Sunday, January 31, 2021
Thirty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 1 and Eothinon 1
Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John
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 Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John – Tone 5
Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs, Cyrus and John, as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strengthen the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou alone art good and the Lover of mankind.
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 4:9-15 (Thirty-Second 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.
TIMOTHY, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
Gospel – Luke 19:1-10 (Fifteenth Sunday of Luke)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 6:1-10 (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 25:14-30 (Sixteenth Sunday of Matthew)
ARABIC LITURGY – Today 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.
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.”
JANUARY 31, 2021 – THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – “ZACCHAEUS”
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.
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 31 – We 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, Ethel Phillips, Yvonne Sahadi, and Suraya and Samuel Samaha. Memory eternal!
Dr. Alice B. Farkouh offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Katherine Cury. Memory eternal!
Gloria and Kenneth Jabara offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Louise Hamwi. Memory eternal!
Elise and Patrick Marano offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Victoria and Edgar Saadi. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his father Teodoro Trisciuzzi on the anniversary of his birth. Memory eternal!
Anna Marie Zarr offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Thomas A. Zarr. Memory eternal!
The Dalack and Ellias Families offer Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of former Parish Council Chair, the handmaiden of God Shamseh Dalack. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Elias Darzi, Jacob Khoury, James Pappas, Wadih Rahhal, Olga Shawah Roccosanto, Louis Sabah, Farieda Sarafien, Edward Saydah, and Florence Ventrice. Memory eternal!
Gloria Darzi will offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of her husband, the servant of God Elias Darzi. Memory eternal!
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
Rolland Salloum and Wanda Salloum will offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread 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!
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, 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).
ZOOM CLASSROOM – Everyone is welcome to participate in our continuing education on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM as we read seleactions from Fr. John Breck’s book, God is with Us, available from the church bookstore. Please use Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/4735214754?pwd=dFFGVHVnODR6YzZaTVE3UWR3bWNpQT09.
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.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE - Our capacity is 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 capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church until the end of services in order to enter the church as attendees exit to receive Holy Communion, holy bread, and/or light a candle. Everyone who wants to attend in person should either call the church office or email pastor@smaoc.org ahead of time.
FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST – We will celebrate an Evening Divine Liturgy tomorrow, February 1, at 7:00 PM in anticipation of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. If you plan to receive Holy Communion, please begin your fast following an early and light lunch.
BLESSING OF HOMES – The Archdiocese recommends that the traditional blessing of homes following Holy Epiphany be done with great caution this year due to the pandemic. Clergy may bless the homes of those who request it - following all safety precautions. The priest should visit quickly and limit the time to the blessing itself - not staying for dinner or coffee. Clergy should be careful not to contract the virus at one home and then spread it throughout the parish community.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will continue through February. Please place coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, and other cold weather attire in the vestibule.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, February 1 Evening Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, February 3 Zoom Classroom, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 6 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 28 Annual Parish Meeting via smaoc - Twitch
We livestream all divine services via smaoc - Twitch.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America