Sunday, September 19, 2021
Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross
Tone 4 and Eothinon 2
Martyrs Trophimos, Dorymedon and Savvatios
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
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 Holy Cross – Tone 4
Do thou, who of thine own good will wast elevated upon the Cross, bestow thy bounties upon the new people, which is called by thy Name, O Christ our God; make glad with thy might our believing kings, granting them victory over their adversaries. May thine aid be a panoply of peace, a trophy invincible.
Epistle – Galatians 2:16-20 (The Sunday after the Elevation of the Precious Cross)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 103.24, 1. O Lord, how magnificent are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gospel – Mark 8:34-9:1 (The Sunday after the Elevation of the Precious Cross)
THE LORD SAID, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”
Next week’s homework: I John 4:12019 (Repose of St. John the Theologian)
John 19:25-27, 21:24-25 (Repose of St. John the Theologian)
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.”
HOLY BREAD – The Salloum Family will offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of September in loving memory of the servant of God Oscar Salloum. Memory eternal! Donors are welcome for October and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.
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!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 – SUNDAY AFTER THE ELEVATION OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS
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.
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, SEPTEMBER 19 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Elizabeth Ganim Cohen, George Fauty, Victor Hamaty, Emileen Hanna, Alexander Orfaly, Wajieha Sabbagh, and Edward M. Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Drs. Amal and Gregory Dalack offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of their grandsons Michael Nassif and Peter Najeeb Dalack. Many years!
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lorraine Georgette Assatly, Nicholas Awad, Zakia Awad, Albert Ayoub, Victoria Baloutine, Victoria F. Dib, Ghassan Fattouh, Avjon and Dimitry Golam, Werda Hadad, George Haddad, Stephen Paul James, Eleanor Kalesh, Shamseh Kaydouh, Alexander Khoury, Nazera Kinge, George K. Moore, Addie, Alfred, Mary Alice and Edmund Nahas, Donald O. Page, Adrienne Poulakakos, Matilda Saba, Barbara Salamy, Very Rev. Fr. W.P.S. Schneirla, Shirley Schneirla, William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr., Sadie Shamoun, Edward, Ronald, and Valerie Tadross and Victoria Tadross,. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Yvonne Allawh (Vanderbilt, S.I.), Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Claudette Budai, Diana Finger, Mary Ganim, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
TODAY’S USHERS – Members of the Parish Council will serve as ushers. Please allow the Church School students, teachers and volunteers to receive Holy Communion first so that they can proceed to their classes and begin in a timely fashion. The ushers will assist us in proceeding row by row so that we can distribute Holy Communion “decently and in order.”
WELCOME! We are pleased to continue the tradition of receiving seminarians from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY. Christopher Abdelahad is a third year seminarian from Worcester, MA. He is the son of a priest and the grandson of a priest, and he is an outstanding chanter. Ghassan Haddad, also a third year seminarian, was with us this past Holy Week and will graduate in December. You will hear sermons from both men in coming weeks. Please welcome them.
ORDER OF ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH – We congratulate our newest inductees into the Order of St. Ignatius – Dr. Jean McCrossan, Amanda and Michael Regnier. Many years!
CHURCH SCHOOL – We will begin the new Church School year with classes today following the procession with the Holy Cross. Students will report to Church School Director Lorraine Deeb for class assignments, introduction to teachers, and the school year calendar. We will observe all appropriate safety regulations
BIBLE STUDY – We will resume our Adult Education series on Wednesday, September 22, at 7:30 PM. Classes will be in person, but we will try to provide an online option. We will begin the study of the Gospel of Matthew which is the topic for this year’s Bible Bowl at the Parish Life Conference at the Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA, tentatively scheduled for June 30-July 3, 2022. All are welcome. We will use the Orthodox Study Bible as the text. Watch for an announcement about when the Teen SOYO study will begin.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR SEPTEMBER – The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on Wednesday and Friday.
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.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The annual “Golf Outing” is tomorrow Monday, September 20, at Hempstead Country Club. Please pray for “seasonable” weather.
STREET NAMING – 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. Please save that date.
PARISH WEBSITE – Did you know that we post the weekly bulletin on the web? Simply go to www.smaoc.squarespace.com/bulletin, and view the bulletin at home. Also, find us on Facebook.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Wednesday, September 22 Bible Study, 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 25 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, October 24 Street Naming in honor of Fr. Paul Schneirla
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “May the soul that has sought refuge in Thy Cross and inherited eternal incorruptible treasure, praise and exalt Thee together with the spirits that number her among Thy ranks.”
- St. Ephraim the Syrian