Sunday, August 1, 2021
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 5 and Eothinon 6
The Seven Maccabean Youths, Their Mother Solomonia and Eleazar Their Teacher
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For he took pleasure in ascending the cross in the flesh to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.
Apolytikion of the Holy Cross – Tone 1
O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting our believing kings victory over the Barbarians, and by the power of thy Cross preserving thy commonwealth.
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 Transfiguration – Tone 7
Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God: so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendour of the Father.
Epistle – Romans 12:6-15 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 11.7, 1. You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
BRETHREN, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Gospel – Matthew 9:1-8 (Sixth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus got into a boat, crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he then said to the paralytic – “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they marveled, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Next week’s homework: Romans 15:1-7 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 9:27-35 (Seventh Sunday of Matthew)
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the balance of the year. Additional donors are welcome for August 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.”
FASTING DISCIPLINE – From August 1 through August 14 we observe the Dormition Fast in anticipation of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15.
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 or Vice Chair Dianna Russo Kitchen. Donations are always welcome!
AUGUST 1, 2021 – SIXTH 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.
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, AUGUST 1 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Assatly, Vivian Biele, William B. Cury, Nabiha Dibbs, Adele Forzly, Louis Haddad, Henry Joseph Halaby, lll, Victoria Katen, Selma Klele, Adrienne Poulakakos, and Victor Samra Sr. Memory eternal!
The Family of Loulou Malouf offers Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 8 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Robert E. Awad, Stephanie Bittar, Agnes Hamwi, Emile N. Jabbour, Alex Kalaf, George Kalesh, Aref Khoury, Salwa S. Khoury, Margaret Razook, Erna Saydah, Edward Zarick, Ernest Zayat, Loulou Malouf, and Itidal Makdissi. Memory eternal!
The Salloum Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Badih Salloum who departed this life in Romania. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Evelyn Shamoun (NYU Lutheran), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Gary Gangone, Mary Ganim, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, 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. Due to the uptick in Delta variant infections, we are again temporarily suspending choral singing and chanting.
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.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The Dormition Fast begins on Sunday, August 1, and continues through the eve of the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on Saturday, August 14. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, wine and olive oil) is observed Monday through Friday with katalysis for wine and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday, and for fish, wine and olive oil on the great feast of the Transfiguration on Friday, August 6.
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION – We will celebrate Orthros at 9:30 AM and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 6, for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ.
STREET NAMING – We are pleased to announce that the City of New York will dedicate the corner of Ridge Boulevard and 81st Street in honor of our long-time pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Paul W.S. Schneirla, of blessed memory, on Sunday, October 24, following the Divine Liturgy. More details will follow, but please save that date.
SPECIAL SERVICE PROJECT – In cooperation with FOCUS, our Teen SOYO will conduct a special service project to provide 48 backpacks full of school supplies to elementary school students here in NYC DOE District 20 who are living in homeless shelters or transitional housing. The backpacks have already arrived, and we placed the order for the school supplies this week. We invite our faithful members to contribute $30 to cover the cost of one backpack with supplies. Please make your check payable to Teen SOYO with “backpack” in the memo line. We will set a date to ask for volunteers to come and help assemble the backpacks either this week or in early August. We will then deliver everything to the District 20 office on 89th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues for distribution before the beginning of the new school year.
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Friday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ
Orthros, 9:30 AM, Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Saturday, August 7 Church School Organizational Meeting, 2:00 PM
Monday, August 9 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
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
Sunday, October 24 Street Naming for Fr. Paul Schneirla
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Riches are not forbidden, but the pride of them is.”
- St. John Chrysostom