Sunday, June 20, 2021
Great Feast of Holy Pentecost
Today’s Hymns and Readings
During the Little Entrance – O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad, and in Thy salvation shall he rejoice exceedingly. The desire of his heart hast Thou granted unto him, and hast not denied him the request of his lips. Thou wentest before him with blessings of goodness, Thou has set upon his head a crown of precious stones. He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him length of days unto ages of ages.
Entrance Hymn – Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength. We will sing and praise thy mighty acts. Save us, O good Comforter, as we sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Apolytikion of Pentecost – Tone 8
Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who has revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them thou has fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to thee.
Kontakion of Pentecost – Tone 8
When the high One descended, confusing tongues, he divided the nations. And when he distributed the fiery tongues he called all to one unity. Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit.
Instead of the Trisagion Hymn, “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have truly put on Christ. Alleluia.”
Epistle – Acts 2:1-11 (Sunday of Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 18.4, 1. Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse. The heavens declare the glory of God.
WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Gospel – John 7:37-52, 8:12 (Sunday of Pentecost)
ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FEAST, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When they heard these words, many of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.”
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 (First Sunday and Sunday of All Saints)
Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 (Sunday of All Saints)
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The week following the Sunday of Pentecost is fast-free.
JUNE 20, 2021 – GREAT FEAST OF HOLY PENTECOST
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 20 - We 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!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of the handmaiden of God Dr. Jane L. Delgado of Washington, DC, on her birthday. Many years!
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 27 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Linda Abdallah, Victor Arida, Wadiha and Edward Baloutine, Mabel Bittar, Angela Boojamra, Janelle and Basil Couri, Nancy Davis, Florence Lewis Dibbs, Margarete Hadad, James Haddad, Mary and Phillip Hanna, Gloria Jabara, Farid Khoury, Lorraine Lewis, Lydia Lewis, John Massabni, Victor Merhige, Ferris Samara, Marie Sayegh, Margaret Soued, Victoria and George Tadross, Adeeba Tweel, Helen Sahadi, Mae Karram, Maggy Karam, and Salvatore Savarese. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Rouda Abboud (Richmond University), Yvonne Allawh (Clove Lakes), Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (Heritage Rehab), Albert Absey, 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 in memory of the handmaiden of God Wadia Zain. Linda and George Salamy have also made a donation for the balance of the year. Additional donors are welcome for July and succeeding months.
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!
PASTORAL EMERGENCY – Both Fr. Michael and Deacon Farid will be away from Friday, June 25 through Sunday, June 27, for the wedding of George Farkouh and Valerie Clements in Greenville, SC. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please call Fr. Thomas Zain at (718) 748-7940 or (917) 771-4120. Fr. Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, will preside at the Divine Liturgy.
UPDATED COVID POLICY – The Governor of New York has issued new safety guidelines. Accordingly, 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. We have removed the blue caution tape from the pews, but we ask everyone to maintain personal space. We are also no longer collecting contact tracing information.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The “virtual” Parish Life Conference sponsored by Holy Cross Church in Linthicum, MD, continues on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:30 PM. Author Summer Kinard will address “Exalting the Valley of Accessibility.” Summer will provide an interactive workshop focusing on how we can be a more inclusive community of God, incorporating people of all abilities and backgrounds in our worship and activities. 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.
APOSTLES FAST – Each year the “Apostles Fast” or the “Fast of Saints Peter and Paul” extends from the Monday following All Saints Sunday (next week) until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). In 2021 this fast will last exactly one day because of the late date of Holy Pascha and Holy Pentecost. Let’s use this short fast to pray for all those who lost their lives during the pandemic, for those surviving families who sustained losses, and for the Holy Spirit to draw everyone back to church.
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, June 23 Parish Life Conference Presentation, 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 26 NO GREAT VESPERS
Sunday, June 27 Feast of All Saints
Monday, June 28 Apostles Fast
Tuesday, June 29 Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Wednesday, June 30 Parish Life Conference Panel Discussion, 7:30 PM
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Who fills the whole universe, passes through all believing, meek, humble, good and simple human souls, dwelling in them, vivifying and strengthening them. He becomes one spirit with them and everything to them – light, strength, peace, joy, success in their undertakings, especially to a pious life, and everything good.”
- St. John of Kronstadt- St. John of Kronstadt