Sunday, April 16, 2020
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 1 and Eothinon 10
After-Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Recovery from Edessa of the Icon of Christ Not Made by Hands: “The Holy Napkin”
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 the Mandylion – Tone 2
Thy pure image we do venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by thine own will thou didst ascend the Cross in thy body, to save thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.
Apolytikion of the Dormition of the Theotokos – Tone 1
In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for living thou wast translated, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
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 Dormition of the Theotokos – Tone 2
Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, who is never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control. But being the Mother of Life, he who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her to life.
Epistle – I Corinthians 4:9-16 (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 32.22,1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
BRETHREN, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things.
I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
Gospel – Matthew 17:14-23 (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost)
AT THAT TIME, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” Jesus said to them, “Because you have no faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith, even as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. This kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.”
As they were traveling together through Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him and he will rise on the third day.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 9:2-12 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 18:23-35 (Eleventh Sunday of Matthew)
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 church/home.
AUGUST 16, 2020 – TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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, AUGUST 16 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Navya P. Aboud, Thuraya Abualehawareb, Olga Arida, Lorice Grasso, Leon Hattab, William Helal, Zedra Khoury, Braheem Merhige, Hennie Milkie, Laya Nehme, Sam Saad, Malaky Shamas, Celia Yared, Alex Zagby, George Zrike, and Valentine H. Zrike. Memory eternal!
Dr. Caroline A. Grasso offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Lorice Grasso. Memory eternal!
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi of Lincoln, RI, offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lily and Leon Hattab and Baseem and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Peter and Carolyn Boyle and Chris, Amy, Speero, and Katie Tannous offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Peter James (PJ) Khoury Boyle on the two-year memorial of his death. Memory eternal!
Constance M. Zarick of Champaign, IL, offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of Edward Zarick, and Yvonne and Stanley Najjar. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Helen Allison, Nassif K. Arida, Raphael Arida, Laurice Deeb, Zakieh Deeb, Khouryee Alice Kerbaway Dalack, Dr. Antoine Fernaine, Michael Gehshan, Baheeya Jabara, Dr. Gabriel Jureidini, Irene Karkenny, Judith Kassatly, William Nafash, Louise B. Savarese, Gladys Senior, and George Zarr. Memory eternal!
May Fernaine will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her husband, the servant of God Dr. Antoine Fernaine. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Joan Boragi, Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Dr. Alice Farkouh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Gareth Ganim (MD), Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, Eddie Hanna, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, 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.
HOLY BREAD – George and Linda Salamy have made a donation for the whole year. Additional donors are welcome for August and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
MEMORY ETERNAL! The handmaiden of God Loulou Malouf departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection on Monday, August 10. Her funeral was graveside on Thursday at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens. We extend our sympathies to her children Aline Farkouh (Deacon Farid), Corrine (Nagib) Nahas, and Camille Malouf, her grandchildren and great granddaughter.
MEMORY ETERNAL! The handmaiden of God Itidal Makdissi departed this life in the hope of the Resurrection on Tuesday, August 11. Her funeral was at St. Mary’s on Friday, and interment followed at Oceanview Cemetery on Staten Island. We extend our sympathies to her children, Dr. Adib, Joel, and Rana Elsouss and their families.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE - We are increasing 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 social distance capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy people outside may enter the church as attendees exit to receive Holy Communion, holy bread, and/or light a candle. We still ask everyone who wants to attend in person either to call the church office or email pastor@smaoc.org ahead of time.
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.
BEIRUT RELIEF – Last Tuesday we witnessed the horrific explosion in the Port of Beirut. Many lives were lost, many more people were injured, many are still missing, and there was devastating damage to most of the city. We have heard from many people who have family and friends there about lives lost and missing loved ones. The hospitals are overflowing, and there is massive damage to both public and private property. As much as possible under these circumstances we ask our faithful to make generous donations to alleviate the suffering of the people of Lebanon. If writing a check to “St. Mary’s Church,” please write “Beirut” in the memo line.
COLLEGE CONTACT – The Department of Campus Ministry will soon contact us for the names, addresses and e-mail addresses of our college students, military service personnel and college-aged young people. If you know that information at this time, please give it to Fr. Michael or call the church office so that we can stay in touch with those near and far. Thank you.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, August 22 Baladi Chrismations, 4:00 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Thursday, September 24 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
We will livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Prayer is powerful when it is suffused with God’s vigor.”
- St. Aphrahat the Persian