Sunday, June 13, 2021
Sunday of the After-Feast of the Ascension
Tone 6 and Eothinon 10
Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
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 Ascension – Tone 4
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy Disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.
Apolytikion of the Holy Fathers – Tone 8
Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, 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 the Ascension – Tone 6
When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.
Epistle – Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
Prokeimenon. Hymn of the Three Children. Daniel 3.26-27. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse. For you are just in all you have done.
IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
And from Miletos he sent to Ephesus ad called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them:
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Gospel – John 17:1-13 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou has given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou has given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.
“I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word. Now they know that everything that thou hast given me is from thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from thee; and they have believed that thou didst send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine; all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
Next week’s homework: Acts 2:1-11 (Holy Pentecost)
John 7:37-52, 8:12 (Holy Pentecost)
JUNE 13, 2021 – SUNDAY OF THE AFTER-FEAST OF THE ASCENSION
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, JUNE 13 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fouad Allawh, Nesen Coury, Shafica Debagie, Kathleen Halloran, Michael Haje, Georgette Jabbour, Eleanor Khoury, Eduardo Khouzami, Emile Malluk, Edward, George, Georgette, and Olga Manessa, Joseph G. Mashamesh, Betty Massab, Wadih Massab, Fred Massad, Nicholas Orfaly, Albert T. Sabah, Blanche Shahood, Nicholas Ablan Shahood, Henrietta Shawah, Adele Unis, and Alfred Zrike. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of the servants of God Elaine and Leonard Gelstein. Many years!
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 20 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Adahlia David, Atina David, Susan Paula Dib, Rose Elkas, John Massabni, Nicholas Massabni, George Metry, Lillian Sadaka, Adama Salamy, Rose and George Samman, Najla and Thomas Shohfi, Evelyn Shoucair, Olga and Albert Wardi, and Wadia Zain. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Albert Absey (NY Presbyterian), Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (Heritage Rehab), Diana Finger, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
HOLY BREAD – Gloria Darzi offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of June. Linda and George Salamy have also made a donation for the balance of the year. Additional donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its regular monthly meeting tomorrow, June 14, at 7:30 PM in person.
UPDATED MASK POLICY – After the discomfort caused by the heat and lack of air conditioning last Sunday, the COVID response committee met this week to address the situation. After extensive discussion the committee has decided that 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. The committee will bring other recommendations to the Parish Council tomorrow for further discussion as we make every attempt to return to normal as safely as possible.
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. Donations are always welcome!
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The “virtual” Parish Life Conference sponsored by Holy Cross Church in Linthicum, MD continues on Wednesday, June 16 at 7:30 PM. Metropolitan JOSEPH and Bishop THOMAS will speak about our relationships with each other in the context of the Church and our relationship with Christ. Their words will be followed by a question and answer period. You must register in advance in order to receive the Zoom link. Go to https://www.holycrossonline.org/plc2021 to register.
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – As with the Parish Life Conference, there will be a “virtual” Archdiocese Convention on Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24. Please reserve those dates, and more information will follow.
GREAT VESPERS – We will celebrate the final Great Vespers of the summer on Saturday, June 19, at 5:00 PM in anticipation of the Feast of Holy Pentecost. We note that only one person viewed last week’s service online, and that person wanted to send “demons” upon us!
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, June 14 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, June 16 PLC Presentation – Met JOSEPH and Bp Thomas, 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 19 Pylak Baptism, 11:00 AM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, June 20 Holy Pentecost
Father’s Day
Saturday, June 26 Farkouh-Clements Wedding, Greenville, SC
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “A manifest sign of love for God is a heartfelt gladness in God, for we rejoice in what we love. Likewise love of God cannot exist without joy, and whenever one feels the sweetness of the love of God within his heart, he rejoices in God. For so sweet a virtue as love cannot be felt without joy. As honey sweetens our throat when we taste of it, so the love of God makes our heart glad when we taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 33:9). Such joy in God is found in many places in Holy Scriptures, and is portrayed most of all in the holy Psalms. This joy is spiritual and heavenly, and is a foretaste of the sweetness of eternal life.”
- St. Tikhon of Zadonsk