Sunday, April 5, 2020
Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
Tone 1 and Eothinon 9
Commemoration of Our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 1
The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst rise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O thou only Lover of mankind.
Apolytikion of St. Mary of Egypt – Tone 8
Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Mary; for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept thou didst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.
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 – Hebrews 9:11-14 (Fifth Sunday in Lent)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 75.11, 1. Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Gospel – Mark 10:32-45 (Fifth Sunday in Lent)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and began to tell them what was to happen to him saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and scourge him, and spit upon him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And Jesus said to them, “What do you want me to do for you? And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
LITURGICAL NOTE: During Great Lent we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Megalynarion – Tone 8 – All creation rejoices in Thee, O thou who art full of grace, the hierarchy of the angels, and all mankind, O consecrated temple and paradise endowed with speech, glory of virginity, of whom God, who is our God before the ages, was incarnate and became a little child.
Next week’s homework:
Philippians 4:4-9 (Palm Sunday)
John 12:1-18 (Palm Sunday)
APRIL 5, 2020 – FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT –
COMMEMORATION OF OUR RIGHTEOUS MOTHER MARY OF EGYPT
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, APRIL 5 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Robert Coogan, Jr., Mary C. Gehshan, Dr. George Ghiz, Lynn Lewis, and Victoria and Esber Najjar. Memory eternal!
Anita and John Eyd offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of George Trisciuzzi on his birthday. Many years!
Sandra and Robert Coogan offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their son Robert Coogan, Jr. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 12 - We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Annetta Absey, Wilfred Jabara, Isabel Araman Zain and Adele Trisciuzzi. Memory eternal!
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please reverently hear these prayers before beginning an online “chat.”
HOLY BREAD – Hanade and Ghassan Maalouf offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of April for the health of the servant of God George Maalouf. Many years! Gloria Darzi also offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for April for the repose of the soul of her mother, Isabel Araman Zain, a former member of the Ladies of St. Mary’s. Memory eternal! Linda and George Salamy have also made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Donors are welcome for May and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Charlie Sahadi (NYU Rusk), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Valerie Clements, Nadim Dahdouh, Aline Farkouh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Fred Hadad, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Philip Mantia, Emily Maren (ME), Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), Dr. Edward Trabulsi (PA), 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.
SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE (CONFESSION) – The Great Fast is THE TIME for all believers to receive the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession). Under current circumstances it is not possible to hear confessions in person, but the pastor is available to speak by telephone with anyone who feels the need for spiritual direction or just to talk. Call either the office or the rectory at the numbers above.
LENTEN LITURGICAL SCHEDULE – We will celebrate Little Compline and the Canon of Lazarus on Friday, April 10, at 7:30 PM, and Matins at 9:30 AM and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 11 for Lazarus Saturday. We will also celebrate Palm Sunday with Festal Matins at 9:30 AM and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM on April 12. Please go to twitch.tv/smaoc for the live stream and where previous services are being archived. We have sent a mass email to everyone for whom we have address with the schedule for Holy Week. Those dates and times appear below.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES – Other online services are available in English at Holy Transfiguration Monastery at www.orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org or in Arabic at Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery at www.balamandmonastery.org.lb. Services are also available in print on the Antiochian Archdiocese website at www.antiochian.org under “Liturgics” at the bottom of the home page.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – During Great Lent we no longer eat cheese, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and olive oil until Holy Pascha on April 19 except for Palm Sunday (April 12) when there is limited katalysis for fish, wine and oil.
FLOWER OFFERINGS - Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh have donated the flowers for the Madayeh services on Friday evenings in loving memory of Margaret Mackoul. Given our current circumstances, expenditures for flowers will be minimal this year, but offerings are welcome, especially for Easter lilies.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – In these stressful times our Lenten practice of almsgiving is of heightened importance. Many people will need help to weather this physical and economic crisis. Please continue using the traditional FFHP collection boxes. Remember the least of Christ’s brethren by depositing your extra change at the end of each day, and return the box when we return to church. “Find out how much God has given you, and from it take what your need; the remainder is needed by others.” Blessed Augustan
PATRIARCH OFFERING – Our April pledge envelopes for the month of April included a pink envelope marked “Patriarch Offering.” Either return the envelope to the church office, or drop it in the mail. Please be especially generous so that we can support the suffering people of the Middle East through the agency of our Patriarchate. If anyone is not receiving pledge envelopes, please call the church office, or see Parish Council Chair Chris Athineos or Treasurer Diana Kaiami.
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.
PASTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND – The current crisis provides us the unique opportunity to support each other in many ways. We encourage our parishioners to contact the office if they need assistance with shopping, cooking, errands or light housework, and we have received offers to help with these tasks from a number of our members; however, we are beginning to recognize the financial stresses our families are experiencing. The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund can dispense some financial assistance anonymously and would welcome contributions. Please make your check payable to St. Mary’s Church and write “PDF” in the memo line.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
During our forced enclosure at home, let’s use this time as an educational opportunity for our children and teen learners. In addition to their regular school assignments we now have the opportunity to include some spiritual growth as well. Check out www.saintemmelia.com. This website is sponsored by Saint Emmelia Ministries and is an approved ministry of our Archdiocese. Although the ministry is normally dedicated to parents who are home schooling, we are all now home schoolers, and this period of seclusion may give parents an opportunity to view a new approach. Let us know what you think.
EMAIL ADDRESSES – This pandemic has forced us to communicate through mass emails; however, we do not have a complete census of our members. Please send us email addresses for all members of your family so that we can distribute current information as fully as possible.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, April 10 Little Compline with Canon of Lazarus, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 11 Matins, 9:30 AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
For Lazarus Saturday
Sunday, April 12 Festal Matins, 9:30 AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
for Palm Sunday
Bridegroom Matins, 7:00 PM
Monday, April 13 Bridegroom Matins, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, April 14 Bridegroom Matins, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 15 Matins of Holy Thursday, 7:00 PM
Thursday, April 16 Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 10:00 AM
Matins of Holy Friday with 12 Gospels, 7:00 PM
Friday, April 17 Royal Hours, 10:00 AM
Great Vespers with Descent from the Cross, 3:00 PM
Matins and Lamentations, 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 18 Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 10:00 AM
Nocturne, Rush, Orthros, Paschal Divine Liturgy, 10:00 PM
Sunday, April 19 Agape Vespers (Baouth), 12:00 PM
All services will be available for viewing via streaming on twitch.tv/smaoc and will be available in the archive. The church will announce any changes or alterations to this schedule through mass emails.
FROM THE FATHERS – “What is perfection of love? To love even our enemies and to love them so that they might become fellow Christians. For love should not be fleshly. To wish people temporal, physical wellbeing is good. But when this fails, hope that their souls are safe. Do you wish life for your friend? You do well. Do you rejoice at your enemy’s death? You do evil. However, even the life you wish for your friends may not be good for them. And the death of your enemies you rejoice over may have been for the good of them. It is uncertain whether this present life will be profitable or unprofitable for someone, but, without doubt, life with God is profitable. So love your enemies by wishing that they become Christians.”
- Blessed Augustine of Hippo
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America