Sunday, May 23, 2021
Fourth Sunday of Pascha; Sunday of the Paralytic
Tone 3 and Eothinon 5
Michael the Confessor, Bishop of Synnada
Today’s Hymns and Readings
After “Blessed is the Kingdom…”, “Christ is risen…” (3 times)
During the Little Entrance, “Christ is risen…”
Entrance Hymn – In the gathering places bless ye God the Lord from the springs of Israel. O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, save us, who sing unto Thee. Alleluia!
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 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 Holy Pascha – Tone 8
Though thou, O deathless One, didst descend into the grave, thou didst destroy the power of hell and, as Victor, thou didst rise again, O Christ our God. Thou didst greet the ointment bearing women, saying, rejoice! Thou didst bestow peace upon thy Disciples, and resurrection upon those that are fallen.
Epistle – Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42 (Sunday of the Paralytic)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 46.6, 1. Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse. Clap your hands, all you nations.
IN THOSE DAYS, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Gospel – John 5:1-15 (Sunday of the Paralytic)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethza’tha, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, “take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.
MEGALYNARION FOR PASCHA – Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; dance now and be glad, O Zion, and do thy exult, O pure Theotokos, in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.
Next week’s homework: Acts 11:19030 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
John 4:5-42 (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)
MAY 23, 2021 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF PASCHA: SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC
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.
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!
TODAY, MAY 23 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Albert Abdelnoor, George Alsifi, George Awad, Naseeba Farkouh, Joseph Figuccio, Lorraine Ghiz, Rose Ghiz, Kate Haddad, James Vernon Harris, Abraham Karkenny, Margaret Kassatly, Freida Khoury, Valerie Konecny, Brain Mackoul, Victor Saadi, Marie and George Saab, Victor Samra, Jr., Spiro Sarkees, and Gloria Shawah. Memory eternal!
Josette and John Generale offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Violet Mamary. Memory eternal!
The Family of Gloria Harris offers Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
Robert Mackoul offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his brother Brian Mackoul on the eighth anniversary of his repose. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
The Ladies of St. Mary’s offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Violet Mamary. Memory eternal!
The Aline Farkouh, Camil Malouf, and Corrine Nahas, offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of their aunt, Victoria Malouf Kazaka, who departed this life in Lebanon at age 101. Memory eternal!
The Family of Victor Samra, Jr., offers Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 30 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Madeleine Aboulsleman, Kamel Arida, Mitry Azar, Fares Deban, Alan Fadel, Archimandrite Agapios Golam, Edward Habre, Adel Jobe Inguilli, George Jasous, Anna Karkenny, Marie, Victoria Makhoul, Nicholas Malouf, Phillip Manessa, Raymond Massad, Lorice Mulhern, Mary and Thomas Rahal, Sebastian Rothhammer, Badri Saleeby, Mildred Sarkis, Christ Sparsidis, Laurice Sarraf, and Theodore Tadross. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (Heritage Rehab), Diana Finger, Gary Gangone, Robert Mackoul, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the balance of the year. Additional donors are welcome for May and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.
Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
Al Maseeh qam min bain il amwat, wa wati al mawt bil bawt, wa wahabal hiyat lil la dhina fil qoobur.
Christos anesti ek nekron thanato thanaton patisas, kai tis en tis mnimaszi zoin, charisamenos.
“Christ is risen” “Truly/Indeed He is risen”
“Christos Anesti” “Alithos Anesti”
“Christos Voskrese” “Vo Istinu Voskrese”
“Al Maseeh Qam” “Ha’an Qam”
“Hristos a Inviat” “Adeverat a Inviat”
“Cristo ha resucitado” “Verdaderamente ha resucitado”
“Cristo e risorto” “ “E veramente risorto”
“Christ est Ressuscite” “En Verite, Il est Resussuscite”
“Krishi eshte ringialle” “Verete eshte ringialle”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, May 29 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Monday, May 31 Memorial Day
Thursday, June 10 Holy Ascension
Sunday, June 20 Holy Pentecost
Father’s Day
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “People are generally called intelligent through a wrong use of this word. The intelligent are not those who have studied the sayings and writings of the wise men of old, but those whose soul is intelligent, who can judge what is good and what is evil; they avoid what is evil and harms the soul and intelligently care for and practice what is good and profits the world, greatly thanking God.”
