Sunday, August 30, 2020
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 3 and Eothinon 1
Leavetaking of the Commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depth of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist – Tone 2
The memory of the righteous is in praise. And thee, Forerunner, the testimony of the Lord sufficeth; for in truth thou hast been revealed as nobler than all the Prophets, for having been considered worthy to baptize in running waters him who was preached. Therefore, thou didst strive for the truth happily. Thou didst proclaim to those in hades God appearing in the body, the Lifter up of the sin of the world, who granteth us 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 Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, the barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.
Epistle – I Corinthians 15:1-11 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 46.6, 1. Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse. Clap your hands, all you nations.
BRETHREN, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast – unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Gospel – Matthew 19:16-26 (Twelfth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, a young man came to Jesus, kneeling before him and saying, “Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? There is no good but One, and that is God. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Jesus, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Jesus, “All these I have observed from my youth; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 16:13-24 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 21:33-42 (Thirteenth 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 30, 2020 – TWELFTH 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 30 – We 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!
Anita and John Eyd offer prayers of oblation for the health of the servant of God George Trisciuzzi. Many years!
The Deeb Family offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the handmaidens of God Laurice Deeb and Zakieh Deeb. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Gloria Dirbas, Elie Khouri, Latifie Kiamie, Olga Lewis, Louise Martin, Nicholas Lian Massab, George Manessa, Adele Sadaka, Muneer Salamy, Mary Zagby, Alfred Zaher, Victoria and Adla Zimmerman. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), 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. 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.
FIRST FORTY DAYS/COLLEGE CONTACT – Orthodox Campus Fellowship (OCF) is requesting the names and contact information for all college students and college-age young adults in order to maintain contact with them while they are away. Please send the names, email address, student phone, college or military unit to pastor@smaoc.org.
GREAT VESPERS – Please note that there will be no Great Vespers on Saturday, September 5th. We will resume the celebration of Great Vespers on Saturday, September 12 at 5:00 PM in anticipation of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – There will be an abbreviated and “socially distanced” outing this year on Thursday, September 24th, 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. The deadline for journal submissions is September 4th. Please support our only fundraiser of the calendar year. Fore!
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.
SEPTEMBER ENVELOPES – Our September pledge envelopes contained two additional offering envelopes. There is a yellow envelope titled Coffee Hour and a blue envelope 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.
BUILDING STATUS – Repairs to the church’s sewer line continue. Bathrooms will not be available until further notice. We are also working on repairs to the main church doors, the air conditioning unit, the bell tower, and the audio/visual system.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
DATES TO REMEMBER
Tuesday, September 1 Church New Year
Saturday, September 5 NO GREAT VESPERS
Monday, September 7 Evening Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 8 Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 13 Procession with the Precious and Life-Saving Cross
Monday, September 14 Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
Thursday, September 24 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
We will livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “When my soul is filled with a holy peace, then surely the King of Peace dwells with me – the Lord Jesus Christ – with the Father and the Holy Spirit; and then above all other times I ought to be full of gratitude to Him, and to endeavor with all of my strength to preserve this peace within me by means of prayer, and by shunning every sin, whether inward or outward.”
- St. John of Kronstadt