Sunday, November 1, 2020
Holy Unmercenary Healers Cosmas and Damian
Tone 4 and Eothinon 10
Theodota, the Unmercenaries’ Mother
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Apolytikion of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Tone 3
O ye silver-hating, wonder-working saints, visit our sicknesses. Freely received ye, freely give unto us.
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 Theotokos – Tone 2
O undisputed intercessor of Christians, the mediatrix unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, with assistance; for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honour thee.
Epistle – I Corinthians 12:27-13:8 (Saints Cosmas and Damian)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 15.3, 8. Among the saints who are in the earth the Lord has been wondrous.
Verse. I beheld the Lord ever before me.
BRETHREN, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.
Gospel – Luke 16:19-31 (Fifth Sunday of Luke)
THE LORD SAID, “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.’”
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 2:2-10 (Archangels Michael and Gabriel)
Luke 8:41-56 (Seventh Sunday of Luke)
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please hear these prayers before beginning an online “chat.”
NOVEMBER 1, 2020 – HOLY UNMERCENARY HEALERS COSMAS AND DAMIAN OF ASIA
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.
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.
TODAY, NOVEMBER 1– We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Michel Al-Kirsheh, Nicholas L. Assatly, Alfred Farkouh, Henry Haddad, Fareeza Hallal, Assad Hanna, Alfred Helal, Delores, Olga, Paul, Salem Jabara, Anthony Kinge, Evelyn Mouracade, Najla Sahadi, Helweh Sayage, Josephine Tadross, Lorraine Zraick, Mary and Richard Zraick. Memory eternal!
Joyce Katen offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Helen Haddad and Terry Tashji. Memory eternal!
Debbie and Robert Mackoul offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Margaret Mackoul and Loulou Malouf. Memory eternal!
The Family of Nouhad Khouzami offers Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. John L. Boojamra, Linda Cassatly, Leila Dahdouh, Stanley Fadel, Charlene Alekel Goldrick, Rashida Marie Haddad, Victoria Khouri, Dorothy Madey, George Massabni, Nora K. Nahas, Gabriella R. Sadaka, Nicholas Sahadi, Charles Salloum, Victor Smatt, Alex Zahka, and Gregory Zarr. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Gladys Schroeder (CareOne, Creskill, NJ), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Alissar Dalloul, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Gary Gangone, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, Eddie Hanna, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Emily Maren (ME), Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Tony Tadross, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), Marianne Trabulsi (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Sam Zamaria (MD), Karl Zarr, Richard Zogob, 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.
FASTING DISICIPLINE – We maintain the traditional fasting discipline on Wednesday and Friday through November 14. The Advent Fast begins on Sunday, November 15.
HOLY BREAD – George Khouzami offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of November in loving memory of his mother, Nouhad Khouzami. Memory eternal! Linda and George Salamy have also made a donation for the entire year. Donors are welcome for December and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
MEMORY ETERNAL! We are saddened to announce that the handmaiden of God Elena Paris departed this life on Friday morning. Her family will receive visitors at McLaughlin Funeral Home today from 2-5 and 7-9 PM. The funeral will be tomorrow at 10 AM here at St. Mary’s Church. We extend our sympathies to her husband David and sons Peter, George, Paul, and Joseph. Memory eternal!
PLEDGE GIVING – During these extraordinary times we ask everyone to maintain their pledge giving as much as possible. Please remember that 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.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE - We have increased capacity in line with civil and Archdiocese guidelines while still maintaining the social distancing of 6 feet. There is always a possibility that the church may reach full capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church until the end of the Divine Liturgy in order to light a candle or receive Holy Communion.
ST. RAPHAEL OF BROOKLYN – St. Nicholas Cathedral will celebrate the Feast of St. Raphael of Brooklyn with the “All-night Vigil” beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday, November 6. The service consists of Great Vespers with the Artoklasia, the blessing of the five loaves, Festal Orthros and Divine Liturgy.
BIBLE STUDY – We will begin a three-week series on the lives of the saints on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:30 PM via Zoom. We will send out the link on Tuesday and Wednesday.
FALL RETREAT – Please see the flyer in this bulletin and on our website for information on our diocesan Fall Retreat on the weekend of November 12-15.
IOCC SUNDAY – Our November pledge envelopes included a yellow envelope for “International Orthodox Christian Charities” dated November 22. We annually receive this collection on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Our faithful can either drop their envelope in the collection tray on Sundays or return it to the church office.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, November 4 Zoom Classroom, 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 7 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Monday, November 9 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
We livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
FROM THE FATHERS – “The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God.”
- St. John of Damascus
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church/home.