Sunday, September 27, 2020
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 7 and Eothinon 5
Martyr Kallistratos and the 49 Martyrs with Him
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to reverence the cross and to partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross. Thou didst open paradise to the thief. Thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim a warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world thy 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 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 – II Corinthians 6:1-10 (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 28.11, 1. The Lord will give strength to his people
Verse. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
BRETHREN, working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Gospel – Luke 5:1-11 (First Sunday of Luke)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, Jesus asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 6:16-7:1 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Mark 8:34-9:1 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross)
HOLY BREAD – Wanda Salloum offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of September in memory of the departed members of the Salloum Family – Oscar, Wadih, Wadiha, Francois, Henri, Cesar, Charles, Magda, and Mireille. Memory eternal! Donors are welcome for October and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.”
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 – SIXTEENTH 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, SEPTEMBER 27 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lorraine Assatly, Victoria F. Dib, Ghassan Fattouh, Avjon and Dimitry Golam, Werda Hadad, Alexander Khoury, Addie, Alfred, Mary Alice and Edmund Nahas, Adrienne Poulakakos, Barbara Salamy, Edward, Ronald, Valerie and Victoria Tadross. Memory eternal!
Dorothy Downie offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, Archpriest Paul and Kh. Shirley Schneirla, her brother William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr., and her uncle Donald O. Page. Memory eternal!
Carol Furer offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her mother, Victoria F. Dib. Memory eternal!
Gabriel Golam offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of his parents Avjon and Dimitry Golam. Memory eternal!
The Family of Itidal Makdissi offers the Holy Bread and Prayers of Oblation as a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
The Family of Laila Zamlout offers Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dorothy Howie, Gary Kassatly, Bernice Wardi Lutfy, Nora Manolescu, Elias Massabni, Alice S. Merhige, Edmund Shawah, Herbert Trabulsi, Fred Zahka, Antoun Zgheib, Edna and Philip Zrike. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Gary Gangone (Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin, NJ), Tony Tadross (NYU), 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), George Trisciuzzi, 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.
BEIRUT RELIEF – We have submitted our first contribution to the Archdiocese in support of Beirut. Under these circumstances we ask our faithful to make generous donations to alleviate the suffering of Lebanon. If writing a check to “St. Mary’s Church,” please write “Beirut” in the memo line.
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.
BIBLE STUDY – During the ongoing pandemic we will offer zoom Bible studies on Wednesday at 2:00 PM (https://zoom.us/j/92438281578?pwd=bldIdVg3cXFLUzRhbXlJNVluNVFpQT09) & 7:00 PM (https://zoom.us/j/95074870450?pwd=VmJsdEo3Sjh1STh5RFE3dVlNY1FWdz09). This week’s texts will be II Corinthians 6:1-10 and Luke 7:36-50. All are welcome. Sessions will last 40 minutes.
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.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – God blessed us with a glorious day for golf and tennis on Thursday. We will announce preliminary results in next week’s bulletin. In advance, however, we extend our congratulations and thanks to Daria Mayrose, Bob Mackoul, and the entire committee on their usual brilliant work on this 11th anniversary edition of the outing under our current difficult and unusual circumstances!
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church/home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, September 30 Bible Study via Zoom, 2:00 and 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 3 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, October 11 40-Day Memorial – Loulou Malouf
We livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “An evil deed committed by someone else does not add to our sins, unless we embrace it with evil thoughts thereby filling our souls with the stench of other people’s wickedness.”
- St. Mark the Ascetic
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America