Sunday, June 14, 2020
First Sunday after Pentecost: All Saints Sunday
Tone 8 and Eothinon 1
Holy Prophet Elisha
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 8
O Compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou mightest deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of All Saints – Tone 4
Thy Church, O Christ God, hath regaled herself in the blood of thy Martyrs, throughout all the world, as in porphyry and purple. Through them she lifteth her voice, crying, Turn with thy compassion to thy people, and grant peace to thy city, and to our souls the 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 the Saints – Tone 8
To thee, O Lord and Author of all creation, the universe offereth as first-fruits of nature the divinity-bearing Martyrs. Wherefore, by their implorings preserve thou thy Church in perfect safety, for the sake of the Theotokos, O most Merciful One.
Epistle – Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 (First Sunday and the Sunday of All Saints)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 67.35, 26. God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse. Bless God in the congregations.
BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith.
Gospel – Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 (Sunday of All Saints)
THE LORD SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 4:9-16 (Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles)
Matthew 9:36-10:8 (Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles)
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.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in the house/church.
JUNE 14, 2020 – FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
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, JUNE 14 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Adahlia and Atina David, Susan Paula Dib, Rose Elkas, John and Nicholas Massabni, George Metry, Lillian Sadaka, Adama Salamy, George and Rose Samman, Thomas and Najla Shohfi, Evelyn Shoucair, Albert G. and Olga Wardi, and Wadia Zain. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of the handmaiden of God Sra. Gloria Pujol of Madrid, Spain. Many years!
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 21 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Linda Abdallah, Edward and Wadiha Baloutine, Mabel Bittar, Basil and Janelle Couri, Nancy Davis, Florence Lewis Dibbs, Margarete Hadad, James Haddad, Mary and Phillip Hanna, Gloria Jabara, Farid Khoury, Lorraine Lewis, Lydia Lewis, John Massabni, Victor Merhige, Ferris Samara, Marie Sayegh, Margaret Soued, George and Victoria Tadross, and Adeeba Tweel. Memory eternal!
Albert Absey will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Marie Sayegh. Memory eternal!
Nadia Soued will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Margaret Soued. Memory eternal!
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The Apostles Fast begins tomorrow and continues until the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul (June 15-28). During this fast we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with katalysis for fish, wine, and olive oil on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
HOLY BREAD – Gloria Zain Darzi offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of June in loving memory of Wadia Zain. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
PASTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND – For the moment the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund has sufficient funds to meet current requests for assistance; however, we always welcome additional gifts, and we invite our people to submit the names of people or households who may need a little assistance during the pandemic to the pastor. All disbursements are made in complete anonymity and discretion. Donors may make checks payable to St. Mary’s Church with “PDF” in the memo line.
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.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Dr. Alice Farkouh (Manahawkan, NJ), 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, 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.
SPECIAL DONATION – We thank Audrey and Charlie Sahadi who have made a generous donation to assist with the additional costs the parish has incurred for sanitizing the church before and after the divine services. Many years!
AV VIRTUAL CAMP – Although the camping season at the Antiochian Village has been canceled, the Camp is preparing a series of virtual Evening Programs each week beginning June 18. For general information please go to office@avcamp.org. For specific information and registration for some programs please contact Evening Program Coordinator Nadia Ozone at nadia.ozone@gmail.com.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Given that we are not likely to return to church en masse in the near term, please feel free to bring your Food for Hungry People boxes to the church. Please call the office at (718) 238-8008, or email Fr. Michael at pastor@smaoc.org to make an appointment to drop off your box.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – We are pleased to announce that there will be an abbreviated and “socially distanced” outing this year on Thursday, September 24, at the Hempstead Country Club. Please mark your calendars. This year only there will be no sponsors or honorees, but there will be a souvenir journal to mark the occasion. Additional information will follow either later this month or early next month. Fore!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, June 20 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, June 21 Sunday of All Saints of North America
June 15-28 Fast of the Apostles
Monday, June 29 Feast of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
We will livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “The Lord is always waiting for us to unite ourselves with Him in love; but instead, we drift further and further away from Him. We know that there can be no life without love. This means that there is no life without God, for God is love. But His love is not according to the understanding of the world. The love that the world gives us consists of suffering and enslavement, because the spirits of evil interfere with it. There is a little bit of love, but mostly it is just enslavement.”
- Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica