Sunday, October 17, 2021
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council
Tone 8 and Eothinon 6
Prophet Hosea
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 the Holy Fathers – Tone 8
Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.
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 – Titus 3:8-15 (Holy Fathers)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 31.11, 1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven.
TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
Gospel – Luke 8:5-15 (Fourth Sunday of Luke)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.”
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” As Jesus said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 9:6-11 (Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 8:26-39 (Sixth Sunday of Luke)
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – As the faithful approach to reverence the cross, receive a blessing and a piece of antidoron (holy bread) at the dismissal, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please greet each other quietly as we reverently hear these prayers.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
OCTOBER 17, 2021 – SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
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.
OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, OCTOBER 17 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Selma Abouchar, Edward Arida, Selma Assatly, Hazel, Fareed, Mary and Sophie Fauty, Angel Folsey, Henry Hadad, Sr., George P. James, Samia and George Khoury, George, Beder and Sadallah Sabbagh, and Temam Samra. Memory eternal!
The Family of Terry Tashji offers Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Zakia Abdalla, Ameen K. Arida, Spiro Haddad, Afif Hazem, Gabriel Kouchary, John Martin, Selma McKaba, Maria Ann Sabah, Michel Al-Kirsheh, Matilda Couri Boutross, Aleer Couri, Delia Deeb, Alfred Farkouh, Rose Jabron, Lily Karkenny, Anthony Kinge, Gaberiel Kouchary, Najla Sahadi, Susan Texeira, and Lorraine Zraick. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – James Harris offers the Holy Bread of Oblation in memory of his mother, Margaret M. Harris, for the month of October. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for October, November, and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
UPDATED COVID POLICY – Worshippers who have completed the vaccination process (both injections of Pfizer or Moderna, or the single Johnson and Johnson vaccine, plus two weeks) may remove their masks while seated but must replace them when moving around the church. Due to the uptick in Delta variant infections, we are again temporarily suspending choral singing and chanting.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Lutheran NYU), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Dr. Amer Rafiaa (NYU Lutheran), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Claudette Budai, Diana Finger, Mary Ganim, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
STREET NAMING – The City of New York will dedicate the corner of Ridge Boulevard and 81st Street in honor of our long-time pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Paul W.S. Schneirla, of blessed memory, on Sunday, October 24, following the Divine Liturgy. Weather permitting, there will be an outdoor reception following the dedication.
COFFEE HOUR – Weather permitting, there will be a “Grab and Go” Coffee Hour in front of the church today following the Divine Liturgy. We would welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to set up and/or clean up. Donations are always welcome! We will resume indoor Coffee Hours on Sunday, October 31 only for the fully vaccinated in accordance with NYC requirements for indoor dining. Just as we do in church, we will ask people to wear a mask when moving around but not when seated. Servers wearing masks and gloves will distribute coffee and “grab and go snacks.” We will ask everyone to use hand sanitizer before and after touching anything. Unvaccinated children can eat at the table with their parents or outside, and we ask that children not run around freely. Although these conditions are not optimal, we believe that the importance of fellowship means that we must continue to exercise caution.
FASTING DISICIPLINE – We maintain the traditional fasting discipline on Wednesday and Friday through the month of October.
THEOLOGICAL OFFERING – Our October pledge envelopes included a green envelope marked “Theological Offering.” This account is one of the three mandatory “trays” we collect each year for the Antiochian Archdiocese and supports our seminaries in North America. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. Our faithful can either drop their envelope in the collection tray on Sundays or return it to the church office. If you are not receiving pledge envelopes, please inform the church office so that we can add you to our list of supporters. Thank you for your generous support of our seminaries.
BIBLE STUDY – We will continue our study of the Gospel of St. Matthew on Wednesday, October 20, at 7:00 PM with chapters 7-9. Please bring your Orthodox Study Bible. All are welcome!
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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, October 17 Kish-Fattouh Wedding, 1:30 PM
Special Olympics Awareness Day
Wednesday, October 20 Bible Study, 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 23 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, October 24 Street Naming in honor of Fr. Paul Schneirla
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Seek help of our merciful Lord Jesus Chist whose loving wounded heart is open to all. His pure blood is always there to wash away our sins. Keep near the great physician. Seek Him, call Him, knock at the door.”
- St. Macarius of Optina