Sunday, February 21, 2021
Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican
Tone 4 and Eothinon 4
Venerable Timothy the Righteous of Symbola
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 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
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 Pharisee and the Publican – Tone 4
Let us run away from the words of the boastful Pharisee, and learn the humility of the publican, crying with sighs to the Saviour, Have mercy upon us, O thou alone of true reconciliation.
Epistle – II Timothy 3:10-15 (Pharisee and Publican)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 75.11, 1. Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gospel – Luke 18:10-14 (Pharisee and Publican)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 6:12-20 ((Thirty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 15:11-32 (Prodigal Son)
HOLY BREAD – Gloria Darzi offers the Holy Bread of Oblation in February for the repose of the soul of her husband Elias. Memory eternal! Rolland Salloum and Wanda Salloum offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of February in memory of their sister Giselle Kronfli who departed this life in Maryland on January 5. 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.”
CHURCH ATTENDANCE - We have increased capacity 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 social distance capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy people outside may enter the church as attendees exit to receive Holy Communion, holy bread, and/or light a candle. We still ask everyone who wants to attend in person either to call the church office or email pastor@smaoc.org ahead of time.
FAST FREE WEEK – There is no fasting this week even on Wednesday and Friday.
FEBRUARY 21, 2021 – SUNDAY OF THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN
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, FEBRUARY 21 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Thomas Abdallah, Almaza Allawh, Charles Assatly, Margaret Fiani Dib, Wadie Jabbour, Rt. Rev. Ananias Kassab, George Kassab, Albert Mesnooh, Melia Murad, Gabriel Murad, Renges Orfaly, Alice Puccarielli, and Olga Saba. Memory eternal!
Albert Absey offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Rt. Rev. Fr. Ananias Kassab and George Kassab. Memory eternal!
Rhonda Byrnes offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her father, the servant of God Charles Assatly. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Walter Patanella of Paris, France. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Yvonne Absey, Najibi Anthony, Jodat Arida, Tamina Arida, Mary Assatly, Mary Samara D`Angelico, Donald Farkouh, Alexander and Regina Ghazal, William Haddad, Sr., Mounir Kaba, Walter John Lattof, Dianna G. Lewis, Isabel Massabni, Eugenie Morgan, Naaman Nehme, Amin Salem, George Senior, and George Shamyer. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Charlie Bryant (Morristown), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Alissar Dalloul, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Edward Hanna, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
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.
ZOOM CLASSROOM – Please remember to mark your calendars for Wednesday’s Zoom Classroom at 7:30 PM. We will discuss Chapters 17-20 of Section II from Fr. John Breck’s book God with Us: Critical Issues in Christian Life and Faith. The book is available from our bookstore at a deeply discounted price. Please contact Lorraine Deeb to obtain a copy at ldeebsped@verizon.net. Use the Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/4735214754?pwd=dFFGVHVnODR6YzZaTVE3UWR3bWNpQT09,
Meeting ID: 473 521 4754, Passcode: 7S5EHj. Our sessions only last 40 minutes.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – Next Sunday, February 28, we will hold our Annual Parish Meeting via twitch.tv/smaoc. There will be a brief recess following the end of the Divine Liturgy, then we will reconvene for a brief meeting. Please review the annual report which we mailed with the 2020 pledge statements prior to the meeting. The parish organizations will not give oral reports unless there are specific questions. Parishioners will be able to listen to the meeting and to submit questions either by the chat feature of twitch.tv or by calling (425) 436-6399 and using code 5457060. Parishioners may also submit questions in advance either to Fr. Michael at pastor@smaoc.org or to Parish Council Chair Christopher Athineos at cathineos@aol.com.
BLOOD DRIVE – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church will sponsor a Blood Drive on Sunday, March 7, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM in the DGK Parochial School. To sign up contact Javier Jiminez at jjimenez@nyc.org. Please see the bulletin board for more information.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will conclude next week. 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 directly to local charities and recipients.
ARABIC SERVICES – Next Sunday we will ask Wilson Haddad to provide the responses for both Matins and the Divine Liturgy in Arabic. Please spread the word among those people for whom Arabic would be their first language.
LENTEN RESOURCES – Great Lent is approaching. Our parish Bookstore, recently dedicated to the memory of Elena Paris, has copies of the service books for Great Lent, including Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and Holy Week. There are also a few Lenten cookbooks available. Please contact Lorraine Deeb at ldeebsped@verizon.net or (718) 491-4996 to reserve your books.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, February 24 Zoom Classroom, 7:30 PM via Zoom
Saturday, February 27 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
40-Day Memorial – Kathy Ann Nahas Papas
Sunday, February 28 Annual Parish Meeting via twitch.tv/smaoc
Wednesday, March 3 Zoom Classroom, 7:30 PM via Zoom
March 4-7 Annual Diocesan Retreat and Meetings via Zoom
We livestream all divine services via https://www.twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “There must be an inner contrition with sincere repentance in order for a person to be corrected. This is why St. Mark the Ascetic says, ‘If one does not feel contrition commensurate to his fault, he will easily fall into the same fault again.’ In other words, if the mistake is minor, the repentance can also be less severe; but if the mistake is major, then more severe repentance is required. When people do not grasp the severity of their sins and do not experience grief ‘commensurate to their fault,’ then they can easily fall into the same – or even greater – fault.”
- Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos