Sunday, September 12, 2021
Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross
Tone 3 and Eothinon 1
Leave-taking of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
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 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depth of hades, granting the world 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 Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, the barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.
Epistle – Galatians 6:11-18 (Sunday before the Holy Cross)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 27:9, 1. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
BRETHREN, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and not only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.
Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gospel – John 3:13-17 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Precious Cross)
THE LORD SAID, “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 9:2-12 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 18:23-35 (Eleventh Sunday of Matthew)
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! Marianne Hindelly also offers this week’s Holy Bread. 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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 – SUNDAY BEFORE THE ELEVATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS AND THE LEAVETAKING OF THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS
Today it is our blessing to welcome our Father-in-Christ, His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH, to preside at the divine services. We had postponed the Metropolitan’s customary archiepiscopal visit at Theophany in the hopes that the pandemic would have subsided by September. The Parish Council will host a small gathering for His Eminence following this morning’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Many years, Master!
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 12 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Gloria Dirbas, Elie Khouri, Latifie Kiamie, Olga Lewis, Louise M. Martin, Nicholas Lian Massab, George Manessa, Adele Sadaka, Muneer Salamy, Mary Zagby, Alfred Zaher, Adla and Victoria Zimmerman. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Elizabeth Ganim Cohen, George Fauty, Victor Hamaty, Katherine and Wilfred Jabara, Alexander Orfaly, Wajieha Sabbagh, and Edward M. Trabulsi. 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).
FEAST OF THE ELEVATION OF THE CROSS – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church invites us to share Great Vespers on Monday, September 13, at 7:00 PM in anticipation of the Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. Worshippers may also attend Matins at 8:15 and the Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, September 14. Donors are welcome for the flowers for next Sunday’s procession with the Holy Cross.
PARISH COUNCIL – Because of Great Vespers for the Feast of the Cross, we will move our monthly meeting to Tuesday, September 14, at 7:30 PM.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR SEPTEMBER – The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, whine, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on Wednesday and Friday. On Tuesday, September 14, we follow the same practice in observance of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.
GREAT VESPERS – We have resumed the celebration of Great Vespers at 5:00 PM each Saturday evening.
CHURCH SCHOOL – We will begin the new Church School year with classes next Sunday 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
TEEN SOYO – The Teens will hold their first monthly meeting next Sunday, September 19, following the Divine Liturgy. All teens, ages 12-19 are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please see Teen officers Joseph Khouzami, Luke Spolar, or Anna Athineos, or Advisors Angela Athineos or Daria Mayrose for more information.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The annual “Golf Outing” is scheduled for Monday, September 20, at Hempstead Country Club. Please see Daria Mayrose or Irene Tashji for any last minute arrangements or to make raffle donations. Pray for “seasonable” weather!
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. 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.
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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, September 13 Great Vespers @ Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 7 PM
Tuesday, September 14 Divine Liturgy @ Holy Cross G.O. Church, 9:30 AM
Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Friday, September 17 Midnight Run
Saturday, September 18 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, September 19 Church School classes begin after the Cross Procession
Teen SOYO Meeting
Baptism of Elizabeth Diana Bittar, 1:00 PM
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Wednesday, September 22 Bible Study, 7:30 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 – “The first stage of the spiritual life, the beginning of it all, is to gain some control over the passions. The second stage is to devote oneself to the vocal recitation of the psalms, for when the passions have been calmed and prayer has brought some order in our quest for pleasure, then the psalms can bring us great delight, and they are pleasing in God’s sight. The third stage is to pray with our mind. The fourth is when we ascend to contemplation.”
- St. Symeon the New Theologian