Sunday, June 27, 2021
First Sunday after Pentecost: All Saints Sunday
Tone 8 and Eothinon 1
Righteous Sampson the Host of Strangers
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 8
O Compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou mightest deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of All Saints – Tone 4
Thy Church, O Christ God, hath regaled herself in the blood of thy Martyrs, throughout all the world, as in porphyry and purple. Through them she lifteth her voice, crying, Turn with thy compassion to thy people, and grant peace to thy city, and to our souls 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 the Saints – Tone 8
To thee, O Lord and Author of all creation, the universe offereth as first-fruits of nature the divinity-bearing Martyrs. Wherefore, by their implorings preserve thou thy Church in perfect safety, for the sake of the Theotokos, O most Merciful One.
Epistle – Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 (First Sunday and the Sunday of All Saints)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 67.35, 26. God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse. Bless God in the congregations.
BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith.
Gospel – Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 (Sunday of All Saints)
THE LORD SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 4:9-16 (Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles)
Matthew 9:36-10:8 (Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles)
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.”
Next week’s homework: Romans 2:10-16 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 4:18-23 (Second Sunday of Matthew)
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in the house/church.
JUNE 27, 2021 – FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
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.
Fr. Michael and Deacon Farid are away this weekend celebrating the marriage of George Farkouh and Valerie Clements in Greenville, SC. They will both return later today. We are pleased and blessed to welcome Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY, to preside at the divine services.
TODAY, JUNE 27 - We 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!
The Ellias Family offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of Matthew Gregory Ellias, Sr., on his birthday. Many years!
Sandra Coogan offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her father, the servant of God Salvatore Savarese. Memory eternal!
Corinne and Michael Mallia offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Maggy Karam. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 4 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Toufic Ayoub, Dr. Fuad Yousef Dirbas, Michael Eyd, Marguerite and Fred Farkouh, Nora Hamod, Michael Jureidini, Olga Kaity, Abraham Kalaf, Kaleel Kalaf, Alfred A. Khouri, George Lewis, William Lewis, Yvette Milkie, Fred Nassoor, George Shammah, Valentine Trabulsi, Viola Kazan, and Georgette Maione. Memory eternal!
Ruth Abdelnoor will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of her husband, the servant of God George Abdelnoor. Memory eternal!
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!
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 loving memory of the handmaiden of God Wadia Zain. Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the balance of the year. Additional donors are welcome for July and succeeding months.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The Fast of the Apostles begins on the Monday following All Saints Sunday and continues until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29. Due to the date of Holy Pascha this year this fast will last precisely one day – tomorrow, June 28. Please observe this day of fasting in remembrance of the missionaries who continue the apostolate of Saints Peter and Paul, and please consider a donation to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and its Support a Mission Priest (SAMP) program. Contact OCMC at samp@ocmc.org or (904) 829-5132.
UPDATED COVID POLICY – 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, concludes on Wednesday, June 30, at 7:30 PM. The theme is “Restoring Our Relationships: The Impact of the Pandemic and Technology on the Church and Society.” This will be a two-part session followed by a panel discussion. Syndicated Columnist Terry Mattingly will address “What Our Screens Do to Us: In Home Life and in Parish Life.” Licensed Clinical Psychologist Erik Hadden will address “Coming Back to Ourselves: Revitalizing Healthy Parish Relationships Post COVID.” You must register in advance in order to receive the Zoom link. Go to https://www.holycrossonline.org/plc2021 to register.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
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 – “Do not seek Christian perfection in human virtues. It is not there; it is mystically preserved in the Cross of Christ.”
- St. Ignatius Brianchaninov