to offer any donations of clothing or toiletries, kindly bring them to the church before that Friday each month. The next Midnight Run is this Friday, January 17. If you would like to volunteer preparing food for the homeless, please meet at Holy Cross at 8 PM on Friday. If you would like to go on the Midnight Run to deliver the food and clothing right into the hands of those in need, they leave at 10 PM and are usually back in Bay Ridge by 2 AM. Please see Angela Athineos or Deacon Farid Farkouh for more information.
PLEDGE REMINDER – As we begin the new calendar year we remind our faithful to consider prayerfully their commitment for the year ahead. There is a pledge card in the January offering envelopes, and there are pledge cards in the back of the church. And always remember to include St. Mary’s in your will or estate plan! Thank you.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – Teen SOYO has placed large containers in the narthex for their annual Winter Coat Drive. The Coat Drive includes gloves, hats, socks, blankets and sweaters, and will continue through January. Thank you!
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, January 13 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Thursday, January 16 Brooklyn Clergy Lecture, 7:00 PM
Friday, January 17 Midnight Run
Saturday, January 18 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Monday, January 20 Endowment Fund Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
FROM THE FATHERS – “The signs accompanying grace are much joy, peace, love and truth. Such truth impels man to seek truth. But the signs of sin are accompanied by turnoil, not joy and love toward God.”
- St. Macarius the Great
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America