Sunday, March 7, 2021
Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare)
Tone 6 and Eothinon 6
Hieromartyrs of Cherson: Basil, Ephraim, Eugene, Kapiton, Elpidios, Agathodoros, Aetherios
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 6
When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou that art risen from the dead! O Lord, 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 Meat Fare Sunday – Tone 1
When thou comest, O God, to earth with glory, and all creatures tremble before thee, and the river of fire floweth before the Altar, and the books are opened and sins revealed, deliver me then from that unquenchable fire, and make me worthy to stand at thy right hand, O righteous Judge.
Epistle – I Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Meat Fare Sunday)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117.14, 18. The Lord is my strength and my son.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely.
BRETHREN, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Gospel – Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare Sunday)
THE LORD SAID, “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see the hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Next week’s homework: Romans 13:11-14:4 (Cheese Fare)
Matthew 6:14-21 (Cheese Fare)
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the Holy Bread for the balance of the year in memory of their departed loved ones. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. 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.”
MARCH 7, 2021 – SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT (MEAT FARE)
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.
MARCH IS LADIES’ MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, MARCH 7 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Albert Bittar, Nicholas Ghiz, Emeline Halibi, Maude Sarkis, Laurice Merhige Schuh, Gloria Sparsidis, Georgette Hamwi, Adma Jabran, Charles Kassatly, and William Simon. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 14 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Violet Akel, Alice Alekel, Michael Arout, Gladys Awad, Eleanor Couri, Dr. George B. Cury, James Deeb, Mary Farrah, Salwa Fauty, George Gehshan, Edward Jabara, Lorriane Jabara, Mary Kenan, Nicholas Khoury, Maurice Khzam, Alfred Makhoul, Nadima Makhoul, Violette Mahab, Laila Nassr, Beatrice Nebham, Thomas Russo, Walter Thabit, and William Zarick. Memory eternal!
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.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Charles Bryant, Nadim Dahdouh, 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).
MEMORY ETERNAL! we are saddened to announce that the servant of God Albert Castley departed this life following a prolonged illness in Naples, FL, where he had lived since 2011. Visitation will occur in Florida, and the funeral will be at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Naples. We extend our sympathies to his wife Anna and to his five children – Anthony, Christopher, Suzanne, Giovanni, Tracey and their families, as well as to his 12 grandchildren. Memory eternal!
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.
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its regular monthly tomorrow at 7:30 PM via Zoom.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - March is Ladies Month in the Antiochian Archdiocese. Our Ladies will read the Epistle each week. Today Irene Tashji will read in English and Aline Farkouh will read in Arabic.
BLOOD DRIVE – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church will sponsor a Blood Drive today from 11:00 AM to 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.
VIRTUAL RETREAT - Today is the final day of our Diocesan Virtual Retreat. The Antiochian Women of the East (AWE) will make their presentation and meeting at 3:00 PM using Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvde6uqj8tE92Vu6H9MlG17YMMNJ8XpDQg. This evening at 7:00 PM Fr. Paul Abernathy, pastor of St. Moses the Black Mission in Pittsburgh, PA, will conclude the retreat with a presentation on urban outreach. Use Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86399307219.
ZOOM CLASSROOM – Please join the final Wednesday Zoom Classroom before Great Lent at 7:30 PM. We will view a DVD of our late beloved pastor, Fr. Paul Schneirla, as he outlines the history of Orthodoxy in North America as of 1981. You will see many familiar faces and once again hear our choir from that era.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME – Please remember to turn the clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night, March 13. Daylight Saving Time begins next Sunday.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – Last Sunday we were, by the grace of God, able to accomplish the parish’s Annual Parish Meeting. We extend congratulations to our re-elected Parish Council members Diana Kaiami, Dianna Russo Kitchen, and Daria Mayrose for three-year terms. The pastor appointed Aline Farkouh, Robert Mackoul, and Dr. Yvonne Zrake to one-year terms. The newly formed council will elect its officers at tomorrow night’s meeting. God grant you all many years!
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, March 7 Virtual Retreat – Dioceses of the East via Zoom
Monday, March 8 Parish Council, 7:30 PM via Zoom
Wednesday, March 10 Zoom Classroom Special Presentation, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 13 Andrew Nehme Baptism, 1:00 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 14 Cheese Fare Sunday and Modified Forgiveness Vespers
We livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “We should refer all our problems, whatever they are, to God, just as we say in the Divine Liturgy that we ‘commend our whole life to Christ our God.’ We leave everything to You, O Lord. Whatever You will. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
- Elder Prophyrios the Kapsokalyvite
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America