Sunday, January 19, 2020
Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 6 and Eothinon 9
Venerable Makarios the Great of Egypt, the Anchorite
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion 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.
Apolytikion of St. Makarios of Egypt – Tone 1
Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O Makarios, our God-bearing Father. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee with faith. Glory to Him that hath given thee strength. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory to Him that worketh healings for all through 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 the Presentation of Christ in the Temple – Tone 1
Thou, O Christ God, who by thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Epistle – Colossians 3:4-11 (Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)
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, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel – Luke 17:12-19 (Twelfth Sunday of Luke)
AT THAT TIME, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When Jesus saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Next week’s homework: I Timothy 4:9-15 (32nd Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 19:1-10 (Fifteenth Sunday of Luke)
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.
TODAY’S USHERS – Members of the Parish Council will serve as ushers and readers. Because there is no church school today, the 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.”
JANUARY 19, 2020 – TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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.
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 19 – We 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!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 - We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Margaret Assatly, Laura Sayeg Awad, Georgette Captain, George Corey, Jameel Farhood, Siham Damalts, Katherine B. Cury, George Elkas, Eleanor Forzly, Claudette Golam, Josephine Hadad, Yvonne Hebeeka, Tofeek Kaidy, John and Louise Kalesh, Ned Kalesh, Viola Kalesh, Constantine Karram, John Kerge, Naji Khoury, Athina Basheer Lattof, Walter Lattof, Marie Meena, Mitchell Merhige, Philip Merhige, Edgar Saadi, Victoria Saadi, Barbara Salamy, Madeleine H. Salamy, Samuel and Suraya Samaha, William Shamoun, Alexander G. Orfaly, Jr., Adele Simon, and Gail Hall Zarr. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Anissa DeGroat, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, 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 – Please note that the Church School has returned to its previous class time. Aall students will receive Communion together, then proceed downstairs for classes. We have begun 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)
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S – The Ladies of St. Mary’s thank all parishioners who contributed to our humanitarian project this past Fall. We have reached our goal of almost 100 hygiene kits for distribution to the homeless during the Midnight Run. Thank you all! The Ladies will meet on Feb. 2, 2020 after Liturgy. All women are invited and encouraged to attend!
MEMORY ETERNAL! We are saddened to announce that the handmaiden of God Eleanor Sleyman departed this life in the hope of the resurrection last week. Her funeral was from St. Mary’s on Wednesday. We extend our sympathies to her daughter Victoria and her 16 nephews and nieces. Memory eternal!
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE SCHOLARSHIP – St. Ignatius Parish Financial Assistance is now available. If your camper is interested in a scholarship for this summer, please see Fr. Michael before March 1.
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!
ESTATE PLANNING – A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make in order to impact the ministry of the Church significantly. An estate plan can include a provision that leaves a lasting gift to St. Mary’s Church. A bequest could be a gift of specific assets, a dollar amount, or a percentage of the estate. A bequest could also be the residue of an estate after all gifts have been made to heirs.
ON-LINE GIVING – St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or check. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, January 20 Endowment Fund Committee, 7:30 PM
Saturday, January 25 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Wednesday, January 29 Great Vespers @ Three Hierarchs G.O. Church, 7 PM
Sunday, February 2 Feast of the Presentation of Christ
Ladies of St. Mary’s Meeting
Saturday, February 8 Teen Valentine’s Day Dance
Sunday, March 8 Annual Parish Meeting
FROM THE FATHERS – “Everything we do, our every objective, must be undertaken for the sake of purity of heart. We must practice the reading of Scripture, together with all the other virtuous activities in order to hold our hearts free of the harm of every dangerous passion and in order to rise step by step to the high point of love.”
- St. John Cassian
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America