- St. Anthony the Great
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UPDATED MASK MANDATE POLICY
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
At its last meeting on May 10, the Parish Council updated our policies to reflect the positive progress that has been made regarding COVID numbers. This week the Parish Council’s COVID response committee met via Zoom in response to the latest updates from the CDC, the Archdiocese, and New York State. After much discussion, we determined that we will continue, for the time being, with the decisions made at the May 10 council meeting.
Specifically, we will continue to require all parishioners to wear masks while in church and to social distance for several reasons. The CDC and the state have said that fully vaccinated people can go without a mask indoors. That is important language -- fully vaccinated people. Both the CDC and the state agree what it means to be fully vaccinated (2nd Moderna shot plus 2 weeks; or 2nd Pfizer shot plus 2 weeks; or single Johnson & Johnson shot plus 2 weeks). The state and the CDC have not provided any guidance on how organizations (including churches) should determine who is vaccinated or who is not.
We do not feel that St. Mary's Church should be in the business of asking for proof from parishioners as to who is vaccinated and who is not. To be loving as a church, and for the good of the entire community, we will not take that step at this time and will instead keep the mask policy in place. This practice protects those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons; this practice protects our children under 12 years old for whom there is no approved vaccine at this time; this practice protects those who are declining the vaccine for personal or political reasons; and this practice protects those who are in the middle of the vaccination process but have not yet reached fully vaccinated status.
We will continue to monitor the situation and to follow the science as we continue to emerge from this pandemic, and we strive to make St. Mary's safe and available for all of our parishioners and visitors. As those who were able to join us last Sunday know, we have started serving a modified outdoor social hour. Starting this Sunday, we will begin teaching outdoor church school classes for grades 1 through 12.
We encourage all of our parishioners to get vaccinated as soon as possible, unless your doctor has directed you otherwise for medical reasons. As noted in a previous parish email, we have a local doctor who can have you come to his office or even come to the church for this purpose.
We thank you for your cooperation and understanding, as we ask each of you to stand in solidarity with the children who have no available vaccine yet, and to serve as an example to our children, of common sacrifice for the greater good.
In the Risen Christ,
Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor
St. Mary’s Church Parish Council, Christopher Athineos, Chair
COVID Response Committee, Dr. Yvonne Zrake, Chair
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COVID-19 REOPENING PROTOCOLS
At its Monday, May 10, meeting the Parish Council discussed protocols for safely returning to full participation in the life of the church. The Parish Council will continue to monitor directives both from the civil authorities and from the Antiochian Archdiocese concerning reopening procedures. In that context the Parish Council is recommending the following actions:
1) Although many people are now fully vaccinated, we will continue to ask everyone who is worshipping in church to continue wearing a mask for the time being. We can remove our masks to receive Holy Communion, but we should replace the mask immediately after receiving and wait until the end of the Divine Liturgy before consuming the antidoron;
2) While continuing to wear a mask, it is now permissible to reverence icons through the mask and to receive a blessing from the priest at the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy. The priest will bless each person and touch the blessing cross to each worshipper’s head. As he does with the distribution of the Holy Eucharist, the priest will again wear a mask;
3) We will return readers to the center of the solea to read the epistle in both Arabic and English, and readers will continue to wear their masks;
4) Weather permitting, there will be a safely distanced “social” hour outside of the church. Donations are always welcome!
5) Beginning today, weather permitting, we will resume limited Church School classes for grades 1-12. As we have done in the past, the children, teachers, and volunteers will receive Holy Communion first and will then proceed to an outside location. We anticipate that we will continue classes through Sunday, June 20, which is both Holy Pentecost and Father’s Day;
6) We have increased seating capacity in the church itself to 50%. The ushers will continue to seat people in alternating rows. In the event that we exceed capacity, there will be additional seating downstairs in the church hall where there will be a livestream of the services;
7) We will resume the traditional practice of receiving an offering during the Megalynarion to the Theotokos. An usher will approach each row both from the middle aisle and from the side aisle;
8) Dr. John Ashkar is making the Moderna vaccine available to anyone who wants it at his office, 355 Ovington Avenue, Suite 202. Please call (718) 621-7100. He stresses that there is no insurance required and no other documentation is necessary. He is also willing and prepared to bring the vaccine to church for anyone’s convenience.
Thanks be to God, to our knowledge no one has contracted COVID-19 here at St. Mary’s, and we strive to maintain parishioner safety. We particularly want to acknowledge Dr. Yvonne Zrake who has been monitoring conditions and advising the Parish Council on safety protocols. God willing, in coming weeks we will be able to return to full participation and to robust spiritual and social life.