Sunday, January 24, 2021
Thirty-First Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 8 and Eothinon 11
Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, Fool-for-Christ
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 St. Xenia of St. Petersburg – Tone 8
In thee, O wandering stranger, Christ the Lord hath given us an ardent intercessor for our kind. For having received in thy life sufferings and grief and served God and men with love, thou didst acquire great boldness. Wherefore, we fervently hasten to thee in temptations and grief, crying out from the depths of our hearts: Put not our hope to shame, O Blessed Xenia.
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 Presentation of Christ in the Temple – Tone 1
Thou, O Christ God, who by thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Epistle – I Timothy 1:15-17 (Thirty-First Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 27.9, 1. O Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
TIMOTHY, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory to the ages of ages. Amen.
Gospel – Luke 18:35-43 (Fourteenth Sunday of Luke)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Next week’s homework: I Timothy :9-15 (Thirty-second Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 19:1-10 (Fifteenth Sunday of Luke)
HOLY BREAD – Rima and Elias Hazem and Family offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of January in loving memory of the servants of God George Alsifi, Rahma Hazem, and Michael Hazem. Memory eternal! Donors are welcome for February and succeeding months. Deacon Farid Farkouh also offers the Holy Bread in January for the repose of the souls of his grandparents, Archpriest Faried and Kh. Wasilla Farkouh. Memory eternal! 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 to “chat.”
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Alissar Dalloul, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
JANUARY 24, 2021 – BLESSED XENIA OF ST. PETERSBURG, FOOL-FOR-CHRIST
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 partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
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, JANUARY 24 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Margaret Assatly, Laura Sayeg Awad, Georgette Captain, George Corey, Jameel Farhood, Siham Damalts, Katherine B. Cury, George Elkas, Eleanor Forzly, Claudette Golam, Josephine Hadad, Yvonne Hebeeka, Tofeek Kaidy, Louise and John Kalesh, Ned Kalesh, Viola Kalesh, Constantine Karram, John Kerge, Naji Khoury, Athina Basheer Lattof, Walter Lattof, Marie Meena, Mitchell Merhige, Philip Merhige, Edgar Saadi, Victoria Saadi, Yvonne Sahadi, Barbara Salamy, Madeleine H. Salamy, Suraya and Samuel Samaha, William Shamoun, Alexander G. Orfaly, Jr., Adele Simon, and Gail Hall Zarr. Memory eternal!
Peter Elkas offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his father, the servant of God George Elkas. Memory eternal!
Gabriel Golam offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his beloved wife, the handmaiden of God Claudette Golam. Memory eternal!
Brenda and Robert Sabbagh offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Odette George, sister of Richard Zogob. Memory eternal!
George Salamy offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Barbara Salamy. Memory eternal!
Victor Samaha offers Prayers of Oblation the repose of the souls of his parents, Suraya and Samuel Samaha. Memory eternal!
Roland Salloum and Wanda Salloum offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their sister, the handmaiden of God Giselle Kronfli, who departed this life in Maryland on January 5. Memory eternal!
Dr. Steven A. Swaya offers Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of his father, the servant of God Edmund A. Swaya. Memory eternal!
ARABIC LITURGY – Next Sunday, January 31, we will ask Wilson Haddad to provide the responses for Matins and the Divine Liturgy primarily in Arabic as we have done on the last Sunday of each month. Please inform your family and friends for whom Arabic may be their first language.
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lorice Arida, Najeeby Arida, Adla and Gabriel Arout, Gabriel Ashie, Louis Assatly, Elaine Ateyeh, Laura Sayeg Awad, Leon Ayoub Brown, Shamseh Dalack, Jameel Farhood, Naseeb Farkouh, Matilda Halal, Daisy Hamod, Alex A. Hamwi, Lillian John, Nicholas Kalaf, Olga Kalaf, Violet Karkenny, John Makhoul, Mitchel Merhige, Philip Merhige, George Nader, Helen Awad Najjar, and Ethel Phillips. Memory eternal!
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.
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. We still ask everyone who wants to attend in person either to call the church office or email pastor@smaoc.org ahead of time.
BLESSING OF HOMES – The Archdiocese recommends that the blessing of homes following Holy Epiphany must be done with great caution this year due to our current state of high transmission and low hospital capacity in most areas of our Archdiocese. Clergy may bless the homes of those who request it - following all safety precautions. Blessings may continue throughout the course of next year.
When the priest blesses homes, the recommendation is that he visit quickly and limit the time to the blessing itself - not staying for dinner or coffee. Although this is very difficult pastorally, clergy should be careful not to contract the virus at one home and then spread it throughout the parish community. The Archdiocese also recommends not doing more than one or two per day and postponing the vast majority of house blessings until later in the year when, God willing, the situation improves.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will continue through February. Coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, and other cold weather attire are welcome. Please place your offerings on the table in the vestibule. We will distribute all items directly to local charities and recipients.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, January 27 Zoom Classroom, 7:30 PM
Saturday, January 30 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 28 Annual Parish Meeting via smaoc - Twitch
We livestream all divine services via smaoc - Twitch
FROM THE FATHERS – “It is necessary for everyone to know scriptural teachings, and this is especially true for children. Even at their age they are exposed to all sorts of folly and bad examples from popular entertainment. Our children need remedies for all these things! We are so concerned with our children’s schooling: if only we were equally zealous in bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
- St. John Chrysostom