Sunday, October 10, 2021
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 7 and Eothinon 5
Holy Martyrs Eulampios and Eulampia at Nicomedia
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 Martyrs Eulampios and Eulampia – Tone 4
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
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 7:11-16 (Third Sunday of Luke)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus went to a city called Na’in, and many of his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
Next week’s homework: Titus 3:8-15 (Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council)
Luke 8:5-15 (Fourth 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.
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
OCTOBER 10, 2021 – SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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, OCTOBER 10 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Doris Farkouh Creidy, Zahaya Dahab, Janet M. Gehshan, John G. Golam, James Haddad, Raymond Halabi, Margaret Mackoul, Joan Maffetone, Lynda Massawir, Helen Orfaly, Rose Rowady, Virginia M. and George A. Sahadi, Michael Zarouni, Victor N. Zrake, and George Zraick. Memory eternal!
Danielle Gehshan Morris, Janine Gehshan Mansukhani, and Linda Gehshan Salamy offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Janet M. Gehshan and Donald Farkouh. Memory eternal!
Gabriel Golam offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God John G. Golam. Memory eternal!
Louise Sahadi offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God, her parents, Virginia and George Sahadi. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17 – We will 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, George, Beder and Sadallah Sabbagh, and Temam Samra. Memory eternal!
TODAY’S USHERS – October is Youth Month in the Antiochian Archdiocese. Members of Teen SOYO will serve as ushers and readers. The ushers will assist us in proceeding row by row so that we can distribute Holy Communion “decently and in order.” We ask the Church School students, teachers and volunteers to receive Communion first so that they can proceed to their classes on a timely basis.
COFFEE HOUR – Weather permitting, there will be a “Grab and Go” Coffee Hour in front of the church following the Divine Liturgy. We would welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to set up and/or clean up. Please see Parish Council Chair Chris Athineos or Vice Chair Dianna Russo Kitchen. Donations are always welcome!
FASTING DISCIPLINE – We maintain the traditional fasting discipline on Wednesday and Friday through the month of October.
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).
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.
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 13, at 7:00 PM with chapters 5-7. 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.
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. More details will follow, but please save that date.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, October 11 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 13 Bible Study, 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 16 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, October 17 Special Olympics Awareness Day
Kish-Fattouh Wedding, 1:30 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 – “Any desire, no matter how good it appears, cannot rival the desire for Christ or for the Panagia. When I give my heart to God, will not God give me His entire Self in return? God seek’s man’s heart: My son, give me your heart (Proverbs 23:26). If man gives God his heart, God will grant him his heart’s desires – as long as they will not be harmful to him. Only a heart given to Christ is not wasted, and only in Christ does one find – in abundance – the gift of divine life in this life, and heavenly exaltation in the next life.”
- Elder Paisios the Athonite