Sunday, January 2, 2022
Sunday before the Theophany of Christ
Tone 3 and Eothinon 6
Repose of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depth of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of the Sunday before Epiphany – Tone 4
Make ready, O Zebulon, and prepare, O Nephtali, and thou, River Jordan, cease thy flow and receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized. And thou, Adam, rejoice with the first mother and hide not yourselves as ye did of old in paradise; for having seen you naked, he appeared to clothe you with the first robe. Yea, Christ hath appeared desiring to renew the whole creation.
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 for the Sunday before Epiphany – Tone 4
Today hath the Lord appeared in the courses of the Jordan, crying to John and saying, Be not dismayed at my baptism; for I have verily come to save Adam the first to be created.
Epistle – II Timothy 4:5-8 (Sunday before Epiphany)
Prokeimenon. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Gospel – St. Mark 1:1-8 (Sunday before Epiphany)
THE BEGINNING of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Next week’s homework: Ephesians 4:7-13 (Sunday after Theophany)
Matthew 4:12-17 (Sunday after Theophany)
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 – Dr. Bassam and Naziha Aldaia offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the health of their family for the month of January. Many years! Linda and George Salamy have also made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for January and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
COVID POLICY – Given the recent proliferation of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, we ask all worshippers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, to continue wearing their masks in church except when approaching to receive Holy Communion. We ask everyone to observe the blue tape on the pews so that we can maintain appropriate social distancing. Household units may continue to sit together. We are also delaying the start of Church School at least until Sunday, January 16, out of an abundance of caution.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JANUARY 2, 2022 – SUNDAY BEFORE THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST
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.
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, JANUARY 2 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fred Arida, Dr. Hickmet Arida, Economous Faried Farkouh, Khouria Wassila Farkouh, Anna Habib, Gabriel Hamatie, Mary Hamwi, Olga Kalaf, Robert Malouf, Madeleine Malouf, Rose Merhige, Sally Renieri, Ronald Sadaka, Melia Saydah, Edward Saydah, Edward Shoucaire, Anne Marie Smatt, Demetri Zayat, and Nazli N. Zayat. Memory eternal!
Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Archpriest Faried and Khouria Wassila Farkouh. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eli T. Abdallah, Juad Arida, Pearl Arida, Samia Arida, Adele Azeez, Nora and Kalel Ballan, Mary Fadool, Ameenie Freije, Edward Ghazal, Emily Ghazal, Pauline Haddad, James Hamod, Maria Hindelly, Tofeek Kaidy, Leila M. Khouri, George John Nahas, Edma Saab, Madeleine H. Salamy, Alberta Samaha, Alexander Trabolsi, Nora Trefz, and Emil Tweel. Memory eternal!
The Family of Claire Banat will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Alex Araman, Claudette Budai, Diana Finger, Gary Gangone, Mary Ganim, Gabe Golam, Lily Lang, Alfred Nahas, Robert Sabbagh, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
FEAST OF THEOPHANY – Metropolitan JOSEPH will preside at Festal Matins at 6:00 PM and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 7:00 PM for the Feast of Theophany on Wednesday, January 5. He will also celebrate the Great Sanctification of Water that evening, and we will begin blessing homes immediately thereafter. Fr. Thomas Zain and the faithful of St. Nicholas Cathedral will join us on Wednesday evening.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR JANUARY – There is no fasting until January 4. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their byproducts) is observed on Thursday, January 5, in preparation for Theophany, and on all Wednesdays and Fridays in January.
COFFEE HOUR – We have resumed Coffee Hours 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 at all times except when actively eating at your seat. Servers wearing masks and gloves will distribute coffee, and individually wrapped bagels will be available. We will ask everyone to use hand sanitizer before and after touching anything. Unvaccinated children under five years old can eat at the table with their parents or outside, and we ask that children not run around freely. Children 5 to 11 years old are now expected to be vaccinated in order to attend Coffee Hour. Although these conditions are not optimal, we believe that the importance of fellowship means that we must continue to exercise caution.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s invite all our parishioners (men too!) to participate in our humanitarian project this year. We once again request the preparation of hygiene kits to be distributed to the homeless during the Midnight Run each month. In a one gallon ZipLock bag please include: 1 washcloth, bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clipper, comb, 3 band-aids, disposable razor (optional). Feel free to prepare more than one kit! The kits can be given to Sandra Arida or any one of the Ladies. Thank you all for your support.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE SUMMER CAMP - Registration Opens January 8. Check out AV's website for more details about this year's summer camp - https://avcamp.org/programs/summer-camp/. In addition to traditional summer camp, AV offers Byzantine Chant Camp, Iconography Camp, and Arch Week, a new program designed specifically for graduating High School seniors to deepen and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and equips them with resources to live as Orthodox Christian young adults.
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 to local charities and recipients.
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
Wednesday, January 5 Metropolitan JOSEPH presides at the Divine services
Festal Matins, 6 PM & Divine Liturgy to follow with the
Great Sanctification of Water
Thursday, January 6 Holy Theophany
Monday, January 10 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Only the good deed done for Christ’s sake brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ’s sake, even though it be good, brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in this life. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘He who gathers not with Me scatters.’ (Luke 11:23)”
- St. Serpahim of Sarov