Sunday, October 31, 2021
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 2 and Eothinon 8
Apostles Stachys, Apelles, Amplias, Urban, Aristobulus and Narcissus of the Seventy
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 2
When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
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 11:31-12:9 (Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117.14, 18. The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely.
BRETHREN, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.
I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, but I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Gospel – Luke 16:19-31 (Fifth Sunday of Luke)
THE LORD SAID, “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.’”
Next week’s homework: Galatians 1:11-19 (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 8:41-56 (Seventh Sunday of Luke)
OCTOBER 31, 2021 – NINETEENTH 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.
OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, OCTOBER 31 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Michel Al-Kirsheh, Nicholas L. Assatly, Alfred Farkouh, Henry Haddad, Fareeza Hallal, Assad Hanna, Alfred Helal, Delores, Olga, Paul, and Salem Jabara, Anthony Kinge, Evelyn Mouracade, Helweh Sayage, Josephine Tadross, Lorraine Zraick, and Mary and Richard Zraick. Memory eternal!
The Family of Hanna Ibraham Nehme offers Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of his soul. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. John L. Boojamra, Linda Cassatly, Leila Dahdouh, Stanley Fadel, Charlene Alekel Goldrick, Rashida Marie Haddad, Victoria Khouri, Dorothy Madey, George Massabni, Nora K. Nahas, Nicholas Sahadi, Charles Salloum, Victor Smatt, Alex Zahka, and Gregory Zarr. 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 November and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.
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.
COFFEE HOUR – We will resume indoor Coffee Hours today 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 the hall 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 November 14. The Advent Fast begins on Monday, November 15.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), 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).
TIME CHANGE – Please remember to “fall back” one hour next Saturday night as we return to Eastern Standard Time.
VIGIL FOR ST. RAPHAEL – St. Nicholas Cathedral will host the Vigil for St. Raphael of Brooklyn on Friday, November 5, at 6:30 PM. The vigil will conclude with a Divine Liturgy. If you wish to receive Holy Communion, please begin your fast after an early and light lunch.
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, November 3, at 7:00 PM, with chapters 12-13. 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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, November 3 Bible Study, 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 6 Blessing of Animals, 4:00 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, November 7 New York City Marathon
Monday, November 8 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “In the war of the flesh, only turning our back saves us – that is, we must flee from fantasies and thoughts as soon as they appear. Do not linger at all in order to examine or to converse with fantasies!”
- Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain