Sunday, March 1, 2020
Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare)
Tone 4 and Eothinon 4
Venerable Martyr Eudokia of Heliopolis
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’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 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 Cheese Fare Sunday – Tone 6
O Thou who guidest to wisdom, and givest understanding and intelligence, the instructor of the ignorant, and Helper of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it understanding, O Master. Give me word, O Word of the Father; for behold, I shall not refrain my lips from crying to thee, O merciful One, have mercy upon me who am fallen.
Epistle – Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 (Cheese Fare Sunday)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 46.6, 1. O chant unto our God, chant ye.
Verse. Clap your hands, all ye nations.
BRETHREN, now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
But as for the one who is weak in faith, receive him, but not for disputes over opinions. For one believes he may eat anything; but the weak person eats herbs. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to be the judge over the servant of a stranger? To his own master he either stands or falls; but he will be made to stand; for God is able to make him stand.
Gospel – Matthew 6:14-21 (Cheese Fare Sunday)
THE LORD SAID, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 (First Sunday of Great Lent)
John 1:43-51 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
HOLY BREAD – Louise Sahadi offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of March in memory of her parents, Virginia Hawaweeny Sahadi and George Sahadi. Memory eternal! George and Linda Salamy have also made a donation for the entire year. Donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church.
MARCH 1, 2020 – SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS (CHEESE FARE)
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.
MARCH IS WOMEN’S MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 1 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Yvonne Absey, Najibi Anthony, Jodat Arida, Tamina Arida, Mary Assatly, Donald Farkouh, Alexander and Regina Ghazal, William Haddad, Sr., Mounir Kaba, Walter John Lattof, Dianna G. Lewis, Isabel Massabni, Eugenie Morgan, Naaman Nehme, Amin Salem, George Senior, George Shamyer, and Wendy Sadaka Zavolas. Memory eternal!
Brenda Sabbagh and Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of her brother, Dr. Douglas Kalesh. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
Diana Finger and Family offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Lily Malouf. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 8 - We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Albert Bittar, Nicholas Ghiz, Emeline Halibi, Maude Sarkis, Laurice Merhige Schuh, Gloria Sparsidis, Georgette Hamwi, Adma Jabran, Charles Kassatly, and William Simon. Memory eternal!
The Kaba and Saher Families will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Monir Kaba and Victoria Zaher. Memory eternal!
TODAY’S USHERS – March is Women’s Month in the Antiochian Archdiocese. Members of the Ladies of St. Mary’s will serve as ushers and readers. Joyce Katen, Marianne Hindelly, Joan Bacon, and Linda Mantia will serve as ushers. Malakie Zogob, Oksana Eid, Barbara Deeb, and Janice Deeb will assist with the distribution of the Holy Eucharist. Dr. Alice Farkouh and Sonia Abou-Naoum will read the Epistle in English and Arabic, respectively. Please allow the Church School students, teachers, and volunteers to receive Holy Communion first so that they can proceed to their classes in a timely fashion.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Louis Savarese (Haym Salomon), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Emily Maren (ME), Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, 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.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – Please remember to turn the clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.
FORGIVENESS VESPERS – We will inaugurate the observance of Great Lent with the celebration of Forgiveness Vespers with the annual Rite of Forgiveness following this morning’s Coffee Hour. We will begin at approximately 12:30.
MEAT FARE SUNDAY – Rima and Diana would like to thank everyone who assisted us in making the Meatfare Luncheon the huge success it was! It was an amazing event that was really able to bring this church together. We hope to continue to hold this event every year going forward. Thank you to the entire committee for being so helpful and supportive including Chris Athineos, Nahla Bittar, Lorraine Deeb, Anita Eid, Laila Ellias, Majdeline Elkhoury, Terize Khoury, Razan Maloof, Daria Mayrose, Irene Tashji, Lina Zaher and Josephine Zgheib. Thank you to all the amazing helpful hands of Terez Alsaifi, Roula Alsaifi, Elijah Carlstrom, Marie Fallah, Jimmy Fares, Marianne Hindelly, Kinana Isber, Hind Kaba, Maha Kaba, Malakeh Kaswani, Samia Keriaki, Terez Maloof, Linda Mantia, Marian Russo, Dianna Russo Kitchen, Lama Rajha, Samar Shahem, Deema Shahem, Rana Yazgi and Leen Zgheib Fares. And finally, thank you to the wonderful donations from Sonia Abou Naoum, Denise Alexander, Roula Alsaifi, Terez Alsaifi, Chris Athineos, Lorraine Deeb, Anita Eid, Gabby & Majdeline Elkhoury, Lina Kaiami, Terize Khouri, Laila’s Restaurant, Daria Mayrose, Brenda Samman, Samar Shahem, Spanakos Family, Irene Tashji, Gail Zarr, Marie Zarr, Zaman Bar & Lounge, and the Zrake Family.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – We will hold our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, March 8, following the Divine Liturgy. Teen SOYO will provide a light lunch at a nominal cost. Copies of the parish’s financial report are available in advance by request. Please submit all nominations for the Parish Council to Vice Chairman Michael Regnier by Sunday, March 1, after receiving the nominee’s agreement to serve.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, March 2 Great Lent Begins
Great Compline @ St. Mary’s Church, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 4 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 7:00 PM
Followed by Pot Luck Supper
Friday, March 6 Lenten Supper Sponsored by the Parish Council, 6:30 PM
First Little Compline with Akathist Hymn, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 7 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 8 Annual Parish Meeting
Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers @ St. Nicholas, 5 PM
Monday, March 9 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 15 Ladies of St. Mary’s Meeting
FROM THE FATHERS – “As bodily food fattens the body, so fasting strengthens the soul: imparting it an easy flight, it makes it able to ascend on high, to contemplate lofty things, and to put the heavenly higher than the pleasant and pleasureable things of life.”
- St. John Chrysostom
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America