Sunday, August 23, 2020
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 2 and Eothinon 11
Martyr Lupus, Servant of the Great Martyr Demetrios
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 2
When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
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 9:2-12 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117:14, 18. The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely.
BRETHREN, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Gospel – Matthew 18:23-35 (Eleventh Sunday of Matthew)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pray you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 15:1-11 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 19:16-26 (Twelfth 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 23, 2020 – ELEVENTH 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 23 – We 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!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of the servant of God Peter Frigo of Zurich, Switzerland. Many years!
Albert Absey offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Gladys Senior. Memory eternal!
Sandra Coogan offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Louise B. Savarese. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Elizabeth Azar, Victoria M. Makhoul, Amelia Rezk, Oscar Salloum, Blanche Shahood, Alfred, Antoine, Amin, Dan and Mary Shagoury, Teddy Shultz, and George Tadross. 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, 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.
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 social distance capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church, but that has not happened yet. 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.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – Please note that Saturday, August 29, is a fast day commemorating the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
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.
SEPTEMBER ENVELOPES – Our September pledge envelopes contained two additional offering envelopes. There is a yellow envelope titled Coffee Hour and a blue enveloped titled Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF). While we are not likely to host Coffee Hours in the near term, we encourage everyone to make an offering to support the Pan-Orthodox OCF. This year many of our college students will be studying on-line, and OCF will need to increase its social media outreach, so let’s be generous.
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.
BEIRUT RELIEF – In the horrific aftermath of the 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. An alternative recipient is https://www.seal-usa.org/ Social and Economic Action for Lebanon (SEAL).
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 with only golf and tennis but no banquet. 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 next week. Fore!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, August 29 Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Fast Day
Thursday, September 24 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
We will livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Every living thing seeks love: man, animals, and plants. All people seek God and long for Him, regardless of whether they are believers or unbelievers. Some people call themselves atheists, but they do not know that in their hearts they long after God. For when someone yearns for justice, love and truth, he is really yearning after God.”
- Elder Thaddeus of Viotvnica