Sunday, July 4, 2021
Second Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 1 and Eothinon 2
Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, Author of the Great Canon
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 1
The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst rise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O thou only Lover of mankind.
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 Theotokos – Tone 2
O undisputed intercessor of Christians, the mediatrix unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, with assistance; for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honour thee.
Epistle – Romans 2:10-16 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 32.22, 1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
BRETHREN, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Gospel – Matthew 4:18-23 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
AT THAT TIME, as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 6:1-10 (Great Martyr Euphemia)
Matthew 6:22-33 (Third Sunday of Matthew)
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have 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.
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.”
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!
FASTING DISCIPLINE – For the month of July we return to our standard fasting days of Wednesdays and Fridays.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JULY 4, 2021 – SECOND SUNDAY AFTER 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.
TODAY, JULY 4 - We 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 Caro-Abdelnoor offers 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!
Regina and Brian Farkouh offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Marguerite and Fred Farkouh. Memory eternal!
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi of Lincoln, RI, offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lillian and Leon Hattab and Baseem and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 11 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God George Abdelnoor, Jr., Wajiha Arees, Joseph Arida, Joseph Fadool, Mary Farkouh, Ferris Samara, Amelia Khoury, John Molfino, Victor Makhoul, Nora Khoury, Joseph Klam, Edmund Saleeby, and Bassem Sukkarieh. Memory eternal!
Ata and Ida Haddad and Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 6-Month Memorial for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Fadwa Haddad as well as a 3-Month Memorial for the handmaiden of God Najla Ishak. 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).
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.
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.
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.
PRAYERS BEFORE TRAVEL – Lord Jesus Christ my God, be my companion, guide and protector during my journey. Keep me from all danger, misfortune and temptation. By Your divine power grant me a peaceful and successful journey and safe arrival. In You I place my home and trust, and You I praise, honor and glorify, together with Your Father and Holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
ESTATE PLANNING – A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make in order to support the ministry of the Church in the future. An estate plan can include a provision that leaves a lasting gift to St. Mary’s Church. A bequest could be a gift of specific assets, a dollar amount, or a percentage of an estate. A bequest could also be the residue of an estate after all gifts have been made to heirs, and it can tell our heirs where our values and priorities lie – in the Kingdom of God!
WORD MAGAZINE – All registered members of the parish are entitled to receive the Word Magazine at home. If you are not receiving the Word, please contact the church office so that we can submit your name for the mailing list. Thank you.
AIR CONDITIONING – We will set the new A/C system at a comfortable temperature, but if you feel the need, please remember to bring a sweater. We cannot adjust the temperature for individual needs.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, July 12 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
July 23-July 24 Virtual Archdiocese Convention
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Sunday, August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Wednesday, September 8 Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 12 Metropolitan JOSEPH visits
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Often when someone throws a rock at a dog, rather than rushing at the person who threw the stone, the dog will run and bite the stone. We do the same thing. The temper uses someone else to tempt us, either in word or deed, and rather than deal with the tempter, who threw the stone, we bite the rock, our fellow man that the hater of the good used against us.”
- Elder Amhilochios of Patmos